A designer-adaptive visual code (32, 32', 32″) includes a user-selected set glyphs (36, 36', 36″, 36'−), a user-selected set of allowable glyph orientations relative to a user-selected reference angle, and a user-selected spatial arrangement of the glyphs (36, 36', 36″, 36'″). The user-selected set of glyphs (36, 36', 36″, 36'″) has a size sufficient to recover geometric characteristics of at least one repeating code portion so as to generate an analyzable image when captured via a camera-equipped mobile device (26). The user-selected spatial arrangement of the glyphs (36, 36', 36″, 36'″) includes the at least one repeating code portion (34) to be visible on a surface from at least two different areas of the surface.

A tag includes an integrated circuit thereon, including memory, antenna means for RF transmission of data acquired by the integrated circuit, a sensor sensing environmental conditions to which the sensor is subjected, the sensor providing signals based on the environmental conditions to the integrated circuit, a thermistor device of increasing the accuracy of the tag by confining on-board calculation data to a resistance domain and leaving conversion of the data to a temperature domain for an external device once the data is retrieved from the tag's memory.

An RFID event tracking and management system provides a standardized approach that can be utilized by various industry verticals. Loss of captured event data, such as RFID generated through an RFID event, can be prevented through a series of guarantee semantics. Approaches also provide for role-based data visibility. Queries received from a user or entity can be dynamically modified based on the role of the user/entity using a virtual private database (VPD). The modified query can result in a virtual private database automatically hiding or restricting access to event data at row, column, and/or cell levels, so that an authorized user/entity is only able to access data to which that user/entity should have access.

System, including a code scanner, for using multi-function codes, such as multi-function QR codes, MobiTags, ShotCodes, 2-dimensional bar codes, 3-dimensional bar codes, or images to open multiple ports of a telephone device. One of the ports is a text port, enabling the system to obtain the telephone number of a device that reads a code associated with an item and then generate a lead for follow-up by an agent. The lead is sent to the agent via a text or email message. The system may also pass the lead to other agents if the first agent doesn't respond, and it may also send additional information to the telephone device. The system may include a database of item-associated information and the capability of accessing the item-associated information for inclusion in outgoing messages to the agents and/or the telephone device.

According to one embodiment, a system includes a processor and an interface. The interface receives, from a terminal, planned-deposit information. The terminal is at a location that is remote from a deposit location. The processor associates a deposit identifier with the planned-deposit information and stores the planned-deposit information and the deposit identifier in a memory. According to one embodiment, a method includes recognizing, at a deposit location, a deposit identifier. The method includes identifying, based on the deposit identifier and information stored in a memory, a planned deposit. The method includes detecting that the planned deposit has been delivered to a depository and determining, by a processor and based on one or more business rules, an availability of funds associated with the planned deposit.

A transaction is preprocessed wirelessly in response to a wireless transaction preprocessing user device being in a queue for a point-of-transaction. The transaction that was preprocessed is then completed in response to the wireless transaction preprocessing user device reaching the point-of-transaction. Financial transactions and/or purchase of goods and/or services may thereby be preprocessed wirelessly and then completed at a point-of-transaction. Related devices and computer program products are also disclosed.

A banking system operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system includes an automated banking machine comprising a card reader. The card reader includes a movable read head that can read card data along a magnetic stripe of a card that was inserted long-edge first. The card reader includes a card entry gate. The gate is opened for a card that is determined to be properly oriented for data reading. The card reader can encrypt card data, including account data. The card data is usable by the machine to authorize a user to carry out a financial transfer involving the account.

A banking system is controlled responsive to data read from data bearing records. The banking system includes an automated banking machine. The machine is operable to carry out a financial transaction for a person responsive to a determination that the person is an authorized user of the machine based on correspondence between identifying data read by a reader of the machine and data store information. The machine includes a check acceptor that is operative to receive checks from authorized machine users. The check acceptor is operable to continuously move a received check along its transport path while simultaneously rotationally orienting the check into alignment with the transport path. A check determined not to have at least one property of an acceptable check is returned to the machine user. Acceptable checks are processed and stored in the machine.

A mobile device utilizes an embedded near field communication (NFC) capability to interact with a contactless transaction card to automatically obtain information from the card, e.g. reducing or eliminating the burden of manual user entry of the account information or the like into the mobile device. The mobile device, for a financial account transaction example, may read the information from the card at the time of a transaction, e.g. to facilitate an on-line purchase, an in-store purchase, ATM transaction or the like. The mobile device may store the information from one or more contactless transaction cards, for use in future transactions of various types. The mobile device and/or a server in communication with the mobile device may track various user activities on the mobile device that also utilize information obtained from the contactless transaction card.

A system and approach for conveying engineering and license data with a handheld or mobile device via a multi-dimensional code. Engineering data from a page such as a schematic may be generated, formatted, and encoded with a multi-dimensional code. The code in a visual presentation may be embedded in the schematic. A mobile device may scan the code. The device with an appropriate application may decode and un-format the engineering data from the code for a consumer or user. License data may be generated, encrypted, and encoded in a multi-dimensional code. The code in a visual presentation may be scanned and decrypted by the mobile device with an appropriate application, for a consumer or user.

An apparatus, device, method, computer program product, and system that obtains an end user assistance for an identified item within a geographic locale.

An improved document scanning device and a scanning method for checking the transparency and thickness of an identification document. In a preferred embodiment, any one surface of the document is illuminated by the illumination source facing the said surface and the opposite surface of the document is captured by the camera. The amount of light that passes through the illuminated surface of the document is measured and contrasted with the amount of light that passes through the same surface of a reference or original document. The scanning method is also capable of validating an identification document by detecting and authenticating any laser image imprinted on such document.

A method includes generating a machine readable code using each ink color implemented at a printer, printing the machine readable code on a first side of the medium, analyzing the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium at a verification unit and detecting a side mismatch if the verification unit does not verify the machine readable code printed on the first side of the medium.

Reference equipment including a reference card and a reference reader is provided for testing electronic payment devices such as cards and card readers. The reference equipment includes reference cards and reference readers that respectively can be used to verify compliance of product cards and product readers with product specifications The product specifications may, for example, be the ISO 14443 Standard specifications which are commonly accepted in the electronic payment industry The reference equipment is designed to enhance interoperability of product payment devices whose functional behaviors may vary because of vendor customization of device specifications or due to manufacturing tolerances In some embodiments, the reference equipment includes a reference card for testing card readers The exemplary reference card can comprise a current mirror to permit an electronically adjustable variable load using an external controller The reference card electronic circuit can exhibit variable load conditions.

A system and method for reading a bar code are disclosed which may include transmitting light pulsed at a selected frequency to illuminate the bar code; converting light received at the bar code reader from the bar code into an electrical signal; transmitting the electrical signal through a signal conditioning circuit to filter and amplify the electrical signal, to thereby provide a conditioned electrical signal; sampling the conditioned electrical signal at the selected frequency; removing energy due to light scattering within a housing of the bar code reader from the sampled, conditioned electrical signal; generating one of a logical “1” and a logical “0” output based on a value of the signal generated by the step of removing; and resolving output from the step of generating into data indicative of information on the bar code.

An output buffer comprises a series connection of a first field effect transistor and a second field effect transistor, wherein the first field effect transistor is connected to a first supply potential terminal and the second field effect transistor is connected to a second supply potential terminal. An output terminal is connected to a common connection of the first transistor and the second transistor. The output buffer has a series connection of a resistive element and a capacitive element, wherein the capacitive element is connected to the output terminal, and a control circuit, to which an input signal is provided. The control circuit controls the transistors in such a way that turning off of a transistor is performed immediately, while turning on of a transistor is performed depending on the charging or discharging of the capacitive element, thus achieving a defined slew rate of the output signal at the output terminal.

A digital phase locked loop (DPLL), a method of operating the same, and a device including the same are provided. The DPLL includes a digitally-controlled oscillator configured to change a frequency and a phase of an output oscillation signal in response to a digital control code; a main divider configured to divide the frequency of the output oscillation signal and generate a first feedback signal based on the divided frequency; and a phase-to-digital converter configured to subdivide the phase of the output oscillation signal and to generate a quantized code by converting a phase difference between a reference signal and the first feedback signal using a phase-subdivided signal resulting from the subdivision. The digital control code is generated based on the quantized code.

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for compensating for an undesired fractional spur due to a PLL in a communication system. The communication system includes a time-to-digital converter (TDC) that is configured to execute in parallel to the PLL. The TDC is configured to determine a phase difference between a reference frequency and an output oscillation signal provided by the PLL. The phase difference is received by a processor to estimate particular characteristics of the undesired fractional spur, and the estimate of the characteristics is used to construct an estimate of the undesired fractional spur.

Flip-flops in a monolithic three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC)(3DIC) and related method are disclosed. In one embodiment, a single clock source is provided for the 3DIC and distributed to elements within the 3DIC. Delay is provided to clock paths by selectively controllable flip-flops to help provide synchronous operation. In certain embodiments, 3D flip-flop are provided that include a master latch disposed in a first tier of a 3DIC. The master latch is configured to receive a flip-flop input and a clock input, the master latch configured to provide a master latch output. The 3D flip-flop also includes at least one slave latch disposed in at least one additional tier of the 3DIC, the at least one slave latch configured to provide a 3DIC flip-flop output. The 3D flip-flop also includes at least one monolithic intertier via (MIV) coupling the master latch output to an input of the slave latch.

Operation of a charge pump is controlled to optimize power conversion efficiency by using an adiabatic mode with some operating characteristics and a non-adiabatic mode with other characteristics. The control is implemented by controlling a configurable circuit at the output of the charge pump.

A power package is provided comprising a packaged transistor and a driving unit connected to the transistor and adapted to drive the transistor. A control terminal of the transistor is connected to a middle terminal pin of the housing of the transistor and outer terminal pins of the housing are connected to the driving unit and to a voltage level, respectively, wherein the connections are crossing free.

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for wideband frequency and bandwidth tunable filtering are disclosed. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a wideband frequency and bandwidth tunable filter that splits a filter input signal into first and second input signals, modifies the first input signal to produce a first output signal, modifies the second input signal to produce a second output signal having an intermediate frequency response, and combines the first and second output signals while adjusting their relative phases and/or amplitudes to produce a filter output signal with the target frequency response. Adjustment includes splitting the second input signal into third and fourth input signals, which are modified and then combined to produce the second output signal having the intermediate frequency response.

In one example implementation, the present disclosure provides a direct current (DC) restoration circuit for restoring the DC component of a synchronization signal provided over an alternating current (AC) coupled link from a transmitting circuit to a receiving circuit. During a period of inactivity in the synchronization signal, the synchronization signal may experience a drift towards the common mode, and may affect the ability for the synchronization signal to properly trigger the receiving circuit. The DC restoration circuit is configured to hold the synchronization signal steady during the period of inactivity, and allow the AC component of the synchronization signal pass through to the receiving circuit during the period of activity to alleviate the problem of baseline drift in the synchronization signal.

This invention concerns a creepage control system for locomotives that optimizes adhesion while minimizing wasted energy, rail/wheel wear and shock loading on the drive train. The basis of the invention is to always maintain a small but positive value of the slope of the wheel-rail adhesion creep curve (or differential of adhesion versus creep) for all traction axles of the locomotive through microprocessor control. The value of the differential of adhesion versus creep is used to define an operating window for control and operation of motors continually in the optimum domain when high adhesion is demanded. When, due to a sudden increase in rail contamination, the value of the control function becomes negative, the microprocessor control reduces the generator excitation in stages until the function becomes positive and inside the operating window again. The microprocessor controls a rail cleaning system which is turned on or off depending on the cleanliness of the rail. It also controls a rail sanding system which is turned on or off depending on the magnitude of wheel creep.

A sand dispensing device designed to be carried in the trunk of a vehicle includes a housing having a partition forming two interior compartments. A supply of sand is stored in a first compartment and an electric air compressor is situated in a second compartment. A remote switch is operatively connected to a relay in the second compartment for energizing the compressor. An induction nozzle has a sand inlet extending through an aperture in the partition into the first compartment and is connected to an air supply tube connected to an output of the air compressor. An outlet tube in the second compartment has a first end connection to an outlet of the induction nozzle and a second end extending through a side wall of the housing. A pair of discharge tubes are connected by a quick release fitting to a second end of the outlet tube and a pair of discharge nozzles are provided on the discharge tubes for spraying a sand and air mixture adjacent drive wheels of the vehicle, to enhance traction on icy road surfaces. The device is conveniently removable from the vehicle trunk for replenishing the sand supply or for transferring between vehicles.

The adhesion between a locomotive drive wheel and supporting rail can be substantially increased by application of a powder mixture that contains a hard particle constituent preferably including alumina, a soft particle constituent preferably including titania, and an iron oxide constituent. The mixture may be in the form of a dry powder, a paste with water or alcohol vehicle, or a metal composite that includes the powder.

An apparatus to improve traction conditions for motor vehicles under winter time driving conditions is disclosed. The invention comprises a sand storage reservoir and delivery system that supplies sand to each tire of a motor vehicle to aid in traction when driving in icy or snowy conditions found in wintertime driving. The sand reservoir provides sand to a plenum through four distinct sand compartments which dispense individual slugs of sand to a series of discs, connected via a cable, which move the sand through a delivery pipe to any of the four motor vehicle tires, as selected by application levers on the sand reservoir. The reservoir and associated controls are located inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle with the delivery tubes located on the undercarriage of the motor vehicle.

If the wheel/rail adhesion for a railway vehicle is insufficient then the wheels may slip when braking. If slipping is detected, a control system may reduce the brake pressure to permit a controlled level of slip and so to optimize the braking force for the available adhesion. By determining the pressure supplied to the brake cylinder, a signal may be obtained which indicates the value of the adhesion. Alternatively the adhesion may be monitored by detecting any discrepancy between the braking deceleration demanded by the driver and the observed deceleration. The adhesion signal may activate a warning. It may also be used to adjust the rate at which sand is supplied by a sander to the wheel/rail interface. The rate at which sand is supplied may also be adjusted in accordance with other parameters such as the train speed.

To lubricate a length of track, a plurality of lubricating nozzles are provided. Each nozzle is fed by the output of a single positive displacement pump, and all the pumps are controlled by a computer. Vibration sensors, sound sensors, or L/V ratio sensors detect physical qualities which occur as a train passes a given point, and another detector measures the time between successive wheels on the truck of a car as it passes a given point to measure train speed. The computer compares the output readings measured by the detector to a table of outputs in its memory that are indicative of a lubricated track to determine if lubrication is needed.

A method of dynamically controlling traction of a locomotive (V) having a plurality of axles (A1–A6) on each of which are mounted wheels (W) for moving the locomotive over a set of rails (R). A creep control signal (creep_n) is provided to a controller (TMTC) for each axle to move the locomotive over the rails, the creep control signal being a function of adhesion operation characteristics (tractive effort, torque, creep) for that axle. An advisory signal (ccc_n) combining values representative of the adhesion quality of the two axles is provided to the controller to maximize the tractive effort of the axle if the adhesion quality of the other axle is a maximum for the current rail conditions. This reduces the amount of time for the axle to attain its maximum tractive effort when rail conditions change.

A method for applying a liquid composition to a rail surface is provided. This method involves supplying a liquid composition in one or more reservoirs on a rail car (revenue generating car), and applying the liquid composition from the one or more reservoirs to the rail surface.

A vehicle salt dispensing system. An illustrative embodiment of the vehicle salt dispensing system includes a pump and supply module adapted to contain a supply of salt, at least one dispensing tube communicating with the pump and supply module and at least one generally curved discharge tube communicating with the at least one dispensing tube.

A rail lubricator for a railroad rail has a nozzle adjacent to the rail and attached thereto. The nozzle has a discharge orifice disposed beneath the top surface of the rail. The orifice is aimed generally longitudinally of the rail with the aiming including an upward component and a lateral component toward the centerline of the rail. Jets of lubricant project upwardly from the nozzle, arch above the top surface of the rail, and then fall onto the top surface and gage corner of the rail. This lubricates the top of a rail using an optimum amount of lubricant on the optimum area of the railhead. The lubricant is applied when the nozzles are spanned by a car.

The traction material dispensing apparatus mounts within the wheel well of a fender of a vehicle and is therefore visually and physically unobtrusive. The apparatus selectively dispenses traction material both in front of and behind a vehicle tire. A driver-accessed switch controls the apparatus dispensing of material. Of importance is that the manifolds, funnels, and nozzles are gravity fed by the vessel so that agitators and pressurized material flow assistance is not needed. Flappers within each manifold are controlled by the driver-actuated switch and control delivery of the traction material to the nozzles. As with the flappers, flow from the nozzles is controlled by a miniature DC (direct current) motor powered by the vehicle's electrical system. Screens ensure breakup of any clumps and therefore proper dispersion of traction material to the roadway.

A method for applying a liquid composition to a rail surface is provided. This method involves supplying a liquid composition in one or more reservoirs on a rail car (revenue generating car), and applying the liquid composition from the one or more reservoirs to the rail surface.

A sand dosing and blocking device for sand spreading systems for vehicles, particularly rail vehicles with drive, has a sand supply container with an outlet opening which can be closed by a closing element for the dosed release of sand to a conveyor unit which is preferably pneumatically activated. The closing element is formed by a lifting rod of an electrically activated lifting magnet. The lifting magnet is arranged inside the sand supply container in the area of the outlet opening. Frequency control of the lifting magnet varies the dosed flow of sand, which may be varied in response to vehicle wheel speed.

A curved-surface display panel fabrication method for fabricating a curved-surface display panel using a flat display panel having a first substrate and a second substrate includes: paring partially outer surfaces of the first substrate and the second substrate so as to reduce thicknesses thereof to a predetermined thickness; bending the pared flat display panel to a desired curved shape; attaching a first guide member which has a shape corresponding to the desired curved shape to the first substrate with a predetermined gap from the pared outer surface thereof and attaching a second guide member with has a shape corresponding to the desired curved shape to the second substrate with a predetermined gap from the pared outer surface thereof; and forming light transmitting reinforcing layers respectively in a space between the first guide member and the first substrate and a space between the second guide member and the second substrate.

A light guide plate includes a main body and a number of micro protrusions. The main body includes a light emitting surface, a bottom surface, and a light incident surface. The bottom surface is opposite to the light emitting surface. The light incident surface connects the light emitting surface and the bottom surface. The protrusions are randomly positioned on the light emitting surface, and are used for reflecting light rays towards random directions.

A substrate attachment device of a display device and a method for manufacturing the display device using the same are disclosed. The substrate attachment device of the display device includes a guide unit which is curvedly disposed, a first support unit which moves forward and backwards along the guide unit and transfers a cover substrate having a curved surface, a second support unit which is disposed on the guide unit, moves forward and backwards, and transfers a display panel, and a roller unit which rotates so that the cover substrate having the curved surface is attached to the display panel.

An apparatus for aligning a dispenser includes a table having a first alignment mark, an alignment plate provided along at least one side of the table, at least one syringe supplying a dispensing material to the alignment plate through a nozzle provided at one end portion thereof to form a second alignment mark, a first image camera provided along a side of the syringe and detecting an image of the second alignment mark, a second image camera detecting an image of the first alignment mark, and an alignment control unit aligning the image of the second alignment mark and a first reference position, and aligning an image of the first alignment mark and a second reference position.

A simple manufacturing method for an organic electroluminescent panel in which organic electroluminescent elements are arranged and sealed by a sealing adhesive. The electroluminescent panel has excellent sealing properties and excellent durability as a result of the organic electroluminescent elements being adhered to one another by a heat-curable adhesive. The manufacturing method is for an organic electroluminescent panel in which at least a first electrode, an organic functional layer containing a light-emitting layer, an organic electroluminescent element having a second electrode, and a sealing substrate are bonded together on a substrate by the heat-curable adhesive. The method includes forming a heat-curable adhesive layer on the sealing substrate, subjecting the heat-curable adhesive layer formed on the sealing substrate to pre-heating treatment, bonding the pre-heated heat-curable adhesive layer to the organic electroluminescent element, and subjecting the heat-curable adhesive layer to heat curing, in the given order.

A pressing device for assembling a liquid crystal display panel is provided. The pressing device includes a base plate, a pressing plate, a first cushion and a second cushion. The pressing plate is disposed opposite to the base plate and adapted to move toward or away from the base plate. The first cushion is disposed between the base plate and the pressing plate. The second cushion is disposed between the pressing plate and the first cushion, wherein one of the first cushion and the second cushion has a hollow zone corresponding to a display area of the liquid crystal display panel. A method for assembling a liquid crystal display panel is further provided.

Provided are a method of producing a polymer dispersed liquid crystal device with a cooling plate and a polymer dispersed liquid crystal device using the same. According to the producing method of the invention using the cooling plate capable of effectively removing heat with a simple method, it is possible to improve driving voltage characteristics and decrease a production cost of the polymer dispersed liquid crystal device.

An electron emission source includes nano-sized acicular materials and a cracked portion formed in at least one portion of the electron emission source. The acicular materials are exposed between inner walls of the cracked portion. A method for preparing the electron emission source, a field emission device including the electron emission source, and a composition for forming the electron emission source are also provided in the present invention.

Provided is an apparatus for manufacturing a deposition mask assembly for a flat panel display, which prevents a pattern from being distorted in a pattern mask when divided pattern masks are welded to a support fixture. An apparatus for manufacturing a deposition mask assembly for a flat panel display of the present description, which includes a frame mask forming an opening, a support fixture installed in the frame mask, and a pattern mask welded to the support fixture to have a pattern allowing a deposition material to be transmitted therethrough, includes: a welding head disposed in a side of the pattern mask; and a support member supporting the support fixture in an opposite side of the welding head with the pattern mask interposed therebetween.

A simple manufacturing method for an organic electroluminescent panel in which organic electroluminescent elements are arranged and sealed by a sealing adhesive. The electroluminescent panel has excellent sealing properties and excellent durability as a result of the organic electroluminescent elements being adhered to one another by a heat-curable adhesive. The manufacturing method is for an organic electroluminescent panel in which at least a first electrode, an organic functional layer containing a light-emitting layer, an organic electroluminescent element having a second electrode, and a sealing substrate are bonded together on a substrate by the heat-curable adhesive. The method includes forming a heat-curable adhesive layer on the sealing substrate, subjecting the heat-curable adhesive layer formed on the sealing substrate to pre-heating treatment, bonding the pre-heated heat-curable adhesive layer to the organic electroluminescent element, and subjecting the heat-curable adhesive layer to heat curing, in the given order.

A porous silica material in which silica particles are connected to one another three-dimensionally, wherein: the porous silica material includes a through hole including first pores smaller than a mean free path of an air, and second pores larger than the first pores; the porous silica material has a density of 100 kg/m3 or more and 300 kg/m3 or less; and an isobutyl group is bound to silicon of silica of the silica particles.

Process for obtaining lithium carbonate directly from the mineral containing silicium, aluminum, lithium and other metal oxides without the need to dissolve previously all oxides in sulphuric acid or alkaline hydroxides at high temperatures and pressures, by using carbon dioxide and water at supercritical or near supercritical conditions acting directly on the fine powder of the mineral.

The present invention relates to a method for producing hydrogen, with reduced carbon dioxide emissions, from a hydrocarbon mixture. In said method, the hydrocarbon mixture is reformed so as to produce a synthetic gas that is cooled, then treated in a shift reactor so as to be enriched with H2 and CO2. Optionally dried, said mixture is treated in a PSA hydrogen purification unit in order to produce hydrogen. The residue is treated by means of partial condensation with a view to capturing CO4 before said residue is sent as fuel to reforming.

The present invention relates to an organotemplate-free synthetic process for the production of a zeolitic material comprising YO2 and X2O3, wherein said process comprises the steps of (1) preparing a mixture comprising seed crystals, one or more sources for YO2, one or more sources for X2O3, and one or more solvents;(2) crystallizing the mixture obtained in step (1) to obtain a zeolitic material comprising YO2 and X2O3 as a crystallization product; wherein Y is a tetravalent element, and X is a trivalent element, and wherein at least a portion of the mother liquor obtained in step (2) is recycled to step (1) as a source for YO2, optionally after concentration of the mother liquor.