Alps Electric has completed development of its new RS08 series, a compact slide potentiometer for use in mobile devices for volume or screen brightness adjustment.
Recent models of compact audio players and headsets mostly feature button-type volume controls, which comprise thin switches small enough to be installed into devices like these that have limited space for components. As an alternative to button-type controls, a slide lever might be used to adjust volume and brightness. For this kind of operation slide potentiometers are used. This method has the advantage that it allows the user to not only fine-tune adjustment, but to also establish the exact level of volume and brightness at a glance.
The new product was developed as a compact slide potentiometer suitable for volume and screen brightness adjustment in mobile devices. It boasts a size of 13.2×3.00× 2.1mm - minimisation of size having been achieved through newly developing the resistive elements printed on the glass epoxy circuit board and the small grommets connecting the terminals. This slide potentiometer nevertheless maintains an 8mm stroke, ensuring a precise operating feeling for the user.
