Abstract: Various embodiments of a wiper assembly are disclosed which facilitate the removal by complete release or shattering of a frozen mass of ice or snow which has become merely trapped beneath a wiper blade during its movement. In particular, there is described a method and structures for removing such frozen masses by vibrating a wiper blade at high intensity of vibration. The vibrational intensity is normally measured when no frozen masses are present and causes at least parts of the wiper blade to move out of contact with the windshield.

Abstract: A passive method and packaging system for thermally controlling the temperature of electronic equipment within a housing are disclosed. The packaging system provides for two cooling steps, each of which uses a different passive cooling technology. Cooling by changing the phase of Phase Change Material, assists in controlling internal ambient temperatures by limiting the effects of short term localized thermal phenomena which would otherwise further increase internal temperatures. Cooling is also provided for by switching on a second passive cooling means, preferably a heat pipe, as the internal temperature of the housing increases above a predetermined temperature and to switch it off as the internal temperature drops below the predetermined temperature. Turning the second passive cooling means on and off provides respectively, a low or high thermal resistance path between the interior and exterior of the housing.

Abstract: An electronic unit with a mother board carrier beneath a service carrier in a housing. The carriers are independently movable between retracted use positions and forward access positions for maintenance. Service components are hence of no hindrance when removing printed circuit boards from the mother board carrier. The mother board is horizontal with the primary surface facing upwards. This latter feature together with the orientation of other printed circuit boards and of the service components minimizes the frontal area of the unit and provides pathways for front-to-rear cooling air flow. A connector arrangement connects the two carriers together only when both carriers are in their retracted use positions. Flexible lengths of cable extending between the carriers together with attendant stowage and hindrance problems are thus avoided. A retaining bar structure is included which acts at multiple positions against daughter boards to hold them securely against vibration during transporting and also in use.

Abstract: In a method of assembling an electronic component onto a substrate, a fiducial is defined by a solder mask positioned upon the substrate. A fiducial-defining window in the mask has a base of the window completely provided with a material of different light-reflecting quality than the mask surface. This provides for the peripheral edge of the window, i.e. the mask, to be the edge of the fiducial. Windows in the mask which expose terminal pads upon the substrate and fixed in position relative to edges of the fiducial and both these windows and the fiducial are determined by the mask. Surface mount components are then located upon the substrate relative to the window positions and not relative to the terminal pad positions. This process reduces the number of incorrect connections of terminals of components to terminal pads.

Abstract: A structure of a printed circuit board and a fiber storage holder for accommodating a superfluous length of fiber to be connected to a terminal on the printed circuit board. This structure if for use with the board mounted within an electronic shelf and solely accommodates superfluous lengths of fiber with pre-specified lengths. To enable removal of the printed circuit board from its shelf, free fiber is necessary. This is accommodated by a fiber storage facility which is additional to the holder. The fiber storage facility is located outside the printed circuit board receiving chamber of the shelf and is preferably attached to a shelf wall, e.g. a bottom wall, so as to store a removable length portion of fiber. Upon removal, the removable length portion provides a free fiber length which, by flexing, allows for removal from and return to the shelf of the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A method of providing a predetermined set distance apart between two members in article manufacture. This involves clamping the members together with a mixture of an adhesive and glass microspheres between opposing surfaces of the members, the microspheres being of specific grid size. The largest diameter microspheres are gripped between the opposing surfaces thereby determining the distance between the members. The invention is particularly useful for precise location apart between members with small gaps therebetween, e.g. less than 3 mil. It is useful particularly for magnetic device cores of small dimensions.

Abstract: A network unit enclosure adapted for exposure to humidity and airborne contaminants defines a sealed first chamber and an adjacent second chamber. The two chambers are sealingly separated by a circuitry substrate on which electronic components are mounted in the first chamber and through which conductor connection means in the second chamber are connected to electronic components in the first chamber. An outer wall bordering the second chamber includes a hole for providing an electrical cable feedthrough. The enclosure may also define a third chamber, and a wall separating the first and third chamber including a sealed feedthrough for an optical fiber segment connected at one end to an opto-electronic component in the first chamber and the other end for connection to an optical fiber from an optical cable passed through an access hole in an outer wall bordering the third chamber.

Abstract: A portable wireless telephone structure in which a foldable wallet carries a telephone in addition to having a pocket to house paper currency. The telephone is exposed for use with the wallet in open condition and is housed with the wallet in closed condition. The telephone has a communication mode to a user monetary function to permit telephonic transfer of monetary units. Thus, the telephone may eliminate need for carrying credit or bank cards in the wallet except for the telephone use with a "smart" card for telephonic transfer of monetary amounts to the "smart" card for transaction purposes.

Abstract: A pet animal living structure with an upward extending body and floor surfaces at different heights. The latter are arranged in two pluralities with a second plurality being disposed in a different vertical plane from the first. Floor surfaces of the second plurality provide access between floor surfaces of the first plurality which have a wall barrier between them. The structure causes an animal to move in three dimensions throughout the structure along an indefinite number of paths. Alternatively, a freestanding structure is provided which faces in different horizontal directions with the floor surfaces extending around the structure. As a further alternative, a structure is provided with floor surfaces interconnected by steps and apertures and which may be suspended within an aquarium.

Abstract: Mounting for holding a planar electronic device, e.g. a printed circuit board in electronic slots to receive edges of the electronic device and a clamp is inserted into each slot to clamp an edge of the device in heat conductive engagement with a side surface of the slot. The clamp has a rigid elongate clamp element inserted along the slot, springs to urge the clamp element towards the side surface of the clamp to provide a clamping action and a lever to move the clamp element out of a clamping position to release the electronic device.

Abstract: Various embodiments of a wiper assembly are disclosed which facilitate the removal or shattering of ice or snow debris lodged and trapped beneath a wiper blade during its movement. Embodiments of the invention are disclosed which provide means to overcome normal urging forces of the wiper arm in a direction toward a light transmitting screen member and to urge the wiper arm of the wiper assembly away from the surface of the screen member. Some structures according to the invention may cause the wiper blade to return with an impact force sufficient ice and snow debris trapped beneath the wiper blade and also possibly frozen to it. Other embodiments include means for imparting vibrational movement to the wiper assembly to release or shatter ice and snow trapped beneath the blade or frozen to it.

Abstract: Electronic unit in which a heat conductive mounting comprises two spaced apart holding elements providing a receiving station for a printed circuit board. Edge regions of the board are in heat conductive engagement with the holding elements. Heat is conducted from electronic components on the board into the holding elements and from there into heat pipes connected to the holding elements. A housing around the heat pipes has apertures for flow of cooling air around the heat pipes. Part of the housing around the receiving station is thermally insulated thereby ensuring that substantially all of the heat is removed through the heat pipes.

Abstract: Electronic package with an electronic component mounted upon a PCB or ceramic substrate by first level interconnects and housing second level interconnects on the other side of the PCB. The component is protected by an EMI shield which is grounded to a ground plane of the PCB. Especially significant when there are a plurality of components protected by the shield and when at least one of the components is an integrated circuit component (I.C.C.). The package is thus prebuilt with the EMI shield and without a separate package required for each I.C.C., and is robust in construction for shipping. The shield and ground plane provide a Faraday cage which is especially complete when the shield extends around edges of the PCB and onto its other side. The package is ready for connection to a motherboard by use of the second level interconnects and process steps to place EMI shields individually onto mother boards are avoided.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with a pet animal structure for insertion into a transparent tank. The structure is in a single piece with upper and lower body parts. The lower body part has floors for movement of the animal and the upper body part has a shoulder which overhangs the lower body part. The upper body part when the structure is inserted an appropriate size tank, closes and extends into the top opening to the tank with the shoulder below the top opening so as to protect top regions of walls of the tank. Preferably, the upper body part has a downward facing support surface for supporting the structure upon a top edge of the tank so that the bottom of the structure is spaced from the bottom of the tank. Also advantageously, the floors are positioned to prevent the animal from gnawing at the shoulder while providing freedom for the animal to move between the structure and the tank when standing upon the bottom of the tank.

Abstract: Portable wireless telephone handset with a flap movable upon a housing. In a first position the flap is close to a speaker to enable the flap to be disposed near to a user's ear for the user to receive personal low volume sound from the speaker. In a second position, the flap is further from the speaker to detract from use of the speaker near to the user's ear. In the second position of the flap, the speaker operates in loudspeaker mode. A switch is provided to change the speaker between loudspeaker and low volume sound mode, the switch operation being dependent upon flap position.

Abstract: A telephone line connector for location between a telephone and a plurality of outlet sockets and in which the connector is connectable to a power cable. The connector has a plurality of input signal sockets and a common signal and power output socket. A pair of power input terminals are connected to the common socket. The common socket also has pairs of signal output terminals connected in such a way that the connector through the input signal sockets is connectable to a plurality of wall outlets, each of which may have a single pair or a plurality of pairs of lines connected to it. The connector is thus capable of transferring all of those lines, as required, to a telephone together with power.