Abstract: A holographic spectroscope for a two-motor reflection system for generating scanning patterns in which a light beam is first reflected by a first reflector connected to a first motor electrically connected to a first control circuit. A second reflector for reflecting the light beam reflected by the first reflector is connected to a second motor electrically connected to a second control circuit and to form scanning patterns. A holographic spectroscope for diffracting the scanning patterns is mounted in the optical path of the light beam from the second reflector. Therefore, the scanning patterns can be improved to be more variable.

Abstract: An electronic edge detection system for use in a barcode scanning system utilizing second derivative signal processing wherein the temporal offset between the first and second derivative signals is eliminated so as to enable edge detection for signal levels down to the noise level of an input signal. In a preferred embodiment, an overall filter network receives an input signal and comprises two real poles as the last elements of two parallel output channels. The first output channel terminates with a low pass filter and produces the first derivative of the input signal. The second output channel terminates with a high pass filter and produces the second derivative of the input signal. Implementing the second differentiator as one real pole of the overall edge detection system filter polynomial and placing the poles of the two output filters at the same frequency eliminates the temporal offset.

Abstract: A model, a counter, an actuator, and a termination device is provided. During a rest state the model is stationary in a first position and the counter is not counting. During a first transition state the model moves from its first position to a second position in response to actuation of the actuator and the counter begin counting. During an operation state the model is stationary in a second position and the counter is counting. During a second transition state, in response to a termination device the model moves from its second position back to its first position and the counter stops counting. A timing mechanism is provided for controlling the duration of the operation state. The counter can be any type, such as a dial counter, digital counter, or analog counter. The actuator may also activate a music box.

Abstract: A connector for a smart-card reader, includes at least two conducting blades (1,2), the first blade (1) of which has a bearing surface (3) shaped so as to be able to be forced by part of the card, upon insertion of the latter into the reader, to move this blade (1) relative to the second blade (2) so as to establish contact between these two blades (1,2), or alternatively to break, contact between the latter, and so as to detect the end of travel of the card. The bearing surface (3) of the first blade (1) is shaped so as to allow a slight movement of the card beyond the end-of-travel position. The second blade (2) includes a bearing surface (5) shaped so as to be able to be forced by the card, when the latter is moved beyond the end-of-travel position, to move the second blade (2) to a position in which it is no longer in contact with the first blade (1), or alternatively to a position in which it comes into contact with the latter.

Abstract: A system for tracking continuing education includes a secure stored data device, such as a smart card, storing practitioner-specific data, and a read/write device for communicating with the secure stored data device and for writing course attendance information for the practitioner to the secure stored data device. A professional education server initiates the secure stored data device and the read/write device, accepts data from the secure stored data device and the read/write device, verifies compliance with education requirements and verifies consistency in the data sets.

Abstract: An electronic price label (EPL) price verification system which ensures that a price for an item obtained from a price look-up (PLU) file by a bar code scanner is equal to another price displayed by an electronic price label (EPL) for the item. The EPL price verification system includes a computer system coupled to the EPL, which includes a terminal and a storage medium coupled to the terminal. The storage medium contains an EPL data file, which contains EPL identification information and an EPL price verifier. The computer terminal executes a price verification program which reads the PLU file to obtain the price of the item, calculates another price verifier from the price of the item in the price file, reads EPL data file to obtain the one price verifier, compares the one and the other price verifiers to determine whether they are equal, and changes the displayed price to the price in the PLU file if the one and the other price verifiers are different.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-stage digital Automatic Gain Control (AGC)circuit for selectively sampling the outputs of a serially connected amplification stages and for selectively controlling the gain of one or more stages in order to keep the amplitude of the final stage output within a predetermined range. The AGC provides a "quick" adjustment to overall system gain so that the system can produce a regulated signal within a short period of time, thereby improving the regulation response time. The AGC includes a number of serially connected amplification stages, and a gain controller. The output of each amplification stage, in addition to feeding the next amplification stage, is also an input to the gain controller. The gain controller receives the amplification-stage outputs, processes the outputs, determines the required gains of the various amplification stages and adjusts the gains via a number of gain control signals.

Abstract: A device for holding a charge couple device (CCD) in an optical scanner where optical alignment of the CCD to the position of scanned image of document can be easily made. The device includes a holder for holding a lens and providing a focused image taken from the scanned document; and a positioning element mounted on the holder for adapting a CCD to be slightly moved in a line along a longitudinal direction of the CCD and aligned with the focused image. The positioning element is furnished with a matching hole for carrying a bottom portion of the CCD. The positioning element mounted to the holder only needs one-dimensional adjustment in shifting which is easier and more effective.

Abstract: A magnetic card provided with a recording track in which a magnetic portion is disposed in an intermittent pattern corresponding to a digital signal is employed, and the magnetic portion of the recording track is magnetized immediately before information is read from the magnetic card. Then, a magnetism detecting device is made to relatively move with respect to the recording track to detect a magnetic flux arising from the magnetic portion, thereby reading the information represented by the digital signal.

Abstract: An automated teller machine includes a measuring degree (38) to measure the cross-sectional area in the direction of the travel of a bundle of currency notes as it travels to the currency dispense slot (18), and also as it travels from the dispense slot to the purge bin (30) on retraction after a pre-determined time interval. Comparison of the two values indicates whether one or more notes have been removed by a user before the bundle is retracted.

Abstract: Copy protection for an original recordable medium such as an optical disk having at least one recording surface which records digital information, including the digital information having a title ID code which identifies the digital information; and a copy classification code for the digital information which indicates to a recorder whether it is prohibited from making copies, permitted to make only a single copy or does not restrict the number of copies to be made.

Abstract: An image input section enters a document image including a bar code, and converts the document image into a binary image. An image memory section memorizes the binary image supplied from the image input section. A mask judging section performs a scanning operation using an M.times.M pixel window for detecting an alternate pattern from the binary image supplied from the image input section. A small pattern removing section removes small patterns from a binary image sent from the mask judging section. An expanding section expands a pattern involved in a binary image by an amount equivalent to k1 pixels when this binary image is sent from the small pattern removing section. A contracting section contracts a pattern involved in a binary image by an amount equivalent to k2 pixels when this binary image is sent from the expanding section.

Abstract: A card light assembly comprising a generally flat polymeric tray having inner and outer surfaces and a pair of ends, a peripheral rim on the inner surface, an electrochemical cell-receiving recess in the inner surface, and a LED-receiving recess at one of the ends, an annular electrical separator and a disc-type electrochemical cell in the cell receiving recess, a LED in said LED-receiving recess, the LED having two leads, one of which is in abutment with the cell and the other of which is spaced from the cell by the separator. A pressure sensitive adhesive label extends over the inner surface, and over the cell, and is adhered to the housing inner surface to thereby retain the separator and cell within the assembly. At least one of the tray and label is flexibly depressible at the separator and cell for pressing the other lead against the cell to temporarily energize the LED.

Abstract: A non-contact type IC card includes a rectifier circuit for supplying a source voltage to respective circuits of an IC card based on the strength of radio waves received from a host computer. A reference voltage generating circuit generates a reference voltage. A comparison circuit compares the source voltage with the reference voltage. A control circuit prohibits the writing of data if the source voltage becomes less than the reference voltage.

Abstract: A card unit processing apparatus can conduct various processes on a card unit so as to realize multi-functioning. The card unit processing apparatus is attached a card unit with a storage unit thereto to conduct processes on the card unit, which has a communicating unit, a display unit, a control unit, a power source, a first key pressed when a processing function to be performed on the card unit is selected, a second key pressed when detailed data relating to the function selected by pressing the first key is selected, and a third key pressed when the data selected by pressing the first key and the second key is determined, wherein the control unit conducts controlling operations according to presses of the first key, the second key and the third key. This invention is applied when a card unit such as an IC card, an optical card, a radio card or the like is used as a portable medium for electronic money, for example.

Abstract: A conditional access device for use in connection with a host electronic equipment. The device includes a pointer peripheral containing one or more integrated circuit card coupler units. In addition, it also includes a device for acquiring personal information about a user. The personal information is locally compared with information stored in the integrated circuit card without passing through the host equipment.

Abstract: A smart card reader includes a smart card reader housing, and at least one movable locator connected to the housing. The movable locator has one end positionable away from the housing for engagement with an edge of a smart card.

Abstract: A method of protecting data in a smart card from unauthorized access, the method comprising providing a housing defined by first and second housing portions; employing a volatile memory in the smart card for storing the data, and supporting the volatile memory from the first housing portion; providing a power supply in the housing, the power supply maintaining the data in the volatile memory while the power supply is connected to the volatile memory; and connecting the power supply to the volatile memory using a conductor supported by and movable with the second housing portion.

Abstract: A method of delivering advertisement information from a source of advertisement information to a chip card for display on a display element of the chip card. The method includes establishing a communication path between the source and the chip card, transmitting the advertisement information from the source to the chip card via the communication path; and, displaying the transmitted advertisement information on the chip card display element. Also featured is a method of electronic ticketing that transmits ticketing information to chip card memory, and displays the ticketing information on the chip card display element.

Abstract: A method of operating a retail terminal having a core module assembly and a base assembly includes the steps of (i) securing a first mounting plate to a first mounting surface, (ii) securing a second mounting plate to a second mounting surface, (iii) attaching the base assembly to the first mounting plate, (iv) operating the core module assembly so as to perform retail functions for a first time period while (A) the base assembly is mounted to the first mounting plate, and (B) the core module assembly is secured to the base assembly, (v) detaching the base assembly from the first mounting plate after the first time period operating step, (vi) attaching the base assembly to the second mounting plate after the detaching step, and (vii) operating the core module assembly so as to perform retail functions for a second time period while (A) the base assembly is mounted to the second mounting plate, and (B) the core module assembly is secured to the base assembly.