Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for protecting, installing and removing a fragile device having a screw threaded mounting end. The apparatus includes a housing surrounding the fragile device having an open end with a screw threaded portion which is threaded in a direction opposite to the screw thread mounting end of the fragile device. An end ferrule is attached to the mounting end of the fragile device and has a screw thread portion adapted to threadingly engage the screw thread portion of the open end of the housing. The method is practiced by inserting the fragile device into the screw threaded open end of the housing and threadingly engaging the ferrule with the housing in a first direction to a desired level of torque. The screw threaded mount of the fragile device is then threadingly engaged in a screw threaded mounting hole by turning the housing in the same direction until the fragile device and the ferrule seats.

Abstract: A method of measuring the size distribution of moving particles within a scattering medium includes a step of directing a beam of light into the scattering medium. The frequency of the scattered light is compared to nonscattered light emitted from the scattering medium and results in the generation of a first signal having a magnitude which is indicative of the difference in frequency between the scattered light and the nonscattered light. A second signal is generated having a magnitude which varies with frequency on a linear scale. The frequency scale of the second signal is then translated to a logarithmic scale. Finally, the translated second signal is deconvolved to determine the size and distribution of moving particles within the scattering medium.

Abstract: A contact is provided in a self-aligned manner to a doped region a semiconductor substrate by first forming a layer of a transition metal-boride compound over a selected region on the substrate. A layer of a transition metal-nitride compound is formed over the layer of transition metal-boride compound, and the structure is heated to drive dopant from the layer of transition metal-boride compound into the substrate. The transition metal-boride/transition metal nitride layers are patterned to leave a contact to the doped region.

Abstract: An electronic component package, including: a multilayer ceramic or glass-ceramic substrate formed of a stacked plurality of generally parallel signal and insulating layers, each of the signal layers comprising an electrically conductive pattern; a cavity in a surface of the substrate sized to accommodate an electronic component with a planar surface of the electronic component disposed substantially planar with the surface of the substrate; and a plurality of electrical conductors extending from the surface of the substrate to selected ones of the signal layers for connecting the electronic component to the signal layers. Thin film wiring is provided for connecting the electronic component to the substrate.

Abstract: In analog multiplexers using solid state multiplexing relays and having a shunt capacitor circuit across each input channel as part of a filter for normal mode noise, common mode noise is rejected by opening the shunt capacitor circuit in at least the selected channel and preferably all channels during the switching cycle of each channel for a full cycle of the a.c. line frequency, the opening spanning the deselection time for the selected channel and the selection time for the next channel.

Abstract: A fitting which includes a sleeve having first and second axial extremities, the first axial extremity has internal tapered threads, the second axial extremity has threads for engaging a cooperating fitting on an associated electrical cabinet. An axial extremity of metal clad jacketed cable engages the tapered thread in the first axial extremity. The axial extremity of the metal clad jacketed cable has no jacket on at least a part thereof disposed within the sleeve. The threads on the second axial extremity of the sleeve are disposed on an internal wall of the sleeve or an external wall of the sleeve.

Abstract: A method for operating a dot-matrix printer to allow printing in the accelerating and decelerating regions of the carriage traverse, which comprises the steps of: firing the wires for registration at the present position of the carriage and stepping the carriage by energization of a stepper motor driving the carriage for the period required to complete the step when accelerating the carriage or the period required to brake the carriage when decelerating the carriage. These times will decrease as the carriage accelerates to the desired velocity and will increase as the carriage decelerates from the desired velocity.

Abstract: A multipoint recorder with a slow effective chart speed is operated to provide good visibility for the most recent record. A number of consecutive values for each point are scanned and stored. These values are recorded by a high speed printing mechanism during a first period of the recording cycle after which the chart is advanced forward for the remaining period of the recording cycle to a point which makes that record easily visible. At the end of the recording cycle the chart is retracted to start the next printing period with the printing mechanism at a point which corresponds to that required make the record look like a continuous line and to provide the desired time scale along the chart. To accomplish this the cycle time is coordinated to the chart speed and the number of consecutive scans recorded during each recording cycle.

Abstract: An assembly which includes a linkarm joining a valve having a rotatable mounted first shaft on which a butterfly is mounted and a actuator having a second shaft which reciprocally moves in a linear path. The linkarm includes a plate having first and second apparatus for engaging the first shaft and first and second apparatus for engaging the second shaft. The first and second apparatus for engaging the first shaft includes apparatus limiting engagement between the first shaft and the first and second apparatus for engaging the first shaft to specific angular positions. The specific angular positions are rotated with respect to each other in some embodiments.

Abstract: Probes are formed on a support in a pattern to engage pads on an integrated circuit chip and leads on a printed circuit board. As a preliminary step, a thin layer of a conductive material may be formed on the support. The probes may then be formed by (a) providing facsimiles of the probes on a disposable member, (b) providing a photoresist on the support, (c) adhering the facsimiles to the support in a relationship providing for an easier removal of the disposable member from the facsimiles than the support, (d) developing the photoresist in the areas not occupied on the support by the facsimiles, (e) removing the disposable member, and then the facsimiles, from the support, (f) forming the probes on the support in the spaces previously occupied by the facsimiles and (g) removing the photoresist from the support.

Abstract: An optical projection system has been provided which is particularly suited for use in microlithography and includes a source of exposure energy for generating a beam of energy. A primary lens and mirror are located in the path of the beam for receiving the beam and passing only a portion of the beam therethrough. A refractive lens group is located in the path of the portion of the beam for receiving and transmitting that portion. A reticle element is located in the path of the portion of the beam and has a uniform thickness having a pattern on one surface thereof and an unpatterned portion adjacent thereto. The reticle element is positioned for permitting the portion of the beam to pass through its thickness and for reflecting the portion of the beam back through its thickness and the refractive lens group to the primary lens and mirror.

Abstract: A control for the fuel input to a once-through boiler connected to supply steam through a throttle valve to a turbine-generator so that the rate of energy delivery to the boiler matches the rate of energy demand on the boiler as represented by demand signal. The fuel control involves comparing a demand signal indicative of the desired energy output rate for boiler with a signal indicative of the heat released to the furnace of the boiler and controlling the fuel input rate with a proportional and integral controller so that the fuel feed rate, such as coal feeder speed, is controlled so as to bring the signals into equality. The heat release signal is obtained by first calculating a lagged value of a quantity which corresponds to boiler output, such as steam flow or turbine first stage pressure, divided by fuel feed rate, such as feeder speed. That lagged quantity is then multiplied by a quantity corresponding to the value of the fuel feed rate.

Abstract: Two methods for determination of thickness of a film of known material that is mounted on one face of a solid substrate of known material are disclosed, using: (1) inversion of an optical beam reflectivity equation; or (2) determination of the film thickness that minimizes the variance of the optical beam reflectivity, computed at each of a predetermined sequence of optical beam wavelengths. Four methods for determination of the (real) refractive index of a film of known thickness mounted on a face of a solid substrate of known material are disclosed, using: (1) minimization of absolute differences of computed and measured optical beam reflectivity, summed over a sequence of known film thicknesses, for assumed values of the refractive index; (2 and 3) two iterative techniques of promote convergence of an estimate of the index to a final value of the refractive index; or (4) solution of a quadratic equation whose coefficients are slowly varying functions of the solution variable.

Abstract: Compensation for the temperature sensitivity of the output of a potentiometrically operated ISFET probe whose drain-source voltage and drain-source current are held constant is provided by using a Nernstian temperature correction of the difference between the ISFET output and the isopotential voltage of the probe and offsetting the resulting difference by the isopotential pIon value. An ISFET/NISFET pair provides a cancellation of variations due to manufacturing.

Abstract: There is provided a system for measuring a selected ion in a solution so as to avoid noise pickup from AC parasitic currents and measurement offset from DC parasitic currents, such as are frequently found in pH measurements on low conductivity grounded solutions like high purity water. The system in one form has an operational amplifier with an ion selective electrode connected to its inverting input, a counter electrode connected to its output, and circuit common connected to the non-inverting input, so that the potential of the ion selective electrode is continuously driven to circuit common. The reference electrode of the system is connected to a high impedance measuring circuit for measuring the voltage level of that electrode with reference to circuit common as a measure of the concentration of the selected ion in the solution.

Abstract: A variable capacitor, which may be a humidity sensitive capacitor, and a fixed reference capacitor are connected at a node. The node is clamped at a reference potential during a first phase of a two phase measuring cycle as the variable capacitor is charged to a fixed voltage and the fixed capacitor is charged to a feedback voltage. The node is unclamped during the second phase and the capacitors are connected in a series loop to allow a redistribution of the charge in the capacitors or force a reversal of that charge with a voltage source. The deviation of the node from its reference potential after charge redistribution occurs is used as input to a feedback circuit which integrates that deviation over a number of cycles until it provides a feedback voltage of magnitude sufficient to cause the node deviation to be reduced to zero. A second reference capacitor can be supplied to provide an offset.

Abstract: A signal conditioning circuit including power terminals adapted to be connected to a direct current power source, sensor terminals adapted to receive a direct current signal from at least one electrical sensing device and output terminals adapted to be connected to an electrical resistance. The conditioning circuit includes an inverter connected to the power terminals for generating an output signal of opposite polarity to the signal received at the power terminals. An adjustment mechanism is connected to the output terminals for receiving the inverter output signal and adjusting the magnitude of the signal received at the sensor terminals to a desired level. In a second mode of operation, the circuit includes a second set of sensor terminals and the adjustment mechanism operates to deliver an output signal proportional to the difference between the signals received at both the first and second sensor terminals.

Abstract: Container securing device that permits containers of any length to be carried by an integral or intermodal train including the feature of a container spanning the connection of two adjacent cores. The device is implemented in a two-part structure of an upper and a lower member. The lower member is adapted for fastening at any point along the car deck. The upper member has a pair of spaced corner members for receiving two corners of a container. An interconnecting means is arranged to connect the upper and lower members so that the upper member swivels with respect to the lower member and the car deck when the train rounds a curb and further provides for a longitudinal force dampening effect.

Abstract: A circuit for measuring the conductivity of a solution by applying a known ac current source across a pair of electrodes in the solution and utilizing an analog-to-digital dual slope converter, such as those of the integrated circuit type which include capacitor sampling of the signal input, for conversion of the ac voltage drop across the electrodes. The circuit includes means for synchronizing the ac current to the clock to time the sampling so that the same polarity of signal input is always obtained. Where the known ac current source consists of switching the sense of the electrode connections to a combination of a dc source in series with a known resistor, used for supplying the reference input to the converter, a dc signal input, instead of ac, obtained by including the voltage drop of the switch with the drop across the electrodes in the signal sampled. With this arrangement, higher cell constants can be used to minimize the effect of the voltage drop across the switch.

Abstract: The square root insertion circuit of this invention has an operational amplifier circuit with a multiplying circuit of the voltage-time product type in its negative feedback path. The multiplying circuit is connected so that the time factor is proportional to the amplifier output signal and the voltage factor is also proportional to the amplifier output signal. Thus, the multiplying circuit acts as a squaring circuit to cause the output signal of the amplifier to be directly related to the square root of its input signal.