Abstract: A bar code demodulating method, in a first step, determines a number of modules, corresponding to the black bars present within a demodulating character of a bar code to be demodulated, with reference to reference black bars in a previously demodulated character and, in a second step, determines a number of modules corresponding to all white bars present within the demodulating character, based on a corresponding reference white bar in the previously demodulated character and, then, demodulates the demodulating character based on the respective numbers of modules determined in the first and second steps.

Abstract: A system for scanning bar code symbols on articles moving at a given speed senses an article at a predetermined location and determines an orientation of a bar code symbol on the article using an imaging camera. In response to determinations of a symbol location, orientation, size or type, the scanning system adjusts a scanning speed, shape and/or orientation of the light beam pattern and a location of the light beam pattern. The resulting light beam is directed at the bar code symbol location and a signal corresponding to the reflected light beam portion is generated. If the decode is not valid, the bar code symbol is rescanned.

Abstract: A bar code demodulating method includes a step of measuring lengths of successive characters of a bar code, a second step of obtaining a ratio of the length of a demodulating character which is to be demodulated and the length of a preceding, demodulated character and a third step of demodulating the demodulating character by mutually different first and second demodulation schemes, selected in accordance with the obtained length ratio falling within respective, and different, first and second predetermined ranges.

Abstract: A data capture system which includes both a hand-held data terminal having a pistol grip and a terminal receptacle for releasably receiving the hand held data terminal for battery recharging.

Abstract: The laser diode of an optical scanning system is located in a separate unit and light therefrom carried to a remote scan head via an optical fiber. This reduces the size and weight of the scan head and reduces the temperature sensitivity of the scan head. The scan head may include an optical sensor for detecting light reflected from scanned symbols. Alternatively, the separate unit may house the sensor, and the same fiber or an additional fiber will collect the reflected light and transmit that light back to the sensor. The invention also encompasses a number of electromagnetic and piezoelectric systems for producing a scanning motion of the beam emitted by the scan head.

Abstract: A mail sorting system includes a transport surface on which the items of mail are moved in series past a reading station having an aperture where information on the items of mail is read by a reader to assist in the sorting of the mail. The lighting assembly is mounted in the reading station. The lighting assembly includes at least one light or light emitter which directs a path of light toward the aperture. A light diffusion partition is mounted between the light emitter and the aperture for diffusing the path of light before it reaches the aperture. The lighting assembly is mounted displaced from the reader with the light emitter at an angle to the reader to provide the reader with a clear, unobstructed view of the aperture and with the path of light from the light emitter being deflected away from the reader.

Abstract: An electronic purse card includes a housing, a plurality of electrical contacts thereon for communication with a foreign transaction device, a memory, and a processor operatively joined to the memory and contacts. The memory includes first and second registers for storing a main amount of currency and a withdrawable amount of currency, respectively. The processor allows downloading of a selected portion of the currency from the first register into the second register, and withdrawal of currency by the transaction device solely from the second register to limit currency withdrawals. In a method of use, the card is inserted into the transaction device for withdrawing a transaction amount from solely the second register. The second register may be replenished by selectively downloading currency amounts from the first to second registers.

Abstract: A record medium reading apparatus, a pachinko ball dispenser and a medal dispenser which can reduce the cost of production of record mediums and can realize an effective use of resources.When a discriminating means discriminates that there is no remaining data as the record medium has been full used, a conveying control unit controls a conveyer so as to convey, after reading, the record medium into a case for collection.

Abstract: A return mail piece includes a generally rectangular sheet of material with a delimited mailing address zone, a bar code zone in the lower right corner of the sheet, and a subclassification zone in the upper left hand corner of the sheet. Site location indicia is printed within the mailing address zone to identify the address of the site location. Separate subclassification indicia is printed within the subclassification zone so as to identify one of a plurality of end locations as the site location.

Abstract: A filing system is provided for locating a particular file contained in a file holder which contains a plurality of files. The apparatus includes a machine-readable code mounted on each of the files, a guide attached to each file holder, a scanner for reading the codes on the files in a file holder, and an indicator for indicating when the particular machine-readable code corresponding to the particular file is located. The apparatus uses an improved bar code in which character boundaries are eliminated and the number of ONE's and ZERO's in a code are variable, resulting in increased data density. The unique numeric values which result from the improved bar code sparsely populate the possible range of values, and therefore a mapping algorithm is provided to map the bar code values to a sequential numeric system for ease of use.

Abstract: A return mail piece includes a generally rectangular sheet of material with a delimited mailing address zone and a bar code zone on the front of the sheet, and a subclassification zone on the rearward surface of the sheet. Site location indicia is printed within the mailing address zone to identify the address of the site location. Separate subclassification indicia is printed within the subclassification zone so as to identify one of a plurality of end locations as the site location.

Abstract: A donation kettle that permits a contributor to make a donation that consists of a display, keyboard, a surface for collecting a cash donation, a credit card and/or debit card donation processor. The donation kettle associates a donation with an account of a contributor, tallies information regarding a number of donations, and stores information regarding a donation, and a plurality of donations. The donation kettle is part of a donation kettle network which consists of a donation kettle, a terminal, and a communication link between the donation kettle and the terminal. The present invention also provides a method of processing a donation obtained via a donation kettle by a card account processor. A docking station on a donation kettle is provided for a card donation processor.

Abstract: A bar code reader capable of working over a wider range of working angle and for a wider range of bar code densities, using improved optics and sensing elements. The optics and sensing elements and/or the associated circuitry are arranged to provide two channels of data derived from the scanned bar code. The two channels have differing resolutions. Analysis of the data from the two channels provides a single decoded result. As the working angle and density vary at least one of the resolutions will be appropriate for sensing all or most of the bar coded data. The data from the channel producing a valid result can be used, or if neither channel produces a valid result by itself, data from each channel can be analyzed and valid portions of the data from both channels combined to produce the single decoded result. The different resolution of the two channels can be provided using different size photodetection areas, e.g., small and large groups of active areas on a sensor array.

Abstract: A high speed non-contact beam scanning device sized and shaped to provide the ergonomic benefits of a pen or wand, yet can scan a wide angle moving beam across an information-bearing target in one or two dimensional scan patterns such as lines, rasters or other patterns in order to read information therefrom. The device is well suited for reading one or two dimensional bar-code or other printed matter. In order to achieve the high density optical packaging necessary for its high performance to size benefits the device employs a novel in-line or "axial" gyrating, or "axial" scan element. The axial scan element can accept an input light beam at one end and cause it to emerge from its opposite end as a scanned beam, propagating in the same general forward direction it had upon entering the element. Reflected light, which carries information contained on the target, is collected by an internal non-imaging light concentrator and is processed by signal processing electronics.

Abstract: A multi-access card and card holder upon which the machine readable service access codes for a plurality of service providers may be reproduced, comprising at least one card having a plurality of machine readable service access codes reproduced thereon, including at least one machine readable magnetic strip, and a plurality of pockets each formed from a pair of rectangularly-shaped plastic sheets peripherally joined together along three sides thereof, each having one common peripheral joinder, and each having an open end to receive the card, at least one of the pockets being sized to receive only the portions of the card that do not have a machine readable magnetic strip service access code placed thereon.

Abstract: Cash transaction machine and method for receiving and/or dispensing money by user's manipulation to transact the money includes a bill receptacle, a bill dispense port, a bill storage and a transport unit for transporting the bill between the receptacle and/or the dispense port, a disinfection unit, and the storage. The bills received and/or to be dispensed are disinfected by the disinfection unit arranged in the transport unit by heating the bills by a heated roller, irradiating the bills by an ultraviolet ray from an ultraviolet ray lamp or applying disinfecting liquid to the bills. Alternatively, the bills are disinfected by a disinfection unit arranged in the storage by heating the bills by a heater or irradiating an electromagnetic wave to the bills.

Abstract: The intensity of light reflected from a bar code constructed by bars and spaces is time-sequentially detected by use of a line sensor, sample-and-hold circuit and binary-coding circuit. Data representing the time-series of bars and spaces is counted by a white/black variation point detector and bar/space width counter and converted into width information. In this case, the bar/space width counter starts the counting operation in response to a count enable signal output after a skip-reading counter has counted a count amount previously set by a skip-reading amount setting section. Thus, when width information is stored into a memory, data obtained after data of the preset width among the width information is stored into the memory.

Abstract: In a ticketless travel card package, the combination comprising a generally rectangular base card having opposite first and second sides to carry and present identification indicia at the first side; a programmable read/write memory circuit carried in a local section of the card to store encoded travel data A: and a thermally printable flat sheet laminated onto the second side of the card to carry and visually present data B which is a sub-set of data A.

Abstract: A wireless communication system for communicating between a host system and a stand-alone device through an electromagnetic coupling medium is disclosed. The communication system has the capabilities of bi-directional data communications between the host and the stand-alone device and of powering the stand-alone device with energy pulses coupled through the electromagnetic coupling medium from the host. The electromagnetic medium is capable of supporting the bi-directional flow of energy pulses and energy transitions thereof between the host and stand-alone device. In one embodiment, bi-directional communication is provided by transmitting and detecting predetermined numbers of consecutive energy transitions coupled through the medium. Resting durations immediately precede and follow each predetermined number of consecutive energy transitions.

Abstract: An automated purchasing control system which can be customized for a corporate customer. The system receives an authorization request over the phone lines from a remote point-of-sale terminal and processes the request using unique software. The software has a database customized to a corporate user to establish that company hierarchial structure. Elements of the hierarchial structure are independently reconfigurable, so that a company can specify different hierarchial relationships in the software for authorization, billing and reporting purposes. Different authorization tests can be established for each position in a hierarchy, with a particular position being required to pass not only its own test, but the test of elements higher in the hierarchial tree.