Abstract: A region of light-reflective indicia is visibly illuminated in order to locate the indicia relative to a hand-held of a system for electro-optically reading the indicia. The region is formed by aiming optics and a light source for generating a visible aiming beam. The region can be single spot, a pair of spots, or a line.

Abstract: An electrically small antenna is constructed from a generalized contrawound toroidal helix made from a single continuous conductor divided into two length portions each of which are substantially the same length and which have a generalized helical pattern. The helical pitch senses the two length portions are opposite to one another. The two length portions are insulated from one another and overlap one another on the surface of a generalized toroid. A signal is fed to the antenna at a port defined by the node locations where the respective length portions join one another, or at a diametrically opposite point. At the fundamental mode of operation, the antenna is a half guided wavelength in circumference. The size of the antenna is further reduced because of the slow-wave properties of the underlying generalized contrawound toroidal helix. The antenna is omnidirectional with vertical polarization with a radiation pattern similar to an electric dipole, but in a physical package that is substantially smaller.

Abstract: A smart card (12) including a microchip (14) having information stored thereon, a virtual image display (16) and electronics (22) further connected to the virtual image display (16) for supplying image data thereto. The virtual image display (16) including compact display optics (25) housed within the smart card (12), or having at least a portion thereof positioned in an accessory component (17), for viewing information stored on the smart card (12) at a viewing aperture (18).

Abstract: A method of transaction replenishes a microprocessor-based card. The card computes a certificate of authenticity on the basis of data elements that it contains and that include the contents of its counter of the number of replenishment operations and its identification number. These data elements enable the card to verify its entitlement to be replenished. The card increments its counter of the number of replenishments. A replenishment terminal reads the identification number of the card and transmits to the card the data elements that pertain to it and that comprise the certificate of authenticity corresponding to it for the cycle in progress. The received certificate is compared with a certificate computed by the card. When the certificates are equal, the card accepts a replenishment of units.

Abstract: An input/output device of a smart card according to the present invention comprises a first register having a serial input terminal connected to a terminal serial input/output; a second register having parallel detection terminals, parallel input/output terminals connected to a data bus, and a serial input terminal connected to a serial output terminal of the first register; a third register having a parallel input terminal connected to a ground, a serial input terminal connected to a serial output terminal of the second register, and a serial output terminal connected to the terminal serial input/output; a parity generator which receives parallel output data from the parallel detection terminals of the second register, logically operates upon the parallel output data to generate an operation parity bit which is applied to a parallel input indicator terminal of the first register; and a parity detector which receives a reception parity bit from the first register and the operation parity bit from the parity g

Abstract: A vending machine for serving a plurality of customers, each having a payment card, which includes a vending unit for storing and displaying an accessible inventory and for selectively enabling and barring free access of a customer to a plurality of items therefrom, a card payment unit which upon receipt of a payment card from a customer, validates, prior to said enabling, that the payment card can be charged for the value of the accessible inventory, and which charges, after the barring, the payment card with a sum in accordance with the items removed from the accessible inventory by the customer and a control unit for coordinating the operations of said vending unit and said card payment unit.

Abstract: A device for scanning in a scanning axis includes a periodic array of conductive plates disposed along the scanning axis. The device has a periodic array of ferroelectric material slabs disposed along the scanning axis, each slab being disposed between a pair of adjacent conductive plates, adjacent slabs being separated by one of conductive plates. Each of the slabs has a receiving face and a radiating face substantially parallel to each other. Input transmission means feed an input electromagnetic signal to the periodic array of slabs in a propagation direction so that the input electromagnetic signal is incident on the receiving faces of the slabs and so that the electrical component of the input electromagnetic signal received at each receiving face has a component parallel to the scanning axis.

Abstract: A tracking antenna for non-geostationary satellites is mounted on a three-axis positioner comprising an azimuth axis, an elevation axis mounted perpendicularly on the azimuth axis and a pseudo-azimuth axis mounted perpendicularly on the elevation axis and supporting the antenna. The positions of the axes are controlled by a pointing unit. The method of pointing the antenna carries out the following steps simultaneously when the position of the satellite is such that the elevation axis exceeds a predetermined elevation value: modifying the position of the azimuth axis at constant speed and modifying the position of the elevation axis and the pseudo-azimuth axis to track the satellite.

Abstract: A smart card reader including a portable housing with a viewing aperture and a virtual image display positioned to provide an image at the aperture. A sensor in the housing constructed to have a smart card with data stored thereon positioned adjacent thereto in data sensing juxtaposition and electronics mounted in the housing and connected to the sensor for receiving sensed data and further connected to the virtual image display for supplying image data thereto.

Abstract: A method to detect, process, and evaluate the quality of a succession of spaced bar code symbols. The symbols are disposed on a continuous substrate, moving past a scanner unit arranged to scan each symbol of the succession, one after the other. The method of the invention continuously scans the substrate to detect the entry of a bar code symbol into the field of view of the scanner unit. The presence of the bar code symbol in the scanner's field of view being established by a first valid decode of the symbol. Next, the first decoded scan and a plurality of subsequent decodable and non-decodable scans of the bar code symbol are processed to determine and store at least one evaluation attribute. The scanning and processing of the bar code continues until a predetermined number of consecutive non-decodable scans are processed, thereby indicating the absence of the bar code symbol from the field of view of the scanner and that the symbol has moved past the scanner.

Abstract: An electronic bar encoded gasoline scanner device comprised of a bar code imprinted within a top portion of a gasoline tank fill pipe. A laser scanner is secured to a gasoline dispensing nozzle. The laser scanner has wiring extending outwardly therefrom. The wiring serves to couple with an existing computer network. The laser scanner reads information on the bar code and relays a message to the existing computer network.

Abstract: A cover for protecting a direct broadcast satellite antenna having a flange around the outside perimeter of the antenna. The cover is fabricated from a waterproof, flexible sheet material, such as marine grade vinyl. The cover is sized to have a margin extending approximately one-half of the width of the flange beyond the outside edge of the antenna. A "J clip" strip having one edge folded over in a "J" configuration and having a width approximately the same dimension as the flange of the antenna, is positioned along the outer face of the cover with the opposite edge of the strip aligned even with the edge of the cover. The strip is sewn or otherwise attached to the cover material to form the completed cover. A gap of approximately 6" can be provided along one portion of the perimeter of the cover to provide clearance for the supporting structure and ventilation to the inside of the antenna.

Abstract: A scanner for scanning a one or two-dimensional bar code symbology is provided that effectively prevents condensation from forming on the protective window. The scanner comprises a housing having an electro-optical element and a window permitting the electro-optical element to collect reflected light therethrough. A heating element is coupled to at least a peripheral portion of the inner surface of the window. Application of an electrical current to the heating element heats the window and precludes condensation from forming on the inner surface of the window. The heating element may further comprise a resistive element having an adhesive layer permitting attachment to the inner surface of the window. The heating element would be further compatible with operation of conventional electro-optical elements, such as a charge coupled device or a laser.

Abstract: An encoded symbol reader is provided with a joint between a reading head and a main body to allow the reading head to be positioned with respect to the main body. The joint can allow the reading head to rotate about one or two axes. The reading head can be provided with a positioning device to hold the reading head in a selected rotational position, and a returning device to return the head to be predetermined position after a rotational displacement.

Abstract: A two-dimensional code 1 consists of three positioning symbols 2, a data region 3, timing cells 4 and an apex detecting cell 5. The shape of the whole code 1 is a square having the same number of vertical and lateral cells. A scanning line passing through the center of each positioning symbols 2 always gives a constant frequency component ratio--dark:light:dark:light:dark=1:1:3:1:1, irrespective of the scanning direction. For this reason, even if a rotational angle of the two-dimensional code is not certain, the specific frequency component ratio of each positioning symbol 2 can be easily detected by executing only one scanning operation in a predetermined direction. Hence, the coordinates of the center of each positioning symbols 2 can be easily found. Thus, the position of the two-dimensional code 1 is quickly identified.

Abstract: A mobile device suitable for permitting banking transactions and a material for constructing such units. The mobile banking device includes a housing mounted on a platform extending upward therefrom. The outer housing defines an interior area sufficient to accommodate ingress and egress of appropriate service personnel. The device includes at least one customer transaction interface unit such as an ATM device mounted in one of the walls and accessible from the exterior of the outer housing. The mobile device also includes at least one set of wheels attached to the platform and extending downward therefrom and a suitable device for emitting discernable evidence of unauthorized breaches in the outer security of the housing such as an audible or inaudible alarm. The outer housing can be constructed from a material first and second planar layers composed of a polymeric resin positioned a spaced parallel distance from one another and an intermediate polymeric sheet interposed between the two planar layers.

Abstract: A shelf tag printing system includes a portable terminal in radio communication with a base station and a portable printer in wireless communication with the portable terminal. The portable terminal has a bar code scanner which reads product bar codes for radio transmission to the base station. The base station responds with informational signals indicating legends to be printed upon shelf tags by the printer. These signals are received by the portable terminal and relayed to the printer. Communication between the portable terminal and the printer is one-way via a surface wave acoustic resonator in the portable terminal and an amplifier sequenced hybrid receiver in the printer.

Abstract: A flexible circuit board is used to provide the contact elements of a chip card reader. The contact area of the contact elements is obtained by deforming the flexible circuit board into cusps, with a contacting force being applied to the cusps by a single spring element. The flexible circuit board can be folded along a line which is either transverse or parallel to the card insertion direction in order to enable engagement of contact elements with both sides of the card.

Abstract: A combined range laser scanner and method for electro-optically reading indicia such as bar codes having parts of different light reflectivity which utilizes two laser diode optical illumination systems optimally focused for different working ranges. A first laser illumination system is optimized for contact operation and has a range extending to approximately two feet. The second laser illumination system is optimized for longer range scanning from approximately two to seventeen feet, and the two laser scanning systems are integrated into one combined range laser scanner. The combined range laser scanner incorporates therein logic circuitry which enables either laser illumination system as required fro the particular scanning application. Depending upon which laser illumination system is selected, the laser spot speed (e.g. amplitude of the drive signal for the scanning motor) is controlled to limit the frequency of received light signals to that of standard signal processing and decoding circuits.

Abstract: A bar code scanning system such as for use in retail checkout having a scanner housing; a plurality of surfaces facing a scan volume from different directions; and sets of pattern mirrors positioned adjacent the respective surfaces, the housing being positioned above the scan volume and containing one or more laser beam modules and/or a scanning mechanism for producing scanning beams which are routed to the pattern mirrors and out through the respective surfaces into the scan volume.