Abstract: An apparatus and method for implanting within a human or animal body a surgical device which includes a tubular member with outside markings having a removable pointed end member mounted in the front end of the tubular member; a rod member slidably mounted within the tubular member and a removable handle member secured to the rear end of the tubular member. A pair of incision are made in the body adjacent the area in which the surgical device is to be implanted. The assembled device is inserted in one incision until the pointed end protrudes through the second incision. The pointed end member and the hand handle member are then removed. One end of the implantable surgical device is then attached to one end of the rod member which is then withdrawn from the tubular member together with the surgical device until the surgical device is properly positioned in the tissue.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for transmitting data over a transmission channel from a base station to one of a plurality of remote terminal devices including the steps of storing in a first table the communication channels for each of the terminal devices which were open for the last communication to the terminal device, selecting from the first table a communication channel which was successful in communicating to the said one of a plurality of remote terminal devices and transmitting data over the selected communication channel.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing used medical needles includes a storage housing member for storing the used medical needles, the housing member including a flange portion for supporting the housing member on a supporting surface enabling an attendant to insert used needles into the housing member with one hand. There is also disclosed a portable support member for capturing the flange portion to rigidly support the housing member enabling one hand operation for inserting used medical needles into the housing member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a hand-held bar code scanning device having a processor for operating the scanning device. The method includes the steps of mounting the scanning device in a support member, sensing the movement of the device when removed from the support member, operating the device when removed from the support member and disabling the scanning device when returned to the support member. A hand-held scanning device includes sensing means and processing means in which the sensing means outputs a control signal to the processing means upon sensing the movement of the scanner enabling the processing means to operate the scanner.

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: There is disclosed a method for decoding data read from a bar code label which includes the steps of applying predetermined relationships to data representing the reading of a full half label or a portion of a label for detecting first valid numerical characters or suspect numerical characters which may be a valid or non-valid numerical character and applying predetermined relationships to the suspect characters to derive second valid numerical characters which are merged with the first numerical characters to form the characters representing the coded label.

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: An apparatus is disclosed for scanning a bar code label on purchased merchandise items, including a support member having a first conveyor belt mounted above a second conveyor belt, and a digitizer panel oriented in a downward direction positioned therebetween. The digitizer panel will track the X and Y locations of the merchandise items as they move down the face of the panel. A plurality of optical canners are positioned above and below the digitizer panel for scanning a bar code label on a merchandise item moving across the digitizer. Processing means coupled to the digitizer and each of the scanners will detect the bar code label being read by each scanner when more than one merchandise item is located on the digitizer.

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 method for processing the reading of bar code tags or labels in which a bar code scanner reads a plurality of bar code tags in the field of view of the scanner while in a stationary position generating tag representation for each tag read comprising the steps of storing in a first storage unit the first tag representation, comparing each succeeding tag representation with the first tag representation and generating a count representing the number of times the same tag read was read for use in processing the bar code tags in the minimum amount of time.

Abstract: A videographics display system includes a graphics processor and a video RAM memory including a first portion storing video information and a second portion which is utilized for non-video information such as program information, message buffers, font tables, etc. The second portion includes dispersed memory regions formed by row portions which are not used for video information. The system includes multiplexing means effective to address the second memory portion by contiguous addresses.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for programming an optical bar code reader. The method includes the steps of storing programming binary data in a storage device, coupling a light emitting diode to the storage device enabling the diode to be operated in accordance with the binary data stored in the storage means and scanning the diode with a bar code reader enabling the bar code reader to be programmed in response to reading the scanned binary data. The apparatus includes a processor which stores programming data in a EEPROM which is operated to output binary data to a light emitting diode enabling the diode to operate upon receiving a binary one bit and disabled upon receiving a binary zero bit which condition is read by the bar code reader for use in programming the reader.

Abstract: A bar code scanner is disclosed comprising an egg-shaped housing member containing a scanning member which can be easily held by a checkout operator for a handheld scanning operation. A support member associated with the scanner has a vertically orientated support portion which has a magnet mounted in its end having a spherical-shaped mating surface which engages the correspondingly shaped surface of a magnet mounted to the under surface of the housing member enabling the scanner to be releasably supported on the support member in a plurality of scanning positions.

Abstract: A checkout counter includes an optical scanning system mounted therein for projecting scanning light beams through an aperture in the counter for scanning a coded label attached to a merchandise item positioned adjacent the aperture. The counter includes a keypad for use by the checkout operator to input a number representing the number of merchandise items which are of the same type enabling the items to be checked out without requiring the items to be individually scanned by the optical scanning system.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for decoding data read from a bar code label which includes a filter for detecting the occurrence of a character in the data generated by an optical scanner in reading the bar code label, a first processor for detecting whether the character is valid or a suspect character which may be a valid or a non-valid character and a second processor means for processing the suspect characters to determine if they are valid for use in detecting the numerical characters in the data.

Abstract: A compact optical scanner comprises a housing assembly rotatably mounted on a support member for movement between horizontal and vertical positions. A pair of compressed flexible arms inserted into socket 28 of the support member 26 provide a frictional drag when the housing assembly is rotated, allowing the assemby to be oriented at any position. The housing assembly includes an outer housing member having a scanning aperture and an inner housing member containing an optical scanning apparatus for projecting scanning light beams through the aperture for scanning a bar coded label. A source of scanning light beams mounted in one of the walls of the inner housing member projects the light beams along a path to a multifaceted spinner which is mounted offset to the light path.

Abstract: A portable bar code scanner includes a hood member having one end secured to the scanning head portion of the scanner. The other end of the hood member has a receding edge portion for help in supporting the scanner when positioned on a supporting surface.

Abstract: A method for detecting the size of a DRAM memory includes the steps of establishing a table of memory bank configurations each having a different memory capacity, selecting one of the memory configuration, writing and reading a data word at the lowest address in the bank having the highest memory capacity, writing a data word at an address higher than the lowest address, reading the data word at the lowest address and storing the selected memory configuration in a storage register as the memory configuration of the memory when the data word read at the lowest address was not the word written at the highest address.

Abstract: A compact optical scanning system includes a rotating polygon having a plurality of curved mirror portions and a plurality of mirror facets, a collection mirror member having a pair of reflective surfaces and a source of scanning light beams which projects the scanning light beams at one of the reflecting surfaces in the collection mirror. By deflecting the scanning light beams off the curved mirror portions, the mirror facets and the pair of reflective surfaces, a single line scan pattern composed of a plurality of single line scan lines each located at a different focal plane will be generated to scan a bar code label. By changing the orientation of the mirror facets together with changing the radius curvature of the curved mirror portions, an axial invariant bow-tie scan pattern composed of multiple scan lines focused at a different focal plane will be generated.