Position sensor with resistive element
First Claim
1. A position sensor comprising:
- a resistive element positionable on a first surface;
a pair of leads on the resistive element, the pair of leads adapted to supply a first voltage;
an intermediate lead on the resistive element between the pair of leads, the intermediate lead adapted to provide a second voltage; and
a contact element positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A position sensor comprises a resistive element positionable on a first surface. A pair of leads are on the resistive element, the pair of leads adapted to supply a first voltage, such as by being grounded. An intermediate lead is positioned on the resistive element between the pair of leads, the intermediate lead being adapted to provide a second voltage. A contact element is positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface. In another version, a position sensor comprises a resistive element comprising first and second resistive strips. A plurality of leads are positioned on each resistive strip to provide a voltage to each resistive strip.
33 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A position sensor comprising:
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a resistive element positionable on a first surface;
a pair of leads on the resistive element, the pair of leads adapted to supply a first voltage;
an intermediate lead on the resistive element between the pair of leads, the intermediate lead adapted to provide a second voltage; and
a contact element positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30)
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16. A position sensor comprising:
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a resistive element positionable on a first surface, the resistive element comprising first and second resistive strips;
a plurality of leads on each resistive strip to provide a voltage to each resistive strip; and
a contact element positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface.
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27. A position sensor comprising:
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a resistive element positionable on a first surface, the resistive element comprising a plurality of portions;
a plurality of leads adapted to provide a voltage to the resistive element;
a contact element positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface; and
a voltage controller adapted to selectively provide a voltage to the portions of the resistive element in relation to the position of the contact element relative to the resistive element.
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31. A position sensor comprising:
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a resistive element positionable on a first surface;
a pair of leads on the resistive element, the pair of leads adapted to supply a first voltage;
a contact element positionable on a second surface, the contact element adapted to contact at least a portion of the resistive element and to provide a second voltage to the resistive element; and
an intermediate lead on the resistive element between the pair of leads, the intermediate lead adapted to detect a voltage, the detected voltage being related to the position or movement of the second surface relative to the first surface. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 35, 36)
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34. An interface device for interfacing a user with a computer, the computer running an application program and generating a graphical image and a graphical object, the interface device comprising:
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a user manipulatable object in communication with the computer; and
a sensor comprising a resistive element on a first surface and a contact element on a second surface, the resistive element comprising a plurality of leads adapted to provide a first voltage and a plurality of leads adapted to provide a second voltage, whereby the contact element contacts at least a portion of the resistive element to detect a voltage at a contact position, the detected voltage being related to the manipulation of the user manipulatable object and usable to control the graphical object.
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Specification