Abstract: An electrical connector comprises an insulative housing, a plurality of terminals and a plurality of shield plates. A pair of receiving channels and a plurality of recesses located between the receiving channels is defined through the insulative housing for receiving the terminals and the shield plates, respectively. A plurality of upper ribs and lower ribs is disposed on the inner walls of each receiving channel. Each terminal includes a contact portion, a retention portion, a transverse portion and a soldering tail. Each retention portion has a first retaining section and a second retaining section and the transverse portion establishes a transverse displacement therebetween. A pair of first locking barbs and a pair of second locking barbs are respectively formed on the first retaining section and the second retaining section of each terminal for latching the terminal to the insulative housing.

Abstract: A socket comprises a cover movably mounted on a base between an open status and a closed status. The cover and the base each have a body portion and a head portion extending from the body portion. The cover has first pair of inner walls and second pair of inner walls respectively formed in the body portion and the head portion thereof for slidably retaining the corresponding body portion and head portion of the base. Positioning members containing spaced shallow regions are formed in the body portion and the head portion of the base for receiving protrusions formed in the corresponding body portion and head portion of the cover so that the cover can be retained in either the open status or closed status by cooperation of the positioning members and the protrusions.

Abstract: An EL-combined sheet switch including a circuit board having a driving circuit mounted on its back surface and having a switch pattern formed on its front surface in combination with a contact sheet having a counter electrode on its back surface in such a manner that the counter electrode faces the switch pattern to construct a switch mechanism. On the front surface of the contact sheet is attached an EL sheet and a shield layer is provided between the contact sheet and the EL sheet. In the EL-combined sheet switch, as described, the electromagnetic noise from the EL sheet which might otherwise affect the operation of an electronic device is blocked by the shield layer. The shield layer is preferably connected with a ground electrode formed on the circuit board.

Abstract: Improvements in a focusing apparatus having an objective optical system for optically manufacturing a workpiece, forming a desired pattern on a surface of a workpiece or inspecting a pattern on a workpiece and used to adjust the state of focusing between the surface of the workpiece and the objective optical system. The focusing apparatus has a first detection system having a detection area at a first position located outside the field of the objective optical system, a second detection system having a detection area at a second position located outside the field of the objective optical system and spaced apart from the first position, and a third detection system having a detection area at a third position located outside the field of the objective optical system and spaced apart from each of the first and second positions.

Abstract: A drive circuit for an EL element is provided which suppresses abrupt discharge from the EL element. A coil and a first switch element are connected between a power terminal VDD and a power terminal VSS. The first switch element is intermittently turned on to charge an induced voltage occurring on the coil to the EL element through an H bridge circuit. Then, a second switch element is intermittently turned on to intermittently discharge the charge on the EL element through the coil, thereby suppressing abrupt discharge from the EL element.

Abstract: An insulation displacement connector (IDC) assembly comprises a first connector mounted to an electronic element and a second connector matable with the first connector for terminating a flat flexible cable. The second connector comprises a second housing matable with a first housing of the first connector, a plurality of second terminals received in the second housing, a terminating cover attached to the second housing for pressing the flexible cable onto the second terminals, and a pressing member. The pressing member comprises a main body and a pair of latching arms perpendicularly extending from opposite ends of the main body for securing the second connector with the first connector. A curved connecting portion is formed between each latching arm and the main body for providing the latching arm with sufficient deformation space and proper resiliency.

Abstract: A mold insert for an injection molding machine has a circumferential liquid conduit groove and a plurality of liquid-receiving bores extending inwardly from the groove. Baffles are removably inserted into the liquid-receiving bores and have heads located in locking engagement with the sidewalls, including the undercut portions thereof, to retain the baffles in their respective liquid-receiving bores. Each baffle has a blade that fits snugly within a liquid-receiving bore to separate the liquid-receiving bore into a liquid inlet passageway and a liquid outlet passageway. Fins project outwardly from opposite faces of the blade to create turbulence in liquid flowing into and out of the liquid-receiving bore, which enhances cooling (or heating) of the mold insert. The baffle is also useful with other solid components having a liquid conduit for cooling purposes and a transverse liquid-receiving bore intersecting the liquid conduit.

Abstract: An SO DIMM connector includes an insulative housing (10) defining an elongated slot (12) along a longitudinal direction thereof. A plurality of passageways (14) are formed by two sides of the slot (12) in the housing (10). A plurality of contacts are received within the corresponding passageways with contact portions extending into the slot (12). A pair of supporting platform (16) are formed at two opposite ends of the housing (10). A pair of latch devices (22) are disposed on the corresponding supporting platforms (16), respectively. Each latch device (22) includes a plastic member (24) and a metal member (26) commonly deflectable with regard to the housing (10). A substrate module (100) is inserted into the slot (12). The module (100) defines a pair of notches (101) in two side portions and a pair of grounding pads (102, 106) respectively on both surfaces (104, 108) thereof around each of said notches (101).

Abstract: An audio jack comprises an insulative housing, a plug receptacle projecting from the housing for mating with a complementary audio plug, and a pair of transfer switches retained in the housing and extending therefrom for connecting to a circuit board. Each transfer switch consists of an engagement contact and a resilient contact engageable with the engagement contact. Each resilient contact comprises a contact portion with a wiping contact section formed thereon engageable with the corresponding engagement contact. A wiping contact action between the resilient contact and the corresponding engagement contact is complemented by the design of the wiping contact section to remove contaminants on the contact interface thereby ensuring a reliable connection therebetween.

Abstract: A mold has a moling surface of a material containing silicon carbide and/or silicon nitride as a main component and a carbon thin film formed on the molding surface to prevent fusion sticking. A glass substance which has a sag point not higher than 565.degree. C. and a predetermined composition free from arsenic oxide is introduced into the mold. The glass substance is press-formed in a heated and softened condition into a glass optical element of high precision.

Abstract: A camera has a back cover movable between a closed state and an open state to enable a film case to be installed in and removed from the camera. A detector detects the transition of the cover between the closed state and the open state. A data register stores control data, and a control circuit receives the control data from the data register for controlling operation of the camera. The control data is transferred temporarily from the data register to an EEPROM when the back cover makes the transition from the closed state to the open state. The control data is then transferred back from the EEPROM to the data register when the back cover makes the transition from the open state to the closed state.

Abstract: A modular jack includes an insulative housing, a cavity defined in the housing, and a plurality of contacts extending into the cavity for connecting with wires extending from a lower portion of a rear face of the housing. A retaining spacer is integrally formed on a middle portion of the rear face of the housing. The spacer defines a plurality of grooves for snugly receiving a corresponding plurality of wires therein, respectively. The provision of the retaining spacer promotes conservation of space on the PCB on a portion thereof adjacent to the rear face of the housing of the modular jack.

Abstract: A laser beam transmitting system is provided comprising at least one target, a laser detection module, an optical system, a rotary encoder, a dither zone memory, and a controller. The optical system is arranged to generate a reference laser beam selectively in one of a search mode and a target dither mode and to direct a laser beam reflected from the target to the laser detection module. The search mode is characterized by movement of the reference beam through a rotational arc defined about a central rotational axis and the target dither mode is characterized by movement of the reference beam through a selected discrete portion of the rotational arc. The rotary encoder is arranged to produce a rotary signal indicative of a rotary position of the reference beam relative to the rotational arc.

Abstract: A blade control system is configured to control the spatial orientation of an earthmoving blade mounted on a frame of an earthmoving machine for working a surface of earth to a desired shape. The blade slope angle required to maintain a selected cross-slope angle is calculated and the blade slope is then controlled so that the sensed blade slope angle is substantially equal to the calculated blade slope angle. The method and apparatus of the present invention is capable of maintaining the desired cross-slope even when the motorgrader is steered through a turn. The control system includes an input circuit, a sensor system and a processor. The input circuit is arranged to generate an output signal representative of the desired shape of the surface of earth to be worked. The sensor system includes a first sensor coupled to the frame of the earthmoving machine to generate a first signal indicative of a longitudinal slope angle of the frame with respect to horizontal.

Abstract: An apparatus for processing substrates with a plasma jet with increased throughput is described. The apparatus comprises at least two carrousels for holding a plurality of substrates. Each of the carrousels includes a rotatable angle drive having a rotation axis Da, a plurality of arms extending radially from the angle drive and a plurality of rotatable substrate holders. Each of the substrate holders is connected to one of the arms, each of the rotatable substrate holders has a rotation axis Ha positioned at a distance R from the rotation axis Da of the rotatable angle drive. The carousel angle drive provides programmable motion of the substrates being treated relative to a plasma jet generator. The plasma jet generator is movable from a first position Z.sub.1 adjacent to the first carousel to a second position Z.sub.2 adjacent to the second carousel. While the substrates on the first carousel are being treated by the plasma jet, the substrates on the second carousel can be loaded or unloaded.

Abstract: A holder for wafer-like articles is formed by providing a platform having a wafer-like article facing surface that includes at least one annular groove therein. The annular groove has a ceiling surface therein which is provided with an opening. A gas conducting conduit is connected to the opening. A gas, which introduced into the conduit, exits the conduit through the opening. By choosing a particular orientation of the conduit relative to the annular groove, the gas exiting the opening can be caused to circulate in a clockwise or counter clockwise fashion. The circular flow of gas causes the formation of a vortex adjacent to the article facing surface. A wafer-like article may be held in a suspended state adjacent to the wafer-like article facing surface without contact by the vortex and the gas flowing between the wafer-like article and the article facing surface.

Abstract: An object sensing apparatus comprises a distance measuring device for measuring a distance to an object to be sensed, and a filter member having a surface disposed in confronting and spaced-apart relation to the distance measuring device. The distance measuring device has a light projecting element for projecting light toward the object and a light receiving element for receiving the light projected by the light projecting element and reflected by the object. The filter member is disposed at a preselected angle of inclination with respect to the distance measuring device. When the light projecting element projects light toward the object, light reflected or scattered by the surface of the filter member is directed in a direction away from the light receiving element.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for determining the relative angular orientation between an excavator bucket and the dipper stick of an excavator. The excavator bucket is mounted on a bucket linkage that is pivotally secured to the end of the dipper stick. An hydraulic actuator has an hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected to the dipper stick, and a piston pivotally connected to the bucket linkage. Extension or contraction of the hydraulic actuator causes the excavator bucket to be pivoted by the bucket linkage with respect to the dipper stick. A cable extension linear position transducer having a transducer casing, a sheath extending from the casing, and an extensible cable extending from the sheath, provides an electrical output related to the extension of the cable from the sheath. A transducer mounting secures the casing of the cable extension linear position transducer in fixed relationship to the hydraulic cylinder. A clip secures the extensible cable to the piston.

Abstract: A method for forming a critical dimension test mark, and the use of the mark to characterize and monitor imaging performance is provided. Methods in accordance with the present invention encompass an exposure of an essentially standard critical dimension bar at each of two overlapping orientations that are rotated about an axis with respect to each other. The overlapped portion forming a critical dimension test mark that is useful for enabling low cost, rapid determination of sub-micron critical dimensions for characterizing exposure tool imaging performance and in-process performance monitoring using optical measurement systems.

Abstract: A laser transmitter and a method of transmitting a reference laser beam are provided comprising an auto scan dither mode. According to one aspect of the present invention, a laser transmitter is provided comprising a laser detection module, an optical system, and a controller. The laser detection module is operative to produce a reflected laser beam signal. The optical system is arranged to generate a reference laser beam selectively in one of a search mode and a target dither mode and to direct a reflected laser beam to the laser detection module. The optical system defines a rotational axis and the reference beam projects radially from the rotational axis. The search mode is characterized by movement of the reference beam through a rotational arc defined about the rotational axis and the target dither mode is characterized by movement of the reference beam through a dither zone occupying a portion of the rotational arc.