Abstract: An automated transaction system employs portable rate cards having embedded memories for storing rate information corresponding to different services, and a terminal which receives an inserted rate card and operates to calculate the value of an item requested at the terminal by a user using the information stored in the rate card, and to dispense the requested item having the calculated value. In the preferred system, the rate cards are used for different postal carriers or different services of one carrier, and the item dispensed is a printed postmark corresponding to the value calculated and the selected carrier or service. The system also employs portable program cards which store programs for generating waybill forms used by different postal carriers or different postal services. The waybill generating program of a program card inserted in the terminal controls the display of the corresponding waybill form on the terminal display and the input of information to be printed on the resulting waybill.

Abstract: Information-recording elements having a support coated with a layer having one or more magnetic information-recording tracks in in contact and adjacent to one or more non-magnetic tracks. Such elements are used as magnetic information-recording components of articles, for example, credit cares, bank cards and the like. They can comprise a layer coextensive to with layer containing the tracks to protect the tracks and mask them from view for security purposes. The tracks are coated from compositions that contain dispersed particles and have flow properties adapted to provide sharply delineated edges. The tracks can be coated on a support that is laminated to another support to form an information-recording article or they can be coated on a temporary support and transferred to another support to form such article.

Abstract: An identification system including a card bearing a code, in combination with a means operable by a holder of the card for hiding a selected portion of the code for creating a subcode associated with the proper holder.

Abstract: An improved credit card having a clear, unbroken metallized surface with printed graphics thereon which is scratch resistant and a method of making the same are disclosed. The method involves heat transferring a metallized foil to a first surface of a plastic substrate, silk-screen printing over the metallized foil with ultraviolet curable ink, drying the ink with ultraviolet light and overlaminating the printed foil with a clear polyester film coated with a heat-activated adhesive or coating it with an ultraviolet curable varnish which is cured by applying ultraviolet light to the coating. The plastic substrate is in the form of a large sheet from which a plurality of cards are die cut after the printing and application of the transparent film. A magnetic tape is then applied to the back of each card.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming, light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data carrier having an integrated circuit and to a method for making the same. During production a carrier element equipped with an integrated circuit and contact surfaces is inserted into a recess in the data carrier blank. To allow for the carrier element to be fixed in the recess, said element is underlaid with a melt adhesive film. To protect the integrated circuit from mechanical stresses, a film strip made of a material with high elastic deformability is provided additionally between the circuit and the melt adhesive film.

Abstract: A scanner includes a microprocessor for controlling operation of the scanner, and an interface circuit, which connects the microprocessor to a host computer and transfers data from the microprocessor to the host computer. Interface apparatus provides an interface between the scanner interface circuit and a personal computer, permitting the personal computer to act as a host. The interface apparatus includes a printed circuit board, output means, mounted on the printed circuit board, for transmitting data from the personal computer to the scanner interface circuit under control of an output strobe signal, and input means, also mounted on the printed circuit board, for transmitting data from the scanner interface circuit to the personal computer under control of an input strobe signal. The interface apparatus further includes an address means, mounted on the printed circuit board, for providing the output and input strobe signals to the output means and the input means, respectively.

Abstract: In an electronic memory card, an IC pellet has a number of electrode pads which are provided on one surface thereof and have a size larger than that of bonding terminals formed in the IC pellet. The IC pellett is received in a storage section of an upper inner core and is adhered on a writing substrate by an anisotropic conductive adhesive tape. Thus, internal connecting terminals formed ont he substrate are electrically connected through portions of the conductive tape to the electrode pads. The wiring substrate is mounted on a lower inner core and is received in a storage section of an intermediate inner core. Films are formed on the multi film structure of the inner core and wiring substrate and contact terminals are so provided in the film and inner core as to be connected to the internal connecting terminals.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for encoding magnetic information on a magnetizable substrate where the substrate is liable to be moved erratically, e.g. manually, past a magnetic head. Two parallel tracks are provided on the substrate and the first is encoded with binary information conventionally with shorter spaces between change of field representing one binary digit and longer spaces representing the other digit. The other track is encoded using changes in field on the first track as a timing reference such that any change of field on the second track substantially coincides with a change of field on the first track and one digit of the binary pair is represented by no change in field as the field changes on the first track while the other binary digit is represented by a change of field coincidentally with a change of field on the first track. The system and apparatus are eminently suited for use in parking meters where a power source to drive a card consistently past a reading head is not available.

Abstract: A scannable fraud preventing coupon or the like, comprising a first panel having a plurality of parallel bars providing a coded scannable image on a first surface thereof; a second panel secured to said first panel and including a portion thereof overlying said image; said image being scannable through said first and second panels; a series of lines disposed on said at least a portion of said second panel altering said image whereby scanning of said image is disrupted is disclosed.

Abstract: An IC card system comprises an IC card, each card including a microprocessor, a communication interface, a power supply interface, and memories such as RAM, ROM and EEPROM, and an external device such as a terminal. The terminal functions to supply electric power and send commands to the IC card, and includes a card reader/writer effecting data processing for transactions. The commands include a start command and an end command for the transaction data processing for the IC card connected therewith, and the IC card comprises a validity data flag table within the EEPROM. When a start command is received, the flag table records the validity flag in an invalid state and holds such state as long as an end command is not received.

Abstract: A card-like electronic apparatus comprises a core member an electronic assembly, an upper cover, and a lower cover. The core member includes a frame having an accommodation section for accommodating the electronic assembly, and a thick portion protruding from the frame. The electronic assembly is arranged in the accommodation section and includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of stational key contacts, an IC chip, an electronically-driven display unit, and a thin flat battery. The upper cover is arranged on one surface of said electronic assembly and includes a pressure-deformable sheet having movable key contacts aligned with said stational key contacts, key indicia aligned with the movable key contacts, and a display window aligned with the display unit. The lower cover includes a supporting plate, arranged over another surface of said electronic assembly, having a cutaway portion in which said thick portion is fitted, and which has high rigidity.

Abstract: A smart card (20) including a microcomputer (40). The microcomputer (40) being programmed with a smart card control program (50) and a data dictionary (52) defining the data to be stored in the microcomputer.

Abstract: A multidirectional scan pattern is generated by two mirrors, each inclined at a tilt angle and rotated about an axis at an angular speed. The size and shape of the pattern are controlled by adjusting the tilt angles and the angular speeds.

Abstract: Disclosed is a signal processing apparatus comprising a sensor whose impedance varies according to changes in quantity sensed thereby, a power source applying a voltage to the sensor, a current/voltage conversion circuit for converting an output of current flowing through the sensor to a voltage signal, and a feedback means for passing a current corresponding to the output voltage of the current/voltage conversion circuit through the sensor.

Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for validating a valuable document such as a debit card. The valuable document includes a plurality of value markings arranged to form a code word. Illustratively, the value markings may be optical elements capable diffracting incident optical radiation. Alternatively, the value marking may be electrical elements such as safety fuses, diodes or transistors, the presence or absence of the electrical element representing a logic "1" or logic "0" respectively.In accordance with the present invention, the code word is first read to determine if it is valid. If the code word is valid, one or more value markings are erased, in each of plurality of erasing steps, until, illustratively after the final erasing step all of the value markings are erased. After each erasing step, the erased and remaining unerased validations markings form a new code word. If the sequence of new code words corresponds to a predetermined sequence of code words a signal is produced.

Abstract: A point-of-sale credit card verifier for checking the validity of cards, such as credit cards, comprises means for non-destructively storing information on invalid credit cards for comparison with information which is read from a card presented for use. The information on invalid credit cards is transmitted by signals embedded in a VHF stereo radio broadcast from a broadcast station which is received by a VHF receiver/demodulator. A credit card sensor and control maintains the verifier switched off unless a credit card is to be read. The verifier is switched on when information is about to be broadcast from a broadcast station. The verifier operates quickly and independently of telecommunications networks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a card-personalizing apparatus comprising at least one device for treating the cards and one handling robot. The treating device comprises a plurality of personalizing units associated with a control unit. The handling robot includes a feeding hopper (1), a stacking hopper (6), a scrapping hopper (7) and gripper device for gripping the cards (3) mounted on a 2-way shift device (4), a control logic (L) being connected to the control unit to manage the personalizing operations.

Abstract: A scanner for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto to a host computer includes a scanning apparatus for optically scanning bar code labels and for providing an electrical signal in response thereto, and a decoding circuit, responsive to the scanning apparatus for translating the electrical signal into a digital signal. A microprocessor, responsive to the decoding circuit, controls operation of the scanner and translates the digital signal into data to be provided to the associated host computer under control of control characters. The scanner further includes a non-volatile random access control memory in which control characters are stored, and an interface, connected to the host computer and to the microprocessor, for transferring data from the microprocessor to the host computer and for transferring control characters from the host computer to non-volatile random access control memory via the microprocessor.

Abstract: A ticket issuing apparatus comprises a ticket stock having ticket containing portion for containing a plurality of tickets each of which has magnetic stripe, and ticket supply roller for leading out the tickets one by one, a conveyor for conveying the ticket from the stock, a magnetic head for recording a given data on the magnetic stripe of the ticket on the conveyer, a thermal head for printing on the ticket on the conveyer in accordance with the given data, a manual-insertion guide having at its one end an insertion opening into which a ticket is manually inserted from outside, the other end of which communicating with the conveyer, a side passage guide having at its one end a side opening communicating with the conveyer between the ticket stock and the magnetic head, and a control device for controlling the conveyer so as to move, at first, the ticket, inserted into the insertion opening of manual-insertion guide, through the conveyer into the side passage guide at the side opening, and, then, to move the