Abstract: An improvement of the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,297,075 permits the propeller assembly of a wind energy system to swing in two directions, both left and right with respect to wind direction. The improvement includes a snubber assembly which has a plurality of springs mounted on a central bar.

Abstract: A solder/desolder tool has a heater block supporting a handle at its upper end and a heating plate at its lower end. The heating plate is thermally engaged by heating elements housed in the heater block. An array of pin relief apertures are formed in the heating plate. Retractable clamps are pivoted to the heater block for clamping a leadless chip against the heating plate. The leadless chip has an array of input/output sockets corresponding to the array of pin relief apertures. A method is disclosed for soldering the chip sockets to a corresponding array of pins supported by a PC board. According to the method, solder balls are loaded in the chip sockets, and the chip is then secured in the tool to reflow the solder balls to form solder plugs. The solder plugs are then set upon the upper ends of the pins and melted by the heating plate so that solder joints are formed between the pins and sockets. The chip is released from the tool to allow the solder joints to cool.

Abstract: A workpiece carrier includes a flat support surface to which a workpiece is attached by bonding. The carrier includes means for bending the carrier support surface so that it becomes concave. When dealing with a relatively flexible workpiece, one can cause the workpiece's surface to be machined to attain a convex shape by bending the support surface of the carrier concavely, and then bonding the workpiece attachment surface to the carrier while the carrier support surface is concavely bent. Allowing the carrier's support surface to assume a less concave shape then imparts a convex shape to the surface of the workpiece to be machined.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for verifying the integrity of servo data stored as a series of parallel servo tracks on a disk. Each track includes automatic gain control data and servo positioning data. The peak amplitudes of the automatic gain control pulses on a first track determine a first effective threshold or AGC gain level. The first threshold level is then shifted to a higher, enhanced threshold level. Servo data pulses from a second track are then detected, based on the enhanced threshold level and the AGC gain level of the first track. Should these servo data pulses not be fully detected, an error is recorded for the second servo track.

Abstract: A logic system maintains current least recently used information among the elements of each group in a plurality of groups where each group includes two or more elements. A memory stores intermediate information regarding the relative precedence between each combination of elements in a given group. A logic network recomputes this value each time an element in a group is used and provides this new information to the memory and to a network which resolves the current least recently used status.

Abstract: A process for producing high precision apertures in plastic components comprises the steps of: injection molding the component from a crystalline or semicrystalline thermoplastic material wherein at least one aperture is formed in the component during the molding step; inserting an annealing rod having an oversized diameter with respect to the aperture into the aperture; placing the component, with the annealing rod inserted into the aperture, into an oven at an elevated temperature for a period of time; allowing the component to cool; and withdrawing the annealing rod from the aperture of the component.

Abstract: Disclosed is a half-tube of ceramic paper inserted into the quartz tube of a microwave oven quartz lamp. The ceramic paper acts as a reflector, permitting directional control of the infrared radiation from the quartz lamp.

Abstract: A simplified power on/off protect circuit is provided to enable logic above a predetermined power supply voltage level and disable the logic below such predetermined voltage level. The circuit comprises a zener diode in combination with a transistor such that the zener controls the voltage level at which the transistor turns on. The transistor enables the logic.

Abstract: A method for producing an NPN semiconductor device which has a titanium-tungsten barrier metal only in the N type contact windows is disclosed. A semiconductor wafer first undergoes the washed emitter process with the result that the N type collector and emitter contact windows are exposed to bare silicon and the P type contact windows are covered by a layer of silicon dioxide. A layer of titanium-tungsten alloy is deposited on the surface of the wafer. The titanium-tungsten layer is etched out of the P type contact regions using standard photolithographic techniques. The underlying layer of silicon dioxide in the P type contact regions is then also etched away. A layer of aluminum is then deposited across the surface of the wafer. The conductor interconnect photolithography is used to etch away all undesired aluminum. The remaining portions of the titanium-tungsten layer, not covered by aluminum signal lines, are then also etched away.

Abstract: A quartz lamp heater is disclosed for a combined microwave, infrared and convection cooking oven. The quartz infrared lamps have blinds which either direct the infrared rays toward the food for broiling, or towards a rotating heat exchanger/fan, which in turn transfers heat to the air and blows it out and down towards the food. A quarterwave choke is provided to prevent microwaves from exiting the cavity through the power leads to the quartz lamp heaters.

Abstract: A digital motor speed control for a disk drive which is speed regulated by servo data retrieved from the disk drive's servo disk.

Abstract: Quarterwave chokes mounted on the ends of a quartz lamp about the power leads to the lamp and further mounted on the interior cavity wall of a microwave oven. The chokes permit connection of the quartz lamp to a power source via power leads passing through the cavity wall without allowing microwave energy to escape from the cavity along the power leads.

Abstract: A board to board interconnect assembly is installed between a first multilayer circuit board and a second multilayer circuit board. The assembly is comprised of a first housing member carrying electrical contacts and a second housing member carrying electrical contacts which mateably engage with the contacts of the first housing member. The first and second circuit boards have corresponding arrays of plated through apertures selectively connected to the circuit layers of the respective boards. Socket carrying contacts are frictionally engaged in certain of the plated through conductive apertures of the first and second circuit boards to secure the first housing member to the first circuit board and the second housing member to the second circuit board. Flex contacts are installed in conductive plated through apertures of the boards opposite each of the socket contacts and are frictionally engaged with the socket contacts.

Abstract: A method for use with an article of manufacture allows great accuracy in machining the edge of a face on a prism to a predetermined position respective a feature carried on the face and formed by deposition of insulating material. The preferred application for this invention is in accurately machining the transducing surface of a disk memory transducer assembly so that the throat height of the thin-film head carried on an end face of the assembly has a precise value.

Abstract: An oven is disclosed combining microwave, infrared and convection cooking. The oven includes in addition to a magnetron, a pair of quartz infrared lamps and a rotatable heat exchanger/fan. The quartz infrared lamps have blinds which either direct the infrared rays toward the food for broiling, or towards the rotating heat exchanger/fan, which in turn transfers heat to the air and blows it out and down towards the food. The entire oven is maintained at negative pressure to prevent the escape of hot, smoke-filled air into other parts of the oven or the kitchen.

Abstract: A carriage assembly has a carriage frame which supports a transducer for reading and/or writing on a recording medium. The carriage frame is slideably supported upon support members for rectilinear movement with respect to the recording medium. The carriage assembly includes an auxiliary mass slideably supported upon a support rod of a support framework secured to the carriage frame. The auxiliary mass is slideably mounted on the support rod between elastomeric spring dampers disposed at opposite ends of the mass. The carriage assemby is driven by a flexible band which is secured at its ends to the carriage frame and is in wrapped engagement with the drive shaft of a stepper motor. The drive force of the motor is applied to the carriage assembly along a drive axis. The effect of the auxiliary mass and mass support framework is to align the drive axis with the center of mass of the carriage assembly in order to damp carriage vibrations and improve transducer/track alignment.

Abstract: A wind electric generator employs a freewheeling clutch and an induction generator having several synchronous speeds. By selecting the synchronous speed as a function of the ambient wind speed, the generator can be made to operate more efficiently and without overloading. The freewheeling clutch which connects the generator to the wind turbine prevents the generator from acting as a motor when connected to a power grid, and wasting energy in turning the wind turbine.

Abstract: A clock recovery system including a VCO responsive to a voltage signal for generating a clock signal. A phase detector includes a register and a PROM, the register counting the clock signal to derive the output clock signal. The PROM is responsive to input data and the count in the register to detect and store information concerning relative phase relationships. A counter contains a count from which the control voltage for the VCO is derived. The PROM is operable to alter the count in the counter, thereby performing frequency adjustments, and to alter the count in the register to perform phase adjustments. Also, a converter, operable by the phase detector, may also derive a voltage signal for damping purposes.

Abstract: A focus initialization system is provided for optical data recording of the type in which an objective lens relatively near to the optical recording media is moved back and forth in comparatively small excursions to maintain focus for the read beam and write beam on the media. This system initializes or loads a conventional focusing system by starting the objective lens at a position at the far end of its travel limit, preferably, with the objective lens furthest from the optical media. The objective lens moves slowly towards the optical media while the system operates to detect when a near focus condition exists. Known focusing detection systems produce a bipolar output voltage having a peak on either side of the exact focus point when a near to focus condition is achieved. The present system detects when the objective lens is at a near to focus condition in the range between bipolar voltage peaks on either side of the focused point.

Abstract: Focus sensing using a light detector array is accomplished in an optical recording system using the light beam returned from the recording media through the objective focusing lens by passing the beam through a spherical focusing lens using a mask such as a knife edge which only passes a portion of the beam to the light detector array. The light detector array is matched to the mask and detects the different partial image patterns formed as a result of the close to focus condition with the recording media too far away from the objective lens and the near to focus condition with the media too close to the objective lens. In the focused condition, the light detector array receives a comparatively fine focused spot of light. Alternative embodiments of the present invention may use a cylindrical lens which in the focused condition creates a longitudinal bar of light.