US2987634A - Potentiometer output function transmitting means - Google Patents

Description

June 6, 1961 N. WAIL 2,987,634

POTENTIOMETE'R OUTPUT FUNCTION TRANSMITTING MEANS Filed May 8, 1959 PART RANGE DEVICE r FULL RANGE DEVICE INVENTOR.

NORMAN WA /L HITOIQ/VE) United States Patent 2,987,634 POTENTIOMETER OUTPUT FUNCTION TRANSMITTING MEANS Norman Wail, Ridgefield, N.J., assignor to The Bendix Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Filed May 8, 1959, Ser. No. 811,926 4 Claims. (Cl. 307-149) The invention relates to an improved system for transmitting a function and part of that function through a pair of potentiometers and a novel rotary segmental switch for switching in the part function potentiometer in relation to the operation of the other or full range potentiometer.

In many computer designs, there exists the problem of transmitting a function and a part of that function through the operation of a pair of otentiometers. Thus, for example, one of the potentiometers may be required to transmit a function from units 0 to 10 and another of the potentiometers may be required to transmit a part of that function between the units 4 to 6.

An object of the invention is to provide novel and improved means for effecting the transmission of such functions through a novel circuit arrangement of the respective potentiometers in cooperative relation with a rotary segmental switch driven in timed relation with the two potentiometers and arranged so as to switch in and out of operation the part function transmitting potentiometer to effect the predetermined part function output.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved and novel means for transmitting a full range output function, together with other means cooperating therewith for transmitting a part function.

These and other objects and features of the invention are pointed out in the following description in terms of the embodiment thereof which is shown in the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of illustration only and is not a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims for this purpose.

The drawing is a schematic wiring diagram of a system in which the invention is embodied.

Referring to the drawing, there is indicated by the numeral 1 a potentiometer for obtaining a full range output. The potentiometer 1 includes a variable resistor element 3 connected across a suitable source of electrical energy or alternating current 5 and an output rotary contact arm 7 cooperating with the variable resistor element 3 and connected through an electrical conductor 9 to an input of a full range controlled device 10 of a computer or other suitable device operated thereby and having an opposite input connection 11.

A second potentiometer 12 may be used for obtaining a part function output. The potentiometer 12 includes a variable resistor element 14 connected across the source of alternating current 5 or other suitable source of electrical energy through fixed resistor elements 16 and 18, together with an output rotary contact arm 20 cooperating with the variable resistor element 14 and connected through an electrical conductor 22 to a switch segment 24 of a rotary switch 26 for switching in and out of operation the part function output developed by the potentiometer 12.

The rotary switch 26 includes the switch segment 24 and additional switch segments 28 and 30, together with a rotary switch arm 32 cooperating with the switch segments 24, 28 and 30 and connected through an electrical conductor 34 to an input of a part range controlled device 36 of a computer or other suitable device operated thereby and having an opposite input connection .37.

The switch segment 28 is connected by an electrical 2,987,634 Patented June 6, 1961 ice 2 conductor 38 to the high output range end of the resistor element 14, While the switch segment 30 is connected by an electrical conductor 40 to the low range output end of the resistor element 14.

The rotary contact arm 7 and switch arm 32 are driven by shafts 42 and 44, respectively, through a main drive shaft 46 and gearing 48 by a suitable power source, actuator or reversible motor means 50 operatively controlled by suitable means not shown. Also, driven by gearing 52 from the gearing 48, is a shaft 54 driving the rotary contact arm 20. The gearing 52 is of a high ratio relative to the gearing 48 and such as to cause the necessary rotation of the shaft 54 and arm 20 relative to the shafts 46, 42 and 44 and arms 7 and 32 so as to effect the desired operation.

Operation In the operation of the system shown by the drawing, the potentiometer 1 is arranged so as to transmit a function from, for example, units 0-10 and potentiometer 12 is arranged so as to transmit a part of such function between the units 4 to 6. Starting then at the grounded end or zero point, the contact arm 7 of the potentiometer 1 may be considered at the low end of its travel (arrows indicate direction of travel of the arms 7, 20 and 32, in the developing of output values indicative of units 0 to 10) recording an output of zero.

In the initial range of operation, the switch arm 32 of the rotary switch .26 is arranged to close switch contact segment 30, while the contact arm 20 of the potentiometer 12 could be anywhere, since the output of this potentiometer 12 is controlled by the position of the switch arm 32 of the rotary switch 26, which in closing contact segment 30 is set at a predetermined output value indicative of the unit 4 as set by the resistance 16 in its fixed relation to the resistance of element 14 and resistance 18 and is connected to the contact segment 30 by the conductor 40. Thus, the output to the device 36 is the same as if the contact arm 20 of the potentiometer 12 were at its lower limit so long as the switch arm 32 remains in a closing relation with the contact segment 30.

However, as the input drive continues to rotate the contact arm 7, the potentiometer 1 is transmitting its output to the device 10 starting with unit 0 until the potentiometer 1 develops an output indicative of the unit 4 and at which point the contact arm 20 of the potentiometer 12 is at a point on the variable resistor 14 providing an output indicative of the unit 4 and at which point the rotary switch arm 32 is simultaneously adjusted by the input drive to a point closing the contact segment 24 and thereafter opening the contact segment 30.

The arrangement of the switch arms 20 and 32 is such that prior to the closing of the contact segment 24 by the arm 32, the arm 20 makes contact with a contact surface 33 providing an extended part of the resistor element 14 and preceding the connection of resistor 16 to the element 14. The voltage applied along contact surface 33 is the same as that applied at the point where resistor 16 and element 14 meet giving the required voltage value of unit 4.

Thus upon the arm 32 making contact with segment 24 and thereafter opening contact segment 30, the arm 20 passes along the contact surface 33 and simultaneously passes to the point where resistor 16 and element 14 meet at the instant contact arm 32 breaks away from segment 30 and resulting in a smooth transition from unit 4 to values up to the value of unit 6 as the arm 20 moves along the resistor element 14.

As long as the rotary switch arm 32 remains in closing relation with the contact segment 24, the output of the potentiometer 12 starting at a value indicative of the unit 4 will be applied to the device 36. The contact arms 7 and 20 and the switch arm 32 are driven in timed relation by the input drive and the arrangement is such that when the output of the potentiometers 1 and 12 reaches an output value indicative'of the unit 6, the rotary switch arm 32 closes contact segment 28 and thereafter opens contact segment 24, whereupon the output to the device 36 is at a predetermined value indicative of the unit 6 as set by the resistance 18 in its fixed relation to the resistance of element 14 and resistor 1'6 connected to the contact segment 28 by the conductor 38 and through the switch arm 32 and conductor 34 to the device 36.

The arrangement of the switch arm 32 and contact arm 20 is such that immediately prior to the closing of the contact segment '28 by the arm 32, the arm 20 is at the point where resistor element 14 and resistor 18 meet. Thereafter upon the switch arm 32 making contact with segment 28, the arm 20 moves along a contact surface 35 provided as an extension of resistor element 14and thereafter arm 32' opens contact segment 24. The voltage applied at the contact surface 35 is the same as that applied at the point where the elements 14 and resistor 18 meet giving the required voltage value of unit 6.

Thus in th e reverse operation, upon the arm 32 first making contact with segment 24 and thereafter opening contact segment 28, the arm 20 passes along the contact surface 35, and simultaneously passes to the point where resistor 18 and element 14 meet at the instant contact arm 32 breaks away fromsegment28 so as to result in a smoothtransition from unit 6 'to values approaching the value of unit 4 as the arm 20 moves along the resistor element 14. I V

Continuedrotation'of thecontact arm 7 by the input drive willcause the potentiometer 1 to transmit outputs to the device ltl'indicative or the unit values of 6 up to 10, but the contact arm 20 coul d be anywhere, :since the outpiit supplied to the device 36 is controlled by the switch arm 32 in closing the contact segment 28 so as topro'vide any output at a predetermined value indicative of theiunit 6 during the range of adjustment of the potentiometer '1 providing output values indicative of units'6 to 1O. Thus, the switch arm 32 in closing contact segment 28 provides an output the same as if the contact arm 20 of the potentiometer 12 was adjusted to the upper p Although only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, various changes in the form and relative arrangements 6f the parts, which will now a'p'pe'ar'to those skilled'in the art may'be'ma'de without departing from the scope of the invention. Reference is, therefore, to be had'to the appended claims for a definition of'the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination comprising a first variable resistance means, a second variable resistance means, means for energizing the first and second variable resistance means, meansfor drivingthe first and second variable resistance means in timed relation and at different speed ratios 'toprovide varying electrical outputs therefrom, switch means for controlling the output of the first variable resistance means, means operably connecting the driving means to the switch means to selectively renderthe output of the first variable resistance means 'efiective only during a predetermined limited operating range'and within a portion of a full range of operation of the's'econd'variable resistance means so that upon a function being transmitted by the output from the secnd variable resistance means within said portion of the full operating range thereof the output of the first variable resistance means may transmit a part of said function within the limited range of operation rendered efiective by said switch means. V

2. The combination comprising first variable electrical. output transmitting means, second variable electrical output transmitting means, third means for controlling the output of the first means, means for driving said first, second and third means in timed relation so as to cause said third means to selectively render the electrical output from said first means effective only during a predetermined limited operating range within less than a full range of operation 'of the second means so that upon a function being transmitted by the output from the second means within said limited operating range the output of the first means may transmit a part of said function within the range of operation rendered effective by said third means.

3. The combination comprising a first potentiometer for effecting a first variable electrical output, said first potentiometer including a variable resistor element and a rotary contact arm cooperating with the variable resistor element, a second potentiometer for effecting a second variable electrical output, said second potentiomet'er including a variable resistor element and a rotary contact arm cooperating with the variable resistor element, a source of electrical energy, means for connecting the source of electrical energy across the variable resistor element of said first potentiometer, other means for connecting the source of e-lectricalenergy across the variable resistor element of said second potentiometer, said other connecting means including a first fixed resistor element and a second fixed resistor element connected at opposite ends of the variable resistor element of said potentiometer, switch means including first, sec- 0nd and third contact segments and a rotary switch arm for selectively contacting said contact segments, motor means, means for drivingly connecting the motor means to the rotary contact arm of said first potentiometer and the rotary switch arm of said switch means so as to effectively drive the last two arms in unison, high ratio gearing means for drivingly connecting said motor means to the rotary contact arm of said second potentiometer so as to effectively drive the'last mentioned rotary contact arm in timed relation with and at a higher speed ratio than the rotary contact arm of said firstpotentiomete'r, first means for electrically connecting the rotary contact arm of said first potentiometer to a device operatively controlled by an entire range of variable electrical output'from said first potentiometer, second means for electrically connecting the rotary contact arm of said second potentiometer to the first contact segment of said switch means, third means for electrically conmeeting said rotary switch arm to another device operatively controlled by the variable-electrical output from said second potentiometer solong as said rotary switch arm remains in a contacting relation with said first contact segment, fourth means for electrically connecting the second contact segment to one end of the variable resistor element of the second potentiometer, fifth means for electrically connecting the third contact segment to the opposite'end of the variable resistor element of the second potentiometer, said other device being operatively controlled through said switch'meansby the variable electrical output from said second potentiometer only over a part of the entire output range of the first potentiometer so that upon a function being transmitted to the first mentioned device by an output from the first potentiometer within said part'of' the entire output range thereof the output of the 'second potentiometer may transmit a part ofsaid function to the other device upon being rendered effective by the rotary contact arm selectively contacting the first contact segment of the switch means, While the selective contacting of said second and third contact segments by the rotary contact arm of the switch means renders the first and second fixed resistor elements eifective respectively to provide therethrough electrical outputs to control the operation of said other device. p c

4. The combination defined'by claim 3 in whichthe variable resistor element of the second potentiometer in- 5 6 cludes contact surface portions at opposite ends thereof to and from contacting relation with the first contact to be contacted by the rotary contact arm of the secsegment and one of the other contact segments of the 0nd potentiometer so as to effect a smooth transition i h means between the controlling electrical outputs for said other device upon the rotary switch arm of the switch moving 5 No references cited.

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