Abstract: A bandolier splice assembly 10 includes at least two bandoliers 20 connected by a splice member 30. Each bandolier 20 includes a bandolier strip with electrical contacts 20 secured at regular intervals by retaining sections 23. The splice member 30 is inserted into the trailing end of a first bandolier and into the leading edge of a second bandolier so that the electrical contacts 24 can be continuously fed to an assembly machine or operating station without any down time for changing bandoliers 20. The flat splice member 30 includes resilient legs 33 separated from the remaining body of the splice member 30 by slots. Each leg 33 includes a tooth 37 with inclined camming surface 38 for deflecting the flexible leg 33 and a gripping surface 39 to engage endmost retaining sections 23. A splice stop member 36 positions the two bandoliers 20 relative to each other so that the electrical contacts continue to spaced on the same regular intervals for sequential input to an operational station or machine.

Abstract: The described invention is directed to microwave methods for burning-in, electrical stressing, thermal stressing and reducing rectifying junction leakage current in fully processed semiconductor chips individually and at wafer level, as well as burning in and stressing semiconductor chip packaging substrates and the combination of a semiconductor chip mounted onto a semiconductor chip packaging substrate. Microwaves burn-in devices in a substantially shorter period of time than conventional burn-in techniques and avoid the need for special workpiece holders which are required by conventional stress and burn-in techniques. Additionally, microwave methods are described for reducing the leakage current of recitfying junctions, such as PN junctions and Schottky barrier diode junctions of semiconductor devices on fully processed semiconductor chips and wafers.

Abstract: Apparatus for orienting articles having a coding feature comprising an inclined article-receiving track into which extends a trip aligned with the path of the coding feature in one orientation of a leading end of the article and arranged to cause pivotal movement of the article in one direction thereby to invert the article to change the orientation of the leading end article. The track may have first and second parts one above the other and inclined in mutually opposite directions with an exit end of the first track part being spaced from the entry end of the second track part by a gateway, the trip comprising a rotating wheel in the gateway.