Electrical resistors – Resistance value responsive to a condition – Force-actuated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-07
2001-08-14
Easthom, Karl D. (Department: 2832)
Electrical resistors
Resistance value responsive to a condition
Force-actuated
C338S099000, C338S128000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275138
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable resistor adapted to be used for a video game machine or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional variable resistor will be described with reference to
FIGS. 10
to
13
. An insulated substrate
32
is housed in a case
31
comprising a synthetic resin form.
A fixed contact
33
having a pair of comb-shaped contacts formed at a certain interval on one side surface of the insulated substrate
32
as shown in
FIGS. 11 and 13
.
A fixed resistor
34
is attached to the other surface of the insulated substrate. As shown in
FIG. 13
, connection of the fixed contact
33
and the fixed resistor
34
is accomplished by connecting one of the contacts of the fixed contact
33
and a side of the fixed resistor with a connection line
35
. The other contact of the fixed contact
33
is grounded with a connection line
36
. The other end of the fixed resistor
34
is connected to a power supply terminal T
1
via a connection line
37
. An outgoing terminal T
2
is connected to the connection line
35
via a connection line
38
.
A pressure-sensitive member
39
is made of a disk-shaped pressure-sensitive conductive rubber. This pressure-sensitive member
39
is arranged to be spread over the pair of fixed contacts
33
.
A buffer member
40
is made of a rubber material. The buffer member
40
is placed on the upper surface of the pressure-sensitive member
39
in a state in which it faces the fixed contact
33
, and attached thereto by an adhesive or the like.
An operating member
41
comprising a synthetic resin form or the like is positioned on the upper surface of the buffer member
40
and attached in a state projecting from a hole
31
a
of the case
31
.
Operation of the conventional variable resistor having the aforementioned configuration will now be described. When pressing the upper surface of the operating member
41
, the pressure-sensitive member
39
is pressed via the buffer member
40
and deformed under the pressure to cause a change in resistance value at the portion of the pressure-sensitive member
39
thus pressed. The change in resistance value caused by a change in this pressing force is detected between the pair of comb-shaped contacts of the fixed contact
33
.
Upon release of the pressing operation of the operating member
41
, the pressure-sensitive member
39
and the buffer member
40
recover the original state thereof under the effect of their own elasticity, and at the same time, the operating member
41
as well recovers its original state.
The change characteristic of pressing force and electric resistance when using the pressure-sensitive member
39
is such that, as shown in
FIG. 12
, the resistance value steeply changes in the initial stage of pressing, exhibits a curved change in the middle stage that follows, and almost no change in the final stage, as represented by a change curve K
2
.
Because the pressure-sensitive member
39
is made of a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber, the characteristic (change curve) shows a large scattering, and in the manufacture of the pressure-sensitive member
39
, furthermore, a scatter occurs in thickness, resulting in a serious scattering of characteristic (change curve).
Such a variable resistor is adapted to be used in an electric circuit diagram as shown in
FIG. 13
, incorporated in a game machine or the like.
In this circuit diagram, when a voltage is impressed between a terminal T
1
and the connection line
36
, an output voltage available between the fixed resistor
34
and the variable resistor based on the pressure-sensitive member
39
on the fixed contact
33
is taken out from a terminal T
2
.
When using such a variable resistor, for example, for speed operation of vehicle in a game machine, the resistance value steeply changes in the initial stage of pressing operation of the operating member
41
, thus making it difficult to perform speed operation. In the latter stage of pressing operation, there is almost no change in resistance value. This causes the operator to feel an uncomfortable sense of being out of tune with the speed relative to the pressing operation.
When utilizing only the curved changing portion in the middle of the change curve K
2
, the slight change in resistance value during this course leads to a poorer operability.
In the conventional variable resistor, the use of the pressure-sensitive member
39
made of a pressure-sensitive conductive rubber causes a serious scattering of characteristic (change curve). Further, in the manufacture of the pressure-sensitive member
39
, scattering of thickness poses a problem of a large scattering of the characteristic (change curve).
When using the variable resistor using a pressure-sensitive member
39
, for example, for speed operation of a vehicle in a game machine, a steep change in resistance value in the initial stage of pressing operation of the operating member
41
makes it difficult to perform speed operation, and in the latter stage of pressing operation, the slightest change in resistance value causes a problem of a serious feeling of uncomfortability of being out of tune with the speed relative to the pressing operation.
When using only the curved changing portion in the middle of the change curve K
2
of the pressure-sensitive member
39
, the slightest change in resistance value in this middle stage leads to a problem of a poorer operability.
In this case, the pressure-sensitive member
39
is always in a state of preliminarily being pressed by the fixed contact
33
. The pressure in this case is not constant under the effect of dispersion of size of parts and assembly, thus resulting in a serious scatter of output derived from the outgoing terminal T
2
in the non-operating state. In addition, deterioration with time of elasticity of the pressure-sensitive member
39
leads to a problem of a shorter service life. Since it is necessary to use the fixed resistor
34
separately from the variable resistor and the fixed resistor
34
is attached and wired onto the insulated substrate
32
, there is posed another problem of complicated operation and a higher cost.
SUMMARY OF THE. INVENTION
As first means for solving the aforementioned problems, there is provided a configuration in which a variable resistor comprises an insulated substrate; first and second resistor patterns formed on the insulated substrate; a first conductor pattern electrically connecting ends on one side of the first and second resistor patterns; a deformable conductive contact, having a convex curved surface toward the insulated substrate, and arranged opposite to the first resistor pattern; and a holding member having the conductive contact provided thereon; wherein the conductive contact is caused to deform to change the contact area so as to agree with the first resistor pattern so that the resistance value is variable.
Second solving means is a configuration in which second and third conductor patterns are formed in electrical communication with the other ends of the first and second resistor patterns; and the first resistor pattern positioned between the first and second conductor patterns has a resistance value larger than the resistance value of the second resistor pattern positioned between the first and third conductor patterns.
Third solving means is a configuration in which the first conductor pattern has a belt-shaped portion; a resistive element is formed by printing so as to extend in two opposite directions across the belt-shaped portion; the first resistor pattern is composed of the resistive element extending in one of the directions, and the second resistor pattern is composed of the resistive element extending in the other direction.
Fourth solving means is a configuration in which the upper surface of the second resistor pattern is covered with an insulating layer.
Fifth solving means is a configuration in which the conductive contact has a width larger than the width of the first resistor pattern formed into a rectangular sh
Alps Electric Co. ,Ltd.
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Easthom Karl D.
Lee Kyung S.
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