High-resolution, high-precision solid-state potentiometer
US6555996B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 13, 2001 |
| Grant date | Apr 29, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 13, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH03H7/24
- WIPO fieldBasic communication processes
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Disclosed are solid-state potentiometers having high resolution and high accuracy. An exemplary potentiometer comprises a first main terminal, a second main terminal, a wiper terminal, and a resistor stack comprising a plurality M of resistors coupled in series to one another at a plurality of M−1 internal nodes. Each of the resistors in the stack has substantially the same value of RS ohms. The potentiometer further comprises a first variable resistance network coupled between one end of the resistor stack and the potentiometer's first main terminal, and a second variable resistance network coupled between the other end of the resistor stack and the potentiometer's second main terminal. The first variable resistance network has a variable resistance value R1 which varies between zero ohms and RP ohms. The second variable resistance network has a variable resistance value R2 which is maintained substantially at value of (RP−R1). The wiper terminal is selectively coupled to one of the internal nodes of the resistor stack, or to one of the ends of the resistor stack, to provide a coarse setting of the potentiometer's wiper position. The resistances of the variable resista…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.