Variable resistor changing resistance value by pressing

• US 6,275,138 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2000
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Maeda, Ryoichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Easthom, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Kyung S.
• Application Number:
  US09/589,023
• Time in Patent Office: 433 Days
• Field of Search: 338/47, 338/99, 338/100, 338/101, 338/113, 338/114, 338/309, 338/128
• US Class Current: 338/47
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 10/106 on resistive material dispersed in an elastic material H01C10/103 and H01C10/12 take precedence; for electric switches H01H1/029
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/078 Variable resistance by variable contact area or point

Abstract

The conventional variable resistor has a problem in that, because a pressure-sensitive member made of a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber is used, a serious scattering is caused in the characteristic (change curve), and scattering of thickness in the manufacture of the pressure-sensitive member results in a large scatter of the characteristic (change curve). The variable resistor of the invention uses the first resistor pattern forming the variable resistor. It is therefore possible to provide a variable resistor which scattering in the manufacture is smaller, can achieve a uniform resistance change characteristic, and gives a high accuracy.

Claims

1. A variable resistor comprising:

an insulated substrate;

first and second resistor patterns formed on said insulated substrate;

a first conductor pattern electrically connecting ends on one side of said first and second resistor patterns;

a deformable conductive contact, having a convex curved surface toward said insulated substrate, and arranged opposite to said first resistor pattern; and

a holding member having said conductive contact provided thereon;

wherein said conductive contact deforms to change a contact area on said first resistor pattern such that a resistance value of said first resistor pattern is variable;

second and third conductor patterns are formed in electric communication with other ends of said first and second resistor patterns;

said first resistor pattern is positioned between said first and second conductor patterns, said second resistor pattern is positioned between said first and third conductor patterns, and the resistance value of said first resistor pattern is larger than a resistance value of second resistor pattern;

said first resistor pattern is a variable resistor pattern, said second resistor pattern is a fixed resistor pattern, and both of said first and second resistor patterns are simultaneously formed printed patterns; and

said holding member comprises;

a holding portion serving as a ceiling plate, said conductive contact being disposed on an inner bottom surface of said holding portion; and

elastically deformable flared legs extending downward from a periphery of said holding portion, a lower end of said legs contacting said insulated substrate,

wherein, by performing a pressing operation on said holding member, said flared legs of said holding member are elastically deformed to gradually change the contact area of said conductive contact in relation to said first resistor pattern, thereby gradually varying the resistance of said first resistor pattern.

2. A variable resistor according to claim 1, wherein said first conductor pattern has a belt-shaped portion;

a resistive element is formed by printing so as to extend in two opposite directions across said belt-shaped portion;

said first resistor pattern is composed of said resistive element extending in one of the directions, and said second resistor pattern is composed of said resistive element extending in the other direction.

3. A variable resistor according to claim 2, wherein the upper surface of said second resistor pattern is covered with an insulating layer.

4. A variable resistor according to claim 1, wherein said conductive contact has a width larger than the width of said first resistor pattern formed into a rectangular shape so that said conductive contact is in contact with the whole width of the rectangle of said first resistor pattern.

5. A variable resistor according to claim 4, wherein said conductive contact is made by mixing a rubber material with carbon.

6. A variable resistor according to claim 1, wherein said holding member is made of an elastically deformable rubber material, and formed integrally with said conductive contact through formation of said holding member.

7. A variable resistor according to claim 6, wherein said legs have an opening in a direction of said curved surface.