Abstract: A multilayer package includes a plurality of interconnected large-layer-count (LLC) substrates. The LLC substrates each include conductive pads on the top and bottom surfaces of the substrate, a via in the substrate including conductive material to contact the pads on the top and bottom surfaces, and a post on a pad over the via. The posts of the substrates confront and abut each other, and are electrically bonded together. A non-flowable adhesive film mechanically bonds the LLC substrates, and has an aperture receiving the posts of the substrates.

Abstract: In a multi-range, continuously variable transmission, input engine power is split between a belt-type, continuously variable transmission unit and a system of interconnected planetary gears. This gear system then combines the split power received from the engine and the transmission unit output to produce a transmission output for propelling a vehicle in multiple forward ranges and one reverse range, each range of continuously variable speed produced by stroking the transmission unit. Synchronous shifting between ranges is achieved by selectively clutching or braking elements of the planetary gear sets at appropriate stroke settings of the transmission unit, such that the vehicle may be smoothly accelerated from rest to maximum speed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a function on an integrated circuit having a plurality of electrical contact pads is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate for performing the function on the integrated circuit, the substrate having a plurality of electrical contact pads and at least one electrical test contact pad. A centering housing encompasses the integrated circuit and centers the integrated circuit with respect to the substrate such that the plurality of electrical contact pads of the integrated circuit electrically connects with the plurality of electrical contact pads of the substrate. A test connector connects integrated circuit to the substrate.

Abstract: A multi-range, synchronous shifting, hydromechanical transmission according to the present invention is suitable for application in an automotive drivetrain including a high speed engine. The transmission receives split power inputs from the engine; one input being geared down to a suitable lower speed for driving a continuously variable hydrostatic transmission unit, while the other input drives a counter shaft from which mechanical outputs are take at different speed ratios. A planetary gear set, driven by the hydrostatic transmission unit output, is shiftable to provide either a narrow continuously variable speed hydrostatic output, range suitable for transmission operation in low output ranges or a wide continuously variable speed hydrostatic output range suitable for transmission operation in high output ranges.

Abstract: An interposer is formed by forming a laminate comprising a first sheet of electrically insulating material and a second sheet of conductive material. The first sheet has a first plurality of apertures therethrough and the second sheet is laminated to the first sheet to close the first plurality of apertures. Material is removed from the second sheet around the first plurality of apertures to form conductive pads, the pads closing the first plurality of apertures. A third sheet of electrically insulating material is attached to the second sheet. The third sheet has a second plurality of apertures therethrough, the third sheet being positioned relative to the second sheet such that the apertures of the second plurality are closed by the conductive pads. In a preferred form, the third sheet is positioned relative to the first sheet so that the apertures of the second plurality are not in registration with the apertures of the first plurality.

Abstract: In many uses of electrical motors, the interaction of a tool being powered, e.g., a milling machine, and the workpiece being worked on by the motor induces mechanical vibrations which adversely affect the functioning of the tool as well as inducing wear producing vibrations in the motor rotor shaft. Damping of such vibrations is achieved by deliberately inducing internal unbalanced forces on the motor rotor shaft for counteracting the externally induced vibrations. Such internal unbalanced forces are produced by the use of additional currents in the main stator coils for generating additional, unbalanced force generating magnetic fields. A mathematical analysis of the process is provided.

Abstract: A projectile accelerating pulsed gas source comprises a structure including a high voltage electrode for establishing axial electrical discharges in axial gaps behind an outlet where the projectile is located. Plasma flows at right angles to the discharges into a propellant that is converted into a high pressure component of the gas pulse. The gaps are arranged so that after the projectile moves away from its initial position, power applied to the plasma via gaps close to the outlet is greater than power applied to the plasma via gaps farther from the outlet. The gaps are arranged so power applied to the plasma is substantially the same in the discharges when plasma is initially produced. The gaps include walls that are eroded differently by the discharges so gap walls close to the outlet erode faster than gap walls farther from the outlet.

Abstract: An eddy current sensor comprises a generally E-shaped core having three parallel legs joined together by a bridge. Current carrying coils are mounted on each of the outer legs and a signal coil is mounted on the central leg. Identical a.c. currents are caused to flow through the two outer coils for generating two magnetic fields which combine to form a sensing magnetic field extending outwardly from the ends of the legs for sensing purposes but which cancel one another within the central leg. The sensor is disposed within an E-shaped, hollow shield of an eddy current producing, electrically conductive material. The sensor fits within the shield as fingers in a glove with the parallel legs of the sensor magnetically separated from one another by walls of the shield. Only the ends of the sensor legs are exposed through apertures through the shield for emergence of the various magnetic fields. The shield cancels unwanted fringing fields and better guides the magnetic fields in desired directions.

Abstract: A hydromechanical transmission receives split power inputs from a vehicle engine, one split input driving a hydrostatic power unit and the other split input driving a mechanical power input. The infinitely variable hydrostatic power output is combined in the mechanical power unit with multiple ratios of its split input power to achieve infinitely variable ratios of hydromechanical output power for smoothly propelling a vehicle from rest through multiple transmission ranges to maximum speed, with synchronous shifting between ranges.

Abstract: A non-intrusive power control for a fault tolerant computer system which uses redundant voting at the hardware clock level. The computer includes three or more commercial central processing units (CPUs) operating synchronously. Outputs to system memory and system bus are voted by a radiation tolerant gate array which may be implemented in a custom integrated circuit. An interface control coupled to the voter can remove or connect power from a CPU and adjust CPU inputs, preventing damage to the components without terminating an operating program. The inputs and outputs at each write to and read from system memory are voted at each CPU clock cycle. A vote status and control circuit "reads" the status of the vote and controls the state of the CPUs using hardware and software. The system logic selects the best chance of recovering from a detected fault by re-synchronizing all CPUs, powering down a faulty CPU, or switching to a spare computer, resetting and re-booting the substituted CPU.

Abstract: A fault tolerant memory system having a triple bit error correction and quadruple bit error detection capability is disclosed using control logic coupled to multiple decoders each having single bit error correction/double bit error detection capabilities. The memory system can also be provided with a sparing system which provides an additional memory device to circumvent failures in individual memory devices. The memory system is suited for severe environments such as computing systems operating in outer space.

Abstract: A high pressure pulsed gas source for accelerating a projectile along a gun barrel comprises a structure including a high voltage electrode for establishing axial electrical discharges in corresponding axial gaps behind an outlet where the projectile is located. Plasma flows at right angles to the discharges into a propellant mass that is converted into a high pressure component of the gas pulse. The gaps are arranged so that after the projectile moves away from its initial position and is in the barrel, power applied to the plasma via gaps close to the outlet is greater than power applied to the plasma via gaps farther from the outlet. To avoid damage to the gun, the gaps are arranged so power applied to the plasma is substantially the same in the discharges when plasma is initially produced. The gaps include walls that are eroded differently by the discharges so gap walls close to the outlet erode faster than gap walls farther from the outlet.

Abstract: A fault tolerant computer system is disclosed which uses redundant voting at the hardware clock level to detect and to correct single event upsets (SEU) and other random failures. In one preferred embodiment, the computer (30) includes four or more commercial processing units (CPUs) (32) operating in strict "lock-step" and whose outputs (33, 37) to system memory (46) and system bus (12) are voted by a gate array (50) which may be implemented in a custom integrated circuit (34). A custom memory controller (18) interfaces to the system memory (46) and system bus (12). The data and address (35, 37) at each write to and read from memory (46) within the computer (30) are voted at each CPU clock cycle. A vote status and control circuit (38) "reads" the status of the vote and controls the state of the CPUs using hardware and software. The majority voted signals (35) are used by the agreeing CPUs 32 to continue processing operations without interruption.

Abstract: An infinitely variable hydrostatic transmission includes an input shaft connected to drive a hydraulic pump unit, a grounded hydraulic motor unit, and an output shaft. A swashplate assembly is connected to impart output torque to the output shaft resulting from the pumped exchanges of pressured hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic pump and motor units. A ratio controller is linked to independently, variably position input and output members of the swashplate assembly and thus vary nutating magnitudes of cylinder blocks of the hydraulic pump and motor units, pursuant to adjustably setting ratio conditions of the transmission.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for machining a laminate structure to form a selected shape. The method includes forming a first layer on a substrate. A first protective structure is defined that is attached to each of the first layer and the substrate. At least a portion of the protective structure has the selected shape. The laminate structure is then machined along the first protective structure thereby forming at least a portion of the selected shape.

Abstract: A digital data delivery system which uses satellite broadcasting to deliver digital data along with audio and video signals. Digital data files are divided into packets and combined with audio and video packets in a time-division-multiplexed format. The time-division-multiplexed data is digitally modulated and then uplinked to a satellite transponder. The satellite transponder broadcasts the data to a multiplicity of user stations. The data which are broadcast by the satellite transponder are received by a satellite dish at each user station. Each satellite dish then relays the data to a receiver. The receiver identifies and separates the digital data file packets from the audio and video packets and outputs the digital data file packets to a data output port. A data bridge receives the packets from the data output port, buffers the packets, and converts the packets into a format that can be read by standard commercial I/O cards.

Abstract: An ammunition storage and retrieval system comprises a passive magazine having left and right backs of cells arranged in rows, with each cell accommodating a projectile in vertical, base-down orientation; the cells and cell rows being defined by adjacent pairs of elongated superstructures. A projectile loading head is movably mounted by a traveling beam, in turn, movably mounted by elevated rails, such that the loading head may be translated through a center aisle to address a selected row in either bank and then through the selected row to a selected cell for downloading of a projectile therein. A projectile receiver, dependent from the loading head, includes projectile gripping arms and a projectile lifting foot, which are articulated in coordination with operation of projectile locking members mounted by the superstructures to effect downloading.

Abstract: A hydromechanical transmission receives split power inputs from a vehicle engine, one split input driving a hydrostatic power unit and the other split input driving a mechanical power input. The infinitely variable hydrostatic power output is combined in the mechanical power unit with multiple ratios of its split input power to achieve multiple ratios of hydromechanical output power for smoothly propelling a vehicle from rest through multiple transmission ranges to maximum speed, with synchronous shifting between ranges. The hydromechanical transmission is particularly applicable to off-road vehicles, such as agricultural tractors.

Abstract: To achieve a reduced inflation rate of an airbag in a vehicle occupant restraint apparatus, an airbag inflator is provided with a seal ring acting, in response to initial pressurization by a pyrotechnic initiator, to open injection ports, such that liquid propellant may be regeneratively pumped by a piston from a reservoir into a combustion chamber for combustion. The resulting combustion gases flow through a series of swirl chambers to increase residence time and through a plenum chamber where the combustion gases are cooled. The combustion gases exit the plenum chamber as an airbag inflation gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a function on an integrated circuit having a plurality of electrical contact pads is disclosed. The apparatus includes a substrate for performing the function on the integrated circuit, the substrate having a plurality of electrical contact pads and at least one electrical test contact pad. A centering housing encompasses the integrated circuit and centers the integrated circuit with respect to the substrate such that the plurality of electrical contact pads of the integrated circuit electrically connects with the plurality of electrical contact pads of the substrate. A test connector connects integrated circuit to the substrate.