Abstract: A printed circuit board (23) having a plurality of solder coated contact pads (24, 26) for the surface mounting of electrical components (10.sup.1) thereon. Each pad (24, 26) has a rectangular portion and a triangular portion extending in the direction of the component's body (18) so as to reduce the amount of solder (28) located under the body (18) while not disadvantageously affecting the tolerance with which connector caps (20, 22) of the components (10.sup.1) can be mounted on, and bonded to, the pads (24, 26). This arrangement inhibits the formation of solder droplets on the printed circuit board (23) during the bonding process. At least one of the components fixed to the connector pads has an elongated electrically insulating body portion provided at its ends with connector portions which are respectively bonded to the connector pads.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electronically capturing handwritten information and for providing a visual feedback to the user of the device to show what has been written. A digitizer is provided for the electronic capture of the handwritten data, and a device comprising multiple superimposed sheets, which coact to produce a visible mark when pressure is applied thereto, is placed over the digitizer to receive a writing impression at the same time that the digitizer does. A mechanical eraser is placed between the sheets to separate them and thereby erase the visible mark which has been made. The eraser also includes a sensing device to sense when an erasure has been made, and to provide a signal indicating that this has been done. In using the device, it is first ascertained that any previous marking has been erased, the desired handwritten entry is then made, and is subsequently erased, to ready the device for its next use.

Abstract: A self-service system, such as an automated teller machine (ATM) system, uses predictive technology. When a user begins a transaction by inserting an identification card into a card reader of an ATM, the predictive technology predicts which service or services provided by the system the user is likely to request. This prediction is based upon a stored record in the system, representing previous transactions by that user. The prediction is made in advance of completion of an authorization process for the transaction, to increase the speed of operation of the ATM in carrying out the transaction. For example, to reduce overall transaction time, the ATM can count out a predicted amount of cash in advance of an anticipated withdrawal request. Also, the prediction is used to generate a special display for a particular user, the display being designed to simplify the decisions and selections required to be made by the user.

Abstract: A self-service automated teller system includes a fraud detection module which uses a biometric recognition technique, such as voice or fingerprint recognition, in combination with predictive technology. The biometric recognition test is normally decisive, but if this test produces a result which is close to a predetermined threshold, the predictive technology checks to determine whether the transaction is consistent with the user's normal behavior before permitting the transaction to proceed. A suspicion count may also be included in the decision-making process, to determine whether or not the user has a previous record of suspicious transactions.

Abstract: Apparatus for indicating the thickness of a document being fed along a feed path comprises cooperating upper and lower roll sets (20 and 32) between which a document passes. The lower roll set (20) is driven by the document transport, while the upper roll set (32) is rotatably mounted on a pivotally mounted arm (36), which is urged by a spring (42) to cause the upper roll set (32) to move toward engagement with the lower roll set (20). The upper roll set (32) includes a central cylindrical portion (30) of reduced diameter. A further roll (46) is mounted so that its circumference is normally spaced from the surface of the cylindrical portion by a predetermined distance. A timing disc (52) is mounted for rotation with the further roll (46), and a sensing device (58) is associated with the timing disc (52) to generate pulses as the further roll (46) rotates.

Abstract: A method for reducing errors in electrographic digitizer systems where the horizontal and vertical coordinates are quantized at various time intervals. The method minimizes the time skew generated during quantizations and doubles the quantized coordinate pair output rate by utilizing a time-weighted linear interpolation.

Abstract: An arrangement for cooling electronic components in a system. Several circuit boards are connected to a backplane electrically and through heat pipes, which are mounted on the boards and provide connections between the electronic components on the board and the cooling system. The circuit boards, including the attached heat pipes, can be removed from the backplane by detaching electrical connections on the boards from corresponding connectors on the backplane, while at the same time detaching the ends of the heat pipes from sockets in an expander which forms part of the cooling system. If desired, backplanes can be positioned on both sides of the expander, with sockets provided on both sides of the expander to receive end portions of heat pipes.

Abstract: A sheet handling apparatus includes transport mechanism (40, 42) for feeding a stack of sheets, such as currency notes, from a position in which the stack is accessible to a user of the apparatus into a secure container. A stack banding device (138) is arranged to form a band around the stack during feeding of the stack from the accessible position into the container. The band comprises two self-adhesive labels which are respectively peeled off two carrier strips (166) wound around two spools (168) included in the stack banding device (138). A printer is arranged to print stack identification data on each band. The stack banding device (138) may be used in an ATM for identifying a stack of currency notes which a customer has failed to collect at an exit port of the ATM and which has been fed into a rejected note container.

Abstract: A heat sink for electronic devices which are surface mounted on a printed circuit board includes two side members, a connecting bridge, a foot on each side member which is soldered to a mounting pad on the printed circuit board, a locating element on each side member which engages an aperture in the printed circuit board during assembly, and a group of heat dissipating fingers on each side member. The heat sink can be placed over an electronic device which is surface mounted to the mounting pad on the printed circuit board and the feet of the heat sink can be soldered to the mounting pad simultaneously with the soldering of the electronic device to the mounting pad on the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A currency note picking and feeding apparatus (10) includes feed belts (28) for feeding notes from the bottom of a stack of notes (20) to the nip of a rotating suction drum (22) and separating belts (64) of frictional material which engage with the periphery of the drum (22). The suction drum (22) grips and feeds the lowermost note to a further conveyor means (76,82,84), with the separating belts (64) holding back any notes superposed on the lowermost note. If a feeding failure of the drum (22) occurs, as recognized by photodetector (90) associated with the further conveyor (76,82,84) failing to sense the passage of a note within a predetermined time interval, then pivotably mounted pressure rolls (92) are caused to be moved temporarily into cooperative association with the suction drum (22) so as to press the notes present at the nip of the drum (22) and the separating belts (64) against the drum (22), thereby increasing the grip of the drum (22) on the lowermost note.

Abstract: In a merchandise checkout system including an electronic cash register having a touch screen panel and a cash till including a plurality of compartments for storing a particular bill or coin denomination, there is disclosed a method for checking out purchased merchandise items including the steps of displaying on the touch screen panel a receipt listing the items purchased together with the amount due, displaying on the panel a plurality of bill denominations which may be submitted by the customer for the purchase of the merchandise items and displaying on the touch screen panel a representation of the cash till together with the particular bill and coin denominations and the number of such denominations which are to be dispensed as the change due the customer in response to the submission of the particular bill denomination by the customer.

Abstract: A method for mapping sampled patterns into a lower resolution display device whereby a continuous image of the sampled pattern is reproduced. The method comprises determining the pixel location of each element of high resolution sampled data and the relative location within the pixel, deciding whether the pixels corresponding to the mapped data points should be included in the image, and graphically connecting selected pixels which are separated by one or more pixels. The process of pixel selection is aided by dividing each pixel into two separate areas, the boundary of which is determined by a predetermined geometric shape such as a diamond or circle which is entirely contained within a pixel. If a high resolution sampled data point or a connecting line falls within that predetermined geometric shape inside the pixel, then that pixel is selected, whereas data points falling outside the predetermined area within the pixel do not select that pixel for activation.

Abstract: A system and method for automated processing of articles include a plurality of storage units separated by aisles through which customers can pass to select articles for processing. The selected articles are identified by tags applied thereto from identification record members provided to the customers, and are placed on conveyors located adjacent to the storage units for transportation to a checkout station where they are collected, their prices are totalled, and payment is made. The articles are then further transported to a plurality of bagger stations where they are bagged and released to the customer after verification that payment has been made.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading currency notes into and picking notes from a currency cassette (14) includes a movable support member (56) on which the cassette (14) is mounted and which is movable together with the cassette (14) between an operative position in which loading or picking takes place and a non-operative position. Lower and upper stack retaining pawls (180, 182) are pivotably movable between operative positions in which they engage lower and upper front edges of a stack of notes (44) held in the cassette (14) and non-operative positions. When the apparatus changes from a picking to a loading mode, the support member (56) is moved to its non-operative position and the pawls (180, 182) are moved to their operative positions, after which the support member (56) is moved back to its operative position, the stack (44) being urged against the pawls (180, 182) so as to form a space (208) in front of the stack (44) for accommodating notes to be loaded into the cassette (14).

Abstract: A technique for mapping high resolution data into a lower resolution frame, in applications in which the original high resolution data contains a small amount of noise. The improvement is achieved by the introduction of a hysteresis loop into the mapping process.

Abstract: There are disclosed a system and method for decoding data read from a plurality of different types of bar code labels which includes circuit means for detecting the occurrence of two equal continuous characters in the data generated by an optical scanner in reading a bar code label and a filter for each of the different bar code labels receiving simultaneously the two equal characters for decoding the character data and inserting locating bits in the data delimiting a valid character in the data.

Abstract: Sequence control apparatus provides a plurality of output signals selectively based upon either the rising or falling edge of a clock signal. The apparatus includes a plurality of groups of bistable devices such as flip flops. In each group, half of the flip flops are triggered by the rising edge of a clock pulse and the other half of the flip flops are triggered by the falling edge. The outputs of these flip flops are coupled to a series of gates, which in turn are controlled by logic input select signals to provide output signals which may be used, for example, for memory control purposes. The output signal from one group of flip flops is provided as an input signal for the next group.

Abstract: A modular business terminal comprises a base unit having a docking surface with a number of parallel grooves, on which surface a plurality of detachable terminal modules having elongated projections associated therewith may be positioned and secured by a snap fit connection between the projections and the grooves. The terminal modules may include such devices as a keyboard, a touch screen, a CRT or other type of display, a magnetic stripe reader, a printer, etc. Various arrangements may be employed to provide data coupling between the base unit and the terminal modules, such as infra-red coupling devices, or the use of a cable attached to the terminal module, which cable is retained within the groove which retains the terminal module in position on the docking surface. The base unit may be configured to rest upon a supporting surface, such as a counter, or may be wall mounted. The docking surface may be angled slightly from the horizontal, or may be substantially vertical.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the charging voltage applied to a battery cell includes a printed circuit board having a flexible portion comprising a heat sensitive material which is wrapped around the battery cell for sensing the temperature of the battery cell during charging of the battery cell. Circuit means connected to said temperature battery apparatus disables the charging voltage upon the temperature of the battery cell reaching a predetermined level and generates a trickle charge in response to the disabling of the charging voltage.

Abstract: A transaction terminal comprises a base module which includes a printer and a portable hand-held data input module which can be removed by a user from the base module to enable the user to move around an area such as a store to gather input data. The portable data input module can then be connected to the base module for printing of the gathered data. The portable hand-held data input module may include several types of data input devices such as a keyboard, a touch screen, a digitizer and a storage disk.