Abstract: A system and method and programmed product interactively monitors the amount of cash present in a teller cash drawer while reducing the data input requirements of the teller. It allows a teller to comply with a consumers request for specific denominations while at the same time minimizing premature depletion of specific denominations of money. It corrects situations where a denomination is not an integral multiple of the next lower denomination thereby allowing a mix to be determined even when a lower denomination is depleted. The system and method including a programmed computer process presents a miscellaneous dialog field to a teller for handling commemorative and unusual denominations and the method allows dispensing from this amount as well as from the usual denominations.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved Wavefront Coding imaging apparatus and methods composed of optics, a detector, and processing of the detected image. The optics are constructed and arranged to have the characteristic that the transverse ray intercept curves form substantially straight, sloped lines. The wavefront coding corrects for known or unknown amounts of “misfocus-like” aberrations by altering the optical transfer function of the imaging apparatus in such a way that the altered optical transfer function is substantially insensitive to aberrations. Post processing then removes the effect of the coding, except for the invariance with regard to aberrations, thereby producing clear images.

Abstract: An inventory control system and method that tracks inventories of items with RFID tags, includes a reader unit and an intelligent station that tracks RFID tags to determine item information of items to be inventoried. The reader unit transmits and receives RF signals. The intelligent station includes a first RF antenna connected to the reader unit by a first transmission cable through a first switch, and one or more additional RF antennae connected to the reader unit by the same first transmission cable through additional switches. An inventory control processing unit receives item information from the intelligent stations to update inventory information regarding the items to be inventoried.

Abstract: Contrast Imaging apparatus and methods with Wavefront Coding aspheric optics and post processing increase depth of field and reduce misfocus effects in imaging Phase Objects. The general Interference Contrast imaging system is modified with a special purpose optical element and image processing of the detected image to form the final image. The Wavefront Coding optical element can be fabricated as a separate component, can be constructed as an integral component of the imaging objective, tube lens, beam splitter, polarizer or any combination of such.

Abstract: An image processing method includes the steps of wavefront coding a wavefront that forms an optical image, converting the optical image to a data stream, and processing the data stream with a filter kernel to reverse effects of wavefront coding and generate a final image. By example, the filter set kernel may be a reduced filter set kernel, or a color-specific kernel. Methods and systems are also disclosed for processing color images, such as by separating color and spatial information into separate channels. Methods and systems herein are for example useful in forming electronic devices with reduced opto-mechanical, opto-electronic and processing complexity or cost.

Abstract: This invention provides processes for preparing fiber or film comprising a polyurethane and layers delaminated from a lamellar clay, said layers being dispersed in said Polyurethane. Fiber and film produced by the processes of the present invention exhibit reduced tack and an increased ability to affix at least one dye.

Abstract: A wide-angle zoom lens with as few as two plastic elements codes the wavefront produced by the imaging system such that the imaging system is substantially invariant to aberrations related to misfocus. Signal processing is used to decode the wavefront to form the final image. A first type of zoom lens configuration uses as few as two lens elements. In this type, image processing may be modified to take into account the positioning of the lenses.

Abstract: Improved Wavefront Coding Optics, which apply a phase profile to the wavefront of light from an object to be imaged, retain their insensitivity to focus related aberration, while increasing the heights of the resulting MTFs and reducing the noise in the final images. Such improved Wavefront Coding Optics have the characteristic that the central portion of the applied phase profile is essentially flat (or constant), while a peripheral region of the phase profile around the central region alternately has positive and negative phase regions relative to the central region.

Abstract: A simple and inexpensive wide-angle zoom lens with as few as two plastic elements codes the wavefront that is produced by the imaging system such that the imaging system is invariant to aberrations that are related to misfocus. Signal processing is then used to decode the wavefront to form the final image. A first type of zoom lens configuration uses as few as two lens elements. In these configurations, the image processing is modified to take into account the changing point spread function (PSF) of the system. A second type of zoom lens configuration that uses more than two lenses requires no modification of the processing.

Abstract: This invention provides processes for preparing fiber or film comprising a polyurethane and layers delaminated from a lamellar clay, said layers being dispersed in said polyurethane. Fiber and film produced by the processes of the present invention exhibit reduced tack and an increased ability to affix at least one dye.

Abstract: The present invention provides extended depth of field or focus to conventional Phase Contrast imaging systems. This is accomplished by including a Wavefront Coding mask in the system to apply phase variations to the wavefront transmitted by the Phase Object being imaged. The phase variations induced by the Wavefront Coding mask code the wavefront and cause the optical transfer function to remain essentially constant within some range away from the in-focus position. This provides a coded image at the detector. Post processing decodes this coded image, resulting in an in-focus image over an increased depth of field.

Abstract: The present invention provides extended depth of field or focus to conventional Phase Contrast imaging systems. This is accomplished by including a Wavefront Coding mask in the system to apply phase variations to the wavefront transmitted by the Phase Object being imaged. The phase variations induced by the Wavefront Coding mask code the wavefront and cause the optical transfer function to remain essentially constant within some range away from the in-focus position. This provides a coded image at the detector. Post processing decodes this coded image, resulting in an in-focus image over an increased depth of field.

Abstract: Contrast Imaging apparatus and methods with Wavefront Coding aspheric optics and post processing increase depth of field and reduce misfocus effects in imaging Phase Objects. The general Interference Contrast imaging system is modified with a special purpose optical element and image processing of the detected image to form the final image. The Wavefront Coding optical element can be fabricated as a separate component, can be constructed as an integral component of the imaging objective, tube lens, beam splitter, polarizer or any combination of such.

Abstract: The present invention provides extended depth of field or focus to conventional Amplitude Contrast imaging systems. This is accomplished by including a Wavefront Coding mask in the system to apply phase variations to the wavefront transmitted by the Phase Object being imaged. The phase variations induced by the Wavefront Coding mask code the wavefront and cause the optical transfer function to remain essentially constant within some range away from the in-focus position. This provides a coded image at the detector. Post processing decodes this coded image, resulting in an in-focus image over an increased depth of field.

Abstract: The present invention provides improved Wavefront Coding imaging apparatus and methods composed of optics, detector, and processing of the detected image. The optics are constructed and arranged to have the characteristic that the transverse ray intercept curves form substantially straight, sloped lines. The wavefront coding corrects for known or unknown amounts of “misfocus-like” aberrations by altering the optical transfer function of the imaging apparatus in such a way that the altered optical transfer function is substantially insensitive to aberrations. Post processing then removes the effect of the coding, except for the invariance with regard to aberrations, producing clear images.

Abstract: An article of footwear, such as an athletic shoe, having a wear resistant outsole is disclosed. The article of footwear includes an upper secured to a sole having a ground engaging portion with a wear resistant material composed of a thermoplastic polymer blended with an effective amount of a fluorocarbon additive to improve wear resistance. In a preferred embodiment, the sole has ground engaging protrusions or cleats with at least the tip of one cleat composed of the wear resistant material. Preferably, the wear resistant material is a blend of thermoplastic polyurethane, such as Bayer Corporation's TEXIN 285™ or DESMOPAN 8785™, blended with 0.1% to 3% perfluoropolyether, such as DuPont FLUOROGUARD® Polymer Additive.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of 4-aryl-4-hydroxy-tetrahydropyrans and 3-aryl-3-hydroxy-tetrahydrofurans for the treatment or prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Abstract: An article of footwear, such as an athletic shoe, having a wear resistant outsole is disclosed. The article of footwear includes an upper secured to a sole having a ground engaging portion with a wear resistant material composed of a thermoplastic polymer blended with from 0.1% to 2% of a fluorocarbon additive. In a preferred embodiment, the sole has ground engaging protrusions or cleats with at least the tip of one cleat composed of the wear resistant material. Preferably, the wear resistant material is a blend of thermoplastic polyurethane, such as Bayer Corporation's TEXIN 285™ or DESMONPAN 8785™, blended with 0.1% to 2% perfluoropolyether, such as DuPont KRYTOX™ general purpose oils and greases having GPL oil grades from 100 to 107, and more preferably having GPL oil grades from 101 to 105, inclusive.

Abstract: This invention provides a fiber comprising a polyurethaneurea and layers delaminated from a lamellar clay, said layers being dispersed in said polyurethaneurea.

Abstract: An optical system for providing an in-focus, extended depth of field image on a projection surface includes an encoded mask or light encoder for preceding the light to include object information (or, equivalently, information about the desired image), and an extended depth of field (EDF) mask, for extending the depth of field of the projection system. In addition to including object information, the encoded mask encodes the light from the light source to account for the variations introduced by the EDF mask in extending the depth of field, so that no post processing is required.