US3662313A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Single control device for plural variable resistors
Assignee: Alps Alpine Co Ltd
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Filing: 1971-04-14
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1991-04-14
Abstract
Abstract A control device for use in volume adjustment of a multi-speaker sound system utilizes a floating carrier adapted to move within a housing enclosure in two dimensions. The carrier is provided with a plurality of electrical contacts adapted to slidingly engage respectively a plurality of resistive elements on a substrate. The carrier is moved by a control member extending through a window in the housing. The shape of the window and the resistive patterns of the plurality of resistive elements is such that the operative resistances may be simultaneously varied to adjust the sound volume of a plurality of speakers in correlation with the position of the control member within the housing window.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroaki Komatsu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/16; H04; H04S; H04S7/00; H04S7/40; G; G05; G05G; G05G9/00; G05G9/02; G05G9/04; G05G9/047; G05G2009/04703; G05G2009/04714; G05G2009/0474; G05G2009/04751
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A control device for use in volume adjustment of a multispeaker sound system comprising a housing, a plurality of electrically operative elements each having a given resistive pattern operatively mounted on said housing, a carrier mounting a plurality of contacts, said plurality of contacts slidably engaging said plurality of electrically operative elements, respectively, means for moving said carrier within said housing in at least two dimensions thereby to simultaneously move said contacts slidably along their respective electrically operative elements, thereby to simultaneously vary the operative resistances of said electrically operative elements, and means on said housing to visually correlate the position of said carrier with the relative values of said operative resistances, whereby when said contacts are operatively electrically connected respectively to a plurality of sound speakers and said electrically operative elements are electrically connected to an autio signal, the position of the apparent sound source may be varied.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A control device for use in volume adjustment of a multispeaker sound system comprising a housing, a plurality of electrically operative elements each having a given resistive pattern operatively mounted on said housing, a carrier mounting a plurality of contacts, said plurality of contacts slidably engaging said plurality of electrically operative elements, respectively, means for moving said carrier within said housing in at least two dimensions thereby to simultaneously move said contacts slidably along their respective electrically operative elements, thereby to simultaneously vary the operative resistances of said electrically operative elements, and means on said housing to visually correlate the position of said carrier with the relative values of said operative resistances, whereby when said contacts are operatively electrically connected respectively to a plurality of sound speakers and said electrically operative elements are electrically connected to an autio signal, the position of the apparent sound source may be varied.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
73 words
The control device of claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a substrate and a cover member operatively connected together to form an enclosure, said plurality of electrically operative bodies being mounted in spaced relationship on said substrate, said cover member being provided with an opening in the wall opposite said substrate and said carrier moving means comprising a control member secured to said carrier and extending through said opening in said cover member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The control device of claim 2, wherein said substrate is made of insulating material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control device of claim 3, wherein said electrically operative bodies and the resistive patterns thereon are positioned and shaped symmetrically about a point on said substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
67 words
The control device of claim 3, wherein said visual correlation means comprises a control member secured to said carrier and an opening in said housing of predetermined peripheral shape, said control member extending through said opening in said housing, the position of said control member relative to the periphery of said opening providing visual indication of the position of said apparent sound source relative to said speakers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control device of claim 2, wherein said electrically operative bodies and the resistive patterns thereon are positioned and shaped symmetrically about a point on said substrate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The control device of claim 6, wherein said visual correlation means comprises said opening in said cover member, the position of said control member relative to said opening providing visual indication of the position of the apparent sound source relative to said speakers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The control device of claim 6, wherein there are four electrically operative elements arranged symmetrically on a rectangular substrate and wherein said opening in said cover member is rectangular in shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
72 words
The control device of claim 8, wherein said electrically operative bodies each comprise a resistive area and a conductive area, said carrier being movable within defined limits in a plane substantially parallel to said substrate and wherein when said carrier is positioned at the center of said defined planar area, said contacts are each positioned at the interface between the resistive and conductive areas of the electrically operative bodies which they engage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The control device of claim 9, wherein said electrically conductive bodies are all rectangular in shape.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The control device of claim 10, wherein the interface between said resistivE and conductive areas of said electrically operative bodies comprises the diagonal thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
The control device of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of conductive areas on said housing, means operatively electrically connected to said plurality of contacts respectively and slidably electrically engaging said plurality of conductive areas respectively, said plurality of conductive areas each being electrically connected to an electrical terminal mounted externally of said housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The control device of claim 8, wherein said electrically conductive bodies are all rectangular in shape.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The control device of claim 2, wherein said visual correlation means comprises a control member secured to said carrier and an opening in said housing of predetermined peripheral shape, said control member extending through said opening in said housing, the position of said control member relative to the periphery of said opening providing visual indication of the position of said apparent sound source relative to said speakers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
The control device of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of electrical terminals on said substrate accessible from the outside of said housing, each of said electrically operative bodies being connected between at least two of said terminals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The control device of claim 2, wherein said slidable contacts are mounted on resilient arms extending outwardly and downwardly from said carrier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The variable resistor device of claim 2, further comprising a slider mounted on said substrate for slidable movement relative thereto in a given direction, and means on said carrier for slidably engaging said slider in a direction substantially perpendicular to said given direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
The control device of claim 1, wherein said visual correlation means comprises a control member secured to said carrier and an opening in said housing of predetermined peripheral shape, said control member extending through said opening in said housing, the position of said control member relative to the periphery of said opening providing visual indication of the position of said apparent sound source relative to said speakers.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
The control device of claim 1, wherein said electrically operative bodies each comprise a resistive area and a conductive area, said carrier being movable within defined limits in a plane substantially parallel to said substrate and wherein when said carrier is positioned at the center of said defined planar ares said contacts are each positioned at the interface between the resistive and conductive areas of the electrically operative bodies which then engage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
The control device of Claim 19, wherein said housing comprises a substrate and a cover member operatively connected together to form an enclosure, said plurality of electrically operative bodies being mounted in space relationship on said substrate, said cover member being provided with an opening in the wall opposite said substrate and said carrier moving means comprising a control member secured to said carrier and extending through said opening in said cover member.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The control device of claim 19, wherein said electrically operative bodies and the resistive patterns thereon are positioned and shaped symmetrically about a point on said substrate.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
67 words
The control device of claim 19, wherein said visual correlation means comprises a control member secured to said carrier and an opening in said housing of predetermined peripheral shape, said control member extending through said opening in said housing the position of said control member relative to the periphery of said opening providing visual indication of the position of said apparent sound source relative to said speakers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
143 words
A variable resistor device for simultaneously varying the operative resistance value of a plurality of resistors in a predetermined manner comprising a base member, a cover member operatively connected to said base member to form an enclosure, a plurality of resistive elemenTs on said base member, a carrier means mounted in said enclosure for two dimensional movement parallel to the plane of said base member, said carrier mounting a plurality of electrical contacts, each of said contacts slidably engaging a resistive element on said base member, said cover member being provided with a window having a predetermined shape, an elongated control member secured to said carrier and extending outwardly of said housing through said window in said cover member whereby movement of said control member within said window is effective to vary the relative resistances of said resistive elements in a predetermined manner.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
143 words
A variable resistor device for simultaneously varying the operative resistance value of a plurality of resistors in a predetermined manner comprising a base member, a cover member operatively connected to said base member to form an enclosure, a plurality of resistive elemenTs on said base member, a carrier means mounted in said enclosure for two dimensional movement parallel to the plane of said base member, said carrier mounting a plurality of electrical contacts, each of said contacts slidably engaging a resistive element on said base member, said cover member being provided with a window having a predetermined shape, an elongated control member secured to said carrier and extending outwardly of said housing through said window in said cover member whereby movement of said control member within said window is effective to vary the relative resistances of said resistive elements in a predetermined manner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The variable resistor device of claim 23, further comprising a slider mounted on said substrate for slidable movement relative thereto in a given direction, and means on said carrier for slidably engaging said slider in a direction substantially perpendicular to said given direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2866124A
Cited
US3372359A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |