Abstract: A ferromagnetic material (18,20) in ink or tape form is sinterable using a same firing profile as and has approximately the same thermal shrinkage characteristics as low-temperature-cofired-ceramic (LTCC) tape, and is chemically non-reactive therewith. The ferromagnetic material (18,20) is applied to the surfaces of LTCC tape sheets (12,14,16) to form desired elements such as cores for inductors (22) and transformers and magnetic shields. Ferromagnetic vertical interconnects (vias) (54) can be formed by punching holes (56) through tape sheets (46) and filling them with ferromagnetic ink. The tape sheets (12,14,16) and ferromagnetic elements (18,20) are laminated together and cofired to form an integral structure (10). Ferromagnetic and non-magnetic components (114) can be fabricated separately and inserted into cavities (104a, 106a,108a) in tape sheets (104,106,108) prior to cofiring.

Abstract: An electrical interconnection substrate (20) is prepared to receive both wire bonded and soldered connections (60,64,66) by forming a dielectric solder mask (30) over the substrate (20), with openings (36) in the mask (30) to expose the contact pads (22) for which soldered connections are desired. The substrate (20) is exposed to a molten solder alloy (44) in a wave soldering process that dissolves the wire bonding material (28) (preferably gold) from the exposed pads (22) and deposits solder bonding pads (52) in its place. Excess solder is then removed from the substrate, and openings (54) are formed through the solder mask (30) to expose the wire bond contact pads (22'). The selective dissolving of gold bonding layers (28) and their replacement by solder pads (52) prevents the establishment of brittle gold-solder intermetallics, and the deposited solder (52) requires no further heat treatment for correct alloy formation.

Abstract: A video monitor or terminal (14,80) is provided in front of each passenger seat in an aircraft or other vehicle. Each terminal (14,80) includes a video display screen (22) which may be mounted in a seatback (16) or bulkhead facing the respective seat, or at the end of a pivotable swing arm (92) extending from the armrest console (84) of the seat. A transparent touch panel (24) overlies the screen (22) and has a plurality of touch sensitive areas for generating discrete electrical selection signals when touched. A computing unit including a text generator (30) displays visual prompts corresponding to passenger-selectable operations on the screen (22) underlying predetermined pressure sensitive areas of the touch panel (24). The operations may include selection of a multiplexed video channel for viewing, control of an individual video tape player (86), ordering of food, drinks and catalog merchandise and placing of telephone calls. A credit card reader (36) may be provided for payment for ordered items.

Abstract: An AC line voltage compensation method and controller for use with an AC welding system that is adapted to weld an article. Welding parameters are provided by an operator that are suitable for welding the article. A desired heating percentage is also input by the operator that is determinative of an RMS output voltage supplied by the AC welding system. The AC line voltage supplied to the AC welding system is measured by means of a voltmeter. The difference between the measured AC line voltage and a desired nominal AC line voltage is determined. The time at which heat is applied to the article is adjusted as a function of the measured difference to maintain the RMS output voltage supplied at the output of the AC welding system at a relatively constant level for all AC line voltages supplied to the AC welding system.

Abstract: Shaped contacts (40, 42) for interconnecting circuits or for use in an integrated circuit test probe are electroplated as integral parts of circuit traces (34) upon a stainless steel mandrel (10). A shaped, hardened steel indentation tool (16, 18, 26, 28) makes indentations (24a, 24b) of predetermined shape in the surface of the mandrel (10), which is provided with a pattern of dielectric, such as Teflon (12), or photoresist. Areas of the steel mandrel, including the indentations (24a,24b), are electroplated with a pattern of conductive material (34, 36, 38), and a dielectric substrate (32) is laminated to the conductive material. The circuit features formed by the indentations define raised contacts of a conical (18) or pyramidal (28) shape, having free ends with a small area that allows higher pressures to be applied to a surface against which the contacts are pressed.

Abstract: A method for chemically stabilizing a hydroxide sludge waste material (10) having at least one contaminant is provided. The method of the present invention involves combining one or more oxides formed from each contaminants (11) contained within the hydroxide sludge (10) with at least one ionic binder (12) and glass-making oxides (14) to form a glass-compatible mixture. This mixture is melted, causing each ionic binder (12) to form a glass-compatible oxide, thus forming a glass oxide melt (18). Upon cooling, the glass oxide melt (18) forms a glass composition (20) containing each contaminant alloyed within its chemical structure.

Abstract: A multi-layered flexible circuit comprises a plurality of electrical traces (52) formed on a rigid substrate (50) and each including a contact pad (56) from which is raised a projecting contact feature (58). The contact pads (56) and features (58) extend along a line or lines of such contact pads and connection features, and both the contact pads and the raised features carried thereby are supported at or above the plane of the circuit traces by a compressed molded elastomeric gasket (44) positioned adjacent and edge (66) of the rigid substrate that underlies the traces. The gasket directly underlies the line of contact pads and raised features and is incorporated during the lamination of the several layers.

Abstract: A multi-layer rigid-flex circuit (20) is formed of a number of flexible layers (62-70) on a rigid substrate (100) with individuals ones of the layers having laterally projecting arms (32,38) that define flexible circuit connections to individual ones of a number of ceramic circuit boards (10,12,14,16). The laterally projecting flexible arms (32,34,36,38) are each formed with gold dot or projecting feature pressure contacts (40a-40g) which are pressed against mating sets of circuit board contact pads (40a-40g) by a clamping bar (120) that is bolted to the rigid circuit board. Thus the interconnections between the rigid-flex circuit and the circuit boards are effectively built into the rigid-flex circuit, requiring only a clamp to complete the connection.

Abstract: A nondestructive method and apparatus is disclosed for determining the thickness and composition of a zinc phosphate layer applied to a metal surface, such as sheet metal on an automotive assembly line. The phosphate layer is irradiated with infrared light which is at least partially transmitted through the phosphate layer. Reflections from the upper and lower surfaces of the phosphate layer return a total reflected intensity which is a function of the optical parameters of the phosphate components and the ratio of the components corresponding to the optical parameters. In the event, for example, that a phosphate layer includes two zinc phosphate components, the measure of reflected intensity at two separate wavelengths will be different inasmuch as the optical properties of the zinc phosphate components is also a function of frequency.

Abstract: A system adapted for attachment to a device that undergoes changes in temperature and pressure, and for detecting changes in temperature and pressure in the device comprises a mechanism for attaching the system to the device and an optic device that includes pressure-responsive, temperature-responsive optical fibers that produce signals representative of temperature changes over a first optical frequency band, and of pressure changes over a second, distinctly different optical frequency band, or two or more optic devices, at least one including a pressure-responsive optical fiber, and at least one including a temperature-responsive optical fiber.

Abstract: A lid (2) for an electronic circuit housing (4) has inner (24) and outer (22) laminated layers that are formed from two different materials, joined to each other and bowed outward from the housing (4) so that the inner layer (24) is under tensile bending stress at the interface between the layers, and the outer layer (22) is under compressive bending stress at the interface. This forms a pre-stress on the lid that resists external loads, and causes the lid to deflect under loading in a linear, predictable and recoverable fashion. The lid is preferably formed by thermal bonding of two materials having different coefficients of thermal expansion, with the bow forming as the materials cool. In one example two different metals are used, and in another a metal is bonded to a glass-ceramic tape.

Abstract: A multiple channel fiber optic connector (44) carries a plurality of fiber optic socket termini (58,60,62,64), each of which includes an alignment sleeve (42) mounted on a forward end. In order to facilitate installation of the alignment sleeves and removal of the sleeves for cleaning of the sleeves (42) and the end (35) of the optical fiber (34) of each socket terminus, the alignment sleeves (42) for each terminus of the connector (44) are all securely mounted in an alignment sleeve carrier (46). The carrier itself is detachably connected to the connector 44 and, when so connected, positions each alignment sleeve on its respective fiber optic terminus. A simply and easily operated latch mechanism (100,82) latches the carrier to the connector body to hold all of the alignment sleeves in place and is readily operated by a plunger 150, without any type of tool, to enable the carrier together with all of its alignment sleeves to be removed from the connector body and expose the ends (35) of fibers for cleaning.

Abstract: A circuit testing fixture is provided in which a flexible membrane (17) is provided with raised features (25) on one side arranged in the pattern of contacts (65) on a device (63) to be tested and circuit means (26) connected to a probe card (12). On the opposite side of the membrane is a support form (58), (66), (70) that is clamped in position so that it acts as a pressure pad to deflect the membrane outwardly. The support form has a planar bottom edge which may provide ridges (61) in back of the raised features (25) on the membrane (17) or recesses (68) at that location. The support form also may have a flat bottom surface (71) and may be of soft compliant material or of rigid material.

Abstract: An elastomeric member is incorporated between a conductor and a conductive interconnection bridge. This elastomeric member serves as a spring providing compliance to an interconnection so that the flatness requirements of an opposing mating structure may be relaxed. A flat metal mandrel is provided with an elongated curved depression extending across a predetermined region where a resilient interconnection bridge is to be located. A nonconductive layer of "TEFLON" is bonded to the surface of the mandrel. Grooves are ablated in a predetermined configuration down to the conductive surface of the mandrel using an excimer laser and a computer-controlled x-y table. Fineline electrical circuits are electrodeposited into the ablated grooves. The elongated curved depression is filled with a silicone material. The silicone material is permitted to cure to form a compliant elastomeric member having the shape of the elongated curved depression.

Abstract: A viewing system operative to provide non-interfering color displays to two or more viewers disposed within a catadioptric projection display system. The non-interfering viewing system includes a projector subsystem 10 for generating a first image with radiant energy from a first set of color wavelengths and for generating a second image with radiant energy from a second set of color wavelengths. The first and second sets of wavelengths are spectrally multiplexed so as to include first and second red, blue and green wavelengths, respectively. A visor 32 is worn by a first viewer and includes a first triple notch filter. The first triple notch filter is adapted to transmit radiant energy of wavelengths included within the first set to the first viewer and to reject incident radiant energy of wavelengths included within the second set. A second visor 32 is worn by a second viewer and includes a second triple notch filter.

Abstract: A method of fabricating self aligned static induction transistors. The method comprises fabricating an N silicon on N.sup.- silicon substrate having an active area. A guard ring is formed around the active area. An N.sup.+ polysilicon layer is formed that comprises source and gate regions. An oxide layer is formed on the N.sup.+ polysilicon layer. A second polysilicon layer is formed on the oxide layer. A second oxide layer is formed on the second polysilicon layer which is then masked by a self aligning mask. Trenches are etched into the substrate using the self aligning mask and gate regions are formed at the bottom of the trenches. A first layer of metal (gate metal) is deposited to make contact with the gate regions. A layer of photoresist is deposited and planarized, and the first layer of metal is overetched below the top surface of the trench. Plasma nitride is deposited and planarized, and a polysilicon mask is deposited over the planarized layer of plasma nitride.

Abstract: An enhanced pressure gradient remediation system (10) for decontaminating a contaminated volume of soil incorporates at least one extraction well (40) operated independently or in conjunction with at least one injection well (12). The injection well (12) is employed to inject steam, or ambient or heated air, into the soil, and extraction probe (40) extracts fluids, contaminants (30,32,34) and possibly groundwater (58) from the soil. The invention further contemplates injection and extraction by means of recoverable extraction and injection probes (14) which obviate the need for permanent wells. The enhanced pressure gradient results from employing extraction in possible conjunction with injection at higher vacuum and pressure than previously known in the art.

Abstract: A time-efficient method for smoothing a surface 20 of an applied coating composition 22 is disclosed herein. In particular, the present invention sets forth a technique for expediting the subsidence of coating surface nonmetallic vertical irregularities R1, R2. The technique of the present invention is applied subsequent to the application of the coating composition 22 to an electrically conductive object 24, which results in the formation of a coating surface 20. The technique of the present invention includes the step of generating electrically charged particles 40 in a volume of space adjacent to the coating surface 20. The charged particles 40 cause an electric field to develop across the coating composition 22, which induces the charged particles 40 to exert pressure on the coating surface 20.

Abstract: An electrically conductive stripline (16) is formed on a thermally fusible sheet (10), with a portion (16a) of the stripline (16) extending adjacent to an edge (10a) of the sheet (10). A cavity (18) is formed in another thermally fusible sheet (12) having an end (18a) at an edge (12a) thereof. The sheets (10,12) are laminated together with their edges (10a,12a) aligned, and the cavity (18) aligned with and facing the edge portion (16a) of the stripline (16). A retaining pin (20) may be temporarily inserted into the cavity (18) to prevent collapse thereof during the lamination step. The laminated sheets (10,12) are heated to thermally fuse them together. An electrically conductive pin (28) is partially inserted into the cavity (18) and ohmically bonded to the stripline (18) to provide an external connection.

Abstract: An hermaphroditic electrical connector (10) is provided for interconnecting printed circuit boards (69) which includes a housing (11) of dielectric material and two pressure tables (28, 35) which are biased outwardly by springs (30, 34) in directions perpendicular to each other. Each pressure table (28, 35) includes a flat surface (48, 51) over which is a resilient pad (47, 50). A flexible circuit (46) has contact arrays (56, 59) over the flat surfaces (48, 51) and pads (47, 50) with conductors (57) in the intermediate portion that extends through the housing (11). A grounding clip (61) may be provided with the forward pressure table to give 360 degree shielding.