Abstract: An IC card reader/writer having a body which includes an IC insertion slot and an operation display section. The body is separable into an upper cover and a lower portion. The upper cover and the lower portion are displaced from each other to form a step on the side of the body formed with the IC card insertion slot. Further, a rack recessed from the step is formed on the portion of the body having the IC card insertion slot. Furthermore, the surface of the upper cover is curved upward in the direction away from the IC card insertion slot in such a manner as to increase the thickness progressively toward the side of the body far from the IC card insertion slot, and a display section is located on the slope of the curved portion. The operating area of the IC card reader/writer has function keys.

Abstract: A head assembly moving along a long side of a magnetic card, more than one magnetic head rotating in the head assembly for reading/writing data, a rotary transformer and a carriage with a card holding mechanism for keeping a card at a predefined position are provided in a card reader of the present invention. A rotating part of the rotary transformer in the head assembly receives and sends a signal to the magnetic head and a fixing part of the rotary transformer is connected to a reading/writing circuit. On the card of the present invention, which is usually rectangular, there are tracks defined by plural arcs. The arcs are on plural same-size circles whose centers are aligned on one line along the long side of the card. A magnetic card or an optical card can be used for the present invention.

Abstract: A pocket interface unit for a smart diskette. The smart diskette has a housing of the shape and size of a standard diskette, electrical contacts and/or a magnetic transducer, an activation switch, and further has an interface, a processor and memory disposed in the housing and operatively coupled to the electrical contacts/magnetic transducer.

Abstract: A process allows an image capturing apparatus to be integrated with a personal computer to continuously display a video image of the imaging apparatus. Upon proper input by a user, or automatically after a timed interval, a snapshot of the video image is captured. An autodiscrimination process of the captured video image automatically decodes any bar-coded information present in the captured image and outputs the information.

Abstract: An x-ray reflecting system comprising a plurality of x-ray reflectors, wherein the x-ray reflectors are coupled together to form a Kirkpatrick-Baez side-by-side system of multiple corners and may include multi-layer or graded-d multi-layer Bragg x-ray reflective surfaces.

Abstract: A multiple application card data system comprises a data management device and a user card. The user card includes a first memory for storing provider data, and a second memory, separated from the first memory, for storing data unique to a user. The data management device compares a unique set of user data on the device with the data on the second memory of the user card for identification of the proper user card. The device also includes a stored digital representation of the user's fingerprint and a fingerprint scanner for imaging of a fingerprint for comparison with the digital representation of the user's fingerprint for identification of the proper user. A memory in the device stores copies of data from a plurality of provider data cards. The device enables transfer and storage of the data of one provider on the first memory of the user card, making the user card an effective clone of that provider's data card. The provider data on the first memory can be re-encoded as desired.

Abstract: A secured network system comprising a readykey controller which has a first card reader and a power relay switch connected thereto. The user of the stem inserts a microchip embedded card into the first card reader which then transmits an authorization signal to the readykey controller. The readykey controller then activates a power relay switch affixed to the computer which connects the computer's power supply to an external power source activating the computer. The secured network system also has a data relay switch which includes a manual A/B secured network switch. The manual A/B switch allows the user to receive and process classified data, by setting the switch to a predetermined position which connects a secured network server to the computer. The user inserts his proximity card into a second card reader which transmits a second authorization signal to the readykey controller. The readykey controller, responsive to the second authorization signal, activates the data relay switch.

Abstract: In a method for optically reading a label carrying information recorded thereon using a charge coupled device, a storage time of an incident light signal in the charge coupled device is changed to effect proper reading. The light signal storage time is changed until the charge coupled device reads the code, and then the light signal storage time is fixed. Thereby, a code is read without failure by effectively preventing reading error or failure due to an excessively light or dark environment, or varying distance between the code and code reader. Thus, a code is correctly read regardless of whether the code is close or far.

Abstract: A mobile funds transaction device for transferring funds between one bank account or credit facility and another bank account or credit facility, the device having: a card reader device; a PINpad device with an encryption system; a modem device; a communication interface device connected with the modem device; an output report device; a wireless communication device; and a central processing device (CPU) to which are connected the above-listed devices. The CPU is programmed to store merchant identifying data of the owner/leasee of the device and to activate the PINpad device so a user can enter confidential identifying information to the CPU.

Abstract: The apparatus includes an outer case (11), a reading window (14) open into the case (ii), an illumination device (16-20) housed within the case (11) and arranged to act on the optical code being read through the window (14), and a detection device (24-28) housed within the case (11) and responsive to light scattered back from the illuminated optical code into the case (11) through the window (14). The detection device includes a light-sensitive element (24) capable of converting light to electric signals representing the light image, and an optical detection path (25-26) from the reading window (14) to the light-sensitive elements (24) having a reflective element (27) therein which effectively splits the optical path into two consecutive path sections (25,26) at an angle from each other, wherein the second path section (26) is deflected from the first path section (25).

Abstract: A hand scanner for scanning a document by being moved by hand and sending the resulting image data to a host is disclosed. The scanner is easily movable over a document without meandering. Because the scanner includes a minimum number of parts, it is small in size and simple in configuration.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) includes a housing (12) with a top assembly (40). Rollout trays (46) are mounted in the top assembly and have serviceable components supported thereon. Servicing is accomplished through method steps which include opening a service door (18) and separately extending and retracting the trays to render the serviceable components thereon accessible for servicing.

Abstract: A set of lockers allows a customer to drop off commodities for a service company to pick up. An order is input using an operation screen, and an order sheet which specifies the locker number is issued. A commodity, for example undeveloped film, and the order sheet are put in a transparent request bag and deposited in the locker. When the service company picks up the request bag, the request bag is taken out of the locker, and a bar code on the order sheet is read by a hand scanner. When the order sheet is scanned, the locker it came from is automatically locked, and the next locker which has an undeveloped film order is automatically opened. After processing the film, the developed film and prints are put in a delivery bag, with an attached slip having the locker number to which the bag is to be delivered. Upon delivery to the locker, a first bar code on a slip is read by a hand scanner, and a first locker is unlocked.

Abstract: A remote postage meter resetting system includes apparatus for sending a request to recharge the postage meter by the postage recharge amount together with first data indicative of a first user prepaid postage account resident in a prepaid postage account data base having a plurality of prepaid postage accounts; and a data center including apparatus for receiving from the sending apparatus the first data together with the request to recharge the postage meter by the postage recharge amount; a line of credit database having a plurality of lines of credit each of which is associated with at least one of the plurality of prepaid postage accounts; a computer, in communication with the receiving apparatus, wherein at times when the computer determines that sufficient funds are not available in the first user account to cover the cost of the postage recharge amount the computer is programmed to automatically 1) communicate with the line of credit data base to determine if one of the plurality of lines of credit is

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a scanning light beam for scanning a target using a light beam scanning system. In response to actuation of the scanning system by a user, only a single non-periodic pulse of current is provided to a scan element. The single pulse of current causes the scan element to move a light beam from a stationary equilibrium position to a first position at a first extreme end of a scan line that intersects the target. Immediately after the light beam reaches the first extreme end of said scan line, the scan element moves the light beam from the first extreme end of the scan line to a second extreme end of the scan line without application of external current. Thereafter, immediately after the light beam reaches the second extreme end of the scan line, the scan element brings the light beam back to the stationary equilibrium position without application of external current.

Abstract: A imaging based dataform reader utilizes a method of compensating for image offset between consecutive image fields comprising an interlaced image frame. The method includes determination of a disparity vector corresponding to the direction and magnitude of the offset between portions of successive fields. The disparity vector is determined by trial matching feature recognition data for a template area of a second image field to feature recognition data for a reference area of a first image field. The second field feature recognition data is trial matched to first field data at a plurality of offsets typical of hand jittering. The offset position providing the best feature match between the first and second fields is used to derive a disparity vector. The disparity vector is then applied to provide enhanced decoding by use of first field image data and registration-corrected second field image data.

Abstract: A global time calculator includes an insert and a sleeve. The insert is marked on both its sides (or on a single page slide insert on one side) with vertical columns of incremental time designations, and may or may not contain a stop mechanism. The insert is slidable and connected with the sleeve so as to be shiftable in a vertical direction. Both sides of the sleeve (or in some embodiments a single side of the sleeve) have areas for obscuring vertically aligned time designations that are in excess of unobscured time designations.

Abstract: A call-unit count device according to the present invention comprises a memory circuit having a high-order level and a low-order level composed of n (n: integer greater than or equal to 2) bits and wherein all the bits each indicative of the initial value and placed in the low-order level are changed to reversed values bit by bit each time a one call-unit add command is given, all the bits in the low-order level, which have been brought to the reversed values, are returned to the initial value bit by bit each time the one call-unit add command is given, and values stored in the high-order level are changed upon a carry from the low-order level to the high-order level.

Abstract: A method for implementing an electronic cash system with a surveillance institution, in which a user sends a request for the issuance of electronic cash of a face value X to a bank together with user information U and a user signature verification key N.sub.U, and the bank stores a pair of data X and N.sub.U in the user database in correspondence with the user information U and sends the pair of data to the surveillance institution, while at the same time the bank generates and sends a signature S.sub.B (X,N.sub.U) for the data (X,N.sub.U) to the user. The surveillance institution registers the data (X,N.sub.U) in a surveillance database in correspondence with the total amount of payments Y. The user sends to a shop the amount of payment y, the face value X, the signature verification key N.sub.U and the signature S.sub.B (X,N.sub.U), along with a signature S.sub.U (e,y) for challenge information e received from the shop. The shop verifies the signatures S.sub.B (X,N.sub.U) and S.sub.

Abstract: A method and device for collecting objects in a warehouse includes a movable apparatus that is automatically moved to a location where objects are to be taken from a shelf of a warehouse rack. The apparatus subsequently indicates how many objects are to be collected and/or provides other information. The apparatus is also capable of moving itself along a rail which extends along the warehouse rack.