Device for detecting the location of a compression point

• US 20090195347A1
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoffmann + Krippner GmbH
• Original Assignee: Hoffmann + Krippner GmbH
• Inventors: Berres, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 8,188,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 338/118
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/165 by relative movement of a point of contact or actuation and a resistive track
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/10 adjustable by mechanical pressure or force

Abstract

The device has a first substrate on which an electrical resistive element is mounted, and a second substrate on which a contact electrode is mounted. The contact electrode is disposed opposite the resistive element at an electrically insulating distance. It can be brought into electrical contact with the resistive element by pressing the substrates together. The device is provided with electrical or electronic circuitry for detecting the location of the compression point. At least one of the substrates is equipped with a flat leaf spring of spring-grade sheet metal attached flush thereto, which leaf covers the compression zone of the substrates.

Claims

1. In a device for detecting the location of a compression point of the type having a first substrate on which an electrical resistive element is mounted, with a second substrate on which a contact electrode is mounted, which electrode is disposed opposite the resistive element at an electrically insulating distance and can be brought into electrical contact with the resistive element by pressing the substrates together, and with an electrical or electronic circuit for detecting the location of the compression point, the improvement comprising at least one of the substrates is equipped with a flat leaf spring of spring-grade sheet metal, which covers the compression zone of the substrates.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring is mounted on the outer side of a substrate turned away from the other substrate.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring is mounted on the inner side of a substrate turned toward the other substrate.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the substrates of the resistive element and contact electrode is made of film material and is equipped with a leaf spring.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the substrates of the resistive element and contact electrode is a printed-circuit board.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the substrates of the resistive element and contact electrode are both made of film material, and in that between the substrates there is mounted a spacer, which spacer forms the insulating distance between the resistive element and the contact electrode.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said spacer comprises film material.

8. A device according to claim 6, wherein at least one of said substrate of the contact electrode and said substrate of the resistive element is equipped with a leaf spring.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the leaf spring is bonded adhesively to at least one of said substrates of the resistive element and said contact electrode.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein said leaf spring occupies at least approximately the entire surface of at least one of said substrates of the resistive element and contact electrode, except for a contact tab.

11. A device according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring is fastened to at least one of said substrates of the resistive element and said contact electrode with a shielding film.

12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device comprises a potentiometer with a tapping electrode.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein said contact electrode on the second substrate is the tapping electrode of the potentiometer.

14. A device according to claim 13, wherein the resistive element has an electrical bipolar connection to the first substrate and the contact electrode has an electrical monopolar connection to the second substrate.

15. A device according to claim 12, wherein the tapping electrode is mounted adjacent to the resistive element on the first substrate in such a way that the resistive element and tapping electrode mesh with one another.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the resistive element has an electrical bipolar connection to the first substrate and the tapping electrode has an electrical monopolar connection to the first substrate.

17. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device can be actuated manually with a finger.

18. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device can be actuated with a mechanical wiper.

19. A device according to claim 1, wherein said device can be actuated magnetically.