Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository. The business data includes different data source formats. A business logic module generates business data requests for processing. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in a data layer descriptor repository. The data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository. The data layer descriptor repository preferably includes top-level listings of data sources in the system and customized data source specifications for the each of the data sources listed in the customized set of data sources.

Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository for processing billing information. The business data repositories use one or more data source formats. A business logic module generating business data requests for data from the business data repository in order to carry out processing of billing information. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer descriptor repository stores customizable data source descriptions for generating the data layer. The data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in the data layer descriptor repository. The data layer module receives the data source independent business data requests and based on the request, the data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository.

Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository for processing billing information. The business data repositories use one or more data source formats. A business logic module generating business data requests for data from the business data repository in order to carry out processing of billing information. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer descriptor repository stores customizable data source descriptions for generating the data layer. The data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in the data layer descriptor repository. The data layer module receives the data source independent business data requests and based on the request, the data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository.

Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository for processing billing information. The business data repositories use one or more data source formats. A business logic module generating business data requests for data from the business data repository in order to carry out processing of billing information. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer descriptor repository stores customizable data source descriptions for generating the data layer. The data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in the data layer descriptor repository. The data layer module receives the data source independent business data requests and based on the request, the data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository.

Abstract: An electronic bill presentment and payment system including an extensible, customizable, data source independent data layer for accessing a business data repository for processing billing information. The business data repositories use one or more data source formats. A business logic module generating business data requests for data from the business data repository in order to carry out processing of billing information. The business data requests are independent of the one or more data source formats of the business data repository. A data layer descriptor repository stores customizable data source descriptions for generating the data layer. The data layer is generated from the customizable descriptors in the data layer descriptor repository. The data layer module receives the data source independent business data requests and based on the request, the data layer implements a data source specific method for fulfilling the request by accessing data in the business data repository.

Abstract: An improved apparatus 10 for plating interior surfaces of electrical terminals is disclosed which comprises a mandrel having first and second portions 11, 119, the first portion 11 being dielectric and the second portion 119 being conductive. The first portion 11 is mounted for rotation on a stationary conductive shaft 52 as strip fed terminals are continuously fed to, wrapped against and exited from the first portion. The second portion is mounted in a stationary position on the shaft 52. The first portion 11 includes a plurality of nozzles 49 a like plurality of anode members 80, each associated with a respective nozzle, and reciprocally movable between a plating position within a terminal 172 and a retracted position outside a terminal 172.

Abstract: An anode assembly 30 for selectively plating contact areas 102 on the interior surface of cathodically charged socket terminals 96 is disclosed, which comprises a conductive body member 32 having an anode means or member 54 extending forwardly from a body section 38, a dielectric body member 58 adapted to be secured to a forward portion 34 of said conductive body member 32 and having a passageway 62 therethrough for receiving the anode means 54; sheath means 64 extending forwardly from the dielectric body member and along the anode means 54 and extending angularly around at least one selected circumferential portion thereof, and lateral edge surfaces 68 of the sheath means 64 defining at least one slot 70 extending axially along the anode means 54 such that at least one axially extending portion 55 of the anode means 54 is exposed along the slot 70, the sheath means 64 having a diameter smaller than the inner diameter of a terminal 96 to be plated; and means for securing said dielectric body member 58 to said

Abstract: An apparatus for plating interior surfaces of electrical terminals that are attached to a carrier strip comprises a mandrel having first and second portions, the first portion being comprised of dielectric members which are mounted for rotation on a shaft as strip fed terminals are continuously fed to the first portion; wrapped against it and exited therefrom; and a second conductive portion mounted in a stationary portion on the same shaft. First dielectric portion includes a plurality of nozzles distributed about its axis of rotation. A plurality of anode members are mounted within the nozzles, the anode members being movable into and out of interiors of terminals that are wrapped against the dielectric portion. A conduit supplies plating solution under pressure through the nozzles and upon anode members.

Abstract: An anode assembly for plating contact areas within socket terminals is comprised of a conductive body member having an anode means extending forwardly from a body section, and a dielectric shroud having a profiled passageway extending axially therethrough, the dielectric shroud being removable mounted to said body section that said shroud extends coaxially around said anode means. The profiled passageway of the shroud includes a terminal receiving section which is disposed around the anode means, extends forwardly thereof, and has an inner diameter selected to be just greater than the outside diameter of a terminal to be plated. The terminal receiving section further includes lead-in means whereby a terminal members is relatively received into the terminal receiving section and locatable concentrically about the anode member.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously plating interior surfaces of loose piece electrical terminals is characterized in that loose piece terminals are continuously fed to a continuously rotating mandrel, are held against the mandrel during the plating process by retaining means and are released from the mandrel, the mandrel having a plurality of anode containing nozzles therein, the anodes being mounted for reciprocation into and out of the interior of the terminals that are against the mandrel. A conduit supplies plating solution under pressure through the nozzles and upon the anodes and into the interiors of the terminals in which the anodes are received.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that, a mandrel is rotated continuously as strip fed electrical terminals are strip fed continuously to the mandrel, and partially wrapped against the mandrel and exited from the mandrel, a conduit supplying plating fluid under pressure opens into a plurality of nozzles on the mandrel, anodes are mounted within the nozzles for reciprocation into and out of the interiors of the terminals that are against the mandrel, the conduit supplies plating solution under pressure to the nozzles, the nozzles inject plating solution into the interiors of those terminals in which the anodes are received, a source of electrical current supplies electrical current flowing from the anodes, through the plating solution and to the interiors of those terminals in which the anodes are received, and the anodes are constructed for withdrawal from the interiors of those terminals prior to those terminals exiting from the mandrel.

Abstract: The present invention is characterized in that, a mandrel is rotated continuously as strip fed electrical terminals are strip fed continuously to the mandrel, and partially wrapped against the mandrel and exited from the mandrel, a conduit supplying plating fluid under pressure opens into a plurality of nozzles on the mandrel, anodes are mounted within the nozzles for reciprocation into and out of the interiors of the terminals that are against the mandrel, the conduit supplies plating solution under pressure to the nozzles, the nozzles inject plating solution into the interiors of those terminals in which the anodes are received, a source of electrical current supplies electrical current flowing from the anodes, through the plating solution and to the interiors of those terminals in which the anodes are received, and the anodes are constructed for withdrawal from the interiors of those terminals prior to those terminals exiting from the mandrel.

Abstract: An integrated circuit package for establishing electrical contact with the terminal areas or pads of an integrated circuit chip comprises an insulating substrate having a flat surface in which there are embedded a plurality of electrodeposited conductors. The conductors have inner ends in a chip-receiving zone of the flat surface and have outer end portions which are remote from the chip-receiving zone. The inner ends of the conductors have contact bumps or promontories extending above the flat surface and located such that when a chip is placed on the promontories, they will be against the terminal areas of the chip. The chip can be held against the promontories by a suitable clamping means and contact established with the conductors at their outer ends by suitable connecting means. The device is particularly useful for testing chips prior to their being placed in service.

Abstract: Membrane switch assembly comprises a transparent laminate comprised of three sheets of cellulose acetate material. The intermediate sheet has an opening therein which defines a switch site. Hairline conductors on the internal surfaces of the outer sheets cross each other at the switch site so that the switch is closed when one of the outer sheets is pressed at the switch site. The conductors are produced on the surfaces of the outer sheets by a process including electroless deposition of blanket coatings of conductive metal, selective deposition along lines which define the conductors and selective etching of the blanket coating to leave the hairline conductors.