Compact potentiometer
US6040756A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Mar 21, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60R16/037
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A sensor is disclosed that fits in a compact package. This compact sensor is ideal for sensing rotary positions and for accommodating one or more potentiometers. The resistor track is parallel and opposed to the collector track, and the wiper is placed between the two tracks to swipe both of them in one embodiment. This allows a short package, because the tracks are opposed to each other rather than being in a line, and a narrow package, because the tracks are not placed side by side. Another advantage of the invention is that putting the resistor track on a larger radius and the collector track on a smaller radius allows the resistor track to be longer. Having a longer resistor track allows a higher resolution, yet a package containing the potentiometer will still be relatively small. Several potentiometers may be placed in the sensor to provide redundancy yet retain compactness.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.