Abstract: A cable actuator assembly operates a door latch that has inside lock and latch operating levers that are coupled by a cam and follower arrangement and rotate in opposite directions. The cable actuator assembly includes a cable assembly and an actuator assembly. The cable assembly has a sheath and a core that slides in the sheath. The actuator assembly has an anchor fixed on a base and a bell crank lever pivotally mounted on the base. The sheath is attached to the anchor at one end and to the inside operating lever of the door latch at the opposite end with slack. The core is attached to the bell crank lever at one end and to the inside lock operating lever at the opposite end. The bell crank lever is rotated by a handle to rotate the inside lock and latch operating levers so as to unlock and unlatch the door latch in sequence.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a latching mechanism and stiffness adjustment mechanism disposed in a housing. The housing includes a fishmouth slot for receiving a striker. The latching mechanism includes a fork bolt that moves between a latching position and an unlatching position. The fork bolt has a throat that is aligned with the throat of the housing for receiving the striker when the fork bolt is in the unlatching position and that captures the striker when the fork bolt is in the latching position. An overslam bumper has an elastomeric portion located at a rearward end of the housing slot. The elastomeric portion engages the striker and biases the striker against a surface of the throat of the fork bolt when the striker is captured. The elastomeric portion is preloaded by the stiffness adjustment mechanism that includes a flexible portion of the housing, an expandable bushing, a nut that slides in the bushing for expanding the bushing and an adjustment screw that screws into the nut.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a forkbolt, a detent that holds the forkbolt in a latched position, a release mechanism that moves the detent to release the forkbolt, a lock mechanism for disabling the release mechanism, an inside lock lever for operating the lock mechanism and a double lock for disabling the inside lock lever. The detent is moved by an intermittent lever that is part of the release mechanism and part of the locking mechanism. A composite lock lever forming part of the lock mechanism moves the intermittent lever back and forth between an unlock position where the intermittent lever drives the detent to release the forkbolt and a lock position where the intermittent lever free wheels with respect to the detent. The intermittent lever is pivotally connected to an unlatching lever of the release mechanism that is operated by inside and outside release levers.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch has a selectively engaged security lock that prevents a vehicle door from being unlatched by an inside door handle. The security lock overrides the door lock when the inside door handle is operated with the security lock engaged so that the vehicle door latch may be unlocked from inside the vehicle easily when the security lock is engaged.

Abstract: A control circuit for a refrigeration system disposed within an outer cabinet having a freezer compartment, a fresh food compartment, a compressor, a condenser fan, an evaporator fan, an evaporator and a freezer thermostat disposed within the freezer compartment to sense temperature therein. Additionally, a fresh food thermostat is disposed within the fresh food compartment to sense temperature therein. A freezer thermostat switch is switched between an open state and a closed state in response to temperature signals generated from the freezer thermostat. A fresh food thermostat switch is switched between an open state and a closed state in response to temperature signals generated from the fresh food thermostat. An energy saver switch is disposed between the fresh food thermostat switch and a power source, which energy saver switch is switched between an open state and a closed state.

Abstract: The invention provides in a first aspect a novel synchronous motor in which the rotor comprises a substantially solid multi-pole magnet axially displaced from the coil which, itself, is of substantially the same diametrical size. With this arrangement a very powerful motor can be provided for a relatively small size and is suitable for use in powering ornaments such as Christmas tree ornaments direct from a socket of a fairy light string or decorative lights. In a second aspect of the invention, reciprocation means are provided suitable for use with the synchronous motor of the first aspect which can automatically raise and lower ornaments and similar novelty items. In a third aspect of the invention reciprocation means is provided which may be used either with the synchronous motor of the invention or with a conventional D.C. motor to provide for winding and sudden unwinding of a cord and hence an ornament or a novelty item attached thereto.

Abstract: A method for selectively marking integrated circuit chips (205, 210) formed on a wafer (200) includes the steps of testing the integrated circuit chips (205, 210)) of the wafer (200) to determine whether the integrated circuit chips (205, 210) are functional, dispensing underfill material (215) only on functional integrated circuit chips (205), and separating, subsequent to the dispensing step, the wafer (200) into individual integrated circuit chips (205, 210). The functional integrated circuit chips (205) are marked with the underfill material (215), while nonfunctional integrated circuit chips (210) are not marked with the underfill material (215).

Abstract: A door latch for latching the vehicle door in the closed position includes a fork bolt pivotally mounted on the latch housing for movement between the latching position engaging a striker in an unlatching position to unlatch from the striker and permit opening of the door. A detent lever is pivotally mounted on the latch housing for movement between an engaging position engaging the fork bolt in its latching position and a disengaging position disengaged from the fork bolt to permit pivoting of the fork bolt to its unlatching position. A spring acts between the detent lever and the latch housing to urge the detent lever to the engaged position. A catch member is provided to retain the detent lever in the disengaged position and block pivoting movement of the detent member to the engaging position in response to absence of the spring.

Abstract: The invention relates to a molded plastic lever for a door latch, and more particularly, provides a serviceable retainer bushing for connecting an operating rod to the lever.

Abstract: A label comprised of at least two coupled plies is disclosed that incorporates a removable game on the inside face of an outer ply. The outer ply is adhered to an inner ply along two of its edges. The game piece, which is printed to the inside face of an outer ply between the two adhered edges of the outer ply, is removable from the label by sequentially tearing the game piece from the two edges. A suitable label construction is further disclosed in which the game piece incorporates removable scratch off coatings.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch is provided having unlock latched and unlatched positions, the door latch having at least one locking/unlocking actuator for moving the latch between locked latched and unlocked latched positions, and the door latch having a freewheeling transfer lever operatively connected to at least one release handle, the transfer lever being provided for moving the door latch to the unlatched position. The door latch has a feature to allow the locking/unlocking actuator to move the latch from the locked latched position to the unlocked latched position while the door release handle is previously or simultaneously actuated, by subsequent release of the door release handle without reactivation of the locking/unlocking actuator.

Abstract: A child-proof door latch including a selector switch accessable from the door's exterior for enabling or disabling the functioning of a cable-driven latch of the type where a sheath about the cable pushes on the latches trigger to actuate the latchbolt. The selector switch includes a slot which controls the anchoring or movement of the end of the cable which, in turn, permits or prevents the tensioning of the cable sufficiently to straighten the sheath thereabout for actuating the trigger.

Abstract: A power transfer control system for use in an AC electric power generation system comprises a generator control unit (GCU) which senses and controls the output of a generator, and a bus power control unit (BPCU) which communicates with the GCU to control and coordinate a power transfer between the generator and another source. Each unit communicates power transfer information, which eliminates the requirement of redundant sensing circuitry and wiring for the BPCU. The BPCU transmits master power control information and a synchronizing signal indicating a zero phase reference point of a control waveform to which the power transfer will take place. The GCU compares parameters of the output power of its respective source with the master power control information and the synchronizing signal.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch and handle mechanism including a cable-driven door latch wherein a sheath encasing a cable pushes on a trigger in the latch mechanism to actuate a latchbolt and cause it to disengage a striker. Tensioning of the cable causes the sheath thereabout to straighten and push upon the trigger for the latch.

Abstract: A loop-striker for use with a door latch of the type having (1) a bell-shaped mouth for receiving a complimentary wedge-shaped crossbar and a leading leg of the striker, and (2) a rotateable fork-bolt having a throat that traps the leading leg when the fork-bolt is in the latched condition. The striker is constructed such that the wedge-shaped crossbar can pivot about its leading leg so as to be self-aligning with respect to said mouth.

Abstract: A synchronous drive belt/pulley combination wherein the lateral edges of the belt overhang the pulley.

Abstract: A digital voltage regulator for an electrical power system including a permanent magnet generator (PMG), an exciter, and a main generator. A controller multiplies the frequency of the generator output voltage by a predetermined value to provide a sampling signal having the multiplied frequency and synchronized with the generator output voltage. The controller also provides a sawtooth voltage signal having a repetition rate equal to the frequency of the sampling signal and an incrementing rate determined by the system clock signal. The generator output voltage is sampled at the frequency of the sampling signal. When the difference between the sampled signal and a reference voltage is greater than the sawtooth voltage, the PMG voltage is switched to provide voltage for the exciter field winding.

Abstract: A refrigeration system includes a phase separator disposed in flow communication with a pulse width modulated solenoid valve. A thermistor is disposed in the phase separator and is submerged in either refrigerant liquid or refrigerant vapor during operation, with the electrical resistance thereof correspondingly changing. In an exemplary embodiment, a second thermistor is used in conjunction with the first thermistor and is disposed in the vapor inside the phase separator to provide a reference. By comparing voltage developed across the two thermistors during operation it may be determined whether one or both of the thermistors are submersed in the vapor. The duty cycle of the valve may therefore be increased when one of the thermistors is submerged in the liquid, and decreased when both thermistors are submersed in the vapor.