Abstract: Nondestructive analysis of a porous, inhomogeneous, generally cylindrical object, such as a soot boule (12), comprised of n known components, where n is an integer, is achieved by scanning the boule with a beam (18) comprised of photons, each having a distinct energy within one n-1 energy groups. The intensity of the photons within each of the n-1 energy groups leaving the boule is detected by a detector (22) and is measured by a pulse height/scaler analyzer (30) at each of a plurality of separate heights t.sub.i of the beam (18) as measured from the center of the boule. A computer (31) determines each of n-1 attenuation coefficients .mu..sub.1 (r), .mu..sub.2 (r), . . . .mu..sub.n (r), representing the attenuation of the intensity of the photons in each of the n-1 energy groups, respectively, at each height t.sub.i of the beam in accordance with the output data furnished by the scaler/analyzer. From the n-1 attenuation coefficients, the computer (31) determines the density .rho.

Abstract: An apparatus (24) for gripping a multilead article (18) and inserting the leads (20--20) thereof into corresponding apertures (22) in a printed circuit board (12) comprises a plate (26) underlying a block (30) spring biased thereagainst. The block (30) has a pair of parallel, spaced-apart jaws (38, 40) mounted to opposite sides thereof so as to depend below the plate. At least one jaw (40) is movable towards or away from the other to capture the article (18) therebetween. The jaws (38, 40) each have one of a pair of opposing combs (50) thereon, each comb having spaced-apart slots (52) therein for seating each of the leads of the article captured between the jaws. To insert the article (18), the gripping apparatus (24) is moved by a robot arm (29) to a predetermined location above the circuit board (12) so that each slot (52) in each comb (50) is aligned with a corresponding aperture (22).

Abstract: A splicing device is disclosed wherein the conductor and steel support cable portions of an aerial drop wire are each spliced utilizing a single device which is electrically insulated and weather-resistant and has a central member and end caps separable therefrom. The ends of the steel support cable are joined together by a wire linking device integrally molded in the central body and the conductors are spliced together by button-blade terminals driven into conductor-receiving cavities within the same body becoming locked in place. The risk of environmental damage is eliminated by the end caps which protect the stripped portions of the conductors, as well as by the unitary body construction of the central member which provides a sealed environment for the splices themselves.

Abstract: A lightguide fiber (21) which has been drawn from a preform in a furnace (26) and which has a relatively high temperature is cooled prior to its movement through an apparatus (41) which applies a coating to its outer surface. The fiber is cooled by moving it through a liquid material (42) in a reservoir (40) which is interposed between the furnace and the coating apparatus. The liquid material in the reservoir (40) is the same as the coating material contained in the apparatus that is used subsequently to coat the fiber.

Abstract: A precoated metallic member having a texturized, discontinuous coating of degradated, unplasticized plastic adhesion sites formed on selected portions of the surface of the metallic member may be used as an article of manufacture onto which an adherent coating of compound containing plasticized plastic may be molded to make other items such as plastic-coated fencing material or aluminum siding.

Abstract: A power adapter is disclosed for use in connecting electrical power to a telephone station via a cross-connect jack. The power adapter has a plug-end for mating with the cross-connect field and a jack-end for receiving a cross-connect patch cord. The power adapter includes a two-conductor permanently attached power cord. Bent wire technology is used to connect the contacts of the receiving jack with the contacts of the plug while blade insertion technology is used for making contact with the ends of the power conductors.

Abstract: A robotic hand (10,36) for batch pickup of articles (12,38) arranged in an array of columns and rows includes a plate (14,40) having a plurality of article-receiving passages (16,42) therethrough. Each article (12,38) is captured within separate one of the passage (16,42) by at least one gripping member (18,44,46) which includes a strip (20,48,52) having a depending finger (22,50,54) extending into the passage. The gripping member is moved to capture the article (12,38) therein between the finger and the passage wall. The gripping members (18,44,46) are pivotally connected to rotary actuators (26,64) by linkage bars (32,58,62) which displace the gripping members (18,44,46) across the plate (14,40) to capture each article (12,38) within a corresponding plate passages (16,42).

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for inserting leads of an electric circuit component into correspondingly arranged holes in a printed wiring board by (a) holding the component by a robotic arm adjacent the board so that its leads contact the board under pressure and are in nominal registration in the X and Y directions, and (b) subjecting the board to the combined effect of two vibrating motions which are respectively directed in these two directions, and of which one is superimposed on the other. These two motions are each controlled in frequency and amplitude and differ from each other in a motion characteristic whereby the leads sweep in two-dimensional patterns over board areas respective to their corresponding holes and centrally including them until the leads substantially exactly register with the holes to become inserted therein by the pressure on the leads.

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: An electrical contact comprises a base metal and an electroplated nickel layer thereover wherein said nickel layer is preferentially oriented in a <111> crystallographic plane along the surface of the nickel.

Abstract: A high temperature induction furnace (10) for drawing lightguide fiber (52) from a silica preform (44) has an axially located tubular zirconium dioxide susceptor (34) therein. Prior to use, at least a portion of the inside surface of the susceptor (34) is coated with a vapor deposited silica "soot" (54). The silica soot (54) is then consolidated at an elevated temperature. Surprisingly, such a technique substantially eliminates migration of zirconium dioxide particles from the susceptor (34) to the preform (44) and/or the fiber (52) without deleteriously affecting the susceptor (34) and/or the operation of the furnace (10).

Abstract: An arrangement for generating a classification code for a fingerprint having a pattern of ridges, the ridges having a plurality of reference features, which includes overlaying the intersection of a pair of cross-hairs at a first one of the reference features. A line is overlaid from a second one of the reference features to the first reference feature. The cross-hairs are oriented so that the line bisects a quadrant of the cross-hairs. The ridges crossed by predetermined portions of the cross-hairs are counted to generate the classification code.

Abstract: A relatively small pair size cable (20) comprising at least one conductor (22) which is insulated with polyvinyl chloride plastic material is provided with a flame retardant, smoke suppressive sheath system (30). The sheath system has a relatively low thermal conductivity and provides a predetermined delay prior to the thermal decomposition of the conductor insulation. It includes a layer (31) of an impregnated woven glass material which has an air permeability that is sufficiently low to minimize gaseous flow through the layer of woven glass material and to delay heat transfer to the core for a predetermined time. The woven glass layer is wrapped about the core to have a longitudinal overlapped seam and is enclosed by an outer jacket (40) of a fluoropolymer plastic material which is extruded about the woven layer.

Abstract: A transaction card having in it a semiconductor microcomputer with data storing capability is inserted into a receptor having circuitry for interacting with the microcomputer. Operating power and a clock signal for the microcomputer are transferred from the receptor to the card via an inductive coupling between a coil and magnetic core in the receptor and a coil and ferromagnetic member constituting a flexible wafer inductive device ("FWID") in the card. For purposes of data transfer between the card and receptor, the card includes two additional FWIDS which, when the card is in the receptor, are inductively coupled with corresponding coils in the receptor. One of such additional FWIDS is used to transfer data from the microcomputer in the card to a microcomputer in the receptor, while the other additional FWID is used for data transfer in the opposite direction between these two microcomputers.

Abstract: In a method of cleaning a circuit board having a silicone encapsulated hybrid integrated circuit thereon, subsequent to aqueous solder flux residue removal with an ionic detergent, the board is cleaned with a low molecular weight organic acid such as formic, acetic or oxalic acid.

Abstract: Apparatus (11), which includes two adjacent wafer treating facilities (21 and 22), features an overhead positioning mechanism (20), the operation of which is controlled by a control module (48) to handle articles, such as semiconductor wafers (16), in a plurality of sequential plating operations. The vertical movement of a manipulator extension (46) is controlled with a relatively greater degree of precision to protect the wafers from becoming damaged. In the horizontal direction, a traveling frame (106) steadies a lead screw (59) spanning an extended distance between the two facilities (21 and 22) to support a precise movement of the manipulator extension (46) with respect to both of the facilities.

Abstract: A polyhedral ring mirror is manufactured by molding a synthetic resinous blank having in it a cavity in the form of a four-sided pyramid. The wall surfaces of the cavity are metallized to make them light reflective. The blank is then sliced through in a plane normal to the cavity axis to sever from the blank a minor portion, and to leave behind a major portion in which the form of the cavity has been converted into a truncated pyramid having opposite its original opening a smaller opening. The modified blank with the doubly open cavity is placed, smaller opening down, on a printed wire wiring board around a rectangular electrical component on the board to permit visual inspection from a single viewing point above the component, of all of its sides. The size of the large opening of the cavity can be adjusted by slicing away another portion of the blank.