Abstract: A rotary touch scanner for reading a bar code pattern includes: an outer frame formed with an opening portion, a rotary ring rotatably housed in the outer frame, a plurality of convex lenses mounted on an outer periphery of the rotary ring at regular angular intervals, rotary ring rotating device associated with the rotary ring, and a light receiving element disposed at a center of the rotary ring and having a light receiving surface directed to the opening portion of the outer frame; light scattered from a bar code label disposed in front of the opening portion of the outer frame being condensed and further focused onto the light receiving surface of the light receiving element as a real image through one of the convex lenses rotated by the rotary ring rotating device, continuously.

Abstract: A portable hand-held reader unit for reading two-dimensional information and generating an image therefrom wherein an optical axis of the reader is oriented obliquely to the surface containing the coded information. The reader includes a sensing system designed such that the rectilinear dimension of the generated image corresponding to an axis of the coded information undergoing the most distortion from oblique reading is magnified, by the lens system or the resolution configuration of the image sensor, to a greater extent than that of the rectilinear dimension undergoing the least distortion from oblique reading. Alternatively, the sensor is oriented relative to the optical axis such that the received image does not exhibit the distortion which may result from oblique reading. The coded information may contain height-to-width ratio of the coded information such that the generated image can be automatically corrected for distortion from oblique reading.

Abstract: A system for bar code reading and scanning is provided having automatic bar code signal size control. In the first embodiment of the system, a processor selects on successive scans of a bar code one of a plurality of different optical power levels from a laser diode which provides a light beam illuminating the bar code. This selection is responsive to the size of the signal from a photo-detector which receives returned light from the bar code during scanning. The signal size is detected by a signal size detecting circuit, and is measured by the processor during scanning. In a second embodiment of the system, the processor calculates an optical power level after every two consecutive scans across the bar code. The laser power level is calculated differently for alternative scans occurring in different orders (even or odd counting from the first scan).

Abstract: An exposure control apparatus for use with optical readers, such as bar code readers, which utilize photosensitive image sensors. An illumination signal generating circuit generates an illumination signal having a magnitude that varies in accordance with the time averaged value of the illumination level at the image sensor. A window detecting circuit periodically samples the illumination signal to determine if that signal is or is not within a window of acceptability. Exposure period determining circuitry uses the output of the window detecting circuit to upwardly or downwardly adjust the value of a control variable as necessary to cause the illumination signal to approach, enter and remain within the window of acceptability.

Abstract: A waveguide antenna includes a number of longitudinal waveguides with lateral and longitudinal slots arranged to emit electromagnetic fields with separate directions of polarization. The waveguide antenna includes a first waveguide having a first rectangular cross-section with lateral slots at substantially right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first waveguide. The lateral slots are arranged in a first short side of the first waveguide. The waveguide antenna also includes a second waveguide having a second rectangular cross-section with longitudinal slots arranged in a second short side at substantially right angles with respect to the lateral slots, and a separating wall. The first and second waveguides are joined at respective first and second broad sides with the first and second short sides facing the same direction.

Abstract: A portable telephone includes an electronic card reader for reading Micro SIM cards of different formats. The reader has a wall with a card supporting side and a connector whose resilient contact terminals protrude from the supporting side through an opening. For holding a small-format card in the reading position, the wall has a recess for receiving the small-format card while the card is in contact with the contact terminals of the connector, in the lower portion of which recess is accommodated a sheet steel adapter integral with the wall, which an adapter has a clearance in a normal direction to the wall at least equal to the thickness of the small-format card and has a hole opposite the opening.

Abstract: A non-contact IC card includes an antenna resonance circuit including two output terminals; and a phase locked loop (PLL) for receiving, as an input signal, a signal representative of a received signal received by the IC card and changing to a negative state, and for producing an output tuned to the input signal, wherein, for phase modulation or demodulation, an output signal for half a period is produced as the output of the PLL and both terminals of an antenna resonance circuit are short-circuited during the half period from a zero crossing point of the input signal.

Abstract: A bar code symbol reading system having a laser scanner, and a multi-port digital signal decoder capable of decoding digital signals produced from various types of scanning devices including, for example, high-speed counter top scanners, low-speed hand-held scanners, wand scanners, light pen scanners, and magnetic card scanners. The digital signal decoder includes a plurality of data input ports for receiving digital input signals produced from the various scanning devices. The digital signal decoder also includes common digital signal and data processing circuitry for processing the digital input signals and digital data so as to produce, as output, decoded symbol data. In addition, the digital signal decoder further includes an output data port for providing the decoded symbol data to a host device operably connected to the digital signal decoder. In the illustrative embodiment, the digital signal decoder is realized using VLSI circuit and microprocessor technology.

Abstract: A portable storage medium issuing system writes plural issuing data in storing regions in a portable storage medium. The system includes a first memory to store plural secret data, a second memory to collate input secret data with the secret data stored in the first memory and stores a secret data out of plural secret data, which is collated and agreed with the secret data stored in the first memory based on the collated result, a third memory to store the plural issuing data and secret data which has been set corresponding to each of plural issuing data and requires the collation before writing into the portable storage medium as collating conditions. The collating condition stored in the third memory is compared with the collated status stored in the second memory. When the collated status satisfies the collating condition based on the result of this comparison, the issuing data in which the collating condition has been set in the storing region is written in the portable storage medium.

Abstract: A hand-held scanner has a head containing scanning components, a hilt position between the head and a handle that is sized and shaped to rest against an upper surface of a users thumb and index finger. An endcap is secured to a free end of the handle that has a circumferentially and outwardly extending bumper, which, together with the hilt, protect the scanner from impact and dropage. A trigger extending outwardly from the handle, extends a significant distance forward of the handle to provide a tactile queue for users to blindly grip the handle and position an index finger on the trigger. The handle preferably has a tubular, seamless shape to avoid irritation with a users hand when gripped. A window in the head is recessed and angled to inhibit damage and contact with foreign objects.

Abstract: Bar code symbol reading system with automatic modes of hand-held (i.e., hands-on) and stand-supported (i.e., hands-free) operation. In the hand-held mode of automatic operation, the user initiates laser scanning by simply bringing the object within at least a portion of the scan field of the automatic bar code symbol reading device. In the stand-supported mode of automatic operation, a scanner support stand is used to support the automatic bar code symbol reading device relative to a countertop surface so that the scan field is projected away from the scanner support stand and the hand-supportable housing, and extends above the countertop surface permitting the automatic reading bar code symbols on goods passed thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to a card reader system (10) including a detector (58') for determining a predetermined irregular mode of operation of the reader system. The invention is characterized by a card invalidation device (21, 24, 26) operable to render a card (2) permanently non-usable in response to the detection of the predetermined irregular mode of operation.

Abstract: In an optoelectronic recording element for point-by-point and line-by-line recording, the recording element is composed of a laser diode for generating a light beam, of an objective, of a light detector arranged spaced from the laser diode and of a reflector arranged turned in the beam path of the light beam that reflects a part of the light beam onto the light detector. The reflector is composed of concave mirror segments that are positioned between the laser diode and the objective. The reflector has an aperture whose center line coincides with the optical axis and whose diameter at least corresponds to the diameter of the light part of the light beam employed for the recording. As a result thereof, the light part of the light beam employed for the recording passes through the reflector loss-free, and the light part of the light beam that is not used is nearly completely focussed onto the light detector.

Abstract: A photographic film camera adapted to receive a film cassette having a rotatable radial bar code data disk mounted at one end thereof is provided with a variable gain opto-sensor circuit responsive to the radial bar code for generating a sensor output signal having transitions through a logic threshold normally representative of transitions between data elements on the data disk. A microcontroller adapted to read the data from the data disk compensates for a noisy, corrupted by establishing a first gain setting and selectable other gain settings at the opto-sensor circuit during generation of the sensor output signal, and by counting logic threshold transitions in the output signal such that if the transition count for the first gain setting is other than a count corresponding to a fixed number of bar code data elements on the data disk, the opto-sensor gain is adjusted to one or more of the selectable other gain settings until the transition count corresponds to the fixed number of bar code data elements.

Abstract: A system and method for allowing funds to be transferred instantly to an account so that the funds are available to the beneficiary at the time they are sent, based on customer information which can be automatically accessed by the system, rather than needing to be manually entered. Further, the system automatically computes the appropriate exchange rate and any fees to be charged to the account and displays them to the user so that the user may authorize or cancel the transaction. They system also analyzes the parameters of the transfer to assure that the transfer conforms with pertinent government regulations. The system also enables the user to quantify the amount to be transferred in the currency of the originating account or the currency of the receiving account, thereby maximizing the flexibility of the system. The system further is designed so that it can be understood and accessed by individuals having no special expertise in computers, wire transfers and the like.

Abstract: An automatic system is for collection of expressway tolls uses prepaid cards to pay toll while a vehicle is moving at a normal driving speed through a toll booth where computer network is not required. A tollroad with plurality of entrances and exits is provided toll booths one at each entrance and one at each exit. Each toll booth has a toll-collecting device having a support booth and a main booth. An in-vehicle unit is installed in the moving vehicle. Infrared radiation is used as communication apparatus between toll-collecting device and in-vehicle unit to make the system most cost-effective with very low cost of installation, versatile, accurate and virtually error-free compared with those systems using radio frequency for communication. Toll is collected as fixed or variable rates according to the type of vehicles classified by their height and the distance the vehicle travels, the longer the higher is the toll.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for automatically reading bar code symbols is disclosed. One aspect of the present invention concerns a method of reading bar code symbols using an automatic hand-holdable bar code symbol reading device. In general, the automatic bar code symbol reading device comprises a hand-holdable housing containing operative elements which provide an object detection field and a scan field each defined external to the housing. The method involves automatically detecting the presence of an object within the object detection field by sensing object sensing energy reflected off the object. In a preferred embodiment, the object sensing energy is IR radiation produced from an object sensing energy source disposed within the housing. In automatic response to the detection of the object within the object detection field, the hand-holdable device detects the presence of a bar code within the scan field using a laser beam produced within the housing.

Abstract: High speed scanning arrangements in scanners for reading bar code symbols by oscillating a scanner component in a single line pattern, the scanner component being suspended from flexible, resilient spring portions extending in different paths away from the scanner component to a pair of spaced-apart regions on a support.

Abstract: A method of codifying and comparing an identification card includes imprinting the identification card with a selected fingerprint of the owner which upon match with a corresponding natural fingerprint of the owner opens the access to a terminal that stores another fingerprint of the owner. If a comparison of this stored fingerprint matches also the corresponding natural fingerprint of the owner, the identification card is cleared for use.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data processing and retrieval system for use in a self-checkout system utilized in a retail facility. A plurality of customers are provided with a portable data collecting terminal having a bar code reader. Once the data is collected using the portable terminal, a record of the session is uploaded to a customer's data file upon the entry of an authorization code. In the event errors occur during data entry or in the entry of the authorization codes, a customer service desk is provided which assists the customer in completing the transaction.