Potentiometer having switching function
US4647897A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 1986 |
| Grant date | Mar 3, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 23, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01C10/36
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A potentiometer which provides the function of an on/off switch includes a center conductor connected to a conductive ring and a resistive element concentrically disposed about the conductive ring. The resistive element includes a pair of termination pads and one of the pads includes a branch which is situated outside the outer periphery of the resistive element. As a wiper arm traverses the resistive element it remains in contact with the branch for a brief distance and then loses contact with it. This causes the value of the resistance in the potentiometer to make an abrupt shift in magnitude which can be used to initiate various switching functions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.