Abstract: A luminous tube is provided with three color producing inner tubes and is mounted within a clear outer tube. The luminous gas filling the outer tube also fills the open-ended inner tubes. Each of the color-producing tubes has an electrode to enable the current density to be independently controlled, and thus control of the light-intensity emitted from each of the color-producing tubes. A luminous tube may also be constructed with at least one tube mounted inside an outer tube within a common luminous gas, where the inner tube houses an electrode and has a restricted diameter opening to produce a high-intensity luminous discharge.

Abstract: A reading device which uses both optical character recognition techniques and magnetic reading are combined in a reader wherein the magnetic reading head stays at a fixed position while the optical reading aperture may be varied to accomodate different documents. The slot through which checks, credit cards or other similar documents are passed is movable vertically to adapt to different media from which information is to be read.

Abstract: An optics frame for use in optical character reading devices has a reflector and lens tube assembly packaged to permit the integration of the optics system and the electronic components so that they become one unit. The reflector and lens tube assembly is mounted on a frame which is in turn secured to a circuit board and connected therewith utilizing a flex circuit.