Abstract: A transient voltage surge suppressor (100) for use in a single or poly-phase power distribution network to protect equipment supplied power from the network from damage caused by line surges or transients. A plurality of surge suppression assemblies (102A-102G) each of which includes a plurality of semiconductors (114) connected in parallel and a fuse wire (118) connected in series with each semiconductor. Each assembly is mounted on a separate circuit board (126A-126G). A fault detection circuit (104) in each assembly includes both a sensor (132A-132G) for sensing when a semiconductor in one of the surge suppression assemblies fails, or when a fuse wire in one of the assemblies clears, and a circuit (152) for providing a visual indication thereof. The fault detector is mounted on a separate circuit board (131).

Abstract: A chip package for an IC chip having at least an optical-signal input or output section comprises a container-like chip carrier for carrying the IC chip, a sealing cover bonded to the chip carrier and having a window for the optical-signal section, and a connector plate holding a plurality of optical signal transmission elements which are used to transmit a plurality of optical signals en bloc so that optical signals are input to or output from the optical-signal section through the window on the cover. The chip carrier and the connector plate are securely attached to a circuit board in the state where the connector plate has been separately positioned in a predetermined spatial relationship with the chip carrier.

Abstract: A two-stage gas distribution nozzle for a muffle furnace includes an inner pipe with spaced apertures for feeding gas at spaced intervals to an outer pipe enclosing the inner pipe. The outer pipe includes spaced apertures facing in a direction such that the jets of gas from the inner pipe impinge on a wall of the outer pipe opposite the outer pipe apertures. The gas in the outer pipe is at lower pressure than the gas in the inner pipe and is more uniformly distributed along the length of the outer pipe to provide more uniform flow to the ambient atmosphere in the muffle.

Abstract: A muffle furnace burnout section includes dual parallel spargers each having parallel first and second sparger sections. The region between the first and second sparger sections includes a thermal and gas barrier transition section secured to the spargers. The transition section is removable from the muffle with the sparger assembly as an integral unit. The transition section is adjustable and mates with a transition barrier plate secured within the muffle at the transition region.

Abstract: A method for leaching mercury soluble metals from mercury insoluble substrates such as microelectronic devices without damaging the substrate or contaminating the environment with mercury. A mercury vapor jet is formed by passing mercury vapors through an orifice at residual gas pressure of about 10.sup.-2 Torr and a temperature of from about 65.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. The mercury vapor jet strikes the substrate at an angle which is substantially perpendicular to the center of the substrate and leaches the mercury soluble metal therefrom.