Patent US3909770A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3909770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable-slide resistor including light source having intensity dependent upon resistor setting
Assignee: Panasonic Holdings Corp
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Filing: 1974-03-11
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Granted: 1975-09-30
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Expires: 1994-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A variable resistor is disclosed which indicates its adjusted resistance by light sources whose light changes in brightness or color as the resistance changes. A first resistor strip and a first conductor strip are formed or disposed upon a mount in parallel to each other and connected to a load circuit. A second resistor strip or third conductor strip and a second conductor comprising one or a plurality of conductor strips are also formed or disposed in parallel to each other and the first conductor and resistor strips upon the mount and are connected to a light source circuit. A contactor rides over the first resistor and conductor strips to connect them, and contactors ride over the second resistor strip or third conductor strip and a second conductor strip or strips to connect between the second resistor strip or the third conductor strip and the second conductor strip or strips. These contactors are displaced in unison, and as the resistance inserted into the load circuit changes light emitted from light sources changes in brightness or in color.
Inventors
- 👤 Shunzo Oka
- 👤 Kazuo Oshima
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 18:42
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01C; H01C10/00; H01C10/30; H01C10/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
305 words
A variable resistor comprising a. a case member with an open bottom and an elongated slot formed at the top thereof; b. a mount formed from an insulating material and attached to said case member at said open bottom so as to define a hollow case; c. a first resistor means and a first conductor means on said mount in parallel with each other and to said elongated slot; d. a second resistor means and at least one second conductor means on said mount in parallel to each other and to said elongated slot, a terminal connected to the midpoint of said second resistor means, said second conductor means being divided into two sections at a point corresponding to said midpoint of said second resistor means, a second terminal connected to said two sections of said second conductor means; e. a sliding member formed from an insulating material, disposed within said case, provided with an operating means extending upwardly and outwardly through said elongated slot and slidable along said elongated slot and said mount; f. a first contactor attached to said sliding member for slidable contact with said first resistor means and said first conductor means so as to short-circuit between them, and at least one second contactor attached also to said sliding member for slidable contact with said second resistor means and said at least one conductor means so as to short-circuit between them; and g. at least one light source means attached to said operating means and electrically connected in series to said second resistor means and said at least one conductor means, said light source means comprising two light sources, each of which is interconnected between said contactor in slidable contact with said second resistor means and contactor in slidable contact with each of said two sections of said second conductor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
305 words
A variable resistor comprising a. a case member with an open bottom and an elongated slot formed at the top thereof; b. a mount formed from an insulating material and attached to said case member at said open bottom so as to define a hollow case; c. a first resistor means and a first conductor means on said mount in parallel with each other and to said elongated slot; d. a second resistor means and at least one second conductor means on said mount in parallel to each other and to said elongated slot, a terminal connected to the midpoint of said second resistor means, said second conductor means being divided into two sections at a point corresponding to said midpoint of said second resistor means, a second terminal connected to said two sections of said second conductor means; e. a sliding member formed from an insulating material, disposed within said case, provided with an operating means extending upwardly and outwardly through said elongated slot and slidable along said elongated slot and said mount; f. a first contactor attached to said sliding member for slidable contact with said first resistor means and said first conductor means so as to short-circuit between them, and at least one second contactor attached also to said sliding member for slidable contact with said second resistor means and said at least one conductor means so as to short-circuit between them; and g. at least one light source means attached to said operating means and electrically connected in series to said second resistor means and said at least one conductor means, said light source means comprising two light sources, each of which is interconnected between said contactor in slidable contact with said second resistor means and contactor in slidable contact with each of said two sections of said second conductor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A variable resistor as defined in claim 1 wherein said light source means emit light of different colors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
217 words
In a variable resistor of the type comprising a case member having an open bottom and an elongated slot formed at the top thereof, a mount of an insulating material attached to said case member at said open bottom so as to define a hollow case, a first elongated resistor and a first elongated conductor on said mount and parallel with each other and with said elongated slot, a sliding member formed in an insulating material disposed within said case and having operating means extending upwardly and outwardly through said elongated slot and slidably along said elongated slot and said mount, and a first contactor attached to said sliding member for slidable contact with said first resistor and said first conductor so as to provide a short-circuit between them; the improvement wherein said variable resistor further comprises second elongated resistor means and second elongated conductor means on said mount in parallel to each other and said elongated slot, second and third contactor means attached to said sliding member for slidable contact with said second resistor means and said second conductor means respectively, light source means attached to said operating means and electrically connected between said second and third contactor means, terminal means attached to said second resistor means, and terminal means attached to said second conductor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
217 words
In a variable resistor of the type comprising a case member having an open bottom and an elongated slot formed at the top thereof, a mount of an insulating material attached to said case member at said open bottom so as to define a hollow case, a first elongated resistor and a first elongated conductor on said mount and parallel with each other and with said elongated slot, a sliding member formed in an insulating material disposed within said case and having operating means extending upwardly and outwardly through said elongated slot and slidably along said elongated slot and said mount, and a first contactor attached to said sliding member for slidable contact with said first resistor and said first conductor so as to provide a short-circuit between them; the improvement wherein said variable resistor further comprises second elongated resistor means and second elongated conductor means on said mount in parallel to each other and said elongated slot, second and third contactor means attached to said sliding member for slidable contact with said second resistor means and said second conductor means respectively, light source means attached to said operating means and electrically connected between said second and third contactor means, terminal means attached to said second resistor means, and terminal means attached to said second conductor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
The variable resistor of claim 3 wherein said operating means of said sliding member comprises a knob supporting member extending upwardly through said slot, an open-ended knob affixed to the end of said knob supporting Means, said light source means being disposed within the open end of said knob, and a transparent plate covering the open end of said knob.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The variable resistor of claim 3 wherein said second conductor means comprises one conductor, and said light source means comprises a single lamp.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The variable resistor of claim 3 wherein said terminal means connected to said second resistor means comprises a terminal electrically connected to the mid-point of said second resistor means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
101 words
The variable resistor of claim 6 wherein said second conductor means comprises first and second elongated conductors spaced at different distances from said second resistor means, said first and second conductors being shorter than said second resistor means and extending from alignment with opposite ends of said second resistor means to overlap in the region of the mid-point of said second resistor means, said third contactor means comprising contactors separately contacting said first and second conductors, and wherein said light source means comprises first and second lights connected between said second contactor means and separate contacts of said third contactor means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
100 words
The variable resistor of claim 3 wherein said second conductor means comprises a plurality of elongated conductors spaced at different distances from said second resistor means, said separate conductors being of lengths shorter than said second resistor means and being disposed to be overlapped with respect to each other only at their respective ends, wherein said third contactor means comprises a separate contact aligned to contact each of said separate conductors, and wherein said light source means comprises a plurality of separate light sources each connected between said second contactor means and a separate contact of said third contactor means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The variable resistor of claim 3 wherein said terminal means connected to said second resistor means comprises separate terminals connected to the ends and mid-point of said second resistor means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a variable resistor of the type comprising a case member having an open bottom and an elongated slot formed at the top thereof, a mount of an insulating material attached to said case member at said open bottom so as to define a hollow case, elongated resistor means and first conductor means on said mounting parallel with each other and to said elongated slot, a sliding member of an insulating material disposed within said case and provided with operating means extending upwardly and outwardly through said elongated slot and slidable along said elongated slot and said mount, first contactor means attached to said sliding member in slidable contact with said resistor means and said first conductor means so as to provide a short therebetween; the improvement comprising second and third elongated conductive means on said mount in parallel with each other and to said elongated slot, second and third conductor means attached to said sliding member for slidable contact with said second and third conductive means, at least one light source means attached to said operating means and electrically connected between said second and third conductive means, and terminal means connected to said second and third conductive means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
199 words
In a variable resistor of the type comprising a case member having an open bottom and an elongated slot formed at the top thereof, a mount of an insulating material attached to said case member at said open bottom so as to define a hollow case, elongated resistor means and first conductor means on said mounting parallel with each other and to said elongated slot, a sliding member of an insulating material disposed within said case and provided with operating means extending upwardly and outwardly through said elongated slot and slidable along said elongated slot and said mount, first contactor means attached to said sliding member in slidable contact with said resistor means and said first conductor means so as to provide a short therebetween; the improvement comprising second and third elongated conductive means on said mount in parallel with each other and to said elongated slot, second and third conductor means attached to said sliding member for slidable contact with said second and third conductive means, at least one light source means attached to said operating means and electrically connected between said second and third conductive means, and terminal means connected to said second and third conductive means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
The variable resistor of claim 10 wherein said third conductive means comprises a plurality of conductors spaced at different distances from said second conductive means and having lengths shorter than said second conductive means, said separate conductors being overlapped only at their ends, wherein said third contactor means comprises a separate contact arranged to slidably contact each of said separate conductors, and wherein said light source means comprises a separate light source connected between said second contactor means and each of the contacts of said third contactor means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The variable resistor of claim 11 wherein said light sources have different colors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
259 words
A slider-type variable resistor wiTh indicating lamps comprising a. a case member with an open bottom and an elongated slot formed at the top thereof; b. a mount made of an insulating material and attached to said case member to close said open bottom so as to define a hollow space within said case member; c. at least one pair of a first resistor means and a first conductor means and at least one pair of a second conductor means and a third conductor means, said resistor means and conductor means each being formed on said mount in parallel with said elongated slot; d. terminal means connected to both ends of each of said resistor means and conductor means and extending through said mount to project from outside said space; e. a sliding member made of an insulating material disposed within said case and provided with an operating means extending through said elongated slot, said sliding member being slidable along said elongated slot and said mount; f. at least one contactor attached to the bottom of said sliding member and slidable over said pair of said first resistor means and said first conductor means so as to short-circuit between them and independent contactors attached to said bottom of said sliding member and slidable over said pair of said second conductor means and said third conductor means respectively; and g. at least one indicating light source mounted upon said operating means and electrically connected to said second conductor means and said third conductor means by way of said independent contactors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
259 words
A slider-type variable resistor wiTh indicating lamps comprising a. a case member with an open bottom and an elongated slot formed at the top thereof; b. a mount made of an insulating material and attached to said case member to close said open bottom so as to define a hollow space within said case member; c. at least one pair of a first resistor means and a first conductor means and at least one pair of a second conductor means and a third conductor means, said resistor means and conductor means each being formed on said mount in parallel with said elongated slot; d. terminal means connected to both ends of each of said resistor means and conductor means and extending through said mount to project from outside said space; e. a sliding member made of an insulating material disposed within said case and provided with an operating means extending through said elongated slot, said sliding member being slidable along said elongated slot and said mount; f. at least one contactor attached to the bottom of said sliding member and slidable over said pair of said first resistor means and said first conductor means so as to short-circuit between them and independent contactors attached to said bottom of said sliding member and slidable over said pair of said second conductor means and said third conductor means respectively; and g. at least one indicating light source mounted upon said operating means and electrically connected to said second conductor means and said third conductor means by way of said independent contactors.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
A slider-type variable resistor with indicating lamps as defined in claim 13 wherein said second conductor means is comprised of a plurality of separate sections.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
A slider-type variable resistor as recited in claim 13 further comprising a knob at the top of said operating means outside of said space, said knob having a hole therein, said indicating light source being mounted within said hole, and a transparent cover plate covering the hole in said knob.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
257 words
A slider-type variable resistor with indicating lamps comprising a. a case member with an open bottom and elongated slot formed at the top thereof; b. a mount made of an insulating material and attached to said case member to close said open bottom so as to define a hollow space within said case member; c. at least one pair of a first resistor means and first conductor means, and at least one pair of a second resistor means and a second conductor means; said resistor means and conductor means each being formed on said mount in parallel with said elongated slot; d. terminal means connected to both ends of each of said resistor means and conductor means and extending through said mount to project from outside said space; e. a sliding member made of an insulating material disposed within said case and provided with an operating means extending through said elongated slot, said sliding member being slidable along said elongated slot and said mount; f. at least one contactor attached to the bottom of said sliding member and slidable over said pair of said first resistor means and said first conductor means so as to short-circuit between them, and independent contactors attached to said bottom of said sliding member and slidable over said pair of said second resistor means and said second conductor means respectively; and g. at least one indicating light source mounted upon said operating means and electrically connected to said second resistor means and said second conductor means by way of said independent contactors.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
257 words
A slider-type variable resistor with indicating lamps comprising a. a case member with an open bottom and elongated slot formed at the top thereof; b. a mount made of an insulating material and attached to said case member to close said open bottom so as to define a hollow space within said case member; c. at least one pair of a first resistor means and first conductor means, and at least one pair of a second resistor means and a second conductor means; said resistor means and conductor means each being formed on said mount in parallel with said elongated slot; d. terminal means connected to both ends of each of said resistor means and conductor means and extending through said mount to project from outside said space; e. a sliding member made of an insulating material disposed within said case and provided with an operating means extending through said elongated slot, said sliding member being slidable along said elongated slot and said mount; f. at least one contactor attached to the bottom of said sliding member and slidable over said pair of said first resistor means and said first conductor means so as to short-circuit between them, and independent contactors attached to said bottom of said sliding member and slidable over said pair of said second resistor means and said second conductor means respectively; and g. at least one indicating light source mounted upon said operating means and electrically connected to said second resistor means and said second conductor means by way of said independent contactors.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A slider-type variable resistor as recited in claim 16, further comprising terminal means connected to said second resistor means between the ends thereof and extending through said mount.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-29 | 1979-03-31 | 1979-09-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-29 | 1983-03-31 | 1983-09-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-29 | 1987-03-31 | 1987-09-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |