Abstract: Electrical circuit components such as integrated circuit chips with plural closely-spaced mounting feet/terminals are mounted on surface-mount connection pads on a printed circuit board very simply and easily by mechanical means. An alignment pattern member having very precisely located holes matching the array of pads on the printed circuit board is used. The feet of the component first are fitted into the holes in the pattern to orient and locate them accurately, then the pattern and the component are separated from one another, and the component is placed with the feet on the pads. Preferably, the component is picked up with a vacuum pick-up device to remove it from the pattern, an is lowered onto the pads of the circuit board by the same mechanism.

Abstract: The computer terminal controller makes it possible to operate a relatively large number of input-output terminals with a single mainframe computer. The controller has a basic configuration enabling it to control up to sixteen terminals. However, the user easily can increase its capacity by adding one or more expansion modules, each module consisting of a cable connector panel and a printed circuit card. Precise locating pins and support structure and hand-operable fasteners are used to mount the panel so that no tools or special skills are needed. Each circuit card preferably contains sufficient circuitry to handle a specific number of additional input/output terminals, and the panel has the same number of cable connectors. The card and the panel are connected to one another by simply plugging them together. The card is guided accurately into engagement with the panel by card guides.

Abstract: A cathode ray tube display terminal includes a pluggable power supply. A recessed handle for removing the power supply from the CRT terminal is trapped by the AC line cord plug necessitating removal of the plug to permit access to the handle.

Abstract: A tilt base assembly includes a base and pairs of elongated feet which attach to the bottom of a cathode ray tube (CRT) display terminal unit. The base includes a pair of trapezoidal shaped base members which attach to the ends of a horizontal plate. The elongated feet suspended from the bottom of the terminal unit rest on both inclined surfaces of each of the trapezoidal shaped base members. The front inclined surfaces of the trapezoidal shaped base members are constructed to include a plurality of indentations which provide a corresponding number of stationary positions for providing different operator viewing angles over a wide range of adjustment. Both front and rear inclined surfaces of the trapezoidal base members are provided with side walls so as to confine the terminal feet movement to the track-like areas within the side walls.

Abstract: In a tape drive capable of utilizing various types of magnetic tapes and encoding techniques, there is provided a system of optimally controlling read/write operations under various sets of conditions. Logic circuitry is provided to respond to tape detection means and to pre-selected conditions and/or requirements, and to select electronic circuits either singly or in combination which provide optimum read/write operation for the set of conditions then obtaining.