Abstract: A new and improved electrical connector is provided for Ball Grid Array (BGA) devices and Direct Chip Attach (DCA) devices that solves the prior art problems of mismatch in the coefficient of thermal between a semiconductor die and its substrate, PC board or carrier. The electrical connector consists of a resilient loop of wire that is permanently wire bonded at a first and a second bond position to an electrode or contact pad of a die or an interposer. The closed loop of wire is stable in the X and Y direction and resilient in the Z direction which enables the wire bonded die or interposer to be temporarily attached to a carrier or test board for all forms of tests as well as being removable and reworkable even after being permanently soldered in place on a substrate or PC board. Since the loop shaped connectors are resilient in X, Y and Z directions, the die or interposer may be clamped onto a PC board or substrate to provide a lead free electrical connection that does not require any underfill.

Abstract: An automatic tape feeder for use in component placement machines includes a novel sprocket wheel for driving component carrier tapes to a gross position by an electric drive motor. Before the electric drive motor reaches the final position desired, it is deactivated or turned off. A novel indexing cam is connected to the sprocket drive wheel. A spring loaded pawl or positioning cam is moved into a vee-shaped groove on the indexing cam so as to achieve an actual fine position of the indexing cam as well as the teeth on the sprocket wheel. By first achieving a gross position with the drive motor and then a fine position with an indexing cam and pawl, it is possible to achieve a positioning accuracy in a pick up station which is as accurate as the sprocket holes and component pockets in the carrier tape. The present invention has achieved accuracies of ± one 1,000th of one inch which exceeds positioning accuracies of devices known heretofore.

Abstract: Gas fireplaces are provided with commercially available gas valves that are similar to gas valves in furnaces and boilers. Such gas valves may be controlled manually, by thermostat or by solenoid valves which turn the fireplace burner ON and OFF and HIGH and LOW using a closed loop radio frequency transceiver system. The present invention provides an improved voice or sound actuated gas valve for fireplace burners. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a microphone is coupled to a voice actuated electronic control module which converts analog sound signals to digital control signals. The sound may be music or other non-voice sounds employed to modulate the flames from the fireplace burner. Preferably the sounds are voice commands that are predetermined and preferably comprise a recognition command followed by an actuation command.

Abstract: In an incremental encoder signal processing system there is provided a pair of sensor/encoders adapted to generate a quadrature pair of analog positioning signals that are converted to digital signals and processed to produce a digital position vector and a digital error signal. The digital position vector is processed in a novel logic analyzer to determine if sequential position vectors are indicative of an invalid change of state. The digital position vector signal is filtered in a novel low pass digital filter and the before-and-after signals at a plurality of states of the digital filter are analyzed and compared to detect conditions which permit the system to produce optimum rates of change in the servo-controller which controls a servo-drive at optimum speeds without creating error conditions and to detect error conditions in the sensor/encoder.

Abstract: The present invention relates to post manufacturing operations for improving the working life of known bonding tools such as capillaries, wedges and single point TAB tools of the type used in the semiconductor industry to make fine wire or TAB finger interconnections. After the desired bonding tool is manufactured to predetermined specifications, dimensions and tolerances, it is placed in a sputtering chamber with hard target material with an ionizing gas. A controlled volume of sputtered hard material is generated at high temperature by plasma ion bombardment and deposited onto the working face of the bonding tool while the tool is held at a temperature that prevents distortion. A very thin amorphous hard layer is bonded onto the working face of the bonding tool which increases the working life of most tools by an order of magnitude and there is no requirement for additional processing.

Abstract: A prefabricated open-ended fireplace box for use in fireplace assemblies is molded from a slurry of refractory ceramic fibers and a non-organic binder. The prefabricated fireplace box is preferably formed in or over a mold which provides an accurate shape to the green or semi-rigid open end box which must be dried or partially fired while on the mold to avoid warping or distortion while being removed from the mold. A rigid surround trim in the form of a C-shape is placed in or on the mold at the open ends of the fireplace box. At least one attachment flange of the surround trim is integrally molded into walls of the fireplace box so that at least the open end of the semi-rigid fireplace box is made rigid when removed from the mold.

Abstract: A novel dual mode of operation gas fireplace of the type having a combustion chamber box and a heat exchanger is provided with a burner in the bottom of the combustion chamber box which creates exhaust gasses to be passed out of the combustion chamber box and into or through the heat exchanger portion of the fireplace mounted on top of or back of the combustion chamber box. The hot exhaust gasses leaving the combustion chamber box may be directed into an exhaust stack or diverted directly into the room to be heated by a blower motor which diverts hot exhaust gas products from the heat exchanger directly into a room area to be heated in a ventless mode of operation. When the blower motor which diverts the exhaust gasses into the room is deactivated, the novel fireplace may be operated in a vented mode of operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for determining the touch down position of a tool or probe used in bonding and placement machines. The tool holder is coupled to a Z-drive motor and comprises a fixed end coupled to a resilient member. The tool holder has a compliant end connected to the other end of the resilient member. An optical encoder is coupled to the compliant end of the tool holder. Processor means are provided for incrementally driving the Z-drive motor and observing the increments of movement of the compliant end of the tool holder with an optical sensor. When the compliant end of the tool holder no longer moves in step with the encoder of the Z-drive, the tip of the tool or probe has encountered resistance and started compression of the resilient member which connects the fixed end and the compliant end of the tool holder. The Z-axis position of the encoder and the Z-drive motor at the time of resistance is indicative of the touch down position.

Abstract: A low cost prefabricated fireplace is provided with an open-ended fireplace box which requires no outer sheet metal shroud or housing as employed in the prior art sheet metal fireplaces. The novel fireplace box has at least five walls which consist substantially of insulating reinforced ceramic fiber (RCF) material and a binder. A modular burner system is removably mounted on the bottom wall of the fireplace box and a floor panel is mounted on the modular burner system forming an air chamber below the floor panel in the fireplace box. A decorative surround trim is attached to the open end of the fireplace box which serves to support fixed or operable glass doors. A log set which may include a log burner is mounted above the floor panel which supports a decorative log set. Apertures are made in the top sides or of the fireplace box to accommodate an air supply and/or an exhaust stack.

Abstract: A portable gas burner which is usable in remote areas without electricity is provided for use as a fire place burner, or as a camp fire burner or as a stove burner or as a grill burner. The novel gas burner comprises a base unit onto which is mounted a hollow ceramic fiber top which is connected to the base unit so as to form a gas manifold therebetween for receiving a mixture of gas and air. A manually operable gas valve means in said base unit is connected to a gas supply. The valve when opened allows a mixture of gas and air to flow through a gas line into the gas manifold until such time as a temperature thermocouple sensing element is heated sufficiently to hold manually operable gas valve open.

Abstract: A low cost prefabricated fireplace is provided with an open-ended fireplace box which requires no outer sheet metal shroud or housing as employed in the prior art sheet metal fireplaces. The novel fireplace box has at least five walls which consist substantially of insulating reinforced ceramic fiber (RCF) material and a binder. A modular burner system is removably mounted on the bottom wall of the fireplace box and a floor panel is mounted on the modular burner system forming an air chamber below the floor panel in the fireplace box. A decorative surround trim is attached to the open end of the fireplace box which serves to support fixed or operable glass doors. A log set which may include a log burner is mounted above the floor panel which supports a decorative log set. Apertures are made in the sides or top of the fireplace box to accommodate an air supply and/or an exhaust stack.

Abstract: The present invention relates to controls for a multi-zone reflow oven. In the present invention a plurality of infra red thermal scanners are located at critical points along the path which a substrate passes in a reflow oven so as to generate an actual solder paste time/temperature profile as a substrate passes through the zones of the reflow oven. The actual temperature of the solder paste is determined at critical zones for generating feedback control signals. The time/temperature profile is stored for transfer to a different reflow oven so as to effect the identical solder paste time/temperature curve on the same or a different oven.

Abstract: In a pick and place machine of the type having an X-Y movable bond head there is provided a vertically movable pick up tool in the bond head having a tip for picking up and placing a device. The tip of the bonding tool is mounted opposite a radiant heating element which is juxtaposed and separated from the tip of the bonding tool. The tip of the bonding tool is heated to a predetermined control temperature with the radiant energy heating element and during a bonding operation it incurs some cooling. The amount of cooling is calculated by the time and the length of the extension of the bonding tool from its heating element and a computer controller calculates a compensation factor over a predetermined fixed time which includes retracting the bonding tool tip a predetermined vertical distance into the heater to reheat the tool and compensate for the amount of cooling that occurred during the pick and place operation.

Abstract: A novel wood/gas burning fireplace is provided with an open box shaped outer housing. A combustion chamber is mounted inside said housing having a plurality panels that are juxtaposed the panels of the outer housing so as to provide an open wall at the bottom, back and top of the fireplace which serve as a heat exchanger. An insulating panel is mounted in the top wall of the heat exchanger dividing the top wall into two separate passageways. The air passageway below the insulating panel comprises a part of a heat exchanger for heating room air of the space being heated. The air passageway above the insulating panel forms a plenum chamber with apertures in the outer housing panel(s) for conducting room air into the plenum chamber. A stack opening aperture in the top panel of the outer housing conducts cooling air into a coaxial exhaust stack for cooling the top panel as well as the exhaust stack pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to post manufacturing operations for improving the working life of known bonding tools such as capillaries, wedges and single point TAB tools of the type used in the semiconductor industry to make fine wire or TAB finger interconnections. After the desired bonding tool is manufactured to predetermined specifications, dimensions and tolerances, it is placed in a sputtering chamber with hard target material with an ionizing gas. A controlled volume of sputtered hard material is generated at high temperature by plasma ion bombardment and deposited onto the working face of the bonding tool while the tool is held at a temperature that prevents distortion. A very thin amorphous hard layer is bonded onto the working face of the bonding tool which increases the working life of most tools by an order of magnitude and there is no requirement for additional processing.

Abstract: An air to gas mixing valve is provided for fireplaces especially those having sealed combustion chambers as employed in direct vent fireplaces. The novel mixing valve comprises a channel shaped shutter which mounts on and is linearly slidable over a window or windows made a part of the gas mixing pipe which connects to the fireplace burner. An adjustment rod is rotatably coupled to an actuating arm on the channel shaped shutter and extends through at least one sealed panel and has a rotatable nut or screw for linearly moving the shutters over the windows from a remote position.

Abstract: The present invention includes a multi-frequency ultrasonic generator coupled to a multi-resonance frequency transducer capable of operating at a plurality of usable resonance frequencies. A controller is coupled to a power amplifier that drives the ultrasonic transducer and is capable of applying power, voltage or current profiles for each of the resonance frequencies to be used during a bonding operation independent of the others.

Abstract: A low cost highly efficient cooling system for a closely coupled linear motor includes a moving coil mounted for movement on a stator core. The moving coil comprises a plurality of conductive turns wound on a frame wherein the outer surface of the turns are exposed. A nozzle comprising a base member and a cover plate is mounted on one end of the moving coil for producing a pair of high velocity sheets of air which are directed horizontally over the surface of the exposed turns so as to rapidly cool and stabilize the temperature of the coils wound on the moving coil frame within a very short period of time.

Abstract: A digital programmable ultrasonic generator for driving an ultrasonic transducer includes a computer for receiving and storing a plurality of selectable programs. The programs are indicative of different modes of operation. A profile generator is coupled to the computer to receive programs and to produce a digital reference voltage indicative of a voltage profile to be generated for the mode selected. A digital frequency controller is coupled to a direct digital synthesizer for producing a predetermined frequency in response to a programmed frequency command from the computer. A process controller receives the output of the direct digital synthesizer as a voltage signal having the desired frequency and modifies the voltage depending on the mode of operation and voltage desired before driving a power amplifier coupled to the transducer to be driven.