Abstract: A method of operating an image-based self-service check depositing terminal comprises receiving from a customer a check to be deposited, capturing image data which is representative of a first check image, binarizing the captured image data to provide a second check image which is a binary form of the first image, determining a check image quality value associated with the second image, comparing the quality value with a first threshold, transmitting the second image to a back office facility when the quality value is outside of the first threshold, comparing the quality value with a second threshold which is different from the first threshold, returning the check to the customer when the quality value is outside of the second threshold, and transmitting the first image to a back office facility when the quality value is between the first and second thresholds.

Abstract: A method is provided of operating a check image data processing facility to detect a duplicate check deposit. The method comprises receiving from a remote deposit capture device check image data which is representative of an image of a check being deposited by the customer, determining whether a MICR code line of the check image matches a MICR code line stored in a check item database, extracting check data from at least one focus area of the check image, transmitting a message to the remote deposit capture device to indicate to the customer that the check is a duplicate check based upon the check data extracted from the at least one focus area of the check image.

Abstract: A method for determining time a single transit of an acoustic wave through a test material using a calibration material having known acoustic velocity characteristics and an acoustic pitch-catch system with a signal recorder for recording a received signal as a function of time. The system includes a first configuration for transmission of acoustic shear waves and a second configuration for transmission of acoustic longitudinal waves. In the first configuration, a first acoustic zero is determined when the acoustic shear waves are applied to the calibration material. In its second configuration, a second acoustic zero is determined when the acoustic longitudinal waves are applied to the calibration material. Each configuration is coupled to a test material with the respective first and second acoustic zeroes identified on the recorder. The signal recorder determines a single transit time for the acoustic waves through the test material.

Abstract: A method of operating a publicly-accessible image-based self-service check depositing terminal comprises receiving from a self-service depositor customer a check to be deposited, capturing non-binary image data which is representative of a non-binary image of the check, binarizing the non-binary image data to provide binarized data which is representative of a binary image of the check, determining a check image quality value associated with the binary image of the check, comparing the check image quality value with a first threshold value, transmitting the binarized data to a back office facility of an institution when the check image quality value is outside of the first threshold value, comparing the check image quality value with a second threshold value which is different from the first threshold value, returning the check to the self-service depositor customer when the check image quality value is outside of the second threshold value, and transmitting the non-binary image data to a back office facility

Abstract: Deposit transaction data associated with a check deposited at an automated teller machine (ATM) is processed to determine if the deposited check is acceptable. Deposit transaction data relating to the deposited check is received from an ATM switch. A determination is made as to whether the deposited check is acceptable based upon the transaction data. A flag is set and a risk score is assigned when the deposited check is determined to be unacceptable. A second source file is created using set flags and assigned risk scores, and then sent to a data server. The second source tile is merged with associated deposit data retrieved from memory at the data server. The merged file is sent to a deposit review processor and a deposit review workstation. The deposit review processor determines if any deposited item needs to be reviewed by a human operator or outsorted based upon data contained in the merged file.

Abstract: A method for inspecting welds uses a single EMAT tranducer operated in pulse-echo mode that sends and receives Rayleigh waves to detect defects in a weld between sheet plates of dissimilar thicknesses.

Abstract: A method of detecting damage in a ferromagnetic workpiece such as a boiler tube positions a pair of EMAT coils adjacent to the workpiece at a non-zero angle with respect to one another. A spike pulse is applied to one of the EMAT coils for generating a horizontally polarized shear wave in the workpiece which is capable of being reflected by a flaw, and the amplitude of a reflected wave from any flaw is received at the other EMAT coil and analyzed and compared to a predetermined percent of an amplitude of a calibration standard flaw to establish the presence of the flaw.

Abstract: A method for non-destructively testing closely-spaced objects, such as header tube stubs for a furnace or boiler using electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) having meander coil sensors. The small size of the sensor combined with the need to move the sensor only a small fraction of the circumference of a tube to scan the entire circumference of the tube under test permits easy and accurate testing of an entire tube, even when the tube is one of a closely-spaced bundle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of inspecting for flaws in a specular reflector, where the flaws having an expected length and the reflector is electrically conductive. The method includes directing a beam of an electromagnetic acoustic transmitting transducer along a beam axis toward the specular reflector for producing a reflected electromagnetic acoustic beam. The transmitted beam has side lobes with zero points therebetween, at least some of the side lobes being major side lobes. The reflected beam is received using an electromagnetic acoustic receiving transmitter set at an angle to the beam axis, the angle being selected to be at one of the zero points and past all of the major lobes of the transmitted beam to eliminate root and crown signals of the weld, in the reflected signal.

Abstract: A flaw detection method and arrangement utilizes electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) which ultrasonically test a material for cracks or flaws. Four EMATs are used in a pitch-catch configuration, i.e. two pairs of EMAT transmitters and receivers. The EMAT transmitters and receivers are arranged such that a first EMAT transmitter is located on the surface diagonally across from a first EMAT receiver and a second EMAT transmitter is located diagonally across from a second EMAT receiver. The first and second EMAT transmitters transmit ultrasonic signals to the first and second EMAT receivers respectively; and these ultrasonic signals are transmitted orthogonal to each other. A pulser/receiver is operatively connected to the first and second EMAT transmitters and the first and second EMAT receivers for inducing the EMAT transmitters to propagate their respective waves. The pulser/receiver also receives the signal transmitted through the material after being received by the first and second EMAT receivers.

Abstract: A shield for an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) has multiple layers of electrically insulating and electrically conductive materials which contain a coil of the EMAT. A first insulating layer lies directly on top of the coil and is attached thereto by a suitable layer of non-conductive adhesive. A second layer having both insulating and conductive portions is provided on a side of the coil opposite the first insulating layer such that the coil is completely encapsulated within and in direct contact only with the insulating portions of the first and second layers. The insulating portion of the second layer has a high electrical resistance. A third, conductive layer having a conductive adhesive side is provided in contact with the conductive portion of the second layer. The third layer is also provided with a window extending completely therethrough having dimensions coextensive with those of the coil; shielding of the coil itself by this third layer is thus prevented.

Abstract: A method for detecting corrosion fatigue cracks in membraned boiler tubes in a membrane tube panel employs at least one EMAT coil generating ultrasonic SH shear waves at a predetermined beam angle. The method of the present invention provides better signal-to-noise ratios than conventional ultrasonic techniques as well as not requiring any couplant.

Abstract: A shield for an electromagnetic acoustic transducer (EMAT) has multiple layers of electrically insulating and electrically conductive materials which contain a coil of the EMAT. A first insulating layer lies directly on top of the coil and is attached thereto by a suitable layer of non-conductive adhesive. A second layer having both insulating and conductive portions is provided on a side of the coil opposite the first insulating layer such that the coil is completely encapsulated within and in direct contact only with the insulating portions of the first and second layers. The insulating portion of the second layer has a high electrical resistance. A third, conductive layer having a conductive adhesive side is provided in contact with the conductive portion of the second layer. The third layer is also provided with a window extending completely therethrough having dimensions coextensive with those of the coil; shielding of the coil itself by this third layer is thus prevented.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use in confirming hydrogen damage in a boiler tube comprises a pair of electromagnetic acoustic transducer coils which are mounted for movement toward and away from each other. An electromagnet produces pulses that generate acoustic beams across a chord and within the wall thickness of the boiler tube. For adapting to boiler tubes of different outside diameters, the transducers coils are mounted on a resilient member so that the coils can be pressed against the outer surface of coils having a variety of outside diameters. The angle of the acoustic beam between the coils must also be adjusted, however, and this is done by changing the frequency of energy applied to the coils.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distinguishing between hydrogen damage in the wall of a boiler tube, and surface damage on the inside surface of the tube, comprises a pair of transducers which are spaced on the outer surface of the tube and which apply a refracted shear ultrasonic wave through a chord of the tube with a beam angle that is calculated from the outside radius and wall thickness of the tube. The transducers are first applied to an undamaged tube and an instrument connected to the transducers is adjusted to 80% of full screen height. The same transducers are then, applied to a suspected boiler tube. Any attenuation of the initially high amplitude below 12 dB indicates hydrogen damage as opposed to inner surface damage which has been found to produce a far lower attenuation.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a method and apparatus of non-destructive testing wherein a generally bidirectional wave generating electromagnetic acoustic transducer is pivotally mounted upon a base with this transducer being continuously rotated or oscillated upon the base as it is moved with respect to the workpiece (or the workpiece is moved with respect to the base). This oscillation or rotation causes a wave to be generated along an arc with these waves extending radially outward from the base so that any flaws in the workpiece can be struck at an angle as close to 90 degrees as possible (the optimal incident angle).

Abstract: An ultrasonic tip diffraction technique for determining the depth of a surface-opening crack is disclosed. Longitudinal ultrasonic waves are transmitted parallel to and along the crack and measurement of the time of travel of the waves diffracted at the tip of the crack is employed to determine the depth of the crack.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for discriminating between flaw depths of 5% and 10% of the tube wall thickness of electric resistance welds are disclosed. At least two electromagnetic acoustic transducers (EMATs) are employed to generate ultrasonic surface and shear waves. A logic circuit discriminating means selectively activates an alarm for flaw depths of about 10% or greater, but does not activate the alarm for flaw depths of about 5% or less, thereby avoiding waste in time and materials.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for ultrasonically detecting creep swelling in tubular members such as fossil utility steam lines and headers. Ultrasonic surface waves (34) are propagated around the pipe (10) in a circumferential direction. The transit time (.DELTA.T) is measured by using the pulse overlap technique with an oscilloscope (24). Circumferential dimension is obtained by multiplying the transit time (.DELTA.T) by the known Raleigh velocity of sound in the tubular member.

Abstract: Angle-beam ultrasonic shear-waves, which are introduced via a pitch-catch technique in the axial and circumferential directions of a boiler tube, are used to detect the presence of hydrogen damage in boiler tubes.