Abstract: A data structure is disclosed encoded on the surface of an object comprising a series of block data regions with each of the block data regions including: an encoded data region containing data to be decoded in an encoded form; a series of clock marks structures located around a first peripheral portion of the encoded data region; and a series of easily identifiable target structures located around a second peripheral portion of the encoded data region. The block data regions can further include an orientation data structure located round a third peripheral portion of the encoded data region. The orientation data structure can comprises a line of equal data points along an edge of the peripheral portion. The clock marks structures can include a first line of equal data points in addition to a substantially adjacent second line of alternating data points located along an edge of the encoded data region. The clock mark structures can be located on mutually opposite sides of the encoded data region.

Abstract: A bar code reader includes a semiconductor laser diode as a source of an elliptical shape divergent laser beam and a shaping section for shaping the elliptical shape divergent laser beam to provide a shaped laser beam in the form of a circular shape collimating laser beam. A distance measuring section measures a distance to a bar code label and generates a distance information signal. A temperature sensor is attached to a casing of the shaping section. The temperature sensor detects the ambient temperature and generates a temperature information signal. A focal position controlling section conducts a focal position control in response to the distance information signal and the temperature information signal so that the shaped laser beam will have its focal position on the bar code label. A scanning section lights the bar code label with the shaped laser beam that has been subjected to the focal position control.

Abstract: An optical read is capable of reading a bar code in a mounted state when an article carrying the bar code passes and of reading bar codes set in an array format on a menu sheet in a hand-held state. The optical reader comprises a light source, a scanner that is driven by a drive and scans light emanating from the light source, a plurality of reflection mirrors that reflect scanning light scanned by the scanner and create a scanning pattern composed of a plurality of scan trajectories, a read window through which scanning light reflected from the reflection mirrors is emitted, and a light receiver for receiving light reflected from a mark. The optical reader further comprises a mode changer (or control unit) for changing a plurality of operation modes among which one or ones of the plurality of scan trajectories to be validated for reading are different.

Abstract: A method and module for transferring energy, clock frequency and data information without using an electrically conducting connection between a portable module and host equipment. Energy is transferred as optical radiation from at least two distinct light sources with intensities alternating between the minimum and maximum values in such a way that when one intensity goes from minimum to maximum the other goes from maximum to minimum wherein total intensity of optical radiation received by the module and supply voltage formed therefrom is nearly constant. The clock frequency is formed by and detected as the cyclical alteration of light intensities. Data is transferred as a modulation of the clock frequency.

Abstract: A bar code reader having two reading windows, i.e., a bottom window and a side window. An increased number of scanning lines are used for constituting scanning patterns for scanning bar codes, and the arrangement of the optical system is contrived to decrease the whole size of the bar code reader and, particularly, to decrease the depth of the bar code reader. A source of laser light, a splitter for splitting the laser beam emitted from the laser light source into two, a reflection mirror for transmitting one beam from the splitter to a polygon mirror, the polygon mirror which rotates to scan the incident laser beam, a mirror system for emitting the beam reflected by the polygon mirror through the reading window, and a focusing member for focusing the beam reflected by the bar code onto a detector that detects the beam reflected by the bar code, are arranged on the same line in the bar code reader. By using a concave mirror, furthermore, the beam reflected by the bar code is folded back to one detector.

Abstract: A silver halide fiber optic for the detection and identification of petroleum. The fiber optic serves both as a waveguide for transmitting a signal to and from petroleum in remote locations and also as an intrinsic part of the sensing element to obtain evanescent wave spectra. The evanescent wave is attenuated at various wavelengths based on the chemical composition of the petroleum in which the sensor is immersed. The spectrum obtained from an unknown sample is compared with the spectrum of known samples from a library to identify the unknown sample.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for power and energy transfer for non-contact IC cards, which is capable to communicate with an external device such as a host terminal. The disclosed method and system give the possibility to combine inductive coupling for remote power and data transmission, and capacitive coupling while IC card is attached to terminal, in order to transfer a large amount of energy. The new in the art is that bidirectional data and energy transfer from a terminal into an IC card is performing at two different carrier frequencies of an energy-transmitting alternating field. Herein the remote data transmission and energy transfer into the IC card is provided at first, lowest, frequency, utilizing the inductive coupling between a terminal transmitting-receiving coil and a IC card transmitting-receiving coil.

Abstract: A production mail system for producing a mailpiece including an inserter system for feeding a document in a path of travel and into an envelope. The document includes a control code printed thereon. The inserter includes a scanner located adjacent the path of travel for reading the control code on the document and a printer for printing a selected message on the envelope corresponding to the control code.

Abstract: An invisible symbol reading apparatus includes a heating unit for heating an invisible symbol formed on a sample and containing a material which emits infrared light when heated, a detecting unit for detecting infrared light emitted from the invisible symbol, and an arithmetic operation unit for binarizing a detection signal from the detecting unit. The arithmetic operation unit calculates a differential coefficient of the detection signal, that corresponds to a position on the sample. On the basis of upper and lower threshold values set for the differential coefficient, the arithmetic operation unit determines a maximum value of the differential coefficient in a region exceeding the upper threshold value and a minimum value of the differential coefficient in a region smaller than the lower threshold value. The arithmetic operation unit binarizes the detection signal by using the maximum or minimum value as a leading or trailing edge of a binary function.

Abstract: A card reader 10 includes a base 14 and a cover 60 securable together to define a card-receiving cavity 90 and a plurality of right angle terminals 102 therein disposed in a terminal housing 12. The base 14 defines a terminal-receiving section 32 of the terminal housing 12 and the cover 60 defines a terminal-securing section 74 of the terminal housing 12, the two sections together defining terminal-receiving passageways 79 within which the bodies of the terminals 102 extend. Upon assembling the base 14 and cover 60 together, the terminals 102 are secured in position in the terminal-receiving passageways and the terminal contact surfaces 106 extend into the cavity 90 proximate the cover 60, and a card 170 can be inserted into the cavity 90 with the contact pads 172 facing the cover 60.

Abstract: An optical read is capable of reading a bar code in a mounted state when an article carrying the bar code passes and of reading bar codes set in an array format on a menu sheet in a hand-held state. The optical reader comprises a light source, a scanner that is driven by a drive and scans light emanating from the light source, a plurality of reflection mirrors that reflect scanning light scanned by the scanner and create a scanning pattern composed of a plurality of scan trajectories, a read window through which scanning light reflected from the reflection mirrors is emitted, and a light receiver for receiving light reflected from a mark. The optical reader further comprises a mode changer (or control unit) for changing a plurality of operation modes among which one or ones of the plurality of scan trajectories to be validated for reading are different.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the progress of a plurality of batches of semiconductor wafer or memory disks through a multiplicity of processing operations at various locations within a plant facility and maintaining information regarding the progress of each batch at the respective batch. The method includes the step of inserting each of the batches of wafers or memory disks in a carrier constructed and arranged for supporting the wafers or disks in parallel, axially arranged, spaced arrays. A transponder is embedded in a planar wall portion within each carrier by way of a recess extending inwardly from a lower edge of the wall portion. The transponder has a code to identify the carrier and a batch of wafers or disks contained therein and to further identify the various processing operations to which the batch has been subjected.

Abstract: The current invention is an apparatus and method for determining types of recorded data cards, capable of shortening card processing time, preventing card deterioration such as damage to the cards, and correctly processing recorded data cards. An apparatus for determining types of recorded data cards, without contacting the cards, has non-contacting magnetic sensors (10), which are provided adjacent to a carry path of the recorded data cards at predetermined positions thereon, and determining elements (12.about.16) for determining the types of the cards, as the cards are carried along the carry path, based on signals output from the magnetic sensors.

Abstract: A card (922) comprises a body (909). A connector (522) is carried on the body for coupling to a communication device (900). A user interface including a keypad (926) is carried on the body and coupled to the connector. An identity circuit (904) is coupled to the connector. The identity circuit can be a GSM SIM. The card can include an aperture (924) for alignment with a display on a device with which the card is used.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power transmission/communication system for transmitting power from a reader and/or writer to an IC card by an electromagnetic wave and performing transmission or transmission and reception of a communication signal between the reader and/or writer and the IC card by an electromagnetic wave, wherein the intensity of a magnetic field induced by the electromagnetic wave outputted from the reader and/or writer, i.e., the magnitude of power induced thereby and the time required to transmit the power are controlled.

Abstract: A modular bar code scanner and scale assembly which does not use wire cables to connect a bar code scanner to a scale. The assembly includes a bar code scanner including a first printed circuit board having a connector, and a scale including a second printed circuit board having a connector which directly couples to the connector of the first printed circuit board when the scanner is coupled to the scale.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a processor to execute processing routine even if a power-source voltage drop occurs during processing. When an ignition key switch 102 is closed, voltage VB is supplied from a vehicle-mounted battery B1 to a comparator AMP of a CPU 108 and to a power-source stabilizer circuit 201 of a regulator 200. Also, capacitors C1 and C2 are charged with a load from the vehicle-mounted battery B1. Even if the power-source line is momentarily interrupted while in this state, the capacitor C1 has already been charged, and so the transition of the drop in voltage VB is gradual compared with a case wherein the capacitor C1 is absent. Additionally, because the capacitor C2 has already been charged, voltage VCC supplied to the CPU 108 from the regulator 200 is held at a fixed value for a certain interval.

Abstract: An electronic money system of a token and value mixed type includes an electronic money card of a type in which a token type for preferentially paying the coin money and paying the bill money when a coin money balance is insufficient for payment, and for recording issuance numbers of bills paid/received in a transaction history in a memory area of the electronic money card. An automatic transaction machine (ATM) reads, from an electronic money card, issuance numbers of bills for deposit and an issuance number of an invalid bill, and transmits the numbers to a computer of a bank.

Abstract: An item checkout device which combines a produce data collector with an optical bar code data collector. The item checkout device includes a housing, a bar code data collector within the housing, and a produce data collector within the housing.

Abstract: A cardiac gated spiral CT scanner (10) has a source of penetrating radiation (20) arranged for rotation about an examination region (14) having a central axis extending in a z direction. The source (20) emits a beam of radiation (22) that passes through the examination region (14) as the source (20) rotates. A patient support (30) holds a patient within the examination region (14) and translates the patient through the examination region (14) in the z direction while this source (20) is rotated such that the source (20) follows a helical path relative to the patient. A control processor (90) implements a patient-specific scan protocol in response to measured patient characteristics (for example, the patient's heart rate, the patient's breath hold time, and/or the range of coverage in the z direction based on the patient's anatomy) and scanner characteristics (for example, the number of detector rings, and/or the scan rate).