Abstract: An electronic control system (9) controls the movement of a distributer (19) as the distributor guides strand (11) alternately onto reels (12 and 13). Digital signals are generated representing the instantaneous position of the distributor (19) and end-points of travel of the distributor. A controller (38) generates a signal when a coincidence of the instantaneous position of the distributor (19) and alternate ones of the end-points of travel of the distributor occur. The signal is used to reverse the direction of travel of the distributor (19) thus resulting in a uniform distribution of the strand (11) onto the reels (12 and 13). As each of the reels (12 and 13) become full, a signal is generated which causes the distributor (19) to proceed at a high rate of speed toward the back flange of the reel regardless of the direction of travel at that time. This facilitates the cutover of the strand (11) from a full reel to an empty reel.

Abstract: Hermetically sealed electronic articles (11) such as, for example, diodes are leak tested by exposing the articles to a fluid (28) under pressure. The fluid is capable of altering the electrical characteristics of the articles to a value outside of an acceptable range of values upon penetrating through faulty hermetic seals of the articles (11). After such exposure the articles (11) are routinely tested and the articles with values of their characteristics outside the range of acceptable values are identified or discarded. Ethylene glycol is an example of a preferred fluid (28) in that it has conductive properties which significantly increase the reverse bias leakage current of the diodes.

Abstract: A gas tube surge protector (11) includes a housing (12) and spaced electrodes (14 and 16) which form a gastight envelope (27). A width of a gap (31) between the electrodes is precisely established by urging at last one of the electrodes (14) toward the other. By moving a plunger (66) a stressed center (43) plastically yields to establish the desired gap width. The gap width is controlled by a test set (76) which measures the electrical characteristics of the surge protector.

Abstract: A mask for selectively transmitting therethrough a desired light radiant energy is disclosed. The mask comprises a stress-relieved, essentially dimensionally stable base, comprising a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and hexafluoropropylene, which is capable of transmitting therethrough the light radiant energy. A blocking film is deposited on at least a portion of the base for blocking the transmission of the light radiant energy through the portion of the base.

Abstract: An RF-excited radial-flow, cylindrical plasma reactor (10) includes a toroidal waveguide (17) of rectangular cross-section connected to a microwave source (21). One of the reactive species (37) is flowed through the waveguide and pre-ionized, thus, permitting independent control over the activation of both reactive species.

Abstract: An article (11) which has a body portion (12) and lateral protrusions (14) at fixed angular positions is oriented and centered with respect to predetermined axes. Sloped walls (61) of a plurality of channels (62) located about a central axis (24) engage lateral edges of the protrusions to urge the protrusions laterally toward desirable positions in relationship to the axes. The disclosed methods and apparatus are advantageously applied to a four-leaded electronic chip as a typical example of the article with respect to which orienting and centering offers desirable precision for handling such article during packaging operations.

Abstract: A method of selectively depositing a metal on a surface of a substrate is disclosed. A suitable substrate is selected and a surface is treated with a reducing agent selected from the group consisting of (a) hydrazine, (b) a substituted hydrazine having the structural formula ##STR1## where R.sub.1 is an organic radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy and heterocyclic radicals and R.sub.2, R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are the hydrogen radical or are the same as R.sub.1, and (c) a mixture of the foregoing. The reducing agent treated surface is selectively exposed to a source of ultraviolet radiation to render a selected area thereof incapable of reducing an activating metal species and to delineate an unexposed area so capable. The selectively radiation-exposed surface is treated with an activating metal species to activate the delineated, unexposed area.

Abstract: A filter assembly for an extrusion apparatus comprises a stationary filter having a flat, hard surface and slidable means having a plurality of apertures for both accumulating filtered debris and cleaning the filter surface when the debris is removed by sliding a clogged slide aperture out of position while replacing it with a clean aperture.

Abstract: In a dynamic MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) random access memory, reverse bias leakage currents which deplete stored charges are reduced by minimizing minority carrier generation-type currents. By so minimizing these currents, the leakage currents become dominated by minority carrier diffusion currents. The memory is ideally formed in an upper semiconductor layer (14) of a layered structure (11). The semiconductor layer (14) is grown epitaxially with a relatively low dopant concentration on a semiconductor substrate (12) with a dopant concentration of the same conductivity type and about three orders of magnitude greater than that of the epitaxially grown layer. The epitaxially grown structure is advantageously suited for the memory circuits in that it may be formed with very low leakage currents. The material further offers by its layered structure a basis for optimizing dynamic memory device characteristics.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a body having a plurality of conductors is disclosed. The method comprises forming a dielectric base which has a plurality of extensions projecting therefrom, the extensions corresponding to the desired plurality of conductors. A conductive path is then formed on each of the extensions.

Abstract: A thermal gradient zone melting technique is provided for eliminating distortion of the migrated metal pattern by including a peripheral ring of the metal adjacent the edge of the semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: The position of an armature 22 located within a sealed glass envelope 12 of a sealed contact switch 11 is adjusted to meet a gap width requirement between the armature and an electrical contact 23. The glass envelope 12 is placed into a holer 48 adjacent a magnetic pole face of a magnetizing apparatus. The holder 48 supports the envelope in a position wherein the armature 22 becomes oriented perpendicular to a magnetic force field and the path of movement of the armature in closing or opening the contact extends in the same direction as that of the field. Under the influence of the applied magnetic field, the armature 22 is yieldably pulled beyond its normal path of movement toward the pole face. When the envelope is removed from the field, the armature remains in an adjusted rest position within the envelope, different from its initial rest position. The adjustment of the armature is useful in the manufacture of mercury-wetted sealed contact switches.

Abstract: An incandescent lamp has a coiled filament with an improved life when it is mounted substantially in the same direction in which a mechanical shock occurs. In a particular embodiment of a miniature lamp known as a switchboard lamp, the filament is mounted, without further support, between two posts. This results in a greater light effectiveness that permits a current reduction through the filament while maintaining desired light output levels in its operational environment. The filament is protected from harmful shock levels by being mounted between twisted posts which orient the filament in the general direction of a mechanical shock imparted to the lamp through key telephone button releases.

Abstract: An article, such as a light-emitting diode, for replacing a slide base switchboard lamp has polar characteristics. The article has a light emitting cap located at one end and a cylindrical slide base with two contacts located diametrically across the base extending from the emitter. Handling the articles for testing their light intensity and hue characteristics involves orienting them. The articles are first oriented longitudinally in a vertical direction and to face the emitter all in the same direction. The articles are then conveyed in sequence to a test station. An eccentric force is applied to the base through friction between the moving articles and a stationary ledge. The applied force rotates the articles into one or the other of two oriented positions in which the contacts on the base become located in a plane perpendicular to the direction of their conveyance. A preliminary test determines which of the two positions have been assumed by each article.

Abstract: An annular groove (35) is located in an outer surface of an inner toroid (31), and is partly covered by an inner surface of an outer toroid (32). Alternatively, an annular groove (25) is located in an inner surface of an outer toroid (22), and is partly covered by an outer surface of an inner toroid (21). As the toroids are rotated together about different, intersecting axes, an elongated workpiece (W) is introduced into an open portion of the annular groove, advances into the closed portion of the annular groove, and is extruded through a die (48) upon again approaching the open portion of the annular groove, thereby forming an elongated product (P).

Abstract: Solderable leads (22) of the type which project in parallel relationship from a continuous independent support rail (30) are rapidly and efficiently assembled to substrates (26) by simultaneously feeding a pair of the independent support rails (30) and their associated leads (22) to locate successive leading sets of leads (22) on opposite sides of a lead-substrate assembling position (36). In the assembling position outer portions of the leading sets of leads (22) are engaged to move the leads (22) in opposite directions toward a substrate (26), so as to cut the support rails (30) and thus sever the leading sets of leads (22) from the remaining leads (22) on the support rails (30). Continued movement of the severed sets of leads (22) then causes the leads (22) to be assembled to respective opposite sides of the substrate (26) simultaneously.

Abstract: The diameter of an optical fiber is continuously measured by directing a laser beam at the fiber to form a light intensity fringe pattern. The pattern is converted to a substantially sinusoidal electrical signal having a period proportional to the fiber diameter. The sinusoidal signal is forwarded to a tapped delay line to form a plurality of delayed replicas thereof having a predetermined delay therebetween. A pulse is generated for each zero crossing of all the sinusoidal signals and the pulses interleaved to form an output train having an interpulse interval proportional to a fraction of the fiber diameter.

Abstract: The invention relates to the monitoring of the filling effectiveness during the filling operation of a waterproof or filled telecommunications cable on a manufacturing line, and includes measuring the capacitance change per unit length of an outer pair of insulated conductors in the cable, measuring the capacitance change per unit length of an inner pair of insulated conductors in the cable, determining any deviations in the measured capacitance changes and utilizing such deviations by feedback control to eliminate further deviation, as well as determining the point of deviation along the cable length.

Abstract: In certain manufacturing operations materials are deposited onto semiconductor wafers. For example, in liquid-phase epitaxial melt deposition, wafers are exposed to a melt having constituents identical to the wafer material. In the past this has been accomplished by individually sliding the wafers into the melt and/or sliding portions of melt onto the wafers. This sliding creates a high amount of friction which in turns generates particles which can contaminate the melt. Also, this friction limits the number of wafers that can be simultaneously processed by sliding techniques. To avoid this a movable melt reservoir 62 is located above stacked stationary wafers 44. Prior to deposition, the melt 68 in the reservoir is separated from the wafers 44 by offsetting an aperture 64 in the bottom of the reservoir 62 from a passageway 58 leading to the wafers 44.

Abstract: .[.Article.]. .Iadd.An article .Iaddend.to be soldered, fused or brazed is placed in hot saturated vapors generated by continuously boiling .Iadd.a .Iaddend.heat transfer liquid having selected properties including .Iadd.a .Iaddend.boiling point at least equal to, and preferably above, .Iadd.the .Iaddend.temperature required for .Iadd.such .Iaddend.operation. Vapors condense on .Iadd.the .Iaddend.article and give up latent heat of vaporization to heat .Iadd.the .Iaddend.article to .Iadd.the .Iaddend.temperature for soldering, fusing or brazing. .[.Heat.]. .Iadd.The heat .Iaddend.transfer liquid may be a fluorocarbon. Apparatus is shown for soldering, fusing or brazing a single article, a batch of articles, or a continuously moving line of articles. Specifically, mass reflow soldering and mass wave soldering operations are described. .Iadd.