Abstract: Fault tolerance is incorporated within the integral electric heaters of a reworkable electronic semiconductor component, such as a reworkable multi-chip module, to increase production yield and longevity of the rework feature. Components of the foregoing kind contain a multi-layer substrate to bond to a printed wiring board, and, for rework, the component includes a plurality of electric heaters arranged side by side on a bottom layer of the substrate. When energized with current, the heaters generate sufficient heat to weaken the adhesive or solder bond to the printed wiring board without delaminating the layers of the substrate, allowing the electronic semiconductor component to be pulled away from the printed wiring board for rework. Additional circuitry is included to automatically route heater current around, that is bypass, any current-interrupting break(s) as may form in any of the electric heaters giving the heaters a fault tolerance.

Abstract: The level of bias current (12) required by a superconductor integrated circuit (2 & 4) is lowered by separating the circuit into portions having separate ground planes and supplying the bias current to the circuit portion (2) in one ground plane in series (10) with that for the circuit portion (4) in another ground plane. To maintain DC isolation between those circuit portions, SFQ pulses inputted (SFQ IN) move across the separate ground planes through a pair of inductively coupled SQUIDS (3 & 5) that define a DC transformer; and a combiner (7) reconstitutes and outputs the SFQ pulses. To provide inductive coupling the DC transformer includes a primary (25) and isolated secondary (5) winding.

Abstract: A child's construction set contains virtual intelligence, is interactive and smart, characteristics that may be exhibited to a player during player construction activity with the set and, thereafter, during continuing play and instills a sense of unpredictability to play. The set incorporates a programmed controller (17), a speaker (23), special (“smart”) play pieces or blocks (1,3,5,7, et cet.) and a base (15) on which to position the play pieces or blocks. Sensors (A1-C3), referred to as “hot spots”, are distributed at various positions about the base and are coupled to the controller, whereby the controller identifies special play pieces and the location of those play pieces when the respective play piece is installed at one of those positions. Some of the special play pieces may depict characters, some contain electrically operated devices, and some contain a player operated input device.

Abstract: An enhanced Doppler type direction finding system uses two antennas or antenna pairs (1 & 7) that are rotated in two mutually orthogonal circular paths (8 & 13) to intercept incoming RF from an emitting source, whose direction is to be determined.

Abstract: The power to weight ratio obtained with a spacecraft's solar array (3) is enhanced by a factor of at least two to five through use of support structure for individual solar panels or solar arrays (31a-17a) containing a curved outwardly bowed surface as deployed that packs essentially flat for storage. Defining a D-shaped wing (15a) in cross-section as deployed, the support structure (4 & 6) for a string of solar cells (10, FIG. 3) provides greater inertia and thereby greater rigidity than prior designs. One member (4) to the support structure is relatively flexible. One-hundred and eighty degree strain energy hinges (19) carried by the other support member (6) outwardly bows that flexible to define a curved sector when the support structure is released from the stowed condition in which the support structure is held relatively thin and flat.

Abstract: Miniature arm fire and safe and arm devices include an electrically operated pyrotechnic initiation device (5) to generate a detonation wave upon command and a movable pressure barrier (9) that blocks propagation of the detonation wave if the device is not intended to be fired and opens a window (12) to transfer the detonation wave externally of the device. The detonation wave may in alternate embodiments be a subsonic flame front and pressure wave or a supersonic shock wave, respectively. An electromagnet (7) may serve to move the pressure barrier. Detonation waves output from the device have application in igniting an explosive train, either directly or indirectly, the latter by operating an electrical switch. In the arm fire device, the barrier automatically prevents a detonation output when electrical power is removed from the device. In the safe and arm device, the barrier, once moved out of the way, remains out of the way, even when electrical power is removed.

Abstract: Adding a quantity of metallic shot or particles of other materials having a high dielectric constant to the thermoplastic paint in the mixing pot of ordinary roadway marker fixation equipment, which extrudes the paint and applies same to the roadway surface, enhances the MMW radiometric visibility of the marker without adverse effect to the affixation equipment. Vehicles containing MMW radiometers directed down toward the roadway surface moves along the roadway surface is able to automatically sense microwave/millimeter wave energy from a marker in the vehicles path. In one system, the sensed energy is used in conjunction with other apparatus to assist to guide the vehicle within a traffic lane. In another system, the sensed energy is decoded and displayed as pertinent information for the vehicle's driver.

Abstract: A novel captivated jackscrew structure is characterized by the formation of both an internal cavity (15) within one of the two bodies that are to be connected together and an access passage (17). One end of the cavity, located at one end of the body is open. The small diameter access passage extends through the other end of the body into the cavity's other end. A standard machine screw (1) is installed head (3) first and captured within the cavity, with the screw shaft (5) protruding from the end of the body (20). A barrier (7) is provided to prevent withdrawal of the machine screw head, but permit the screw head and shaft to move a limited distance axially within the cavity. A backstop (9), resembling an inverted cup with a hole in the bottom lies in inverted position in the cavity over the screw's head.

Abstract: Brazing or soldering of pieces of low wettable materials (1, 3), such as single crystal silicon, is accomplished by sandwiching the brazing material (5) between the pieces and sealing the edges of the brazing material with a tape (11) wrapped about the periphery of the brazing material, mechanically placing that tape in compression and maintaining that compression while heating (21) the sandwiched assembly to the brazing temperature of the brazing material. The tape possesses the characteristic of being non-wettable by the brazing material in the molten state and, hence, is impermeable to that melt. The tape may comprise a fibrous porous ceramic material.

Abstract: Greater levels of microwave and millimeter microwave frequency power is achieved in a new power amplifier structure in which sixteen MMIC amplifiers are supported in a 4×4 row by column matrix and the output (and input) manifold is of a “crazy-H” power combining structure. Even greater output power, on the order of 100 watts at 35 GHz, is achieved by combining multiple numbers of such power amplifier units through a radial combiner.

Abstract: A containment system (1) for use in cleaning of an MBE chamber contains a two part housing in a clam-shell like structure with upper (5) and lower (7) housing sections that are latched together (8) with the walls defining a containment region. The housing is secured to the face of the MBE chamber with the source flange cover of that chamber received through an opening in the rear wall (13 & 19). A closure (28) permits opening or closing a front access opening in the housing through which the containment region may be accessed. The housing includes a exhaust vent tube (11). The containment system includes the means for detecting fire (34) in the confinement region and extinguishing the fires (35) and exhausting any gases through the vent tube.

Abstract: Development of Millimeter Wave Devices containing MMIC's is expedited by use of a new package for the MMIC's and associated electrical components that define the functional circuit. The package includes a base plate and a plurality of metal inserts removeably fastened to the base plate. The inserts are spaced apart and contain a profiled edge with the profiled edge in one in confronting spaced relationship with that of another of the inserts. Together with the backplate, the profiled edges define elongated cavities, serving as two of the cavities side walls. The cavities serve as a repository for the MMIC devices and some of the additional components and stripline. Should extraneous resonances be discovered, the insert can be removed and adjusted in size and profile, and replaced, thereby adjusting the cavity without disturbing the electronic components or MMIC's which are secured to the back plate.

Abstract: A new electrical cryogenic connector system employs two printed circuit board type mating connectors (1 & 3), each containing a plurality of plated-on metal lines (5 & 6) running along the respective circuit boards in parallel, with the plated-on onmetal lines on at least one of the connectors being of Beryllium Copper material. The ends of the series of Beryllium Copper lines on one of the complementary circuit boards is formed into a pointed spring finger that is pointed toward the opposed circuit board. With the two boards sandwiched and pressed together with their plated on metal lines directly in line with and facing one another, the spring fingers compress and, under the spring force created by that compression, the spring fingers engage and maintain positive electrical contact with the corresponding conductor traces on the opposed circuit board. Ancillary to the described connector, a new method for constructing an electrical connector is also presented.

Abstract: Large size multi-chip module packages are fitted with a new lid (1) formed of a Kovar™ (5) framed sheet of Alumina (3) no less than 0.04 inches thick to form a new “postless” MCM package 2 (FIG. 4 and FIG. 6) that is tolerant of differential pressures of at least one atmosphere and is reworkable. The rigidity of the Alumina sheet avoids the problem of excess deflection found in the prior lids for the package. It also permits elimination of internal lid support posts, freeing internal area within the MCM package that may be used to seat additional electronic circuitry and/or components.

Abstract: A child's electronic playset defines a setting or character environment (1) for various toy characters (57-62), play pieces, representing persons or fantasy characters, which the player may move about that environment. Through its electronics (90) the environment possesses built-in intelligence and defines virtual beings through spoken messages which are attributed by the player to the toy characters, creating a virtual universe. Markers (65) identify each toy character to the environment when checked by the environment's sensors (90, S1-S48) enabling the environment to know which characters are present and to call up an appropriate dialog there between to broadcast through a loudspeaker (92). The environment also keeps track of the time of day, enabling it to know the order in which toy characters are placed in the environment and possess the ability to call up a dialog appropriate to certain hours in the day.

Abstract: In a three dimensional generic electric discharge machining (EDM) apparatus the positionable driver assembly (4) houses a discharge electrode (1) that is in the form of a continuous wire, exposing only a predetermined length, the working portion, of that wire for discharge machining. Additional portions of that wire are incrementally advanced (5) from the housing as needed. In one embodiment, that need arises from electrode erosion, and, as an incremental portion of the electrode's working portion is eroded away, an additional increment of wire is advanced from the housing to restore the working portion to the desired length.

Abstract: A perimeter truss's mesh material (3) and radially extending support catenaries (7 & 9) extending from a central hub (8) are, by rotation of the hub, rolled up together like a bolt of cloth, essentially in synchronism with the folding of the perimeter truss (5), to thereby form a small sized body that fits within the barrel-like configuration formed by the folded perimeter truss.

Abstract: Providing a tapered surface reflectivity to the reflecting surface of the parabolic reflector in a parabolic antenna using resistive material reduces side lobes and produces steeper roll off in the principal lobe, permitting use in the antenna of a smaller diameter microwave feed than required by an antenna without that tapered surface resistivity and, effectively, emulates the latter antenna. As a consequence of the smaller feed diameter, multiple feeds may be positioned contiguously to form multi-beam antennas that produce contiguous beam patterns. A satellite cellular communications multi-beam antenna incorporating the invention achieves greater regional coverage of the Earth.

Abstract: A polarized planar log periodic antenna is described that is simple in structure and compact in form and which in the dual circularly polarized form may serve as a direct replacement for less capable antennas in RF systems, such as countermeasures systems. An embodiment is characterized by a pair of relatively flat planar linear polarized log periodic antennas of the kind including a plurality of metal radiating elements, each of said radiating elements having the geometry of a circular arc; and the pair of antennas are attached in common to a planar dielectric base; one of said antennas being angularly oriented by ninety degrees relative to the other of said antennas with the radiating elements of one antenna interleaved with the corresponding radiating elements of the other antenna without direct electrical contact between the two antennas. Variations of the structure and novel RF feed line assembly are also described.

Abstract: A solder material 10 suitable for fluxless soldering attachment of a component 12 to a substrate 14 in a microelectronic assembly 16 such as a hybrid package comprises a core 18 and a gold layer 20 on the core. The core can comprise an alloy of tin and lead. The core preferably consists essentially of at least about 30 wt. % tin and the balance lead, so that it melts at temperatures of less than about 250° C. The gold layer is preferably applied to the core using an electroless plating process that forms a highly uniform gold layer. The solder material provides a joint between the component and the substrate comprising less than about 3 wt. % gold.