June 14, 2020

Up early for me this morning, 7 AM.  I was having a dream where I was back working for Litton/Northrup Grumman.  I suppose that is a natural thing since I worked for that company for 20 + years.  Most of the time was spent in the area where phototools were made.  The original area was named 'Camera'.  The name derived from the enormous camera used to reduce PCB artworks.  The camera was mounted on worm screws to move to precise locations to achieve the correct distance from the copy board.  The copy board was mounted vertically and was about 2 meters by 2 meters.  The entire setup occupied approximately 5 m wide x 6 m long x 3 m high.  A very large camera indeed.

source:   Lenore Edman

Later the area would change names and areas occupied.  The final evolution was CAD-CAM.  All computerized with no photos, only digital data for everything from the pcb layout to drill information to electrical testing information.  Even the prints and specifications came as digital data.  It was fun watching the maturing process for the backbone of the digital age.  First were the pnp and npn transistors my mother assembled in the late 1950's for Texas Instruments. 

One like Mom built. 

Next came the IC chips I worked in the image and metal depositing area at Texas Instruments.  The size I worked with were about the size of a half dollar.  The smallest one below is 2 inches.

Silicon wafers with uncut integrated circuits (ICs). The diameter is 2, 4, 6, and 8 inches (from left to right).
Source: Wikipedia

The final part in which I was involved were the big as a table top backplanes that we built at Litton.  We built much smaller boards, too, but the backplanes were the bread and butter for our division.

http://www.wiener-d.com/sc/parts-accessories/backplanes/backplane-vme64x.html

There were stops at Collins Radio, a finance company, a gas regulator company, my husband's television repair shop and years of baby sitting at home.  But back to my dream about Litton.  I was working to get the clean room even cleaner.  Then I dreamed I was looking for a restroom  And that is what finally caused me to awake, the morning potty call!  As long as I was up might just as well grab a cup of joe and enjoy the early morning quiet on the patio.  And that is exactly what I did leaving the clean room worries to the younger generations!

May your upcoming week be filled with flowers and sunshine!

Stay safe and healthy,

Janice