Abstract: A processor 29 automatically sets a direction of transferring electronic money information depending on the existence of IC cards 1a, 1b connected to IC card connecting portions 11a, 11b, and the existence of an external device connected to an external device connecting terminal 8, thus making instructing operations for transferring electronic money information easier.

Abstract: A portable terminal device for electronic money IC cards containing monetary data therein, comprises in a main body (10), a card slot opening (12, 13) into which a plurality of electronic money IC cards (100, 110, 120) are inserted, electric contact terminals (16, 17, 18) for reading and writing the monetary data from and into the electronic money IC cards which are inserted into card slot opening, a display (80) for displaying money amount for the monetary data which is read out from the inserted electronic money IC cards or which is to be written into the inserted electronic money IC cards; and a button (82) for manipulating the reading and writing operations the monetary data from and into the electronic money IC cards which are inserted into the card slot opening. The card slot opening (12, 13) is so configured that the plurality of the electronic into and positioned with being closely piled up with each other and shifted to each other in a direction parallel to main surface thereof.

Abstract: A bar code reader has an integrated scanning component module which is mountable on a printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the module may include the digitizer/decoder electronics, enabling the module to be used with a generic PCB. In some embodiments, the module includes a high speed optical scanning arrangement having an optical element which extends longitudinally of a flexible member, secured at one end. In other embodiments, the invention extends to a hand-held optical scanner having a scanning assembly, detector and data transmission coupling all mounted to a common printed circuit board, preferably located within a manually-graspable handle. In yet a further embodiment, an abuse-detector or accelerometer is provided for determining when the device is exposed to deceleration above a predetermined limit, and optionally for automatically shutting down applications programs and for providing a black-box-record of a short time frame before the device was exposed to an unexpected shock.

Abstract: A fingerprint authentication methodology in which a smart card with a credit card form factor is used to transmit the imprint of a fingerprint to a live-scan device. Use of a credit card form avoids direct contact of the imprint with the live-scan device, reducing wear and tear on the live-scan device. Use of a “smart” card to store an imprint template enables the owner of user to maintain control of the print.

Abstract: A reflective lithography mask (12) including a substrate (40); a reflective coating (42); a plurality of absorbing blocks (44) covering certain regions of the reflective coating (42) in a manner corresponding to a desired circuit pattern; and a plurality of buffer blocks (46) situated between the covered regions of the reflective coating and the absorbing blocks. The buffer blocks (46) are made of an electrically conducting material, such as carbon in graphite form; tin oxide (and materials based on this compound) and/or indium oxide (and materials based on this compound). Since the buffer material is electrically conducting, rather than insulating, the risk of electrostatic discharge damage is reduced.

Abstract: By linking together a first set of identification information and a second set of identification information, and by creating a database linking together manufacturing information, sales information, and distribution information with the first identification information as a keyword, the burden on the user of controlling manufacturing can be lightened by, for example, the manufacturing information side informing the sales information side that the product renewal date is approaching. Further, a response can rapidly be made to demands from the user, and steps rapidly taken (i.e. transmitted to the manufacturing process and put into practice) to meet those demands.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to enable to prevent an erroneous erase of a data stored or writing another data on the data as well as to enable to easily switch an erroneous erase prevention switch. A command generator, upon reception of a register instruction for checking a state of a memory card received via an S/P & P/S sequencer, sets a state of an erroneous erase prevention switch in a register and transmits this register content via the S/P & P/S sequencer to a host computer. According to the register content from the memory card, the host computer decides whether a write protect is ON and executes a write inhibit processing when the write protect is ON.

Abstract: The contents of sealed envelopes are accessed by detecting and digitizing a change in capacitance produced when a pattern of dielectric or conductive ink is passed by a sensitive capacitance sensor. The capacitance changes are converted into corresponding electrical patterns for further processing.

Abstract: These and other objects of the present invention are attained by apparatus for adjusting the position of a line of light in barcode space that includes a support frame having a rear housing containing a solid state imager and a pair of support arms extending forwardly from the front of the housing. An imaging lens is mounted between the arms for focusing an image of a target in barcode space upon the solid state imager along the optical axis of the imaging lens. Illuminating LEDs are mounted on either side of the imaging lens for illuminating the target. The illumination is passed through a pair of cylindrical lenses that are adjustably mounted upon the distal ends of the arm so that the light can be selectively positioned in barcode space.

Abstract: A card assembly (10) comprises a polymeric layer (16) having a generally planar surface (24), an integrated circuit component (38) adjacent to the polymeric layer (16), and a loop antenna (24) formed of a bare conductor (32) having ends. The loop antenna (24) comprises a first section (26) embedded into the polymeric layer (16), a second section (28) embedded into the polymeric layer (16), and a transverse section (30) spaced apart from the first section (26) by a dielectric region. The transverse section (30) crosses the first section (26). The ends (34) are electrically coupled to the integrated circuit component (38). The dielectric region preferably comprises a reflowed flash region of the polymeric layer (16) such that the transverse section (30) is encapsulated within the polymeric layer (16). Alternately, the dielectric region comprises a dielectric insert separating the transverse section from the first section.

Abstract: A modular bar code scanner and scale assembly which does not use wire cables to connect a bar code scanner to a scale. The assembly includes a bar code scanner including a first printed circuit board having a connector, and a scale including a second printed circuit board having a connector which directly couples to the connector of the first printed circuit board when the scanner is coupled to the scale.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding profiles which fail to resolve narrow elements in machine-readable symbols formed as relief patterns, first begins by identifying which elements in the profile are resolved. Second, the distances between the centers of the resolved elements are determined. Third, closure boundaries are determined, and the widths of resolved elements are determined at the closure boundary. The type of resolved element is determined based on its measured width. Thereafter, a unit distance is determined for 1-wide narrow elements unresolved in the profile. Based on the unit distance and the width of two adjacent resolved elements, a matrix is constructed for determining the number of narrow elements unresolved between two resolved elements. Based on the measured center distances, the resolved element widths and the matrix, all of the unresolved narrow elements are identified in the profile and the profile is subsequently decoded.

Abstract: Air cooled x-ray generating apparatus is provided with a unitary vacuum enclosure having a rotating anode target and a cathode assembly for generating x-rays. The cathode assembly may be placed within the vacuum enclosure through an opening in the top wall thereof, and comprises a disk which completely covers this opening. The unitary vacuum enclosure and the disk form a radiation shield. A plurality of fins are disposed on the exterior side wall of the vacuum enclosure, and a shroud is attached to the fins to provide additional protection of ambient against radiation. The cathode assembly may be placed through a side wall of the vacuum enclosure. The additional protection against excessive radiation in this design is provided by a shielding member placed in proximity to the anode target. The shielding member extends from the side wall of the enclosure and is substantially parallel to the top wall.

Abstract: An integrated financial system that includes a single customer account that permits a customer to perform various financial transactions. The account includes at least banking components and brokerage components. A consistent user interface means is provided to allow a customer to access the account from a different sources including at least an automatic teller machine, a phone and a personal teller transaction. The account is flexible enough to include a variety of other components such as a credit card component, a line of credit component, a secured credit component and a money market component. A system and method for opening a single integrated account for a customer in a single session is also described.

Abstract: A data system (1) includes a credit card type substrate (3) and a data unit (2). The substrate has first and second edges (28, 30) and a data surface region (26) between the edges. The data unit includes a base (4), a substrate support (60) mounted to the base for controlled movement along a first path (14), and a data head driver (6), also mounted to the base, including a data head which reciprocates along a second path (10) oriented perpendicular to the first path. The data head contacts the data surface region on the substrate and first and second data head support surfaces (120, 122) located at opposite ends of the second path adjacent to the first and second edges of the substrate. The data head support surfaces and the data surface region are coplanar.

Abstract: The disclosed apparatus is a stand alone integrated smart card circuit chip card vending machine. It accepts bills in $1, $5, $10, $20 and $50 denominations and/or credit cards and issues stored value smart cards for the value requested. It can also telephone a center to validate credit card transactions or send diagnostic and statistical reports. This invention has the capability to read and write to a card while it is in the dispenser stack, therefore the card has no value while in the dispenser and is not released until payment is received, that is, the cards are encoded in real time before they are issued.

Abstract: A smart card payment system using stored value in the form of serialized electronic coins and electronic bills, which provides efficient security monitoring without the need for full centralized accounting of each transaction. Central monitoring of the system-level security includes statistical sampling techniques coupled with efficient tracing of the transaction path of an electronic coin back to its source. Only small amounts of data storage and transmission are utilized, eliminating the need for large centralized databases of transaction records. Consumer privacy as well as flexibility in making card-to-card monetary transfers are thereby enhanced, while allowing verification of system-wide security as well as rapid detection and tracing of security breaches. Multiple editions of electronic coins permit transparent and periodic renewal of the system and re-establishment of a security baseline, and also provide for the regular reclamation of stored value lost or abandoned by consumers.

Abstract: The invention is optical assembly for use in a barcode reader that includes a frame having a rear housing and a pair of arms outwardly extended from the housing. An optical card containing an imaging lens is slidably received in a rear guideway situated between the arms. An aperture card is slidably received in a front guideway situated between the arms in front of the lens. Lamp support brackets are also mounted to either side of the arms. Each bracket contains a pair of LEDs that are aligned in coplanar relation with the imaging lens. A cylindrical lens is mounted in front of the lamp support brackets within the arms of the frame to magnify and focus the illumination from the LED upon a target in barcode space. A horizontally extended field stop aperture is positioned in front of each LED.

Abstract: Equipment (100) for coating photographic media (14), such as photographic film and paper, has an apparatus (10) for printing bar code indicia (12) on a moving photographic media and a printer means for printing human readable indicia (16) on the media. The printer (20a, 20b) moves into print position along a lateral edge (28) of the media (14) in response to input signals received from a controller (22) having computer readable medium for directing the printing and movements of the printer (20a, 20b).

Abstract: A bar code reader is provided which is designed to read a bar code with a decreased power consumption. The bar code reader includes a laser output cycle adjuster that determines a laser output cycle consisting of a laser on-duration in which a laser source is allowed to emit a laser beam and a laser off-duration in which the laser source is inhibited from emitting the laser beam. This prevents the laser beam from being outputted continuously when the bar code reader is distant from the bar code, and it is difficult to read the bar code correctly, thereby minimizing a power waste in the bar code reader.