Patent ID: 6275140
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: H01C

Abstract:
A rotary variable resistor comprising:a substrate comprising synthetic resin;a shaft rotatably connected to a hole formed in said substrate and comprising a sliding element;an annular collector formed on the surface of said substrate by printing a conductive material on said substrate, said collector being formed around said hole and comprising a surface that is engaged by said sliding element;a resistor formed on the surface of said substrate by printing a conductive material on said substrate, said resistor being generally formed around an outer periphery of said collector, said resistor comprising a split circular-arc shape and terminating in a pair of resistor ends, said resistor further comprising a surface that is engaged by said sliding element;a first terminal formed of metal and embedded in said substrate, said first terminal comprising a terminal part and an exposed part, said terminal part being formed by extending said metal from a side surface of said substrate, said exposed part being formed by filling an exposing hole formed in a portion of said substrate with said metal, said exposing part being located below an annular part of said collector and exposed at the surface of said substrate, said first terminal being electrically connected to said collector by printing said collector on said exposed part;a pair of second terminals formed of metal and embedded in said substrate, each second terminal comprising a terminal part and an exposed part, said terminal parts each being formed by extending said metal from a side surface of said substrate, said exposed parts each being formed by filling an exposing hole formed in a portion of said substrate with said metal, said exposing parts being located near said pair of resistor ends and exposed at the surface of said substrate; anda pair of leaders formed by printing a conductive material on the surface of said substrate, each said leader connecting one of said pair of said resistor ends with the exposed part of one of said pair of second terminals;wherein said sliding element slides on the surface of said resistor and on the surface of said collector by the rotation of said shaft, andwherein said first terminal has an external shape which comprises a first portion linearly extending from said terminal part to said exposed part, a second portion extending from the exposed part along an arc of said hole, and a third portion extending linearly from said second portion in a direction parallel with said first portion, said third portion extending from a side surface of said substrate.