Abstract: An apparatus for mounting ceramic chip carrier devices onto printed circuit boards. The apparatus includes an adapter assembly with contact terminals, which is positioned and secured by a plastic frame to the circuit board, a washer member containing magnetically aligned electrically conductive particles, and a cover or clip to maintain each contact terminal in engagement with the corresponding conductive particles to electrically couple the adapter assembly and printed circuit board with a chip carrier device. This design incorporates features of both metal and elastomeric contact systems. Alternative apparatus for mounting integrated circuit chips onto printed circuit boards is also disclosed. Such apparatus includes an insulating frame, an elastomeric washer member containing electrically conductive particles, and a cover for holding assemblage together. These designs may require a small number of holes in the circuit board or may provide for surface mounting instead.

Abstract: Apparatus for mounting a component on a printed wiring circuit board. The mounting assembly comprises a quadrilateral configured member formed of a flexible polymer insulating material to have a central chamber for holding the component. Side walls surrounding the chamber have channels formed therein for receiving edges of the component with the lower surface of the channels having directional conducting particles positioned therein at locations corresponding to the component terminals. Side walls of the component mounting apparatus have a reduced area forming a flexible hinge enabling a force to be applied to the component to maintain each component terminal in compressed engagement with corresponding conducting particles and establish an electrical conducting path between the component terminal and circuit board.

Abstract: A multi-positional mercury switch (1, 2, 3) for use with miniature relays (4). The mercury switch apparatus has mercury wettable magnetic contact structures (11, 12, 211, 212, 221, 222, 311, 312) supported in a sealed envelope member (10, 20, 30) supporting the magnetic contact structures with ends thereof extending from the envelope member for interconnection with terminals of the relay. A mercury holding assembly (13, 14, 23, 24, 33, 34) is slidably located within the sealed envelope member adjacent the magnetic contact structures and is responsive to an external magnetic field generated by electrical signals in a coil (410) surrounding the sealed envelope member for engaging the magnetic contact structures and establishing an electrical conducting path between the magnetic contact structures.

Abstract: A terminal grounding unit for use in interconnecting a plug-in circuit board with a backplane of equipment mounting apparatus. The terminal grounding unit comprises an insulating member having a row and column configuration of apertures intended for receiving pin terminals of the backplane to mount the insulating member on the backplane with the pin terminals extending outward therefrom to engage contact terminals of a connector mounted on the plug-in circuit board. Apparatus positioned in the insulating member between columns of the pin terminals slidably receives and interconnects a shield member of the plug-in circuit board connector with a backplane ground path.

Abstract: Apparatus (100) and a method (5) are used for polling asynchronous sensors (1, 2, 3) of a computer system to optimize the data load offered by the sensors to a central processor (4). The polling apparatus and method operate in accordance with time delay status (4200, 4210, 4220) recorded in the sensor buffer stores (420, 421, 422) of the memory unit (42) of the central processor. The system determines the amount of data received in a sensor buffer store during the polling sequence and dynamically varies the value of the time delay status to optimize the load of sensor data offered the central processor.

Abstract: Apparatus for positioning a component on a circuit board and aligning terminals of the component with circuitry of the circuit board. The apparatus comprises a generally rectangular insulating member having index pins located on the outer edge thereof for insertion between adjacent terminals of the component. Registration pins positioned on the bottom of the insulating member engage the circuit board to enable the insulating member to accurately align each component terminal with corresponding circuitry of the circuit board.

Abstract: Switch assembly for use with equipment mounting apparatus backplane terminal pins. The assembly comprises an insulating housing member that is placed over a pair of adjacent terminal pins and secured to the backplane. An electrical shorting spring member positioned within the housing member engages both terminal pins to electrically short one terminal pin to another. An actuating member normally in engagement with the electrical shorting member is rotated by a connector inserted onto the backplane terminal pins to disengage the electrical shorting spring member from the pair of terminal pins.

Abstract: A high frequency modular connector (1) for use with a circuit board (2) to interconnect the circuit board with a backplane (3) of equipment mounting apparatus. The connector apparatus comprises connector modules (10, 12) each having a row and column configuration of first contacts (1014) for engaging the backplane with each first contact connected by a shielded conductor path (1010) with a corresponding second contact (1013) for engaging the circuit board. A conducting member (13) surrounds the first contacts and engages a spring conducting member (11) positioned between and electrically engaging the connector modules. The spring conducting member is biased in engagement with grounding apparatus of the backplane to provide a common ground for shielding the connector apparatus.

Abstract: A data communication network comprising ring transmission paths (0,1) interconnecting ring interface nodes (2) arranged to propagate data along the ring transmission paths between data systems (6) coupled with the ring interface nodes. Each node has apparatus (210) coupled with ones of the ring transmission paths and data systems for receiving and temporarily storing bytes of data. Receiving structure (211) of the node enabled by predefined ones of data bytes appearing at an input of the receiving and temporarily storing apparatus derives information defining node dispose of the data and generates a disposition available signal.

Abstract: Actuating apparatus for an optical fiber switch in which a single fiber array (19) retained in a retaining block (20, 21) is movable within a housing (17) to align the single array (19) with one (10) or the other (11) of two fixed fiber arrays. A shuttle element (25) slidably extending through the housing (17) has provided at each end a disc (30, 31) the inner surfaces of which control the movement of a pair of push-rods (42, 43), also extending through the housing (17), which push-rods (42, 43) are bearable on opposite sides of the retaining blocks (20, 21). Reciprocal movement of the shuttle element (25) causes the same movement of the push-rods (42, 43) to move the movable fiber array (19) between its two switch positions. Movement of the shuttle element (25) is caused by the selective energization of two electromagnets (50, 51) mounted in opposite walls (40, 41) of an hermetically sealed outer housing (18).

Abstract: Apparatus for testing connectors to detect the presence of contamination films and foreign material on the contact terminals of a connector. The testing apparatus comprises electrode apparatus (2) for use in engaging the contact terminals (701) of a connector (700) and support apparatus (3) intended to receive a connector and hold the connector in a fixed relationship to the electrode apparatus. The testing apparatus further comprises guide apparatus (4) for supporting electrodes (221) of the electrode apparatus and positioning apparatus (5) for enabling the guide apparatus to align the electrodes with the connector contact terminals and for enabling the electrode apparatus to engage the aligned electrodes with the connector contact terminal.

Abstract: Apparatus for detecting the presence of contamination films and foreign material on the conducting fingers of a circuit board. The apparatus includes a guide block assembly (11) designed to receive and momentarily hold a circuit board (100) and a spring biased hold down bar (25) for securely holding the circuit board in the guide block assembly. The apparatus further includes apparatus (23, 31) for use in positioning a plurality of probe assemblies (33) to simultaneously engage a pair of electrodes (330) with each one of the circuit board conducting fingers (101). A controller (43) enables switch apparatus (42) to selectively connect each pair of electrodes with electrical resistance measuring apparatus (50) to measure the resistance of any contamination film and foreign material appearing on a circuit board conducting finger between the electrodes of each electrode pair.

Abstract: Probe apparatus having a pair of folded electrodes is arranged for use in detecting and measuring contamination films and foreign material appearing on connector contact terminals. The probe apparatus (1) comprises an insulation support member (2) positioned between two dielectric elements (31, 41) each having a surface plated with electrically conducting elements (32, 42) joined at one end of the insulation member to form a folded electrode (33, 43) and left free at the other end to form two lead-in terminals (34, 35, 44, 45). The combined insulator support member and dielectric contact elements are mounted in a test head assembly so that operation of the test head assembly inserts the probe apparatus into a connector contact terminal to engage the two folded electrodes with the connector contact terminal.

Abstract: Apparatus for installing metallic inserts into thermoplastic material. The apparatus comprises a heating device in combination with a heating element having a first bore adapted to receive the heating device. The heating element is formed into an elongated tip specifically shaped to grasp a metallic insert which is then heated by conduction to a temperature suitable for melting the thermoplastic material. A longitudinal bore in alignment with the first bore and coupled thereto with a second bore extends through the heating element elongated tip. Plunger apparatus slidably inserted in the longitudinal bore and second bore is positioned by spring apparatus located in the second bore to maintain the metallic insert in engagement with the elongated tip of the heating element during the heating and insertion of the metallic insert into the thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A terminal for use in a service observing system which collects service observing data at a plurality of geographically dispersed locations and forwards the collected information to a central unit for evaluation. Terminal apparatus at each location scans for incoming service observing data generated from an associated group of service observing circuits which bid for connection to the central unit by placing requests with the service observing terminal. Not all requests are sent to the central unit for evaluation in that the terminal contains internal circuitry which allows control of the service observing bids forwarded to the central unit. Specifically, a memory is provided in the terminal to store the in-service or out-of-service operational status of each of the service observing circuits as determined by the central unit. Update circuitry is provided so that the central unit may change the operational status of selected ones of the service observing units during system operation.

Abstract: A test set for testing relay contact protection networks comprising a signal generator coupled to an analyzing circuit and a test connector arranged for enabling the test set to be used for in-circuit testing of contact protection networks. The test connector is constructed of two elongated insulating members each having a tapered operative arm on which contact elements coupled to the analyzing circuit are mounted. Hinge apparatus supports the two elongated members and enables both angular and parallel lateral relative movement of each of the tapered operative arms to selectively connect the contact elements with ones of the contact protection networks.

Abstract: A photoelectric sensing system for detecting the occurrence of interruptions of a light beam is arranged to compensate for non-interrupting short-term variations occurring during transmission of the light beam. A clock controlled memory element enables a light emitting generator to generate a serial train of light pulse signals. Each generated light pulse signal is sensed by a sensor arranged to control the memory element to modulate the emitted light pulse signal to compensate for short-term variations occurring in the light signal transmission path.

Abstract: A telephone central office trunk utilized for establishing connections of calling telephone station lines with a called telephone station line is arranged to enable a subscriber to make a called telephone station appear busy to incoming calls. The trunk is provided with apparatus arranged to respond to the momentary appearance of a low impedance across the called telephone station line in response to ringing signals applied thereto by opening the established connections and applying busy tone to the calling telephone station lines.