Abstract: A piezoelectric active-mode incrementor switch system (100) includes two ratchet wheels (118, 124) that are rotationally mounted on a drive shaft (112) having a knob (102). The ratchet wheels (118, 128) form a slipping clutch with their respective drive wheels (116, 128) which are rigidly mounted to the drive shaft and mechanically loaded with spring (120). The ratchet wheels (118, 124) are mounted inversely to each other on the drive shaft (112) and make contact with their respective cantilever beams (114, 136) which each have a piezoelectric film. In operation, the switch (100) functions by mechanically stimulating the piezoelectric beams. When the knob (102) is rotated in one direction, only one of the beams (114, 136) is displaced causing a generation of an electrical charge that acts as a signal. The other beam (114 or 136) is prevented from moving and therefore its beam does not produce a signal.

Abstract: A piezoelectric switch (10) is made by laminating one piezoelectric film (16) on the top and a second piezoelectric film (18) on the bottom sides of a stiff central core (14). The central core has one or more actuation areas or poppels (12) formed therein. Each piezoelectric film has an electrically conductive portion (15, 17) formed directly over the actuating area. When the actuating area on the laminate is depressed (11), the piezoelectric films each generate an electric signal that is sent through the electrically conductive portions, thus creating a switching signal.

Abstract: A frequency domain switch (100) utilizes an array of cantilevered beams (108) laminated with a piezoelectric material (126). Each of the beams has a unique geometry, and produces a sinusoidal electrical signal in the piezoelectric film that is assignable only to one of the cantilevered beams. When a free end of one of the cantilevered beams is deflected, it produces a signal that is analyzed by suitable circuitry (410-440) to read the position of the switch.

Abstract: A control switch for a radio is formed using an electro-mechanical assembly (400) which includes an array of cantilevered beams (402) laminated with piezoelectric film. A movable surface (404) includes protrusions (406) positioned to deflect the cantilevered beams and generate pulsed signals in a coded manner. Electronic circuitry (410) stores the pulsed signals and associates the signals with a position of the switch.

Abstract: A solderless electrical interconnection is made using electrically conductive hook fasteners (15) that are embedded in a substrate (12). The upper part (20) of the fastener is exposed on the top side of the substrate, the central part (22) is embedded within the substrate itself, and the lower or hook portion (17) of the fastener protrudes from the bottom side of the substrate. Electrically conductive pathways (30), defined on the top side of the substrate, make contact with the exposed upper part of the hook fastener. The electrically conductive runners on the top side have a continuous signal path through the substrate to the bottom side of the substrate via the electrically conductive hook fastener. The hook fastener (15) is engaged to electrically conductive loop fasteners (60) on a second substrate (70) in order to create a solderless electrical interconnection and mechanical interlocking between the two substrates.

Abstract: An automated method of predicting the number of defects that will occur during the manufacturing of a new electronic assembly design on a specific assembly line. Defective components are counted (214) as they are manufactured on an assembly line (210). The counted defects are stored in a historical database (220) and the defect rate is calculated. A bill of material for the new electronic design (230) is enumerated and information associated with each component is extracted from a library database (240) into a quality forecasting engine (250). The quality forecasting engine imports the enumerated bill of material and imports the stored defect rate from the historical database to perform a calculation of a predicted number of defects (260) for said new electronic assembly using the extracted library information.

Abstract: A one-way optical communication system adapted for vehicular use. A light-readable indicia (35) is embedded in a window or mounted on an exterior portion of a moving motor vehicle (10). The indicia (15) is transparent to visible light and is reflective to infrared or ultraviolet light, making it generally invisible to the unaided human eye. A beam (30) of infrared or ultraviolet light located in a fixed position remote from the moving vehicle illuminates the indicia and portions of the beam are reflected from the illuminated indicia in a representative pattern. The reflected beam is detected by a fixed sensor (25), which provides an electrical signal. The signal is analyzed to determine the identity of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A multipoint electrical interconnection (10) provides a plurality of electrical pathways between electrically conductive hooks (15) on a substrate (12) and an electrical component (50). A plurality of electrically conductive hooks generally formed in the shape of a `J` have a head portion (20) affixed to the substrate such that a hook portion (17) protrudes above the substrate. An electrically conductive portion of a component is disposed against the substrate such that it contacts at least three of the electrically conductive hooks and deforms the hooks. The deformed hooks provide a spring force to effect a multipoint electrical connection.