Abstract: An apparatus includes a bill feeder, a housing for holding a bill that is received from the bill feeder, sensors coupled to the housing, an ultraviolet (UV) lamp that emits ultraviolet light to illuminate a portion of the bill, a UV shutter to control a power of the ultraviolet light on the bill, a memory and a processor. The processor configured to determine at a property of the bill from a first output of a first sensor, to determine a bill contaminant on the bill from a second output from a second sensor, to retrieve a UV dose rate to be applied by the ultraviolet light needed to sterilize the bill based on the type of bill contaminant on the bill, the property of the bill, an illumination area or any combination thereof, and to apply the UV dose rate to the bill.

Abstract: A system for instrument conveyance may include a shuttle device including an internal compartment for containing instruments; at least one handling unit configured to dispense instruments, where the handling unit includes: an opening mechanism configured to open the shuttle device to expose the internal compartment of the shuttle device, and a loading mechanism configured to load instruments into the internal compartment of the shuttle device; at least one head unit configured to obtain input from a user in connection with a transaction involving instruments; and a transportation system disposed between the at least one handling unit and the at least one head unit, where the transportation system is configured to transport the shuttle device between the at least one handling unit and the at least one head unit.

Abstract: A system for instrument conveyance may include at least one handling unit configured to dispense or accept instruments; at least one head unit configured to obtain input from a user in connection with a transaction involving instruments, where the at least one head unit includes a presentation opening between an interior side and an exterior side of the at least one head unit; a transportation system disposed between the at least one handling unit and the at least one head unit; and a shuttle device configured to transport instruments between the at least one handling unit and the at least one head unit via the transportation system, where the shuttle device includes an internal compartment for containing instruments, and where the shuttle device is configured to expose the internal compartment to the exterior side of the at least one head unit via the presentation opening.

Abstract: A system for communicating with a wireless device including a base including a front surface; a plurality of communication coils disposed on the front surface and arranged in a matrix, the coils being tuned to a near-field communication frequency; a selector coupled to the coils; at least one memory storing instructions; and at least one processor coupled to the selector and executing the instructions to perform operations. The operations include at least receiving a plurality of feedback signals associated with the coils; identifying a selected one of the coils associated with a strongest one of the feedback signals; and causing the selector to couple the selected coil with a wireless communication module.

Abstract: A crimp tool calibration system for crimping a prepared wire into a corresponding contact wire barrel includes a computer, a positioner having a memory chip storing positioner data, and a tool frame. The tool frame includes a head having a receiving port therethrough, and configured for the positioner to be removably engaged with the receiving port during a crimping operation. The tool frame also includes a plurality of crimping dies positioned around a periphery of the receiving port, an adjustment device to adjust a crimp depth, and a positioner interface coupled to the tool frame. The positioner interface includes a tool memory for storing tool data, a reader, and a transmitter, where the reader is configured to read the positioner data stored on the memory chip or the positioner, and the transmitter is configured to transmit the positioner data and the tool data to the computer.

Abstract: An example laser assembly for a laser printer may include a plurality of lasers to emit respective photons; a prism to redirect the respective laser beams emitted from the plurality of lasers toward a collimator lens of the laser printer to generate a photon beam; and one or more processors to: determine a timing schedule for individually activating the plurality of lasers based on a resolution setting of the laser printer, and when printing at a resolution corresponding to the resolution setting, control activation of each of the plurality of lasers to emit the respective photons according to the timing schedule to form the photon beam.

Abstract: A transaction card may monitor an amount of electric current induced in a first near-field communication (NFC) component of a transaction card. Electric current may be induced in the first NFC component when the first NFC component is within an electromagnetic field generated by a second NFC component of a transaction terminal. The transaction card may dynamically activate one or more output components associated with the transaction card based on the amount of electric current induced in the first NFC component. The one or more output components may indicate whether the transaction card can communicate with the transaction terminal. The transaction card may perform an action related to completing a transaction after determining that the amount of electric current induced in the NFC component satisfies a first threshold. The first threshold may indicate that the transaction card can communicate with the transaction terminal.

Abstract: In some implementations, a transaction device may include a display screen, at least one photosensitive sensor configured to detect a luminance of a viewing surface of the display screen, and one or more processors. The one or more processors may be configured to monitor an output of the at least one photosensitive sensor, determine that the output is indicative of an obstruction on the display screen based on the output indicating a change to the luminance of the viewing surface of the display screen, and disable one or more operations of the transaction device based on determining that the output is indicative of the obstruction on the display screen.

Abstract: A system for communicating with a wireless device including a base including a front surface; a plurality of communication coils disposed on the front surface and arranged in a matrix, the coils being tuned to a near-field communication frequency; a selector coupled to the coils; at least one memory storing instructions; and at least one processor coupled to the selector and executing the instructions to perform operations. The operations include at least receiving a plurality of feedback signals associated with the coils; identifying a selected one of the coils associated with a strongest one of the feedback signals; and causing the selector to couple the selected coil with a wireless communication module.

Abstract: A method for shaping a blank comprising a metal includes a step of loading the blank onto a first die, a step of bringing the first die and a second die together, a step of forming a seal around the blank, and a step of injecting a pressurized molten salt into a space in the blank to supply a hydraulic pressure to the blank.

Abstract: Securing printing systems and methods include a printer with a controller coupled to a memory and configured to perform a printer operation. The printer controller receives an instruction comprising a first font element and a second font element. An identifier corresponding to the second font element is retrieved from a memory. The printer generates and prints a graphical character that based on the first font element and an augmented symbol corresponding to the identifier.

Abstract: A computing device includes circuitry that is configured to disable a physical interface between a baseboard management controller (BMC) and a processor when the BMC is not running and a logical interface between the BMC and the processor is not available. Disabling the physical interface prevents an attacker from writing malicious code to the BMC using the physical interface. The computing device also includes circuitry that enables the physical interface between the BMC and the processor in response to receiving a unique signal sequence from a trusted external entity. When firmware should be installed on the BMC, someone with proper authorization can cause the trusted external entity to send the unique signal sequence to the circuitry on the computing device, thereby enabling the physical interface between the BMC and the processor. The processor can then write the firmware to non-volatile memory within the BMC across the physical interface.

Abstract: A crimp tool calibration system for crimping a prepared wire into a corresponding contact wire barrel includes a computer, a positioner having a memory chip storing positioner data, and a tool frame. The tool frame includes a head having a receiving port therethrough, and configured for the positioner to be removably engaged with the receiving port during a crimping operation. The tool frame also includes a plurality of crimping dies positioned around a periphery of the receiving port, an adjustment device to adjust a crimp depth, and a positioner interface coupled to the tool frame. The positioner interface includes a tool memory for storing tool data, a reader, and a transmitter, where the reader is configured to read the positioner data stored on the memory chip of the positioner, and the transmitter is configured to transmit the positioner data and the tool data to the computer.

Abstract: A transaction card may monitor an amount of electric current induced in a first near-field communication (NFC) component of a transaction card. Electric current may be induced in the first NFC component when the first NFC component is within an electromagnetic field generated by a second NFC component of a transaction terminal. The transaction card may dynamically activate one or more output components associated with the transaction card based on the amount of electric current induced in the first NFC component. The one or more output components may indicate whether the transaction card can communicate with the transaction terminal. The transaction card may perform an action related to completing a transaction after determining that the amount of electric current induced in the NFC component satisfies a first threshold. The first threshold may indicate that the transaction card can communicate with the transaction terminal.

Abstract: A system for instrument conveyance may include at least one handling unit configured to dispense or accept instruments; at least one head unit configured to obtain input from a user in connection with a transaction involving instruments, where the at least one head unit includes a presentation opening between an interior side and an exterior side of the at least one head unit; a transportation system disposed between the at least one handling unit and the at least one head unit; and a shuttle device configured to transport instruments between the at least one handling unit and the at least one head unit via the transportation system, where the shuttle device includes an internal compartment for containing instruments, and where the shuttle device is configured to expose the internal compartment to the exterior side of the at least one head unit via the presentation opening.

Abstract: An electromagnetic valve actuator (100) and method of control thereof. The electromagnetic valve actuator is for at least one valve (300) of an internal combustion engine (40), the electromagnetic valve actuator comprising: a rotor (102); a stator (101) for rotating the rotor; output means (104, 106) for actuating the valve in dependence on rotation of the rotor; mechanical energy storage means (108, 110, 116, 118) arranged to store energy in dependence on rotation of the rotor and release the energy to assist rotation of the rotor; and phase varying means (400) for varying a phase between the mechanical energy storage means and the output means.

Abstract: A method may include generating, by a computing device, a first dynamic QR code comprising a plurality of QR code frames, each QR code frame transmitted at a first frequency, the plurality of QR code frames comprising non-viable QR code frame(s) and at least one viable QR code frame. The method may include displaying, by the computing device, the first dynamic QR code, the at least one viable QR code frame displayed at a first time. The method may include transmitting, by the computing device, a first pulse to a user device. The method may include capturing, by the user device at the first time and in response to receiving the first pulse, the at least one viable QR code frame. The method may include generating and displaying, by the user device, a second dynamic QR code, causing the computing device to complete a requested transaction.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing a light emitting display unit having a plurality of light emitting elements are disclosed. Embodiments include a system with a test module, the test module including a plurality of light detection elements. Each of the plurality of light detection elements may generate a signal upon detection of light emitted from a light emitting element. The test module may also include a circuit. The circuit may receive input signals from the plurality of light detection elements, process the input signals based on a pre-determined function of the circuit, and generate an aggregate output signal based on the processing of the input signals. The circuit may also process the input signals based on discrete implementation of a combinational logic. The circuit may further receive instructions determining the combinational logic to be implemented.

Abstract: A multi-function transaction card may determine whether to submit a first payment as a passive payment device or to receive a second payment from another transaction card. The multi-function transaction card may have a length and a width that are in accordance with a standard for transaction cards. The multi-function transaction card may selectively perform a payment transaction based on determining whether to submit the first payment or to receive the second payment. The payment transaction may be performed by providing first card data to a transaction terminal for processing when the multi-function transaction card is to submit the first payment. The payment transaction may be performed by receiving second card data from the other transaction card, and processing the second card data via online data authentication, or via offline data authentication, when the multi-function transaction card is to receive the second payment.