JP2010192851A - Variable resistance - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a variable resistor generating output voltages with different heights in steps and intermittently for continuous variation in movement amount of a slider. <P>SOLUTION: A first insulator part 31 covering a first resistance body part 11 is provided in a region of a first conductor part 21 on the opposite side from a second conductor part 22, and a region between the first conductor part 21 and second conductor part 22 includes a second insulator part 32 covering a second resistance body part 12. A region between the second conductor part 22 and a third conductor part 23 includes a third insulator part 33 covering a resistance body part 13, and a fourth insulator part 34 covering a fourth resistance body part 14 is provided in a region of the third conductor part 23 on the opposite side from the second conductor part 22. Consequently, the slider 7 while always in contact with a current collection pattern 10 along a track 9 slides on the insulator parts and conductor parts alternately along a tack 8 in the order of the first insulator part 31, first conductor part 21, second insulator part 32, second conductor part 22, third insulator part 33, third conductor part 23, and fourth insulator part 34. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a variable resistor that changes electric resistance (output voltage) in accordance with the amount of movement of an operation member.

  In the conventional variable resistor, the slider slides on the resistance circuit portion. This resistance circuit portion forms a series resistance circuit, and the series resistance circuit is configured such that conductor portions and resistor portions are alternately arranged on the track of the slider. The conductor part has a two-layer structure in which a silver layer is covered with a carbon layer, and the resistor part consists of a single carbon layer continuous with the carbon layer of the conductor part.

  When the slider moves on the resistor portion, the output voltage of the variable resistor varies. When the slider moves on the conductor portion, the output voltage is kept constant. Therefore, for example, the first to fourth resistor parts are connected in series, the first conductor part is located between the first and second resistor parts, and the second conductor part is located between the second and third resistor parts. Considering the relationship between the position of the slider with respect to the resistance circuit portion and the output voltage for the resistance circuit portion where the third conductor portion is located between the third and fourth resistor portions, the characteristics of the output voltage Is as follows.

  When the slider slides from the first resistor portion to the third conductor portion, first, the slider moves from one end to the other end of the first resistor portion. During this time, the output voltage gradually increases from the zero stage to the first stage. Next, while the slider passes through the first resistor portion, reaches one end of the first conductor portion, and moves to the other end of the first conductor portion, the output voltage is maintained at the first stage. Next, while the slider passes through the first conductor portion and reaches one end of the second resistor portion and moves to the other end of the second resistor portion, the output voltage is changed from the first stage to the second stage. Gradually rises. Next, while the slider reaches one end of the second conductor portion and moves to the other end of the second conductor portion, the output voltage is maintained at the second stage. Next, while the slider passes through the second conductor portion and reaches one end of the third resistor portion and moves to the other end of the third resistor portion, the slider gradually rises from the second stage to the third stage. . Next, while the slider passes through the third resistor portion and reaches one end of the third conductor portion and moves to the other end of the third conductor portion, the output voltage is maintained at the third stage.

  See Patent Document 1 for this type of variable resistor.

JP-A-9-193646

  The conventional variable resistor described above has first to third conductor portions as regions for maintaining the output voltages of the first to third stages constant regardless of the position of the slider. ~ Voltage other than the third stage, that is, the high voltage between the zero stage and the first stage, the high voltage between the first stage and the second stage, between the second stage and the third stage Voltage (hereinafter referred to as “intermediate output voltage”) is also generated as an output voltage.

  Here, for example, when the output voltage of the first to third stages is used as a command signal for controlling the electric equipment and the intermediate output voltage is considered as an unnecessary output voltage, the output voltage of the variable resistor is It is necessary to determine whether it is any of the first to third stages. In this determination, the difference between the output voltage of the first stage and the intermediate output voltage that is close to the first stage but lower than the first stage, and the output voltage of the first stage and the first stage The accuracy of determining the difference from the intermediate output voltage that is a close voltage value but higher than the first stage, that is, the certainty of whether the output voltage is the first stage or not is required. Similarly, the certainty of the determination is required for the second and third stages.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and its purpose is to generate output voltages of different heights stepwise and intermittently with respect to continuous changes in the amount of movement of the slider. It is to provide a variable resistor that can.

  The present invention is configured as follows to achieve the above-described object.

[1] The present invention includes a resistor circuit portion having a plurality of resistor portions and a plurality of conductor portions, the resistor portions and the conductor portions being alternately connected, and a slider, A variable resistor in which an output voltage changes stepwise when a slider selectively contacts any one of the plurality of conductor portions, and the conductor portion is insulated on a track of the slider. It is characterized by being sandwiched between body parts.

  In the present invention described in “[1]”, when the slider slides between the plurality of conductor portions on the resistance circuit portion, the slider alternately contacts the insulator portion and the conductor portion. Since the conductor portions and the resistor portions are alternately connected, if the sliding body moves between the plurality of conductor portions, the output voltage increases or decreases stepwise. Also, the slider always passes through the insulator part before and after contacting the conductor part, and during this passage, the slider and the resistance circuit part are in an electrically disconnected state, that is, the variable resistor is Since it is in the OFF state, the output voltage is intermittent while the moving amount of the slider continuously changes. As described above, according to the present invention described in “[1]”, output voltages having different heights can be generated stepwise and intermittently in response to a continuous change in the moving amount of the slider. .

[2] In the present invention according to [1], in the sliding direction of the slider, the resistor portion is located across the conductor portion, and each of the insulator portions is the sliding member. Each of the resistor parts is positioned so as to be covered from the track side of the slider so that the resistor parts are not exposed on the track of the child.

[3] The present invention is the invention described in “[1]”, wherein the resistor portion is arranged outside the track of the slider.

[4] In the present invention according to “[1]” or “[3]”, the row of the resistor portions and the row of the conductor portions are parallel to each other on a plane including the track of the slider. And only the row of the conductor portions is located on the track of the slider.

  According to the invention described in “[4]”, the size of the conductor portion in the same direction is not limited by the interval size of the resistor portions adjacent in the sliding direction of the slider, that is, more than the interval size. The size of the conductor portion can be set large, and the degree of freedom of the size of the conductor portion in the sliding direction of the slider can be made larger than that of the invention described in “[2]”.

  According to the present invention, as described above, output voltages having different heights can be generated stepwise and intermittently with respect to a continuous change in the moving amount of the slider. This improves the certainty of determining which of the stages the output voltage corresponds to, and contributes to improving the handling ease of the variable resistor when used for controlling an electrical device.

It is sectional drawing of the variable resistor which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the resistance circuit part with which the variable resistor shown in FIG. 1 was equipped. FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram of an output voltage obtained by the resistance circuit unit illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is a top view of the resistance circuit part with which the variable resistor which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention was equipped. It is VI-VI sectional drawing of FIG. FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram of an output voltage obtained by the resistance circuit unit illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

  First and second embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[First Embodiment]
A first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a variable resistor according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of a resistance circuit unit provided in the variable resistor shown in FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a characteristic diagram of the output voltage obtained by the resistance circuit unit shown in FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the variable resistor 1 according to the first embodiment includes a substrate 2 that is the basis of the entire variable resistor 1. A cover member 5 is attached to the substrate 2. The cover member 5 has an upper plate portion 5 a located facing the substrate 2. A long hole 5b is formed in the upper plate portion 5a. The operation member 6 is inserted into the long hole 5b from the substrate 2 side. The operation member 6 is slidable in the longitudinal direction (arrow S direction) of the long hole 5b.

  The operation member 6 includes a flange portion 6 a that extends in parallel with the substrate 2 between the upper plate portion 5 a of the cover member 5 and the substrate 2. A slider 7 is provided on the flange 6 a so as to protrude in the direction of the substrate 2. The slider 7 is formed in a cantilever shape and is always elastically pressed against the substrate 2 due to its flexibility. Although not shown, the tip of the slider 7 is bifurcated to come into contact with a resistance circuit portion 3 described later and a second sliding portion contacted with a current collecting pattern 10 described later. Is made.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the resistance circuit portion 3 is positioned so as to extend along the sliding direction of the slider 7. The resistance circuit unit 3 forms a series resistance circuit. The series resistor circuit includes a plurality of resistor parts, that is, a first resistor part 11, a second resistor part 12, a third resistor part 13, and a fourth resistor part 14 (hereinafter referred to as “first Resistor section 11 etc.) and a plurality of conductor sections, that is, first conductor section 21, second conductor section 22 and third conductor section 23 (hereinafter collectively referred to as "first conductor section 21 etc.") And have. In the sliding direction of the slider 7, the first conductor portion 21 is located between the first resistor portion 11 and the second resistor portion 12, and between the second resistor portion 12 and the third resistor portion 13. The second conductor portion 22 is located in the second conductor portion 23, and the third conductor portion 23 is located between the third resistor portion 13 and the fourth resistor portion 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the first conductor portion 21 or the like has a two-layer structure of a silver layer printed on the substrate body 2a and a carbon layer printed covering the silver layer. The first resistor portion 11 and the like are formed of a single layer of only carbon that is continuous with the carbon layer of the first conductor portion 21 and the like.

  A current collecting pattern 10 is provided on the track 9 of the second sliding portion of the slider 7 by printing. The current collection pattern 10 has a structure in which a silver layer is covered with a layer of carbon, like the first conductor portion 21 and the like of the resistance circuit portion 3.

  In particular, in the first embodiment, the resistance circuit unit 3 has the same number of insulators as the resistor parts such as the first resistor part 11, that is, the first insulator part 31, the second insulator part 32, and the third insulator. It has a body part 33 and a fourth insulator part 34 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “first insulator part 41 etc.”). Each of these first insulator portions 31 and the like is made of an insulating resin layer. The first insulator portion 31 and the like are arranged such as the first resistor portion 11 and the like from the track 8 side so that the first resistor portion 11 and the like are not exposed on the track 8 of the first slide portion of the slider 7. It is located over each other. That is, the conductor portion such as the first conductor portion 21 is positioned between the respective insulator portions such as the first insulator portion 31 in the track 8 of the first sliding portion. Specifically, a first insulator portion 31 that covers the first resistor portion 11 is provided in a region of the track 8 opposite to the second conductor portion 22 side of the first conductor portion 21. A region between the first conductor portion 21 and the second conductor portion 22 includes a second insulator portion 32 that covers the second resistor portion 12. Similarly, the region between the second conductor portion 22 and the third conductor portion 23 in the track 8 is composed of a third insulator portion 33 that covers the third resistor portion 13. A fourth insulator portion 34 that covers the fourth resistor portion 14 is provided in a region opposite to the conductor portion 22 side. Thereby, as can be seen from the track 8, the first sliding portion of the slider 7 is on the first insulator portion 31, on the first conductor portion 21, on the second insulator portion 32, and on the second conductor portion 22. On the third insulator part 33, on the third conductor part 23, and on the fourth insulator part 34, the insulator part and the conductor part are alternately slid in this order.

  The relationship between the contact position of the slider 7 with respect to the resistance circuit unit 3 and the output voltage in the variable resistor 1 configured as described above will be described.

  In FIG. 2, while the slider 7 slides from the first resistor portion 11 to the third conductor portion 23 in the arrow S direction, the first sliding portion of the slider 7 is on the first resistor portion 11. It slides on the first conductor part 21, the second resistor part 12, the second conductor part 22, the third resistor part 13, and the third conductor part 23 in this order. During this time, the second sliding portion of the slider 7 slides on the current collection pattern 10 in parallel with the first sliding contact portion. That is, the slider 7 is always in contact with the current collecting pattern 10 at the second sliding portion, and the first resistor portion 11, the first conductor portion 21, the second resistor portion 12, The second conductor part 22, the third resistor part 13 and the third conductor part 23 slide in this order.

  During sliding in that order, the slider first moves from one end (right end in FIG. 2) of the first insulator portion 31 to the other end. During this movement (region Z1 in FIG. 4), the slider 7 and the resistance circuit portion 3 are always electrically disconnected by the first insulator portion 31. For this reason, the variable resistor 1 is maintained in the off state. In this state, since the electrical resistance value of the first insulator portion 31 is infinite, the output voltage is maintained at 0V.

  Next, the slider 7 passes through the first insulator portion 31 and simultaneously contacts one end of the first conductor portion 21, whereby the variable resistor 1 is turned on. Thereafter, while the slider 7 moves to the other end of the first conductor portion 21 (region D1 in FIG. 4), the output voltage is maintained at the first stage L1.

  Next, the slider 7 passes through the first conductor portion 21 and simultaneously contacts one end of the second insulator portion 32, whereby the variable resistor 1 is turned off. Thereafter, while the slider 7 moves to the other end of the second insulator portion 32 (region Z2 in FIG. 4), the variable resistor 1 is maintained in the off state (output voltage is 0 V) as in the case of the region Z1. Is done.

  Next, the slider 7 passes through the second insulator portion 32 and simultaneously contacts one end of the second conductor portion 22, thereby turning on the variable resistor 1. Thereafter, while the slider 7 moves to the other end of the second conductor portion 22 (region D2 in FIG. 4), the output voltage is maintained at the second stage L2 higher than the first stage L1.

  Next, the slider 7 passes through the second conductor portion 22 and simultaneously contacts one end of the third insulator portion 33, whereby the variable resistor 1 is turned off. Thereafter, while the slider 7 moves to the other end of the third insulator 33 (region Z3 in FIG. 4), the variable resistor 1 is maintained in the off state (output voltage is 0V).

  Next, the slider 7 passes through the third insulator portion 33 and simultaneously contacts one end of the third conductor portion 23, whereby the variable resistor 1 is turned on. Thereafter, while the slider 7 moves to the other end of the third conductor portion 23 (region D3 in FIG. 4), the output voltage is maintained at the third stage L3 higher than the second stage L2.

  In FIG. 4, a characteristic line indicated by a two-point difference line indicates that the slider 7 is slid directly on the first resistor part 11 or the like, that is, the first resistor part 11 or the like is the first insulator. The characteristic of the output voltage in the conventional variable resistor mentioned above which is not covered by the part 31 grade | etc., Is shown.

  According to the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the first embodiment, when the slider 7 slides between the plurality of conductor portions of the first conductor portion 21 and the like on the resistance circuit portion 3, the conductor portion and the insulator portion (first insulator portion 31). Etc.) alternately. Since the conductor portions and the resistor portions are alternately connected, if the slider 7 moves between the plurality of conductor portions, the output voltage increases or decreases stepwise as shown in FIG. Also, the slider 7 always passes through the insulator part before and after contacting each conductor part, and during this passage, the slider 7 and the resistance circuit part 3 are in an electrically disconnected state, that is, Since the variable resistor 1 is turned off, the amount of movement of the slider 7 continuously changes while the output voltage is intermittent. In short, according to the variable resistor 1 according to the first embodiment, output voltages having different heights can be generated stepwise and intermittently with respect to a continuous change in the moving amount of the slider 7. . Therefore, the certainty of determining which of the stages the output voltage corresponds to is improved.

  In the variable resistor 1 according to the first embodiment described above, the operation member 6 is linearly slid, and the resistance circuit unit 3 is formed linearly corresponding to this, The present invention is not limited to this. For example, the operating member is rotated like a variable resistor as a shift pedal sensor for a motorcycle, and a resistance circuit unit corresponding to the resistance circuit unit 3 is provided. It may be formed in an arc shape around the rotation center line of the operation member. In this case, a predetermined output stage can be reliably maintained even if shift pedal blur occurs, which contributes to output stability.

[Second Embodiment]
A second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a top view of a resistance circuit unit provided in a variable resistor according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a characteristic diagram of an output voltage obtained by the resistance circuit unit shown in FIGS. In FIG. 5, the same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 2 are used for the elements equivalent to those shown in FIG.

  The variable resistor according to the second embodiment includes a resistance circuit unit 40 different from the first embodiment. Regarding the configuration other than the resistor circuit section 40, the variable resistor according to the second embodiment is the same as the variable resistor 1 according to the first embodiment.

In the resistance circuit unit 40, the first resistor unit 11, the second resistor unit 12, the third resistor unit 13 and the fourth resistor unit 14 are on a plane including the track 8 of the slider 7, that is, On the upper surface of the substrate body 2a,
A row of the first resistor portion 11 and the like and a row of the first conductor portion 21 and the like are positioned in parallel. Only the rows of the first conductor portions 21 and the like are located on the track 8 of the slider 7.

  The surface of the substrate 2 is coated with a wear-resistant and insulating resin material (for example, phenol-based ink). The conductor parts such as the first conductor part 21 are positioned on the track 8 of the first sliding part, sandwiched between the insulating parts made of the wear-resistant and insulating resin material. That is, a region of the first conductor portion 21 opposite to the second conductor portion 22 side, a region between the first conductor portion 21 and the second conductor portion 22, and between the second conductor portion 22 and the third conductor portion 23. In each of the region and the region of the third conductor portion 23 opposite to the second conductor portion 22 side, the wear-resistant and insulating resin material is the first insulator portion 41, the second insulator portion. 42, a third insulator portion 43, and a fourth insulator portion 44 are formed. Thereby, as can be seen from the track 8, the first sliding portion of the slider 7 can be seen on the first insulator portion 41, on the first conductor portion 21, on the second insulator portion 42, and on the second conductor. On the part 22, on the third insulator part 43, on the third conductor part 23, and on the fourth insulator part 44, the insulator part and the conductor part are slid alternately.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the output voltage similar to that of the first embodiment can be obtained also by the variable resistor according to the second embodiment. In FIG. 7, a region Za shows an output voltage when the slider 7 is on the first insulator portion 41, and a region Zb shows an output voltage when the slider 7 is on the second insulator portion 42. Region Zc shows the output voltage when the slider 7 is in the third insulator portion 43. The area Da shows the output voltage when the slider 7 is on the first conductor portion 21, the area Db shows the output voltage when the slider 7 is on the second conductor portion 22, and the area Dc shows the slide voltage. The output voltage when the moving element 7 is in the third conductor portion 23 is shown.

  According to the second embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

  In the second embodiment, when the slider 7 slides between all or some of the first conductor portions 21 and the like on the resistance circuit portion 40, the conductor portion and the insulator portion (the first insulator portion 41 and the like). Any one of them). Since the conductor portions and the resistor portions are alternately connected, if the slider 7 moves between the plurality of conductor portions, the output voltage increases or decreases stepwise as shown in FIG. The slider 7 always passes through the insulator part before and after contacting the conductor part, and the slider 7 and the resistance circuit part 40 are electrically disconnected during the passage, that is, variable. Since the resistor is turned off, the output voltage is intermittent while the moving amount of the slider 7 is continuously changed. In short, even with the variable resistor according to the second embodiment, it is possible to generate output voltages of different heights stepwise and intermittently with respect to a continuous change in the moving amount of the slider 7. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to improving the reliability of determination as to which of the stages the output voltage corresponds to, and to contribute to improving the handling ease of the variable resistor when used for the control of electrical equipment.

  In particular, in the second embodiment, the first conductor portion 21 and the like are positioned so as to protrude from the row of the first resistor portion 11 and the like on the track 8 of the slider 7. Thereby, the dimension of the 1st conductor part 21 grade | etc., In the same direction is not restrict | limited by the space | interval dimension 51-53 of the resistor part adjacent in the sliding direction of the slider 7, That is, rather than the space | interval dimension 51-53. Since it can be set to a large value, a predetermined voltage maintaining distance (for example, Da or Db in FIG. 7) is independent of the stepwise increase in output voltage (for example, the difference voltage between the output voltages L1 and L2 shown in FIG. 7). (Length) can be increased. That is, the degree of freedom of dimensions of the first conductor portion 21 and the like in the sliding direction of the slider 7 can be made larger than that in the first embodiment.

  In the variable resistor according to the second embodiment described above, the operation member is linearly slid, and the resistance circuit portion 40 is formed linearly corresponding to this, but the present invention is not limited to this. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the operation member is rotated, and the resistance circuit portion corresponding to the resistance circuit portion 40 is formed in an arc shape around the rotation center line of the operation member. Also good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Variable resistor 2 Board | substrate 2a Board | substrate main body 3 Resistance circuit part 5 Cover member 5a Upper board part 5b Long hole 6 Operation member 6a Gutter part 7 Slider 8, 9 Track 10 Current collection patterns 11-14 1st-4th resistance Body parts 21 to 23 First to third conductor parts 31 to 34 First to fourth insulator parts

40 resistance circuit parts 41-44 1st-4th insulator parts 51-53 space dimension

Claims (4)

A resistor circuit portion having a plurality of resistor portions and a plurality of conductor portions, wherein the resistor portions and the conductor portions are alternately connected to each other, and a slider; A variable resistor whose output voltage changes stepwise by selectively contacting any of the conductor parts,
The variable resistor according to claim 1, wherein the conductor is positioned between the insulators on the track of the slider. In the invention of claim 1,
In the sliding direction of the slider, the resistor part is located across the conductor part,
Each of the insulator parts is positioned so as to cover each of the resistor parts from the track side of the slider so that each of the resistor parts is not exposed on the track of the slider. Variable resistor. In the invention of claim 1,
The variable resistor according to claim 1, wherein the resistor portion is arranged outside the track of the slider. In the invention according to claim 1 or 3,
The row of the resistor portions and the row of the conductor portions are positioned in parallel on a plane including the track of the slider, and only the row of the conductor portions is positioned on the track of the slider. A variable resistor.

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