Abstract: A hybrid integrated circuit (121) is coupled to an adapter circuit (151) to facilitate trimming of film resistors (126, 127, 128 and 129) formed on the hybrid circuit. The adapter circuit (151) includes a plurality of safety resistors (156, 157 and 158) which are to be selectively added in series with the film resistor (126) to be trimmed. A computer (145) facilitates the measurement of (1) the resistance of the untrimmed film resistor (126) and (2) the gain of the hybrid circuit (121). Depending upon the measured gain, the safety resistors (156, 157 and 158) are selectively added in series with the film resistor (126) to establish a basic resistance value. Thereafter, the film resistor (126) is trimmed by a laser (144) until the resistance value of the film resistor (126) is equal to the basic resistance value. Other safety resistors are used during the trimming of the remaining resistors (127, 128 and 129).

Abstract: Several flat cable embodiments (10, 10', 10", 10'", 10"") are disclosed, as are methods and apparatus (30) for the selective manufacture and connectorization of same. In accordance with one preferred flat cable embodiment (10), adapted for telephone under carpet applications, two precisely offset arrays of rectangularly shaped conductors (13, 14) are separated by a center film (16), with each array being adhesively bonded through an associated adhesive coating (21 or 22) to only the respectively adjacent one of two outer films (18 or 19).

Abstract: A technique for elevating the temperature of a heat transfer liquid is disclosed. The liquid, at a low temperature (e.g., 70.degree. F.), is directed through a coil (72) located in the upper portion of an enclosed chamber (71). Condensing, hot vapor on the coils (72) heats the liquid (e.g., 200.degree. F.) passing therethrough. The heated liquid from the coil (72) passes, via a conduit (73) into a reservoir in the lower portion of the chamber (71) where immersion heaters (76-76) heat the liquid (e.g., 400.degree. F.) to the desired temperature. The heated liquid is then discharged from the chamber (71) via an outlet pipe (74). Advantageously, the vapor from the heated liquid in the reservoir is the same vapor which condenses on the coils (72).

Abstract: The magnetic intensity in a succession of strips (12) in an article (10) is measured by producing relative motion between the article (10) and a magnetic sensing head (23) to produce a succession of first voltage waveforms. Each such waveform has a shape substantially characterized by the positions of the poles (13 and 14) in a respective strip (12). Each incremental portion of the shape has an amplitude proportional to the magnetic intensity sensed along the surface of the strip (12) and to the instantaneous speed of the relative motion between the sensing head (23) and such surface. By coupling a generator (31) to the article (10), a second voltage waveform is produced having a shape for each strip, wherein each incremental portion has an amplitude proportional to an instantaneous speed equivalent to the speed producing the first voltage waveform for the respective strip (12).

Abstract: A method of making solder spheres having non-oxidized surfaces by introducing solder into a flux composition comprising an activator and an antioxidant. Molten solder (12) is extruded into a flux composition (24) maintained at ambient temperature or solder powder (40) is sifted into hot flux (46) and then cooled.

Abstract: In terminating a ribbon which comprises an array of lightguide fibers, a substrate having a plurality of parallel grooves is positioned in a nest and supported at its end portions after which an end portion of the ribbon is moved longitudinally to cause the fibers to be separated by a comb-like device adjacent one end of the nest after which the ribbon is secured with a clamp adjacent the other end of the nest. Another substrate having aligned grooves is placed over the fibers so that the fibers are held in channels formed by the opposing grooves after which the assembly of substrates and fibers are secured together with a temporary clamp which applies compressive forces to end portions of the assembly along a longitudinal centerline of the assembly. Then a vise which includes jaws having parallel surfaces for engaging the substrate is moved toward the assembly to position a lower jaw under the lower substrate and an upper jaw above the upper substrate.

Abstract: A telephone cord includes a length of cordage having each end terminated with a modular plug with the plug at one end disposed within a specially designed, easily identifiable cavity of a unipartite housing of a coupler jack of this invention. The coupler jack also includes a conventional plug-receiving cavity and a plurality of wire-like contact elements having retroflexed end portions which are positioned in the cavities to engage terminals of inserted plugs. The plug that is disposed within the specially designed cavity is held in such a manner that its disconnection from the coupler jack is encumbered to prevent withdrawal without the use of a mechanical expedient. Forces must be applied to a tab of the plug in a particular manner to cause the tab to assume an essentially linear rather than a conventional arched configuration which occurs when the free end of the tab is depressed.

Abstract: A self-supporting aerial cable includes an undulated core enclosed in an aluminum, inner shield, a plastic inner jacket enclosed in a steel, outer shield having an unjoined longitudinal overlapped seam, and a plastic outer jacket. The outer plastic jacket includes a first portion which encloses the steel shield and a second portion which encloses a steel support strand that extends longitudinally but which is spaced from the first portion, said first and second portions of the outer jacket being connected by a web. The unjoined seam of the outer shield allows forces which are imparted to the steel shield by its formation to be transferred to the inner jacket and the inner shield which causes the inner shield to engage portions of the core to maintain the core coextensive with the inner and the outer jackets.

Abstract: A hydrostatic extrusion die includes a nose-cone section (21) of a high toughness tool steel and a mating rear section (22) of a high compressive strength material such as carbide. During extrusion, inwardly directed radial forces (F.sub.r ') are developed in the rear section which exactly compensates for the outwardly directed radial forces (F.sub.o) developed at the throat of the die.

Abstract: A filter (21) for removing flux from a hot heat transfer liquid-flux mixture. The heat transfers liquid-flux mixture is directed into a chamber (41) having a plurality of spaced, hollow members (64--64) through which a coolant passes. Upon being cooled the flux deposits on the surface of the members (64--64). The liquid, with substantial portions of the flux removed therefrom, then leaves the filter (21).

Abstract: A breakaway registration pin (11, FIG. 2) comprises two sections, a first section (21) embedded in a glass art master (10) and a second section (22) bonded by a bonding agent to a top face (33) of the embedded first section (21). The bonding agent has a strength substantially less than the strength of the glass such that the registration pin (11) will break before the glass in art master (10) cracks when a force is applied to second section (22).

Abstract: A thick solder blob (56) is bonded to a land area 34 on a metallized substrate (31) by (a) depositing a thick layer of solder paste on the land area; (b) confining the solder paste with a hard material; and (c) reflowing the solder paste to bond the solder blob (56) to the land area (34) while maintaining the thickness thereof.

Abstract: A pair of opposite surfaces (17 and 18) of shaped, digitated edge features (12) of a metal strip (11) are selectively treated in an electrolytic treating cell (32) while adjacent edge surfaces (22 and 23) of such features are shielded from exposure to the treatment. The desired treatment, such as a gold plating process, is accomplished on two opposite, outwardly facing surfaces of a strip of center carried pins by engaging the strip with lateral masking belts having complementary edge features. The strip and the masking belts are passed through a treating cell between paired off electrodes (40 and 41). An electric field between each electrode and the respective, adjacent surface of the strip (11) accomplishes the treatment. Slotted openings through the masking belts relieve pressure differentials in the electrolyte on either side of the strip to minimize fluid flow through gaps between the digitated strip and the masking belts.

Abstract: A connector housing (10) with projecting terminal pins (11) is moved through a set of blades (41-45) which act to align the columns of terminal pins. At an assembly area (38), a group of aligning pins (111) are advanced through openings in the blades to align the rows of terminal pins (11). A jaw device (62) advances an apertured block (13) into the position above the terminal pins, whereafter a pusher (103) advances an apertured retainer card (24) onto the block (13). A multi-fingered insertion tool (121) is moved to push the retainer card (24) and the block (13) onto the coordinately aligned terminal pins.

Abstract: A method of bonding microelectronic components (10, 23, 24) is disclosed. A light emitting diode (10) is bonded to a conductive lead (24) and/or a portion of a lead frame (23) using an adhesive having no metallic particles therein. The diode (10) is clamped to the conductive lead (24) and/or the lead frame (23) as the epoxy is cured. Such bonds have been found to exhibit low contact resistance in addition to long life and reliability.

Abstract: A retractile telephone cord of this invention has a retractility which decreases substantially linearly from each end to a center of its length and an extensibility which increases substantially linearly from each end to a center of its length. The cordage includes a plurality of conductors which are individually insulated with a first plastic material and which are disposed in a planar array, and a jacket of a second plastic material which encloses the array. The jacket is formed about the array to provide a cross-section transversely of the cordage which includes at least one side that is parallel to the array. In making the retractile cord, a length of the cordage is wound helically about a mandrel with the one side of the cross-section of the cord being in engagement with the mandrel.

Abstract: A method of forming a flexible printed wiring board having a metal substrate includes the steps of etching through-holes in the metal substrate by means of an etch resistant ferro electric mask placed over the substrate and employing a viscous sealant such as polyethylene or polypropylene glycol between the mask and the substrate. The mask is held to the substrate with the sealant therebetween by means of a magnetic field. The substrate is then treated with a ferric chloride etch solution to etch away the desired through-holes in the metal substrate. Thereafter, the substrate may be coated with a polymeric coated by means of fluidized bed or electrostatic coating techniques as taught in the prior art.

Abstract: A telephone station adapter includes a well-known ribbon-type connector having a modular jack at one end and supported from a hood which covers the connector and the jack. Because of testing procedures and because of the need to rearrange connections of conductors to contact elements of the ribbon-type connector, it becomes necessary to remove the hood without damaging it. This is accomplished with the tool of this invention in which the connector is supported in such a way that relative motion may be caused between it and a hood-removal portion of the tool. The hood-removal portion of the tool includes a portion which cams apart end sidewalls of the hood to disengage detents thereof from a body of the connector. The tool also includes a separating portion which causes the hood to be moved away from the connector once it has been disengaged and a prong which is moved into a cavity of the jack to hold the connector in engagement with a supporting surface while the hood is being removed.

Abstract: A method for preserving the solderability of copper conductors comprises stabilizing a cleaned, mildly etched conductor surface with a phosphoric acid-glycol solution then immersing the surface in imidazole followed by a rinse to remove excess imidazole.

Abstract: A telephone cord which is particularly suited for use with some models of decorative telephones includes a plurality of individually insulated conductors, a plastic jacket which encloses the plurality of individually insulated conductors, and a braid which encloses the plastic jacket. While the braid is comprised of a woven band of cloth of a natural material or a synthetic material, in a preferred embodiment it is made of cotton which is dyed to a color which is compatible with that of portions of the decorative telephone. An end portion of the cord which is terminated with a modular plug that is capable of being inserted into a jack in the telephone is treated to cause the braid to be bonded to the plastic jacket so that when the jacket is removed to expose the conductors for purposes of plug termination, the braid will not fray.