Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated check cashing in which an approved payee is allowed to cash a bank check payable to the payee by a previously identified maker. The method and apparatus is usable for check cashing systems that are not associated with a particular bank and are of the type in which a computer records specific information about the payee and about checks to be cashed by the payee prior to allowing the payee to use the system. Once the payee has registered with the system and has been approved for cashing checks, the system automatically inspects each check using optical readers and MICR readers to verify the identity of a check and record information written on the check. The system can then compare the information entered by the payee and the information on the check to verify that the check is of the type which has been pre-approved for cashing in the automated system.

Abstract: A display system for translucent objects comprising a shelf having an upper surface and a lower surface with apertures extending through the shelf. A fiber optic strand has an input end and an output end positioned through each aperture with its output end located at the upper surface of a shelf and with the strands extending downwardly to the bottom end and rearwardly thereof and terminating at a remote location. A source of illumination is located adjacent to the input end with a color wheel is rotatable in a path of travel between the source of illumination and the input ends of the bundle, the color wheel including segments of different colors whereby rotation of the color wheel while the source of illumination is illuminated will effect a continuous change of colors at the output end for providing a simulated internal luminescence of the objects being displayed. A supplemental shelf is located above the shelf with a lower surface.

Abstract: A laser welding apparatus is for laser welding an inner joint between first and second bellows diaphragms. The apparatus preferably includes a first clamp having an opening therein and having portions adjacent the opening defining a first clamping surface; and a second clamp having portions defining a second clamping surface, and wherein the first and second clamps are relatively movable to clamp the first and second metal bellows diaphragms together between the first and second clamping surfaces so that the openings in the bellows diaphragms are generally aligned with the opening in the first clamp. The apparatus also preferably includes a laser for generating a laser beam, and a beam directing element positioned in the opening of the first clamp and the openings of the first and second bellows diaphragms for directing the laser beam to weld the inner joint between the first and second bellows diaphragms.

Abstract: A single use lancet assembly comprises a housing for holding a manual operable lancet. A cap is slidably positioned on one end of the housing and has a projection for engaging an end of the lancet for driving a needle end of the lancet out of the housing when the cap is depressed. A plastic closure is attached to another end of the housing and has an aperture for passage of the needle. A spring member is integrally molded to the plastic closure for biasing the lancet into the housing. The cap projection and lancet end are constructed so that the projection slips over the lancet and when the lancet engages the closure so as to preclude re-use of the assembly.

Abstract: An umbrella comprising a central shaft having an upper end and a lower end with the lower end including a handle incorporates a plurality of pivotable members each having a first end pivotally coupled to an upper end of the shaft and being circumferentially spaced about the shaft and oriented generally parallel thereto when the umbrella is in a collapsed condition. A plurality of flexible members are operatively associated with corresponding ones of the pivotable members. The flexible members are each expandable into a generally hoop-shaped configuration adjacent another end of the pivotable members when the pivotable members are pivoted from a collapsed condition to an operative position. The open umbrella appears as a canopy stretched over a plurality of circumferentially spaced ribs with each rib terminating in a hoop-shaped member.

Abstract: A laser welding machine includes an arbor for rotating a plurality of bellows diaphragms positioned together in side-by-side relation adjacent the laser. An optical tracker is provided for optically tracking a position of a rotating outer joint of the diaphragms as the arbor rotates. In addition, a low inertia beam steering mechanism is used for directing the laser beam to form a weld in the rotating outer joint responsive to the optical tracker. The laser may be an Nd:YAG, a diode laser, or carbon dioxide laser, for example. The optical tracker preferably includes a solid state camera and an illumination source positioned on opposite sides of the rotating outer joint to capture a shadow image of the joint. The welding machine may further include a processor and associated display operatively connected to the camera and to the beam steering means. The display may be used for displaying the shadow image of the rotating outer joint.

Abstract: A sailboard utilizing a dual-hook/loop connector is provided for attaching a sail 35 to a sailboard. The sailboard includes a hull, a base unit attached to the hull, a boom attached to the base unit, a sail 35 having a first side 40 and a second side 45 opposed the first side 40, with an edge 50 therebetween, and further having at least a first means for receiving 55 attached to the first side 40 and a second means for receiving 60 attached to the second side 45 opposed the first means for receiving 55, and a device for attaching the sail 35 to the hull, base unit, or boom including at least a first hook 115 and a second hook 120 opposed the first hook 115, where the first hook 115 and the second hook 120 are operable to engage the first means for receiving 55 and the second means for receiving 60, respectively, and further including a mechanism operable to engage a line from the hull, base unit, or boom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for maintaining relatively low ripple current in a dc-dc converter while minimizing the size of an inductive line filter utilizes a transformer having at least a pair of secondary windings in which the secondary windings are selected to have different numbers of winding turns depending on the specific design of the ideal duty factor at which the converter will be operated. In addition, the converter is provided with an active pre-load which establishes a continuous conduction current when load current is below some selected minimum value in order to provide control stability during light load conditions without converter oscillations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of providing active entertainment for persons waiting for service in which such persons are provided with an electronic pager assembly for notifying when service is available includes an electronically controllable pager assembly having a controllable screen display which is programmed with information likely to be desirable to a person holding the pager. A set of instructions enabling a person to access the information programmed in the pager assembly is printed on the assembly. The pager notification capability functions regardless of whether the information display is or is not active.

Abstract: A golf training aid for establishing an idealized golf club position and swing path for short golf swings is attachable to a golf club adjacent the club grip. The training aid has a shaped, elongate shaft with one end coupled to the club and an opposite end adapted for positioning through an armpit of a user. A flexible connector couples an upper end of the shaft to its lower end to allow flexing of the shaft as the club is gripped. A sliding tubular member positioned on the upper end of the shaft is placed under the arm of the user to allow the distance between the user's hands and shoulder to vary during the golf swing while maintaining correct alignment of the club.

Abstract: A method for controlling an air sampling pump includes establishing from empirical measurement a family of sets of data relating speed of the pump to the flow rate of air through the pump as a function of pressure drop of the air at the pump inlet and storing the data in an electronic memory. The pump is then operated at a selected speed corresponding to a desired air flow rate and selected inlet pressure drop. The actual pressure drop is measured and a pair of sets of pressure drop values are identified in the stored data, which values bracket the actual measured pressure drop. The desired air flow rate and corresponding pump RPM value for each of the identified pair of sets of differential pressure values are located and extrapolation is used to locate a new value of RPM for delivering the desired air flow rate at the actual measured value of pressure drop. The pump is then operated at the new RPM value.

Abstract: A programmable logic controller computer system is provided which achieves great flexibility in communication among the components of the system. The computer system includes a host programmable logic controller coupled by a field bus to a programmable bus interface unit. The programmable bus interface unit is located at a field station which includes a main bus to which a micro field processor and a plurality of I/O modules are coupled. The micro field processor is capable of locally processing I/O data from the I/O modules without involving the host PLC. A hand-held programmer is coupled to the programmable bus interface unit to permit the user to program an I/O map into the bus interface unit. The I/O map specifies mapping among the I/O modules, the micro field processor and the host programmable logic controllers. In this manner, communication among the I/O modules, the micro field processor and the host programmable logic controller is flexibly specified and controlled.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for use in the rotary cutting of wood veneer is disclosed. The improved apparatus and method are preferably employed in connection with a conventional lathe having a pressure bar. Such a lathe is of the type that is used to produce wood veneer from a workpiece of wood, such as a log. The improvement is characterized as maintaining a preselected pressure of the pressure bar against the wood, and subsequently adjusting the preselected pressure bar position by using means for doing so, thereby producing wood veneer of uniform thickness and surface quality, independent of variations in wood density and wood hardness, such variations resulting from natural growth conditions and temperature of the wood.

Abstract: A bi-directional, magnetic isolator which can pass an isolated housekeeping supply voltage from an input side to an output side and can also transfer an isolated error signal from the output side to the input side of the isolator. The dual functions of the magnetic isolator allow a power supply to operate properly during either a no-load or output short circuit condition. The magnetic isolator comprises a pair of pulse transformers each having a primary and a secondary winding. The housekeeping supply voltage is transferred through one of the pulse transformers by pulsing the supply voltage from the primary winding to a secondary winding, rectifying the pulsating voltage and storing the rectified voltage on an output capacitor. The error signal is transferred in an opposite direction through the second pulse transformer using the same technique, i.e.

Abstract: A nonlinear optical device includes a waveguide adjacent a substrate. The waveguide is preferably formed of a polymer or other matrix material that contains chromophores having different dipole moment directions when in respective different energy states. The chromophores may be poled to have alternating first and second dipole moment directions thereby defining corresponding alternately poled waveguide portions. Accordingly, quasi-phase matching in the waveguide may be readily achieved for application in optical frequency conversion, for example. The chromophores preferably exhibit relatively high second-order nonlinearity and may be poled to have opposite first and second dipole moment directions.

Abstract: A holding mechanism for a telescopic handle comprising a plurality of telescoping hollow tubes characterized by relative sliding stiffness between each of the tubes and having a similar resistance to rotation comprises a one piece partial sleeve sized to fit snugly about a respective one of the telescoping tubes and having a crimped portion extending radially inward over an axial extent of the sleeve intermediate its opposite circumferential ends. Each tube has an axially extending slot adjacent a first end for receiving the crimped portion of the sleeve when the sleeve is positioned on the tube. The handle is assembled by sliding another tube over the tube and sleeve. The overlaying tube has one end terminating in a necked down portion having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the inner tube and smaller than a diameter of the sleeve when the sleeve is positioned on the inner tube whereby the one end of the outer tube cannot pass over the sleeve on the inner tube.

Abstract: A cylinder head has a head portion for attachment to an engine cylinder of an internal combustion engine, and a combustion chamber dome is adjustably received in a central aperture of the head portion. External circumscribed threads on the combustion chamber dome engage corresponding threads in the central aperture of the head portion so that the combustion chamber dome may be adjustably moved into a preselected adjusted position within the central aperture by rotation of the combustion chamber dome with respect to the head portion.A method of adjustably establishing a combustion chamber in a cylinder of 1 an internal combustion engine is also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for cleaning of a magnetic read head in an electronic lock assembly includes an elongated, generally flat plate member adapted for insertion into a key card slot in the lock. An absorbent cleaning strip extends lengthwise over the flat plate member and is aligned so as to rub over the magnetic read head in the lock assembly when the plate member is inserted into the lock. The portion of the cleaning strip which extends over the plate member is only a minor portion of the total length of the strip, the remaining portion of the strip being stored in a housing or container attached to the plate member. The strip is advanced from the housing over the plate member each time the lock is desired to be cleaned. The strip is preferably an absorbent material and is saturated in a solvent within the storage housing. The housing further includes a take-up reel for collecting used portions of the strip material.