Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device is disclosed which selectively shunts charge accumulation across electrical conductors emplaced within the device housing. A grounding element is provided on the housing surface which maintains electrical contact with the enclosed electrical conductors so as to form a shorting shunt and place the conductors at substantially similar electrical potentials. The grounding element may be reversibly changed from the operative into an inoperative position to remove the grounding element from electrical contact with the electrical conductors.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device is disclosed for use with a semiconductor chip package where the electrostatic discharge protection device establishes electrical connection between connector pins on the semiconductor chip package and ground, thereby creating a short circuit to protect the semiconductor chip package from electrostatic discharge. The electrostatic discharge protection device is manually operable to engage or disengage a ground connection while remaining attached to the semiconductor chip package. The electrostatic discharge protection device is also removable from the semiconductor chip package either prior to or subsequent to mating a semiconductor chip package with a printed circuit board or other receptacle.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device is provided for use with a magnetic read/write transducer. The electrostatic discharge protection device electrically interconnects the conductive elements of magnetoresistive (MR) and inductive heads to provide a low-resistance conductive path placing the conductive elements at a substantially equal electrical potential, thus minimizing electrostatic discharge. The electrostatic discharge protection device provides an electrical path between the conductive elements which is manually or automatically removable upon connection to a mating element. The electrostatic protection device has a resilient inward bias to connect electrically conductive elements such that a ground is established between them and is removed automatically upon insertion of the conductive elements into a mating receptacle which is interposed between the conductive elements and the electrostatic discharge protection device.

Abstract: A plurality of electrostatic discharge protection devices are disclosed for use with semiconductor chip packages of a type having a top surface, a bottom surface, and disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface a plurality of lateral surface with extending therefrom a plurality of connector pins disposed thereon. The electrostatic discharge protection devices disclosed herein are heat sensitive in that they automatically withdraw from electrical contact with the connecting pins upon introduction of sufficient heat such as that of soldering. In addition, disclosed herein is a electrostatic discharge protection device for manual withdrawal should the electrostatic discharge protection be required after the soldering process has been terminated.

Abstract: A device is provided including a flexible sheet having extents encompassing at least a circular area, said flexible sheet doubled-over upon itself through the center of the circular area such that the resultant respective halves of said circular area overlap and form a semicircular field of view; and a sleeve for maintaining the overlapping configuration of said doubled-over flexible sheet, yet allowing said flexible sheet to be displaced about the center of said circular area within the doubled-over configuration. In a particular embodiment, the encompassed circular area of said flexible sheet has at least one light-transmissive region within the circular area, such that transmission of light through the aforementioned field of view can be varied by said displacement of the flexible sheet within said doubled-over configuration. Such embodiment, when employing a polarizing sheet as said flexible sheet, can be used as a variable light transmission device.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device is disclosed which automatically connects selected connector pins of a semiconductor chip package ("SCP") or connectors on printed circuit boards such that the connector pins are held at a common voltage until insertion of the SCP into a receptor or until insertion of a cable into the connector which overcomes an internal resilient bias of the electrostatic discharge protection device causing the common connection to be removed. Removal of the SCP from the receptor or the cable from its connector removes the force which overcomes the bias, thereby reestablishing the common electrical connection thus automatically moving the electrostatic discharge protection device between inoperative and operative positions.

Abstract: A plurality of electrostatic discharge protection devices are disclosed for use with semiconductor chip packages of a type having a top surface, a bottom surface, and disposed between the top surface and the bottom surface a plurality of lateral surface with extending therefrom a plurality of connector pins disposed thereon. The electrostatic discharge protection devices disclosed herein are heat sensitive in that they automatically withdraw from electrical contact with the connecting pins upon introduction of sufficient heat such as that of soldering. In addition, disclosed herein is a electrostatic discharge protection device for manual withdrawal should the electrostatic discharge protection be required after the soldering process has been terminated.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device is disclosed which automatically connects selected connector pins of a semiconductor chip package ("SCP") or connectors on printed circuit boards such that the connector pins are held at a common voltage until insertion of the SCP into a receptor or until insertion of a cable into the connector which overcomes an internal resilient bias of the electrostatic discharge protection device causing the common connection to be removed. Removal of the SCP from the receptor or the cable from its connector removes the force which overcomes the bias, thereby reestablishing the common electrical connection thus automatically moving the electrostatic discharge protection device between inoperative and operative positions.

Abstract: A plurality of electrostatic discharge protection devices are disclosed for use with semiconductor chip packaging such as surface mount chip packages wherein the electrostatic discharge protection devices have shorting arms that extend outward from the electrostatic discharge protection device to make contact with connector pins on the semiconductor chip package such that an electrical connection is made between all of the connector pins of the semiconductor chip package thereby creating a short circuit across the connector pins of the semiconductor chip package to protect the semiconductor chip package from electrostatic discharge. In one embodiment, the electrostatic discharge protection device automatically withdraws the shorting connection upon insertion of the semiconductor chip package onto a printed circuit board. In other embodiments the electrostatic discharge protection device is manually operated to remove the short upon mechanical movement of the device.

Abstract: An electronic imaging module is disclosed which is removably insertable into a photographic camera for reversibly converting the camera into an electronic imaging camera. The electronic imaging module includes a sensing unit, a processing unit, and a coupling unit. The sensing unit detects an object image and converts the image to a corresponding electrical signal. The processing unit, which is configured for location within the camera's film cassette holder, includes a storage unit for storing the electrical signal and a transmission link for transmitting the electrical signal to external devices such as a control unit or a base unit. The coupling unit couples the sensing unit to the processor unit. The coupling unit is adjustable to ensure that the sensing unit is in alignment with the camera optical path and the film plane and the processing unit is secured within the film cassette holder.

Abstract: Variable power eyeglasses of many shapes can be manufactured having a frame, a pair of lens assemblies and a linear actuation mechanism. Each lens assembly includes: a rigid substrate; a membrane support spaced from the rigid substrate; a flexible seal extending between the rigid substrate and the membrane support, where the flexible seal acts as a hinge at a first section and acts as a spring by allowing relative motion between the rigid substrate and the membrane support at a second section; a transparent elastomeric membrane sealed around a periphery to the membrane support; and a transparent liquid filling the space between the rigid substrate and the membrane forming a liquid lens. The linear actuation mechanism causes relative motion between the membrane and the rigid substrate so that both optical and prismatic power of the liquid lens changes by varying a force applied to the flexible sealing means at the second section.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device that fits within a connector for high frequency cables having a tubular ground conductor surrounding one or more core conductors. The electrostatic discharge protection device creates a shunt across the one or more core conductors and the ground conductor thus electrically grounding any electrostatic discharge on the one or more core conductors. Upon joining of a complimentary receptor to the connector, the electrostatic discharge protection device automatically withdraws the shunt reestablishing electrical isolation among the one or more core conductors and the ground conductor.

Abstract: In a laser light pump, a multiplicity of micromanipulators adjust the positions of a cylindrical lens and line of optical fiber ends relative to each other and relative to a light source composed of a line of laser diode facets. Each micromanipulator achieves extremely fine resolution by imposing a vernier or differential screw arrangement into a flexure ratio divider, and thereby multiplying its resolving capability. The vernier screw arrangement spreads two members of different stiffnesses, and the stiffer one of the members moves the lens or the line of fiber ends.

Abstract: In a laser light pump, a multiplicity of micromanipulators adjust the positions of a cylindrical lens and line of optical fiber ends relative to each other and relative to a light source composed of a line of laser diode facets. Each micromanipulator achieves extremely fine resolution by imposing a vernier or differential screw arrangement into a flexure ratio divider, and thereby multiplying its resolving capability. The vernier screw arrangement spreads two members of different stiffnesses, and the stiffer one of the members moves the lens or the line of fiber ends.

Abstract: A plurality of electrostatic discharge (hereafter referred to as "ESD") protection devices are disclosed for use with semiconductor chip packaging (hereafter referred to as "SCP"). The electrostatic protection devices comprise electrically conductive shorting devices that may be removably connected to the SCP during the manufacture to short selected pins from the SCP. The ESD protection devices remain in place to provide ESD protection during all phases of handling and shipping and may be either automatically unshorted or be manually removed during final assembly when the SCP is installed in its end product.

Abstract: An electrostatic discharge protection device is disclosed for use with a printed circuit board (hereafter referred to as "PCB") of the type having a major portion and a dependent integral tongue having oppositely disposed PCB surfaces with conductor pads disposed thereon. The electrostatic discharge protection device comprises a first hinge structure and a second hinge structure mounted to corresponding PCB surfaces. Each hinge structure has a base section securely mounted to the PCB surface, an elongated arm section pivotally connected to the base section and having an electrically conductive bar disposed along the length thereof, and means for urging the electrically conductive bar against and into electrical interconnection with the conductor pads while the PCB remains disconnected from a complementary edge connector.

Abstract: A plurality of electrostatic discharge (hereafter referred to as "ESD") protection devices are disclosed for use with semiconductor chip packaging (hereafter referred to as "SCP") of the type having a top surface, a bottom surface, and, disposed between the top and bottom surface, a plurality of interface surfaces having a plurality of connector pins disposed thereon. In one embodiment, the ESD protection device comprises a base section secured to the top surface of the SCP and a plurality of integral shorting arms each extending outward from the top surface in spaced apart relationship with respect to each other and in spaced apart alignment with respect each of the connector pins. Each shorting arm has a first portion which is integral to the base section and a distal end portion integrally connected with the first portion and extending outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: For an electrical connector member which has a plurality of pins which mates with a complementary receptacle member, there is provided a shorting member comprising a thin conductive sheet having a base portion fixedly connected with respect to the connector member in spaced relation with respect to the pins and a plurality of thin elongated arm portions each integrally connected at one end to the base portion and cantilevered therefrom to extend past at least a respective one of the pins, the other end of each arm portion extending laterally outward so as to electrically contact a side of the pin past which that arm portion extends, each of the arm portions having an inherent spring bias so as to urge its laterally extending end portion away from the connector member and into electrical contact with a respective pin so as to short a select number of pins upon disconnection of the connector and receptacle members.

Abstract: A magnetic data storage system for use with a double sided disk in which a prerecorded pattern of opaque optical lines is used to define the tracks in which magnetic data is to be stored. A separate optical system including an illumination source and a photosensitive detector is provided on a read/write assembly for each side of the disk. Each detector is designed also to serve as a reference grating. The illumination source is designed to image the prerecorded pattern of optical lines on the reference grating as an indication of the alignment of the read/write head of the assembly and a desired data rack and any misalignment of the head and track generates a servo signal. The detector uses four separate photocells interleaved in a prescribed fashion to form a quadrature detector that is adjustable to compensate for various non-uniformities. One form of illumination source uses a surface-emitting light emitting diode and optics for forming a multiple beam source.

Abstract: A processing apparatus is provided for immersion treating a photograhic film unit with a low viscosity processing liquid. The apparatus comprises a flexible bag-like liquid container having a film unit receiving section and a communicating liquid reservoir section, and a device for manipulating the container to selectively change the configuration of the container and the distribution of liquid therein. The device includes a pivoting frame which moves components of the receiving section between an open position for facilitating film insertion and withdrawal and a closed position defining the receiving section which is flooded with liquid from the reservoir section to treat a film unit therein.