Abstract: A low varistor voltage, low leakage metal oxide varistor and especially a zinc oxide varistor is provided by adding a few percent of tetragonal antimony zinc oxide to the varistor mixture prior to sintering. A method for manufacturing the additive as well as a method for manufacturing a varistor including the additive are described.

Abstract: For applying a liquid, such as liquid wax, to a continuously fed sheet material a first pair of cylindrical rollers, each having a smooth surface which is exposed to and wetted by the liquid to be applied, are rotatably mounted about substantially parallel axes and spaced apart to permit intimate tangential contact therebetween with both sides of the sheet material to be coated. A second pair of cylindrical rollers located a distance from the first pair are similarly mounted and positioned to make contact with the sheet material in like manner. A pair of cylindrical engraved rolls, each having an array of guadrangular cells formed along the surfaces thereof, are respectively positioned between each of the first and second pairs of rollers and are rotatably mounted on movable axes so that the engraved rolls urge against one or both of the roller pairs during rotation.

Abstract: A low cost connector for coupling a fiber optic wave guide with a semiconductor emitter and detector device is described which positions the wave guide and the detector in mutually perpendicular orientation so that the detector device may be directly connected to a printed circuit wiring board with the wave guide exiting the connector parallel to the board. Locating and positioning means with the connector allow a particularly low cost molded semiconductor package to be employed without modification for misaligning of the package halves.

Abstract: A low leakage varistor which is resistant to the high temperature, corrosive conditions encountered during assembly of such devices includes a protective layer disposed on the surface of the varistor body between first and second, spaced-apart electrodes. Both, varistors with electrodes on opposing major surfaces and varistors with laterally spaced electrodes on a single surface are described.

Abstract: An improved snubber circuit for a bipolar switching transistor connected to drive an inductive transformer load comprises a first resonant circuit connected to the driven winding of the transformer and a second resonant circuit connected to a clamp winding of the transformer. At turn-off, the two resonant circuits provde an alternate current path for inductive currents to thereby limit the voltage applied to the load transistor. The circuit are interconnected to minimize component count in a manner which permits resetting the capacitive components to improve snubbing capability.

Abstract: A latching transistor is described having both high current capacity and high turn-off gain. A selectively shorted anode emitter provides a four-layer structure capable of sustaining current flow only under those portions of a cathode emitter adjacent interdigitated gate fingers and particularly not in the center of the cathode emitter fingers or beneath contact areas. Additionally, a control region is provided for conveniently adjusting the amount of anode emitter shorting for optimizing turn-off speed, foward voltage drop, and gate triggering characteristics.

Abstract: A computer-controlled system is disclosed for dispensing selected packages from a vending machine. The system includes an ejector mechanism adapted to travel rectilinearly intermediate a pair of oppositely-mounted storage banks, each bank consisting of a plurality of vertically-oriented adjacent compartments in which distinct packages are stacked. The ejector mechanism includes a carriage mounted on a helical screw rotatably driven by a travel motor. An ejector lever pivotally connected to the carriage is mounted upon an actuator bar rotatably driven by a pivot motor for independently actuating one of a pair of overlapping ejector arms according to the directional rotation of the pivot motor. Each ejection arm is pivotally connected to the carriage and configured to discharge a single package from beneath a stack when actuated. A microprocessor controls the rotational drive of the motors and is provided feedback signals indicative of carriage location package availability by sensors attached to the carriage.

Abstract: A lid is disclosed for a conventional liquid container of the type having an annular U-shaped sealing channel at the open end thereof. The lid includes an upwardly-cambered disc-shaped base having a tapered annular skirt depending downwardly from the base near its periphery. A plurality of wedge-shaped tangs depend downwardly from the skirt in a radial pattern each tang being separated by a square interstice to allow independent movement of the tangs. A sealing groove is formed around the skirt between the tangs and the base for securely engaging the inside of the channel and thereby preventing liquid from entering the channel. A conically-shaped pouring spout preferably projects upwardly from the base at an inclined attitude to provide access for ambient air to the inside of the container during pouring thereby promoting a controllable rate of flow. The spout is provided with a specially configured end having a flared lip to minimize dripping after pouring is completed.

Abstract: An air brake includes a friction liner attached to a piston-like member which is arranged to reciprocate with respect to a stationary member. The piston-like member is urged into its inoperative position without the use of a biasing element such as a spring or spring-like member. spThis is a division of application Ser. No. 888,190 filed Mar. 20, 1978, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,421.

Abstract: A semiconductor package of low cost is described having a flat base to which is attached a semiconductor subassembly which is enclosed by a glass housing adhesively bonded to the base without the necessity for a compression glass-to-metal seal. An electrode is provided which extends through the glass housing to contact the semiconductor subassembly, a similar seal being provided between the electrode and the glass housing. Low residual stress soft solder interfaces are provided to the semiconductor element.

Abstract: A power transistor having improved turn-off characteristics and enhanced reversed second breakdown capabilities is described wherein the emitter of the transistor includes first and second regions, the first region being disposed within the second region and having lower gain than the second region. Turn off is enhanced as essentially no current flows under the lower gain first region during turn off thereby facilitating the removal of excess charge carriers when the device is in the turn-off stage.

Abstract: A reinforced bobbin which when wound with a sensing winding forms the armature of a D'Arsonval movement measuring instrument. The reinforced bobbin consists of a thin elongated open rectangular bobbin with detent holes centered along the axis of revolution of the bobbin in the measuring instrument. A nonmagnetic low density ball with a diameter slightly larger than the opening in the bobbin is locked in position inside the bobbin by the detent holes to prevent inward deformation of the bobbin when the measuring instrument is subject to rough handling.

Abstract: A method for forming low stress recesses in bodies of semiconductor material involves damaging the body either thermally or mechanically in the area where the recess is to be formed followed by etching in either a plasma or chemical medium to remove the damaged body portion leaving a relatively stress-free slot or other recess. Such recesses are utilized as diffusion sites for rapid formation of diffusion regions through semiconductor wafers and for the subdivision of wafers into discrete devices.

Abstract: A mixing device is disclosed for gently agitating the contents of one or more closed containers. The device includes a plurality of cylindrical rollers parallelly juxtaposed and adapted to rotate in an eccentric fashion about respective longitudinal axes that are parallel to each other and inclined to the respective cylindrical axes of the rollers. A drive bar coupling interconnects the rollers and a drive motor so that the rollers rotate in the same direction and at the same speed thereby imparting a simultaneous rocking and rolling motion to the containers when placed in supporting contact with adjacent rollers.

Abstract: A blow gun dart having an elongated specially tapered shaft which is provided with a specially shaped impeller. The special design of the dart enables it to traverse an exceptionally long distance over a substantially straight path. Wings may be added to the shaft of the dart to improve its aerodynamic performance. Alternatively the impeller may be mounted on a foreshortened shaft having a distended section in the forward portion of the shaft.

Abstract: A first carriage, which is arranged to vertically reciprocate within a first housing, is provided with two air clutches and a continuously moving chain. The chain is arranged to move over co-planar spaced sprockets so as to present one direction of chain motion to the left side of the carriage and a second direction of chain motion to the right side of the carriage. The carriage is also provided with two chain engaging sprockets each controlled by a respective one of two air clutches. The chain engaging sprockets on the carriage normally idle with chain motion. However, actuation of one of the controlling air clutches halts the spinning of its associated sprocket and forces the sprocket and clutch to act as a unit to thereby move the carriage upwardly or downwardly along the length of the chain in a direction dependent upon which portion of the continuously moving chain was so engaged. Means are provided to automatically reverse the stroke, to vary the length of the stroke and to vary the speed of the stroke.

Abstract: A semiconductor device having especially low thermal impedance between a semiconductor element and a heatsink is described wherein the semiconductor element is directly disposed upon a thin, low thermal impedance current-spreading layer on an electrically isolated layer. An electrode connected to the current-spreading layer surrounds the semiconductor element so that it introduces no additional thermal impedance between the semiconductor element and the heatsink. Relatively inexpensive electrode materials may be used in accordance with the invention without increasing thermal impedance.

Abstract: A thin film metal oxide-metal oxide heterojunction nonlinear resistor is described. A non-symmetrical embodiment wherein zinc oxide and bismuth oxide are employed provides exemplary nonlinear characteristics for triggering or transient suppression applications. A symmetrical embodiment which includes a sandwich-like structure of one metal oxide between layers of a second metal oxide provides similar characteristics in a symmetrical form.

Abstract: The isolation voltage of an optocoupler including a light transmissive inner region and a reflective or opaque outer region, the interface between such regions being intersected by input and output terminals, is improved by providing a layer of breakdown voltage enhancing material at the interface. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a layer of glass frit is provided at the interface, the particles comprising the frit extending into each of the regions.