Abstract: A row of connectors 14 is assembled on a printed circuit board 11 by inserting a leg section 41 of each terminal 14 into a mounting aperture 32 and bending a flat contact portion 42 of each terminal 14 to fit into a pocket 47 formed in the surface of the board. Printed circuit conductors 13 are next screened onto the board 11 with a portion of the conductors positioned over some of the contact portions 42 of terminals 14 to provide edge connections for the printed circuits 12. Metal strips conductors 13 are then fastened to the board 11 and end portions thereof are welded to the contact portions 42 of other terminals 14 to provide edge connections for the metal strips conductors 13.

Abstract: Electrical components (10 or 30) are fastened to a mounting surface (16) of a printed circuit board (11) by forming a plurality of thermoplastic pins (20, 35) projecting from the mounting surface of the board adjacent to positions where components are to be located. The component is placed on the board so that portions of the component are located adjacent to portions of the pins, following which portions of the pins are heated and formed about portions of the component to form plastic locking sections (22 or 37) that fasten the component to the board in a desired position. The mounting surface (16) of the board may be formed with a pocket (18 or 33) that receives and positions the component at the desired location, so that component leads (17 or 32) extend along the mounting surface to positions overlapping lead-contact areas (14, 34) of printed contact patterns deposited on the mounting surface, after which the leads are attached to the contact areas, as by reflow soldering.

Abstract: Improved electroplating processes and equipment, in which an inert gas (21) is mixed with a liquid electrolyte (20) to form a foam (23) of the gas plus electrolyte, which foam is then circulated (arrows A) through an electroplating chamber (30) in which anodes (12) and cathode substrates (10) are mounted so as to plate a metal from the foam electrolyte onto the cathodic surfaces of the substrates. Preferably, the gas is nitrogen or argon and the electrolyte may be any of various conventional plating solutions, such as a potassium gold cyanide solution in a specific example of a gold-plating process described in detail. The foam process provides improvements in uniformity of the thickness of the plated metal and in the surface appearance.

Abstract: A tubular piece part (10) is tested to determine the rupture strength of the part when subject to lateral expansion (F) with respect to a bore (11) of the part. In one example, a tubular segmented collet (21) is placed in the bore of the part, and a tapered pin (23) is forced a predetermined distance into the collet (X) so as to expand the collet and part radially outward by a predetermined amount. The peak force required to so expand the collet is measured (57) so as to provide an indication of the rupture strength of the part, and particularly of the weld strength of a molded plastic tube having a radial weld line (W). In particular, this method provides an indication of the likelihood that the part will fail prematurely in the field, after subsequent assembly of the part with an insert member (17) that is force fit into the bore.

Abstract: A dialing circuit (10) for an electronic telephone set including a microcomputer (40) having an RAM with two or more memory sections (I and II), each capable of storing data signals representing a telephone number. As the numbers are dialed by operation of a conventional pushbutton dial pad (70), the last number dialed (LND) is stored in RAM section I for automatic redial on operation of a redial key included in the dial pad ("LND," FIGS. 1-2; "LND-II" FIG. 3). A mechanism is provided for shifting a first LND from RAM section I to RAM section II, either selectively by operating a Save button (S) in FIGS. 1-2 or automatically on dialing a second number in FIG. 3. An additional key ("S/R," FIGS. 1-2 or "LND-I," FIG. 3) is provided for automatically redialing the first LND from RAM section II. The dialing circuits also include single button (F, P) dialing of a few emergency numbers ("Fire," "Police," "911," etc.).

Abstract: Spray flux apparatus (10) of a soldering system is automatically cleaned by delivery of a predetermined amount of solvent to the apparatus. A control system (50) transmits signals for controlling the delivery of air or solvent through holes (33) in an air manifold (32) located in a flux tank (21). After a predetermined amount of solvent is delivered to the tank (21), the control system (50) signals a solenoid valve (62) to close to stop the flow of solvent to the tank (21) and then signals another solenoid valve (52) to open to allow compressed air to enter the tank (21) to aid in the cleaning of the apparatus (10).

Abstract: An edge connector (10) and method of assembly for making electrical contact with contact pad areas (11) along an edge of a circuit card (12), such as a thin film circuit or thick film circuit. The connector includes a spring clip (20) having a set of three spring fingers (21-22-23) projecting therefrom and offset to define a space (24) between the fingers into which the circuit card can be inserted (A) to pre-assemble the card with the clip. The central tine (22) is crimped about a solder preform (30) so as to deform the preform into an hourglass configuration in which the ends of the preform contact the surface of the card. The preform is then melted to form a solder joint (50) bonding the connector to the circuit card.

Abstract: A piece part, such as a flat metal contact spring (12), is mounted between two plastic details (11 and 25), so that an end portion of the spring 12 projects from the mounting details. One of the details, such as a base member 11, has a cavity 17 within which the spring is placed so that a mounting section (12A) fits within the cavity. The second detail, such as a thermoplastic locking insert 25, includes a finger 25B adapted to fit in the cavity adjacent to the spring section (12A). The insert is provided with pointed energy directors (30 and 31) arranged so that the members can be heated and compressed together, and the directors melt to weld the parts together. The insert and/or the base member is formed with slots (33) so positioned that portions of the molten plastic are forced to flow into the slots during the process so as to encapsulate the mounting section of the spring or other piece part in the plastic.

Abstract: An indicating button 10 for a push-push actuated device 11 (e.g., a switch) is mountable on the device's plunger 20 which controls the "on" and "off" states of the device. Button 20 comprises a hollow casing 25 in which is rotatably mounted a quasi-spherical indicator 50 having two surface portions 101, 102 of different appearance which are selectively viewable through a plano-convex lens 90 in the top of the casing at different angular positions of the indicator. The indicator is driven to these different positions at "in" and "out" positions of plunger 20 by a resilient crank arm 70 coupling indicator 50 and device 11 and adapted by resilient bending to convert linear "in" and "out" movements of button 10 and plunger 20 into rotary movements of the indicator.

Abstract: A jumper plug (11) for making an electrical connection between two terminal pins (15) has a housing (12) containing two holes (13-14) for accepting the pins. Mounted in the housing is a horseshoe-shaped spring clip (30), made of an electrically conductive material, having each of its legs (31) extending down into a hole such that as the pins (15) are inserted into the holes they come into contact with the legs. Additionally, the walls (17, 18, 19, 20) of the holes are tapered to insure a better contact between the inserted pins (15) and the legs (31).

Abstract: An on-hook/off-hook detection circuit comprises a light-emitting device 54 connected across the tip T and ring R leads of a subscriber's telephone set 50 and between current source 56 and ground 57. A photo-transistor 60 is optically coupled to the light-emitting device 54 for signaling a line scanner 53. When the subscriber's telephone set 50 goes off-hook, a short circuit comprising tip T, telephone set 50 and ring lead R causes light-emitting device 54 to become non-conducting while the light-emitting device 54 is conducting when subscriber's telephone set 50 is on-hook.

Abstract: A speech network (11) for a telephone set including a receiver (12) circuit and a transmitter (13) circuit connected in parallel between a tip lead (16) and a ring lead (17). An amplifying transistor (Q4) can be connected in either of two modes, including a normal receive mode for amplifying received signals from the line and applying the amplified receive signal to the receiver circuit. A voice-operated switching unit (Q6,20) is provided for sensing a voice-signal output from the transmitter and connecting the transistor (Q4) in a transmit mode, in which the transistor amplifies the transmitter output for transmission to the line. A sidetone generating circuit (R31, Q5) is connected in parallel with the receiver circuit in the transmit node, for applying a reduced portion of the amplified transmit signal to the receiver.

Abstract: A fuse holder tester (50) is arranged with a plurality of conductive, resiliently mounted contact fingers (51, 52), for making electrical contact with leads (11, 12) embedded in the walls of the fuse holder (10). The tester also includes a spring-loaded probe (58) arranged to make contact with a third lead (13) located at the base of the fuse holder, upon insertion of the tester into the holder. In one example, a testing assembly (70) is provided, having six of the testers (50) capable of being simultaneously inserted into a typical fuse block (30) having six of the fuse holders (10).

Abstract: A connector 10 (FIG. 1) is arranged with two hinged arms 30, 40 for protecting the terminations of electrical conductors 18 in the connector. Each of the two arms includes hood sections 31, 41, collar sections 32, 42 and clinching means 36, 46 arranged to mate with each other. As the arms 30, 40 are pivoted back over the termination end 21 of the connector, the clinching means 36, 46 mate with each other securely locking the collar section 32, 42 about the electrical conductors 18 thereby aligning the hood portions 31, 41 over the termination end 21 of the connector.

Abstract: A tool for feeding telephone or other cable into a manhole comprises a pair of horizontally spaced wire rope lengths 121 grouped together to form part of a longitudinally elongated support frame resiliently warpable in the vertical plane into arcuate shapes. Coupled with and at opposite sides of such lengths are cable receiving and cable discharging sleeve units 30 and 31. Also coupled with such lengths between such units are a plurality of collar units 35 spaced from each other and units 30, 31. The units 30, 31, 35 form part of said frame and, when closed, extend around respective longitudinal passages for movement of a cable through the tool. All those units are selectively openable to permit sidewise insertion and removal of the cable from such passages. The unit 31 is further adapted to act as a lubricator for the cable.

Abstract: A surface of a substrate 11 (FIG. 2) is uniformly coated with a liquid L by wetting the surface with the liquid and compressibly contacting the wetted surface with an applicator member 10 having an outer layer 14 of a compressible liquid absorbing material with inverse sponge characteristics and an inner layer 13 of compliant material. Preferably the member is a roller 10 having a silicone rubber or polyurethane inner layer and a chamois outer layer. A plurality of the rollers 10 are arranged to be in compressive contact with the surfaces of a plurality of substrates 11 as the substrates are being removed from the liquid L (arrow A), the movement of the substrates 11 causing rotation (arrow F) of the rollers to apply a uniform coating of the liquid on the contacted surfaces.

Abstract: The loop current (I.sub.X) of a telephone set speech network (1) is automatically initialized at a desired level independent of the central office voltage applied to the input terminals (12, 13) of the set and thus independent of transmission line loop length and other variables. For this purpose, a variable conductance device (20), sush as a Darlington driver (Q1), is connected between the input terminals and the speech network so as to establish a loop current at a circuit node (N1) that is a function of the supply voltage and the conductivity of the device. The loop current is monitored, as by a Schmitt trigger circuit (30), and the conductance of the device (20) is varied accordingly so as to initialize the loop current at the desired level, as by selectively connecting a plurality of resistors (R2 . . . R7) individually and collectively between a base node (26) of the driver (Q1) and the ring lead (17) of the set.

Abstract: Printed circuits, and techniques and materials for making printed circuits by prior-known metal-spraying techniques, particularly for making two-sided boards with metal through-hole connects. Preferably, a primer coating (40) of a metal such as zinc is sprayed onto one surface of the substrate, through a chrome-plated metal stencil (30), after which a conductive coating (13 or 16), such as copper or nickel, is sprayed onto the zinc coating to form the conductive patterns. Through hole connections (20) are fabricated by forming tapered holes (50), and placing a removable stop member (51) against the narrow end of the hole before spraying the patterns. The first pattern (16) is then sprayed on from the wide end of the hole (50) so that a portion (52) of the material coats the walls of the hole and forms a bridging strip (53) across the narrow end of the hole.

Abstract: Electrical components (10 or 30) are fastened to a mounting surface (16) of a printed circuit board (11) by forming a plurality of thermoplastic pins (20, 35) projecting from the mounting surface of the board adjacent to positions where components are to be located. The component is placed on the board so that portions of the component are located adjacent to portions of the pins, following which portions of the pins are heated and formed about portions of the component to form plastic locking sections (22 or 37) that fasten the component to the board in a desired position. The mounting surface (16) of the board may be formed with a pocket (18 or 33) that receives and positions the component at the desired location, so that component leads (17 or 32) extend along the mounting surface to positions overlapping lead-contact areas (14, 34) of printed contact patterns deposited on the mounting surface, after which the leads are attached to the contact areas, as by reflow soldering.

Abstract: In the on-hook state of a set of telephone line-switch contacts (LS-1 to LS-5), an incoming low-frequency ringing signal (A) from the central office is rectified (14) and applied to an oscillator circuit (16), which drives the receiver (11) of the telephone handset (21) as the transducer for the tone ringer. A protective switch (20) is used to disable the oscillator circuit from producing an output to the receiver whenever the handset has been lifted from the cradle (22), so as to prevent the user from being rung in the ear if the handset is removed from the cradle and the line switch is thereafter depressed manually while the handset is in the normal listening position. The switch responds to the physical presence of the handset in the cradle, such as by using a magnetically actuated switch mounted in the cradle and operated by a magnet (24) mounted in the facing surface of the handset.