Abstract: Disclosed is an electrical conductor for use in an electro-mechanical connector of the type which holds an integrated circuit package and connects the package to an electrical system in a replaceable fashion. The electrical conductor is comprised of an elongated piece of material having a U-shaped bend to provide two legs; one of the legs also has a bend of approximately 90.degree. in a first direction at a predetermined distance from said U-shaped bend to thereafter provide a first leg portion for pushing against and making ohmic contact with a corresponding lead in said integrated circuit package; and the other leg also has a bend of approximately 90.degree. in the first direction at another predetermined distance from the U-shaped bend, and another bend of approximately 90.degree. further along its length in a direction perpendicular to the first direction to thereafter provide a second leg portion for making ohmic contact with said electrical system.

Abstract: Improved disk pack media for data storage is illustrated as comprising a pack of flexible magnetic recording disks which may be partitioned "end-wise".The disk pack is flanked top and bottom by respective "dummy packs" and end-plates, the end-plates being formed simply from a stack of contiguous flexible disks.

Abstract: A logic array includes multiple gated current sources for receiving respective logic input signals, each of the gated current sources is coupled to a respective pair of row conductors and sends current to one row conductor or the other of that pair to indicate the state of the received input signal, column conductors are coupled to selectively receive current from any of the row conductors, a circuit generates respective NAND signals indicating when current is received by the column conductors; additional gated current sources respectively receive the NAND signals and send current to respective additional row conductors when the received signals are in predetermined states, additional column conductors selectively receive current from the additional row conductors, and an output circuit is coupled to the additional column conductors for generating respective output NAND signals indicating when current is received therefrom.

Abstract: A line adapter system for handling byte-oriented data transfers between remote data terminals and I/O subsystem. Working in conjunction with a controlling microprocessor, the line adapter provides input output means for regulating the baud rate of transmission to/from a remote terminal and for the timing and protocols required for both synchronous and asynchronous data transmission. The microprocessor may address and control various of the timing elements and byte to bit transfer means of the input/output circuit means. Likewise, each of the elements of the input/output circuit means may request service from the microprocessor for further detailed instructions.

Abstract: A method of operating a magnetic bubble memory (of the type that has a plurality of magnetic bubbles which move in a plane in response to a magnetic drive field that rotates in said plane) includes the steps of sending respective currents through a pair of field coils to produce the rotating magnetic field; generating at least one of the currents to consist of a series of positive and negative going waveforms separated by a dwell period so that the rotation of the field temporarily stops during the dwell period; and timing the dwell period to occur when the bubbles are at predetermined locations in the memory.

Abstract: A digital video display system wherein the various characters to be displayed are displayed in the form of images of the complete character rather than the standard dot-matrix pattern of the prior art. A character generator in the display system stores signals representing the various characters to be displayed which are retrieved from storage in response to a character code. The signals are in the form of a binary code having a sufficient number of bits to represent a different number of levels of gray-scale or luminance values for the various picture elements making up the character image. The binary codes thus retrieved from storage are supplied to a video synthesizer that generates the video signal to display the character images which may be displayed in a number of different modes including white-on-black, black-on-white, black-on-gray, and white-on-gray as well as different combinations of such modes to represent a cursor.

Abstract: A new and improved shifter circuit for multiplexing bytes of data into various orders on a finite size bus is disclosed. The improved shifter circuit includes an array of barrel shifter circuits arranged into N groups of M shifter circuits per group wherein each shifter circuit has P data input terminals and P output terminals. The letters N, M and P represent integers. Each of the P output terminals of each of the M shifter circuits in a group are coupled to one another, respectively, so as to form N.times.P output terminals of the array.

Abstract: A magnetic bubble memory includes a planar magnetic film containing a plurality of magnetic bubbles which move in response to a magnetic field that rotates the film's plane; and further includes an improved mechanism for detecting the bubbles comprised of: a pair of elongated magnetoresistive members that lie over the film alongside of one another; the members having fingers that extend towards each other along the direction of elongation; the fingers of one member being interdigitated with the fingers of the other member such that they mesh together but do not touch; the fingers being interdigitated at angles of less than 180.degree. so that magnetic poles which attract the bubbles are sequentially induced in the fingers of only one member, in the fingers of both members, and in the fingers of only the other member by each rotation of the field.

Abstract: A display panel comprising an array of scan cells formed by an array of row scan anodes and an array of column cathodes, the scan anodes operating with the lower surfaces of the cathodes to provide cathode glow. The panel also includes an array of display cells formed by an array of row display anodes and the same cathodes, the display anodes operating with restricted areas on the top surfaces of the cathodes to provide cathode glow. The rows of display cells are offset from the rows of scan cells so that the glow transfer path and display glow cells are disposed in an optimum location for panel operation and life.

Abstract: A testing circuit is disclosed for addressing and exercising a ROM-type memory and splitting the same memory output data into two paths. One path is used to temporarily hold the memory output data for a time-interval after which it is compared, in a digital comparator, with the same memory output data on the second path. When the data on both paths compare equally, then it is known that no instability has occurred during the time-interval. If a miscompare occurs, the comparator generates an error signal.

Abstract: An electromechanical assembly is comprised of: a printed circuit board, a backplane, first and second passages that extend completely through the backplane, ground and power conductors on the backplane that respectively border the passages, ground and power pins on the board that extend in a cantilevered fashion past the board by relatively long and relatively short distances for sliding through the passages in a sequential fashion while engaging the bordering ground and power conductors.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a programmable logic array having an AND array disposed for receiving n input signals, an OR array providing k output signals on k output lines and m term lines coupling the AND and OR arrays together. New and improved AND and OR arrays are disclosed wherein the AND array includes n X m cells and each cell has first and second transistor means coupled in series between one of the term lines and a reference potential. Each cell includes a storage element that has an output terminal coupled to the control element of the first transistor means and one of the n input terminals is coupled to the control element of the second transistor means. The OR array includes m X k cells wherein each cell has third and fourth transistor means coupled in series between one of said output lines and a reference potential.

Abstract: A device for handling electronic circuit components, such as integrated circuit packages, and for facilitating the insertion of the pins or leads thereof into corresponding apertures of a printed circuit board. More specifically, an integrated circuit package assembly may comprise a mounted integrated circuit chip, a block-like multi-apertured element for protecting the package leads, and a heat sink member. The present tool, under operation control, captivates the entire package assembly, ejects the protective block prior to package insertion, positions the assembly on the printed circuit board, and inserts the package leads into homologous apertures of the board--the foregoing requiring minimal, if any, physical contact with the assembly by the operator.

Abstract: An I/O subsystem uses a peripheral-controller for handling data transfer operations between a host computer and a plurality of peripheral terminals. The peripheral controller is made of (a) a universal processor, which generates instructions for executing data transfer operations, and (b) an application dependent logic module which particularly adapts the instructions to each peripheral terminal connected to the system. Upon recognition of the use of addresses for slow memories, slow registers or "slow devices", control logic in the application dependent logic module controls the clocking in the universal processor to slow data transfer rates for data being placed in or removed from the "slow devices".

Abstract: A socket for an integrated circuit package comprises a frame; a plurality of mechanical contacts mounted in the frame such that they align with corresponding pins on the package; a contact deflecting member in the frame which is moved to engage and deflect the contacts against the pins; an actuator in the frame which is manually moved to engage and move the contact deflecting member; and a spring in the frame which engages and is deflected by the actuator when the actuator moves the contact deflecting member; the spring being mounted to deflect in series with the contacts to enable the recited socket components to have dimensional tolerances and yet avoid the overstressing and understressing of the contacts by the contact deflecting member.

Abstract: A logic array includes a plurality of gated current sources which receive respective input signals, each of said gated current sources is coupled to a respective row conductor and sends current to that row conductor when the received input signal is in a predetermined state; the respective row conductors are partitioned into several groups; a respective high capacitance column conductor is provided for each group; within each group, diodes selectively couple current from the row conductors to the respective high capacitance column conductor; a low capacitance column conductor is provided; and a circuit generates current on the low capacitance column conductor representing the logical NAND of selected input signals when current is coupled from any group of row conductors to the high capacitance column conductor for that group.

Abstract: Techniques and associated apparatus for a magnetic disk transducing system adapted to record along spiral tracks in a Herringbone pattern, using a pair of orthogonal skew gaps, operating in tandem.

Abstract: Sheet item stacking apparatus wherein an eccentric drive oscillating articulated arm carries a friction wheel at one end, and wherein an angularly disposed cross link pivoted at one end to the arm and at the opposite end to a fixed support causes the oscillating arm to move both forwardly and rearwardly as well as from side to side effective to edge align incoming sheet items within an operably associated item hopper from which the items are "front" removable.

Abstract: Coupling apparatus comprising two plates to be coupled together, with each plate carrying a locking mechanism for receiving a coupling member, the coupling member having two ends, each end being adapted to engage and couple to the locking mechanism on one of the plates whereby the two plates can be rigidly coupled together. Each plate carries two flexible locking tabs which are offset from each other, and the coupling member carries two holes which are offset from each other and each of which is adapted to receive one locking tab of each plate.

Abstract: A modular, demountable toner fuser assembly for electrographic printing/copying apparatus wherein oppositely disposed adjustable tensioning members are coupled to a dead center linkage such that a pair of confronting pressure rollers operably associated with the dead center linkage can be moved relative to one another so as to provide suitable fusing pressure while being automatically instantly separables in response to any exigency e.g. items jams, tearing, crumpled paper or other nonfeed conditions.