Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for digital check conversion. In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method may include accessing, by a computer, respective check information associated with one or more checks. The method may also include generating, by the computer based at least in part on the respective check information, machine-readable code. Furthermore, the method may include presenting, by the computer, the machine-readable code to a payment device for payment of one or more items.

Abstract: The present invention is related to methods and apparatus for locating information related to a check drafter. In one embodiment, a communication is received indicating that a first check drafted by a drafter failed to clear. The communication includes an identifier. A first database transaction record is located using the identifier as a search key. The first database transaction record includes transaction information related to the first check, the transaction information including at least a first separate drafter identifier. At least the first separate drafter identifier is read from the first database record, and at least a portion of the first separate drafter identifier is provided to a first recipient.

Abstract: A sounder device includes a piezoelectric resonant transducer, an amplifier and a coupling transformer to drive the transducer, an electronic signal produced to provide an input signal to the amplifier, and in which the electronic signal producer includes at least two lower frequency oscillators, a logical “OR” circuit having inputs from each of the lower frequency pulse oscillators, a resonant frequency pulse oscillator having a higher frequency near the resonant frequency of the transducer, a logical “AND” circuit having a first input connected to the output of the logical “OR” circuit, a second input connected to the output of the resonant frequency oscillator, and having an output connected to the amplifier input.

Abstract: A sounder device includes a piezoelectric resonant transducer, an amplifier and a coupling transformer to drive the transducer, an electronic signal produced to provide an input signal to the amplifier, and in which the electronic signal producer includes at least two lower frequency oscillators, a logical “OR” circuit having inputs from each of the lower frequency pulse oscillators, a resonant frequency pulse oscillator having a higher frequency near the resonant frequency of the transducer, a logical “AND” circuit having a first input connected to the output of the logical “OR” circuit, a second input connected to the output of the resonant frequency oscillator, and having an output connected to the amplifier input.

Abstract: A filter cartridge has a tubular filter element made from a porous, flexible sheet forming an annular succession of pleats having axial ridges, in the form of vanes all curved in a same circumferential direction, each vane comprising an upper face and a lower face. The lower face and upper face of each vane has lines of least resistance forming hinges, enabling the curvature of the vanes to be better controlled.

Abstract: A loudspeaker has a rigid sound radiator having a free edge and a electromagnetic drive mounted on an opposed hub edge and arranged to produce a torque on the radiator. Either a coil or a permanent magnet of the drive is mounted directly on the hub edge and has a radius which is substantially smaller than the radius of the radiator.

Abstract: A motor includes a permanent magnet rotor having opposed magnetic poles supported for rotation about an axis. A stator surrounds the rotor and consists of conductors extending parallel and uniformly around the rotor axis, in order to provide a uniform current sheet and a constant force per unit current acting on the rotor.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to a method of stabilizing the motion of a levitated object. The method involves continuously determining the motion of a levitated object, relative to a given point, and deriving the velocity of the object from the determined motion. A continuous, non-contact, corrective force is applied to the object in the opposite direction and proportional to the derived velocity.

Abstract: A device for providing electromagnetic levitating forces and heating is described. A plurality of separate coils are provided, each powered by a separate power amplifier. Each coil may be supplied with two separate frequencies, one to levitate, and the other to heat the object. Also, the coils may be driven at separate phases to more uniformly distribute the magnetic levitating and heating forces.

Abstract: Low frequency, high intensity sound is produced using a conduit having a flow of high velocity and low pressure air. A pair of sound ports are provided in the conduit, and a rotary valve connected to a reversible servomotor and audio source is employed to direct the flow of air toward and away from the ports.

Abstract: An acoustic levitator device for suspending a specimen object under the influence of gravity without contact with a solid surface comprising in combination gas levitation means for directing a concentrated flow of gas along an axis upwardly against the object to provide a force to lift a majority weight of the object, and acoustic levitation means for exerting an acoustic positioning force on said object to restrain movement away from said axis and to hold said object in a given position.

Abstract: An acoustic levitator includes a pair of opposed sound sources which have interfering sound waves producing acoustic energy wells in which an object may be levitated. The phase of one sound source may be changed relative to the other in order to move the object along an axis between the sound sources.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for accurately and instantaneously determining the thermodynamic temperature of remote objects by continuous determination of the emissivity, the reflectivity, and optical constants, as well as the apparent or brightness temperature of the sample with a single instrument. The emissivity measurement is preferably made by a complex polarimeter including a laser that generates polarized light, which is reflected from the sample into a detector system. The detector system includes a beamsplitter, polarization analyzers, and four detectors to measure independently the four Stokes vectors of the reflected radiation. The same detectors, or a separate detector in the same instrument, is used to measure brightness temperature. Thus, the instrument is capable of measuring both the change in polarization upon reflection as well as the degree of depolarization and hence diffuseness.

Abstract: A sound source coupled to an acoustic levitation chamber is provided with horn loading to improve efficiency and to protect the sound source from heat. A dish sound source may be used, and the horn may include a half wavelength pathway from the rear of the dish to provide additional efficiency.

Abstract: A sound transducer having a high impedance relative to air is coupled with mechanical transformers. The output transformer is in the shape of a dish having the center coupled to a piezoelectric transducer, the outer portion of the dish is unsupported and more flexible than the center section at resonance this allows large amplitude movement and a better impedance match to air.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing low frequency sound (20 to 100 Hz) at levels of intensity above the minimum threshold of human hearing. A mechanical-electrical drive having high power capacity is coupled via a linkage to a sound radiator and is responsive to the electrical input from a sound program source. The drive is capable of large excursions at high forces which are substantially constant irrespective of the extent of excursion.

Abstract: An improvement is provided in a loudspeaker having a current carrying coil disposed in the flux gap of a permanent magnet and carrying current to drive the coil and an associated sound diaphragm. The coil is substantially longer than the thickness of the flux gap and has an exposed conductive surface. Contacts are mounted near each side of the flux gap and slidably engage the coil surface to supply current to a limited portion of the coil situated in the flux gap, irrespective of movement of the coil.

Abstract: Objects are levitated in a sound system substantially free of reverberation and reflection by positioning a small reflector in the path of sound waves. Interference between the primary waves and reflected waves creates a localized zone of minimized energy closely adjacent to the reflector in which an object may be stably levitated. The energy well thus produced is not dependent upon distance from the sound source, and the levitated object may be moved in any direction by moving the reflector. A plurality of reflectors may be employed to manipulate and combine levitated materials, and improvements in the processing of levitated objects are also achieved.