Abstract: A method is provided for forming one or more electrical conductors in a multilayer structure such as a computer component during a punching operation. A conducting sheet is placed in direct contact with a sheet of a deformable dielectric material. A punch is used to form a conducting slug from the sheet and to simultaneously transfer the slug into the dielectric material. During the transfer operation, a portion of the dielectric material is displaced so as to cause a mechanical interference between the slug and dielectric material.

Abstract: A single step electrical/mechanical connection process utilizes an adhesive layer (3 or 26) that is patterned on a substrate (1 or 21) to mechanically connect adjacent substrates in a multilayered structure (28) or to connect a pin (2) assembly to a device (5). In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive layer (3 or 26) and substrate (1 or 21) are made from materials which will undergo transesterification under heat and pressure to create a very strong bond therebetween. The adhesive layer (3 or 26) is positioned around and does not cover the solder (4) in the pin connector assembly or the alignment holes (24) in the molding/sheet (21), thereby allowing bonding metallurgy to make positive electrical connections between pins (2) and pads (6) and adjacent spheres (22) in a multilayered structure (28).

Abstract: There is disclosed a high density electronic connector system in which a plastic insulating body supports on one or more levels a plurality of conductive circuit traces. Output contacts to these traces are provided by small metal balls. The metal balls are driven into tight contact with respective ones of the conductive traces and captivated by the plastic body. The balls are covered with gold and provide miniature, wear resistant closely spaced output contacts in the connector system. A ball may contact conductive traces on two levels of the insulating body and thereby provide an electrical connection between conductive traces. A method of manufacture of the connector system includes the steps of heating the plastic body to an elevated temperature, and driving the small metal balls through or against a respective conductive trace and into the plastic body which thereby captivates it. The conductive traces may be solder plated.

Abstract: A multilayer microelectronics module formed by laminating together individual thermoplastic polymer sheets formed by injection, compression or other suitable molding techniques. Metal pieces to form vias of a desired shape and size are inserted into the molded sheets, preferably by in situ insert molding. The vias provide an electrical connection from the top to the bottom surfaces of the sheets.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high density test probe assembly, and method of fabricating it. The probe assembly has a multitude of wire-like probe elements whose exposed tips are spaced on centers X and Y to match the centers of closely spaced surface pads of a VLSI circuit. Interconnections to and from the probe elements (for connection to external test equipment) are provided by a multi-layer arrangement of insulating and conducting layers within the body of the probe assembly. The tips of the probe elements are canted relative to vertical so that when the probe assembly is pushed down into mating position onto a VLSI circuit, the probe elements uniformly deflect laterally in one direction only and give a "wiping" action in contacting surface pads of the VLSI circuit together with a desired normal contact force. The method of fabricating the probe assembly includes forcing all of the probe elements through staggered vias in the multilayer arrangement.

Abstract: There is disclosed a high density electronic connector system in which a plastic insulating body supports on one or more levels a plurality of conductive circuit traces. Output contacts to these traces are provided by small metal balls. The metal balls are driven into tight contact with respective ones of the conductive traces and captivated by the plastic body. The balls are covered with gold and provide miniature, wear resistant closely spaced output contacts in the connector system.

Abstract: Conventional golf tees and markers are modified to provide golf club face and club face groove cleaners. The heads of tees and markers are formed square rather than round to provide straight edges for scraping the faces of dirtied golf clubs and with the edges intersecting to form sharp corners for insertion in club face grooves to facilitate eviction of the dirt therein. The stems of tees may be made of wood and the heads thereof of a molded material to provide superior cleaning capability.

Abstract: Apparatus for discharging sheets having skins on them and different patterns, characteristics, and properties. One or more rollers, belts, plates, or combinations thereof, having cavities and projections of desired patterns formed on their surfaces, pass through low pressure liquefied extrudable materials to be bathed thereby and pass by another surface(s). Heating or cooling is applied as appropriate to the roller(s), plate(s), belt(s), to form a skin on the extrudate and/or set same. A distributed low pressure, mixed orientation, low gas, liquefied extrudable material is generated using a vented barrel assembly and manifold mechanism. By using a dynamic moving die surface, bathed in a low pressure material chamber, rather than extrudable material forced through a fixed die opening as is normally done in extrusion processes, a product with low stress and one that exhibits isotropic properties results.

Abstract: An improvement is provided for printer such as the dot matrix or thermal type, in which the printhead is stepped across the paper over a multicolor ribbon supplied from a pivotally mounted cartridge and transported through a plane between the line of traverse of the printhead and the surface of the paper. The ribbon is guided by guiding surfaces positioned on each side of the printhead, close to the printhead, and mounted to move with the printhead across the paper so that the guide surfaces will guide the path the ribbon takes to one which passes between the printhead and the paper with the guide being moveable in steps in a direction normal to the traverse of the printhead and parallel to the plane of the ribbon so as to position a selected color band of the ribbon under the printhead to select the color to be printed as the printhead traverses the paper.

Abstract: A bearing construction interposes the coils of one or more coil springs between bearing surfaces. In one embodiment a bearing coil spring is wrapped around a shaft several times. The bearing coil spring may be freely mounted on a more substantial race coil retainer centered on the shaft. In another embodiment toroidal coil springs separated by disc races extend circularly about the shaft. In linear bearing construction, the bearing coils are in planes parallel to the line of shaft movement. Other embodiments of the invention involve disengageable shafts having complementary centering end-faces accommodating misalignment through the yield able action of the bearing spring coils, shafts and housings having non-circular cross-sections, and shafts and housings not having completely complementary surfaces to enable interference fit and positional control.

Abstract: A one shot voltage to pulse width converter is provided for producing a digital representation of an analog input signal voltage. The circuit includes an integrating amplifier circuit whose output is kept at a reference potential except when it is being ramped up in response to connection of an input signal to the integrating amplifier during a fixed input sample period or down after the fixed input sample period expires. The circuit also includes a comparator connected to compare the output of the integrating amplifier to the reference potential with the output of the comparator switching an output circuit between two different levels so that the pulse width of the output is related to the magnitude of the input signal. When the input signal is not connected to the integrating amplifier its output is held at reference potential by a negative feedback from the comparator output to the integrating circuit input.

Abstract: A test probe employing a buckling beam array for testing integrated circuits. A pair of identical sets of guides are positioned on either side of a centerpost to align the buckling beams. In one embodiment the holes in one set of guides is offset by a key to induce prebow in the beams. In another embodiment prebow is induced by a floating asymmetric separator positioned on the centerpost between the guide sets. When a force is applied to the probe, the beams deflect in the direction but to different extents so that a uniform force is applied to the surface of the IC irrespective of variations in height.

Abstract: An end-fill molten metal sampler is provided with a ball type check valve within the entrance passageway to the sample cavity.

Abstract: A thermocouple open-circuit detector is made insensitive to noise pick-up in the thermocouple by increasing the bias on the detecting amplifier beyond the point where it would be affected by the noise and providing a means for reducing that bias during the period when the pulses that test the thermocouple are present. The test pulse will then trigger the detecting amplifier on when the thermocouple is open.

Abstract: An improved supporting leg assembly for laundry tubs, tables and the like. A leg coupler having a tapered, substantially cylindrical socket containing a key therein is placed at each corner on the underside of the tub. A V-shaped leg, bearing a cylindrical tube affixed thereto on the inside of the V-leg at the end which contacts the tub, is placed at each corner of the tub with the tube engaging the socket. Each tube has a slot formed therein at the end which fits into the tubular socket, and the slot and key mate with each other when the leg is set in place. When assembled together, the tub and coupler are in load bearing contact with the top of each section of the V-leg and the top of the cylindrical tube, respectively. The V-legs may be tapered if desired.

Abstract: An analog voltage to duty cycle converter is provided using a series connected resistor and capacitor. The capacitor is charged in one direction through the resistor from the difference between the analog voltage and a reference voltage maintained across a zener diode by one polarity of output from a differential amplifier responding to the charge across the capacitor. When the charge across the capacitor reaches the difference necessary to cause the differential amplifier to change the polarity of its output, a positive feedback firmly toggles the output to the other polarity and the capacitor is allowed to charge in the opposite direction due to cut-off of the zener current by a diode in the amplifier output circuit. The capacitor then charges in an opposite direction due to the analog voltage alone and the reference voltage again switches "on" when the amplifier output goes positive. The duty cycle is then proportional to the analog voltage.

Abstract: Normally non-combustible lipoidal waste which has been separated from a waste water stream is disposed of and its fuel value recovered by mixing the waste with fuel oil and burning the mixture.

Abstract: A preamplifier circuit for a voltage measuring instrument which provides for noninteracting span and zero adjustments. Two voltage follower circuits are used. The first produces a current through the output resistor of the preamplifier proportional to the voltage being measured while the second produces a current through the output resistor proportional to a fixed reference voltage. For both amplifiers, the proportionality is adjustable by a potentiometer which modifies the feedback on the first amplifier and the part of the reference used as input to the second amplifier.