Abstract: An automotive transmission control is shown having pressure switches to sense the state of actuation of solenoid valves to provide logic signals to a microprocessor type of transmission control. The pressure switches, which sense the pressure of hydraulic fluid controlled by the solenoid valves, use a dished shaped metallic diaphragm characterized in that the pressure-deflection curve of the center of the diaphragm has minimal hysteresis and reflects that the diaphragm is relatively stiff having a positive coefficient of pressure with increasing deflection up to and above a selected pressure level at which level the center accelerates between d.sub.1 and d.sub.2. The diaphragm is loosely held on a conductor at 0 psig with the fluid pressure when it increases forcing the diaphragm into sealing and electrical engagement with the conductor.

Abstract: A redundant power supply system wherein the standby power supplies are maintained in a powered up state at all times by feeding back a difference signal which is indicative of the voltage difference between the output of the power supply and a further difference voltage. The further difference voltage is indicative of the voltage drop across a diode located between the output from the power supply and the load of the entire power supply system.

Abstract: A multi-piece connector assembly comprising a first interconnect member having a plurality of contact pins, and a second interconnect member having a plurality of apertures, the first and second interconnect members being matingly engageable with each other for allowing desired ones of the contact pins to be fitted into desired ones of the apertures. The mating engagement between the two interconnect members is achieved without involving deformation of each of the interconnect members or removal of any of the contact pins from the first interconnect member.

Abstract: An automotive transmission control is shown having pressure switches to sense the state of actuation of solenoid valves to provide logic signals to a microprocessor type of transmission control. The pressure switches, which sense the pressure of hydraulic fluid controlled by the solenoid valves, use a dished shaped metallic diaphragm characterized in that the pressure-deflection curve of the center of the diaphragm has minimal hysteresis and reflects that the diaphragm is relatively stiff having a positive coefficient of pressure with increasing deflection up to and above a selected pressure level at which level the center accelerates between d.sub.1 and d.sub.2. The diaphragm is loosely held on a conductor at 0 psig with the fluid pressure when it increases forcing the diaphragm into sealing and electrical engagement with the conductor.

Abstract: A test socket has movable contact elements blanked from sheet metal to provide each element with a mounting leg part, a contact part at an edge of the blanked sheet metal, and a resilient curved part between the leg and contact parts permitting the contact part to be moved into and out of engagement with terminals of an IC unit to be tested in the socket and has a plurality of projections formed in side-by-side relation to each other in the edge of the sheet metal at the contact part for improving the making and breaking of electrical connection to the IC unit terminal.

Abstract: A solid state starting system for electric motors having main and start windings of the capacitor start, capacitor start-capacitor run and split phase types uses a triac serially connected to the start winding. The system turns on the triac upon energization of the motor from an at rest condition and measures the locked rotor value of either the main winding current for any of the above motor types or start winding voltage for the capacitor start, capacitor start-capacitor run motor types. The system stores that valve as a calibration value and then measures subsequent values and turns off the triac when the subsequent values reach a selected proportion of the calibration value. The system re-energizes the triac upon further subsequent measured values reaching a selected cut in value relative to the calibration value which is indicative of an overload or stall condition. The calibration value is retained for a given period of time following a loss of power to provide desired starting characteristics.

Abstract: An IC socket which has contacts positioned corresponding to each pin position of an IC to be inserted and a body portion holding the contacts, characterized in that at least a part of the contact is formed of conductive resin.

Abstract: A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts through an arc chute into a remote portion of the chamber. A push-button is connected through a kinematic linkage which transfers motion using minimal frictional engagement to a movable contact to bring the movable contact into and out of engagement with a stationary contact and to latch the contacts in engagement during normal operation. A cantilevered current carrying bimetal transfers motion caused by I R heating of the bimetal to an ambient compensating bimetal connected to the latch mechanism. The kinematic linkage includes a latch surface which engages a rollable cylindrical reaction surface of the latch mechanism to cause the movable contact to come into engagement with the stationary contact upon depression of the push-button.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a heat sink 6 with thermistor pellets 10, 22, 32 of PTC material. This heat sink is held in position inside a through passage for the fuel mixture through the action of clamp means 14; 17; 23; 33 which press the heat sink against the inside surface of the through passage. Obviously the heat sink is electrically insulated with respect to the engine. Advantages are that no plastics contact carrier and an opening in the wall of the manifold are needed and that the temperature peak is moved from the unloaded side towards the middle of the thickness of the thermistor pellets.

Abstract: A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts through an arc chute into a remote portion of the chamber. A push-button is connected through a kinematic linkage which transfers motion using minimal frictional engagement to a movable contact to bring the movable contact into and out of engagement with a stationary contact and to latch the contacts in engagement during normal operation. A cantilevered current carrying bimetal transfers motion caused by I.sup.2 R heating of the bimetal to an ambient compensating bimetal connected to the latch mechanism. The kinematic linkage includes a latch surface which engages a rollable cylindrical reaction surface of the latch mechanism to cause the movable contact to come into engagement with the stationary contact upon depression of the push-button.

Abstract: An operator interface console for protecting a process control equipment such as an industrial computer in a harsh factory environment has a central processing unit and a video display uit for the computer accommodated in a compartment behind a sealed door which has a sealed keyboard and a window to permit operating of the computer and viewing of the display unit while the door is closed, the window being disposed at an ergonomically desirable oblique angle facing somewhat downward to facilitate clear viewing of the display unit under changing lighting, dust and other conditions encountered in many process control situations.

Abstract: A dual function sensor particularly useful with vehicular coolant systems indicates when a coolant liquid becomes corrosive to such cooling system materials as well as when the liquid falls to a low level condition. A reference and a sense electrode are used to probe the condition of the coolant liquid. Integral electronics provide signal conditioning and transmitting to indicate both corrosive and low level coolant conditions. The sensor assembly mounted directly onto a tubular coupling on the vehicle radiator by pushing the assembly onto the coupling until a spring wire element snaps past a lip formed on the free distal end of the coupling. An electrical connector shroud extends from the assembly and accommodates a mating male connector which is pushed onto the shroud until a clip mounted on the male connector snaps over a locking tab located on the shroud. The male connector typically is connected to an engine control module (ECM).

Abstract: A composite metal spring material, and formed electrically conductive contact spring members made from the material, comprise metallurgically bonded layers of copper and stainless steel of selected compositions which are subjected to a novel sequence of heat-treating steps for providing the spring materials and members with spring characteristics of improved strength and stability.

Abstract: A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts through an arc chute into a remote portion of the chamber. A push-button is connected through a kinematic linkage which transfers motion using minimal frictional engagement to a movable contact to bring the movable contact into and out of engagement with a stationary contact and to latch the contacts in engagement during normal operation. A cantilevered current carrying bimetal transfers motion caused by I2R heating of the bimetal to an ambient compensating bimetal connected to the latch mechanism. The kinematic linkage includes a latch surface which engages a rollable cylindrical reaction surface of the latch mechanism to cause the movable contact to come into engagement with the stationary contact upon depression of the push-button.

Abstract: A heat dissipating pad or support member for mounting a semiconductor device in an electrical circuit has a metal core with a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion preferably lower than that of the semiconductor device and has a thermally conducting, corrosion resistant metal coating with relatively greater thermal conductivity than the core. The thermally conducting coating is metallurgically bonded to top, bottom and two lateral surfaces of the core with a selected thickness to cooperate with the core in providing an outer surface portion of the member over the top of the core having an effective coefficient of thermal expansion substantially corresponding to the semiconductor device to reliably mount the semiconductor device thereon.

Abstract: A socket is described having not only contactors secured to the socket body and electrically connected in an elastically pressed condition of these contactors to a given electrical part mounted but a slide cover slidably fitted to the socket body wherein tapered surfaces are formed in sliding contact areas of such contactors to the slide cover in such a manner that as the slide cover slides a force may be generated to elastically deform and release these contactors from electrical connection to such electrical part.

Abstract: A beverage caddy particularly adapted for use in automotive vehicles having a center console is shown to include a tray portion mounted between a pair of relatively narrow in depth but long in height side walls. A base portion is adapted to be received in the bottom portion or floor of the automotive console and removable attachment means is disposed on the rear top portion of the caddy to securely mount the caddy immediately adjacent to the dash of the vehicle with the tray located within the field of vision of a person operating the vehicle.

Abstract: A semi-finished sheet for making disposable warning marker devices is shown having three major side panels of trapezoidal configuration and a minor bottom panel of triangular configuration. The sheet is foldable along fold lines with tabs lockably received in mating slots to form a frusto pyramid structure open at the top to facilitate insertion of suitable weights to enhance stability.

Abstract: An industrial, digitally controlled processing system including two nominally identical electronic devices connected in the system in a manner such that one of the devices functions as an active device in the system and the other device functions as a standby device, in which each device includes a back-up control unit including an optical fiber link for establishing communication between the device and the other nominally identical device, the unit being operative for determining whether the device is presently functioning as an active or standby device and for receiving signals indicating whether the other nominally identical device is functioning as an active or standby device, and for synchronizing the operation of the device with that of the other nominally identical device, and having a switch responsive, when the device is functioning as the standby device, to the occurrence of a failure in the other nominally identical device for causing the device to begin operating as the active device.

Abstract: A power meter device having a transparent part and an electronic signal transmitter to permit remote meter reading has a thermal and electromagnetic interference shield for protecting the electronic transmitter means from high temperatures and r.f. interference. The shield comprises a metal-organic laminate of black and white polyester layers bonded to respective opposite sides of an aluminum foil so a portion of the foil is exposed by the black polyester along a top edge of the laminate, so portions of the black and white polyesters extend beyond the foil and are bonded together along a bottom edge of the laminiate, to provide a slit near one strip end and an interlocking or detent flap at an opposite strip end and to provide integral ground and mounting tabs in the portion of the metal foil exposed by the black polyester.