Touch controlled voltage-divider device

• US 3,968,467 A
• Filed: 11/01/1974
• Issued: 07/06/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Spectra Symbol Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Stephen H. Lampen
• Inventors: Hearn, William E., Lampen, Stephen H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayewsky, Volodymyr Y.
• Application Number:
  US05/519,825
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 338/96, 338/69, 338/114, 338/119, 338/160, 338/161, 338/168, 338/186, 338/194, 338/196, 338/199, 340/365 S, 340/51, 200/46, 200/86 R, 200/159 B, 323/63, 323/79, 323/96, 343/7.3, 219/501
• US Class Current: 338/119
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 1/28 Provision in measuring instruments for reference values, e.g. standard voltage, standard waveform
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/00 Adjustable resistors
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/02 Manually-operated control H03G3/001 and H03G3/002 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/904 Touch systems

Abstract

A voltage divider device capable of providing any voltage in a preselected range of voltages, which voltage may be set by a touch of the finger is disclosed. The device includes a control element without frictional contacts and a voltage storage circuit controlled by the control element. A circuit including the device is described and embodiments of the device providing a visual indication of the setting of the device are disclosed.

Claims

1. In a voltage-divider device:

a. a resistive member having an elongated resistive surface;

b. a conductive member having an elongated conductive surface mounted in close spaced substantially coextensive relationship with said resistive surface;

c. means for selectively establishing galvanic contact between each of a plurality of points along the length of said resistive surface and the point corresponding thereto along the length of said conductive surface by a touch of the finger;

d. elongated voltage responsive visual indication means physically located along the length of said elongated resistive and conductive surfaces in close spaced substantially coextensive relationship therewith and adapted to produce a different visual indication in response to each of a plurality of different voltages corresponding to each of said plurality of points along the length of said resistive surface;

e. terminal means for making electrical connection to opposite ends of said elongated resistive surface; and

f. terminal means for making electrical connection from the conductive member to said elongated voltage responsive visual indication means.

2. In a voltage-divider device as claimed in claim 1 said elongated voltage responsive visual indication means comprising an elongated array of a plurality of light emitting diodes each physically located in close spaced relationship with a different one of said plurality of points along the length of said resistive surface.