JP2505136Y2 - Variable resistor - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a variable resistor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a rotary variable resistor has been used as a volume for adjusting the temperature of a car air conditioner, for example. In this type of car air conditioner, if the variable resistor for temperature adjustment is rotated in one direction (for example, left rotation direction), the set temperature of the air conditioner gradually decreases, and the variable resistor is The cooling output of the air conditioner switches to the maximum output state (that is, the maximum cooling output is ignored by ignoring the set temperature) immediately before it is fully turned in the direction, while the variable resistor for temperature setting is rotated in the other direction (clockwise rotation). If it goes, the set temperature of the air conditioner gradually rises, and the heating output of the air conditioner switches to the maximum output state immediately before turning the variable resistor in the same direction (that is, the set temperature is ignored and the maximum heating output is set). There are things that work like.

In order to exert such a function, the rotation angle-output voltage ratio characteristic of the slider as shown in FIG. 11 is required. That is, this characteristic is that the output voltage ratio L rapidly changes to L ₁ when the slider rotates by an angle θ ₁ from the state where the rotation angle of the slider is 0 °, and then the output voltage ratio L changes stepwise according to the rotation angle θ. The output voltage ratio L sharply changes to 1.0 when the rotation angle changes from θ _n-1 to θ _n .

In order to approximately realize the above characteristics by the rotary variable resistor, as shown by the dotted line in the figure, when the rotation angle of the slider is between θ ₁ and θ _n-1 , the output voltage is The ratio L is changed linearly, and both ends (0 to θ ₁ and θ
_In the range ( _{n-1 to} θ _n ), it is necessary to change the output voltage ratio to 0 or 1.0 as rapidly as possible.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a substrate 80 of a conventional rotary variable resistor for obtaining such a rotation angle-output voltage ratio of the slider. FIG. 9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional state of each pattern when the outer pattern provided on the substrate 80 is cut from point a to point b shown in FIG.

As shown in both figures, in the substrate 80, an arc-shaped high resistance pattern 83 is first formed on the upper surface of an insulating substrate 81 by screen printing. Next, an arc-shaped low resistance pattern 82 having the same width as the high resistance pattern 83 and a short length is formed on the high resistance pattern 83 by screen printing. At this time, both ends of the high resistance pattern 83 are exposed from both ends of the low resistance pattern 82.

Next, electrode patterns 85 and 86 are screen-printed on both ends of the high resistance pattern 83. At this time, the inner ring-shaped current collecting pattern 87 and the current collecting pattern 8
The electrode pattern 88 continuous to 7 is also screen-printed at the same time.

As a result, the outer track having the high resistance patterns 83, 83 provided at both ends of the low resistance pattern 82 and the electrode patterns 85, 86 provided at both ends thereof, and the inner track formed of the current collecting pattern 87 are completed. .

At the center of the insulating substrate 81, there is provided a through hole 90 penetrating the rotary shaft for fixing the slider and the like, and metal electrodes are fixed to the electrode patterns 85, 86, 88. Through-holes 91, 92, 93 are provided for this purpose.

A slider (not shown) slides on each of these patterns. That is, the slider firstly has the electrode pattern 85 → high resistance pattern 83 → low resistance pattern 82 → high resistance pattern 83 → electrode pattern 8 from the point a shown in FIG.
Sliding on 6 and reaching point b. At this time, the slider is also in sliding contact with the current collecting pattern 87 at the same time. Then, for example, a predetermined voltage V ₀ is applied between the electrode patterns 85 and 86 on both sides.
Is applied and the voltage between the electrode patterns 85 and 88 is the output voltage V ₁ and the ratio L = V ₁ / V ₀ is the output voltage ratio, the rotation angle θ of the slider and the output voltage ratio L The relationship is as shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, from the point a of the electrode pattern 85 to the high resistance pattern 83 (that is, θ = 0 to θ ₁ ), the contact point of the slider is the output voltage ratio L.
Is 0, and the output voltage ratio L rises at a steep angle when sliding on the high resistance pattern 83 (that is, θ = θ _{1 to} θ ₂ ), and sliding on the low resistance pattern 82. At this time (that is, θ = θ _{2 to} θ _n-2 ), the output voltage ratio L rises at a gentle angle, and when the high resistance pattern 84 is slidingly contacted (that is, θ = θ _{n-2 to} θ _{n). −1} ), the output voltage ratio L again rises at a steep angle to L = 1.0, and reaches the point b on the electrode pattern 86 at the angle θ _n .

As can be seen by comparing FIG. 10 and FIG. 11, it can be seen that the substrate 80 can obtain almost required characteristics.

[0013]

In the above-mentioned conventional example, as described above, the high resistance pattern 83 is first screen-printed on the substrate 81, and then the low resistance pattern 82 is screen-printed thereon. Furthermore, the electrode pattern 85,
Although 86 is screen-printed, the printing position of each pattern may be displaced at this time.

If the deviation is in the vertical and horizontal directions shown in FIG. 8, the characteristics shown in FIG. 10 are not changed so much, but the deviation occurs in the rotation direction (shown by arrow A) shown in FIG. Significantly changes the characteristics shown in FIG.

For example, it is assumed that the printing position of the low resistance pattern 82 shown in FIG. 8 is displaced from the high resistance pattern 83 by the angle θ _x ° in the clockwise direction. The state of the cross section of the outer track at this time is shown in FIG. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 9 with FIG. 9, when the low resistance pattern 82 is displaced to the right, the distance e ₁ between the electrode pattern 85 and the low resistance pattern 82 is increased by the amount of the displacement, and The space e ₂ between the pattern 86 and the low resistance pattern 82 becomes narrower. That is, electrically, the lengths of the high resistance patterns 83, 83 connected to both ends of the low resistance pattern 82 change.

FIG. 13 shows the rotation angle θ− of the slider at this time.
It is a figure which shows the output voltage ratio L characteristic. As shown in the figure,
In this case, the resistance values of the left and right high-resistor patterns 83, 83 are changed by the rotational angle θ _{x in} which the deviation occurs, and the output voltage ratio L is entirely increased by 1 ′. Therefore, when such a rotary variable resistor is used as the temperature adjusting volume of the air conditioner, a considerable error occurs in the set temperature due to the deviation l'of the output voltage ratio L thereof.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and even if some deviation occurs between the high-resistor pattern and the low-resistor pattern printed on the substrate, the deviation of the output voltage ratio L does not occur. It provides a variable resistor that rarely occurs.

[0018]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides an insulating substrate 10, a low resistance pattern 25 formed on the insulation substrate 10, and at least both ends of the low resistance pattern 25. A variable resistor having a high resistance pattern 20 electrically connected to each other, electrode patterns 30 and 31 provided on both sides of the high resistance pattern 20, and a slider provided with a contact for slidingly contacting each pattern. In the resistor,
When printing the low-resistor pattern 25, the high-resistor pattern 20 and the electrode patterns 30, 3 are located at a predetermined distance d from both ends of the low-resistor pattern 25.
The connection low resistance patterns 27 and 28 are provided at positions where the 1s are electrically connected.

[0019]

With the above structure, even if the low resistance pattern 25 and the high resistance pattern 2 are printed on the insulating substrate 10,
Even if the printing deviation occurs in the rotational direction between 0, the length of the high resistance pattern 20 is always constant at the interval d between the low resistance pattern 25 and the connection low resistance patterns 27 and 28. The deviation occurs in the connection low resistance pattern 27, 28 having a low resistance value. Therefore, the output voltage ratio L
Almost no deviation occurs.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a substrate 1 of a rotary variable resistor according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional state of each pattern when the outer pattern provided on the substrate 1 is cut from point a to point b shown in FIG. Note that, in FIG. 2, the thickness of each pattern is shown to be considerably thick in order to clearly show the laminated state of each pattern, but in reality, the thickness is so thin that it can be almost ignored with respect to the length of the pattern.

In order to manufacture the substrate 1 as shown in both figures, first, an arc-shaped high resistance pattern 20 is printed on the upper surface of the insulating substrate 10 by screen printing.

Next, an arc-shaped low resistance pattern 25 having the same width as the high resistance pattern 20 and a short length is screen-printed on the high resistance pattern 20. At the same time when the low resistance pattern 25 is printed, the connection low resistance patterns 27 and 28 are also screen-printed at positions separated by a predetermined distance d from both ends of the low resistance pattern 25. The connection low resistance patterns 27 and 28 are provided so as to be connected to both ends of the high resistance pattern 20.

Here, the low resistance pattern 25 and the connection low resistance patterns 27 and 28 are simultaneously screen printed using the same mask. Therefore, the low resistance pattern 25
The length d of the high resistance pattern 20 exposed between the connection low resistance pattern 27 and the connection low resistance pattern 28 can be accurately set to a constant distance.

Next, the connection low resistance pattern 27, 2
The electrode patterns 30 and 31 are screen-printed so as to be connected to both ends of the electrode 8. At the same time, the inner ring-shaped current collecting pattern 33 and the electrode pattern 35 continuous with the current collecting pattern 33 are also screen-printed.

As a result, the track on the outside of the substrate 1 electrically connects the high resistance pattern 20, 20 to both ends of the low resistance pattern 25, and the connection low resistance patterns 27, 28 at both ends thereof. And the electrode patterns 30 and 31 are connected to both ends of the circuit.

A through hole 40 is provided in the center of the insulating substrate 10 so as to pass through a rotary shaft for fixing a slider or the like, and each electrode pattern 30, 31, 35 is provided with a metal terminal (not shown). Through holes 41, 42, 4 for fixing the
3 is provided.

A slider (not shown) slides on each of these patterns. That is, the slider is first electrode pattern 30 → connecting low resistance pattern 27 → high resistance pattern 20 → low resistance pattern 25 → high resistance pattern 20 → connection low resistance pattern 28 from point a shown in FIG. -> It comes in sliding contact on the electrode pattern 31 and reaches the point b. At this time, the slider is also in sliding contact with the current collecting pattern 33 at the same time. Then, for example, a predetermined voltage V ₀ is applied between the electrode patterns 30 and 31 on both sides, the voltage between the electrode patterns 30 and ₃₅ is defined as the output voltage V ₁ , and the ratio L = V ₁ / V ₀ is the output voltage. In terms of the ratio, the rotation angle θ of the slider-output voltage ratio L characteristic is as shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, from the point a of the electrode pattern 30 to the connection low resistance pattern 27 (that is, θ = 0 to θ ₁ ), the contact point of the slider is the output voltage. The ratio L is 0, and the output voltage ratio L gradually increases while sliding on the connection low resistance pattern 27 (that is, θ = θ _{1 to} θ ₁ ′). Next, when the slider is in sliding contact on the high resistance pattern 20 (that is, θ = θ ₁ ′ to θ ₂ ), the output voltage ratio L rises at a steep angle, and then on the low resistance pattern 25. When in sliding contact (that is, θ = θ _{2 to} θ _n-2 ), the output voltage ratio L rises at a gentle angle, and then the high resistance pattern 20.
The output voltage ratio L rises again at a steep angle when it is in sliding contact with the upper part (that is, θ = θ _{n-2 to} θ _{n- 1} ′), and when it is in sliding contact with the connection low resistance pattern 28. (Ie θ =
_{θ n-1 '~θ n-} 1) is the output voltage ratio L is elevated in gentle angle again L = 1.0, and the angle theta _n in the electrode pattern 3
1 to point b.

As can be seen by comparing the characteristics shown in FIG. 3 with the characteristics shown in FIG. 11, the required characteristics can be obtained from the substrate 1.

Next, the case where the printing positions of the respective patterns provided on the substrate 1 are displaced in the rotational direction will be described. For example, it is assumed that the low resistance pattern 25 of the substrate 1 shown in FIG. 1 is printed with a slight shift in the right rotation direction (the distance h at the rotation angle θ _x ) with respect to the high resistance pattern 20 printed below it. To do. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional state of each pattern at this time. As shown in the figure, in the case of this substrate 1, even if the printing position of the low resistance pattern 25 deviates from the high resistance pattern 20 by a distance h, both ends of the low resistance pattern 25 and the low resistance body for connection are connected. The interval d between the patterns 27 and 28 is constant and does not change. This is because the low-resistor pattern 25 and the low-resistor patterns 27 and 28 for connection can be printed simultaneously with the same mask. Therefore, the length d of the exposed portion of the high resistance pattern 20 does not change on either side.

Also, the length of the low resistance pattern 25 does not change. Then, at this time, the deviation occurs in the length of the exposed portions of the connection low resistance pattern 27, 28.

FIG. 5 shows the high resistance pattern 20 as described above.
6 is a diagram showing a rotation angle θ-output voltage ratio L characteristic of the slider of the substrate 1 in which the printing position of the low resistance pattern 25 is deviated by an angle θ _{x in the} right rotation direction.

In the case of this substrate 1, it is the connecting low resistance pattern 27, 28 having a low resistance value that causes a deviation due to the deviation of the low resistance pattern 25 as described above, and the high resistance value. It is not a part of the high resistance pattern 20. Therefore, as shown by the dotted line in the figure, even if the connection low resistance pattern 27, 28 is displaced by the angle θ _x , the resistance value thereof does not change so much, and the output voltage ratio L only rises by 1 as a whole. Is. This shift amount 1 is considerably smaller than the shift amount 1'in the conventional example shown in FIG.

That is, in the case of the substrate 80 shown in FIG.
When the printing positions of the high-resistor pattern 83 and the low-resistor pattern 82 deviate in the rotation direction, the length of the high-resistor pattern 83 changes, which causes a large deviation in the output voltage ratio L. In the case of the substrate 1 shown, the length of the high resistance pattern 20 does not change and is constant, and only the lengths of the connection low resistance patterns 27 and 28 at both ends thereof change, so that the output voltage ratio L does not deviate. It hardly happens.

Next, FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing another embodiment of the present invention, in which only one end on the electrode 31 side is shown. As shown in both figures, the stacking order of each pattern can be variously changed.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6A, the low-resistor pattern 25 and the low-resistor pattern 28 for connection → the high-resistor pattern 20 → the electrode pattern 31 may be printed in this order. As shown in (b), the low resistance pattern 25
And the low resistance pattern for connection 28 → electrode pattern 31 → high resistance pattern 20 may be printed in this order, or as shown in FIG. 7C, the electrode pattern 31 → high resistance pattern 20 → low resistance The body pattern 25 and the low resistance pattern for connection 28 may be printed in this order, or as shown in FIG. 3D, the electrode pattern 31 → the low resistance pattern 25 and the low resistance pattern for connection 28 → high. You may print in order of the resistor pattern 20.

As shown in FIGS. 7A to 7D,
The high resistance pattern 20 may be provided only in the range where the low resistance pattern 25 and the connection low resistance pattern 28 are connected. Also in this case, the printing order can be variously changed, as shown in FIGS.

Also in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the low resistance pattern 25 and the connection low resistance pattern 2 are used.
Since 8 can be printed at the same time, the length d of the high-resistor pattern 20 does not change, and the output voltage ratio L hardly changes even if a printing deviation occurs between the patterns.

In each of the above embodiments, the rotary variable resistor has been described, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to this and may be applied to a slide variable resistor.

[0040]

As described above in detail, according to the variable resistor of the present invention, the misalignment in the rotational direction occurs between the low resistance pattern and the high resistance pattern printed on the substrate. Even in this case, there is an excellent effect that the output voltage ratio L hardly deviates.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a substrate 1 of a rotary variable resistor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional state of each pattern when the outer pattern provided on the substrate 1 is cut from a point a to a point b shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a rotation angle θ-output voltage ratio L characteristic of a slider of the substrate 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a cross-sectional state of each pattern on the outside when the low resistance pattern 25 on the substrate 1 is printed with a slight shift in the clockwise direction with respect to the high resistance pattern 20.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a rotation angle θ-output voltage ratio L characteristic of a slider of a substrate 1 in which a printing position of a low resistance pattern 25 is displaced from a high resistance pattern 20 by an angle θ _{x in a} right rotation direction. Is.

FIG. 6 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a substrate 80 of a conventional rotary variable resistor.

9 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of a cross section of each pattern when the outer pattern provided on the substrate 80 is cut from point a to point b shown in FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a rotation angle θ-output voltage ratio L characteristic of a slider of a substrate 80.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing required rotation angle-output voltage ratio characteristics of the slider.

FIG. 12 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a state of the outer pattern when the printing position of the low-resistor pattern 82 on the substrate 80 is displaced in the right rotation direction by an angle θ _x °.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a rotation angle θ-output voltage ratio L characteristic of a slider.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 10 insulating substrate 20 high resistance pattern 25 low resistance pattern 27, 28 low resistance pattern for connection 30, 31 electrode pattern

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of utility model registration request] 1. An insulating substrate, a low-resistor pattern formed on the insulating substrate, a high-resistor pattern electrically connected to at least both ends of the low-resistor pattern, and a high-resistor pattern of the high-resistor pattern. In a variable resistor comprising electrode patterns provided on both sides and a slider provided with a contact that makes sliding contact with each pattern, when printing the low resistance pattern, a predetermined value is applied from both ends of the low resistance pattern. A variable resistor characterized in that a low resistance pattern for connection is provided at a position that is electrically separated between the high resistance pattern and the electrode pattern.