Abstract: A base housing unit (32), which supports a connector (48) on a bottom wall (40) thereof, includes a vertical boss (46) spaced from the connector to provide a cable receiving recess (70). An elongated slot (42) is formed through the vertical boss (46). A first end section of a flat cable (10), having accordion pleat sections (64, 66 and 68) formed therein, is threaded through the elongated slot (42). The pleat sections (64, 66 and 68) are positioned within the recess (70) and the first end section of the cable (10) is terminated on the connector (48). A cover (50) is then secured to the base housing unit (32). In response to the application of tension to a free end of the cable (10), the pleat sections (64, 66 and 68) flex to bind the cable between the connector (48) and the cover (50).

Abstract: A plurality of rows of leads (6,7) extending from a connector (5) are inserted into vias (32--32) in a circuit board (24) having components thereon. A plurality of slots (84--84) in a comb (60) are aligned with the vias (32--32) and the connector (5) moved towards the comb to position the leads (6,7) therein. A downward force is applied to the connector (5) causing the leads (6,7) to slide along the slots (84--84) and into the vias (32--32). The comb (60) is arcuately moved a short distance to disengage the leads (6,7) therefrom and then moved upward, away from the board (24). The board (24) with the connector (5) thereon is removed. The comb (60) is then moved back to the vertical position to receive the leads of the next connector (5) to be inserted in the vias (32--32).

Abstract: A priorly used drop wire having a single layer of PVC insulating compound, containing a relatively-expensive epoxy additive, extruded over a spaced pair of conductors, having relatively rough surfaces, is replaced with drop wire having less-costly, relatively-smooth, drawn, conductors onto which spaced, unplasticized particles of PVC resin are coated and the portions of the particles contacting the surfaces of the conductors are melted, caused to undergo controlled degradation and adhere to the surface of the conductor, and thus form a relatively-stable, texturized, discontinuous coating of adhesion sites on the surfaces of the conductors with interdispersed portions of the surfaces being exposed.Over the precoated conductors, a composition containing a plasticized PVC resin may be extruded to form an insulating covering having a relatively-stable, controlled-degree of adhesion to the adhesion sites and the interdispersed, exposed surfaces of the conductors.

Abstract: A surface mount component (11) has at least one lead (12) which extends from a body portion (16) of the component (11) along an axis (14) through the component. An outer end portion of the lead (12) is formed into a circuit termination (20) of a shape which, when projected onto a plane perpendicular to the axis, encompasses a projection of the body portion (16) of the component onto the plane.

Abstract: A thru-hole insertable terminal (10, 50, 60) includes an upper shank portion (12, 52, 66) preferably adapted for soldered securement to an end electrode (24) of a component (20), such as a capacitor. A lower shank portion (14, 54, 68) is dimensioned and adapted for minimal initial contact insertion into, and the temporary securement thereafter within, an oversized thru-hole (26, 58, 62) of a supporting substrate, such as a circuit board (28, 59, 64). At least one upwardly extending free-ended tab (32, 56, 72, 74) is formed in the lower terminal shank portion (14, 54, 68), and is oriented in the major plane thereof until after the insertion thereof within an associated substrate-formed thru-hole (26, 58, 62). Stop means (14b, 14c, 54b, 54c, 68b, 68c) also formed in the lower terminal shank portion is adapted to position the upper free end of the tab at an elevation preferably below the upper open end of a confining thru-hole.

Abstract: A work piece 10 with projecting terminals 16, 17 and 18 on which are wrapped loose turns of wire 19, 20 and 21 is advanced into and held between arms of a yoke 30. Upper ends of the terminals are positioned between jaws 36, 37 and 38. A cam plate 49 is initially moved by fluid cylinders 53 and 54 to move V-shaped cam surfaces 48 against the jaws which partially close about the terminals. Next, fluid cylinders 65 and 66 are operated to move a slide 60 on which the jaws are mounted so that the now partially closed jaws engage and compact the loose wraps of wire against the work piece. Finally, the yoke 30 is withdrawn to permit stationary knockout pins 76 to dislodge the work piece into a discharge chute 79.

Abstract: An electrical connector which is capable of being used to interconnect insulated conductors in the field or in a factory during in-line processing includes a frame and contact element. The contact element which is used to establish an electrical connection between the conductors includes a center portion and two opposed bifurcated beams. A portion of each beam is upstanding from the plane of the contact element. Furcations of each beam define a slot for receiving one of the conductors to be interconnected. The contact element is attached to the frame which includes at least one deformable tang at each end. End portions of conductors to be connected are each positioned across an end of the frame. The tangs are wrapped about the conductors, the conductors are moved into the slots of the beams, and excess portions of the lengths severed.

Abstract: Disclosed are magnetically soft ferritic multiphase Fe-Cr-Ni alloys containing at least about 82 weight percent Fe, between about 3 and about 10 weight percent Cr, and between about 2 and about 8 weight percent Ni, a method for producing such alloys, and devices comprising such an alloy body. The method comprises a low-temperature anneal in the (.alpha.+.gamma.) region of the Fe-Cr-Ni phase diagram. Inventive alloys typically have a coercive force H.sub.c no more than about 3.0 Oe, preferably no more than about 2.0 Oe, a maximum permeability .mu..sub.m of at least about 1500 G/Oe, preferably at least about 2500 G/Oe, and contain at least about 5 volume percent non-.alpha.-phase material, typically .alpha.'- and .gamma.-phase material. Inventive alloys typically also have yield strength to 0.2% offset of at least about 26.10.sup.7 Pa (40.10.sup.3 psi), elongation to fracture of at least about 15%, good formability and rust resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus (20) is provided for polishing an end of a plug-terminated lightguide fiber so that when it is disposed together with another plug-terminated fiber within a biconical sleeve (38), there is precise end separation of opposing end portions of the fibers. The apparatus includes a holder (40) in which is disposed a plug (30) with an encapsulated end portion (31) of the fiber (23) extending from the plug. A housing (80) receives the holder and causes the plug to be seated in engagement with an insert (96) in a base (81) with the encapsulated end portion extending beyond a reference plane (94) of the base. The base includes non-wearing pads (86-86) spaced about an outer surface thereof. The holder is caused to apply to the plug a force which is equal to that which the plug will experience when mounted in the biconical sleeve.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying a coating on a lightguide fiber (60). The apparatus is comprised of a container (10) having the coating die (18) in the bottom portion thereof and a plurality of separating means (26--26) therein which divides the container into an upper chamber (12), a lower chamber (16) and at least one chamber (14) intermediate to the upper and lower chambers. Each separating means (26) is sealed to the inner surface of the container (10) at the outer edge portion and has a small, centrally located aperture (28) which is vertically aligned with the apertures in the other separating means and the coating die (18). Additionally, a means is provided for directing coating material (40), under pressure, into the lower chamber (16).

Abstract: An electrical substrate circuit device (10) includes a thick film crossunder conductor (14) and a thin film crossover conductor (16). An intermediate portion of the thick film conductor (14) is covered with a coating (28) of electrically insulating glaze material and opposite end portions (18) of the thick film conductor are electrically connected to thin film contact pads (20) by electrically conductive contact portions (22) in an electrically insulating protective tantalum pentoxide film layer (24). The electrically conductive contact portions (22) are produced by gold material in the end portions (18) of the thick film conductor (14) diffusing into overlying portions of a tantalum film (30) as the tantalum film is converted to the protective tantalum pentoxide film layer (24) by thermal oxidation.

Abstract: In the manufacture of electrical coils (10), particularly large transformer coils, an insulated wire (11) is wound on a rotatable winding arbor (12) so as to form a succession of turns of the insulated wire. Particularly when large gauge enamelled copper wire is wound, the insulation (14) has a tendency to crack or chip during the winding process, causing shorted turns and producing a defective coil. This disclosure relates to systems for testing such a coil to detect a short as it is wound so as to permit interruption of the winding process and repair of the insulation fault on the spot. The test equipment includes a pair of test windings (41, 42) positioned at opposite ends of the winding arbor (12) and magnetically coupled by flux paths (50, 51) to each other and to the coil being wound so that an A.C. input signal (V.sub.1) applied to the first winding (41) induces an A.C. output signal (V.sub.

Abstract: An insertion head (80) for inserting a contact (30) having opposed tines (34--34) into a connector cavity (28) having opposed ribs (49--49) protruding from the inner wall thereof. The insertion head (80) severs a contact (30) from a spine (44) of contact strip (42) and the contact (30) is then moved laterally, away from the strip, to a vertically aligned position above the cavity (28). A punch (128) pushes the contact (30) into the cavity (28) while simultaneously spreading the tines (34--34) apart to straddle the opposed ribs (49--49).

Abstract: There is disclosed a click disc switch assembly comprising a plate-like base having on it electroconductive ink paths including (a) "row" paths each including a respective row of contact pads in a row-and-column matrix of such pads on the base, and (b) "column" paths corresponding to the columns of the matrix and including respective junction pads. Overlying the columns of the matrix are click disc strips secured to the rest of the assembly solely by being adhered to an overlying sheet sealing the top of the assembly. Interposed between the strips and the "row" paths is an insulating layer deposited on the base to cover portions of the row paths while leaving uncovered their junction pads.

Abstract: A tool (20) is provided for terminating an end of a telephone cord or inside wiring with a modular plug (21). The tool includes a housing (81) having a cord or inside wiring-receiving opening at one of its ends and a plug-receiving nest (122) at an opposite end. The tool also includes a rocker (82) which is mounted pivotally in the housing and which has a first end adjacent to the cord-receiving end of the housing and a second end adjacent to the nest. After and end portion of a cord, for example, is inserted into the cord-receiving end of the housing, a user depresses the adjacent first end of the rocker to cause jacket-stripping facilities of the rocker to cut the cord jacket. When the cord is withdrawn, the jacket is removed from the end portion to expose individually insulated conductors. Then the end portion of the cord is inserted into a modular plug body which has been armed with blade-like terminals (30-30) and the plug inserted into the nest at the other end of the housing.

Abstract: In the operation of a projection printer (11) photomasks (22), the patterns (21) of which are protected by coverplates (39), are used interchangeably with other photomasks, the patterns of which are located at an open surface thereof. The photomasks (22) feature shims (46) which space the patterns (21) away from a plane of support surfaces (13) of a mounting chuck (12) by a precise distance equal to the shift of the object plane (14) with respect to an image plane (17) because of the presence of the coverplate (39) in the optical path of the projection printer (11).

Abstract: A photomask (50) used for form patterns on a resist coated semiconductor wafer is comprised of a light transmissive baseplate (52) having a metallic pattern (54) thereon. A plasma deposited SiO.sub.2 conformal, electrically resistive, coating (56) covers the patterned baseplate (52), wherein the coating material is substantially the same refractive index as the baseplate.

Abstract: Gold films (18) of essentially uniform thickness are plated onto respective previously formed palladium films (16) on substrates (10) by loading the substrates into a box plater (20) in opposed relationship to respective anode plates (22). In a plating operation, a plating potential initially is applied across upper end portions of the palladium films (16) and the anode plates (22). The loaded box plater (20) then is lowered into a gold plating bath (28) at a preselected rate to progressively immerse the substrates (10) and the anode plates (22) into the plating bath, such that gold plates onto each palladium film (16) to an essentially uniform thickness. The substrates (10) and anode plates (22) then are left immersed in the plating bath (28) for a total time period dependent upon the desired final thickness of the gold films (18).