Abstract: In an active matrix substrate of a liquid crystal display using a TFT as a switching device for each pixel, a gate bus line and a drain bus line extending perpendicular to each other are formed simultaneously by patterning a metal film, and one of the two bus lines is broken to provide a gap across which the other extends. The gap is covered by an island structure of a gate dielectric film and a semiconductor layer formed to provide the TFT, and a supplementary bus line makes direct contact with the broken bus line on both sides of the gap to provide a bridge over the gap. The supplementary bus line is formed together with a pixel electrode by patterning a transparent conductor film. By this arrangement of bus lines, the total number of photolithography steps in the production process is decreased so that the production cost can be reduced.

Abstract: A dot code recorded on an information recording medium consists of a data code corresponding to the contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, and a pattern code for determining a read reference point for the data code. The pattern code consists of pattern dots arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the data code, and markers arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the pattern dots and used to detect the pattern dots. In an information reproduction system for optically reading and reproducing a dot code from an information recording medium on which such a dot code is recorded, the dot code is imaged by an image input section. A data read reference point determining section then recognizes the pattern code from the picked-up image, and determines a data read reference point for reading the data code. A data reading section reads the data code on the basis of the data read reference point determined by the data read reference point determining section.

Abstract: A two-dimensional bar code is used to identify a traveler's luggage, permitting the luggage to be tracked and, if desired, to be delivered to the traveler's ultimate destination (e.g., a hotel). If the traveler is traveling on an airline, a corresponding two-dimensional bar code is applied to the traveler's boarding pass. A two-dimensional bar code reader is used to read the boarding-pass bar code of each enplaning passenger; comparison of these bar codes with luggage bar-code data permits an alarm to be raised if each item of checked luggage is not matched by an enplaned passenger. The boarding-pass bar code may take the form of an integrated passenger identification code for use by, e.g., rental car companies, hotels, and the like.

Abstract: A plurality of rows are provided on a calling of sensors and each have a plurality of distance variation measuring sensors. The distance variation measuring sensors each include a light emitter and a light receiver arranged in the orthogonal direction to the direction in which human bodies pass. The number of passers is detected on the basis of the number of the distance variation measuring sensors which have detected a human body. The traveling direction of human bodies is detected on the basis of the change in the distance to the distance variation measuring human bodies measured by the sensors.

Abstract: In a non-contact IC card system which transmits and receives signals between an interrogator and a transponder, a transmitter-receiver used for the interrogator includes a carrier wave oscillator capable of sweeping an oscillation frequency, a resonant wave detector for detecting the resonant frequency of the transponder among carrier waves generated by the carrier wave oscillator, and a carrier frequency holder for maintaining the oscillation frequency of the carrier wave oscillator to the frequency detected by the resonant wave detector. The system is driven with a high transmission efficiency by bring the carrier wave frequency of the interrogator into agreement with the resonant frequency of the transponder, without lowering the Q value of the resonant circuit of the transponder and without any special adjustment for controlling the resonant frequency of the transponder to the desired frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus for optical reading of information includes: an optical equipment; a photoelectric transducer for transforming a photo signal from the optical equipment into an electrical signal; a signal processing circuit electrically connecting the photoelectric transducer; an apparatus body; a substrate on which the signal processing circuit is mounted, the substrate being mounted in the apparatus body; and a optical equipment housing fixedly accommodating the optical equipment.

Abstract: A digitizer for a barcode scanner includes an amplifier and a comparator. The amplifier receives a feedback signal and a differentiated return signal on a first port, and a reference voltage signal on a second port. Based on a difference between voltages on the first and second ports, the amplifier outputs an output signal, which is limited between a maximum voltage value and a minimum voltage value. The output signal is delayed in phase, and the phase-delayed signal is input to a first port of a comparator, while the undelayed output signal is input to a second port of the comparator. Based on a comparison of the voltages on the first and second ports of the comparator, the feedback signal having one of a first voltage value and a second voltage value is obtained.

Abstract: A system and method for scanning a bar code target by continuously varying the focal range of a bar code scanning system. A light source is provided for generating light rays, and a lens is provided for focusing the light rays. The lens has a variable focal length. The focused light rays are scanned across the bar code target with a beam scanner. While the focused light rays are being scanned, the focal length of the lens is continuously varied.

Abstract: Universal data input card which loads the data of a destination point and the route into the navigation device. The card can be produced completely by printing and can be published in any printed product. On the card is a picture field (3) to locate a photo and text field (4) for locating text information, miniature map segments (2) which contain the route information and a bar-code (1) which provides the coordinates of the destination points. The card of the selected destination point is simply inserted into a card input slot (7) of a GPS device which is built together with an optoelectronic card reader. The device then navigates the driver to the destination point by means of the information shown on a display (6) which can be accompanied by additional voice information. The purpose of introducing the system which operates with a printed card is to spread GPS technology into everyday use for the public.

Abstract: A permanent electronic serial number unit for use with a network electronic device that includes a member having a machine readable pattern of unique identification information, a mechanism for propagating a read signal onto the member and a mechanism for detecting the read signal after it has been propagated to the member. The unit is preferable coupled to the processor of an electronic device connected to a network such that the electronic device may be identified by the network administrator. The unit may be positioned in the structural frame of an electronic device such that the same unique identification information is visible in a human readable form on the exterior of the frame.

Abstract: A self-service terminal in the form of an automated teller machine (ATM) is provided for communicating across a network with a remote terminal. The ATM comprises a card reader having a transport path and a card entry slot at one end of the transport path for receiving a user identification card from an ATM user to enable the ATM user to gain access to the ATM. A card resides in a position adjoining the card reader and is movable between a first position and a second position along the transport path of the card reader. A transport mechanism is provided for moving the card between the first and second positions. A processor unit is provided for controlling the transport mechanism to move the card between the first and second positions in response to command signals received from the remote terminal. The card may be a diagnostic type of card having a size which is substantially identical to the size of a standard magnetic stripe card.

Abstract: A patterned polarization-rotating optical element includes a layer of birefringent material having a thickness d and birefringence .DELTA.n, wherein the layer includes at least one first region and at least one second region, at least one of the first and second regions comprising twisted birefringent material having a fixed twist angle .phi. such that .DELTA.n.multidot.d>>.phi..multidot..lambda./.pi., where .lambda. is a wavelength in vacuum of optical radiation, so that the at least one first region provides a first fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light and the at least one second region provides a second fixed angle of rotation of polarization of light, the second angle being different from the first fixed angle.

Abstract: An antenna assembly (100) for use in a portable two-way radio communications device includes a radio housing (101) including one or more boss (103) used for securing portions of a substrate (105) to the radio housing. An aperture (115) located within an antenna housing (111) is positioned over an antenna boss (107) where a metal trace located on the substrate (105) can be electrically connected to the antenna housing (111) using a fastener (109). The antenna assembly (100) permits an antenna element (113) located in the antenna housing (111) to be easily connected to the substrate (105) using minimal component parts while fastening both the antenna housing (111) and substrate (105) into a fixed position.

Abstract: A bar code and/or indicia scanning method that is able to determine what light was emitted from an upper layer invisible bar code and/or upper layer invisible indicia and what light was reflected back to the detector from a visible lower layer bar code and/or visible lower layer indicia. The detecting is "blind" to the spectra of the excitation source. Rather than differentiate between the exciter and emitter in the spectral domain, this invention differentiates between the exciter and the emitter in the time domain. The latency and persistence of the phosphorescent pigments of the invisible ink are used so that the detected signal is only the signal emitted by the upper layer invisible ink after the light source is turned off. Illumination and detection are synchronized to reduce the effects of reflection to zero so that the detector need not be chosen to be blind to the exciter. The foregoing is particularly suited to LED and laser illumination where the light source may be easily turned on and off.

Abstract: In a method of coding an electronic text document, the length of a space preceding a word in a line of text data of an electronic document relative to the length of a space following the word is modulated with the value of a bit of signature data. The signature data are thus embedded into the text data of the electronic document, not being easily discernible to illicit readers.

Abstract: A color active matrix display system including a plurality of active matrix arrays that are stacked around a liquid crystal material, vertically aligned and interconnected to provide a high resolution color display system.

Abstract: A fuel pump system with automated transaction processing enables a purchaser to define a plurality of fuel pump transactions by selecting various transaction parameters that define the transaction and store the predefined transactions on a storage medium (e.g. on an identification card bearing a magnetic strip). Then, at a fuel pump, the purchaser can pass the identification card through a magnetic card reader that reads the stored transaction information and a controller can cause the stored transaction(s) to be displayed so that a purchaser can select a transaction for execution. The purchaser may enter a single input to select a transaction, thereby simplifying and further expediting the transaction and automated processing thereof. The transaction parameters may include one or more of the form of payment (debit card, credit card, etc.), where the transaction is to be executed (e.g. at the pump or "inside"), the type and grade of fuel to be purchased (e.g. regular unleaded, premium unleaded, diesel etc.

Abstract: A method registers a vehicle in a road toll facility that is provided with radio transmitter and receiver units (7). The radio transmitter and receiver units are configured to communicate with at least one vehicle unit (12) arranged in the vehicle (4). The vehicle unit is configured with radio transmitter-receiver equipment so that on receipt of a command from the radio transmitter unit (7) of the road toll facility, the vehicle unit communicates adequate data for performance of a debiting operation regarding a toll. Upon the entry of the vehicle into the toll facility area, the transmitter and receiver units (7) of the toll facility determine whether the vehicle (4) is equipped with a vehicle unit capable of performing a correct debiting transaction.

Abstract: A scanner interface is operatively connected to an electro-optical scanner for scanning bar code symbols. A status/condition interface is operatively connected with a system component, e.g., a photodetector, a decoder, a battery, etc., whose status/condition is to be monitored. Threshold information about the system component is stored in a memory. A system processor generates updated information about the system component during scanning, compares the updated information with the threshold information and generates an output signal upon such comparison. In response to the output signal, an indicator signals a user as to the status/condition of the system component.

Abstract: A financial transaction card for reading externally stored information includes a transparent, substantially non-foldable rigid base and a strip for carrying machine readable information. The rigid base comprises a magnifying lens. The lens is formed by machining a shallow cavity in the rigid base; partially filling the cavity with a radiation curable liquid resin; impressing a lens pattern on the surface of the resin with a die; and exposing the resin to radiation of sufficient intensity to cure the resin.