Abstract: An antenna assembly (10) for use in combination with a glass window (60) and a signal transmission line (110) carrying a electrical transmission signal (S) with a first connector (C) at one end and having a preselected electrical impedance is disclosed. The assembly (10) includes a conductive plate (70) secured to the window (60) and a radiating antenna (80) connected to the plate (70). A ground plane (40) with an aperture (50) therein is secured to the window (60). A feed substrate (30) is connected to the ground plane (40). A microstrip feedline (20) and a second connector (120) attached thereto are connected to the feed substrate (30). The microstrip feedline (20) has an electrical impedance approximately equal to the preselected electrical impedance.

Abstract: An optical scanner such as a bar code scanner includes a laser diode to create the scanning laser beam. Laser diodes are characteristically astigmatic, and when passed through a rotationally symmetric lens the beam typically forms a waist both in the x (scanning) direction and in the y (perpendicular) direction. The width of the beam envelope in the x direction is adjusted by means of a conventional lens. The width of the beam envelope in the y direction is adjusted by the use of a non-planar mirror, preferably a cylindrical mirror, as the rotating or oscillating element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for identifying an object having an identifying feature includes a two step process for detecting the identifying feature. The process involves locating the feature based upon a first characteristic of the feature and then verifying that feature is the identifying feature based upon a second characteristic of the feature. Preferably, the first step of the process is less discriminating and substantially faster than the second step. This permits the process to be performed rapidly without reducing accuracy.

Abstract: A vehicle window antenna for receiving radio waves of a predetermined wavelength comprises an electrically conducting entity affixed to the window glass having a horizontally elongate principal element having an effective horizontal length of an odd multiple of one quarter of the predetermined wavelength and an impedance matching element having a length of a multiple of one half the predetermined wavelength, extending along but spaced from the edge of the window so as to form a slot transmission line therewith, and parasitically coupled to the principal element by a connecting element. The impedance matching element is an extended ribbon which may leave most of the viewing area of the window free. Therefore, it uses significantly less of the material from which the antenna itself is made; it may be made of non-transparent as well as transparent material; and it provides great flexibility of design, with a number of different embodiments and variations.

Abstract: A docking adapter couples a PCS system to an external antenna via the PCS system's portable antenna. When the portable antenna is extended from the body of the PCS unit, it functions as a normal vertical dipole antenna. When it is retracted into the unit's body, a connector at the tip of the portable antenna makes electrical contact with the PCS transceiver. The tip connector may be connected to an external antenna, thereby providing a transmission path from the PCS transceiver to the external antenna.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for them multi-applicative operation of a card reader terminal (10), in which there is a link (11) with at least one electronic card (12), which may or may not have a memory and which is dedicated to the performance of an application. The card performs applicative operations and dialogues with the terminal (10) for making available inputs-outputs and capabilities of the terminal. The terminal becomes a slave, at the applicative level, with respect to said electronic card (12) in which the application is performed. The invention also relates to a card reader terminal.

Abstract: A scanner guide slides along a guide rail aligned with a scanning path of the scanner. A positioner with projections or holes on the guide rail cooperates with holes or projections in the guide to identify a position of the scanner within bounds equal to or less than a maximum scanning path. The scanner is swingable between a scanning position overlying a bar code and an upright non-use position displaced from the bar code scanning surface. A bar code of extended length can be precisely verified as well as a shorter bar code by the bar code reader.

Abstract: A system for operating shopping basket with an accounting function. Each shopping basket comprises an article registering unit, an accounting control unit (calculator), a display, an alarm, a transmitter, a receiver, and an external memory. A "valid" mark is placed upon articles to be placed in the shopping basket. The article registering unit includes elements for detecting a moving direction of an article to and from the shopping basket, and elements for reading the status of the "valid" mark on the article. If an article is not properly registered, the "valid" mark is changed to an "invalid" mark. The calculator checks a valid/invalid status of articles, registers articles, and performs an accounting operation. The display indicates prices of articles received in the shopping basket, and a sub-total of the articles present therein.

Abstract: An information recording method in which a recording start position of a data section in which file data of a recording medium such as an optical card has been recorded is calculated on the basis of a directory for managing a file of the information recording medium recorded in a directory section and, when the data has been recorded at the calculated recording start position, a retry operation to judge whether the data has been recorded at the next recording position or not is repeated a predetermined number of times, thereby retrieving the final recording position of the data section. When the final recording position of the data section cannot be detected even if the retry operation was repeated the predetermined number of times, the information indicative of the recording position at which the retry operation was finally executed is recorded to the directory section.

Abstract: A teller member for telling a paper money incomming from outside or outgoing from inside and a safe member for storing therein and/or supplying therefrom the paper money are connected to each other by a conveyor route which is composed of a money conveyor for conveying the paper money therebetween and a route member for enclosing the money conveyor and provided with a check sheet member conveyable by the money conveyor for checking the conveyor route for a jam, the check sheet member being chargeable with polarity-controlled electricities so that dust such as paper dust in the conveyor route is adorbed by the check sheet member, as it is charged with electricities of a certain polarity and conveyed by the money conveyor, before the check sheet member is unloaded from the money conveyor into an accommodation chamber, where it is charged with electricities of an opposite polarity, thereby releasing the dust to be blown into a dust collector.

Abstract: The present invention provides multidimensional stacked photonic band gap crystal structures improving the performance of current planar monolithic antennas and RF filters by forbidding radiation from coupling into the substrate thereby significantly enhancing radiation efficiency and bandwidth. This invention comprises a number of sub-crystals with each having at least two lattices disposed within a host material, each lattice having a plurality of dielectric pieces arranged and spaced from each other in a predetermined manner, the sub-crystals being stacked in a crystal structure to provide a photonic band gap forbidding electromagnetic radiation propagating over a specially designed frequency band gap, or stopband. Both two dimensional and multidimensional crystals are disclosed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for protected payment with electronic payment device, such as "intelligent" payment cards ("smart cards"), in a variable number of steps. In this connection, use is made of a non-reversible function, of which successive function values are provided by the payment device to the payment station in question by way of proof of payment. On the basis of these function values, there may take place both a verification and a determination of the number of steps. Such method finds application, e.g., in public telephones and in copiers. The invention further relates to a payment device and a payment system for applying the method.

Abstract: In a warehouse, for example, incoming packages may bear dataforms of a variety of different types such as 1D bar codes, 2D bar codes and matrix codes. By use of image features distinctive for different dataforms, a hand-held reader is enabled to autodiscriminate among different 1D and 2D bar codes and matrix codes. If the sampled image data permits identification of a specific type of dataform, a decoder employing a suitable decoding protocol is used to decode the dataform. Iterative use of additional image features and sampling patterns increases the accuracy of dataform identification. Data decoded from each incoming dataform is recoded and autotranslated into a preselected standardized dataform label placed on each respective package. Subsequent reading of package dataforms thereby requires reading and decoding of only the single standardized dataform format. Systems and methods are described.

Abstract: In a non contact IC card for generating a power supply voltage from electric waves transmitted via wireless communication from a base unit, a reset signal generating circuit is provided to reset the internal circuits when the power supply voltage rises to a predetermined operating voltage and when it is lowered below a minimum voltage of voltages which ensure the normal operation of the internal circuits, thereby operations such as a writing operation in the internal circuits can be made stable and the time required for communication can be shortened.

Abstract: A portable terminal unit of tablet configuration contains an optical reader for scanning two-dimensional information on a target area. The terminal unit has an optical window near an underside thereof and contains an optical reader having a given depth of field and field of view at a given range from the window. The apparatus includes a ranger for operably determining the range of the target area from the terminal unit and a controller for operably controling activation of the reader. The controller may be configured to permit activation of the reader as: the target area is spaced within a certain tolerance range about an optimal focal length from the reader; the target area is spaced within the depth of field of the reader and motion of the terminal unit relative to the target area is halted; or the target area is spaced within the depth of field of the reader and motion of the terminal unit relative to the target area is reversed.

Abstract: An apparatus for identifying a component (10) carrying a dot matrix code comprises a lamp (14) illuminating the dot matrix code, a video camera (18) for reading the illuminated dot matrix code. A computer (20) has an image grabber card (22) to produce a digitized image of the dot matrix code. The personal computer (20) has algorithms (24, 26, 28, 30 and 32) to measure the distances between every dot located in the digitized image, to determine the fundamental inter dot spacing (D). The dots separated by the fundamental inter dot spacing (D) lie in rows and columns of the dot matrix code. There are means to determine the angles (.beta. and .alpha.) between the dots which are in the rows and columns and a camera datum. There are means to determine the orientation and location of the dot matrix code from the angles (.beta. and .alpha.).

Abstract: An image sensor array system is arranged to enable oblique access for readout of image data from a stepped pixel pattern of sensor cells. The stepped pixel pattern represents an oblique line component of an image portion containing a 2-D bar code or other dataform. An obliquely aligned bar code image can thus be read out along oblique lines which follow rows of bar code elements traversing the elements. The sensor array (16) is accessed by horizontal and vertical readout circuits (22 and 24) under the control of address signals from an address unit (20). Location signals, from a source (12), indicative of a selected image portion (39) may be used by the address unit (20) to provide address signals representative of the stepped pixel pattern for a particular oblique line component.

Abstract: A portable data collection device including an integral bar code dataform reader. The device includes a housing configured to be cradled in an operator's hand and be operated as a stand alone unit for dataform reading, data input via user interface keys and a display screen. The device further includes a removable handle with a pistol gripping portion permitting an operator to select between two gripping configurations. The handle is configured to snap fit onto the housing and includes a trigger which is depressed to initiate a dataform reading session. The trigger is part of a trigger assembly which includes an LED and a photosensor supported within a bottom portion of the housing. When the trigger is depressed, a mirror supported by the trigger reflects light from the LED onto the photosensor which results in the activation of the bar code dataform reader.

Abstract: Commercial transactions are expedited at a point-of-transaction site by providing a customer with advance notification of the price of selected goods, by providing a workstation with an adjustable, multi-positionable scanner head, by providing a field-portable scanner arrangement worn on the customer's body, and by automatically charging one's credit account with the price of the selected goods.

Abstract: The electronic funds acceptor has a memory for storing the maximum value of a vending machine product to reduce the number of coin or bill received signals to be generated and sent to the electronics in the vending machine which authorize purchase of goods from the vending machine. The acceptor also has a memory for recording incomplete transaction records so that a purchase transaction can be completed later in the case that the user removes the medium from the vending machine once the transaction is in progress. The acceptor also has a memory for storing the total amount of goods purchased using electronic funds so that the total purchase amount from all vending machines can be compared to the total amount of funds loaded onto the electronic funds recording medium to check for fraud or abuse of the system.