Abstract: Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for instant bank account crediting via a bill-validating depositing system, such as a smart safe, for example.

Abstract: Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for instant bank account crediting via a bill-validating depositing system, such as a smart safe, for example.

Abstract: Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for instant bank account crediting via a bill-validating depositing system, such as a smart safe, for example.

Abstract: Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for instant bank account crediting via a bill-validating depositing system, such as a smart safe, for example.

Abstract: Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for instant bank account crediting via a bill-validating depositing system, such as a smart safe, for example.

Abstract: Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for instant bank account crediting via a bill-validating depositing system, such as a smart safe, for example.

Abstract: Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for instant bank account crediting via a bill-validating depositing system, such as a smart safe, for example.

Abstract: Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for instant bank account crediting via a bill-validating depositing system, such as a smart safe, for example.

Abstract: Briefly, example methods, apparatuses, and/or articles of manufacture are disclosed that may be implemented, in whole or in part, using one or more computing devices to facilitate and/or support one or more operations and/or techniques for instant bank account crediting via a bill-validating depositing system, such as a smart safe, for example.

Abstract: A currency dispense and control system (CDCS) for securely dispensing paper currency in multiple modes: (1) an ATM system and (2) a currency control system that allows a merchant or merchant-approved employee to withdraw cash from the CDCS independent of a standard ATM electronic fund transfer (EFT) network. The CDCS may be on-site and implemented using standard ATM hardware or may be located remotely. The CDCS may also include one or more of the following functionalities: a duress dispensation system that allows the CDCS to activate an alarm and/or otherwise communicate with local police or security services during a robbery, a time-release system that effects a time-delayed dispensation functionality, and a user identification and authentication system for authenticating a user identity and determining eligibility of the user to access the currency control system.

Abstract: Methods for making inhalable composite particles comprising a pharmaceutically-active agent, the method comprising: a) providing composite particles comprising a millable grinding matrix and a solid pharmaceutically-active agent, wherein the pharmaceutically-active agent has an median particle size on a volume average basis between 50 nm and 3 ?m; and b) milling the composite particles in a mill without milling bodies for a time period sufficient to produce inhalable composite particles having a mass median aerodynamic diameter between 1 ?m and 20 ?m are described.

Abstract: A currency receiving device (CRD) includes a currency recycler configured to accept, count, deposit, and withdraw merchant currency inserted into the CRD, a network interface, and a processor in communication with the currency recycler and the network interface. The processor is configured to transmit to a financial institution or a home office, via the network interface, an indication of an amount of merchant currency inserted into the CRD over a predetermined period of time. In some embodiments, the processor determines whether a second predetermined period of time passes during which no merchant currency is inserted into the CRD. In some embodiments, the processor determines an amount of deposited merchant currency does not meet a predetermined minimum deposit corresponding to the predetermined period of time. Alert messages, based on insufficient or untimely deposits, duress, or tampering, are optionally produced.

Abstract: A currency dispense and control system (CDCS) for securely dispensing paper currency in multiple modes: (1) an ATM system and (2) a currency control system that allows a merchant or merchant-approved employee to withdraw cash from the CDCS independent of a standard ATM electronic fund transfer (EFT) network. The CDCS may be on-site and implemented using standard ATM hardware or may be located remotely. The CDCS may also include one or more of the following functionalities: a duress dispensation system that allows the CDCS to activate an alarm and/or otherwise communicate with local police or security services during a robbery, a time-release system that effects a time-delayed dispensation functionality, and a user identification and authentication system for authenticating a user identity and determining eligibility of the user to access the currency control system.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator comprises a co-fired stack of piezoelectric elements formed from a piezoelectric material and a plurality of positive internal electrodes interdigitated with a plurality of negative internal electrodes throughout the stack to define active regions of the piezoelectric material which are responsive to a voltage applied across the internal electrodes, in use. An external positive electrode connects with the positive internal electrodes and an external negative electrode connects with the negative internal electrodes. The actuator is characterized in that the stack further comprises means for deliberately creating artificial cracks within the stack at a location at which the artificial cracks do not give rise to a short circuit between the internal electrodes but serve to relieve stresses within the piezoelectric material.

Abstract: A currency dispense and control system (CDCS) for securely dispensing paper currency in multiple modes: (1) an ATM system and (2) a currency control system that allows a merchant or merchant-approved employee to withdraw cash from the CDCS independent of a standard ATM electronic fund transfer (EFT) network. The CDCS may be on-site and implemented using standard ATM hardware or may be located remotely. The CDCS may also include one or more of the following functionalities: a duress dispensation system that allows the CDCS to activate an alarm and/or otherwise communicate with local police or security services during a robbery, a time-release system that effects a time-delayed dispensation functionality, and a user identification and authentication system for authenticating a user identity and determining eligibility of the user to access the currency control system.

Abstract: A cost-effective, currency dispense and control system (CDCS) securely dispenses paper money in one of the following modes: (1) an ATM system and (2) a currency control system that allows a merchant or merchant-approved employee to withdraw cash from the CDCS independent of a standard ATM electronic fund transfer (EFT) network. The CDCS may also include the following functionalities: a duress dispensation system that allows the CDCS to activate an alarm and/or otherwise communicate with local police or security services during a robbery, a time-release system that effects a time-delayed dispensation functionality, and a user identification and authentication system for authenticating a user identity and determining eligibility of the user to access the currency control system.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for servicing a currency dispensing device, such as an automated teller machine, and a currency receiving device, such as a provisional cash safe, disposed at a merchant location. The method may comprise transporting dispensable currency to the merchant location, inserting the dispensable currency into the currency dispensing device during a site visit to the merchant location, removing merchant currency from the currency receiving device during the first site visit, the merchant currency having been previously inserted into the currency receiving device over a period of time by a merchant, and transporting the merchant currency from the merchant location to a currency processing location. The currency receiving device may transmit an indication of an amount of merchant currency inserted therein so that the merchant is provided a credit by a financial institution for the merchant currency before it is transported to the financial institution.

Abstract: A currency dispense and control system (CDCS) for securely dispensing paper currency in multiple modes: (1) an ATM system and (2) a currency control system that allows a merchant or merchant-approved employee to withdraw cash from the CDCS independent of a standard ATM electronic fund transfer (EFT) network. The CDCS may be on-site and implemented using standard ATM hardware or may be located remotely. The CDCS may also include one or more of the following functionalities: a duress dispensation system that allows the CDCS to activate an alarm and/or otherwise communicate with local police or security services during a robbery, a time-release system that effects a time-delayed dispensation functionality, and a user identification and authentication system for authenticating a user identity and determining eligibility of the user to access the currency control system.

Abstract: A wavelet-based band difference-sum ratio method reduces the computation cost of classification and feature extraction (identification) tasks. A Generalized Difference Feature Index (GDFI), computed using wavelets such as Daubechies wavelets, is employed in a method to automatically generate a large sequence of generalized band ratio images. In select embodiments of the present invention, judicious data mining of the large set of GDFI bands produces a small subset of GDFI bands suitable to identify specific Terrain Category/Classification (TERCAT) features. Other wavelets, such as Vaidyanathan, Coiflet, Beylkin, and Symmlet and the like may be employed in select embodiments. The classification and feature extraction (identification) performance of the band ratio method of the present invention is comparable to that obtained with the same or similar data sets using much more sophisticated methods such as discriminants, neural net classification, endmember Gibbs-based partitioning, and genetic algorithms.

Abstract: A cost-effective, currency dispense and control system (CDCS) securely dispenses paper money in one of the following modes: (1) an ATM system and (2) a currency control system that allows a merchant or merchant-approved employee to withdraw cash from the CDCS independent of a standard ATM electronic fund transfer (EFT) network. The CDCS may also include the following functionalities: a duress dispensation system that allows the CDCS to activate an alarm and/or otherwise communicate with local police or security services during a robbery, a time-release system that effects a time-delayed dispensation functionality, and a user identification and authentication system for authenticating a user identity and determining eligibility of the user to access the currency control system.