Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the automatic identification of components of medical apparatus systems, in particular, components of endoscopy systems. There is provided a unit which is separate from at least one of the components (30a, 30b) to be identified, this unit includes a write-read head. This unit may for example be one of the system components such as a camera head (18) in a video endoscope system. Each component to be identified includes a writable and readable data carrier which stores data signals indicating component parameters. Contents of the data carrier can be read in by transmission of the data to the write-read head from the separate unit and may here be registered and where appropriate, activate control and/or regulation procedures.

Abstract: A handheld low power user device for accessing and controlling interactive bidirectional real time telecommunications with a host server over a telecommunication path, the handheld low power user device having a low power sleep mode and components including a communication transceiver, a microprocessor, a power supply interface and an operator interface selected from among a keypad, a bar code reader, an audio system comprising a speaker, a display screen and a microphone; wherein, the communication transceiver includes a low power voice and data modem, and a DTMF or an MF tone generator; the audio system includes a dual power system; the bar code reader includes a bar code media proximity detector; the microprocessor includes less than about 128 Kbytes of PROM, a protected memory, and RAM; the power supply interface is connected with a telephone line, a cellular or wireless telephone battery, or a PBX line; and the handheld low power user device operates on less than about 300 milliwatts of power when off ho

Abstract: Holographic laser scanning system employing a holographic scanning disc which generates a laser scanning pattern having overlapping astigmatic scanning planes for omni-directional code symbol scanning within a 3-d scanning volume.

Abstract: A holographic laser scanning system for scanning bar code symbols and the like, comprising: a holographic scanning disc; a plurality of laser beam sources; a plurality of beam folding mirrors adjacent the holographic scanning disc; a plurality of light focusing elements disposed beneath the holographic scanning disc; and plurality of photodetectors disposed above the holographic scanning disc. The light focusisng elements below the holographic scanning disc focus reflected laser light collected through the elements of the holographic scanning disc and retransmit the same therethrough off Bragg for direct detection by the photodetectors which are proximately dispposed to and above the holographic scanning disc. Several important advantages are obtained by providing light collection optics disposed below the holographic scanning disc, and retransmitting focused/collected laser light through the holographic scanning disc at an angle substantially off a Bragg angle of about 44 degrees.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a variety of methods and systems for providing computer/human interfaces. According to one method, the user interfaces with an electronic device such as a computer system by engaging a sensor with desired regions of an encoded physical medium. The encoded physical medium is preferably chosen to provide intuitive meaning to the user, and is thus an improved metaphor for interfacing with the computer system. Suitable examples of the encoded physical medium include a data-linked book, magazine, globe, or article of clothing. Some or all of the selected regions have had certain information encoded therein, information suitable for interfacing and controlling the computer system. When the user engages the sensor with a region having certain encoded information, the certain encoded information is interpreted and an appropriate action taken. For example, the sensor or the computer system may provide suitable feedback to the user.

Abstract: A holographic laser scanning system employing laser beam production module with optical components geometrically constrained so as to be capable of producing a laser scanning beam having a controlled beam aspect-ratio substantially reduced astigmatism and minimal dispersion during laser beam scanning operations.

Abstract: This invention relates to a card guiding device for a card reader comprising a housing formed as one unit, a discharging opening formed on the lower surface of the housing, a pivot plate mounted rotatably to a hinge pin provided in the housing, a guide piece formed on one end of the pivot plate and positioned at one of the two guide rails formed on the housing, a torsional spring supported resiliently between an insertion slot and a curvature piece formed on the center of the pivot plate, a guide hole formed on the pivot plate and guided by a guide pin provided in the housing, thereby preventing error, malfunction and low productivity caused by assembling housing, enabling a card reader to be used immediately without repair by discharging an inserted nonstandard card, and preventing error occurrence caused by data signal loss by ensuring adequate positioning and alignment of the card.

Abstract: A computer-based system is provided for composing menus of URL-encoded bar code symbols specifying the location of Internet-based information resources on the Internet. In the illustrative embodiment, the system comprises a computer system operably connectable to the Internet and including a visual display screen, a keyboard, and printer. The system also includes a GUI-based Internet browser program and a URL-menu composition program supported by the computer system. The function of the GUI-based Internet browser program is to enable a user to access and display Internet-based information resources stored on an Internet information server at a location specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL). The function of the URL-menu composition program is to enable the user to compose a menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols while using the GUI-based Internet browser program. After the menu of URL-encoded bar code symbols has been composed, it may be edited and then printed on a selected print medium.

Abstract: A holographic laser scanning system comprising a support disc rotatable about an axis of rotation, and having an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and an available light collecting region defined between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter. A laser light source produce a laser beam having first and second components characterized by first and second polarization states, respectively. A plurality of holographic optical elements are supported on the support disc between the inner and outer perimeters, for scanning the laser beam and producing a laser scanning pattern for scanning a code symbol. Each holographic optical element has a beam steering portion disposed adjacent the outer perimeter for scanning the laser beam, and a light collecting portion disposed between the inner and outer perimeters for collecting laser light reflected off a code symbol scanned by the laser beam.

Abstract: A fuel dispensing system is provided wherein the fuel is provided only to authorized vehicles through verification of identification information, such as scanning a bar code disposed on the vehicle or fuel storage container. The system can be incorporated into a fixed site location or incorporated into a mobile fuel truck. The ID of the vehicle or storage container is verified with a database of valid IDs. The database can be located locally at the refueling site or remote from the refueling site and accessed via modem communication.

Abstract: A cardless automated financial transaction apparatus includes an input device configured to generate an input signal corresponding to a customer identifier in response to actuation of the input device by a customer, a biometric device configured to receive biometric information about the customer, a storage device including a database of customer information, the customer information including stored biometric information, a connection to a banking network provider, and an electronic processor. The processor is configured to receive the input signals from the input device, receive biometric information from the biometric device, and access the database of customer information in response to the input signals to obtain data about the customer identified by the customer identifier, the data including stored biometric information for the customer.

Abstract: A bar code reading system capable of reconstructing irregularly damaged bar codes includes an input device such as an omnidirectional or CCD scanner, processors for determining whether the bar code symbol has been damaged, and a decoder. The scanner initially scans the bar code to determine the symbology that governs the bar code. Once the symbology has been obtained, an expected length for each symbol can be calculated. The scanner then individually scans each symbol and compares the symbol's length to its expected length. If the lengths differ by a significant amount, the symbol is assumed to be damaged and information about the elements of each symbol are stored in memory. The scanner then scans in a reverse direction and stores information about the symbol in memory. A processor then determines all of the possible permutations of element widths from the stored information. Each permutation is checked against all possible decoded symbols until a single, decodable symbol is found.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium, and a method of making the same, including an irreversible recording layer which undergoes an irreversible change of saturation magnetization upon heating. The magnetic recording medium includes on at least a portion of a substrate an irreversible recording layer which contains an irreversible recording material undergoing an irreversible change of saturation magnetization upon heating. The irreversible recording layer includes at least in part a fixed information recording region for recording the fixed information of the medium. In the fixed information recording region, a plurality of heated bars whose saturation magnetization has been irreversibly changed are arrayed substantially parallel to each other. The array pattern of the heated bars or the array pattern of unheated bars disposed between adjacent ones of the heated bars contains the fixed information encoded in a frequency modulation process or phase modulation process.

Abstract: A grip held and grip operable data entry device for data collection by an operator having a hand includes a narrow grip unit for entry of data and a housing extension for carrying certain components that would otherwise have to be carried within grip unit, allowing grip unit to be narrow for comfortable and secure gripping without elimination of any desired functionality. Grip unit includes main housing having a first side and a second side, the first housing grasped by the operator's hand with the thumb extending along the first side and the middle finger engaging the second side. A housing extension extends from and is carried by main housing behind the operator's thumb such that operator support for holding device is furnished by the operator's thumb and the operator's middle finger acting upon the first side and the second side of main housing, leaving the index finger free to engage and disengage a pushbutton.

Abstract: A low cost radio frequency identification tag is provided for attaching to and identifying objects such as, for example, a passenger's luggage. The tag is programmed to contain information such as the origin, destination, and name of a passenger accompanying the luggage. This information is programmed into the tag at the time when the customer checks his or her luggage at a terminal. The tag includes an integrated circuit with all radio and data functions incorporated onto this integrated circuit, and an antenna for radio communication. The integrated circuit in the tag is suitably powered from the incident radio frequency energy provided by a interrogator while the tag is located in the radiation pattern of this interrogator. The luggage tag is assembled inexpensively by packaging the integrated circuit between paper or plastic substrates on which printed identifying information is also added at the point of check-in at the terminal.

Abstract: A portable hand-held WWW access terminal for accessing HTML-encoded documents located on the WWW. The terminal includes a bar code symbol reader in a hand-supportable housing for reading URL-encoded symbols specifying the location of HTML-encoded documents stored in information servers connected to the Internet and supporting the TCP/IP standard. A computing platform is provided for supporting a GUI-based WWW browser program integrated with the bar code symbol reader in the hand-supportable housing. A telecommunication modem is operably connected to the computing platform in order to establish a two-way telecommunication link between the GUI-based WWW browser and an Internet service provider (ISP) connected to the Internet. In response to reading a URL-encoded bar code symbol, the WWW browser program automatically accesses a corresponding HTML-encoded document on the Internet, for display on a visual display panel integrated with hand-supportable housing.

Abstract: An automatic toll charging system communicates by radio between roadside units disposed on each gate of a toll road and a vehicle-mounted unit mounted in a vehicle, and automatically charges a toll in a range from an entrance gate to an exit gate. In this system, an IC card is inserted in the vehicle-mounted unit , and payment information recorded in the IC card and entrance information received from a roadside unit, disposed at the entrance gate are recorded in the information recording part of the vehicle-mounted unit. In addition, the entrance information recorded in the information recording part is transmitted to the roadside unit disposed at the exit gate, and a toll payment process is executed. The entrance information is recorded in the IC card as a backup so the toll payment process can be executed even if a function of the vehicle-mounted unit is performed improperly.

Abstract: A portable data collection device is disclosed. The device includes an imaging assembly including a two dimensional (2D) photosensor array overlied by a RGB color filter. The imaging assembly is selectively actuatable with a first trigger for reading a dataform in the imaging assembly's target area and actuatable with a second trigger for capturing a color image of the target area. In one operating embodiment of the portable data collection device of the present invention, actuating the first trigger results in the imaging assembly capturing an image of the target area including a dataform and an associated image area of interest. The image area of interest is at a predetermined position with respect to the dataform. The imaging assembly decodes the dataform and outputs a compressed, digital representation of the image area of interest along with decoded data from the dataform.

Abstract: Apparatus for infrared communication between a first electronic device (10, FIG. 7) such as a notebook computer which has a slot (84) for receiving an IC card, and a second electronic device (104) such as a computer, printer, etc. that has an infrared transmit/detect unit (100) (or another notebook computer with a slot). The apparatus includes an IC card (82) with a rigid frame (112, FIG. 8) having a front portion (114) that holds a connector (88), the frame having a rear portion (116) that projects rearwardly from the slot and that holds an infrared emitter (120) and an infrared detector (122). As a result, the first electronic device fixes the position and orientation of the emitter and detector. The IC card with the emitter and detector preferably has a width (W) and thickness (T) as prescribed by JEIDA and PC CARD standards. The emitter preferably includes a plurality of emitter elements (141-144) spaced laterally along the rear end portion of the card to provide increased power in a small thickness.

Abstract: A code symbol reading device includes a portable housing that contains a light source. Light from the light source is projected into a scan field external to the housing and onto a code symbol on an object located within the scan field. The light reflected off the code symbol is detected within the housing to produce scan data that is indicative of the detected light intensity. The scan data is processed to detect and decode the code symbol and to produce symbol character data that are representative of the decoded code symbol. A data packet utilizing the symbol character data is synthesized and modulated onto a carrier signal that is transmitted to a base unit where the carrier signal is demodulated and the data packet recovered. The received data packet is analyzed to recover the symbol character data, and an acknowledgment signal is produced to acknowledge the receipt of the symbol character data at the base unit.