Patent ID: 6292090
Filing Date: 2001-09-18
Classification: H01C

Abstract:
A position detecting switch with an analog output for detecting a position out of predetermined selected positions of a first object relative to a second object, wherein a switch circuit comprises:a first plurality of metallic contacts formed on a board attached to the first object, the first plurality of metallic contacts being physically arranged in a direction of motion of the first object relative to the second object so as to a first plurality of the predetermined selected positions;a second plurality of metallic contacts formed on the board, the second plurality of metallic contacts being physically arranged in a direction of motion of the first object relative to the second object, and being physically arranged parallel to the first plurality of metallic contacts so as to correspond to a second plurality of the predetermined selected positions;a third metallic contact formed on the board, the third metallic contact being physically arranged in a direction of motion of the first object relative to the second object and being physically arranged in parallel to the first and second plurality of contacts;a first plurality of voltage dividing elements having a first node coupled to a first reference voltage of a power supply and having a second node electrically coupled to a corresponding metallic contact of the first plurality of metallic contacts;a second plurality of voltage dividing elements having a first node electrically coupled to the first reference voltage and having a second node electrically coupled to a corresponding metallic contact of the second plurality of metallic contacts;a third voltage dividing element, external to the power supply, having a first node electrically coupled to a second reference voltage of the power supply and the second node electrically coupled to the third metallic contact, wherein the analog output is obtained at the third metallic contact and is capable of having a range of voltages; anda fourth metallic contact physically coupled to the second object and positioned so that as the first and second objects move relative to each other, the fourth metallic contact makes slidable contact with the third metallic contact and at least one of the first and second plurality of metallic contacts so as to electrically couple combinations of first and second voltage dividing elements together in parallel,wherein values of the first plurality of voltage dividing elements, second plurality of voltage dividing elements, and third voltage dividing element are selected so that the analog output has a voltage corresponding to the relative position of the first and second objects.