Abstract: A token for use in a vending machine consists of a plastic card having at least one pair of side-by-side holograms embossed thereon. A token reader includes means to guide a token into the path of a readout beam. When two photodetectors positioned at predetermined spaced locations receive equal-amplitude first order beams from an illuminated pair of holograms, an electrically-operated plunger in the token reader operates to obliterate the pair of holograms on the token, and then a signal from a third photodetector in the token reader enables an output signal for operating the vending machine.

Abstract: Recording apparatus for "dubbing" (recording from one to the other) onto a customer's magnetic tape cartridge, selected audio and/or video recordings stored in the apparatus. The apparatus includes means for activating the apparatus, means for selecting the desired recordings, means for identifying and storing data representing the selected recordings for tabulating royalties accrued by playing the selected recordings, and magnetic tape cartridge receptacle, transport and recording means for the customer's cartridge. The record selection and recording means may be located directly on the record storage and playback machine or at a remote recording station.

Abstract: Herein disclosed is an apparatus for processing betting tickets which prints the betting tickets with at least one attached secret code and verifies said betting tickets during payment of dividends. According to the present invention, the secret code is formed logically in accordance with the input betting information received from the clients, said secret code is added to the betting information and recorded on said betting tickets. During payment of said dividends with respect to the betting ticket, said secret code on the betting tickets is verified as to whether said secret code coincides with another code which is formed logically in accordance with the betting information on said betting ticket, for verifying the payment of said dividends. If said codes do not coincide, then said ticket is considered to be a falsified or forged one.

Abstract: A machine-readable record or label includes alternating areas of different reflectivity providing a binary coded data record. The record is made by selecting the widths of the areas such that an increase in the relative widths of any two consecutive areas of different characteristics represents a binary "1" and a decrease in the relative widths of any two consecutive areas represents a binary "0". Thus, each area in the part of the code is used in the establishment of the values of two different binary bits. A method of and a system for reading or interpreting the record or label includes a pair of light reader controlled registers in which are alternately stored the widths of consecutive areas. A comparator coupled to the registers determines whether each newly stored width is greater than or less than the width of the previously stored area.

Abstract: A program reading apparatus in a knitting machine including a movable reading head adapted to scan a program carrier having thereon patterning instructions for control of the pattern to be knitted on the machine. Means are provided therein for preventing rebound of the reading head upon arrival at or return to its starting position, such means being operated by the momentum of the reading head upon reading head arrival or return to momentarily arrest the reading head at the starting position.

Abstract: The invention concerns the reading by optical means of data recorded along a track on a disc; an address code, which increases one unit at each step, is recorded on the disc at the same time as the data. The optical reader contains a device for the fast movement of the reading head in a direction radial to the disc, a device for counting the number of track grooves thus crossed, a device for automatic access to some given data which contains a device for detecting addresses recorded and a programmed control circuit which triggers fast movement or a step by step movement of the reading head depending on whether the reading head is far from the track groove whose address has been recorded or is near to this track groove.

Abstract: An apparatus is described for reducing the number of undetected errors serially read along the length of a magnetic stripe containing binary information. The magnetic stripe is adhesively attached to a plastic card. A serial self-clocking data stream is developed from a manual magnetic stripe encoded card reader. The data stream comprises clock and data signals including a start signal, an end signal and a summation signal. A four-stage down counter counts a predetermined number of clock signals which occur in a predetermined portion of the stripe after the occurrence of the summation signal. State machine control circuitry delays the detection of the data signals occurring after the end signal for a predetermined time to prevent the detection of the summation signal. Control circuitry controls the down counter and provides a finish signal after the down counter has counted off the number of clock signals in the predetermined portion of the stripe.

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 which has an improved remanence difference signal is described. A method of making and examining such a structure is described. Arrangements of such media and record / read-out apparatus by which information can be recorded and read-out without interference from the structural remanence differences are described. The use of the media for security documents such as credit cards is described.

Abstract: A consumable credit card is provided which comprises a recording device that is adapted to receive progressively advancing recording up to a limit at which time the card is consumed and thereafter is discarded. The card is adapted to be inserted into a reader which accepts, reads and advances the indication on the credit card or reading to indicate an additional use until the credit card is expended and the reader no longer allows the item or service to be dispensed because the credit card has been expended. This credit card employs tapered resistor technology in order to store a permanent record of expended credit and advance same upon energization of the tapered resistor element residing in the device. Methods of employing this device in billing systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for the control of admission to an establishment includes a suitable, coded entry card and a device for reading the card and providing entry when appropriate. The card includes a first region having machine-readable information encoded thereon prior to issue. The device contains at least one reader and an electronic control mechanism for examining the information read and for providing entry if the information read coincides with a preset comparison value. A further region is preferably included on the card with a value field to be cancelled. The device then contains a second reader to determine the validity of the value field. The second reader preferably functions by use of a light source and sensor. Thermographic material may be included on the card containing the cancellable value field and the device then contains a canceller.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively enabling and disabling a process depending on the instantaneous value of a measurement made during the process in accordance with a predetermined program recorded by shading adjacent segments on an area of a record means the length of which is an analog of the total range of the measurement with each of the segments representing an interval of the measurement during which the process is to be enabled or disabled. A plurality of memory cores in one to one correspondence with subsegments of the measurement range analog are caused during programming to occupy one of two bistable states in response to a light sensor responsive to the light originating from an incident source and reflected by the program record. After programming, the memory cores are interrogated in accordance with the instantaneous value of measurement and a process control switch is set to a state corresponding to the state of the last interrogated memory core.

Abstract: An automatic tape run-reversing device, wherein a single-channel type magnetic head has its operative height shifted by one step, each time the run of a magnetic tape is reversed when it is taken up from one reel to another thereby enabling said single channel type magnetic head to act as a multichannel type in recording and reproducing data.

Abstract: A document reader, for reading paper cards and other types of discrete documents, having means for adjusting the reader to accommodate different width documents. The transport channel of the apparatus, through which the cards are passed during the reading process, is equipped with an adjustable wall for defining either discrete channel widths or a width range which can be set for operation with documents of any width within such range. In another embodiment, the document reader contains channel width adjusting elements in both the input and reading sections, and the channel width adjustment means of the reader section is adjustable in response to the position of the input width adjusting element.

Abstract: A liner scanning device for a facsimile system comprises a carrier which carries a write head and a read head mounted on a belt w hich is moved linearly in both directions by a pulse motor. The read head is composed of the end of a flexible optical fiber assembly having an emission fiber for illuminating a spot on an original paper and a receiving fiber for detecting the reflected brightness of a cell in said illuminated spot. The write head is composed of the end of the other optical fiber one end of which is positioned at the output of a laser beam source, which heats a thermal printing paper selectively through the optical fiber. Thus the thermal printing paper is heated by a laser beam and the color of the paper is selectively changed according to the pattern to be printed.

Abstract: A card or badge is used for controlling access to facilities or facility areas which include remote card readers which are interconnected with a central card data processor. When access is requested at a remote location, a user inserts his card or badge into the remote terminal and the remote terminal sends data identifying the person to the central processor which, in turn, sends a command to the remote terminal to grant or deny access. When a card or badge is inserted into the system and no response is received within a predetermined time period, the remote terminal, on the assumption that communication line failure has occurred between the remote terminal and the central processor, reads a set of data from the user's card or badge to grant or deny facility access to the user on a secondary selection basis.

Abstract: A data combination card is provided which includes a thin electrically non-conductive, non-metallic substrate. A thin layer of metal is secured to a portion of one side of the substrate. Holes are selectively formed in the metal layer in data positions which, when taken together with the remainder of the metal layer, constitute binary coded information. The substrate is folded over upon itself to provide a composite coded card with the metal layer between two outer layers of the substrate. The card is adapted to be inserted into a card reader housing which contains a protrusion extending into the card reader housing to prohibit access to that portion of the housing. Discrete sensing means are mounted in the card reader housing to detect the presence or absence of an adjacent metal area. The card reader receives the card in a manner to position the metal layer adjacent the sensing means.

Abstract: A scanning system and method for reading coded indicia carried on containers, etc., the system and method including means for generating in a predetermined sequence a first light pattern, and a second light pattern, and means for focusing same at a window over which containers carrying the coded indicia are positioned. The disclosure also includes a mirrored rotatable polygon structure including a plurality of mirrors, some of which are inclined at a positive angle and the others which are positioned at a negative angle with respect to the polygon axis of rotation as well as means for adjusting the incline of the mirrors.

Abstract: A security system in which access at remote locations is limited to personnel inserting in the system a coded data card, the data of which compares favorably with data stored in a memory. The memory data comprises a table which permits access to selected terminals by selected personnel at selected times. Programming access to the system for the purpose of altering data in the access authorization table is limited to individuals who insert a supervisor's card into the system, which card enables the logic required for altering the authorization table.

Abstract: The universal product code consisting of black bars and white spaces carrying information is discriminated by counting the occurrence period of electric signals corresponding to the guard pattern and averaging the count obtained thereby to provide a width information of the basic module, discriminating the first character by sampling the code in stop-start synchronization based on the width information, counting the occurrence period of electric signals corresponding to the (n-1)th character to provide another width information of the basic module from the count obtained thereby, and discriminating the n-th character by sampling the code in stop-start synchronization based on the basic module. Therefore, a high performance code discriminator can be achieved by a simple structure.

Abstract: A portable independent electronic object designed for storing and transferring data confidentially intended for being coupled to a data transfer device; the said portable object comprising, at least one store module intended for the storage of data in an easily portable form, containing enabling data, coupling means accessible from outside the portable object, enabling the said portable object to be coupled temporarily with the said transfer device, circuits for control of the store, interconnected between the coupling means and the store; the said store and the control circuits being produced in the form of logical microstructures; an indentification comparator connected to the store and to the coupling means, intended for comparing the enabling data contained in the store with a confidential code supplied by the rightful owner of the portable object and introduced into the portable object by way of the said transfer device; the said portable object being characterized in that it includes in addition, a circ