Dielectric Potentiometers

The term "dielectric potentiometer" is used to designate a new type of controllable voltage divider employing a lossy liquid dielectric as the impedance medium. With proper design, the dielectric potentiometer may be operated over an extremely wide frequency range with a flat amplitude response and zero phase shift. Unlike conventional wire-wound and film type controls, the new device is readily capable of being perfectly compensated for broadband operation when operated into either resistive or capacitive loading, or a parallel combination of both. Other advantages include infinite resolution, long life, and adaptability to specific nonlinear requirements. Probable advantages such as a low noise figure and the capability of operation at high rotational speeds have yet to be experimentally investigated. Examples of designs for particular applications are given.