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US3662317A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Abraded variable resistance control and method of manufacture
Assignee: CTS Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-05
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Granted: 1972-05-09
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Expires: 1990-08-05
Abstract
Abstract A variable resistance control is provided wherein a resistance path having an inner edge defined by a circular arc and an outer edge defined by straight lines tangent to an imaginary circular arc concentric with the circular arc defining the inner edge is supported on a nonconductive base. The straight lines intersect to define corners at the outer periphery of the resistance path. In order to bring the resistance within specified tolerances without materially affecting the linearity of the resistant path, the corners are abraded by removing a portion of the resistance material between the imaginary circular arc and the outer edge at the corners.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Digirolamo
- 👤 Ronald L Stuckey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 09:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C17/00; H01C17/22; H01C17/235; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49082; Y10T29/49099
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
The method of making a resistance element for a variable resistance control comprising the steps of: a. depositing a resistance material on a nonconductive base, said material defining a resistance path being generally Ushaped with a bottom and a pair of legs, an inner edge of said resistance path being partially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said resistance path being defined by straight lines tangent to an imaginary circular arc with said circular arc partially defining said inner edge, said straight lines being parallel to edges of said base, b. providing a center collector on the nonconductive base, and center collector being spaced from the inner edge of said path to provide electrical clearance between said path and said collector, c. providing terminals in electrical connection with said resistance path, and d. removing a portion of the resistance path lying between said imaginary circular arc and said outer edge.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
The method of making a resistance element for a variable resistance control comprising the steps of: a. depositing a resistance material on a nonconductive base, said material defining a resistance path being generally Ushaped with a bottom and a pair of legs, an inner edge of said resistance path being partially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said resistance path being defined by straight lines tangent to an imaginary circular arc with said circular arc partially defining said inner edge, said straight lines being parallel to edges of said base, b. providing a center collector on the nonconductive base, and center collector being spaced from the inner edge of said path to provide electrical clearance between said path and said collector, c. providing terminals in electrical connection with said resistance path, and d. removing a portion of the resistance path lying between said imaginary circular arc and said outer edge.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of making a resistance element for a variable resistance control comprising the steps of: a. depositing a resistance material on a surface of a nonconductive base, said material defining a resistance path being generally U-shaped with a bottom and a pair of legs, an inner edge of said resistance path being paRtially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said resistance path being partially defined by intersecting straight lines forming at least one corner at the bottom of the U-shaped path, b. depositing conductive material in the form of a center collector on said surface of the nonconductive base, said center collector being spaced from the inner edge of said path to provide electrical clearance between said path and said collector, c. inserting terminals in said base in electrical connection with said resistance path and said collector, and d. abrading a portion of the outer edge of the resistance path at said corner.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
158 words
The method of making a resistance element for a variable resistance control comprising the steps of: a. depositing a resistance material on a surface of a nonconductive base, said material defining a resistance path being generally U-shaped with a bottom and a pair of legs, an inner edge of said resistance path being paRtially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said resistance path being partially defined by intersecting straight lines forming at least one corner at the bottom of the U-shaped path, b. depositing conductive material in the form of a center collector on said surface of the nonconductive base, said center collector being spaced from the inner edge of said path to provide electrical clearance between said path and said collector, c. inserting terminals in said base in electrical connection with said resistance path and said collector, and d. abrading a portion of the outer edge of the resistance path at said corner.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
170 words
The method of making a resistance element for a variable resistance control comprising the steps of: a. depositing a resistance material on a nonconductive base, said material defining a resistance path being generally U-shaped with a bottom and a pair of legs, an inner edge of said path being partially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said resistance path being partially defined by straight lines tangent to an imaginary circular arc concentric to the circular arc defining said inner edge, said straight lines intersecting to form at least one corner at the bottom of the resistance path, b. depositing conductive material in the form of a center collector on the nonconductive base, said center collector being spaced from the inner edge of said path to provide electrical clearance between said path and said collector, c. inserting terminals in said base in electrical connection with said resistance path and said collector, and d. abrading a portion of the outer edge of the resistance path at said corner.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
170 words
The method of making a resistance element for a variable resistance control comprising the steps of: a. depositing a resistance material on a nonconductive base, said material defining a resistance path being generally U-shaped with a bottom and a pair of legs, an inner edge of said path being partially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said resistance path being partially defined by straight lines tangent to an imaginary circular arc concentric to the circular arc defining said inner edge, said straight lines intersecting to form at least one corner at the bottom of the resistance path, b. depositing conductive material in the form of a center collector on the nonconductive base, said center collector being spaced from the inner edge of said path to provide electrical clearance between said path and said collector, c. inserting terminals in said base in electrical connection with said resistance path and said collector, and d. abrading a portion of the outer edge of the resistance path at said corner.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
197 words
A variable resistance control comprising a base, a plurality of terminals extending from said base for connection to an electrical circuit, a driver supported for rotation relative to the base, a resistance path supported on a surface of said base, said resistance path being generally U-shaped with a bottom and two legs, an inner edge of said path being partially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said path being partially defined by straight lines, said outer edge having contiguous denuded areas at the bottom of the generally U-shaped path, a collector supported on said surface and spaced from the inner edge of said path, one of said straight lines being tangent to an imaginary circular arc concentric to the circular arc partially defining said inner edge at the bottom of said path, two of said straight lines spaced on opposite sides of said collector being perpendicular to said one and tangent to said imaginary circular arc, conductive material deposited on said base electrically connecting said resistance path and said collector with said terminals, and a contactor constrained to rotate upon rotation of said driver for wipingly engaging said collector and said resistance path.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
197 words
A variable resistance control comprising a base, a plurality of terminals extending from said base for connection to an electrical circuit, a driver supported for rotation relative to the base, a resistance path supported on a surface of said base, said resistance path being generally U-shaped with a bottom and two legs, an inner edge of said path being partially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said path being partially defined by straight lines, said outer edge having contiguous denuded areas at the bottom of the generally U-shaped path, a collector supported on said surface and spaced from the inner edge of said path, one of said straight lines being tangent to an imaginary circular arc concentric to the circular arc partially defining said inner edge at the bottom of said path, two of said straight lines spaced on opposite sides of said collector being perpendicular to said one and tangent to said imaginary circular arc, conductive material deposited on said base electrically connecting said resistance path and said collector with said terminals, and a contactor constrained to rotate upon rotation of said driver for wipingly engaging said collector and said resistance path.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The variable resistance control of claim 4, wherein said contiguous denuded areas have a boundary tangent to said imaginary circular arc.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
188 words
A variable resistance control comprising a base, a driver supported for rotation relative to the base, a resistance path supported on a surface of said base, said resistance path being generally U-shaped with a bottom and two legs, an inner edge of said path being partially defined by a circular arc, an outer edge of said path being partially defined by straight lines and having contiguous denuded areas at the bottom of the generally U-shaped path, a collector supported on said surface and spaced from the inner edge of said path, one of said straight lines being tangent to an imaginary circular arc concentric to the circular arc partially defining said inner edge at the bottom of said path, two of said straight lines spaced on opposite sides of said collector being perpendicular to said one and tangent to said imaginary circular arc, said one and said two being parallel to edges of said base, terminals electrically connected to said resistance path for connEction to an electrical circuit, and a contactor constrained to rotate upon rotation of said driver for wipingly engaging said collector and said resistance path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
188 words
A variable resistance control comprising a base, a driver supported for rotation relative to the base, a resistance path supported on a surface of said base, said resistance path being generally U-shaped with a bottom and two legs, an inner edge of said path being partially defined by a circular arc, an outer edge of said path being partially defined by straight lines and having contiguous denuded areas at the bottom of the generally U-shaped path, a collector supported on said surface and spaced from the inner edge of said path, one of said straight lines being tangent to an imaginary circular arc concentric to the circular arc partially defining said inner edge at the bottom of said path, two of said straight lines spaced on opposite sides of said collector being perpendicular to said one and tangent to said imaginary circular arc, said one and said two being parallel to edges of said base, terminals electrically connected to said resistance path for connEction to an electrical circuit, and a contactor constrained to rotate upon rotation of said driver for wipingly engaging said collector and said resistance path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The variable resistance control of claim 6, wherein said contiguous denuded areas have a boundary tangent to said imaginary circular arc.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of making a resistance element for an electrical control comprising the steps of: a. depositing a thin film of resistance material on a surface of a dielectric base, said thin film being defined by a generally U-shaped configuration with a bottom and a pair of legs, the inner edge of said thin film being partially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said thin film being defined by straight lines tangent to an imaginary circular arc concentric with said circular arc partially defining said inner edge, said straight lines being parallel to edges of said base, b. curing the thin film deposited on the surface of the dielectric base and produce a resistance path, c. connecting terminals to the legs of the resistance path, d. measuring the resistance between the pair of terminals, and e. removing a portion of the resistance path lying between the imaginary circular arc and the outer edge of the dielectric base to increase the resistance of the resistance path.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
169 words
A method of making a resistance element for an electrical control comprising the steps of: a. depositing a thin film of resistance material on a surface of a dielectric base, said thin film being defined by a generally U-shaped configuration with a bottom and a pair of legs, the inner edge of said thin film being partially defined by a circular arc and an outer edge of said thin film being defined by straight lines tangent to an imaginary circular arc concentric with said circular arc partially defining said inner edge, said straight lines being parallel to edges of said base, b. curing the thin film deposited on the surface of the dielectric base and produce a resistance path, c. connecting terminals to the legs of the resistance path, d. measuring the resistance between the pair of terminals, and e. removing a portion of the resistance path lying between the imaginary circular arc and the outer edge of the dielectric base to increase the resistance of the resistance path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the step of depositing the thin film of resistance material comprises the step of screening the thin film of resistance material onto the surface of the dielectric base.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 8, wherein portions of the outer edge of the thin film at the junctions between the bottom and each of the legs are defined by a pair of square corners and the step of removing comprises the removing of a narrow strip of resistance path diagonally of the corners to increase the resistance value of the resistance path connected to the terminals.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the resistance material is cermet and the step of curing comprises firing the thin film deposited on the base at a temperature sufficient to bond the thin film of cermet to the surface of the base.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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 |