Abstract: An article for affixing and removing a strand of lights or other decorations to and from a particular place and a method for quickly and safely performing those tasks. For example, the strand of lights can be positioned on a roof, a gutter, a tree, etc. An elongated positioning implement has a substantially U-shaped distal end for receiving and holding a wire or light strand. A dividing post can also be attached to the distal end, or integral to it, located between the fingers of the U-shape. A downwardly oriented finger can also be attached to a portion of the U-shaped distal end. Additionally, a temporary hanger may be used in conjunction with the positioning implement. In such case the temporary hanger may be put in place on a fixed object, such as a gutter on a building, using the positioning implement. Once in place, the temporary hanger can provide a convenient member for hanging a decorative article, such as a strand of lights.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described for reworking a printed circuit board having plugged vias and plated through holes. The printed circuit board, supported by a movable local support, is heated from only the bottom side by a heating device near the area on the PCB that contains the plated through hole or holes to be reworked. The heating device is removed when the solder in the plugged PTH is completely melted. At that time, blast air is turned on to remove and blow off the excess solder in the PTH. The compressed air is more effective in displacing the molten solder than is vacuuming, and has less chance of damaging the PCB than do conventional reworking methods, due to the non-contact nature of the invention.

Abstract: An electronic package contains a circuit card to which a chip carrier plate is attached via solder balls. A heat spreader plate, supporting a heat sink, is spring loaded against the semiconductor chip of the carrier plate by means of elastomeric disks disposed upon a spring retainer plate that is, itself, disposed adjacent the chip carrier plate. A plastic cover both protects and supports the heat sink and semiconductor chip. A retention latch is disposed between the cover plate and the spring retainer plate.

Abstract: A method and article of fabrication is described featuring a solder layer having a serpentine, interrupted, or interdigitated boundary. The non-planar design of the boundary layer increases the fatigue life of the solder joint by limiting the damage caused by micro-cracking. This irregularity of the solder boundary constrains the propagation of cracks by creating obstacles along the crack path, redirecting the crack away from the intermetallic layer, or by increasing the path along which the crack propagates.

Abstract: The present invention features a system for uniformly distributing luminance and a high degree of collimation from a back light module for a flat-panel, liquid crystal display (LCD). A constant and uniform luminance output of the back light module is obtained through appropriate selection of lamps, geometry and optical components. An appropriate balance of lamps, lamp spacing, reflective light back plane, and diffuser and collimating optics are chosen to produce a high brightness back light module with very high intensity output over very large surfaces. Variations in intensity over the illuminated area are minimized using light recycling in conjunction with the collimating optics. Optimum geometries are determined for the purpose of maximizing light output at high efficiencies, while minimizing luminance gradients across the display. Finally, a precise collimator eliminates light beyond a defined angle, as required in a tiled, flat-panel LCD.

Abstract: A test fixture is described which includes a camming assembly for eliminating misalignments in the probe testing of electronic card assemblies. The test fixture provides a pair of cams oppositely situated from the probes of a Side Access Unit (SAU). These cams are pneumatically actuated slightly prior to, or instantaneously with, the SAU. The actuation of the cams provides a mechanical stop with zero tolerance, so that the misalignment of test pads and probes, caused by the forward movement of the test probes, is eliminated.

Abstract: A corrective lens for copying pages of a book pressed flat upon a document support glass of a xerographic copying machine or document scanner. The corrective lens is shaped to fit in the space between the book pages to be copied and the document glass of the copier. The corrective lens has a pyramidal center extending into the crease of a typical book. The lens extends outwardly from the pyramidal center to form substantially flat side portions that hold the pages of the open book in place.

Abstract: The present invention provides a carrier that provides improved retention to the individual contact elements resulting in LGA interposer connectors with improved manufacturability, reliability and more uniform mechanical and electrical performance. In one embodiment, the carrier, which includes upper and lower sections of dielectric material with an adhesive layer in between, includes a plurality of openings, each of which may contain an individual contact element. During assembly of the connector, once the contact elements are inserted, the adhesive layer is reflowed, thereby allowing the carrier to capture the location of the contact elements both with respect to each other as well as to the carrier. Alternately, the carrier may be implemented in a fashion that, while not including an adhesive layer to be reflowed, still provides improved retention of the individual contact elements. These embodiments may by easier to assemble, and less expensive to manufacture, especially in high volumes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a new and improved storage trunk creation system for a vehicle having a load deck, deck sidewalls and a tailgate. The storage trunk creation system is securely mounted on a jeep style vehicle between the back of the front seats and the rear tailgate, and from one side of the jeep sidewall to the other. The storage trunk creation system has a hingedly attached top surface or access door that is engaged in a locked position when the tailgate is closed. When the tailgate is open, the access door may be lifted up from the storage trunk space crated by the system. The access door may also have a rack mounted to its outer, upper surface to further store items when the top is in the locked position.

Abstract: The present invention features an improved radio frequency identification (RFID) reader which operates with a low power consumption and which may tolerate a wide fluctuation in input voltages. The RFID reader is housed so that the influence of its physical surroundings, especially metallic objects, on system performance is minimized. A pre-compensation metal plate is used to stabilize the self-resonant frequency of the reader, even in the presence of large metal masses. The pre-compensation plate may be formed from aluminum or another non-ferrous material or, for long-range RFID readers, from ferrite or another similar, high magnetically permeable material. In addition, the RFID reader features improved sensitivity so that the effective operating distance is maximized. Also, the operating frequency is dynamically controlled in discrete steps of 10 Hz or less so that the effects of component parameter drift, temperature change, or other external factors are minimized.

Abstract: A portable, lightweight, tire bead breaking apparatus includes a vertically oriented frame disposed upon a wheeled base. A hydraulically actuated ram is pivotally mounted to the frame. A bead breaking shoe is attached to a distal end of the ram, and engages the beaded edge of a tire mounted upon a swivel pan rotatably mounted to the base. The bead breaking operator is able to simultaneously operate the ram, while rotating the tire disposed upon the swivel pan.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a frictionless normal or radial force to a captured member. The apparatus has a fixed fluid bearing and a preloading, axially movable fluid bearing spaced apart from the fixed fluid bearing. A captured member is positioned between the fixed fluid bearing and the movable fluid bearing. A biasing member, disposed adjacent the movable fluid bearing member, biases the movable fluid bearing member against the captured member. The fixed and movable bearings each have oppositely adjacent end surfaces that define a recess for capturing the member therein.

Abstract: A retaining device is disclosed for attaching a chainsaw to a worker, working aloft. The retaining device provides a tear-away component between two sections of a lanyard. When the chainsaw is pinched in a falling limb, the slow, tearing motion of the tear-away component results in a minimal amount of impact force being exerted on a worker. In the event the tear-away component pulls apart entirely, the chainsaw is released from the worker and falls to the ground with the limb. The worker maintains his/her position within the structure. Alternatively, if the chainsaw is dropped by the worker, it will fall below the feet of the worker, allowing him/her to retrieve the chainsaw. A bystander below will not be hit by the falling chainsaw.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating holes in a thin film has an elongated holding block for holding a column of electromagnetic driving coils. The holding block acts as a single unit, and is magnetically attached to a punch diebar. The magnetic attraction between the holding block and diebar provides easy assembly and disassembly of the parts.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of cationic latex particles that can complex with anionic dyes to provide water fastness and further to provide a medium in which inherently unstable anionic dyes can be brought in close proximity with other anionic components, by complexation to cationic latices, in order to stabilize the anionic dyes especially with regard to light and oxidative degradation. In particular this invention will provide for methods of generating waterfast and improved lightfast ink jet images.

Abstract: The present invention features a Point of Sale (POS) printer that includes an encoding module that magnetizes and reads the account and bank information from existing magnetic characters on a check. The encoding module prints the characters in the AMOUNT field of the check, according to ANSI1, ISO2, or other standards. The characters are printed with an ink having magnetic particles embedded therein. The POS printer magnetizes and reads these characters after they are printed, in order to verify that the correct amount has been encoded onto the check. The encoding module can include a magnet to magnetize the characters; a read head to read and analyze the signal waveform from each character; and a print mechanism with the capability of using magnetic ink for printing the characters. The method of the invention directs the POS printer to follow a certain sequence of actions in order to accomplish the printing and verification at the point of sale.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a high performance single chip or multi-chip package which combines a CTE controlled electronic substrate, a multi-layer interconnect, bare dice or packaged devices, a top layer encapsulant and an interposer to provide a compliant and de-mountable connection to a printed circuit board. The CTE controlled electronic substrate comprises a metal or composite shell around an encapsulated core holding vertical electrical conductors. The vertical connection comprises an array of stranded or braided electrical conductors which may be exposed on the top and or bottom of the electronic substrate to provide a de-mountable interface. An interconnect layer may be attached to the planar CTE controlled electronic substrate using an adhesive or polymer. Following the connection of the interconnect to the substrate, the bare dice and/or package may be attached to the interconnect.

Abstract: The present invention features a tiled, flat-panel, color display that has a color-correction capability. The display is a tiled mosaic of individual display tiles, such as AMLCDs. Column and row inputs that are typically provided for a single display tile system are distributed over a plurality of display tiles. The color purity is achieved for the display by sorting the tiles into groups, matching their color coordinates, and correcting non-uniformities optically (e.g., by using a graded neutral density filter having a grading function being the inverse of the brightness distribution non-uniformities) and/or electronically. Then, each individual tile in the mosaic is color-corrected via a multiplexed, controller/driver circuit.

Abstract: A high density printed wiring board is prepared by applying an essentially solid material into plated through holes such that the metallized layers within the through hole are unaffected by chemical metal etchants. In this manner, lateral surface metallized layers can exclusively be reduced in thickness by use of said chemical agents. These thinned lateral surface metallized layers are ultimately converted into fine pitch, 25 to 40 microns, circuitry, thereby providing high density boards. Since the through hole wall metallization is unaffected by the etching process, excellent electrical connection between the fine line circuitry is obtained. Various printed wiring board embodiments are also presented.

Abstract: A heat spreading cap is placed over a chip or integrated circuit. The cap is shaped or sized to provide a distinct heat spreading and/or stiffness characteristic that differs as it extends into different regions of the module. The areas of differing stiffness or CTE reduce the warpage (or bending) of the module, thereby reducing the overall stress in the BGA.