Abstract: Multiple scan line pattern generators including scan patterns composed of intersecting lines are superimposed over bar code symbols to be read. At least one of the scan lines is automatically moved closer to and further away from a reader to perform a zooming function to read far-out and close-in symbols.

Abstract: A machine readable binary code which is dynamically variable in size, format and density of information is provided. The binary code is formed as a matrix having a perimeter and data contained therein. The perimeter is provided with density indicia for indicating the density of data contained within the matrix. The perimeter is also provided with size indicia for indicating the size of the matrix. By utilizing the density indicia and size indicia, a scanning device is able to calculate the size and information density of the binary code.

Abstract: A multi-position trigger switch on-board hand-held laser scanning heads controls aiming and reading of a symbol in separate operational states, all without using discrete aiming light subsystems. A head is aimable at the symbol during a first operational state wherein a static or dynamic aiming is illuminated on the symbol. During a second operational state, a dynamic reading zone extends across the symbol to read the same. The same laser beam is employed to illuminate both zones.

Abstract: Voidable articles are made with an identification code and a radiant energy responsive material coated over said code. The material is invisible and remains unactivated in ambient light but obscures the identification code upon being exposed to radiant energies such as heat or light from within a particular wavelength range. Printing can be accomplished by imaging light onto a substrate coated with photosensitive material including an infrared absorbing dye. A cancellation device for voiding documents of the present invention is made with a scanner, a comparator and a radiant energy source for exposing the document to activate the energy responsive material on the document.

Abstract: A scanning head includes a keyboard and a display respectively mounted at rear and front regions of the head. An outgoing laser beam exits a window positioned between the keyboard and the display, and travels over the display. A transceiver and a printer are also mounted on the head.

Abstract: Apparatus and method wherein a credit card sized memory card having a magnetic storage medium thereon can be inserted into an operative position adjacent to a read/write head, and the card and head can be moved relative to each other to permit the head to read data from or to write data on the magnetic medium of the memory card. In a first embodiment, a disk form is provided like a hard disk but with a cut out portion or opening therein into which the memory card is insertable. The disk form can then be rotated so that the magnetic medium on the card can be moved past the read/write head movable radially of the central axis of the disk form. In another embodiment the memory card is movable into a fixed operative position adjacent to a read/write head and the head is movable radially as well as circumferentially arc so that the head and memory card are movable relative to each other in two degrees of freedom.

Abstract: A portable bar code scanner includes a support member and a housing member rotatably mounted on the support member and having a pair of sloping supporting surfaces oriented at an angle to each other and a floor portion on which is mounted a reflecting mirror. One or both of the sloping supporting surfaces may include a transparent substrate. A source of scanning light beams such as a hand-held scanner is mounted adjacent the other sloping supporting surface for projecting a plurality of scanning light beams in the form of a scan pattern at the reflecting mirror which reflects the scan pattern onto the transparent substrate over which a bar code label is passed enabling the scanning light beams to scan the bar code label. The housing member may be rotated up to one hundred and eighty degrees to position the transparent substrate in a number of scanning positions.

Abstract: A credit card reader extender comprising an elongate generally rectangular body having a top side, a bottom side, a central portion and two end portions. The central portion has a generally rectangular opening therethrough extending from the bottom side to the top side and is adapted to be received over and to fit closely around a card reader of a card reading machine. The card reader is generally elongate and has a slot therein extending downwardly from the top side thereof into the card reader and longitudinally parallel to an elongate axis thereof. The end portions of the body each have a slot extending downwardly from the top side thereof into the body end portion and longitudinally parallel to an elongate axis of the body and in alignment and in registry with the slot in the card reader.

Abstract: A signal processor digitizer circuit is disclosed for reading bar code symbols by detecting the times at which a scanning light spot moves from a space onto a bar code symbol or moved from a bar code signal onto a space. The novel signal processor digitizer circuit obtains all of its information for digitizing, false transition rejections, and margin cleaning from the first derivative of an analog signal produced by a photodetector detecting the scanning light spot. The original analog signal and a second derivative signal are not used which results in several advantages. Since the original analog signal is not needed, the signal differentiator circuit is placed at a very early stage in an amplifier string. Additional amplification stages can then be used to amplify the differentiated signal until it is large enough to be digitized. This results in two benefits.

Abstract: An optical recording sheet includes a plurality of data columns consisting of optical recording dots arranged in a matrix shape and column markers corresponding to the data columns. The data columns and the column markers of the optical recording sheet are detected by an optical line sensor and stored in a memory. On the basis of information stored in the memory, a marker detector detects the column marker and then two memory coordinates having a position known relative to the column marker are calculated. From the two memory coordinates, an inclining angle detector calculates the inclining angle between the optical recording sheet and the optical line sensor. On the basis of the memory coordinates and the inclining angle, an address calculator restores the optical recording dots stored in the memory coordinates.

Abstract: A memory section of an IC card is divided into a plurality of areas. Identification data is induvidually assigned to each area. The IC card has a first means for selecting a physically identical area based on at least two identification data. The IC card further has a second means for setting different access enable/disable conditions when an access is made by the first means based on the two identification data. The IC card further has a third means for setting the same access enable/disable condition. The IC card further has a fourth means for selecting whether the second or third means is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an IC card reader/writer into which an IC card can be easily inserted and having connection reliability of contact points thereof.According to the present invention, there is provided an IC card reader/writer including an IC card insertion hole, a part for detecting a thickness of the IC card, and a contact mechanism for contacting contact points with terminals of an inserted IC card, the contact mechanism identifying insertion of the IC card by an output of this detecting part so as to connect the contact points with the IC card. In this way, it is possible to realize a small-sized and thin IC card reader/writer having high reliability at a low cost.

Abstract: A card reader system for reading a fare card containing data, the card being adapted for insertion into the reader; the operation is such that the card is held in a fixed position while it is being read and while other operations such as erase, write, and the like are being performed. The reader assembly is moved past the card to read the data and perform the other operations and the data representative of the amount of fare already paid is stored and a balance due or remaining is calculated and is written on the card. Preferably, the card has a magnetic stripe carrying the data, and the reader includes a magnetic head, as well as an optional thermal (marking) head. Solenoids are used to clamp in the fixed position and to eject the card after clamping is released.

Abstract: A magneto-optic disk unit includes a cartridge holder having an insertion opening, an inside surface and first and second surfaces, an erroneous insertion preventing mechanism having at one end a stopper portion for prohibiting erroneous insertion of a magnetic disk cartridge and at the other end an insertion detecting portion for detecting insertion of a magnetic-optic disk cartridge, and a supporting mechanism for rotatably supporting the erroneous insertion preventing mechanism. The insertion detecting portion projects inside of the cartridge holder from an upper surface of the cartridge holder, so that when the magneto-optic disk cartridge is inserted the insertion detecting portion moves outside of the cartridge holder to allow insertion of the magneto-optic disk cartridge, and that when the magnetic disk cartridge is inserted the insertion detecting portion does not substantially move, thus permitting the stopper portion to prevent insertion of the magnetic disk cartridge.

Abstract: The station, in particular a terminal, comprises an oscillator (OS) having a feedback loop (1) and a station inductor element (L10) suitable for conferring a working frequency to the oscillator which varies relative to a rest frequency. The station also includes a station processor connected to the oscillator and capable of processing variations in the working frequency of the oscillator. The portable object, in particular a memory card, includes an electronic circuit which is switchable between an inactive state and an active state in which it sets up a resonant circuit tuned on a frequency which is distinct from the rest frequency while remaining suitable for being coupled inductively with the feedback loop (1) at the rest frequency. The portable object also includes an object processor capable of switching the electronic circuit as a function of the information to be transmitted to the station.

Abstract: A universal digital code processor device (10) for the processing of scanner digital input data including bar code data is disclosed. The device is flexible and universal in nature in that it can provide inputs to both a fixed program decoder (20) for the decoding of the Universal Product Code (UPC) code as well as a programmable processor (26) which can decode UPC as well as a variety of many other bar codes. Further, the device can handle inputs from various types of scanners (11) including high-speed counter top, hand-held scanners and light pen scanners and magnetic card readers, which provide input data over a wide range of frequencies. A large number of individual frequencies are made available in the device.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed. An embodiment that employs a Fresnel optical element and an embodiment that discloses a curved scanning/connecting mirror are also disclosed.

Abstract: A bar code scanner includes a source of a scanning light beam which is intercepted by a beam splitter which divides the laser beam into two secondary light beams. Each secondary light beam is projected through a focusing lens which focuses each beam at a different focal point. Both of the secondary light beams are directed at a second beam splitter which combines the two secondary light beams forming a primary scanning light beam which is directed at a scanning area adjacent the scanner which will scan a coded bar code label at various distances from the scanner in accordance with the location of the two focal points.

Abstract: A cordless telephone system comprising a master set, a slave set, and a charger includes terminals for connecting the slave set and the charger so that communication of speech signals and control signals can be conducted. The charger includes an automatic answering circuit incorporated therein. When the automatic answering circuit receives a control signal indicative of a cell incoming through the terminals from the slave set, this circuit executes an automatic answering service such as a service to reproduce an answering message to transmit the reproduced answering message to the slave set through the terminals thereafter to record a message from a person on the other side of the line transmitted from the slave set through the terminals.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for writing text characters to a raster scan video display operted in an all-points-addressable, or graphics, mode, and for reading characters thus written. A graphic video display buffer directly refreshes the display with graphics data received from a microprogrammed processor. The processor writes a character to the display by selecting and loading into the graphics video display buffer a text character dot pattern retrieved from main storage, and reads a character previously written by comparing a dot pattern retrieved from the display buffer with dot patterns retrieved from main storage. To write a character to the display in color, the graphic dot image of a selected character retrieved from main storage is expanded to a selected pixel and color format, and stored in the graphics video display buffer.