Abstract: A control apparatus and method for progressively fracturing a work piece from a material sheet in a mechanical press in which the separation distance between an upper die and a lower die is varied in discrete steps as an upper platen advances the upper die toward the lower die, each discrete step occurring within the thickness of the material being stamped. Varying the separation distance includes a motion opposite to the relative direction movement of the upper platen at one or more predetermined distances to create a controlled release of stored forces in the dies and press frame. A distance measuring transducer generates an output indicative of the position of the upper die in relation to the lower die.

Abstract: A process for forming a multi-layer integrated circuit utilizes a rigid substrate covered by a dissolvable material layer, which is in turn coated by a protective material layer. Electrically conductive posts and a semiconductive material layer are then sequentially formed on the protective material layer. An integrated circuit is formed in the top surface of the semiconductive material layer. Upper conductive pads are formed on exposed ends of the conductive posts. The substrate, dissolvable material layer and protective material layer support each thin integrated circuit layer during fabrication and are removed to enable the integrated circuits to be interconnected into a stack via the conductive posts and pads. In another embodiment, the rigid substrate is formed of a dissolvable material layer which is in turn coated by a protective, insulating layer.

Abstract: An integrated bus structure forms a multi-bit, parallel electrical signal bus between a plurality of integrated circuit dies. In one embodiment, the integrated circuit dies are disposed in a spaced, parallel arrangement and have terminal pads mounted at peripheral edges thereof and disposed in a predetermined positional and functional relationship. Electrical conductors interconnect the same positionally arranged terminal pad on each of the plurality of integrated circuit dies to form a parallel, multi-bit, bus arrangement. In another embodiment, at least one integrated circuit is mounted on a support member. The mounting pads on each integrated circuit die are electrically connected to terminal pads formed on the peripheral edge of each support member. Electrical conductors interconnect the same positionally arranged terminal pad on each of a plurality of support members to interconnect the integrated circuit dies on each support member in a parallel bus arrangement.

Abstract: A control apparatus and method for progressively fracturing a workpiece from a material sheet in a press in which a ram is progressively advanced through the thickness of the material sheet in discrete steps, each of the discrete steps including an advance of the ram into the material sheet a predetermined distance less than the total thickness of the sheet, a stopping of the advance of the ram, a relief of the pressure built up in the press due to the pressurized advance of the ram and a subsequent advance of the ram through the material sheet. A distance measuring transducer generates an output indicative of the position of the piston of the cylinder and the ram during movement of the ram. A controller, in response to a stored control program and the output of the distance measuring transducer, controls the operation of fluid valves to supply pressurized fluid to the cylinder to reciprocate the ram.

Abstract: A control apparatus and method for progressively fracturing a workpiece from a material sheet in a press in which a ram is progressively advanced through the thickness of the material sheet in discrete steps, each of the discrete steps including an advance of the ram into the material sheet a predetermined distance less than the total thickness of the sheet, a stopping of the advance of the ram, a relief of the pressure built up in the press due to the pressurized advance of the ram and a subsequent advance of the ram through the material sheet. A distance measuring transducer generates an output indicative of the position of the piston of the cylinder and the ram during movement of the ram. A controller, in response to a stored control program and the output of the distance measuring transducer, controls the operation of fluid valves to supply pressurized fluid to the cylinder to reciprocate the ram.

Abstract: A vibration testing apparatus for detecting vibrations in a rotating internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a sensor mounted on the engine and a timing circuit responsive to the firing of the spark plugs in the engine to generate successive time windows corresponding to the firing of each spark plug during which the frequency of vibrations are sensed by the sensor. The sensed frequencies and intensities of the vibrations are measured against pre-settable intensities for each cylinder of the engine which are settable with respect to the location of each cylinder to the sensor and, also, the firing order of each spark plug in the engine. This generates an output indicative of any excess vibrations within the engine and provides an indication of which cylinder in the engine such excess vibrations are being generated.