Abstract: A bill deposit/withdrawal machine for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills according to a transaction of a user, includes a deposit/withdrawal port for performing deposit or withdrawal of bills, a bill discriminating unit for discriminating bills, at least one bill accepting box for accepting bills transported from the deposit/withdrawal port and/or accepting bills to be transported to the deposit/withdrawal port and a bill transport path for connecting the deposit/withdrawal port and the bill accepting box to transport bills. The bill accepting box is transversely disposed to support bills in a standing position at least one of enables accepting bills transported through the bill transport path and delivering bills to be transported through the bill transport path. The bill accepting box is formed to be detachable from front and back face sides of the bill deposit/withdrawal machine.

Abstract: The XD memory card adapter of the present invention is comprised of an adapter board, a first pin set, a second pin set and a plurality of connecting lines; it can be used in cooperating with a memory card reading/writing device. The memory card reading/writing device has at least an insertion slot having therein a memory card electric interface, and is characterized by that: the adapter board can be inserted into the insertion slot to make connection of the first pin set with the memory card electric interface in the insertion slot; and the adapter board is provided on the side in opposition to the first pin set with the second pin set, the first pin set is connected with the second pin set via the connecting lines.

Abstract: A document image scanner capable of branding thermally printed tickets using a single feed roller. The contact image sensor and the thermal print head are both configured to apply pressure directly against the single feed roller. When not in use, the thermal print head may be retracted. The document scanner may include a print head that is wider than the document to be scanned, thereby enabling the scanner to relatively insensitive to off centered and/or skewed documents inserted therein for scanning and/or branding.

Abstract: A system and method for interaction between an electronic writing device (102) and a wireless device (104) includes the electronic device (102) being capable of generating a keystroke signal (106). The system and method further includes the wireless device (102) receiving the keystroke signal (106) and executing an operation (168) in response thereto. The electronic writing device (102) includes a motion sensor (110) that generates a motion displacement signal (116), a toggle switch (112) that generates an engagement signal (118), a pressure sensor (114) that generates a depression signal (120) and an optical sensor (128). The wireless device (102) includes a receiver (162) that receives the keystroke signal (106) and a processor (164) that executes an operation in response thereto or may provide for operating in a bar code mode, such that a bar code may be scanned and the keystroke signal including a bar code signal.

Abstract: An imaging system with built-in diagnostics and preferably implemented as an integrated system-on-a-chip (SOC) imaging system. According to one implementation of the present invention, the imaging system can be operated in two operating modes: a normal operating mode and a special diagnostic mode. While running in the diagnostic mode, the imaging system can be configured to detect manufacturing defects. The imaging system can be further configured to compensate for certain types of manufacturing defects. While running in the diagnostic mode, the imaging system (1) identifies pixels that function incorrectly and (2) creates a record of such pixels. In the normal operating mode, the imaging system can use the record to compensate for the missing or incorrect data from these defective pixels during real-time image processing. The present invention simplifies testing of imaging systems and/or image sensors. It also increases manufacturing yield and, therefore, results in lower per-unit manufacturing cost.

Abstract: Roadside assistance memberships are sold and activated by offering membership as a retail product. A roadside assistance package is offered as a retail item at a store. The customer pays for the membership at the retail vendor and activates at a later time. One method for activating the roadside assistance memberships is by a customer purchase of a member card for a roadside assistance membership associated with the membership at a retail vendor. The retail vendor then provides an indication of the purchase to a service vendor. The service vendor sets the purchased roadside assistance membership to a state from which it can be activated. The service vendor receives a roadside assistance membership number from a customer. When the roadside assistance membership number is indicated to be ready for activation, as indicated by the retail vendor, the service vendor activates the membership.

Abstract: A code symbol reading device includes a portable housing that contains a source of optical energy. This optical energy is projected into a scan field external to the housing and is incident upon a code symbol situated on an object located within the scan field. Optical energy reflected off the code symbol is detected within the housing to produce scan data that is indicative of the detected optical energy. The scan data is processed to detect and decode the code symbol and to produce symbol character data that are representative of the decoded code symbol. A data packet utilizing the symbol character data is constructed and then used to modulate an electromagnetic carrier signal that is transmitted to a base unit. At the base unit, the carrier signal is demodulated and the data packet is recovered. The received data packet is processed to recover the symbol character data, and an acknowledgment signal is generated to acknowledge the receipt of the symbol character data at the base unit.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for determining a physical property of a material. The method includes: attaching nanoparticles to a substrate; positioning the substrate near the material; illuminating the nanoparticles with photons having wavelengths that stimulate surface enhanced Raman emissions; detecting photons emitted as a result of the illumination; and determining said physical property of said material using said detected photons. The apparatus includes: a substrate; nanoparticles attached to the substrate; a light source, connected to the substrate, for illuminating the nanoparticles with photons having wavelengths that stimulate surface enhanced Raman emissions; a photodetector, connected to the substrate, for detecting photons emitted as a result of illumination of the nanoparticles; and a processor, connected to the photodetector, for determining a property of material near the nanoparticles from the detected photons.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for verification of the identity of a patient undergoing treatment administered by a medical treatment practitioner in a treatment room. An identifying element such as patient chart or patient photograph is provided for the patient which includes a patient identifier, e.g., a barcode, capable of being read by a reader device located within the treatment room. In use, the patient identifier is read by the reader device in the treatment room and a characteristic audio signal, previously assigned to the patient and known to the patient, is generated in response to the reading of the identifying element when there is a match between the patient identifier and a stored identifier for the patient. Treatment of the patient is at least temporarily withheld if any audio signal generated in response to reading of the patient identifier by the reader device is not the characteristic audio signal assigned to the patient. A special patient chart with a removable identifier can be used.

Abstract: Briefly, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a method of forming at least two vias, each having a metal overlap, to interconnect at least two connection points with metallization includes the following. The at least two vias are etched through a layer of insulating material. The at least two etched vias are located diagonally with respect to one another. Metal overlap for each of the at least two vias is formed into a polygon shape having more than four sides. Briefly, in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, an article includes: a storage medium, the storage medium having stored thereon, instructions, which, when executed, result in: the placement and routing of vias between at least two connection points to be interconnected with metallization by positioning at least two vias diagonally with respect to one another, the at least two vias being positioned so each is capable of having a polygon shape of metal overlap with more than four sides.

Abstract: A POS system comprises a host computer providing a centralized control over a plurality of scanners, and a printer for printing a batch setting bar code or the like. A CPU of the scanner reads the changes in the setting from its own memory when it receives a first transmission request command and then transmits the data to the host computer as a first batch setting data. From this first batch setting data, a first batch setting bar code is generated. When this first batch setting bar code is read using the reader of the scanner whose setting has not been changed, the setting in the memory of this scanner is changed to the setting represented by the first batch setting data. Thus, setting in a plurality of scanners can speedily and accurately be changed.

Abstract: A two-dimensional code recognition processing apparatus, and two-dimensional code recognition processing program storage medium for recognizing a two-dimensional code made of a plurality of square cells arranged in accordance with predetermined layout rules, wherein two-dimensional code recognition processing method comprises the steps of recognizing code data assigned to the two-dimensional code, from externally captured image information, and if a plurality of code data are recognized successively over time in the recognizing step, or if a plurality of code data are recognized from the same image information in the recognizing step, then linking the plurality of code data to generate expanded code data.