US 7,541,911 B2
Resistance plate and liquid level detection apparatus provided with said resistance plate
Yasunori Kawaguchi, Shimada (Japan); Kenichi Tanaka, Shimada (Japan); and Toshio Oike, Shimada (Japan)
Assigned to Yazaki Corporation, Tokyo (Japan)
Filed on Mar. 04, 2008, as Appl. No. 12/41,866.
Claims priority of application No. 2007-074938 (JP), filed on Mar. 22, 2007.
Prior Publication US 2008/0231411 A1, Sep. 25, 2008
Int. Cl. H01C 1/14 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 338—330  [338/162; 73/317] 6 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A resistance plate for use in a liquid level detection apparatus comprising a float for moving upward and downward in accordance with a change of a liquid level to be measured, a float arm connected at one end thereof to said float and pivotally supported at the other end thereof so as to be pivotally moved in accordance with upward and downward movements of said float, said resistance plate, and a sliding arm for sliding over said resistance plate in accordance with a pivotal movement of said float arm;
wherein said resistance plate includes:
a first slide portion having a plurality of first conductive segments arranged at intervals generally in a direction of sliding movement of said sliding arm, the adjacent first conductive segments being connected together via a resistor;
a second slide portion extending generally in the direction of sliding movement of said sliding arm;
a pair of first and second end lands which are provided for detecting a quantity of electricity appearing according to the positions of said first conductive segment and a portion of said second slide portion which are held in contact with said sliding arm, said first and second end lands being electrically connected respectively to said first slide portion and said second slide portion;
a first conducting path extending between said first slide portion and said first end land to electrically connect said first slide portion and said first end land together; and
a protector formed on said first conducting path to cover said first conducting path; and
said first end land serves as a plus terminal while said second end land serves as a minus terminal, and said protector and said resistor are made of the same material.