Abstract: A solder-bearing lead (10) is provided with solder flow-control stops (20 and 22) on opposite surfaces of a contact finger (18) closely adjacent a flux-bearing solder preform (12) on the contact finger, to preclude flow of molten solder from the solder preform along the contact finger to a stem (26) of the lead in a soldering operation. The first solder flow-control stop (20) forces the molten solder to flow directly across sides of the contact finger (18) to a contact pad (14), where it is confined by the second solder flow-control stop (22) to form a soldered connection (24) in a reduced time period and without the necessity for any significant supplemental fluxing. Additional solder flow-control stops (38 and 40) also are formed on resilient spring clamping fingers (28) of the lead. The solder flow-control stops (20, 22, 38 and 40) are formed by oxidized portions of a phosphor bronze base metal from which portions of solder-wettable tin coatings (42 and 44) have been removed.

Abstract: A pulse generating circuit includes a first trigger circuit including a resistor (43) and transistors (34 and 42) for applying a current pulse to a resonant circuit (capacitor 31-inductor 32) to produce a sinusoidal output pulse having a predetermined width and amplitude, and a second trigger circuit including a resistor (64) and transistors (34 and 67) for applying current to a resonant circuit (capacitors 31 and 33-inductor 32) to produce a sinusoidal output pulse having a second predetermined width. In another embodiment, an inductor (76) contained in a resonant circuit (inductor 76-capacitor 77) is magnetically coupled to the base of a transistor (79) contained in an operate circuit.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to techniques for proof testing a laminated ceramic capacitor chip (10) by placing the capacitor on a planar base (26) and applying a load thereto in a direction perpendicular to the laminations. The load is applied by a compliant ram (27) and acoustic emissions emanating from the capacitor (10) pass through the ram to a transducer (28) mounted thereon. The acoustic emissions are converted to electrical signals by the transducer (28) and are forwarded to processing circuitry (29) to compare the acoustic emission signals to previously developed signals from stressed physically acceptable capacitors (10) to determine the acceptability thereof.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a thin film semiconductor hybrid circuit is disclosed. After processing of the integrated circuit in the semiconductor wafer up to the point of establishing ohmic contacts (14) to devices (13), a thin film RC circuit is fabricated on an insulating layer (11,12) overlying the wafer. This is accomplished by first forming the capacitor anodes (15') on the insulator by depositing and etching a layer such as alpha tantalum. Resistors (16) are then formed by depositing and etching a layer such as tantalum nitride. Portions of the capacitor anodes are then anodized using an appropriate mask (17) to form the capacitor dielectric. Capacitor counterelectrodes (20') and interconnect conductors (20'") are formed by depositing and etching successive layers of metal such as nickel-chromium and gold. After all thin film components are formed, the resistors and capacitors are stabilized by heating the circuit in an atmosphere comprising high pressure steam.

Abstract: A contaminated solvent is first distilled in a distillation chamber (12) to drive off a substantial portion of the solvent which is condensed and recovered leaving a residual slurry (18) consisting of some solvent and the contaminants. A metering device (21) is cyclically operated to transfer precise amounts of slurry to a second distillation chamber where the slurry is deposited in an annular trough (26) formed in a heat plate (25). A spreader including a number of blades (27) moves the deposited slurry charge along the trough to an exit opening (44). The residual solvent in the slurry charge is vaporized, condensed and fed back into the first chamber (12). The remainder of the charge is exited through the trough opening (44) into a collection barrel (50) which is vented to pass back any solvent vapors to the second distillation chamber.

Abstract: A method of fine-tuning a monolithic crystal filter (11) having a solid electrode (16) on one side of a crystal wafer (13) and a pair of split electrodes (12-1 and 12-2) on an opposite side of the wafer, to define a pair of resonators (19 and 21), involves short-circuiting one of the split electrodes to the solid electrode to produce a filter resonator coupling frequency wave form having first and second peaks (P.sub.A and P.sub.B), the positions of which correspond to upper and lower short circuit resonator resonant frequencies (F.sub.A and F.sub.B), respectively, of the filter. Additional electrode material then is plated on one or the other half of the solid electrode (16) to balance the wave form peaks (P.sub.A and P.sub.B), thus balancing the open circuit resonator resonant frequencies of the filter (11). Additional electrode material then is plated on the entire solid electrode to fine-tune the midband frequency (F.sub.M) of the filter (11) to a final desired value (F.sub. MF).

Abstract: A telephone connecting device which is capable of being mounted either within a wall to present a flush face plate in which is supported a modular jack for receiving a modular plug of a cord connected to station equipment or on an exterior surface of a wall includes a plastic receptacle which includes facilities for terminating a wall cable and for connecting the wall cable to the jack in the face plate. This permits a craftsperson during an initial visit to a home such as during construction to install a receptacle and to connect the wall cable to the terminating facilities within the receptacle. In order to have service, a customer acquires a face plate having a modular jack supported therein, connects conductors that are connected to contact elements of the jack to the terminating facilities and secures the face plate to the receptacle.

Abstract: Several flat cable assembly embodiments (10, 30, 60) are disclosed, as are methods for terminating and connectorizing the terminating ends of ribbon-shaped conductors (13, 33, 34, 63) arranged in at least one laterally disposed array in a flat cable (12, 32, 62). In accordance with all of the flat cable assembly embodiments, terminated insulation-stripped conductor end portions (13a', 33a', 34a', 63a') are twisted angularly a predetermined number of degrees from their initial orientation, as originally confined within the cable, prior to being secured to respectively associated connector mating elements of either the solder type (19, 44), or solderless type (64).

Abstract: A soldering flux comprises a mixture comprising a vehicle which is nonreactive with the portion of an electronic device to be contacted by the flux, an activator having at least one halogen atom and at least one destabilizing constituent and an acid solder surfactant selected from a polybasic carboxylic acid, a hydroxyl substituent thereof, a keto acid and a mixture of any of the foregoing surfactants.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a cable unit (30), which comprises a center portion and a plurality of layers of twisted conductor pairs, the pairs in the center portion and in each layer are oscillated in alternately opposite directions after which the unit is bound and taken up in a stationary container (62) by a system (100) which distributes the unit in a predetermined pattern of varying size convolutions. This distribution, which results in a dense package of a cable unit having a free end that facilitates testing of the unit during takeup, is accomplished while the speed at which the unit is being advanced and distributed into the varying size convolutions is maintained substantially constant.

Abstract: An extrusion system for covering a flexible conductor (14) with a crystalline thermoplastic elastomer insulating material by tubing the plastic onto the conductor includes a core tube (61) which is mounted in an extruder crosshead (41) such that its free end is positioned within the interior of the extruder die (59). The free end of the core tube is spaced from the die opening a predetermined percentage of the land length of the die. In this arrangement, which has been found to be suitable for a crystalline thermoplastic elastomer having a crystallization initiation temperature which is capable of being substantially near to its melting point temperature, the crosshead and the core tube are arranged to provide a streamlined flow path of the insulating material toward the die opening.

Abstract: A boxed and encapsulated rolled metallized film capacitor susceptible to facile machine insertion is fabricated by cyclically advancing a lead frame 32 through a number of stations (36,37) whereat pairs of leads (24,26) of the lead frame are bent downwardly and secured to end electrodes (22,23) formed on the capacitors, and then boxes (29) partially filled with encapsulant are moved over each capacitor secured to a pair of leads. Next, the lead frame is advanced to move each box and capacitor into position to receive additional encapsulant from a nozzle (38) which is projected through a feed hole (34) formed in the lead frame.

Abstract: A weldment bulge (12) joining together two small diameter wire sections (10 and 11) is removed by a hand-held tool (16) having two facing file sections (24 and 34) which are moved back and forth along and about the weldment to abrade away the bulge portion without abrading the wire sections immediately adjacent to the weldment. The tool includes a U-shaped flexible band (16) for moving support blocks (22 and 31) and file sections (24 and 34) toward each other to engage opposite sides of a weldment bulge.

Abstract: The quality of a plasma etching process is improved by applying a DC potential (28') to one of the energizing electrodes (12') in the reaction chamber (11').The DC potential withdraws a small current from the plasma which causes the reaction to produce a uniform, controllable self-bias on the workpiece placed on the opposite (or second) electrode.

Abstract: In order to facilitate the gang-insertion of a plurality of contact elements successively into a plurality of slots in each of a plurality of rows of slots in a plastic housing portion of a contact module of a connector system, an assembly fixture in the form of a block having a generally V-shaped trough formed therethrough is provided. The surfaces which form the V-shaped trough are generally normal to each other with one surface supporting portions of a surface of the plastic portion to which the slots open and the other surface supporting an edge surface of the plastic portion. A stepped surface is formed with each portion of the stepped surface adapted to support a plurality of contact elements at successively greater distances from the surface which provides edge support for the plastic portion and with overhanging portions to provide a passageway for receiving rows of priorly inserted contact elements.

Abstract: In the wire-wrapping of terminals which extend from a terminal block, an operator uses a hand tool which includes a housing having a bit that wraps a wire-like conductor about each terminal, and a handle which allows the tool to be held in a modified prehensile manner. The handle is configured to include a laterally disposed thumb rest which is effective to support the thumb in a relaxed position. The surface of the rest which supports the thumb includes a port which is covered and uncovered repetitively by relatively slight movements of portions of the thumb to control the operation of a fluidic circuit to turn the bit and cause the conductor to be about the terminal. This arrangement results in a substantial reduction in the movement of particular joints of the thumb and of particular muscles which control the movement of the thumb so that worker fatigue is substantially reduced.

Abstract: An electronic device such as an integrated circuit is encapsulated within a silicone resin formulation having a metallo-porphyrin compound contained therein. The compound is cleaved by HCl to form a porphyrin diacid chloride and a free metal having the capability of chelating chloride ions and hydroxyl groups thereby preventing corrosion and anionic attack of metallic circuit elements and development of unwanted conductive pathways.

Abstract: A cable which is capable of being made in a large pair size and yet which has excellent mechanical properties that maintain its integrity notwithstanding extremes in temperature during installation and shipping as well as during the rigors of installation includes a sheath system having a corrugated steel outer shield that is adhesively bonded to a plastic jacket. The corrugated steel shield which is formed to have a longitudinal overlapped seam that is preferably unsealed encloses an aluminum inner shield that in turn encloses a multiconductor core. Advantageously, the sheath system includes a plastic jacketing material which is capable of resisting biaxial stresses which are aggravated in a bonded sheath system. This results in jacket integrity about the longitudinal seam of the outer shield notwithstanding a notched cross-section and an unsupported bridged portion of the plastic jacket adjacent to the seam.

Abstract: The definition of a photographic emulsion of the positive acting type that would normally produce a positive image is improved by normally exposing the emulsion to actinic radiation and developing the photographic emulsion, bleaching it, exposing the emulsion again to actinic radiation and redeveloping it to reverse the image that would normally result on the film.

Abstract: A process for softening high carbon, high chromium steel to render it machinable includes pre-heating, homogenizing, isothermally annealing and slow cooling the steel.