Abstract: A plasma charging damage protection structure (40, 104) includes a first conduction path (90) for conducting positive plasma charging away from a device needing protection (44) and a second conduction path (94) for conducting negative plasma charging away from the device needing protection (44). In addition, a method (200) of preventing plasma induced charging damage includes the forming of plasma charging during semiconductor processing (202). The method also includes conducting the plasma charging through a first conduction path if the plasma charging is positive (210) and conducting the plasma charging through a second conduction path if the plasma charging is negative (214).

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for providing electrical insulation for local interconnect in a logic circuit. A system and method according to the present invention for providing electrical installation for local interconnects during manufacturing of a logic circuit comprising the steps of providing a first layer of material over a semiconductor wafer and providing a second layer of material over the first layer. Additionally, a photoresist material is provided over a portion of the logic circuit to be electrically insulated. Portions of the first and second layers which are unprotected by the photoresist material are then etched. At least a third layer is then provided over the first and second layers, and the third layer is etched such that the first layer as an electrical insulation over the portion of the logic circuit.

Abstract: The present invention includes an electrical connector system utilizing a single piece slide lever system which is lockable in a pre-staged and in a final fully seated position. The slide lever is used to provide assurance of proper mating position of connector halves and to mechanically assist the mating of male and female connectors. The slide lever may also be received inside of a flexible grommet to provide a mechanical assist in making a seal between the grommet and a panel. The locking features and the slide lever may be selectively released to move the slide lever from a pre-staged position (open position) to a final seated position (closed position) locking the two connector pieces together. Likewise, the locking features on the slide lever may be released to move the slide lever from a final fully seated (closed) position back to a pre-staged (open) position to disconnect the connector pieces all while the slide lever is contained within the flexible grommet.

Abstract: The outside poles of a three pole circuit breaker are each provided with a blow open latch which includes a latch hook having an open slot forming jaws pivotally mounted on the contact arm. A torsion spring biases the jaws to a cocked position in which they are aligned for engagement with a fixed stop member toward which the contact arm rotates as it blows open in response to the magnetic repulsion forces generated by a short circuit. As the jaws engage the stop member, the latch hook is rotated to mechanically latch the latch hook on the stop member thereby preventing rebound and reclosing of the contacts. A leaf spring mounted on the crossbar holds the latch hook in mechanical engagement with the stop member. As the circuit breaker responds to the overcurrent condition and rotates the crossbar, the leaf spring disengages from the latch hook so that the torsion spring can rotate the latch hook back to the cocked position for disengagement from the stop member upon reclosing of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: The present invention includes an electrical connector system utilizing a single piece slide lever system which is lockable in a pre-staged and in a final fully seated position. The slide lever is used to mechanically assist the mating of male and female connectors. The slide lever may also be received inside of a flexible grommet to provide a mechanical assist in making a seal between the grommet and a panel. The locking features and the slide lever may be selectively released to move the slide lever from a pre-staged position (open position) to a final seated position (closed position) locking the two connector pieces together. Likewise, the locking features on the slide lever may be released to move the slide lever from a final fully seated (closed) position back to a pre-staged (open) position to disconnect the connector pieces all while the slide lever is contained within the flexible grommet.

Abstract: A multi-pack comprising a plurality of containers, each having a respective label attached thereto, and packaging for holding said plurality of containers together, wherein the packaging is formed from a strip of sheet material which also constitutes at least part of said labels, and the packaging includes a plurality of connecting portions each of which extends from one to the other of a respective contiguous pair of the containers to join those containers together.

Abstract: A method and system for controlling air/fuel ratio of an internal combustion engine during cold start operation utilizes control logic to determine a base fuel pulsewidth and a base spark timing according to corresponding cold-start look-up tables. A crank angle of the engine at which a peak pressure in the cylinder occurs is then sensed to obtain a crank angle at peak pressure (PPCA) value. Upon reaching stable combustion, the base fuel pulsewidth and the base spark timing are ramped to a predetermined desired fuel pulsewidth and a predetermined desired spark timing based on the PPCA value so as to control the air/fuel ratio. Upon reaching this state, combustion stability is maintained by feedback control of fuel pulsewidth and spark timing based on the statistical variation of successive PPCA values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for aligning and laminating stiffeners to substrates in electrical circuits. Generally, this method includes placing a substrate within an alignment frame or tool; applying an adhesive on the substrate; placing a stiffener on the adhesive to form a chip package; applying sufficient pressure and heat to the package for a sufficient time to cure the adhesive. Another method of the present invention includes placing a substrate within an alignment tool or frame; applying an adhesive on the substrate within the alignment tool; placing a stiffener on the adhesive to form a package; applying sufficient heat and pressure to the package for a sufficient time to tack the stiffener to the substrate; removing the package from the alignment tool or frame; and heating the package for a sufficient time and temperature to cure the adhesive wherein the stiffener enhances rigidity of the package.

Abstract: A method of making a laminated structure includes forming a first lamination having first and second conductive layers having inner and outer surfaces and being spaced apart by a dielectric layer, drilling through the first conductive layer and dielectric layer to form a blind via having a bottom coexistent with the inner surface of the second conductive layer, plating the blind via with a conductive material, and patterning the second conductive layer to form at least one contact pad over the blind via.

Abstract: A constraining ring increases the modulus of an interconnect substrate to maintain flatness of the substrate. The constraining ring is made of materials selected to match the coefficient of thermal expansion of the substrate to that of the constraining ring. Circuit components including capacitors and resistors are formed on the constraining ring to provide enhanced electrical properties without adding to the size of the device.

Abstract: A method of minimizing warp and die stress in the production of an electronic assembly includes connecting one surface of a die to a package, and connecting an opposite surface of the die to a lid disposed over a constraining ring that is mounted to the package. The lid has a size, shape and coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) selected to generate a bending moment that opposes bending moments resulting from connecting the die to the package.

Abstract: An in-line index printing system includes a sensor that determines the average density value of a photographic frame, a programmable light source and a video camera. The average density value calculated by the sensor is used to set the current levels supplied to a set of red, green, and blue LEDs to produce light that compensates for the exposure and color characteristics of the photographic frame. The film is illuminated by the light produced by the programmable light source and the video camera captures an image of a frame on the film. The image is digitized, and stored in a memory of a computer where it can be manipulated, if desired to enhance the color. The images from the frames can be printed on a color laser printer, a CRT printer, or transmitted over a computer network, such as the Internet.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for coining solder balls on an organic electrical circuit package. Generally, this method includes placing a slug on one or more of the solder balls; and applying sufficient pressure for a sufficient period of time on the slug to flatten the surface of the solder balls so as to form planar solder coins. The apparatus includes a press; a ram attached to the press; a platform for receiving the package and a slug placed upon the solder balls.

Abstract: An electrical connector comprising: a connector housing having first and second opposing sides; on each of the first and second sides, a flex arm having a first end, a second end and a central portion between the first and second ends wherein a flexible member connects the central portion of the flex arm to the side; a cam lock lever comprising first and second lever arms and a handle connecting the first and second lever arms wherein the first lever arm is pivotably mounted to the first side and the second lever arm is pivotably mounted to the second side, wherein the cam lock lever is pivotable between a first state in which it is open and a second state in which it is closed; on each of the first and second arms, first and second cam lock seats; and on each of the first ends of the first and second flex arms, first and second locks wherein when the cam lock lever is in the first state, each first lock engages one of the first seats and when the cam lock lever is in the second state, each second lock engage

Abstract: A computer implemented abductive reasoner checks for contradictions in the reasoning operations during processing and determines subsequent processing dependent upon the results of the checking. Constraints on variables may be imposed to permit proofs to be pursued which otherwise would involve contradictions. Different types of abductive reasoning step may be assigned different costs and proofs or future processing steps selected dependent upon the costing. Alternatively or in addition, reasoning operations and the resulting proofs, if any, may be grouped according to the types of reasoning steps involved and provision may be included for pursuing operations involving less costly reasoning steps in preference or prior to operations which may be more costly. Where successive goals are to be proved, the proof of each successive goal may be performed by reference to hypotheses established in proofs of previous goals.

Abstract: A continuous forms printer utilizing paper without pinholes along each edge is provided with a first paper transfer device on the input side of the printing station and a second paper transfer device on the output side of the printing station. The two paper transfer devices are operated at slightly different speeds in order to place tension in the continuous forms at the printing station in order to control registration and magnification problems. For example, a vacuum transport belt is placed on the output side and operated at a slightly greater speed than the printer. The belt is provided with friction characteristics and operated at a vacuum pressure to allow slippage of the belt and paper at the desired tension. By placing positive paper control on the output side, the directional stability of the continuous forms is improved thus avoiding skew control problems.

Abstract: An receptacle for low voltage DC applications includes a receptacle surface in which are located only one pair of female connections. One of the female connections is a terminal normally connected to the neutral line of an AC power grid, and the other of the female connections is a terminal connected to a ground line of an AC power grid. The two connections are arrayed to correspond with the neutral and positive terminals of a conventional three prong AC receptacle.

Abstract: An electrical distribution system and method has storage battery mechanism of very large equivalent capacitance providing excellent ripple filtering and an ideal path to ground, and filter capacitor mechanism of microfarad size providing DC blocking and limited AC path to ground. The storage battery entity is maintained as to its charge by DC supply which provides regulated DC power in which switching regulation may be involved. The system and method provides dual voltage capability, both DC and AC in which circuit breakers may be ganged for simultaneous tripping, and in which intrinsic DC circuit(s) may be looped to increase current-carrying capability.

Abstract: A sealed connector-to-body interface comprising: a substantially planar body surface; an electrical connector including a housing having a shoulder proximate to one end thereof, wherein the electrical connector is affixed to the planar body surface and the shoulder is aligned substantially parallel to the planar body surface and spaced apart therefrom, wherein the shoulder includes a first shoulder surface facing the planar body surface; and a grommet mounted to the connector extending away from the planar body surface, wherein the grommet includes an annular radially extending wall abutting the first shoulder surface and an annular lip seal compressed between the shoulder and a first side of the planar body surface facing the shoulder.

Abstract: A voice encoding method ?and apparatus initialize! initializes (160) transmit and receive vocoders operated within communication units (12, 42) with a user-unique speech characteristic model (SCM) table (320) and an input stimulus table (340). The SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340) are created during a training task (120) and stored (144) in a user information card (360), within a communication unit (60), or at a control facility (90). During call setup, the tables are exchanged (180) between the transmit and receive vocoders and the user's speech is encoded (200) using the SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340). During encoding (200), either compressed table entries that most closely match the input speech, or indexes that identify the closest table entries are sent (220) in a bitstream to the receive vocoder. The SCM table (320) and input stimulus table (340) can be updated (240) during or after the call.