Abstract: A magnetic head support for a card reader includes a cardanically mounted support arm. Cardanic movement is permitted by a spherical bearing on the arm, which is biased against a screw fixed to a stationary component to form a universal pivot. The arm is guided by guide members on the stationary component and includes, at one end, an adjustment frame in which the head is adjustably positioned relative to a specific track.

Abstract: A bar code detector or acquisition arrangement for detecting the presence and location of a bar code pattern in a field of view. The bar code pattern detector is not designed to decode a bar code pattern, but merely to be sensitive to and detect the presence of a bar code pattern or patterns so that a conventional bar code scanner can then be activated to perform a decoding operation thereon. The present invention is based upon the generation of Moire patterns, and includes an electro-optic system for detecting and locating a bar code pattern in which an image of a field of view is projected onto a reference bar code pattern or an image thereof while producing relative rotation between the image of the field of view and the reference bar code pattern or image thereof. An optical detector detects the optical interaction of the image of the field of view with the reference bar code pattern or image thereof, including any Moire patterns generated thereby.

Abstract: The magnetic ink medium includes a plurality of magnetic regions which have diversifiable magnetic intensity and are mutually separated by spaces. At least one first part of the regions has a magnetic coercivity which differs from the remaining regions of the plurality of regions, in order to obtain at least two different readouts of the same plurality of regions upon applying different magnetic fields for orientating the plurality of regions.

Abstract: A circuit for selectively converting a color bar pattern, comprising a switching means for selectively converting the circuit to the EIA mode or SMPTE mode, a line selecting means for counting the input number of the horizontal control signal reset by means of the vertical control signal and outputting the reversed chrominance forming signal in the line on which the reversed chrominance set is to be formed and outputting the pedestal forming signal in the line on which the pedestal set is to be formed, on said SMPTE color bar pattern by combining counting value thereof with the chrominance control signal, a reversed chroma set forming means for outputting said chrominance signal as it is if the reversed chrominance forming signal is not input from the line selecting means, and for outputting said chrominance forming after converting the color signal into the converting color signal forming said reversed chroma set if the reversed chrominance forming signal is input, a pedestal position selecting means for dis

Abstract: A method and apparatus for on-line evaluation of bar code symbol quality is disclosed in which bar code decoding and evaluation functions are integrated within a single unit. The integration of the bar code decoding and evaluation functions results in significantly more conclusive analysis of the quality of the bar code symbols as the analysis methodology and decoding process utilize a common scanning device. Thus, the ambiguities associated with hardware differernces between the decoding apparatus and stand alone bar code verifiers in evaluating the quality of the bar code symbols associated with conventional evaluation techniques are eliminated.

Abstract: A device for reading and interpreting bar codes, which illuminates the bar code with a fixed elliptical beam and images the reflected beam onto a CCD array. The black and white bar information is detected by the electronically scanned elements of a linear CCD array. The limited operational range, determined by the optical system depth of focus, is enhanced significantly to a useful operational range by automatically focusing the image of the bar code on the CCD array.

Abstract: An electronic coupon system handles coupons selected by a customer. The coupons have a product code of the product covered by the coupon and have a corresponding coupon code representing information relating to the value of the coupon. A coupon scanner used by the customer scans the coupons and has a memory for storing data representing the scanned product codes and their corresponding coupon codes. A product scanner at a retail store scans product codes of products to be purchased and provides data representing the scanned codes. A processor credits to the customer the value of the coupon when the data representing the scanned codes corresponds to the data in the coupon scanner memory. The system may also include a kiosk having a processor interfacing with the coupon scanner for providing to the scanner additional data and for providing to the kiosk information stored in the coupon scanner.

Abstract: To avoid the need for making microprocessor-fitted bank cards which, although they cost little, are in a relatively far too expensive range, money cards with only memory zones are made. They then have four memory zones, one zone pertaining to the identity of the bearer or to that of the card, one zone pertaining to the financial balance, a third zone pertaining to an interaction counter. This interaction counter counts the number of financial operations performed with the card. A fourth zone includes a certificate. This certificate is prepared, in each reader that performs a transaction with the card, with a DES algorithm. The value of this certificate is a function, according to an algorithm common to all the readers, of the identity, the content of the interaction counter and the balance. When a new operation is performed with the card, it is ascertained beforehand that the content of the certificate is the same as the one that can be recomputed by any terminal provided with the same algorithm.

Abstract: A hands-free scanning system for reading indicia having parts of different light reflectivity, including a housing having a window and an actuatable electro-optical scanner in the housing for projecting a light beam through the window to indicia to be read, for scanning the indicia. The system further detects light of variable intensity that is reflected off the indicia to generate an electrical signal representative of the indicia. The housing is mounted on an arm of an operator and the scanner initiates reading of the indicia upon movement of the operator's hand relative to the arm by means of an actuator switch.

Abstract: An access control ticket having three fields of data, a first field of fixed data, a second field of variable data, and a third field of variable data is read and information processed by a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines the validity of information on the ticket data fields and which of the variable fields has older data. Writing only occurs on (over) the variable field with invalid or older data. Upon subsequent use, the ticket contains current access data (just written) and last previous access data, as well as fixed field data. This added data (past use) can be used for statistical analysis or other purposes. More importantly, the added data field reduces read/write reliability problems. One improperly written variable data field does not invalidate ticket, only the last variable data entry. The microprocessor is programmed to overwrite invalid data in one of the variable data fields during the next use.

Abstract: A pick-up mechanism for a disk-type record medium reproduction apparatus is disclosed. This mechanism is suitable for use in a compact disk player and employs a plate spring to connect a nut mounted on a pick-up moving screw with the pick-up unit. Pressure contacts mounted on the outer surface of the nut and on the front end of the plate spring, steady the nut and eliminate gaps between the nut and the pick-up screw. By eliminating these gaps, information can be read from the disk with increased precision.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for establishing a vote tabulation system. A voter receives a mechanical card, or key, onto which there is placed data in machine readable form which allows the voter to gain access to any one of a number of portable terminals. The information on the card controls the presentation of names or issues to the particular voter and also controls the language for presentation of the voter's choices. The terminal tabulates all of the votes and also modifies the card to prevent revoting and to record the tabulated results. A depository is used to store the individual cards from all the terminals and to record as a cross check the tabulated results which were recorded on the individual cards. The depository total tabulated count is compared against the sums stored on removable memories from the individual terminals.

Abstract: An optical card processing apparatus is disclosed in which an optical head producing an irradiating light beam is forcibly moved in a direction orthogonal to a direction of tracks of an optical card set in the apparatus. A tracking error signal as the moving light beam irradiates the card is analyzed to determine if the optical card is properly set in the apparatus.

Abstract: A system for inputting, receiving and transmitting information and data includes a plurality of portable casings that are each formed with a card slot for selectively receiving memory cards of the dual-chip type. The portable casings are further provided with a keyboard, a display screen, an infrared transmitter and receiver, an optical scanner, and an acoustic assembly composed of a speaker and a microphone. The portable casings are capable of transmitting and receiving information with a computer center, via a specialized terminal, and with other portable casings, either optically by virtue of infrared transmitters and receivers or acoustically over a telephone network.

Abstract: A stationary type optical disc apparatus which includes a housing, a plurality of disc media contained in the housing and arranged in parallel to each other, a plurality of head units detachably inserted into the housing along rails formed in parallel to the disc surfaces, and a head movably mounted on the head unit so that the head is able to access a predetermined position on the disc media.

Abstract: A bar code reading apparatus includes a bar code reader for generating, in a single operation, plural pieces of bar block data corresponding to a bar code having a number of digits which is a predetermined standard value, for example, 8 or 13. A detector detects the numbers of digits in each piece of bar block data generated by the bar code reader 11. A four digit memory and a six digit memory are used to store bar block data having four digits and six digits, respectively. A comparator detects whether or not the four digit memory and six digit memory each store bar block data. Each piece of bar block data output from the bar code reader 11 is stored in either the four digit memory or the six digit memory depending upon the number of digits detected by the digit detector. If the comparator determines that bar block data is stored in both the four digit memory and the six digit memory, then it is determined that the bar code reading operation is erroneous.

Abstract: A moving coil, linear positioning transducer actuator suitable for optical recording and playback devices is constructed by forming the actuator frame, magnetic pole pieces and the magnetic core of the moving coil from a single piece of ferrous material and wherein the path of the moving coil and transducer are substantially collinear. The transducer is supported by parallel rails which are mounted to the frame.

Abstract: A hand scanner intended for optically reading a bar code on an item of goods and therewith produce an electric signal which corresponds to the read bar code. The invention is characterized in that the hand scanner (1) is provided with one or more permanent magnets (3, 4) in the vicinity of its optical bar-code reading device.

Abstract: There is disclosed a coin or token operated machine for playing pre-recorded discs and which comprises a magazine store (10) for holding a plurality of pre-recorded record discs, with each disc having its own distinctive coding extracted, a selector (11) operative to initiate extraction of a selected disc from the magazine (10), and an extractor mechanism (23) operative to extract a selected disc from the magazine (10) and to place it on a turntable or other playing device. A record disc reader (13) extracts a code from each selected disc, and this information is input to a memory (14) which stores data concerning the discs which are selected for playing. A computer controlled system (15) controls the overall operation of the machine, and a disc replacement device (16) initiates indication of the least popular disc at each inspection of the machine, for the period back to the previous inspection.

Abstract: The edges of an incoming video signal are sharpened by switching the output furnishing the sharpened signal in sequence first to receive a signal delayed by a greater amount, i.e. a signal which has not as yet undergone transition, and, secondly, to receive a signal delayed by a lesser amount, i.e. one that has already completed the transition. The rise time of the affected edge thus depends only on the time required to switch from one terminal to the next. The same switching sequence is carried out regardless of whether the transition is a negative going or positive going transition.