Abstract: An interface including a panel defining at least one edge at least one detector arranged along the at least one edge of the panel, an electromagnetic radiation beam emitter operative to direct at least one beam of electromagnetic radiation onto the panel from a variable distance and at a variable angle, the panel being operative to transmit electromagnetic radiation from the at least one beam impinging thereon to the at least one edge thereof, for detection by the at least one detector, the panel being operative to generally attenuate the electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough to the at least one edge as a function of the distance traveled by the electromagnetic radiation through the panel, thereby the at least one detector is operative to provide at least one output which can be used to determine the variable distance and the variable angle.

Abstract: An interface including a panel (100) defining at least one edge (114, 116, 118, 120) at least one detector (102) arranged along the at least one edge (114) of the panel, an electromagnetic radiation beam emitter (152) operative to direct at least one beam of electromagnetic radiation onto the panel (100) from a variable distance and at a variable angle (158), the panel being operative to transmit electromagnetic radiation from the at least one beam impinging thereon to the at least one edge (114) thereof, for detection by the at least one detector, the panel being operative to generally attenuate the electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough to the at least one edge as a function of the distance traveled by the electromagnetic radiation through the panel (100), whereby the at least one detector (102) is operative to provide at least one output which can be used to determine the variable distance and the variable angle.

Abstract: A method for rapidly and accurately dispensing a predetermined number of discrete items, the method comprising: operating a conveyor to transport multiple items towards an imaging device, wherein the items are arranged in a single layer and at least some of the items are transported in parallel; operating the imaging device to continuously capture images of an area immediately below an end of the conveyor, so that items falling off the conveyor are recorded in the images while in trajectory; processing the images in real time, to continuously determine the number of falling items; stopping the conveyor before the number of falling items has reached the predetermined number, while continuing to determine the number of falling items until items cease to fall off the conveyor innertially; and automatically dispensing an additional amount of items, to complete the predetermined number of items.

Abstract: A method for rapidly and accurately dispensing a predetermined number of discrete items, the method comprising: operating a conveyor to transport multiple items towards an imaging device, wherein the items are arranged in a single layer and at least some of the items are transported in parallel; operating the imaging device to continuously capture images of an area immediately below an end of the conveyor, so that items falling off the conveyor are recorded in the images while in trajectory; processing the images in real time, to continuously determine the number of falling items; stopping the conveyor before the number of falling items has reached the predetermined number, while continuing to determine the number of falling items until items cease to fall off the conveyor innertially; and automatically dispensing an additional amount of items, to complete the predetermined number of items.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing discrete items into a multiplicity of containers such that each of the multiplicity of containers contains at least a predetermined number of items, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor for transporting items from a feeder to a location from which the items fall into the container; a counting mechanism for counting a number of items that have fallen off the conveyor into the container during operation of the conveyor and due to inertial forces after the operation; an actuator for operating or stopping the conveyor in accordance with control commands; and a computing platform for receiving a count from the counting mechanism and generating the control commands to be provided to the actuator.

Abstract: A method for dispensing a set number of items as a batch comprising the steps of: setting the set number of items in a batch; calibrating by forwarding items along a conveyor for a time interval; counting the number of items to fall off end of feeder in that time interval; calculating throughput per unit time; setting the conveyor to operate for a discrete time period calculated to approach but not exceed that required so that the running total reaches nut does not exceed the set number without otherwise adjusting conveyor settings; counting the number of items dispensed in the discrete time period; adding the number of items to fall off feeder in the discrete time period to running total, and repeating steps until the running total is greater or equal to the batch size wherein each iteration uses the number of particles per unit time in the preceding time period as basis for determining item through rate for calculating subsequent time period for operating the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing discrete items into a multiplicity of containers such that each of the multiplicity of containers contains at least a predetermined number of items, the apparatus comprising: a conveyor for transporting items from a feeder to a location from which the items fall into the container; a counting mechanism for counting a number of items that have fallen off the conveyor into the container during operation of the conveyor and due to inertial forces after the operation; an actuator for operating or stopping the conveyor in accordance with control commands; and a computing platform for receiving a count from the counting mechanism and generating the control commands to be provided to the actuator.

Abstract: A method for dispensing a set number of items as a batch comprising the steps of: setting the set number of items in a batch; calibrating by forwarding items along a conveyor for a time interval; counting the number of items to fall off end of feeder in that time interval; calculating throughput per unit time; setting the conveyor to operate for a discrete time period calculated to approach but not exceed that required so that the running total reaches nut does not exceed the set number without otherwise adjusting conveyor settings; counting the number of items dispensed in the discrete time period; adding the number of items to fall off feeder in the discrete time period to running total, and repeating steps until the running total is greater or equal to the batch size wherein each iteration uses the number of particles per unit time in the preceding time period as basis for determining item through rate for calculating subsequent time period for operating the conveyor.

Abstract: An interface including a panel (100) defining at least one edge (114, 116, 118, 120) at least one detector (102) arranged along the at least one edge (114) of the panel, an electromagnetic radiation beam emitter (152) operative to direct at least one beam of electromagnetic radiation onto the panel (100) from a variable distance and at a variable angle (158), the panel being operative to transmit electromagnetic radiation from the at least one beam impinging thereon to the at least one edge (114) thereof, for detection by the at least one detector, the panel being operative to generally attenuate the electromagnetic radiation passing therethrough to the at least one edge as a function of the distance traveled by the electromagnetic radiation through the panel (100), whereby the at least one detector (102) is operative to provide at least one output which can be used to determine the variable distance and the variable angle.

Abstract: A memory card includes a base sheet formed with a circular opening to accommodate a circular memory disc, and a lateral opening to accommodate a movable window assembly; a circular memory disc rotatably mounted within the circular opening; and a movable window assembly within the lateral opening of the base sheet and covered by cover sheets. The movable window assembly includes a plastic film carried by a carrier member and movable either to a protective position wherein the plastic film covers a window opening in the cover sheets, or to an exposing position laterally of the window opening wherein the plastic film exposes the Read section of the circular memory disc to the Read head of the reader.

Abstract: A method of coding an optically-readable medium comprises: applying to the medium at least one coating of a heat-sensitive material to produce a specified combination of at least two optical changes as a function of time when heated to a predetermined temperature above ambient; heating the medium to the predetermined temperature; and sensing the optical changes undergone by the medium to determine whether the sensed changes match the specified combination. The method and apparatus are described particularly to an optically-readable medium wherein the heat-sensitive coating is in a plurality of windows formed in the medium, each window signifying a value element.

Abstract: An anti-theft system for motor vehicles, comprises a code input device for inputing a code; a storage device for storing a predetermined code; an electronic system for comparing the inputted code with the stored code; and an enabling device actuated when the inputted code corresponds to the stored code. The enabling device is effective, when actuated, to enable starting the vehicle engine by the vehicle ignition switch being turned to its On-position. The system further includes a manually operable reset device effective, when operated with the ignition switch in its Off-position, to deactuate the enabling device, but not effective when operated with the ignition switch in its On-position to deactuate the enabling device.

Abstract: An optically-readable value card for use in a vending system for vending goods or services includes a plurality of heat-sensitive optically-readable value elements each of which, upon heating to a first temperature above ambient, changes its color in a reversible manner, but upon heating to a second temperature above ambient and higher than the first temperature, changes to a second color in an irreversible manner. Each of the value elements is in the form of a light window having a layer of a thermochromic material which changes its color in a reversible manner when heated to the first temperature, and a layer of a thermographic material which changes its color in an irreversible manner when heated to the second temperature.

Abstract: A method and device for the comparison of patterns, and especially of fingerprints, making possible the identification of a given person. The device comprises means for projecting an incoherent image of the finger to be compared onto a permanent fingerprint record, oscillating same with respect to each other, projecting the resulting image onto a photocell and ascertaining the A.C.-current characteristics of the resulting electrical signal. When the finger is positioned exactly, oscillation in one direction is adequate, if not oscillations in at least two directions are to be resorted to. The image of the finger is advantageously obtained by frustrated total reflection on the totally reflecting face of a prism. The permanent record and the image may be subjected to a predetermined distortion and/or magnification according to a predetermined code, reducing the risk of forgeries.