US3663755A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable resistance control device
Assignee: Motorola Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1970-04-23
•
Granted: 1972-05-16
•
Expires: 1990-04-23
Abstract
Abstract A variable impedance device for controlling a plurality of independent functions from a single control shaft means. The control shaft means has a two dimensional movement by manually sliding the shaft means within a confined space so as to change the resistive component between a contactor associated with the control shaft means and a plurality of fixed points of terminal connection formed on a flat resistance element over which the contactor moves during the adjustment. The control shaft means extends through a nonconductive plate and has associated therewith two knobs and other resistance elements which are used independent of one another and also independent of the flat resistance element.
Inventors
- 👤 Melvin A Lace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 07:44
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/30; H01C10/38; H01C10/40; H01C10/04; H01C10/16; H01C10/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
368 words
A variable impedance device comprising support means including a pair of parallel spaced apart wall members defining a channel-like space therebetween, said wall members including openings defining a control space; an impedance element of rectangular configuration mounted adjacent to and parallel with one of said wall members in registry with said control space, said impedance element having fixed points for terminal connection at the four corners thereof; a nonconductive plate means movable within the channel-like space defined between said first and second wall members, contact means including a shaft having its axis extending perpendicular to said nonconductive plate, such that movement of said plate within said channel allows movement of said contact means over the surface of said impedance element in any direction and at any point within said control space, to change the impedance between said contact means and said fixed points for terminal connections to provide an electrical balancing signal, a first knob on said shaft rotatable about its axis, a first arcuate resistance element formed on said nonconductive plate adjacent to said first knob, a first wiper contactor formed on said first knob and movable therewith to be engaged with said first arcuate resistance element to vary the resistance thereof; a second knob formed on said shaft and rotatable about its axis, a second arcuate resistance element formed on said nonconductive plate adjacent to said first arcuate resistance element, a second wiper contactor on said second knob and engaging said second arcuate resistance element to vary the resistance thereof; and means for electrically connecting each of the fixed points to separate circuit means, whereby, the variable impedance device changes the impedance between the four corners of said rectangular resistance element by moving said control knobs anywhere within the plane of said control space, to develop signals having a balance ratio in accordance with the visual position of said knobs within said control space, and variation of the resistance of said first arcuate resistance element is accomplished by rotating said first control knob and variation of said second arcuate resistance element is accomplished by rotating said second control knob, and the variation of each of the resistance elements is accomplished independent of the other resistance elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
368 words
A variable impedance device comprising support means including a pair of parallel spaced apart wall members defining a channel-like space therebetween, said wall members including openings defining a control space; an impedance element of rectangular configuration mounted adjacent to and parallel with one of said wall members in registry with said control space, said impedance element having fixed points for terminal connection at the four corners thereof; a nonconductive plate means movable within the channel-like space defined between said first and second wall members, contact means including a shaft having its axis extending perpendicular to said nonconductive plate, such that movement of said plate within said channel allows movement of said contact means over the surface of said impedance element in any direction and at any point within said control space, to change the impedance between said contact means and said fixed points for terminal connections to provide an electrical balancing signal, a first knob on said shaft rotatable about its axis, a first arcuate resistance element formed on said nonconductive plate adjacent to said first knob, a first wiper contactor formed on said first knob and movable therewith to be engaged with said first arcuate resistance element to vary the resistance thereof; a second knob formed on said shaft and rotatable about its axis, a second arcuate resistance element formed on said nonconductive plate adjacent to said first arcuate resistance element, a second wiper contactor on said second knob and engaging said second arcuate resistance element to vary the resistance thereof; and means for electrically connecting each of the fixed points to separate circuit means, whereby, the variable impedance device changes the impedance between the four corners of said rectangular resistance element by moving said control knobs anywhere within the plane of said control space, to develop signals having a balance ratio in accordance with the visual position of said knobs within said control space, and variation of the resistance of said first arcuate resistance element is accomplished by rotating said first control knob and variation of said second arcuate resistance element is accomplished by rotating said second control knob, and the variation of each of the resistance elements is accomplished independent of the other resistance elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
203 words
A variable impedance device for controlling the variable functions of volume, tone and balance controls of a four channel sound system, comprising in combination: an impedance element having four fixed points for terminal connections, each fixed point connected in circuit with a separate one of the four channels; electric contact means in contact with and movable over the surface of said impedance element in more than one direction to change the effective impedance between each of the four fixed points and said electric contact means electrically to balance the four channels of the four channel sound system; shaft means connected to said electric contact means to allow manual movement of said electric contact means over the surface of said impedance element; a second impedance element associated with said shaft means, and a control knob having wiper contact means engaging said second impedance element and electrically connected in circuit with all four channels of the four channel sound system simultaneously to control the volume thereof; and, a third impedance element associated with said shaft means and a second control knob having wiper contact means engaging said third impedance element for controlling the tone characteristic of all four channels of the four channel sound system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
203 words
A variable impedance device for controlling the variable functions of volume, tone and balance controls of a four channel sound system, comprising in combination: an impedance element having four fixed points for terminal connections, each fixed point connected in circuit with a separate one of the four channels; electric contact means in contact with and movable over the surface of said impedance element in more than one direction to change the effective impedance between each of the four fixed points and said electric contact means electrically to balance the four channels of the four channel sound system; shaft means connected to said electric contact means to allow manual movement of said electric contact means over the surface of said impedance element; a second impedance element associated with said shaft means, and a control knob having wiper contact means engaging said second impedance element and electrically connected in circuit with all four channels of the four channel sound system simultaneously to control the volume thereof; and, a third impedance element associated with said shaft means and a second control knob having wiper contact means engaging said third impedance element for controlling the tone characteristic of all four channels of the four channel sound system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
231 words
A variable impedance device comprising a support means defining a control space, a nonconductive plate movable in two dimensions adjacent said control space, an impedance element having at least three fixed points of terminal connection and mounted adjacent said support means to be adjacent said control space, electric contact means including a shaft having the axis thereof extending perpendicular to said nonconductive plate and contacting said impedance element, said shaft movable within two dimensions over said impedance element, said shaft of said contact means being connected to a reference potential and its movement across said impedance element changes the impedance between said contact means and said at least three fixed points to provide an electrical balancing signal, and means for electrically connecting each of the fixed points to separate circuit means to develop signals having a balance ratio in accordance with the visual position of said knob of said contact means within said control space, a first knob on said shaft rotatable about the axis thereof, a first arcuate resistance element formed on said nonconductive plate adjacent said knob, and a first wiper contact means movable with said knob and engaging said first arcuate resistance element to vary the resistance between either end of said first arcuate resistance element and said contact means, and means for connecting said first contact wiper means and said first arcuate resistance element to circuit means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
231 words
A variable impedance device comprising a support means defining a control space, a nonconductive plate movable in two dimensions adjacent said control space, an impedance element having at least three fixed points of terminal connection and mounted adjacent said support means to be adjacent said control space, electric contact means including a shaft having the axis thereof extending perpendicular to said nonconductive plate and contacting said impedance element, said shaft movable within two dimensions over said impedance element, said shaft of said contact means being connected to a reference potential and its movement across said impedance element changes the impedance between said contact means and said at least three fixed points to provide an electrical balancing signal, and means for electrically connecting each of the fixed points to separate circuit means to develop signals having a balance ratio in accordance with the visual position of said knob of said contact means within said control space, a first knob on said shaft rotatable about the axis thereof, a first arcuate resistance element formed on said nonconductive plate adjacent said knob, and a first wiper contact means movable with said knob and engaging said first arcuate resistance element to vary the resistance between either end of said first arcuate resistance element and said contact means, and means for connecting said first contact wiper means and said first arcuate resistance element to circuit means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The variable impedance device of claim 3 including a second knob on said shaft rotatable about the axis thereof, a second arcuate resistance element formed on said nonconductive plate adjacent said first arcuate resistance element and a second wiper contact means movable with said second knob and in contact with said second arcuate resistance element for varying the resistance thereof; and means for connecting said second arcuate resistance element and said second wiper contact means to circuit means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
197 words
A variable impedance device for controlling the balance of sound of a four channel sound system which has four speakers positioned at a given location within a listening area, including in combination, a rectangular control space representing the listening area, a point in each quadrant of said rectangular control space representing the given position of the four respective speakers in the listening area, an impedance element positioned in a spaced relation to said control space, said impedance element having four fixed points of terminal connection, one fixed point in each quadrant, circuit means connecting each of said points of terminal connection to respective speakers for controlling the balance of sound therein, electric contact means including a knob movable within two dimensions within said control space and arranged to be in contact with said impedance element during such movement, such movement of said knob changes the impedance between said electric contact means and said four fixed points of terminal connection thereby providing a balancing signal in said circuit means, and said knob provides a graphic representation to the operator of the location of the point of the center of sound of the four speakers in the listening area.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
197 words
A variable impedance device for controlling the balance of sound of a four channel sound system which has four speakers positioned at a given location within a listening area, including in combination, a rectangular control space representing the listening area, a point in each quadrant of said rectangular control space representing the given position of the four respective speakers in the listening area, an impedance element positioned in a spaced relation to said control space, said impedance element having four fixed points of terminal connection, one fixed point in each quadrant, circuit means connecting each of said points of terminal connection to respective speakers for controlling the balance of sound therein, electric contact means including a knob movable within two dimensions within said control space and arranged to be in contact with said impedance element during such movement, such movement of said knob changes the impedance between said electric contact means and said four fixed points of terminal connection thereby providing a balancing signal in said circuit means, and said knob provides a graphic representation to the operator of the location of the point of the center of sound of the four speakers in the listening area.
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) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |