Abstract: To facilitate separation of lumber pieces that are of different species, an indicator liquid is sprayed on to a fresh cut end of each lumber piece to produce a characteristic reaction, e.g. based upon pH. After a suitable interval the coated ends of the lumber pieces are optically scanned, the scanned image being analyzed spectrographically to identify the species of the lumber piece, e.g. as between spruce and fir. The lumber pieces are separated accordingly so that further processing thereof, e.g. kiln drying can be done under optimal conditions for that species.

Abstract: A fingerprint-reading system including a sensor on which a finger, whose imprint is to be read, is pressed. The sensor has an active surface of elements sensitive to variations in temperature and integrated heating resistors that create a transient variation in the temperature of the sensitive elements thereby to generate temporary charges in each element when pressed by a finger. The charges are output in synchronism with creation of the transient variations in the temperature of the sensitive elements to provide stable images of the fingerprint which may be motionless. The output of the sensor enables real-time display of the fingerprint images and processing of authentication data. The heating resistor enables the sensor to produce stable images of a fingerprint by producing an internal excitation to offset the tendency of electrical charges, induced by variations of the physical temperature of the finger, from disappearing because the temperature of the finger has reached equilibrium.