Abstract: An operator interface panel assembly is used with a programmable logic controller. Through the use of a printed wired circuit board, a wide variety of input and output components that must be accessible to an operator can be assembled by the user at the location of the installation rather than at the point of manufacture. The assembly can be easily reconfigured without costly rewiring of the installation. The same switch or pilot light position can accommodate a variety of one and two pole switches without hardware modification.

Abstract: A face plate assembly has a removable decorator insert card which is retained within a face plate housing without screw fasteners. The face plate housing has an elongated slot which opens into a device cavity in which a touch switch is mounted. The decorator insert card is adapted for slidable insertion into and withdrawal out of the device cavity through the housing slot. The face plate assembly is releasably attached to the yoke strap of a wiring device mounted in a wall box by press-fit connectors. In one embodiment, the decorator insert card can be installed and replaced by releasing the face plate housing from the press-fit connector, and inserting or withdrawing the decorator insert card through a hidden housing slot formed in a back plate portion of the housing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a cooling structure of a test head for IC tester capable of effectively cooling ICs mounted on printed boards. The ICs can be cooled by providing a hinge between the printed boards disposed around a pipe, retaining cooling plates having a conduit by the hinge and flowing fluid having a large specific heat such as water into the conduit.

Abstract: A structure of an electronic part which may be mounted on and soldered to the surface of a printed circuit board, and a method of mounting such an electronic part. While the electronic part mounted on the circuit board is operation, heat generated by the part is efficiently radiated to the ambience. Connecting terminals extending out from the electronic part are firmly soldered to the circuit board by a minimum of heat, whereby the bonding strength and the strength against shocks are enhanced. The electronic part of interest and other electronic parts neighboring it are free from damage ascriable to heat when the former has connecting terminals thereof soldered to the circuit board. When the connecting terminals of the electronic part are soldered to the circuit board by a laser beam. Other electronic parts mounted on the circuit board are prevented from being damaged by the laser beam.

Abstract: A housing assembly for supportively housing a circuit board in fixed engagement therewithin. The housing assembly forms a support surface for receiving the circuit board at an unlocked posiiton. Sliding translation of the circuit board is permitted upon the support surface to position the circuit board at a locked position. Translation of the circuit board causes elastic deformation of clamps which exert clamping forces responsive thereto to affix the circuit board in position at the locking position.

Abstract: An interface slot and speaker seat structure for a mother board wherein the structure includes a fixing frame provided with a plurality of spaced left and right trapezoid blocks, with adjacent blocks being provided with corresponding elastic retainers and defining a slot therebetween having elastic elements for securely holding an interface. The fixing frame also includes a speaker seat for holding a speaker, and both positioning hooks and tabs are provided for engaging corresponding slots and holes formed in a computer frame for attaching the fixing frame to the computer frame without requiring fasteners.

Abstract: A modular computer chassis comprises a main chassis to which a motherboard is attached and a subchassis attachable to the main chassis. The subchassis is capable of having at least one computer component attached thereto such that the computer component is electrically connected to the motherboard. The computer component is thus separable from the main chassis by removing the subchassis from the main chassis. The subchassis contains those computer components subject to mechanical wear and most often requiring replacement, i.e. the power supply and disk drives. The subchassis is mechanically connected to the main chassis by using slots and tabs such that when the cover is in place upon the computer, then the subchassis is secured therein. The subchassis and the computer components disposed thereon thus form a module which is conveniently removable and replaceable such that those computer components most frequently requiring service can be quickly removed and replaced by a person unskilled in computer repair.

Abstract: Disclosed is a three-dimensional circuit structure particularly useful in semiconductor memories. The circuit structure consists of a stack of modules mounted on a mother board with connectors between adjacent modules in the stack. The connectors mate with staggered and through terminals on the modules; the staggered terminals being used for circuits routed to destinations on specific modules and the through terminals for circuits routed to destinations on more than one module.

Abstract: A modular cabinet for enclosing a plurality of disk drive canisters. The cabinet includes left and right sides and a center section, each formed of molded structural foam. Each side includes horizontal top and bottom portions which include tongue-like projections for mating with similar features in top and bottom portions of the center section. The sides and center section are secured together through the use of four latching members which cooperate with features molded into the sides. The design of the components permits easy assembly of the cabinet without the use of tools. Horizontal rails molded into the internal surfaces of the sides and both surfaces of the center section form the bays for receiving disk drive canisters.

Abstract: An electronic component mounting board includes a substrate having an electronic component mounting opening formed in an upper surface thereof and a recess provided on a rear surface thereof larger in size than the electronic component mounting opening; a heat radiating plate fixed to the recess by bonding material with a position of an upper surface of that heat radiating plate exposed to the electronic component mounting opening; an exposed depression extending over the substrate and the heat radiating plate at a position where a side wall of the recess and a side wall of the heat radiating plate confront each other and having a part of the bonding material exposed flush with a bottom surface thereof; and a metal plating layer continuously covering in sequence a lower surface of the heat radiating plate, a surface of the exposed depression and a rear surface of the substrate. A method of manufacturing the aforesaid electronic component mounting board is also set forth.

Abstract: An electric circuit apparatus comprises a long and narrow case having two openings at both longitudinal ends thereof, a long and narrow circuit board contained in the case, on which electrical parts are attached and in which an electric circuit connected to the parts is mounted, and a pair of terminal bases mounted at the two openings within the case and each including at least one external connecting terminal externally opened in the longitudinal direction of the case. The terminal bases support both longitudinal ends of the circuit board and have the external connecting terminal connected to the electric circuit of the circuit board. The electrical parts are positioned within the respective height ranges of the terminal bases.

Abstract: A housing includes a pan shaped front cover having a front open wall with a rectangular peripheral flange formed around the front wall and a pan shaped rear cover having a closed end and an open end to connect with the rectangular flange. A plurality of engaging members are formed on the peripheral flange. A pair of elongated plates spaced parallel and apart from one another having a length equal to the length between the front and rear cover. Each of the elongated plates have a front end with an engaging member and a rear end with another engaging member. An elongated recessed groove facing into the interior of the housing extends from the front end to the rear end. An auxiliary plate extends inclinedly from the intermediate of the elongated plate toward the front cover. The free end of the auxiliary plate has an engaging member. The rear ends of the elongated plates are connected by a transverse plate.

Abstract: A portable computer having a cooling system with an intake fan and exhaust openings, one of which is provided with an exhaust fan which is located so that it diverts some of the air-flow to increase the flow of air over the power supply, the fans are activated whenever the temperature in any thermal area rises and the speed of the intake fan increases to meet the challenge of the highest temperature of any one of the thermal areas.

Abstract: A computer interface card mounting device is incorporated in a computer casing of a notebook computer. The computer casing has a first side wall, a second side wall opposite to the first side wall, and a diskette receiving opening formed on the first side wall. The mounting device has an elongated loop flange extending inward from the second side wall, directly opposite to the diskette receiving opening, and having one side with a threaded opening. The computer interface card has a mounting panel, one end of which is to be mounted on the flange at the threaded opening. The second side wall has a longitudinally extending elongated opening surrounded by the flange for accessing electrical connectors provided on the mounting panel.

Abstract: A semiconductor circuit assembly composed of: a semiconductor device including at least one semiconductor element, battery lead terminals which are connected to the element, and a molded resin body encapsulating the element and the lead terminals and having at least one main exterior surface; and a battery unit mounted on the exterior surface of the semiconductor device, the battery unit having battery leads connected to the lead terminals and a battery holder for releasably holding a battery in electrical contact with the leads.

Abstract: For use as a substrate for a heat generating microelectronic integrated circuit, a ceramic panel is provided having small thickness in comparison to its length and breadth, having on at least the surface opposite the one bearing the microelectronic integrated circuit, a layer of heat conductive metal and having a plurality of closely spaced, small cross section extensions of the heat conductive metal layer extending into the ceramic material to a depth of at least about one fifth of its thickness. The substrate is particularly useful for the mounting of hybrid microelectronic circuits to improve the heat dissipation capability of the ceramic substrate.

Abstract: An onboard package for fixing a portable telephone unit within the passenger compartment of an automobile including a lower tray which is fixed within the passanger compartment, and an upper cover engaged to the lower tray so that the upper cover is operable and closable. Guides for fixing the portable telephone unit are disposed in the lower tray. A slide section for supporting an antenna cable connector is provided in the lower tray. This connector is located at a position facing a connector corresponding thereto on the telephone unit. Further, the slide section is movable in a direction in which the connector is inserted and removed. The upper cover is secured to the slide section with arms engaged with the slide section. The arms are moved in association with the opening and closing operations of the upper cover so as to move the slide section in the above-mentioned direction, whereby the connector is inserted and removed.

Abstract: Electrical equipment which is configurable to operate in a number of modes includes an enclosure, a transparent window in the enclosure through which may be viewed a connector which configures the equipment in a selected mode so enabling a user to determine the mode.

Abstract: A method for arranging components to be mounted on circuit packs to achieve improved cooling is disclosed. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, components are arranged such that the longer dimension of each component is substantially parallel to the flow of a heat carrier as it streams from an inlet to an outlet. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, those components having larger aspect ratios are substantially placed near the outlet via which the heat carrier is removed.

Abstract: A cooling system for cooling electronic components mounted in a cabinet of a computer includes an air circulation device mounted in the cabinet. The air circulation device draws cool, outside air through an air inlet in the cabinet and circulates the cool air over the electronic components. After passing over the electronic components, the air is drawn into an inlet of the fan and exhausted into a diffuser. The diffuser interconnects an outlet in the fan to an air outlet in the cabinet. The diffuser is of increasing cross sectional area and converts dynamic pressure of the air leaving the fan to static pressure. A plurality of air direction vanes are mounted in the air outlet in the cabinet which impart a velocity vector to the hot exhausting air in a direction away from the air inlet in the cabinet.