Abstract: The test-probe manipulator for a test probe for use with semiconductor wafers utilizes three adjusting spindles (50,51,52) arranged on the same side of the manipulator. The test-probe manipulator occupies little space and is easy to operate. All three axes of translational freedom perform linear motions independent of each other. Accuracy of adjustment is improved as compared to conventional devices. Easy placement on and removal from a test platform are ensured.

Abstract: A connector is described with a slot for receiving an electronic memory card and with multiple terminals (32, 34 in FIG. 1) that engage card contact regions, which can be constructed at low cost. The multiple terminals are produced by cutting a strip of sheet metal to form a row of parallel elongated terminals (32 in FIG. 11) that have mount portions (40) lying between first and second terminal end portions (31, 38), and with the second end portions held on a carrier strip (204). A frame (22) of the housing is molded around the mount portions of the terminals, and thereafter the terminals are cut free of the carrier strip. A microcontact device (44 in FIG. 2) for detecting full insertion of the card, includes a first contact with a bent zone (64) projecting a distance forwardly into the slot, to be rearwardly deflected by the leading edge of a card, out of engagement with a second contact. The upper slot walls have a downwardly-facing concave portion (106 in FIG.

Abstract: A speech coder employs vector quantization of LPC parameters, interpolation, and trellis coding for improved speech coding at low bit rates (400 bps). The speech coder has an LPC analysis module for converting input speech to LPC parameters, an LSP conversion module for converting LPC parameters into line spectrum frequencies (LSP) data, and a vector quantization and interpolation (VQ/I) module for encoding the LSP data into vector indexes for transmission by applying LPC spectral amplitude as weighting coefficients to the LSP data. The VQ/I module outputs one vector index for every two LPC frames in order to reduce the transmission bit rate, and the omitted frames are interpolated on the receiving end. A decoder correspondingly decodes incoming indexes to LPC parameters and synthesizes them into output speech. Trellis coders with an adaptive tracking function encode the pitch and gain parameters of the LPC frames. A universal codebook stores codewords according to a plurality of accents.

Abstract: The centrifugal pump having a closed type impeller with two cover discs and vanes therebetween. The inner parts of the vanes cooperate with a non-rotating insert part for cutting within the pump inlet. The lower cover disc together with the non-rotating insert part in the pump inlet creates a radial seal.

Abstract: A cross-fed FET power-chip amplifier employing a plurality of stages each having two FET devices. Wide band four port directional couplers couple the stages, each having an input, and output and two driver input terminals. An input signal is connected to the input terminal and the coupler is designed to produce a majority of the output at the output terminal and a lesser output at each of the driver input which have a 90.degree. phase relationship. Each driver input is connected to one gate of the two FET device, the sources of which are connected to common and the drains of which are connected together by a broadband 90.degree. coupler to accommodate the 90.degree. offset at the gates. The output of the broadband coupler is connected to the input terminal of the directional coupler of each subsequent stage and one or more combiners are coupled to the output terminals of the directional coupler of each stage and the broadband coupler of the final stage to drive an output signal.

Abstract: A wire wand is inserted into a pressure sensor perpendicular to the sensor's operating axis. The wire wand is fixed and adjustable at one end and driven at the other end by the sensor. The arrangement provides for deadband adjustment of a pressure switch.

Abstract: A power striker for door latch employed on the sliding side door of a van type vehicle includes a power driver rotary drive member which upon rotation through 180.degree. is operable to drive a slide member in linear movement between opposite end limits. A striker pin may be mounted directly on the slide or coupled by linkage to the slide to be located in a ready position when the slide is at one end limit and in an actuated position when the slide is at its other end limit. When in its ready position, the pin is latched to the closing door before the door reaches its fully closed position. The pin is then driven to its actuated position to power the door to its fully closed position against the resistive force exerted by the compressible door seal. The rotary to linear drive coupling develops a sinusoidally increasing door closing force during the final door closing movement and provides a positive retention of the striker pin in its ready and actuated positions.

Abstract: Multirate wire line modem apparatus operable at either of two rates in either transmission or reception modes is provided according to the teachings of the instant invention. Full duplex operation and echo cancellation are utilized for both voice and data. Structurally an IOP processor acts as a system controller in controlling transmission and reception digital signal processors which provide the independent transmission and reception functions of the resulting multirate modem apparatus.

Abstract: A self-venting container includes a top section and a bottom section. The top and bottom sections have adjoining side walls. The side walls are formed of a material which exhibits an elongation percentage greater than 100%. The configuration of the container is such that a cantilever-type movement of the side walls occurs when the walls are subjected to excessive pressure on their interior surfaces, resulting in a gap being formed between the top and bottom sections mainly along the side walls. The gap permits the release of excess pressure from within the container.

Abstract: A multilayer printed circuit board has a plurality of planar layers formed with signal conductor lines and return lines grouped around the conductor lines to form pseudo-coaxial transmission lines. The return lines are grouped symmetrically around each signal line, e.g. two, four, or eight return lines at circumferential positions around each signal line. Ground and power planes may be formed with the multilayer structure for shielding and/or for powering electronic components mounted on the structure. The multilayer techniques can also be used to form a multilayer extender card which minimizes crosstalk and is reduced in cost and assembly time as compared to conventional extender boards.

Abstract: Clutch apparatus with a rotary inner member having a plurality of equally spaced indents. An outer member has a plurality of equally spaced flexible beam members on its inner peripheral surface, each of said members being adapted to engage one of said plurality of indents. When either the inner or outer member is subject to an overload condition, said beam members flex radially outward and slip from one indent to another.

Abstract: An adjustable shaft mechanism for adjusting the gap between a print head and a platen in a dot matrix printer has a printer frame with two end frame members and a fixed guide member. An adjustable shaft runs substantially parallel to the guide member between the end frame members. A print head carriage runs along the guide and shaft members. A substantially vertical slot in each of the end frame members is employed to adjust the adjustable shaft for movement up and down with respect to the end frame members. Spring loading means biases the shaft toward the guide member. A cam on each end member is mounted for rotation for adjusting the shaft in the slots to raise and lower the print head carriage and the associated print head with respect to the platen.

Abstract: A connection system is provided of the type wherein a plug connector must be accurately guided to mate with a receptable connector, which minimizes the space coupled by guiding apparatus and which enables the guiding apparatus to electrically ground portions of the two connectors. The plug connector (12, FIG. 4) includes an insulative body (40) with small holes that hold signal contacts (24), the body also having larger holes (42) that hold guide pins (30) that project rearwardly further than the signal contacts to guide the connectors so they properly mate. The receptable connector (14, FIG. 5) has larger socket contacts (60) with through holes therein, which initially receive rearward guide parts (56) of the guide pins to provide the guiding function, and which then receive greater diameter contacting parts (58) of the guide pins which make good electrical contact with the socket contacts. Each guide pin has a forward contacting end (82, FIG.

Abstract: Apparatus for applying an activation layer to a photoemissive wafer of a photocathode, the photocathode having an electrically conductive layer surrounding a portion of its outer surface and contacting the photoemissive layer. A split-ring holder made of a conductive material is placed in a non-conductive support. The support is positioned in a metallic tray and the tray is located in the center of a rotatable carousel in a vacuum chamber. A photocathode is placed in the split-ring holder with its conductive layer contacting both sections of the holder. Electrical current is applied to one section of the split ring and a fork is touched to the other section of the split ring to determine if contact is being made between the conductive layer and the holder. Once it is determined that contact is being made, deposition of the activation layer begins.

Abstract: A communications system utilizes artificial intelligence to select connectivity paths among various locations in a communications network. An embodiment shown is that of a packet radio network, wherein an artificial intelligence module, located at one or more of the radio sites in the network, applies a set of heuristic rules to a knowledge base obtained from network experience to select connectivity paths through the network. The artificial intelligence module comprises an inference engine, a memory for storing network data obtained from a radio receiver and transmitting it to the inference engine, a memory connected to the inference engine which stores a set of heuristic rules for the artificial intelligence system, and a knowledge base memory which stores network information upon which the inference engine draws. The knowledge base memory is also capable of feeding back network information to the rule base memory, which can thus update its rules.

Abstract: A method of forming and apparatus for a heat exchanger having a body of aluminum alloy having two sides with a groove machined in the body in the shape of a heat exchange tubing but of a dimension larger than the tubing. The tubing is placed in the groove and the space between the tubing and the groove is filled with boron nitride whereby corrosion problems are minimized and heat transfer enhanced. The method includes the steps of forming the cavity in at least one side of the body for inserting a tubing of a dimension less than the cavity, precoating the tubing in the cavity by spraying with boron nitride powder in a carrier, placing the heat exchange tubing in the cavity and filling the space between the wall of the cavity and the tubing with boron nitride powder, and bonding the two sides together.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector is described, of the type that includes a cap (26) that can push a ribbon cable or discrete wires (12) into insulation displacement contacts (20) projecting from the top of an insulative body (14) until the cap latches to the body, which provides strain relief for the cable in a simple construction. The cap includes a cover part (44) that presses down on the cable and an elongated cable support (60) lying under one side of the cover part to enable the cable to be threaded between the cover part and the cable support. The cable support is connected to the cover part by bendable arms (74,76), and the insulative body has a deflecting surface (90) that deflects the cable support upwardly as the cap is pushed down, to squeeze the cable between the cable support (60) and the side (46) of the cover part for strain relief.

Abstract: A test clip is provided which has multiple contacts that can engage the leads of a surface mount integrated circuit device whose leads are very closely spaced, while being reliably held down to the circuit device during a test procedure. The test clip has a housing with a recess (72, FIG. 10) that very closely recieves the top of the body of the circuit device (12) to align the clip with the circuit device, the clip being devoid of engagement with the lower part of the device. Instead, the test clip relies solely on frictional engagement of its contacts (24) with the circuit device leads (64) to hold down the test clip. Each contact has a first part (80) that initially lies against a contact-locating outer surface (82) of the housing. Each contact also has a second part (84) that extends below the contact-locating outer surface and that is positioned to be outwardly deflected slightly as it wipes across a circuit device lead, as the test clip is moved directly downwardly against the circuit device.

Abstract: A connector is described which has contacts with wire termination ends (24) for connecting to two ribbon-like wire groups (16, 18) wherein the wires in each group alternate between grounded wires (26c) and signal-carrying wires (26a), and wherein the contacts have connector mating ends (22) arranged in two rows including one row (1) of signal contacts and another (2) of grounded contacts. The contacts are arranged in groups of four on an insulative body (40), with the termination ends (24a, 24d) of first and fourth contacts lying respectively on first and second sides (46, 48) of the body. The termination ends (24b, 24c) of second and third contacts are each bent to extend through a slot (66b, 66c) in the body so while the contact mating end (e.g. 22b) lies in a row (1) at one side of the body, its termination end (24b) lies in a row (6) at the other side of the body.