Abstract: An ultrasonic wire bonder including apparatus for testing a bond includes a bonding tool ultrasonically driven for welding a wire on an underlying substrate and a clamp for holding the wire to be bonded by the bonding tool. The same clamp or other pulling apparatus moves the wire that has been bonded with a pre-established force to determine whether the bond will withstand the force. The accompanying method for testing a bond includes holding the wire after the bond has been made with the same holder and pulling the wire with a pre-established force substantially along the direction of the wire's longitudinal axis to determine the strength of the bond.

Abstract: A wire bonding head supported for movement upwardly and downwardly having a wire bonding tool connected to an ultrasonic driver in order to sonically bond a wire to an underlying electrical component. The wire is fed to the bonding tool, and fed broken and clamped by a linkage connected to at least one stepper motor. A processing unit is mounted on the bonding head for controlling the clamping, feeding, and breaking of the wire.

Abstract: A buoyancy compensator and support vest, harness or spider for supporting a diver's backpack, includes a pivoting fastener secured to the shoulder straps. A polyangular or triangular holder further distributes the weight of a load between the waist, back and shoulders of a user. A strap incorporating the pivoting fastener and/or the polyangular or triangular holder for use with a backpack or other back carrier or framework or support harness is also provided.

Abstract: A dot matrix printer and motor having hammers forming in part a hammerbank and a counterbalance mechanically linked to the hammerbank with a link to the position of the motor. The motor includes coils positively driven and then negatively driven after current in the coils has at least partially decayed. The current in the coils is allowed to decay further after negatively driving the coil. The motor coils are connected to an H bridge having transistors which can be formed in a full H bridge or half bridge. A controller switches the transistors to cause negative and positive flow through the H bridge for positive current flow from a reference level to an upper reference level, and a decay of current within the coils to an intermediate reference. The coils are then driven with a negative current from the intermediate reference level to a second intermediate reference level afterwhich the current within the coils decays to a lower or initial reference level.

Abstract: A system and method for delivery of cardioplegic solution to the heart of a patient incorporates novel venturi flow cells individually adapted for insertion in the blood and crystalloid solution lines together with transducers for measuring a pressure drop across each venturi flow cell and transmitting it to a microprocessor to calculate flow rate for display on a monitor. The novel self-venting and self-priming transducers and venturi flow cells are incorporated in a disposable cassette. The transducers in the disposable cassette are removably snap connected to a hand set or plug housing which communicates with the computer or microprocessor and monitor. A novel variable ratio valve permits infinitely variable ratios of blood and crystalloid solution.

Abstract: A dot matrix printer having a plurality of hammers on a hammerbank with a counterbalance for the hammerbank in adjacent parallel relationship to the hammerbank. The hammerbank and counterbalance are driven by a first crank arm connected to the hammerbank and a second crank arm connected to the counterbalance with looped circular portions having bearing surfaces for moving the crank arms in opposite relationship to each other. A single shaft with two eccentrics, each respectively in the bearing surfaces turns the two crank arms. The crank arms are in close parallel relationship to each other and close proximity to the hammerbank and counterbalance. The single shaft is connected to a motor for driving the hammerbank and counterbalance, and is formed with a stator having coils with a magnetic ring formed as a rotor portion surrounding the stator, and a flywheel surrounding and connected to the magnetic rotor ring.

Abstract: A switch for making multiple contacts formed as an elastomeric molded body having a base with a ring of material molded therewith to the base, and attached to the base by a web. An interior cylindrical member is supported within the ring of material by another web. Electrically conductive media is formed on the ring and on the interior cylindrical member. The switch is mounted on a board having multiple stationary contacts that can be contacted by the conductive surfaces on the ring and the conductive surface on the interior cylindrical member.