Variable resistance control

Claim 2

A variable voltage divider comprising an electrically nonconductive substrate having at least one substantially planar surface, a plurality of conductive terminations supported on said surface, resistance means comprising a first resistive path supported on said surface and connected to a first one of the conductive terminations, a conductive collector supported on said surface, adjusting means supported for movement relative to the substrate, and a conductive contactor constrained to move with said adjusting means and wipingly engage the first resistive path and the conductive collector, said resistance means further comprising a second resistive path supported on said surface and interconnecting the conductive collector and a second one of the conductive terminations thereby to provide a voltage drop between the collector and the second one of the conductive terminations when a potential is applied thereacross.

Claim 3

The variable voltage divider of claim 1, wherein the conductive terminations comprise a quantum of solderable precious metal and a protective layer of solder covering said precious Metal.

Claim 4

The variable voltage divider of claim 1, wherein the conductive collector comprises a quantum of precious metal and the adjusting means provides a protective cover overlying the contactor.

Claim 5

The variable voltage divider of claim 1, wherein the substrate comprises a ceramic member having a second surface spaced from and substantially parallel to said planar surface, the terminations include passageways for receiving and cooperating with terminals carried by a circuit board, and a layer of solder is deposited adjacent to each of the passageways, said layers of solder facilitating the making of electrical connections with such terminals.

Claim 6

The variable voltage divider of claim 1, wherein the nonconductive substrate comprises a ceramic body having a second surface substantially parallel to said planar surface, the first resistive path is a cermet film supported on said planar surface, an aperture is formed in said substrate communicating with said planar and said second surfaces, and the adjusting means supported for movement relative to the substrate comprises a contactor driver disposed adjacent to the planar surface of the substrate and a stub shaft integral with the driver and disposed in said aperture, said stub shaft having an enlarged portion bearing against the second surface and providing a bearing for the shaft that prevents removal of the driver from the ceramic body.

Claim 7

The variable voltage divider of claim 5, wherein said driver overlies the conductive contactor and the conductive contactor is resiliently compressed between the driver and the substrate.

Claim 8

The variable voltage divider of claim 6, wherein the substrate is provided with a pair of abutment surfaces and the driver includes a stop arm engageable with said abutment surfaces.

Claim 9

The variable voltage divider of claim 7, wherein the second resistive path is supported on a first portion of the substrate, the first resistive path is supported on a second portion of the substrate.

Claim 10

An electrical component comprising an electrically nonconductive substrate having a pair of spaced substantially planar surfaces, a plurality of terminations supported on a first one of the surfaces, a collector supported on the substrate and connected to a first of the terminations, a first resistive path supported on said one of the surfaces, one end of the first resistive path being connected to a second of the terminations, a second resistive path supported on said first one of the surfaces, one end of the second resistive path being connected to a third of the terminations, the other ends of the first resistive path and the second resistive path being connected together, a conductive contactor engaging the collector and the first resistance path intermediate the ends thereof, said first and second resistive paths each having substantially the same temperature coefficient of resistance for maintaining the ratio of the ohmic value between the first and the second of the terminations and between the first and the third of the terminations constant for any ambient temperature, an aperture formed in said substrate communicating with said pair of surfaces, adjusting means comprising a contactor driver disposed adjacent to the first surface of the substrate and an alignment member connected to the contactor driver and disposed in the aperture, the conductive contactor being constrained to move with the driver and wipingly engage the first resistive path and the collector, the driver overlying the conductive contact, the conductive contactor being resiliently compressed between the driver and the substrate, said alignment member including a bearing for holding the adjusting means and contactor in assembled relationship with the substrate.

Claim 11

An electrical component comprising an electrically nonconductive substrate having a pair of spaced substantially planar surfaces, a plurality of terminations supported on a first one of the surfaces, a collector supported on the substrate and connected to a first of the terminations, a first resistive path supported on said one of the surfaces, one end of the first resistive path being connected to a second of the terminations, a second resistive path supported on said first one of the surfaces, one end of the second resistive path being connected to a third of the terminations, the other ends of the first resistive path and the second resistive path being connected together, a conductive contactor engaging the collector and the first resistance path intermediate the ends thereof, said first and second resistive paths each having substantially the same temperature coefficient of resistance for maintaining the ratio of the ohmic value between the first and the second of the terminations and between the first and the third of the terminations constant for any ambient temperature, an aperture formed in said substrate communicating with said pair of surfaces, adjusting means comprising a contactor driver disposed adjacent to the first surface of the substrate and an alignment member connected to the contactor driver and disposed in the aperture, the conductive contactor being constrained to move with the driver and wipingly engage the first resistive path and the collector, the driver overlying the conductive contact, the conductive contactor being resiliently compressed between the driver and the substrate, said alignment member including a bearing for holding the adjusting means and contactor in assembled relationship with the substrate.

Claim 12

The component of claim 9, wherein a third resistive path is supported on said first one of the surfaces and is connected between the collector and the first of the terminations.

Claim 13

The component of claim 9, wherein the terminations comprise passagewaYs for accommodating terminals connected to an external circuit.

Claim 14

The component of claim 9, wherein the terminations comprise a quantum of precious metal and protective layer of solder deposited thereover.