Abstract: Method and systems for securely and accurately authenticating a payment card by using biometric information associated with an authorized user is provided. The method may be implemented by providing a payment card that includes a processor; a display area coupled to the processor and configured to hide account information when the payment card has not been authenticated and to display the account information for a predetermined time interval when the payment card is authenticated; a sensor coupled to the processor and configured to capture biometric information of a user; and a communication interface coupled to the processor and configured to facilitate wireless communication with a mobile smart phone.

Abstract: A method of filtering an acoustic B-scan (500) for passive detection of an object (106, 108) underwater comprising ensonifying (400) a region (104) of an underwater environment (102) and receiving (402) acoustic signals from the ensonified region (104) of the underwater environment (102), the received acoustic signals corresponding to a plurality of sonar beams. The method also comprises generating (404) the acoustic B-scan (500) from the received acoustic signals and pre-processing (406-414) the acoustic B-scan (500) to remove historic artefacts and mitigate influence of reverberant energy. Energy content is then scored (416) in respect of the pre-processed acoustic B-scan (524) to provide a plurality of energy scores and at least one local maximum (200) of the plurality of energy scores is; identified (418). A predetermined criterion is then applied (808) to a local maximum (700) of the at least one local maximum (700) identified.

Abstract: A method of pre-processing acoustic signals received from an ensonified region (104) of an underwater environment (102) for passive detection of an object (106, 108) in the underwater environment (102). The method comprises generating (404) an acoustic B-scan (500) in respect of a predetermined time frame, and selecting (406) a temporal portion (502) of the acoustic B-scan (500) in accordance with a predetermined selection criterion. The method also comprises compressing (408) the selected temporal portion (502) of the acoustic B-scan (500) to provide a compressed acoustic B-scan (510), and applying (410) a B-scan background mask (512) to the compressed acoustic B-scan (510) to suppress any historic reflectivity samples of the compressed acoustic B-scan (510) and to provide an extant compressed acoustic B-scan (524), A dynamic range of the extant compressed acoustic B-scan (524, 600, 602, 604) is then suppressed (412).

Abstract: Method and systems for securely and accurately authenticating a payment card by using biometric information associated with an authorized user is provided. The method may be implemented by providing a payment card that includes a processor; a display area coupled to the processor and configured to hide account information when the payment card has not been authenticated and to display the account information for a predetermined time interval when the payment card is authenticated; a sensor coupled to the processor and configured to capture biometric information of a user; and a communication interface coupled to the processor and configured to facilitate wireless communication with a mobile smart phone.

Abstract: Method and systems for securely and accurately authenticating a payment card by using biometric information associated with an authorized user is provided. The method may be implemented by providing a payment card that includes a processor; a display area coupled to the processor and configured to hide account information when the payment card has not been authenticated and to display the account information for a predetermined time interval when the payment card is authenticated; a sensor coupled to the processor and configured to capture biometric information of a user; and a communication interface coupled to the processor and configured to facilitate wireless communication with a mobile smart phone.

Abstract: A press fabric includes a substantially flat inner sleeve having first and second ends; and an outer sleeve around the inner sleeve and comprising at least one machine direction yarn wound around the inner sleeve and defining first and second seam loops at the first and second ends of the inner sleeve. A method for making the fabric is also disclosed.

Abstract: Belt and method of making a belt for a paper making machine. The belt includes a flat woven material having a top side surface and a bottom side surface and two terminal ends separated in a machine direction. Folds formed in the flat woven material are separated in the machine direction, so that the two terminal ends are located under the bottom side surface. Seam loops are located at the folds, and the two terminal ends one of are arranged adjacent each other and overlap each other in a region offset from a center between the folds. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Abstract: A press fabric for a machine for the production of web material, especially paper or cardboard, including a carrying structure and a plurality of layers on one web material contact side of the carrying structure, whereby polymeric material is contained in at least one of the layers of fibrous material.

Abstract: A mixture contains polymer particles along with solids or fibers that can be utilized in press felts (or fabrics) for the press section of a papermaking machine and a method of making the mixtures are described.

Abstract: A press fabric for a machine for the production of web material, especially paper or cardboard, includes a carrying structure and at least one layer of fibrous material on one web material contact side of the carrying structure, whereby at least some of the fibers of the at least one layer of fibrous material are coated at least partially with a film of a first polymeric material and whereby a permeable composite structure is formed by a second polymeric material in the at least one fibrous layer, in that the hollow spaces which are formed between fibers of the at least one fibrous layer are filled partially with the second polymeric material.

Abstract: A fabric for use in a papermaking machine, the fabric including a first end portion of the fabric having a first flexibility, and a second end portion of the fabric having a second flexibility. At least one of the first end portion and the second end portion is treated with an agent to reduce the flexibility associated therewith. The first end portion and the second end portion are coupled together. The agent is substantially removed from the first end portion and the second end portion. The reduced flexibility of the first end portion and/or the said second end portion define a stiffness that is substantially unaffected by a humid environment.

Abstract: A pinseam press fabric is smoothed in the area of the seam by depositing polyurethane particles having a size of about 1 to 500 micrometers across the seam of the felt defined by the ends of the fabric. The polyurethane particles are drawn into the seam end by the application of a vacuum. Once the particles are deposited, the fabric is heated so that the polyurethane particles melt to form a polymeric matrix.

Abstract: A pinseam press fabric is smoothed in the area of the seam by depositing polyurethane particles having a size of about 1 to 500 micrometers across the seam of the felt defined by the ends of the fabric. The polyurethane particles are drawn into the seam end by the application of a vacuum. Once the particles are deposited, the fabric is heated so that the polyurethane particles melt to form a polymeric matrix.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a press felt having a first surface provided by a nonwoven structure and a second surface opposite the first surface, as well as a load absorbing base structure which is bonded with the nonwoven structure and is arranged between the first and the second surface. The press felt according to the present invention further includes particulate polymer material which is penetrated into the nonwoven structure from the first surface in sections in the direction of the second surface and which is adhered to the fibers of the nonwoven structure in a manner that the press felt has a permeability of at least 5 cfm, for example, at least 10 cfm. The present invention is characterized in that at least one filter layer is arranged in the nonwoven structure or at the barrier surface between the nonwoven structure and the base structure which is permeable for fluid and is substantially impermeable for polymer material from, for example, a predetermined particle size on.

Abstract: A press fabric for a machine for the production of web material, especially paper or cardboard, includes a carrying structure and at least one layer of fibrous material on one web material contact side of the carrying structure, whereby at least some of the fibers of the at least one layer of fibrous material are coated at least partially with a film of a first polymeric material and whereby a permeable composite structure is formed by a second polymeric material in the at least one fibrous layer, in that the hollow spaces which are formed between fibers of the at least one fibrous layer are filled partially with the second polymeric material.

Abstract: A fabric for use in a paper machine includes a pair of ends connected together in a join area to make an endless loop of fabric, the join area having a plurality of perforations extending therethrough.

Abstract: A mixture contains polymer particles along with solids or fibers that can be utilized in press felts (or fabrics) for the press section of a papermaking machine and a method of making the mixtures are described. Methods of making the mixture, press felts or press fabrics are also provided.

Abstract: A press fabric having a plurality of surface pressing plates on a sheet side of the fabric imparts an impression onto a sheet of paper web during a pressing process. The surface pressing plates are preferably resin pressing plates, and form at least one of a random pattern of dots, a predetermined pattern of dots, a grid pattern of dots, a regular grid pattern of lines, an irregular grid pattern of lines a plurality of squiggly lines, a plurality of wavy lines, a plurality of straight lines, words and pictures.

Abstract: A method of joining two ends of a fabric for use in a paper machine, carried out using a joining assembly, includes the steps of: placing a first end of the fabric on a first portion of a pin plate, the pins in the first portion of the pin plate extending into the first end; placing a second end of the fabric on a second portion of the pin plate such that the first end and the second end are in close proximity to each other in a join area, the pins in the second portion of the pin plate extending into the second end; and joining the first end and the second end in the join area. The method results in a perforated (and therefore permeable) join area.

Abstract: A fabric for a paper machine includes a base having a paper side and a roll side; a roll side batt layer attached to the roll side of the base; and a plurality of yarns embedded in the roll side batt layer. The yarns can be mono or multifilament yarns, and can be yarn cores in elastomer sheathes.