Abstract: A resistor network has a substrate with top and side surfaces. Resistors are located on the side surfaces. Several side conductors are located on the side surface and are electrically connected to the resistors. Several top conductors are located on the top surface and are electrically connected to the side conductors. Each top conductor has a cavity. A solder sphere is partially located in the cavity and is electrically and mechanically connected to the top conductor by reflowed solder paste. A cover coat covers the side conductors and the resistors. The resistor network provides a high density of resistors per unit area.

Abstract: A piezoelectric resonator (12) is embedded within an electrically insulating substrate assembly (36), such as a multilayer printed circuit board. Electrical conductors (22,24) extend from electrodes of the resonator (12) through holes (32) in upper and lower layers (26,29) of the substrate assembly (36) and connect to electrical traces (34). The lower layer (29) has a pocket which forms a cavity (38) within the substrate assembly (36) adapted to contain the piezoelectric resonator (12). The conductors (22,24) support the resonator (12) such that the resonator (12) does not contact the assembly (36). As the resonator is substantially larger than associated electrical components, embedding it within a substrate eliminates the size penalty that is normally required to mount a large piezoelectric resonator.

Abstract: A frequency synthesizer module with temperature compensation of a crystal oscillator circuit frequency controlled by a varactor. A module memory contains information characterizing a temperature dependency of a crystal which is applied to the varactor to temperature compensate the crystal in response to a temperature sensor signal. The module includes at least one locked loop circuit including a loop filter, at least one associated frequency divider, and a switchable dual band voltage controlled oscillator. The crystal oscillator is coupled to the at least one locked loop circuit and the frequency of the crystal is controlled by the memory via the varactor such that a temperature compensated output frequency is provided by the module.

Abstract: A heater apparatus (10) for a piezoelectric device (12) includes a resistive heating element (18) on an insulating substrate (14). The heating element (18) maintains a temperature of the piezoelectric device (12) within a predetermined temperature range. A plurality of electrical couplings (20) extend through the insulating substrate (14). The electrical couplings (20) electrically connect to the heating element (18) and mechanically and electrically connect to the piezoelectric device (12). The piezoelectric device (12) is suspended above the heating element (18) on at least two of the electrical couplings (20). As a result, the heater apparatus (10) and piezoelectric device (12) can be enclosed within a standard crystal package.

Abstract: A dual positional hall effect sensor 10 having an outer housing 12, an actuator 14, a linear movement sensor 20, and a rotational movement sensor device 22. The housing 12 includes a lower chamber 24 and an upper chamber 26, with a barrier wall 28 separating therebetween. The actuator 14 is made up of a coupling 32 for coupling to a movable device (not shown) that is to have its position sensed, a rod 34 that extends from the lower to the upper chamber, a collar 36 for retaining the actuator 14 within the lower chamber, and a key 38. The linear motion sensor 20 is unattachably positioned to set on collar 36, and includes a magnetically conducting pole piece 42 and a left and right magnets 44. The magnets 44 and pole piece 42 are positioned around the rod 34 in a "U" shaped configuration. The lower chamber 24 also includes a positionally fixed hall effect sensor 46 and a spring 48 positioned between the barrier wall 28 and the collar 36.

Abstract: A flexible element for use in a rotary position sensor or the like having the direction of electrical traces on one surface of the element altered without putting the traces into tension. The directional change is accomplished by partially splitting the flexible element and continuing an electrical trace from one side of the split back along the other side. The invention makes it possible to decrease the size for a given operational angle of mechanically variable resistors without sacrificing quality or reliability.

Abstract: A low profile integrated oscillator operable to provide an oscillator signal includes a substrate having a cavity and a via passing through the substrate. A crystal or other resonator is disposed in the cavity and stabilizes the oscillator signal. An electrical circuit means is mounted to the substrate and electrically connects to the via to condition the oscillator signal. A cover seals the resonator in the cavity. A connector electrically connects the resonator to the via. A heater is mounted to the substrate to elevate the oscillator temperature and a temperature sensor is mounted to the substrate to monitor and control the oscillator temperature. The substrate is surrounded by an insulation and mounted within a housing. The housing has a connection means for connecting to an external electrical circuit.

Abstract: A sensor is disclosed that fits in a compact package. This compact sensor is ideal for sensing rotary positions and for accommodating one or more potentiometers. The resistor track is parallel and opposed to the collector track, and the wiper is placed between the two tracks to swipe both of them in one embodiment. This allows a short package, because the tracks are opposed to each other rather than being in a line, and a narrow package, because the tracks are not placed side by side. Another advantage of the invention is that putting the resistor track on a larger radius and the collector track on a smaller radius allows the resistor track to be longer. Having a longer resistor track allows a higher resolution, yet a package containing the potentiometer will still be relatively small. Several potentiometers may be placed in the sensor to provide redundancy yet retain compactness.

Abstract: A computer keyboard has a pointing stick integrally molded into and projecting from a surface of a plastic housing. Keyboard keys extend through holes in the same plastic housing. Strain-sensitive resistors are formed in a small location onto a circuit substrate. The same circuit substrate that carries the strain-sensitive resistors also carries conductive pads for the key switches. The strain-sensitive resistor location is bonded to the housing adjacent the pointing stick, but on an opposite surface of the housing from the pointing stick protrusion.

Abstract: A position sensor, in particular, a modular position sensor for easy coupling to another modular device, like a gas pedal of a vehicle. The sensor eliminates the use of permanently attached electrical leads or pins attached to, for example, the output pads on flexible film coupled to a rotor. The sensor is provided with a housing wall having slots therein, conductive elements, a flexible film, and a pressure wall. In the preferred embodiment, the sensor is mounted on an external device having pins or electrical leads. The pins protrude through the slots in the housing wall and the contact conductive elements that are in direct contact with the output pads on the flexible film.

Abstract: A method (100) of providing a time delay to a signal utilizing a surface acoustic wave ladder filter includes a first step (102) of providing a piezoelectric substrate. A second step (104) includes disposing series and shunt coupled surface acoustic wave transducers in a ladder configuration on the substrate with each of the transducers having an associated aperture and an associated number of interdigital electrode elements. A third step (106) includes configuring the associated aperture and an associated number of interdigital electrode elements for each surface acoustic wave transducer for maximum phase linearity of the ladder filter and uniform group delay response from the ladder filter. A fourth step (108) includes adjusting the number of transducers in the ladder filter to provide a desired average group delay. Subsequently passing a signal through the ladder filter will delay the signal by a time equal to the group delay.

Abstract: A position sensor according to the invention comprises a housing having an internal compartment, a terminal support web extending into the compartment, at least one terminal having a first end in contact with the terminal support web and a second end extending outwardly of the housing, a sensor element located within the internal compartment, and a connector clip. The sensor element includes a terminal portion adapted for contacting the at least one terminal. The clip comprises a bight section, at least one first finger extending from the bight section, and at least one second finger extending from the bight section opposite the first finger. The first and second fingers are adapted to receive the sensor element and the support web therebetween when the clip is installed for holding the terminal portion against the at least one terminal.

Abstract: A multi-pole monolithic crystal filter with at least three acoustically coupled resonators (50,52,54) on a piezoelectric blank (56). Each resonator (50,52,54) has associated top and bottom electrodes (70,72,74,76,78,80). An input connection (62) is coupled to the top electrode (70) of a first resonator (50) and a ground connection (64) is coupled to the bottom electrode (72) of the first resonator (50). An output connection (68) is coupled to the bottom electrode (80) of a last resonator (54) and a ground connection (66) is coupled to the top electrode (78) of the last resonator (54). The top and bottom electrodes (74,76) of each of the remaining resonators (52) are coupled to each other.

Abstract: An extremely reliable and effective position sensor is provided at low cost for determining the relative position of a mechanical linkage with respect to a reference point. The position sensor includes a rotor or bracket which is mechanically coupled to the linkage and contains at least two magnets on opposite walls adjacent a channel opening. The opposing magnets are formed with first and second sloped or ramped sections which produce produce variable magnetic fields as determined by the geometric profile of the magnets. One or more detectors are positioned in the air gap between the opposing magnets. As the linkage is moved, the rotor or bracket moves with respect to the detector causing a change in the strength of the magnetic field detected by the detector whereby the detector determines the position of the movable linkage.

Abstract: A pulse frequency modulation drive circuit (1114) for a piezoelectric transformer (1102) is provided. Circuit (1114) includes a piezoelectric transformer (1102) having a resonant frequency and an input and an output section. A frequency feedback network connected to the piezoelectric transformer (1102) and an output level sense (1112) connected to the piezoelectric transformer (1102) is also provided. A drive circuit (1114) has a first switch (S.sub.1) and a third switch (S.sub.3) having a capacitance (1118) therebetween. A second switch (S.sub.2) and a fourth switch (S.sub.4) connect a supply voltage (V.sub.IN) to each of a pair of inductors (L.sub.1 and L.sub.2) and the second switch (S.sub.2) and the fourth switch (S.sub.4) are driven 180.degree. out of phase at the resonant frequency of the piezoelectric transformer (1102).

Abstract: A test system for performing a test of strain gauge resistors used on a pointing stick. The test system has a mechanical load applicator that holds the resistor and applies a mechanical force to the resistor. An electrical contactor makes and breaks an electrical connection with the resistor. An electrical tester is connected to the electrical contactor to measure electrical parameters of the resistor with and without the mechanical force. A calculator is connected to the tester and calculates several resistor parameters. The resistor parameters are indicative of the operation of the pointing stick.

Abstract: A dual in line switch apparatus selects between several switch positions. Specifically there is a housing that contains slides. The slides have a slide groove on each end and a slide grip portion. A wire contact is attached to each slide. A first and second row of terminals is molded in the housing. The first and second row of terminals rest above the bottom of the housing and are spaced apart to define a slot between the rows of terminals. The wire contacts are located between the terminals and the slide. The wire contacts operate, as the slide is moved, to make and break electrical connections between the terminals. The wire contact has an integrally formed pair of upright portions and a wire detent. The terminal has a detent cavity. The upright portion fits into and is retained by the slide groove. The wire detent, the detent cavity and the slot provide a positive mechanical stop for each of the switch positions.

Abstract: A ball grid array capacitor has a substrate with a top and bottom surface and a via extending through the substrate. Several capacitors are located on the bottom surface. The capacitors include a top electrode connected to the via, a dielectric layer connected to the top electrode, and a bottom electrode that is connected to the dielectric layer and a ball pad over the bottom electrode. A passivation layer is located between the capacitors. Several solder spheres are electrically and mechanically connected to the bottom electrode. A resistor can be mounted on the top surface and connected to the via to form a filter.

Abstract: ST-cut and AT-cut quartz seed bodies (18,40) for quartz crystal synthesis and method (100) for making the same are disclosed. An extended quartz seed body (18) having an angle of about 42.75.degree. rotated about a X axis (20) from a +Z axis (22) to a -Y axis (24) and defining a ST-cut is provided and a quartz crystal bar (32) is grown thereupon. Analogously, an extended quartz seed body (40) having an angle of about 35.25.degree. rotated about a X axis (20) from a +Z axis (22) to a -Y axis (24) and defining an AT-cut is provided and a quartz crystal bar (48) is grown thereupon. In each case, the subsequent quartz crystal bar (32,48) may be wafered parallel to the seed body (18,40) thereby; reducing waste (68), recovering the seed body (18,40) for reuse, producing wafers (70) without intervening seed portions, and increasing factory capacity.

Abstract: A pointing device for controlling the positioning, movement and operation of a cursor on a display screen. Specifically, there is an actuator with a shaft having first and second ends. The actuator also has an interposer with the first end of the shaft attached and several strain sensitive resistor are mounted on the shaft to generate an electrical signal representative of a magnitude and direction of force applied to the shaft by a user. A circuit trace is disposed on the interposer and electrically connected to the resistor. A substrate has several circuit lines electrically connected to the circuit trace. A base is mounted above the interposer and has an aperture through which the shaft passes. A cover is mounted over the base to hold the base to the substrate. The cover is held to the substrate by a mounting tab.