Abstract: An optic interface hybrid uses two substrates to achieve precise optical alignment of an optic device with an optical window. The window is formed in the package which hermetically surrounds the substrates and optic device. The inter-engagement of the two substrates provides alignment on three axis without the use of expensive fixturing, equipment, labor, or materials investment.

Abstract: A resistor configuration is illustrated that has controlled electro-thermal fracture characteristics. Control is achieved by the formation of a geometrical or compositional flaw in the resistor configuration that causes fracture to originate at a lower stress magnitude than any other stress magnitude within the configuration. The flaw is located within the geometry of the resistor configuration to prevent undesirable multiple fragmentation.

Abstract: A solenoid valve includes a flexible diaphragm and ball to control hydraulic or pneumatic fluid flow. The diaphragm provides an essential part of a complete seal which prevents contaminants from adversely affecting operation of the valve. The diaphragm and ball are formed into a single impervious integral structure. The valve additionally includes a series of radially arranged flutes which surround the armature to allow movement of entrapped fluids within the valve so as to enable more rapid actuation of the valve, and also a conical end structure within the armature for similar improvement.

Abstract: An air distribution unit comprising a housing and louvered inlet and outlet grilles. The housing forms an interior space, an inlet for conducting air into that interior, and an outlet for discharging air from the air distribution unit; and the inlet and outlet grilles are located in the inlet and outlet of the housing, respectively. These grilles have identical shapes and identical sizes and each grille includes a multitude of parallel louvers that are held in fixed positions in the grille. Moreover, the inlet grille has first and second positions to help direct air into the interior of the housing at first and second inlet angles respectively, and the outlet grille has first and second positions for directing air from the interior of the housing at first and second outlet angles respectively.

Abstract: Fine copper and nickel powders are well mixed in a preselected ratio with bonding agents and carriers as appropriate. The composition then may be patterned upon a substrate by screen printing and subsequent firing in a nitrogen atmosphere to produce a low sheet resistance, low TCR electrical resistor. Various alloy powders, inert materials, and glass frits may be used depending upon the desired characteristics.

Abstract: An advanced brake light signalling apparatus utilizes an output from a potentiometric position sensor, buffers the output, differentiates the buffered signal, compares the differentiated signal with a reference, and depending upon the results of the comparison activates the brake lights of a vehicle for a minimum time period. The position of the accelerator at the time of initiation of motion may be utilized to adjust the reference to which the differentiated signal is compared.

Abstract: An electrical resistor is formed upon the substrate. The substrate is laser scribed, preformed, or notched in such a way as to control accurately the breakage of the substrate dependent upon the thermal stress load produced by the resistor. By varying the position of the scribe or notch, the device can be programmed to repeatably shatter at an infinite number of time-load points. The method for applying this technique is also described for other substates or configurations.

Abstract: An improved seal for electronic components is disclosed, having a hydrophobic, microporous membrane sealed about a housing aperture to provide substantial internal to external pressure equalization during temperature and pressure variations encountered during the solder and cleaning process, while substantially sealing the housing aperture from damaging amounts of external contaminating fluids.The microporous membrane may be secured to a non-porous tape about a tape aperture, and the tape may be secured to the electronic component housing about the housing aperture; or the microporous membrane may be secured directly to the housing about the housing aperture.The hydrophobic, microporous membrane may be permanently sealed to the electronic component housing about the housing aperture; or the microporous membrane may be removed after the solder and cleaning process is completed. A tab portion may be secured to the microporous membrane for ease of removal.

Abstract: A lighted contact switch comprising: a non-conductive housing; a conductive biased spring member in electrical contact with a first terminal disposed in the housing base, and adapted to provide electrical contact with a second terminal disposed in the housing base when the biased spring member is depressed; an actuator positioned adjacent to the biased spring member; and a cap adapted with opposing tabs sized to engage and secure the cap to the actuator at assembly. The lighted switch includes opposing lamp terminals disposed at one end within the actuator sides, and extending at the opposite end through apertures in the housing base, the lamp is releasably secured between the lamp terminals and may be independently illuminated by electrical communication with the lamp terminals extending from the base. Graphics, lettering or numbering may be marked upon a translucent insert secured to the cap to identify the switching function. For non-lighted use, the switch may be assembled without the lamp.

Abstract: A pre-reacted resistor paint is disclosed, wherein a base metal powder, such as SnO.sub.2 is coated with a resinate solution, such as Co and Mn resinates and fired in a reducing atmosphere to form a pre-reacted conductive powder for subsequent mixing with a glass frit and a screening agent to blend a pre-reacted resistive paint, for subsequent screening onto a substrate and firing in an inert atmosphere to form a base metal resistor therefrom. Two mixtures of resistive paint are disclosed. The first resistive paint exhibiting a sheet resistivity in the range from 5,000 through 20,000 ohms per square; and the second resistive paint exhibiting a sheet resistivity in the range from 50,000 through 300,000 ohms per square. The first and second resistive paints may be blended to provide a base metal resistive paint exhibiting a sheet resistivity in the range from 5,000 through 300,000 ohms per square, with a TCR within .+-.200 ppm/.degree.C.

Abstract: A thick film resistor paint is disclosed, wherein a base metal powder, such as tin oxide powder, is coated with a resinate solution, such as an Mn resinate solution, and the resinate coated powder thus formed is prefired in a reducing atmosphere to form a pre-reacted conductive powder. The pre-reacted conductive powder is then mixed with a glass frit, an oxide of hafnium, and a screening agent to form a thick film resistive paint having a sheet resistivity of from 500,000 ohms to 5 megohms per square. The resistive paint is subsequently screened upon a substrate and fired in an inert atmosphere, preferably at 900.degree. C..+-.20.degree. C., to form a thick film base metal resistor exhibiting a combined TCR within .+-.200 ppm/.degree.C. The glass frit is preferably a tantala glass frit.

Abstract: The adjustment of the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of a thick film resistor by laser annealing is disclosed. The thick film resistor is fired for a controlled time and temperature sufficient to burn off the organic material in the resistive paint, and to provide an initial adjustment of the (TCR), but prior to obtaining the desired (TCR) range. The resistor is then laser annealed to controllably adjust the (TCR) of the resistor within the desired (TCR) range. The fixture used to hold the substrate during laser annealing is preferably controllably heated to avoid thermal shock to the resistor during laser annealing. A microprocessor is preferably used to monitor the (TCR) during the laser annealing process. At least one of the laser scan speed, laser beam diameter, laser beam power, and number of annealing passes are used to controllably adjust the resistor (TCR) to within the desired (TCR) range.

Abstract: Base metal resistive paints, resistors made therefrom and method for making the resistive paint are disclosed. The base metal resistive paints comprise 20 to 25% tantala glass frit and 75 to 80% tin oxide, ground to a particle size of ten microns or less; and well mixed with 25 to 35% screening agent for subsequent screening upon a suitable substrate, and firing in an inert atmosphere at a peak temperature of about 900.degree. C. The tantala glass frit preferably comprises 5 to 25% tantatum oxide. The tin oxide is preferably preheated at 450.degree. to 600.degree. C. in the presence of a reducing gas, prior to mixing with the tantala glass frit. The screening agent preferably forms no carbon residue when pyrolytically decomposed in an inert atmosphere during firing.

Abstract: A multi-speed, full duplex modem is disclosed for transmitting and receiving analog signals over a telephone network in communication with a remote modem. The analog signals are converted to digital data for processing by a signal processor and a microcomputer. A bi-directional bus is disposed between the signal processor and the microcomputer for selectively transferring multiple bits of data in either a transmit or receive direction. One or more of the multiple bits of data are restricted to convey bus direction data in one of the transmit and receive directions, and not restricted in the other direction. The full duplex modem allows simultaneous transmission and reception of analog signals over the telephone network, at one of the multispeed data rates selected for compatability between the full duplex, multispeed modem and the remote modem.

Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating composite porcelain substrates employing alternating layers of wire cloth and porcelain green sheet material is disclosed, wherein those alternating layers are compressed toward one another at a somewhat elevated temperature and then kiln fired at a further elevated temperature to form a glazed porcelain surface for receiving further electrical circuitry, for example, of the microelectronic type. Such a composite porcelain substrate has good thermal properties of high conductivity and low coefficient of expansion as well as good electrical insulating properties and mechanical strength. In particular its thermal expansion properties are well matched to many surface mounted devices that may be placed on the substrate thereby reducing the likelihood of thermal damage of device connections. The substrate cost is very low in comparison to the currently available alternatives.

Abstract: An alternate action push-push switch is disclosed, having a housing with a dielectric bar portion; a plurality of conductive terminals; a plurality of conductive spring contactors having an inclined segment in proximity to the dielectric bar portion and a contact segment in proximity to the terminal contact portion; at least one push member slideably disposed at least partially within the housing; an alternate action switch mechanism having a closed loop cam slot, a cam follower, and a resilient spring disposed between the housing and the push member, to provide unidirectional travel of the cam follower in the cam slot as the push member is alternately biased between first and second operating positions. More than one push member may be used to supply multiple switching configurations. A protrusion on a first push member may be adapted to actuate an adjoining second push member, while allowing the second push member to be operated independently of the first push member.

Abstract: A method for preferentially etching a piezoelectric material is disclosed wherein a portion of the piezoelectric material is controllably subjected to a concentrated thermal energy source with a force sufficient to alter the crystalline orientation of the piezoelectric material. The piezoelectric material is then treated with a suitable echant for a controlled duration, wherein the portion of the piezoelectric material altered by the concentrated thermal energy source is etched at a different etching rate than the unaltered piezoelectric material, to preferentially etch a controlled anaglyphic planar configuration upon the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: Base metal resistive paints, resistors made therefrom and method for making the resistive paint are disclosed. The base metal resistive paints comprise 20 to 25% tantala glass frit and 75 to 80% tin oxide, ground to a particle size of ten microns or less; and well mixed with 25 to 35% screening agent for subsequent screening upon a suitable substrate, and firing in an inert atmosphere at a peak temperature of about 900.degree. C. The tantala glass frit preferably comprises 5 to 25% tantatum oxide. The tin oxide is preferably preheated at 450.degree. to 600.degree. C. in the presence of a reducing gas, prior to mixing with the tantala glass frit. The screening agent preferably forms no carbon residue when pyrolytically decomposed in an inert atmosphere during firing.

Abstract: A miniature position encoder (10) provides means for transducing angular changes in shaft (60) position to an electrical output representing the Gray code. The miniature position encoder (10) comprises an annular housing (12) having an aperture (14) with a bushing (20) disposed therein opposite an open end (18) of the housing (12), a plurality of light emitting diodes (50) disposed in non-linear alignment in a substrate (40) mounted adjacent the bushing (20), and a metallic shaft (60) journalled within the bushing opening (15) and having a metallic logic disk (70) secured at one end, the logic disk having a plurality of radially spaced and angularly limited openings representing the Gray code.