Abstract: An improved electromechanical switch designed to operate at frequencies from DC through microwave has terminal probe tips that are formed from an alloy of noble metal and contoured with a pattern of peaks and valleys in order to provide better contact wiping operation and capture of wear debris. The switch incorporates damper elements to reduce switching contact bounce, thus providing increased contact life as well as higher quality signal switching.

Abstract: A nonmetallic masonry flashing is disclosed. The flashing includes a laminate that is applicable to cavity walls and particularly masonry block walls. The flashing has an adhesive layer which is a pressure activated, hot melt adhesive with various additives. The additives provide reinforcement to the entire structure and uses fiber glass or filamentous fragments of polypropylene. These additives are admixed into the hot melt adhesive. The nonmetallic masonry flashing employs peel-and-stick technology. After removal of a release sheet, the adhesive layer is pressed against the rough surface of the masonry block. The pressure activation creates a durable bond with the masonry block. Incorporated into the nonmetallic masonry flashing are various high-strength, polymeric laminates. The high-strength of the polymeric laminates is derived from advances in cross-lamination and laminates having a scrim as a core component.

Abstract: A motorized beach wagon is disclosed which is convertible from a beach-wagon to a table. The wagon is used for transporting goods and contains a large cargo container with an open top. The undercarriage has a pair of front wheels positioned by a manually controlled yoke to steer the beach wagon. A d-c battery-driven motor drives the rear wheels, and the rechargeable battery thereof is optionally aided by a solar panel. Forward gearing includes low-speed for pavement and hard sand and high-speed for soft sand. A rectangular deck has a pair of table leaves hingedly attached thereto and operable between an open and closed position. The leaves form opposite sides of a cargo container and in the closed position form a table. A pair of container panels attach to the table leaves and deck to form the cargo container.

Abstract: There is disclosed a low loss and high frequency lumped capacitor that is ideally constructed from LTCC dielectric material and deposited conductive layers. The capacitive plates are shaped as identical and overlapping serpentine conductive paths positioned on either side of a thin dielectric layer, with opposite ends of the conductive paths used for signal contact points. The net effect of the shape of the capacitive plates and the resulting approximately equal and opposite current flows is to cancel the majority of parasitic inductance at high frequencies, thus reducing insertion loss. Filters built using this construction of capacitor exhibit improved high frequency performance. This type of capacitor also has a simplicity of construction that allows integration into LTCC fabricated circuitry without requiring extra layers or terminals.

Abstract: A high frequency electronic component database search system is described. The system is designed to allow rapid online searches for a variety of types of components, each type of component present in considerable variety within the database, and each individual component having a volume of parametric and physical data. Search functions include entering a mixture of required and optional parameter values and parameter value ranges, and prioritizing one or more search parameters to improve data matching. Output options from the search system include a comprehensive range of presentations of tabular, graphed and mechanical data.

Abstract: A weatherproofing backer for installing windows and doors is described as having a foam layer and an adhesive layer. The adhesive is pressure-activated and is self-sealing about attaching hardware. The foam is self-setting and, in use, molds to the flange of the window unit. When installed, the foam layer is compressed between the inner window frame and rough opening and between the window flange and the wall surface adjacent the rough opening. The weatherproofing backer is designed to extend beyond the flange of the window unit and thereby receive the weatherproofing membrane thereover. The weatherproofing backer, then acts as a sealed bridge between the membrane and the window unit precluding entry of air and water. Both the foam and the adhesive have fire retardants in the formulation thereof. A tape form with a self-skinned foam layer and a sheet form, with polymeric covering web are provided.

Abstract: A fastener system for fastening the components of a plastic unit which has a U-shaped clip with an aperture therethrough, a walled cavity to receive the clip, and a machine screw. The walled cavity is molded onto the host portion of the plastic unit and has a low mass, which precludes the formation of sink marks and holes on the plastic unit. The U-shaped clip rests upon the walled cavity and has barbs that bite into the walls securing the clip in place. The machine screw is inserted into a housing on the joined portion of the plastic unit and is mated with a lead thread on the aperture of the clip. The metal-to-metal contact of the machine screw and clip permits repetitive assembly and disassembly of the plastic unit. The clip is readily removable for recycling the plastic of the unit.

Abstract: A database search system is disclosed that interpolates between actual data points to achieve a defined level of data resolution while populating a database with a mixture of actual and interpolated data. Users of the database system enter search requests that include a range of values to search through for at least one parameter. This range of values is tested against the interpolation resolution value and if the user-specified range of search would result in a higher resolution than the interpolation resolution value, the user-specified range of search is adjusted to match the defined level of data resolution. The database is then searched, and the presence of interpolated data generally offers significant improvement to the number of appropriate items found and provided as output to the user as at least one of tabular, graphical or other displayed form.

Abstract: An improved electromechanical RF switch provides enhanced reliability and lifespan by incorporating a middle plate between the case and base elements for locating the guide pins, reed holders and reeds to increase accuracy in critical component alignment. The middle plate reduces required precision during assembly of the switch, thus increasing assembly accuracy while reducing labor cost. The guide pins are made of a hard insulator such as glass to generate less wear particles, and the reed holder has a groove filled with lubricant to trap any wear particles that result from sliding friction during switch operation. Optionally, a low-friction bushing is used within the case bore to further reduce sliding friction during reed holder travel. The reeds are made of thin, flexible metal and have ends shaped so that when the ends contact switching terminals, a wiping action removes any surface contamination from both the reed ends and the terminals.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer is built using a phase locked loop incorporating a single side band mixer either in the feedback loop or in the input. The single side band mixer is preferably realized with digital logic and FETs, and the resulting frequency synthesizer simultaneously improves control over the frequency resolution, noise floor and operating frequency range.

Abstract: Sill seal and termite shield (SSTS) devices are disclosed. The SSTS devices for residential housing are shown for poured concrete, masonry block, and frost protected shallow foundations. The polymeric foam pad of the SSTS device seals the rough surface atop the foundation wall. For the termite shield function, the SSTS devices use a metallic web—either of foil or of an impenetrable screen—or a nonmetallic web—either of plastic sheet or of impenetrable scrim. The termite shield or barrier layer is shown as adjacent to a weatherproofing membrane or as an interior layer of an polymeric laminate weatherproofing membrane. Hot melt adhesives attach the foam pad to the weatherproofing membrane and, where applicable, the barrier layer to the weatherproofing membrane. Pressure-activated, hot melt adhesives attach the SSTS device to the sill plate. A release sheet is applied forming a peel-and-stick device.

Abstract: A folded wall anchor and an anchoring system employing the same are disclosed. The anchor is a folded sheetmetal construct utilizable with various wire formative veneer ties. The folded wall tie enables the junctures of the legs and the base of the wall anchor to be located inboard from the periphery of the wall anchor and the legs to fully or partially sheath the mounting hardware. The sheathing function unifies the openings in the insulation required for installation and forms an anchoring system that is less intrusive. Upon installation with the surfaces of the enfolded leg and of the base coplanar, the leg and mounting hardware insertion point is sealed thereby. This sealing precludes penetration of air, moisture, and water vapor into the wall structure. Various embodiments show wall anchor configurations with suitable veneer ties and differing sheathing arrangements.

Abstract: Notched, surface-mounted wall anchors and anchoring systems employing the same are disclosed. The anchor is a notched, folded sheetmetal construct utilizable with various wire formative veneer ties. The depth of the notch is greater than the combined thickness of the wallboard and the waterproofing layer. Various embodiments show wall anchor configurations with suitable veneer ties and differing sheathing arrangements. The notches, upon surface-mounting of the wall anchor, form small wells in the portion of the notch extending into the insulation, which wells entrain water vapor, condensate and water, and relieve the same from being driven into the wallboard.

Abstract: A transistor biasing circuit is shown that utilizes a negative feedback loop control circuit to set the gate bias voltage in the output transistors of a power amplifier. This control circuit has a current sensor in series with the drain of the transistor, the current sensor output in turn feeding a dc signal into a dc amplifier, and the output of the dc amplifier driving a gate bias integrator which forms a dc control loop for maintaining the bias point. The output transistor is protected from excessive temperature and/or excessive power dissipation.

Abstract: A seismic construction system for a cavity wall is disclosed. The system is shown in three exemplary applications—a masonry backup wall with ladder- or truss-type reinforcement cooperating with a snap-in wire tie; a masonry backup wall with ladder- or truss-type reinforcement with a high-span wall anchor cooperating with a low-profile, snap-in wire tie; and a drywall backup wall with internal insulation, a sheetmetal wall anchor, and snap-in wire ties. The snap-in wire ties accommodate a continuous reinforcing wire for the outer wythe, which reinforcing wire snaps into the wire housings therefor with a predetermined force. With the interconnected wall and veneer anchors and the respective reinforcing elements a seismic construct is formed.