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: A contactless chip card includes a circuit for detecting the presence of radio frequency signals. A detector comprises at least one circuit for detecting the presence of radio signals by making direct use of the corresponding signals received by an antenna winding. In addition, a phase-shift detector detects the relative phase differences between signals provided by the antenna winding.

Abstract: A cardiac gated spiral CT scanner (10) has a source of penetrating radiation (20) arranged for rotation about an examination region (14) having a central axis extending in a z direction. The source (20) emits a beam of radiation (22) that passes through the examination region (14) as the source (20) rotates. A patient support (30) holds a patient within the examination region (14) and translates the patient through the examination region (14) in the z direction while this source (20) is rotated such that the source (20) follows a helical path relative to the patient. A control processor (90) implements a patient-specific scan protocol in response to measured patient characteristics (for example, the patient's heart rate, the patient's breath hold time, and/or the range of coverage in the z direction based on the patient's anatomy) and scanner characteristics (for example, the number of detector rings, and/or the scan rate).

Abstract: A postage printing system, comprising a computer, a data center and a control system. The computer is in operative communication with a printer for printing a postal indicia on an envelope. The data center is in operative communication with the computer which in turn is located remotely from the data center. The data center includes a plurality of user accounts and a plurality of advertiser accounts where each of the plurality of advertiser accounts includes respective ad data including message data and restriction data. The control system is in operative communication with the data center and the computer and is for: (i) establishing a transaction session between a user of the computer corresponding to one of the plurality of user accounts and the data center; (ii) obtaining the user profile data from the user; and (iii) using the user profile data to identify message data available for printing on the envelope in conjunction with the postal indicia.

Abstract: An authentication method for a wired-logic microcircuit mounted on a support and a microcircuit reading terminal. The microcircuit is provided with a memory which has data readable by the terminal. A secret code of the microcircuit is arranged in a region of the memory that is not readable by the terminal. The microcircuit generates an authentication code from the data in the memory that is readable by the terminal, the secret code and a random code. The terminal generates an authentication code from the data in the microcircuit memory that is readable by the terminal, a secret code provided to the terminal by a microcircuit user and random code, and the authentication code generated by the microcircuit is compared with the authentication code generated by the terminal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating detectors in a computed tomography (CT) system to compensate for differential errors in the detectors are disclosed. Multiple sets of scan data are acquired for a phantom at multiple thicknesses of the phantom. The phantom can be made from multiple slabs of material positioned on the scanner table in a horizontal orientation or in a vertical orientation. Horizontal slabs are removed or added to the stack of slabs to vary the thickness of the phantom. With vertically oriented slabs, each slab is of a different height such that scans of different slabs produce X-ray data for rays having different path lengths and, therefore, attenuations. For each detector, errors in the scan data at the multiple phantom thicknesses are identified and fit to a parametric equation with respect to the log attenuation associated with each thickness. In one embodiment, the parametric equation is a quadratic polynomial.

Abstract: A data carrier (1) which can be operated in a contact-bound mode and in a contactless mode and a circuit (1A) for such a data carrier (1) has supply voltage generating means (35) for deriving a supply voltage (VDD), for various circuit sections of the data carrier (1) and of the circuit (1A), from a received useful HF signal (HF), and, in addition, potential equalizing circuit (94) by which at least two contact terminals (17A, 19A) each connected to a respective transmission contact (17, 19) can be brought at the same potential (ground).

Abstract: A chip card for contact access and contactless access to a chip arranged in a chip module, wherein the chip module is arranged in a recess (59) of a card body (49) such that outer contact surfaces (51) of the chip module are arranged at the surface (60) of the card body (49) and inner contact surfaces (53) of the chip module are connected to conductor ends (55, 56) of a coil (57) arranged in the card body to form a transponder unit, where the coil has the form of a wire coil (57) and the depth (t) of the recess (59) which accommodates the chip module is such that wire ends (55, 56) arranged in the region of the recess (59) have a contact flattening (63) formed by the machining process for the formation of the recess (59).

Abstract: An electronic transaction processing system performing a deposit and/or a withdrawal of digital cash between a customer and a banking facility includes a customer money card storing digital cash of the customer, a bank money card storing digital cash of the banking facility and an escrow card storing transaction information with respect to a transaction with digital cash between the customer and the banking facility. A transaction is processed by renewing digital cash stored in the customer money card and in the bank money card in response to the amount of the transaction, and transaction processing is performed after storing each balance information of digital cash stored in the customer money card and in the bank money card and the amount of the transaction in the escrow card.

Abstract: A reader/writer apparatus for a contact-type smart card and having a frame forming a card slot for receiving a smart card and a landing contact mechanism carried on the frame for making electrical contact with contact pads on the smart card when inserted in the card slot. The landing contact mechanism includes a connector carriage carrying a card contact set thereon facing the card slot and mounted to the frame on a pivot axis defined thereon such that the connector carriage rotates generally in a plane parallel to the card slot. A drive post formed on the connector carriage contacts a leading edge of a smart card inserted in the card slot to rotate the connector carriage through a prearranged angle as the card moves to a predetermined read position within the card slot.

Abstract: A postage printing system, comprising a computer, a data center and a control system. The computer is in operative communication with a printer for printing a postal indicia on an envelope. The data center is in operative communication with the computer which in turn is located remotely from the data center. The data center includes a plurality of user accounts and a plurality of advertiser accounts where each of the plurality of advertiser accounts includes respective ad data including message data and restriction data.

Abstract: A scanning reader of an optical code placed on a front wall of an article in movement comprises generators that form at least one first and one second light beam lying on planes inclined by a first and by a second prefixed angle (.alpha., .beta.) with respect to the front wall so as to explore a first and a second area of the front wall by at least one first and one second scanning line and read the optical code within an overall distance range, along the direction of forward movement of the article, greater than the useful range of reading distance that can be reached by one light beam only.

Abstract: The present invention provides a survey instrument, which comprises a solid state image sensor 4 where an image from a telescope is formed, an emitter 6 for emitting flash light toward a target, and a survey controller for detecting position of the center of the target on the solid state image sensor based on difference of image signals between on condition and off condition of the emitter of the solid state image sensor, or it comprises a telescope rotatable around at least one of vertical shaft center and horizontal shaft center, an angle detector for detecting angle of the telescope, a memory for memorizing image signal from the solid state image sensor, and a survey controller for calculating angular displacement based on angles which are detected by the angle detector when image signals in on and off conditions of the emitter are incorporated, for calculating difference between the two image signals by shifting them so that angular displacement of each image signal are offset, and for detecting position

Abstract: A dot code recorded on an information recording medium consists of a data code corresponding to the contents of multimedia information to be reproduced, and a pattern code for determining a read reference point for the data code. The pattern code consists of pattern dots arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the data code, and markers arranged at predetermined positions with respect to the pattern dots and used to detect the pattern dots. In an information reproduction system for optically reading and reproducing a dot code from an information recording medium on which such a dot code is recorded, the dot code is imaged by an image input section. A data read reference point determining section then recognizes the pattern code from the picked-up image, and determines a data read reference point for reading the data code. A data reading section reads the data code on the basis of the data read reference point determined by the data read reference point determining section.

Abstract: The present invention concerns an appliance door that incorporates a monitor and display system for tracking the inventory and use of consumer goods. The device includes a microprocessor having a memory that stores product specific information regarding the consumer goods, and is capable of receiving additional information regarding the same. The device maintains an inventory of the goods and will provide a display or hard copy of that inventory. In addition to maintaining inventories, the device may be programed to include information regarding the interaction of consumables with medications to alert the user to possible adverse reactions between them. The device preferably includes equipment for scanning the symbologies commonly associated with consumer goods.

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: 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: 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: A plastic card transport apparatus and a plastic card inspection system. A group of lower support wheels is positioned with their circumferential surfaces aligned to define a card transport path having a plurality of card operation locations therealong. The wheels support a plastic card by its lower edge as the plastic card is transported along the card transport path from a first one of the card operation locations to a second one of the card operation locations. A drive source continuously drives selected ones of the lower support wheels to move the plastic card along the card transport path between card operation locations.

Abstract: An information reproduction apparatus performs reproduction of a recording medium in which multimedia information is recorded in a multichannel code to be separable in units of channels. An optical image pickup system reads a code, and a block data reconstruct section reconstructs blocks of data. A block selection section selects blocks corresponding to a plurality of types of channels. A channel selection section selects only a desired channel from a plurality of channels. An information reproduction section reproduces a plurality of pieces of information in the individual forms in accordance with the respective channels. An output information management section recognizes the types of plurality of pieces of information, and manages the respective information. An information output selection section selects and assigns an optimal output in accordance with the types of information. An output section outputs the information through a plurality of output devices.