Abstract: A method for determining the optimum time at which a plasma etching operation should be terminated. The optical emission intensity (S.sub.1) of the plasma in a narrow band centered about a predetermined spectral line, indicative of the gas phase concentration of a plasma etch product or reactant species. The optical emission intensity (S.sub.2) of the plasma in a wide band centered about the predetermined spectral line, indicative of a background emission signal is also monitored. The intensity (S.sub.1L) of the spectral line is then determined in accordance with the equation S.sub.1L =S.sub.1 -k (.alpha.S.sub.2 -S.sub.1). The etching process is terminated when the monitored signal intensity (S.sub.1L) or its time derivative reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A pair of sheets (46 and 48) are held by vacuum on a pair of spaced drums (30 and 32). A rigid board (51) is moved between the drums (30 and 32) whereafter the drums are moved toward each other to adhesively attach leading edges of the sheets (46 and 48) to opposite sides of a leading edge (50) of the rigid board. As the board (51) is moved away from the drums (30 and 32), the drums are indexed to release successive sections of the sheets (46 and 48) which extends the sheets in a wrinkle-free condition. As the board (51) continues to be moved away from the drums (30 and 32), the successive sections of the sheets (46 and 48) are maintained spacially from the board and in the wrinkle-free condition by various facilities such as a vacuum shoe (52), a shelf (53), a vacuum tensioning tube (56) and vacuum bars (57 and 58). Eventually, the wrinkle-free successive sections of the sheets (46 and 48) are brought into engagement with the board (51) and attached thereto by laminating rollers (59 and 60).

Abstract: There is disclosed electroplating apparatus in which a plurality of anodes and a twice-as-large plurality of first and second cathodes are disposed in a cell such that each anode has on its opposite sides a first cathode and a second cathode, respectively. First and second adjustable constant current sources supply current to, respectively, all first cathodes and such anodes and all second cathodes and such anodes. A plurality of current adjusting units respective corresponding to the anodes are connected on the anodic side of each such current source between that source and each respective anode. The anodes are permanently installed in the cell, while the cathodes are carried by a holder fitting over the top of the cell and removable therefrom. The cathodes may be selectively inserted into guideways in their holder and then locked in place in these guideways until removal of the cathodes is desired, when they are unlocked.

Abstract: A substrate-lead subassembly (34S), having relatively fragile lead retaining hooks (68) which project from opposite sides of the subassembly outward beyond the edges of an opening (38) in a housing (36) of a housing subassembly (32) in which the hooks are to be received, is partially assembled into the housing in an initial assembling station (80). More specifically, as the housing subassembly (32) is advanced horizontally into the initial assembling station (80) above the substrate-lead subassembly (34S), opposite sides of the housing (36) are released in sequence so that the housing subassembly drops by gravity through a series of controlled tipping and downward vertical movements to receive the lead-retaining hooks (68) on one side of the substrate-lead subassembly (34S) in the housing with outer ends (70) of the hooks in seated interlocking engagement with an inner support ledge (52) of the housing.

Abstract: Vapor condensation mass soldering apparatus (46) is of modular construction and includes a primary vapor zone assembly (50), a secondary vapor zone assembly (52), an ambient air moisture-removal zone assembly (54) and a hood assembly (56) mounted in readily separable, vertically stacked relationship. An article load-unload assembly (48) is secured to the front of the other assemblies (50, 52, 54 and 56). Each of the zone assemblies (50, 52 and 54) also includes respective condenser coil modules (142, 150 and 154) of special construction which can readily be mounted on and removed from their respective assemblies as integral units.

Abstract: A method for depositing aluminum films on a substrate comprises exposing the substrate to vapors of an aluminum hydride-trialkylamine complex and exposing the surface to ultraviolet light in the areas where aluminum deposition is desired.

Abstract: A fixture (31) is constructed of plastic for holding a stack of electrical components (10) that are to be sequentially picked off (77) from the bottom of the stack and fed to a component insertion machine. The fixture includes a receiver (32) having a passageway (47) into which projects shoulder(s) 68 for supporting a tube (14) of components. The components are held in the tube, during loading and unloading by a stylus-like tool (30) which fits within a tube slot (26). The tool is used to support and guide the components during movement of the components through the receiver passageway onto or from a removable support tab (57) without spillage or jamming of the components in the passageway.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming wire-like contact elements within a plastic housing (32) to form a coupler (35). Each of a plurality of leading end portions of wire supplies (61-61) is moved into a cavity at one end (38) of the plastic housing which is held in a nest (55), through one aligned passageway and into a cavity at the opposite end (37). The cavities are designed to receive modular plugs, the terminals of which are connected by the coupler. The leading end portions of the wires are formed into a retroflexed configuration (41) by tooling (57) which remains in the cavity at the opposite end (37) while the wire lengths in the housing are severed from their supplies adjacent to the cavity at the one end (38). Additional tooling (59) is moved to engage the newly formed trailing end portions of the wires and to bend them to have a retroflexed configuration (43) with free ends being disposed between partitions.

Abstract: A time slot-controlling circuit (14, 14'), applicable for use with diverse types of keyboard-operated utilization devices or apparatus (18, 97, 98), such as in a pushbutton telephone (90), allows all (or pre-selected) keyboard-mounted key switches (24a-n, 24a'-h') to acquire a selected one of at least two different time slot-dependent operating states. This advantageously allows each key to initiate or control more than one work (or logic) function performed by an associated keyboard-operated utilization device or apparatus (18, 97, 98), as typically employed in a composite system or apparatus (10, 90). Such a two-state mode of operation is accomplished by each of two illustrative time slot-controlling circuit embodiments (14, 14') comprising a common time slot signal generator (21, 21'), which is responsively connected to a plurality of control signal generating channel selector circuits (22a-n, 22a'-h').

Abstract: A ring connector (80) is provided for electrically coupling device contacts such as probes (59) on a card (50) to circuit elements such as pads (94) on a performance board (90). The probes (59) are conventionally disposed outwardly of and around an axis 55 normal to card (50) whereat a device (10) being contacted is generally located. The ring connector (80) has first and second major faces, a thickness therebetween sufficient to install preferably insertable type couplers for coupling to contacts and circuit elements and an axis therethrough common to the axis 55 of the probe 59. Couplers such as sockets (84) are installed in the first face of the ring connector (80) for coupling to the probes (59) on card (50) and such sockets (84) are disposed outwardly of and around the common axis (55). Couplers such as pins (82) are installed in the second face of the ring connector (80) for coupling to circuit elements such as the pads (94) on the performance board (90).

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a printed wiring board having a solder layer existing on circuit paths located on surfaces of the board and a solder layer on the walls of thru holes located in the board involves coating the surface of the board with a layer of photopolymer resist. A shield is placed over selected areas of the solder layer on the surface and the shielded surface is exposed to ultra violet light until the unshielded resist hardens. The shielded resist which has remained soft is removed and the board is washed with solder resist to remove the solder layer not covered by a coating of hardened resist.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for making a laminate which is used to form a corrugated outer shield (60) of a sheath system (50) for a lightguide fiber cable (20). A strip (81) of a corrosion-resistant metallic material having a relatively high elongation, an oxide surface layer (65) and a relatively coarse outer surface is preheated to a temperature within a predetermined range. Afterwards, a composite adhesive strip is brought into engagement with the metallic strip and moved between a pair of rollers (91--91) which are maintained at a first temperature and which causes the strips to be subjected to a predetermined pressure. Then the two strips are moved between another pair of rollers (97--97) which are at a second temperature greater than the first and which subject the strips to the predetermined pressure. The resulting laminate (61) is corrugated by a device (104) and formed into the outer shield (60) about an inner shield (51) which is made of a highly conductive metallic material.

Abstract: After a telephone switching system user has dialed sufficient digits to identify a call as extending beyond the system, the system attempts to route the call over trunks which will result in the least expense to the user. If all of these trunks are busy, the system then searches to find an idle trunk in identified groups of trunks. If an idle identified trunk is found, a warning tone is returned to the user and before the system will seize the identified trunk and complete the call, the user must signal with a predetermined code within a certain time period. In a nonpredetermined code is signaled, the call is terminated by the system.

Abstract: Acoustic transponders are attached to sections of a submarine cable for use in accurately locating the cable during deployment or retrieval. An acoustic signal at one frequency, transmitted from the surface or elsewhere, stimulates one of the transponders to generate a first reply signal at a different frequency. The acoustic reply signal generated by each transponder is used to determine the location of that transponder and thus the location of its associated section of the cable. In order to measure cable tension during deployment or retrieval, a strain gauge at each transponder senses the tension of the cable at the location of its associated transponder. After each transponder transmits its first reply signal, it transmits a second reply signal delayed from the first reply signal by a time interval which is controlled by the output of its associated strain gauge.

Abstract: A lightguide fiber preform is made by depositing optically suitable layers of doped silicon dioxide on an inner wall of a rotating glass substrate tube (31) which is exposed to a moving zone of heat during a deposition mode and during a mode when the tube is collapsed. During each of a plurality of passes of a torch assembly (50) in the collapse mode following deposition, a contact device (101) is in continuous engagement with the tube and is caused to apply forces to each successive increment of its length following exposure to at least an initial portion of the zone of heat to collapse incrementally the tube. Between successive ones of the plurality of passes, the contact device is moved inwardly of the tube so that each increment of length is exposed to forces which as between the successive passes are applied at points incrementally closer to the longitudinal axis (36) of the tube.

Abstract: A thin film bar resistor comprises: an insulative substrate, a pair of conductive thin film resistor terminals spaced apart on the substrate, an approximately square thin film resistance body disposed on the substrate between the terminals to be separated from them by guard margins, the body consisting of lower and upper layers of unanodized and anodized tantalum nitride, thin film regions of unanodized tantalum nitride in the guard margins to connect such body to the terminals, and thin film conductive leads connected to the terminals.

Abstract: A workpiece such as a miniature stud (10) supports a chip (20) having a heat and light sensitive device therein. Such stud (10) is thermally bonded to an insulative body (12) to form a guide (14) for converting light to electrical pulses. A positive and a negative electrode (44 and 45), respectively, are each connected to a respective pole of a power supply for providing electrical current adequate for the bonding. A resistance heating element (42) conducts the current from electrode (44) at least partially along a path through the stud (10) to electrode (45). For stud (10), the path is selected preferably by providing a thru hole (90) in element (42) under the position occupied by the heat sensitive device when stud (10) is placed upon the element (42). The current concentrates in stud (10) along an annular ring (29) where heating is required sufficiently to thermally bond at least the ring (29) of the stud (10) to the body (12).

Abstract: An elongated metallic conductor is insulated with an inner layer of a plasticized polyvinyl chloride composition and an outer layer of a plasticized, irradiation cross-linked polyvinyl chloride composition. The outer layer has a low coefficient of friction to facilitate pulling in central office racks, has mechanical properties which are required for installation and use and, in a preferred embodiment, has a thickness which is substantially less than that of the inner layer. The layers are extruded in the same extruder crosshead that seemingly causes the outer layer to bond to the inner layer to facilitate stripping of the composite insulation from the conductor.

Abstract: There is disclosed a control system for stopping a punch press and comprising first and second proximity sensor-amplifier combinations responsive to the cyclical movements of respective parts of the press to generate respective cyclical signals having respective recurrent digital waveforms which remain invariable while the press and such combinations operate normally. A device responds to a misfeed in the stock strip to change the waveform of the first signal. The two signals are fed to logic circuits which respond either to a change in waveform indicative of such fault or to a change in waveform indicative of malfunction of either combination to produce a signal for stopping the machine.

Abstract: A circuit for selectively lighting one of a pair of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a parallel, back-to-back, circuit configuration also known as an anti-parallel circuit configuration. One side of the configuration is connected with ground connecting means through a first photon-emitting device which device is optically coupled to a first photon-responsive device connected between the other side of the configuration and a current source. The other side of the configuration is also connected with a ground connecting means through a second photon-emitting device which device is optically coupled to a second photon-responsive device connected between the first side of the configuration and the current source.