Abstract: In one embodiment, a card reader device includes: a read head configured to generate a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe of a card, an output plug, adapted to be inserted into a headset jack of a mobile host device, configured to communicate an output signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to a microphone input of the headset jack of the mobile host device; and circuitry configured to set the amplitude, which includes attenuation by at least a resistor, of a signal communicating said data included in the signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe generated by the read head resulting in the output signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. In one embodiment, the circuitry includes decoding circuitry configured to decode the signal indicative of the data stored on the magnetic stripe.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a card reader device includes: a read head configured to generate a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe of a card, an output plug, adapted to be inserted into a headset jack of a mobile host device, configured to communicate an output signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to a microphone input of the headset jack of the mobile host device; and circuitry configured to set the amplitude, which includes attenuation by at least a resistor, of a signal communicating said data included in the signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe generated by the read head resulting in the output signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. In one embodiment, the circuitry includes decoding circuitry configured to decode the signal indicative of the data stored on the magnetic stripe.

Abstract: A plush toy having electronics therein for interacting with a user includes a non-rigid electrical component for detecting deformation thereof. The component, also referred to as a hug sensor, has an electrically conductive and compressible material and is movable from a rest, non-compressed position towards a compressed position by way of the application of an external force thereon (e.g., a hug or squeeze). The hug sensor has a resistance there across that is monitored by a microprocessor. Compression of the hug sensor causes changes in the resistance across the hug sensor. Changes in the detected resistance across the hug sensor result in activation of responses (e.g., playing of audio and/or movement). Varying responses may be activated as a result of varying changes in resistance.

Abstract: A card reader device for reading a card having data stored on a magnetic stripe incorporated into the card is disclosed in which the card reader device comprises a read head for passing a magnetic stripe of a card by to read data stored on a magnetic stripe and for producing a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, and an output plug adapted to be inserted into a headset jack associated with a host device for providing the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe to a host device.

Abstract: A plush toy having electronics therein for interacting with a user includes a non-rigid electrical component for detecting deformation thereof. The component, also referred to as a hug sensor, has an electrically conductive and compressible material and is movable from a rest, non-compressed position towards a compressed position by way of the application of an external force thereon (e.g., a hug or squeeze). The hug sensor has a resistance there across that is monitored by a microprocessor. Compression of the hug sensor causes changes in the resistance across the hug sensor. Changes in the detected resistance across the hug sensor result in activation of responses (e.g., playing of audio and/or movement). Varying responses may be activated as a result of varying changes in resistance.

Abstract: A plush toy having electronics therein for interacting with a user includes a non-rigid electrical component for detecting deformation thereof. The component includes a first layer of a compressible material with at least one aperture therethrough. Second and third layers of an electrically conductive material are positioned on opposite sides of the first layer across the aperture. The second and third layers of material may be brought into contact with each other in the aperture of the first layer to complete an electrical connection between the second and third layers by compression of the first layer upon application of a compression force. When the compression force is removed, the first material expands to separate the second and third layers, thereby breaking the electrical connection. Upon detection of deformation of the electrical component, the electronics activate a response by the toy, such as an audio response.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a card reader device includes: circuitry having exactly three non-wire elements of (a) one two-terminal inductive read head having a first read head terminal and a second read head terminal, (b) one two-terminal resistor having a first resistor terminal and a second resistor terminal, and (c) one TRS (tip, ring, sleeve) connector including a microphone contact and a circuit completion contact, with said TRS connector adapted to be inserted into a socket of a cell phone to connect the microphone contact and circuit completion contact to corresponding cell phone circuitry including connecting to a microphone input of the cell phone; wherein said three non-wire elements are connected together using one or more direct connections, one or more wires, or both; and a housing enclosing said read head and said resistor, with said TRS connector extending out of the housing.

Abstract: A container having an internally directed audible output actuated by removal of a stopper is described. The container includes a hollow body with an open mouth and a base that includes a speaker and control electronics. A sensor is provided that is configured to detect presence of the stopper in the open mouth of the container. In one embodiment the sensor is comprised of a normally open electrical circuit formed by a pair of opposing arrays of electrical traces disposed within the mouth. In another embodiment, the sensor comprises an infrared light source and sensor that detects an amount of internally reflected infrared light within walls of the body. In yet another embodiment, the sensor comprises a device which detects the presence and/or absence of a magnetic field. Upon detection of removal of the stopper, an audible output is produced by the speaker into the container body and is perceivable by nearby users.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a card reader device includes: a read head configured to produce a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe of a card in response to the magnetic stripe being passed by the read head; means for passively attenuating configured to attenuate the signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe resulting in an attenuated output signal indicative of said data stored on the magnetic stripe; and a tip, ring(s), sleeve output plug adapted to be inserted into a standard headset jack associated with means for communicating with a host system and configured to provide the attenuated output signal indicative of said data stored on the magnetic stripe to the communicating means via a microphone input of the standard headset jack. The means for communicating with a host system and/or host system perform processing based on the attenuated output signal.

Abstract: A plush toy having electronics therein for interacting with a user includes a non-rigid electrical component for detecting deformation thereof. The component includes a first layer of a compressible material with at least one aperture therethrough. Second and third layers of an electrically conductive material are positioned on opposite sides of the first layer across the aperture. The second and third layers of material may be brought into contact with each other in the aperture of the first layer to complete an electrical connection between the second and third layers by compression of the first layer upon application of a compression force. When the compression force is removed, the first material expands to separate the second and third layers, thereby breaking the electrical connection. Upon detection of deformation of the electrical component, the electronics activate a response by the toy, such as an audio response.

Abstract: A container having an internally directed audible output actuated by removal of a stopper is described. The container includes a hollow body with an open mouth and a base that includes a speaker and control electronics. A sensor is provided that is configured to detect presence of the stopper in the open mouth of the container. In one embodiment the sensor is comprised of a normally open electrical circuit formed by a pair of opposing arrays of electrical traces disposed within the mouth. In another embodiment, the sensor comprises an infrared light source and sensor that detects an amount of internally reflected infrared light within walls of the body. In yet another embodiment, the sensor comprises a device which detects the presence and/or absence of a magnetic field. Upon detection of removal of the stopper, an audible output is produced by the speaker into the container body and is perceivable by nearby users.

Abstract: A non-rigid electrical component includes a first layer of a compressible material. The first layer has at least one aperture therethrough. A second layer of an electrically conductive material is positioned on one side of the first layer across the aperture and a third layer of an electrically conductive material is positioned on an opposite side of the first layer across the aperture. The first layer is compressible such that the second and third layers of material may be brought into contact with each other in the aperture of the first layer to complete an electrical connection between the second and third layers upon application of a compression force. The first layer is also made of a resilient material such that when the compression force is removed, the first material expands to separate the second and third layers, thereby breaking the electrical connection.

Abstract: A card reader device for reading a card having data stored on a magnetic stripe incorporated into the card is disclosed in which the card reader device comprises a read head for passing a magnetic stripe of a card by to read data stored on a magnetic stripe and for producing a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, a signal setting device for setting an amplitude of the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, and an output jack adapted to be inserted into a microphone input associated with a cell phone for providing the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe to a cell phone. Data stored on the card and sensed by the card reader device is decoded by components such as a microphone amplifier, an analog to digital converter, and a microprocessor already resident in a cell phone.

Abstract: A container having an internally directed audible output actuated by removal of a stopper is described. The container includes a hollow body with an open mouth and a base that includes a speaker and control electronics. A sensor is provided that is configured to detect presence of the stopper in the open mouth of the container. In one embodiment the sensor is comprised of a normally open electrical circuit formed by a pair of opposing arrays of electrical traces disposed within the mouth. In another embodiment, the sensor comprises an infrared light source and sensor that detects an amount of internally reflected infrared light within walls of the body. In yet another embodiment, the sensor comprises a device which detects the presence and/or absence of a magnetic field. Upon detection of removal of the stopper, an audible output is produced by the speaker into the container body and is perceivable by nearby users.

Abstract: A card authentication system. In one embodiment, the invention relates to a method for authenticating a data card having an intrinsic magnetic characteristic and recorded data on the data card, the method including reading information from the data card, the data card information including the intrinsic magnetic characteristic and the recorded data on the data card, encrypting the data card information, sending the encrypted data card information, receiving the encrypted data card information, decrypting a portion of the encrypted data card information, the portion including the intrinsic magnetic characteristic, generating a score indicative of a degree of correlation between the intrinsic magnetic characteristic of the data card information and a stored value, and determining an authenticity of the data card based at least in part on the score.

Abstract: A container having an internally directed audible output actuated by removal of a stopper is described. The container includes a hollow body with an open mouth and a base that includes a speaker and control electronics. A sensor is provided that is configured to detect presence of the stopper in the open mouth of the container. In one embodiment the sensor is comprised of a normally open electrical circuit formed by a pair of opposing arrays of electrical traces disposed within the mouth. In another embodiment, the sensor comprises an infrared light source and sensor that detects an amount of internally reflected infrared light within walls of the body. In yet another embodiment, the sensor comprises a device which detects the presence and/or absence of a magnetic field. Upon detection of removal of the stopper, an audible output is produced by the speaker into the container body and is perceivable by nearby users.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a card reader device includes: a read head configured to generate a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe of a card, an output plug, adapted to be inserted into a headset jack of a mobile host device, configured to communicate an output signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to a microphone input of the headset jack of the mobile host device; and circuitry configured to set the amplitude, which includes attenuation by at least a resistor, of a signal communicating said data included in the signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe generated by the read head resulting in the output signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. In one embodiment, the circuitry includes decoding circuitry configured to decode the signal indicative of the data stored on the magnetic stripe.

Abstract: A card reader device for reading a card having data stored on a magnetic stripe incorporated into the card is disclosed in which the card reader device comprises a read head for passing a magnetic stripe of a card by to read data stored on a magnetic stripe and for producing a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, a signal setting device for setting an amplitude of the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, and an output jack adapted to be inserted into a microphone input associated with a cell phone for providing the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe to a cell phone. Data stored on the card and sensed by the card reader device is decoded by components such as a microphone amplifier, an analog to digital converter, and a microprocessor already resident in a cell phone.

Abstract: A card reader device for reading a card having data stored on a magnetic stripe incorporated into the card is disclosed in which the card reader device comprises a read head for passing a magnetic stripe of a card by to read data stored on a magnetic stripe and for producing a signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe, and an output plug adapted to be inserted into a headset jack associated with a host device for providing the signal indicative of data stored on a magnetic stripe to a host device.

Abstract: A non-rigid electrical component includes a first layer of a compressible material. The first layer has at least one aperture therethrough. A second layer of an electrically conductive material is positioned on one side of the first layer across the aperture and a third layer of an electrically conductive material is positioned on an opposite side of the first layer across the aperture. The first layer is compressible such that the second and third layers of material may be brought into contact with each other in the aperture of the first layer to complete an electrical connection between the second and third layers upon application of a compression force. The first layer is also made of a resilient material such that when the compression force is removed, the first material expands to separate the second and third layers, thereby breaking the electrical connection.