Intermedics Inc.

Spacehab, Inc.

Timothy Michael Gadd

Philip H Chen

John C Munson

William M Otto

Martin R Fraske

Richard W May

A deployable crew quarters incorporates folding panels and acoustic panels to provide a lightweight on-orbit crew quarter. The deployable crew quarters preferably includes a frame and a plurality of panels mounted to the frame. At least one of the panels is hinged to the frame to allow movement between a stowed position and a deployed position. More specifically, the panels include a front panel coupled to the frame and two side panels moveable coupled to the frame. The two side panels are moveable between a stowed position and a deployed position. Still further, a top panel is also preferably moveable coupled to the frame, wherein the top panel is moveable between a stowed position and a pop-up deployed position. The front panel includes a sliding door panel to allow crew access to the deployable crew quarters. The front panel also preferably extends outward from the frame, which provides space in which a ventilation mechanism can be mounted. Further, fabric panels are attached to the side panels and over the rear opening of the deployable crew quarters to dampen noise.

Deployable crew quarters

A manufacturing method and apparatus for dicing printed circuit boards is disclosed that permits PCB's to be manufactured with greater component density and cut less expensively. The disclosed method includes forming a raw substrate to include conductive traces, mounting components on the substrate, testing the PCB and then cutting off the waste edges. The PCB can be formed and tested with components mounted on one or both sides of the PCB, and the waste edges can be cut off even with components mounted on both sides of the board. A workpiece fixture is provided that includes a recessed cavity into which PCB components extend. Double-sided boards can be cut using the disclosed workpiece fixture. The cavity includes a vacuum hole through which suction is provided to hold the PCB in place during cutting. Additional vacuum holes preferably are provided to hold the wings in place after they are removed. If desired, one or more saw blade guides can be formed in the workpiece fixture to accommodate a saw blade to avoid damaging the top surface of the fixture. The guides also permit PCB's to be cut without the need for space tape and the cost and imprecision associated with such tape. If desired, the substrate can be formed to include test pads in the wings which are subsequently cut off during manufacturing, thereby providing more room for components in the central area. As a result, the manufacturing process is simplified, manufacturing cost is reduced, and component density is increased.

Method and apparatus for dicing electronic substrate

Growing community of inventors

League City, TX, United States of America

Timothy Michael Gadd