US3851293A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical resistance element and method of manufacture
Assignee: WATERS Manufacturing Inc
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Filing: 1972-08-15
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Granted: 1974-11-26
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Expires: 1992-08-15
Abstract
Abstract A conductive plastic potentiometer with an electrical resistance element having two end terminations and comprising two resistance films applied on a single substrate. The two films are applied sequentially with the higher resistance film being first applied over the entire substrate surface, and then a second film of substantially lower resistance being applied over the first film such as to cover and contact approximately half of the higher resistance film, so that the wiper runs on the surface of the higher resistance film.
Inventors
- 👤 J Clayton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 06:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49002; Y10T29/49082; Y10T29/49099
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
A potentiometer having a predetermined function comprising a longitudinally extended conductive plastic high resistance film element having end terminations on opposite ends thereof, said high resistance film element providing a path of wiper travel between said end terminations a wiper movable along said path a longitudinally extended conductive plastic low resistance film element superimposed on said high resistance film element in continuous electrical contact therewith extending between said end terminations in continuous parallel electrical connection with said high resistance film element, said low resistance film element being spaced from said path of wiper travel and having an edge remote from said path of wiper travel of varying dimension from its opposed edge to provide a varying transverse dimension thereof said high and low resistance film elements together providing a voltage value at said wiper varying as a function of distance between said end terminations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
A potentiometer having a predetermined function comprising a longitudinally extended conductive plastic high resistance film element having end terminations on opposite ends thereof, said high resistance film element providing a path of wiper travel between said end terminations a wiper movable along said path a longitudinally extended conductive plastic low resistance film element superimposed on said high resistance film element in continuous electrical contact therewith extending between said end terminations in continuous parallel electrical connection with said high resistance film element, said low resistance film element being spaced from said path of wiper travel and having an edge remote from said path of wiper travel of varying dimension from its opposed edge to provide a varying transverse dimension thereof said high and low resistance film elements together providing a voltage value at said wiper varying as a function of distance between said end terminations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A potentiometer as claimed in claim 1 wherein the edge of said low resistance element adjacent to said path of wiper travel is diffused progressively transversely.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A potentiometer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said high resistance element has a slOpe which approximates the maximum slope of said predetermined function and said low resistance element has a slope which approximates the minimum slope of said predetermined function.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
226 words
A potentiometer having a predetermined function comprising an insulating base a longitudinally extended conductive plastic high resistance film element on said base having end terminations on opposite ends thereof, said high resistance film element providing a path of wiper travel between said end terminations a wiper movable along said path, a longitudinally extended conductive plastic low resistance film element superimposed on said high resistance film on the side thereof opposite said base and in continuous electrical contact therewith extending between said end terminations in continuous parallel electrical connection with said high resistance film element, said low resistance film element being spaced from said path of wiper travel and having its edge adjacent said path of wiper travel diffused progressively transversely to increase the resistance value thereof in a transverse direction toward said path of wiper travel and spaced therefrom, the opposite edges of said films remote from said wiper path being of varying dimension from said adjacent edge to provide a varying transverse dimension thereof said high and low resistance elements together providing a voltage output value at said wiper varying as a predetermined function of distance between said end terminations said high resistance film element having a slope which approximates the maximum slope of said predetermined function and said low resistance film element having a slope which approximates the minimum slope of said predetermined function.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
226 words
A potentiometer having a predetermined function comprising an insulating base a longitudinally extended conductive plastic high resistance film element on said base having end terminations on opposite ends thereof, said high resistance film element providing a path of wiper travel between said end terminations a wiper movable along said path, a longitudinally extended conductive plastic low resistance film element superimposed on said high resistance film on the side thereof opposite said base and in continuous electrical contact therewith extending between said end terminations in continuous parallel electrical connection with said high resistance film element, said low resistance film element being spaced from said path of wiper travel and having its edge adjacent said path of wiper travel diffused progressively transversely to increase the resistance value thereof in a transverse direction toward said path of wiper travel and spaced therefrom, the opposite edges of said films remote from said wiper path being of varying dimension from said adjacent edge to provide a varying transverse dimension thereof said high and low resistance elements together providing a voltage output value at said wiper varying as a predetermined function of distance between said end terminations said high resistance film element having a slope which approximates the maximum slope of said predetermined function and said low resistance film element having a slope which approximates the minimum slope of said predetermined function.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A potentiometer as claimed in claim 4 wherein said predetermined function is non-linear.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
238 words
The method of making a potentiometer element having a predetermined function comprising the steps of providing an insulating base a longitudinally extended conductive plastic high resistance film element having end terminations on said base said high resistance film element having a maximum voltage output slope that closely approximates the slope of said predetermined function said high resistance film element having a path of wiper travel between said end terminations and a longitudinally extended conductive plastic low resistance film element superimposed on said high resistance film element on the side thereof opposite said base and in continuous electrical contact therewith extending between said end terminations in continuous parallel electrical connection with said high resistance film element said low resistance element having a slope which approximates the minimum slope of said predetermined function said low resistance film being spaced from said path of wiper travel and progressively altering the transverse cross sectional dimension of at least said low resistance film element as a function of desired voltage output value and distance from said end terminations by progressively sensing the voltage output value along said path of wiper travel and altering the transverse cross sectional dimension of said low resistance value responsively thereto by effectively varying the transverse dimension of said low resistance film element on the side thereof remote from said path of wiper travel, to provide a potentiometer element varying as a function of distance from said end terminations.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
238 words
The method of making a potentiometer element having a predetermined function comprising the steps of providing an insulating base a longitudinally extended conductive plastic high resistance film element having end terminations on said base said high resistance film element having a maximum voltage output slope that closely approximates the slope of said predetermined function said high resistance film element having a path of wiper travel between said end terminations and a longitudinally extended conductive plastic low resistance film element superimposed on said high resistance film element on the side thereof opposite said base and in continuous electrical contact therewith extending between said end terminations in continuous parallel electrical connection with said high resistance film element said low resistance element having a slope which approximates the minimum slope of said predetermined function said low resistance film being spaced from said path of wiper travel and progressively altering the transverse cross sectional dimension of at least said low resistance film element as a function of desired voltage output value and distance from said end terminations by progressively sensing the voltage output value along said path of wiper travel and altering the transverse cross sectional dimension of said low resistance value responsively thereto by effectively varying the transverse dimension of said low resistance film element on the side thereof remote from said path of wiper travel, to provide a potentiometer element varying as a function of distance from said end terminations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said predetermined function is non-linear.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
198 words
A potentiometer having a predetermined function comprising an insulating base a longitudinally extended conductive plastic high resistance film element on said base having end terminations on opposite ends thereof, said high resistance film element providing a path of wiper travel between said end terminations a wiper movable along said path, a longitudinally extended coNductive plastic low resistance film element superimposed on said high resistance film on the side thereof opposite said base and in continuous electrical contact therewith extending between said end terminations in continuous parallel electrical connection with said high resistance film element, said low resistance film element being spaced from said path of wiper travel and having its edge remote from said path of wiper travel of varying dimension from its edge adjacent said path of wiper travel to provide a varying transverse dimension thereof said high and low resistance elements together providing a voltage output value at said wiper varying as a predetermined function of distance between said end terminations said high resistance film element having a slope which approximates the maximum slope of said predetermined function and said low resistance film element having a slope which approximates the minimum slope of said predetermined function.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
198 words
A potentiometer having a predetermined function comprising an insulating base a longitudinally extended conductive plastic high resistance film element on said base having end terminations on opposite ends thereof, said high resistance film element providing a path of wiper travel between said end terminations a wiper movable along said path, a longitudinally extended coNductive plastic low resistance film element superimposed on said high resistance film on the side thereof opposite said base and in continuous electrical contact therewith extending between said end terminations in continuous parallel electrical connection with said high resistance film element, said low resistance film element being spaced from said path of wiper travel and having its edge remote from said path of wiper travel of varying dimension from its edge adjacent said path of wiper travel to provide a varying transverse dimension thereof said high and low resistance elements together providing a voltage output value at said wiper varying as a predetermined function of distance between said end terminations said high resistance film element having a slope which approximates the maximum slope of said predetermined function and said low resistance film element having a slope which approximates the minimum slope of said predetermined function.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2759078A
Cited
US3379567A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-11-25 | 1978-05-27 | 1978-11-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-11-25 | 1982-05-27 | 1982-11-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-11-25 | 1986-05-27 | 1986-11-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |