Abstract: A high density arrangement for interconnecting integrated circuit devices, of a type which includes a stack of numerous wafers formed primarily of metal, wherein some of the wafers holding integrated circuit chips have overhanging edge portions at one side of the stack that extend beyond other wafers of the stack, and wherein there are cooling fluid tubes clamped against the overhanging edge portions to carry away heat to a cooling fluid flowing through the tube. The wafers are interconnected at numerous locations by button portions of malleable material such as gold, and the stack of wafers are clamped together to slightly deform the button portions to provide a considerable area of contact. The stack clamping device is separate from the cooling fluid tube clamping device, to provide different degrees of pressure and compressive strain.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for electroplating a selected portion of an article by carefully confining electrolyte contact to the selected portion of the article and establishing a generally uniform electrical field adjacent that selected portion. Electrolyte wetting of the article, which is partially immersed in an electrolytic plating bath maintained under agitation, is minimized by surrounding the article with a dielectric baffle to establish a quiescent zone on the bath surface adjacent the article. Thus, the selected portion of the article is fully exposed to the bath while electrolyte wetting of portions of the article outside of the selected portion is minimized by the baffle. A generally uniform plating of the selected portion is obtained by positioning an electrode in close proximity to the selected portion and maintaining a generally uniform separation between the selected portion and the electrode while an electrical potential is applied between the electrode and the article.

Abstract: A hermaphroditic fiber optic connector for use in an assembly for aligning mating ends of at least one pair of optical fibers is disclosed. The connector includes a terminating member having a passage therein dimensioned for receiving one of the optical fibers. An adapter associated with a mating end of the terminating member and communicating with the passage is provided wherein the adapter has a hermaphroditic face exposed at the mating end of the terminating member. The connector also includes means associated with the adapter for securing the one optical fiber in a preselected position relative to the mating end of the terminating member. In a more specific sense, the connector is adapted for use in an assembly including a second identical connector for aligning mating ends of optical fibers in a pair of fiber optic cables in which the various elements may be formed in a manner making them interchangeable with other like elements in order to form a modular hermaphroditic connector.

Abstract: This invention relates to fiber optic connectors. Connectors are known in which the optical fiber end to be connected is held in a guiding sleeve which can be shifted in a transverse direction by means of a bolt in one wall of the connector. However, alignment of the ends of the optical fibers being connected to those of a mating connector requires manual mechanical adjustment. Another fault of the prior art is that the ends of the optical fibers are unprotected when the two mating connector parts are disconnected. The present invention provides means by which an automatic adjustment of the alignment of the ends of the optical fibers is made possible, and other means by which the ends of the optical fibers are protected when the two mating connectors are separated. An optical fiber holder resiliently mounted within a connector housing permits limited displacement of the optical fibers contained within the holder, in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the optical fibers.

Abstract: A multiple contact filter connector capable of accommodating high RF currents and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The connector includes an outer metallic shell, a dielectric body within the shell and at least one network filter contact assembly. The inner body has at least one through channel and a transverse cavity which communicates with the channel and an annular metallic ring disposed inwardly of the shell. The network filter contact assembly has a ground electrode and a pin electrode and is disposed within the portion of the channel bridging the cavity. Conductive curable filler material is charged into the cavity around and in contact with the ground electrode and annular ring to form a ground plate for the connector. A pair of spaced apart conductive plates may be disposed transversely to the ground electrode and ring to be in electrical contact therewith and the filler material.

Abstract: An electrical connector is disclosed particularlity for use between a printed circuit board and another electrical component. A body member of dielectric material is provided having first and second exterior surfaces and a plurality of spaced-apart, contact-receiving apertures extending therethrough between the surfaces. Each aperture has a narrow cavity region, a shoulder cavity region, and a wide cavity region extending seriatim from the first to the second exterior surfaces. A plurality of electrical contacts are disposed in respective ones of the apertures, each contact including a terminal portion press-fit within the narrow cavity region, a shoulder cavity region, and an active contact portion extending into the wide cavity region for connection to another electrically conductive element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the connection of insulated electric wires, and it pertains more precisely to a terminal and a connection block for electrically connecting two insulated wires without prestripping them. Prior art connecting devices that operate without prestripping are usually in the form of a flat spring, cut in a U shape, the branches of which define a slot. In such devices, the insulated wire to be connected is introduced at the end of the slot adjacent the free ends of the branches. This type of device has a disadvantage since the perforation of the insulation is made where the deformation of the branches is the easiest. The self-stripping connecting device of the present invention is constituted by a flat spring including a portion forming a U, the branches of which are elastically biased one against the other, and an opening to allow the introduction of the insulated wire at the end of the slot adjacent the base of the U.

Abstract: A flexible connector cable for providing high density and reliable electrical interconnections between printed circuit boards or any other surfaces having conductive paths that need connection to conductive paths on adjacent surfaces. The connector cable comprises a flat flexible laminar structure including an electrically-insulative layer and an electrically-conductive layer. The insulative layer is typically formed on a bonded plastic such as Polyimide and the conductive layer is typically formed of copper. Openings are formed in the insulative layer to expose the conductive layer and raised contacts or buttons are deposited on the conductive layer on both surfaces of the cable. The raised contacts are formed of ductile conductive material which exhibits plastic deformation under pressure to form good electrical connections.

Abstract: A compressed fluid hover control system for a submersible buoy in which the water level in a buoyancy chamber is controlled in accordance with external water pressure and predetermined levels of water in the buoyancy chamber. More specifically, a submersible buoy having a fluid-containing chamber containing a compressed fluid is connected to a buoyancy chamber by a gas inlet valve. A gas exhaust valve connects an upper portion of the buoyancy chamber to the surrounding water and a relief duct connects a lower portion of the buoyancy chamber to the surrounding water. Both the gas inlet and gas exhaust valves are controlled by a valve control circuit which opens and closes the valves in accordance with predetermined criteria related to water levels within the buoyancy chamber and the depth of the buoy as determined by a water pressure transducer.

Abstract: An electrical connector useful for interconnecting circuits of adjacent guided missile stages and the like includes first and second interengageable housings. Each connector housing supports contact members which are interengageable when the first and second housings are brought into engagement. Actuator means are provided for engaging and disengaging the connector contact members independent of the engagement and disengagement of the connector housings and include a movable insert member disposed within the second housing for movement between mating and non-mating positions. The contact members supported within the second housing each include a terminal portion, an active contact portion carried by the insert member for engagement with a first housing contact member, and an extendable portion for maintaining continuous electrical connection between the active and terminal portions as the insert member is moved between its mating and non-mating positions.

Abstract: An electrical connector and termination tool are disclosed for making crimped, insulation-piercing terminations with insulation covered conductors. The connector includes a dielectric insert, a plurality of electrical contacts mounted in the insert and an access passage for insertion of a termination tool to effect the crimp-pierce termination in situ. The termination tool has a bifurcated termination head including separate insertion and crimping members which are used sequentially to first press the conductor into the terminal portion of the contact and then to crimp the contact over the conductor to complete the termination.

Abstract: A cylindrical electric penetration assembly carrying instrumentation leads from the interior of a nuclear reactor and having thin layers of polyethylene and lead radiation shielding installed at both its entrance and exit regions, the shielding layers being separated by a large hollow cavity located inside the central portion of the penetrator nozzle. Each layer attenuates and extinguishes either gamma ray or neutron radiation emanating from the reactor's core. The combination of the shielding and central air pocket prevents excessive radiation leakage through the penetration assembly and excessive heating inside the penetration nozzle.

Abstract: A cable connector having a plug assembly which may be reversibly mated to a receptacle assembly. A grounding clip is provided as part of a socket insert subassembly which projects outwardly of the plug assembly for reception and mounting in the receptacle assembly. The grounding clip in part functions to insure that the plug and receptacle assembly housings are in grounded electrical connection with one another and further functions to electrically connect a ground wire means associated with the plug assembly to the housing thereof. The clip also includes a spring element which biases a latch for the connector into a locked disposition.

Abstract: A filter connector which is capable of conducting high RF currents and which affords removal of its contact members without damage to its filter networks includes an outer metallic shell, an inner body within the shell having a plurality of through channels, a ground plate, a hollow tubular filter network in each channel, and a contact member within each network. Each filter network comprises a plurality of tubular filter elements which are axially aligned, contiguous, and adhere together, an outer conductive coating covering an external portion of at least one of the elements forming a ground electrode and an inner conductive coating on the interior surface of at least one of the elements forming a pin electrode. The filter networks are fixed to the ground plate which is of substantial width dimension to accommodate high RF currents and dissipate the heat generated thereby and for being closely adjacent the filter ground electrodes for coupling thereto.

Abstract: A metal plating process and apparatus is disclosed and includes a plurality of pre-plating stations comprising tanks or reservoirs containing various cleaning and rinsing solutions. A pulse plating or gold flash station including a plating tank is provided after the pre-plating stations, and a plurality of post-plating stations or tanks are provided after the pulse-plating station. Rotatable barrels for containing work loads are carried along a path of travel from station to station along the process. Differential speed mechanisms are provided along the process so that the work load containers rotate at a slower rate of rotation while traveling through air than while the containers are disposed within the various tanks or stations along the process.

Abstract: A system useful in an assembly intended for use in a deep ocean environment for generating gas within the assembly to equalize the internal pressure with the external underwater pressure. In one embodiment, the gas is generated by a chemical reaction between a stored substance and the ocean water itself and, in another embodiment, the gas is generated by a reaction initiated by a pyrotechnic charge.

Abstract: An electrical terminal or contact element for use in an electrical connector, having a resilient tab for retaining the element in the connector housing. The tab is attached to a central portion of the element and extends diagonally through the center of the element at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the element. A free end of the tab extends beyond the element for engaging a shoulder of the housing after the element is inserted through a passageway in the housing. The free end of the tab may be deflected inwardly by means of a pin-like tool to disengage the tab from the shoulder and allow removal of the element from the housing. A stop surface in the central portion of the element prevents deflection of the tab beyond its elastic limit, thereby preventing damage to the terminal element.

Abstract: A mechanical element positioning control system. Position measuring means supply actual position and a computer supplies desired position as the least significant 11 bits of an 18 bit signal to corresponding digital to analog units, each comprising an 11 bit register and an 11 bit digital to analog converter. A differential amplifier compares the outputs of the digital to analog converters and generates a position error signal. A threshold circuit operates to complement the most significant bit of the D/A registers when exceeding of a maximum allowable analog error occurs. A servo system responsive to the position error signal positions the mechanical element to eliminate difference between desired and actual position. By eliminating the seven most significant bits representing desired and actual position, the total range is divided into 2.sup.7 separate fields so that D/A units of practical accuracy may be employed to make feasible a positioning control system of required accuracy and range.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly which selectively receives a plurality of impedance networks enables selective interconnection of a plurality of remote signal stations having predetermined signal characteristics to a central signal processing system. The assembly includes a housing means comprising plural sidewalls and a bottom wall for defining a receiving cavity. A first multiple contact means within the cavity has a first plurality of contacts which are adapted for connection to the central signal processing system and a second multiple contact means within the cavity has a second plurality of contacts which are adapted for connection to the remote signal stations. A plurality of intermediate multiple contact means, each having a third plurality of contacts adapted for selective and independent connection to the impedance networks are also within the cavity.

Abstract: An electrical connector assembly for mounting an electrical connector to an associated apertured panel board, the electrical connector having a pair of outwardly extending flanges at opposite ends thereof, and the assembly including a pair of connector clips for releasably securing the connector to the panel. Each clip comprises a body member having first and second spaced-apart engagement surfaces disposed in facing relationship to define a mounting slot therebetween, the body member being received through the aperture in the panel so that the engagement surfaces extend along the inner and outer surfaces of the panel to grip the panel therebetween. The body member has a mounting surface spaced from the first engagement surface to receive and hold one of the flanges on the electrical connector, and has spaced-apart abutment shoulders to limit movement of the connector in a predetermined direction. Retaining fingers are carried by the abutment shoulders for snap-in retention of the flange.