Patent ID: 6933830

Claim:
A variable resistor comprising: an insulating substrate having a substantially arch-shaped resistor provided on a surface thereof; and a sliding contact rotatably attached to the insulating substrate; wherein the sliding contact includes a body including a contact arm sliding over the resistor and a disk section for supporting the contact arm and a driver plate overlapping the body for being operated by a tool; a step disposed in a portion of the driver plate opposing a contact of the contact arm such that a gap between the portion of the driver plate having the step disposed therein and the contact arm is greater than a gap between a portion of the driver plate not having the step disposed therein and the contact arm; the portion of the driver plate having the step disposed therein has a thickness that is less than a thickness of the remainder of the driver plate, the thicknesses being defined as a distance between upper and lower major surfaces of the driver plate.