Abstract: The integrity and connection of cable wires (10-13) extending between two banks of terminals (20-1 to 20-4 and 16-19) are checked for shorts of the wires to ground, to battery wiring between each other and for opens and misconnections or cross-connections of the wires. Unique recognition circuits are provided for controlling, analyzing (circuits 43, 53, 68, 92, 112, 181) and displaying (displays 23, 24, 31 and 32) the test results to accordingly apprise an operator(s) stationed at either or both ends of the cable.

Abstract: A solder flux comprises rosin, an activator, an optional surfactant and the dimer of linoleic acid.

Abstract: A semiconductor crystal ingot (14) is supportively engaged by an ingot handling apparatus (22) which contacts a base (38) of the ingot (14) with a base support (36) and opposite sides of a lateral surface of the ingot (14) with at least one pair of jaws (37). The jaws (37) are retained adjacent to but out of firm contact with the lateral surface of the ingot until after the support (36) firmly supports the weight of the ingot. The support and the at least one pair of jaws are retracted from a furnace (10) simultaneously in a lateral direction with no relative movement to withdraw the ingot from the furnace.

Abstract: A coating material is applied to drawn lightguide fiber in a manner which substantially prevents the inclusion of bubbles and which causes the fiber to be disposed substantially concentrically within the coating layer. The lightguide fiber is advanced through a continuum of coating material, which extends from a free surface of a reservoir and through two dies that are arranged in tandem, at a velocity which causes air to be entrained in the coating material. A pressure gradient is established between portions of the first die adjacent to its exit orifice. A first one of the dies communicates with the reservoir and the second die and further communicates at the interface of the dies with a pressurized supply of the coating material.

Abstract: A connector system of this invention is used to splice conductors of at least two groups. The system includes a base (60) having a plurality of tubular, rigid metallic contact elements (62--62) positioned in apertures (110--110) that are formed in two rows along the base. Each aperture falls in an associated groove of a plurality of parallel grooves formed transversely of the rows of the apertures. Conductors (51--51) of a first group are positioned in the grooves of the base. Then, the base is provided with a cover and the contact elements are moved in their apertures to cause the conductors to be moved into slots in the contact elements, to penetrate the cover and to sever excess end portions of the conductors. The walls of the slots are adapted to establish electrical engagement with the conductors that are moved thereinto. The cover is removed, and a carrier having a plurality of grooves in which are positioned conductors of a second group that are to be spliced to the first is assembled to the base.

Abstract: A component module (15, 70), adapted for piggyback mounting on an IC Dip (51,81), preferably incorporates a decoupling capacitor (18, 44, 74), with opposite end electrodes (23, 24), encapsulated within a molded housing (21, 72) of preferably parallelepiped configuration. The electrodes are uniquely connected to only two of preferably four rectangularly shaped terminals (26-29, 76-79) that project downwardly from different corners of the housing. The terminals, as well as an optional heat sink (61) are preferably formed out of a strip stock carrier (33). The two capacitor-connected terminals (27, 29 and 77, 79) are uniquely diagonally disposed and spaced, for a decoupling application, so as to respectively engage the battery and ground leads of a standard pin-out DIP (51, 81). The other two diagonally disposed component module terminals (26, 28 or 76, 78) are electrically isolated from the capacitor, being employed only to facilitate the mounting of the module on an associated DIP.

Abstract: A method for growing single crystal semiconductor compounds by the gradient freeze technique includes the process of reducing radiant heat flow while enhancing axial heat flow in the region of a seed crystal so as to give rise to an inverted solid-liquid interface together with a desired temperature profile.

Abstract: In a coil-winding machine, an apparatus for routing a wire (10) from a storage pin (12) to a terminal pin (14) of a coil bobbin (16) mounted on a coil-winding arbor (18) includes routing and tension-controlling pins (50, 52, 54) for routing the wire to either a first set of terminal pins (14) in a first row (14B) or to a second set of terminal pins (14) in a second row (14A) and around the first set of terminal pins. An apparatus for reliably breaking the wire at the terminal pins includes a freely-rotatable breaker pin (80 or 84) which deflects the wire to the breaking point. The routing and tension-controlling pin(s) also serve to decouple at least part of the breaking tension from the storage pin. A cutting apparatus (116) shortens the length of wire extending from the coil of wire wrapped around and ultimately ejected from the storage pin, so as to reduce the likelihood of tangling.

Abstract: A contact insertion machine (50) having a base (52) with an X, Y, .theta. table (54) thereon and a superstructure (56) hingeably mounted on the base for movement towards and away from the table (54). The superstructure (56) has a plurality of contact strip feed reels (78) which sequentially feeds the strips (42) to each of a plurality of insertion heads (80). A tray (68) containing a multitude of connector housings (16) is positioned on the X, Y, .theta. table (54) and the superstructure (56) moved towards the tray until the heads (80) are in close, spaced relation to the connectors in the tray. The heads (80) are activated to simultaneously insert a contact (30) into each of a plurality of different connector housings (16). The contacts (30) are simultaneously inserted sequentially into a different sector of connectors until contacts have been inserted into predetermined cavities 28--28 in the connector housings (16).

Abstract: A method for electroplating a nickel-antimony alloy comprising from 1-70 weight percent antimony and the balance nickel comprises electroplating the alloy from a solution containing a soluble nickel salt and a soluble mixed antimony alkali metal salt of a polybasic organic acid at a pH in the range of about from 1 to 6. The substrate to be plated is made the cathode and an inert anode is employed.

Abstract: An article of manufacture having specific utility as a multi-purpose, stackable transport tray for printed-wiring boards and accessories therefor in reusable carrier shuttles and comprising an open-work base with side portions extending upward from the base. A shelf runs the inside length of each side portion with a plurality of fin-shaped support members spaced away from the shelf by an arbitrary amount and extending inwardly from the side portion. A plurality of stiffening members extend from the base to the shelf. A plurality of ribs on the bottom surface of the base extend in a direction parallel with the sides and positioned so as to interlock and engage the support members of an underlying tray. A plurality of transverse ribs on the bottom of the base are also so positioned to engage the support members of an underlying tray.

Abstract: A chemical vapor deposition epitaxial reactor (10) comprised of a quartz tube (12) with banks of IR lamp proximate the outside surface thereof. A splitter plate (30) located at the inlet of the tube (12) separates reactive gases and nonreactive gases directed longitudinally into the tube. The nonreactive gases, directed along the inside surface of the tube (12), substantially prevents unwanted reactant deposition on the inside surface of the tube (12).

Abstract: A single mode lightguide fiber having a trapezoidal shaped refractive index profile. In a particular embodiment the ratio of the upper base to the lower base is less than 0.3.

Abstract: A pair of spaced holes (32 and 34) are drilled in a substrate blank (10) diametrically along a line (14) defining a future locating edge (22) of a printed circuit board (12). When the substrate blank (10) is then sheared to form the printed circuit board (12), semi-circular recesses (38 and 40) are formed from the spaced holes (32 and 34) in the resultant board locating edge (22). The printed circuit board (12) then is accurately aligned in a processing station in X- and Y-directions by seating board-locating pins (50 and 52) of special configurations in respective ones of the semi-circular recesses (38 and 40).

Abstract: A storage reel (10, 10') particularly adapted for winding bandoliered, axially leaded, tubular components thereon, such as capacitors (18), includes a core (12, 12') formed with a uniquely configured peripheral relief (32, 44, 46). The relief, in accordance with one preferred embodiment (32), has a concave base, and is dimensioned to accommodate the lower half body portions of a predetermined number of bandoliered, forward end capacitors (18), when wound as part of the first wrap of such components on the core, via a pair of laterally spaced lead-supporting tape carriers (26, 27). The relief is centrally located on the core so as to define on each side thereof a circumferentially displaced, lead-supporting peripheral core border region (12a or b).

Abstract: A hybrid extruder provides plastic insulation which is as uniformly and tightly disposed about a substrate as that produced in a conventional pressure extruder and accommodates irregular substrates. The hybrid extruder includes a core tube which is positioned in a die cavity to form a flow passage which includes a restriction to the flow at the end of the core tube to maximize the pressure in the plastic material. The leading end of the core tube is spaced a distance from the land of a die which is substantially less than in conventional pressure extruders to form another portion of the flow passage having a predetermined configuration. After flowing through the restriction, the plastic material expands. This avoids any backflow of the plastic material into the core tube in the event the core tube is to allow the passage of oversized spliced portions of the substrate.

Abstract: The tension imparted to an advancing strand 11 is regulated by passing the strand about a permanent magnet sheave 13 interposed between a pair of permanent magnet discs 19 and 21. The sheave and discs are axially polarized so that the magnet fields about the sheave are in opposing or repelling relation with the magnetic fields about the discs. By moving (26, 27 and 28) a disc toward or away from the sheave the intensities of the coupled lines of magnetic force are increased or decreased to accordingly vary the magnetic drag placed on the sheave and thus the tension imparted to the advancing strand 11.