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.

Abstract: Access control system in which a magnetically coded key or card is inserted into a reader which reads the recorded code. The key is coded by small permanent magnets embedded in non-magnetic body of key at positions on a 4 .times. 4 regular grid of possible positions. The reader includes row of 4 Hall Effect sensors adjacent keyway entrance so that the 4 rows of magnet positions pass successively across them. Signals generated in sensors are transmitted to signal storage units and extracted from the storage units on withdrawal of the key. Activation of sensors and transmission of signals is controlled by successive interruption by leading edge of key of light beams along the keyway.

Abstract: A magnetic card comprises (1) a planar substrate having at least a surface layer of a thermoplastic resin, (2) a magnetic layer disposed at at least one part of a surface of the planar substrate, (3) a color layer disposed on the magnetic layer, and (4) a pattern layer disposed on the color layer.In this magnetic card, the color of the magnetic layer which does not contribute to an attractive appearance is hidden under the color layer, and, because the pattern layer is disposed on the color layer, the pattern is not restricted by the color of the magnetic layer and appears clear due to the presence of the color layer. Accordingly, this magnetic card can be produced with an improved appearance from the viewpoint of design.

Abstract: A generalized, machine readable optical printed symbol format for the representation of a plurality of codes, each symbol requiring minimal space, thus permitting a greater packing density. The optical printed symbol format is generally hour-glass shaped and consists of nine elements, each of which is either a bar or a space alternately and each of which can be wide or narrow. Alternate bars and spaces are arranged vertically in a generally hour-glass configuration such that the length of the bars and spaces is greater at the top and bottom of the symbol and decreases to a minimum point at the middle of the symbol. Optical printed symbols using this shape can be read in forward and reverse and upside down. A wider skew angle between the optical printed symbol and the scanner allows greater tolerances than heretofore possible with a consequent diminishing of the error rate in machine scanning.

Abstract: The diagram carrier bears a plurality of graphs of different formats in different respective tracks. A scanning station includes a plurality of scanning elements arranged in a row. The diagram carrier is moved in the direction of its tracks and perpendicular to the row of scanning elements. In synchronism with the movement of the diagram carrier, the individual scanning elements of the row are read in succession, to determine which elements are graph-line-activated. A programmed storage subdivides the row of scanning elements into sectors corresponding to respective tracks. During each reading of the row of scanning elements the first and last activated scanning elements in each sector are distinguished from the other activated scanning elements in the same sector. During each reading of the row of scanning elements, the location-numbers of the first and last activated scanning elements in each scanning element sector and the total number of activated elements in each scanning sector are registered.

Abstract: A system which processes menus on which food items have been selected. The menu is encoded to have a plurality of detecting paths, with a first transverse row of preassigned markings in selected areas of the paths. Additionally, there are provided uniform indicated spaces arranged in a subsequent transverse row on the menu. Each indicating space is associated with a respective food item. The user selectively places marks in the indicating spaces indicating desired food items. The system detects the preassigned markings in the first row and in response thereto initializes circuitry to register information identifying the menu, specifically the menu diet and meal. The system then detects the additional markings placed in the indicating spaces, and a recording circuit responds to these additional markings to record a count for each food item selected for that particular identified menu diet. The system then tallies the total count for each food item of all of the different types of menus.

Abstract: A beam splitter is disclosed in which a light beam entering a block of light-transmitting material is internally reflected a plurality of times between a pair of parallel sides, one side being coated to enhance such internal reflection and the other side having in the direction of its length a succession of areas which are differently coated to control the amount of the beam which is reflected internallly and the amount of the beam which emerges; a plurality of parallel emergent beams of substantially equal intensity can be obtained in this way. The application of such a beam splitter to an image-reproducing system is described, the beams contributing to the formation of half-tone dots in the image.

Abstract: A system for detecting and reproducing variable-area-type optically recorded audio signals by cyclically detecting substantially only the position of a boundary of the sound track. In one embodiment, the boundary is detected by imaging the boundary onto an array of photosensors and scanning the array to provide an output signal containing a transition corresponding in the time domain to the position of the boundary. The transition signal is filtered and sliced to provide electrical interpolation to improve the resolution substantially over the special resolution of the photosensitive elements of the array. The system may also include a multitrack capability with means for minimizing the effect of film weave.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for reading randomly oriented characters having a laser producing a narrow beam of coherent light which is focused by a telescope onto indicia located on a written medium. The focus beam of light is directed by a scanner located intermediate the telescope and the indicia. The scanner directs the beam of light across an area in a known sequence. The light reflected from the written medium having the indicia thereon is received by a photomultiplier detector. The processor which receives the output of the photomultiplier detector determines the observed orientation of the indicia, and the angle between the observed orientation of the indicia and a desired orientation of the indicia. The processor then generates a signal which causes a beam rotating means located between the scanner and the indicia to be rotated to a position so that the indicia are now scanned in the known sequence having the desired orientation with respect to indicia.

Abstract: A bundle of illuminating optical fibers conveys light from a light source to an area on a document in which a mark may be present or absent. A bundle of reading optical fibers conveys light reflected from the area to a light sensor. The amount of conveyed light is less when the mark is present than when the mark is absent so that the light sensor may determine whether the mark is present. The optical axes of the optical fibers are perpendicular to the document at the ends thereof facing the document. The width of the reading optical fiber bundle and the distance of the reading optical fiber bundle from the illuminating optical fiber bundle are selected to provide maximum contrast between marks and the background of the document so that glossy marks made by pencil as well as non-glossy marks made by felt-tip pen or the like can be reliably read.

Abstract: Apparatus for reading a plurality of apertured cards in sequence in response to a series of command signals includes a supply hopper for storing a vertical stack of cards. The apertures of the cards are located in a matrix of columns and rows. A solenoid-actuated plunger moves the bottom card from beneath the stack and into engagement with a card drive mechanism. The card drive mechanism includes a floating transport equipped with endless tracks for riding on top of cards passed from the bottom of the stack and exerting a substantially constant downward and forward force on the cards while continuously moving each card in sequence across an array of optical detectors in register with the columns on the cards. A line source of light is carried by the transport for illuminating a card along a line parallel to the rows of apertures on the card.

Abstract: A vending system is disclosed which is adapted to be installed in a hotel or the like for permitting the guests to buy articles in a refrigerator or vending machine in a guest room without use of coins. When a guest inserts his memory holder into a vending machine and selects an article, an article code or codes representative of the article or articles he bought are transferred from a transmitter in the vending machine into the memory holder, and an accounting machine reads out the data in the memory holder to prepare a bill. Optical, magnetic or high frequency data transmission is used between the vending machine and the memory holder and between the memory holder and the accounting machine so that no data transmission line is required.

Abstract: A great number of bar codes are recorded in dual directions on a bar code information card. Each bar code is comprised of a plurality of bar symbols juxtaposed in parallel to each other. A plurality of bar codes, constituting one group bar code, are arranged in one direction which is orthogonal to the bar symbol and a plurality of group bar codes are arranged in the other direction in which the bar symbol extends. A great deal of bar-coded information is recognized by transferring the bar code information card in the longitudinal direction of the bar symbol and scanning the bar code orthogonally thereto.

Abstract: A punched card reader includes a base member for slidably receiving a punched data card having a plurality of columns and rows. Along one edge of the base member is a row of apertures corresponding in number and spacing to the rows on the data card. The base member further includes a centrally located strobe aperture. A strobe generator is slidably mounted on one face of the base member. The strobe generator includes a central column of slots disposed perpendicular to the row of apertures on the base member and disposed so as to pass over the strobe aperture as the inserted data card displaces the strobe generator away from the row of apertures on the base member. The slots correspond in number and in spacing to the columns on the data card. Adjacent to one face of the base member is a plurality of light sources aligned with the row of apertures and centrally located strobe aperture.

Abstract: Magnetic recording media including permanent structures of aligned acicular particles have been proposed as a means of identifying and authenticating a medium. A structure of such a media by which information can be recorded and read-out without interference from the structural remanence difference is described. An apparatus and method for the examination of such media for their permanent structures, particularly when used in security documents such as credit cards, are also described.

Abstract: An automated banking system, which comprises at least one remote transaction and cash dispensing unit interconnected with a central unit via a communication network is disclosed. Each remote unit is operable following a single customer card insertion, in either a first mode or a second mode, to process one or more transactions, including cash withdrawal, fund transfer and payment and deposit transactions. The central unit determines the mode of operation of each remote unit. In the first mode, the central unit communicates data to a remote unit following a request from the remote unit. The central unit may transmit information for updating the customer's card. The central unit communicates actual account balances which the remote unit reports to the customer. From other communicated data, which includes account descriptions, the remote unit determines which transactions a customer may perform.

Abstract: Access control system in which a magnetically coded key or card is inserted into a reader which reads the recorded code. The key is coded by small permanent magnets embedded in non-magnetic body of the key at positions on a 4 .times. 4 regular grid of possible positions. The reader includes 16 Hall Effect devices which are disposed adjacent keyway in the reader so as to register with the 16 possible magnet positions on the key when the key is inserted. Signals are generated in those Hall effect devices which register with magnets in the key and these signals are amplified to produce reader output.

Abstract: A portable automatic billing and printing device which provides for an automatic calculation and printout of a customer bill for utilities such as water, gas and electricity. A customer utility card is positioned within the apparatus and pertinent data is automatically read from the card and provided as electrical signals to a calculating unit. Means are provided for the manual input of present meter readings to provide additional signals to the calculating unit. Output data from the calculating unit is imprinted on the customer card and pertinent data is also provided on a memory storage device which may be removed from the main device housing for further processing in the central office.

Abstract: An automatic unit price setting apparatus for an electronic digital display scale with a printing device in an equipment adapted to compute and display a price of an article of goods by multiplying a weight of said article to be weighed by a unit price of the article when the unit price is inputted in said scale and to print the name, weight, unit price and price of said article to be weighed, wherein one of a plurality of stamps for printing the names of articles engraved thereon is selectively connected with a unit price setting section of said electronic digital display scale so that said stamp and unit price setting section are electrically operated, and the unit prices of said articles indicated on said stamps are automatically set on the scale by operating said stamps.

Abstract: A card reader adapted to receive a coded card is provided which includes an alternating current source and sensing means connected to the alternating current source. The sensing means includes a plurality of tuned circuits, each having a sensing coil. Each coil has a pressed powder ferromagnetic core and an annular pressed powder ferromagnetic sleeve encircling the coil in a plane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core. The coded card consists of a thin electrically conductive layer having holes selectively formed in the layer in data positions, which, when taken together with portions of the remainder of the electrically conductive layer, constitute binary coded information. The card reader contains a protrusion which prohibits access to a portion of the card reader. A notch is formed in one side of the card to receive the card reader protrusion so that the card may be fully inserted into the card reader in only one position, thereby aligning the coils and the data positions.