Abstract: A method of uniformly coating an optical waveguide fiber 10 comprises the steps of suspending an elongated glassy optical fiber preform 11 in an upright orientation from a preform holder that includes a collet 14 to which an x-y translator 15 is coupled, heating the preform, and drawing fiber from the bottom of the heated preform. The drawn fiber is passed through a tubular coating applicator 32 located beneath the preform, and the position of the fiber is sensed as it is being drawn. In response to sensed deviations in fiber position from along a preselected path that extends through the tubular coating applicator along the applicator axis, the preform is repositioned by horizontal movement of the preform holder so as to return the drawn fiber to the preselected path and thereby maintain its travel through the coating applicator substantially along the applicator axis.

Abstract: Fabricating thin film RC networks (10) includes forming alpha tantalum capacitor base electrodes (14be) on a substrate (12), while simultaneously forming alpha tantalum anodization bus bars (14p and 14s) on the substrate. A portion of each base electrode (14be) then is anodized to form a capacitor dielectric (20) in a single anodizing step. A tantalum nitride resistor film (24) and electrically conductive films (26 and 28) then are deposited on the resultant assembly. Next, portions of the electrically conductive films are removed to define portions of capacitor counterelectrodes (22), to expose sections of the tantalum nitride resistor film (24) destined for use as resistors (24r). and to define conductor networks (30). Portions of the tantalum nitride resistor film (24) then are removed to define capacitor counterelectrode portions (24ce) and the resistors (24r), while simultaneously removing the anodization bus bars (14p and 14s). The resultant networks (10) then are thermally stabilized.

Abstract: Paramagnetic articles such as a stem (14) and an armature (17) are placed into mutual coextensive alignment with a gap (19) of a predetermined width between adjacent portions of such articles. To repetitively establish the predetermined gap between successive groups of such articles, a first of such articles is guided tangentially into a magnetic field. A resulting force on such article (14) draws the article against a first stop surface. The article becomes magnetically polarized, such that when the second article, such as the armature (17) is guided into coextensive alignment with the first article, the second article becomes attracted to the first article to be drawn against a stop surface opposite to and spaced from the first stop surface by a dimension equal to the predetermined gap width.

Abstract: A telecommunication cable, and method of making same, is disclosed comprised of more than five S-Z twisted wire pairs having their twist reversals longitudinally staggered in a repetitive sequence of 1 to N longitudinally spaced positions. The wire pairs are bundled with any adjacent pairs having their twist reversals non-overlapped and staggered by no more than N/2 positions which limits S to Z coupling.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the temperature of a moving elongated article is disclosed wherein radiant heat is sensed eminating from the focal axis or point of a parabolic or paraboloidal reflector beside which the article moves. An application of such is also disclosed wherein the temperature of a wire sensed in this manner is used in regulating an annealer.

Abstract: A safety scaffold includes a platform (21) for supporting a workman while using jack hammer to remove encrustations (13) from a furnace wall (14). A pair of lanyards (29 and 31) are secured at first ends to a restraint worn by the workman, and at the opposite ends to a trolley (28) riding on a guide rail (27) so as to restrict movement of the workman toward an opening (23) in the platform. A duct system (24) is mounted beneath the platform (21) to exhaust fumes emanating from the furnace (11).

Abstract: A technique for identifying and measuring a first surface area and apparatus for aiding such identification are disclosed. Each incremental portion of said first surface area and at least adjacent portions of surrounding surface areas are illuminated with diffuse light incident through a predetermined sectorial angle related to an anticipated waviness of the surface areas. The first surface area so illuminated is then measured by opto-electronic measuring techniques whereby measuring errors caused by shadow effects due to waviness in the surfaces are minimized by substantially uniform light dispersion within the sectorial angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to the formation of a substantially circular metallic shield (37) about a cable core (32) by wrapping a metallic tape (64) longitudinally about the core with longitudinal edge portions of the tape being overlapped by a forming key (100) to provide a closed seam (38). As the seam is formed, an underlying longitudinal edge portion (48) of the shield is supported while an overlying longitudinal edge portion (45) at the overlap is directed inwardly toward the cable core to preclude its protrusion into a jacket (39) which is subsequently extruded over the shielded cable core. A relatively thin strip (145) of metal attached to an inner surface of the forming key assures formation of the seam before juxtaposing the longitudinal edge portions and the core, and avoids penetration of a priorly formed inner shield by the longitudinal edge of the outer shield to prevent rotation of the inner shield and undesirable alignment of the shield seams.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for trimming an elongated article are disclosed by which the article is notched at longitudinally spaced locations and material spanning adjacent notches trimmed from the article as discrete strips.

Abstract: An apparatus 10 for growing single crystal semiconductor compounds by the gradient freeze method includes means 40 for reducing radiant heat flow while enhancing axial heat flow in the region of a seed crystal 39 so as to give rise to an inverted solid-liquid interface shape 36 and a desired temperature profile.

Abstract: A flux filtration system (10) for removing rosin flux from a heat transfer liquid (14). The flux and heat transfer liquid (14) on an article (17) that has been condensation soldered is drained into a pan (13) located within a condensation soldering facility (11). The pan (13) diverts the liquid-flux mixture from a boiling reservoir of the liquid (14) in the lower portion of the facility (11). The liquid-flux mixture drained during a plurality of batch soldering operations is accumulated in a coarse flux filter (21). Periodically the filter (21) outpulses the coarsely filtered material sequentially through a heat exchanger (23), a fine flux filter (24), a preheater (28) and is then returned to the reservoir in the facility (11).

Abstract: A n-bit parallel output port of a programmable controller (22) is coupled to a bit expansion circuit (24). A plurality of channel-select bits are decoded by a multiplexer board (26) to select and enable any one of sixteen output channels. A plurality of line-select bits are fed to a memory section (28) to facilitate the selection of any one of a plurality of output lines associated with the enabled channel. The selected output line remains latched in their most recent output state when the selected channel is disabled by the controller (22).

Abstract: Contact pads (18) of a device (12) are adapted for bonding components such as contacts of a circuit assembly thereto. At least two of the pads (18) are interconnected with a member (34) containing bonding material. Portions of the member (34) lying adjacent the pads (18) are then removed to form isolated bodies (42) containing bonding material on the pads (18). The member (37) may be of a composite structure containing bonding material associated with a hard element (61). The bodies (42) formed therefrom contain a hard element portion (62) having dimensions which remain substantially unchanged to define a desired minimum distance between respective pads (18) and contacts when they are bonded together.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an oxy-hydrogen torch (10) comprised of a nozzle plate (16) captured between first and second outer members (12 and 14). Each outer member has a plenum (18) which open towards, and is separated by, the plate (16). The nozzle plate (16) has a plurality of spaced grooves (32--32) in one major surface (34) which are arranged in an interleaved relationship with the spaced grooves (36--36) on the opposite surface (38). The grooves (32 and 36) extend from an edge of the plate (16) to the respective plenums (18--18) in the outer members (12 and 14). Oxygen is directed into one plenum (18) and hydrogen urged into the other plenum. The gases pass through the respective grooves (32 and 36) to the surface (46) of the torch (10) for surface mixing and ignition.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for removing an end cap from a telecommunications cable wherein a circumferential incision and a plurality of longitudinal incisions are made with a wire in segmenting the cap.

Abstract: An electronic device (10) is attached to a carrier tape (20) by a cluster (22) of leads (12) which are closely spaced relative to each other. The device (10) is detached from tape (20) along with the leads (12) and tape members (28) interconnecting such leads (12) for maintaining the spacings therebetween. The leads (12) are formed with a given configuration while the members (28) are still attached. Such members (28) are then trimmed from the leads (12) to electrically isolate such leads (12) while still maintaining the desired spacings therebetween.

Abstract: A plurality of pins (20) are supported and held within a pin supporting shuttle (54) by wedging the shank portion (24) of each of the pins between a respective one of a plurality of spaced parallel channels (58) and a ramp (62). The shuttle (54) is then moved to place a free end of each of the pins (20) in a gripped position within an insertion apparatus (55). The shuttle (54) is manipulated so that the shank portion (24) is allowed to return to a normal axis of each respective pin (20). The shuttle (54) is then removed from about the pins (20).

Abstract: A second-incoming call appears at an attendant facility (34) within a PBX system (20) while the attendant is awaiting a response on a first-incoming call. The attendant activates an overlap button (35) to facilitate the conversion of the first-incoming call into a listen-only connection. The attendant then establishes a two-way connection between the attendant and the second-incoming call to be served by the PBX system (20). Thereafter, the attendant monitors the first-incoming call on a listen-only basis while simultaneously serving the second-incoming call associated with the two-way connection.

Abstract: A predetermined sequence of multifrequency signals are fed to a multifrequency dialing board (24) and are separated into their component signals by high and low filter circuits (50 and 52). The component signals are converted into (1) square wave signals by zero crossing detectors (54 and 56) and (2) d.c. signals having amplitudes proportional to their respective frequencies by converters (72 and 74). The d.c. signals are then converted by analog-to-digital converters (80 and 82) into digital signals having values equivalent to the amplitude of the d.c. signals. A microprocessor circuit (60) monitors the digital signals to determine the amplitude of the signals. The microprocessor circuit (60) determines the frequency of the component signals by monitoring the time required for eight cycles of the respective square wave signals.