Abstract: A commodity key for use in connection with radiation sensitive encoding devices provides a unique pattern of radiation identifying the type and/or unit price of a commodity in a computing scale. The key has an elongated body (10) with a code area (20) formed of a frangible plastic material opaque to the radiation used in the encoding device. The code area has a first plurality of insets or blind holes (21) in one side thereof, and a complementary second plurality of insets or blind holes (25) in the opposite side. The sets of insets are individually adjacent and aligned to define potential radiation transmissive openings through the code area, and the insets in one set are somewhat larger than the insets in the other set. The material (27) dividing adjacent insets thus is readily frangible in response to pressure exerted thereon through the smaller of the adjacent insets to form effective radiation transmissive openings, thereby facilitating on-site encoding of a key.

Abstract: In a video disc playback system non-linear intermodulation distortions are effected during playback by the pick-up stylus. These distortions cause disturbing visual beats in the reproduced images. A first signal path at the output of the pick-up circuitry transfers the main video signal with negligible phase shift over a given band of frequencies. A second signal path which parallels the first path effects a modulation of the video signals by the interferring signals (i.e., sound signals). The signals from the first and second paths are combined to effect a substantial removal of the interfering intermodulation products.

Abstract: System for digitally converting baseband channel signals into a frequency-division multiplex signal. The system comprises at its input converter circuits by each of which the sequence of codewords of the digital signal which correspond to each signal to be converted is divided into two interlaced sequences. The two devices required for processing each of the two digital signals supplied by the input circuits in the form of converters are combined so as to use in cascade a Fourier transformation device, a set of arithmetic units in the form of digital filters and a time-division multiplexer which supplies the desired multiplex signal. Use: multiplex transmission of speech signals.

Abstract: In a magnetic recording and reproducing system of the type wherein a plurality of rotating magnetic heads record the video signal on a magnetic tape as tracks which are inclined at an angle relative to the direction of travel of the magnetic tape, the audio signal is time compressed and recorded by the rotating magnetic heads on tracks contiguous with either or both ends of said video signal recording tracks, whereby even at a considerably low tape transport speed the audio signal may be recorded in a stable manner.

Abstract: A punched card reader for use in systems such as bulk fuel terminal dispensing systems, automated unattended bank teller machines and the like includes security provisions to prevent operation of such systems by counterfeit cards. Specifically, the system operates with a punched card made of laminated plastic or the like having a rectangular plate made of magnetic material sandwiched between the card layers. This plate is located in an area of the card adjacent the portion encoded with the variable data uniquely identifying the card and the controlling its function, etc. The card entry throat of the tape reader is modified to have a pair of spaced-apart, magnetically actuated reed switches on one side of the card entry slot. On the opposite side of the card entry slot a pair of corresponding permanent magnets are located.

Abstract: An image is recorded on the recording layer of an image recording material by exposing the photoconductor thereof to imagewise light and applying a voltage there-across. The image recording material is composed of(a) a recording medium consisting of a support base at least one surface of which is electrically conductive and a recording layer provided on the electrically conductive surface of the support base containing an oxidizable or reducible compound, and(b) a photoconductor disposed in contact with the surface of the recording layer.The photoconductor has a specific resistance of not more than 10.sup.9 .OMEGA.cm and causes the effect of electric rectification at the boundary between itself and the recording layer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided through which, after insertion of a card into a card reader, a code word is presented which is made up of a certain number of signs or symbols. The user uses a pushbutton or other control to make selections of signs associated with the code word. If the correct signs are selected, an output is developed for control of an appropriate control function. The signs may be presented serially, in parallel or with a combination of serial and parallel presentations. Various means may be used for presentation of the code word and signs.

Abstract: An automatic vehicle identification system for use in identifying and routing vehicles, such as railway cars or other vehicles which routinely travel a given track or path. A passive electronic device or electrical circuit is employed to intersect an energy field and respond thereto by generating a code in accordance with energy received and converted to coded electrical signals. Connected to the passive device is a short wave transmitter for transmitting signals generated by the electrical device when so energized. The electrical device may also comprise a plurality of different induction coils or antenna which serve to modify an energy field in a given manner, which modification may be detected by short wave sensing and converted to a coded electrical signal which is employed to identify the vehicle.

Abstract: A toll road terminal machine having dual functions as a transit ticket issuing machine at an entrance gate and as a transit ticket verifying machine at an exit gate includes: a main conveyor section provided with a magnetic read/write head assembly for writing on and reading from a magnetic recording zone of a transit ticket and a printer for printing on a printing zone of the same transit ticket; the machine also includes a joining conveyor section for conveying either a transit ticket fed from a transit ticket hopper or a transit ticket inserted into an insertion port to the main conveyor section, and a separating conveyor section for conveying a transit ticket fed from said main conveyor section either to a stacker or to an ejection port.

Abstract: Periodic biasing of video disc player signal correction servo to the center of its control range avoids the loss-of-loop gain which otherwise could occur if the servo were continuously biased and minimizes loop stabilization time. Periodic biasing is provided by means of a timing circuit, responsive to a luminance signal transition above blanking level, which enables the servo phase error detector and simultaneously enables a precharging circuit which charges the servo error voltage holding capacitor to a level corresponding to a zero error servo condition. The timing circuit disables the precharging circuit a predetermined time subsequent to an opposite transition of the luminance signal and disables the phase detector subsequent to disabling of the precharging circuit.

Abstract: A badge reader adapted to communicate with remotely located data processing equipment, said badge reader having data processing circuitry controlled by a rate clock which in turn is enabled and disabled by internal and external signals to provide clock signals only when and as required for carrying out selected data processing operations.

Abstract: A channel division recording/reproducing apparatus is provided for dividing an input signal into signals for a plurality of channels through an Hadamard transformation, frequency modulating the signals of the respective channels and recording them and, after demodulating the recorded signals for the respective channels, subjecting the demodulated signals to an Hadamard inverse transformation and reproducing the input signal. Out of the Hadamard-transformed signals, the signal on the channel of the minimum frequency band is separated by a filter from the input signal and the separated signal processed by an additional Hadamard transformer and Hadamard inverse transformer and frequency modulated with a modulation index greater than the original signal and with a carrier of a lower frequency. An impovement in signal-to-noise ratio is thereby obtained.

Abstract: An optical sensing member for reading a coded member having parallel aligned tracks of data and clocking coded symbols which includes a pair of sensing apertures offset to enable the sensing of the data track to occur out of phase with the sensing of the clocking track. The sensing member includes a housing having a sensing surface in which the offset apertures are located, a light source, a pair of photo-transistors for sensing the tracks of coded symbols and optical fibers for transmitting light from the light source to the tracks of coded symbols and the reflected light to the photo-transistors for the reading of the coded members.

Abstract: Unique identifying symbols, such as bar codes, are preprinted on, or affixed to, each of a plurality of source documents. A scanning and recording device simultaneously reads the identifying symbol appearing on a given source document and records the image thereof on an image storage medium, such as photographic film. Also stored on the image storage medium, adjacent to each image stored thereon, is an address symbol to indicate the relative location at which a desired image is stored. Synchronization means coupled to the scanning and recording device generate an electrical data address word corresponding to this address symbol. This data address word is then combined with a similar data identifying word, generated as the scanning device reads the identifying symbol appearing on each source document, to form a data index word.

Abstract: A symbol decoding system incorporated in a plurality of NMOS/LSI chips generates data representing numerical characters encoded in the symbol. Scanning means generates signals in response to the scanning of a plurality of bars and spaces, which signals are decoded by a first chip as valid and invalid characters, the valid characters being recognized by a second chip which stores the valid characters and enables a microprocessor chip to receive the valid characters assembled as part of the symbol for processing thereof. Logic circuits enable test numerical characters to be generated in response to test signals outputted by the microprocessor chip.

Abstract: A portable instant bar code reader including a hand-held reader unit having a flash type illuminator. The flash type illuminator is triggered to illuminate a bar code label positioned adjacent to a light receiving window of the reader. Reflections from the bar code label are transmitted through the light receiving window and are focused onto a photodiode array by means of a lens. The photodiode array is scanned automatically, and read-out pulses are developed into logic which represents the information contained in the bar code.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic cash dispensing machine whose casing has a substantially vertical front panel and a substantially horizontal top panel extending backward from the top edge of the front panel. On the horizontal top panel are a keyboard operation unit through which a customer is to designate an amount of money to be paid and a guide display unit for displaying instructions for the operations on the operation unit. On the vertical front panel are an identification card inlet and a cash outlet. This dispensing machine is formed of two types of consoles; a plurality of upper consoles may be electrically connected with a common lower console, in a mode of arrangement.

Abstract: A balancing apparatus particularly useful in a quadrature magnetic head pickup device employs separate amplitude and phase detecting circuitry. A phase detector provides a DC level indicative of a phase variation between a reference signal and a random signal to be compensated. A DC signal is provided which then causes a phase shifter to provide a square wave output indicative of a phase lag or lead, which phase signal is of a magnitude to compensate for the phase angle error of the random signal. An amplitude detector compares the amplitude of the random signal with a predetermined reference signal to provide another DC voltage signal indicative of the amplitude offset. The generated phase and amplitude signals are combined in a summing amplifier to provide an output signal which is fed back to the drive circuitry associated with a magnetic head to compensate for the random signal over a wide range of temperatures.

Abstract: The invention relates to a combination of an apparatus for the transfer of fungible goods or services, for example, cashless payment for merchandise or services, with a transfer device having marked thereon a plurality of cancellable value units in the form of at least first and second types of optical markings different from one another, and arranged in a predetermined cyclical sequence on at least one track of the transfer device, without the occurrence of any gaps, but with a transition region formed between adjacent markings. The apparatus includes a reading device, inclusive of a light source, and at least first and second light sensors associated with the first and second types of optical markings, respectively. The reading device is arranged for reading and generating signals from the markings, and from the transition regions, and an activatable erasing device erases the markings in dependence of the number of value units to be cancelled.

Abstract: A terminal for providing for the performance of transactions by a user on a step by step basis and with the terminal, including, a visual display for displaying to the user at specific steps in a transaction instructional text to the user for the performance by the user to advance the transaction on a step by step basis, a plurality of function selectors located adjacent the visual display and with each selector corresponding to the location of particular instructional text on the visual display, the visual display including at particular ones of the steps in a transaction instructional text including a choice of one or one of a plurality of the function selectors to advance the transaction to the next step, and means coupled to the function selectors for enabling and/or visually indicating only those selectors which are part of the choice for a particular one of the steps.