Device for detecting the location of a compression point

• US 8,188,834 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hoffmann + Krippner GmbH
• Original Assignee: Hoffmann + Kripper GmbH
• Inventors: Berres, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KYUNG S
• Application Number:
  US12/319,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20090195347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 338/99, 338/114, 338/115, 338/176, 338/92, 338/95, 200510-512
• US Class Current: 338/114
• 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. A device for detecting the location of a compression point, comprising:

a first substrate on which an electrical resistive element is mounted;

a second substrate on which a contact electrode is mounted, said contact electrode being disposed opposite said resistive element at an electrically insulating distance and can be brought into electrical contact with said resistive element by pressing said first and second substrates together;

an electrical or electronic circuit for detecting the location of the compression point; and

at least one flat leaf spring of spring-grade sheet metal, on at least one of said first and second substrates and which covers the compression zone of said first and second substrates.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second substrates each have an outer side, and said leaf spring is mounted on said outer side of one of said first and second substrates turned away from the other of said first and second substrates.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said first and second substrates each have an inner side, and said leaf spring is mounted on said inner side of one of said first and second substrates turned toward the other of said first and second substrates.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second substrates of said resistive element and said contact electrode is made of film material and is equipped with said leaf spring.

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

6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a spacer mounted between said first and second substrates, wherein said spacer forms said electrically insulating distance between said resistive element and said contact electrode; and

wherein said first and second substrates of said resistive element and said contact electrode are both made of film material.

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

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

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said leaf spring is bonded adhesively to at least one of said first substrate of said resistive element and said second substrate of said contact electrode.

10. The device according to claim 9, further comprising:

a contact tab formed by a portion of said first substrate and said second substrate;

wherein said leaf spring occupies at least approximately the entire surface of at least one of said first and second substrates of said resistive element and said contact electrode, except for said contact tab.

11. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a shielding film, wherein said leaf spring is fastened to at least one of said first substrate of said resistive element and said second substrate of said contact electrode with said shielding film.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first substrate, said second substrate, said circuit and said at least one leaf spring collectively form a film potentiometer with a tapping electrode.

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

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

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

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

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein said contact electrode is brought into electrical contact with said resistive element by manually pressing said first and second substrates together with a finger.

18. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a mechanical wiper for bringing said contact electrode into electrical contact with said resistive element by pressing said first and second substrates together.

19. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for magnetic activation for bringing said contact electrode into electrical contact with said resistive element by pressing said first and second substrates together.