Resistive controller using magnetic repulsion

• US 5,999,083 A
• Filed: 04/26/1999
• Issued: 12/07/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Minebea Company Limited (MinebeaMitsumi Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CTS Corporation
• Inventors: Kordecki, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Richard K.
• Application Number:
  US09/299,361
• Time in Patent Office: 225 Days
• Field of Search: 338/12, 338/47, 338/99, 338/101, 338/113, 338/114
• US Class Current: 338/47
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/103 by using means responding to magnetic or electric fields, e.g. by addition of magnetisable or piezoelectric particles to the resistive material, or by an electromagnetic actuator

Abstract

A membrane potentiometer that uses magnets to keep the membranes separated. A controller has a backplate and a cover that has sidewalls and a top wall which has a central opening defining a cavity. The cover mounts to the backplate. A pair of membrane potentiometer are interposed between the cover and the backplate to receive a first voltage, and output a second voltage that is a percentage of the first voltage. A pair of magnet assemblies are located on outer surfaces of the membrane potentiometer to generate a magnetic repulsion force to keep the membrane potentiometer separated from each other.

Claims

1. A controller for receiving a first voltage and outputting a second voltage, comprising:

a) a first and second membrane potentiometer, located adjacent to each other, for receiving a first voltage, and outputting a second voltage that is a percentage of the first voltage; and

b) a first and second magnet assembly, located on outer surfaces of the first and second membrane potentiometer, for generating a magnetic repulsion force to keep the first and second membrane potentiometer separated from each other.

2. The controller according to claim 1, further comprising:

a) a backplate; and

b) a cover, having sidewalls and a top wall which has a central opening defining a cavity therein, for mounting on the backplate, the first and second membrane potentiometer, and the first and second magnet assembly interposed between the cover and the backplate.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein a plurality of electrical terminations are connected to the first and second membrane potentiometer and extend through a slot in the backplate.

4. The controller of claim 1, wherein the first and second magnet assemblies each have a plurality of individual magnets with alternating polarities along the length of the first and second magnet assembly.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the individual magnets are disposed on the first and second magnet assemblies such that opposed individual magnets have like polarities.

6. A controller for receiving a first voltage and outputing a second voltage, comprising:

a) a backplate;

b) a cover, having sidewalls and a top wall which has a central opening defining a cavity therein, for mounting on the backplate;

c) a first and second membrane potentiometer, interposed between the cover and the backplate, for receiving a first voltage, and outputing a second voltage that is a percentage of the first voltage; and

d) magnetic repulsion means, located on outer surfaces of the first and second membrane potentiometer and interposed between the cover and the backplate, for generating a magnetic repulsion force to keep the first and second membrane potentiometer separated from each other.

7. The controller of claim 6, wherein a plurality of electrical terminations are connected to the first and second membrane potentiometer and extend through a slot in the backplate.

8. The controller of claim 6, wherein the magnetic repulsion means is a first and second magnet assembly that each have a plurality of individual magnets with alternating polarities.

9. The controller of claim 8, where the individual magnets are disposed on the first and second magnet assemblies such that opposed individual magnets have like polarities.

10. A controller for receiving a first voltage and outputing a second voltage, comprising:

a) a first and second membrane potentiometer for receiving a first voltage, and outputing a second voltage that is a percentage of the first voltage; and

b) a plurality of individual magnets having alternating polarities, located on outer surfaces of the first and second membrane potentiometers and interposed between the cover and the backplate, for generating a magnetic repulsion force to keep the first and second membrane potentiometer separated from each other.

11. The controller of claim 10, wherein a plurality of electrical terminations are connected to the first and second membrane potentiometers.

12. The controller of claim 10, where the individual magnets are disposed such that opposed individual magnets have like polarities.

13. The controller of claim 10, where the first and second membrane potentiometers are separated by a spacer located therebetween.

14. The controller according to claim 10, further comprising:

a) a backplate;

b) a cover, having sidewalls and a top wall which has a central opening defining a cavity therein, for mounting on the backplate, the first and second membrane potentiometers and the magnets interposed between the cover and the backplate.

15. A controller for receiving a first voltage and outputing a second voltage, comprising:

a) a first and second elongated magnet assembly including;

1) a plurality of individual magnets having alternating polarities along the length of the first and second magnet assemblies, wherein the individual magnets are disposed on the first and second magnet assemblies such that opposed individual magnets have like polarities; and

b) a first and second potentiometer, disposed on inner surfaces of the first and second magnet assemblies, respectively and located adjacent each other, for receiving a first voltage, and outputing a second voltage that is a percentage of the first voltage, the magnet assemblies operable to generate a magnetic repulsion force that keeps the first and second membrane potentiometer separated from each other.