Abstract: A transponder system for monitoring and logging depository transactions in which bags loaded with funds to be deposited in a bank are put, one at a time, into a bank inlet hopper from which the bags drop through a chute into a vault. Incorporated in each bag is a tag in the form of a passive transponder adapted to receive a radio-frequency interrogation signal and to retransmit the signal as a coded signal defining a number identifying the bag. Installed in the vault is a transceiver that transmits the interrogation signal in a confined radiation field within the vault, the field being intercepted only when a tagged bag falls into the vault or is withdrawn from the vault. When the field is intercepted by a tagged bag, its transponder picks up the interrogation signal and transmits to the transceiver the coded signal identifying the bag.

Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) local area network (LAN) adapter card for a personal computer conforms to the Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) standard 2.0 (extended), providing a credit-card sized RF LAN communications terminal that plugs into the side of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a palmtop computer, and the like. The RF LAN adapter card includes a minimum height, broadband integrated antenna that provides a vertically polarized RF signal with good horizontal range. The combination of the antenna and its surrounding radome provide a high gain, omnidirectional radiation pattern that overcomes the parasitic distortions imposed by the close proximity of the personal computer housing. The adapter card housing includes internal RF shielding structures that shield the antenna from noise radiated by radio frequency signal circuits within the housing.

Abstract: A card reader (for example, a swipe card reader for reading bank or security cards) is disclosed which comprises a detector for detecting surface features of the card such as embossed characters. In this way, a security check for false cards is implemented.

Abstract: A plurality of types of ink having different wavelength characteristics are used for multiple printing of code information. When two or more types of ink are to be printed in an overlapping manner, in a region 8 in which one type of ink 4 and another type of ink 5 are printed in the overlapping manner, the ink 4 and the ink 5 are printed so as not to completely overlap each other by using a checkered pattern 9. As a result, the multiple printing can be performed without strict constraints on the wavelength characteristics of the ink.

Abstract: Prior methods of reading MaxiCode dataforms have been subject to reduced resolution image scaling and processing and speed constraints of Fourier transform computations. Described spatial domain data extraction methods provide bull's eye center location by T-sequence pixel pattern analysis, axis identification by moment analysis of data cell pairs, and integral width square wave analysis of illumination transitions to avoid reading-line cell fragmentation. The center and top of a MaxiCode are identified in high-resolution pixel data, without scaling reduction or Fourier type frequency domain processing. Data is extracted serially from rows of data cells by sampling along lines of pixels aligned by fragmentation analysis so as to traverse complete rows of data cells. Dynamic thresholding accurately defines illumination value transitions between adjacent linear groups of data cells, each group consisting of one or more data cells of the same reflectivity.

Abstract: A device for conducting monetary transactions with smart cards such as blank cards comprises a housing (120), a coupler (121) for smart cards, a slot (121a) located at the coupler for partial insertion of a smart card, a keypad (122) for the input of at least one confidential code associated with the card inserted into the coupler, and a process for validating the transaction. The slot is adjacent to an edge of the keypad, and the coupler and the slot are positioned so that a portion of the card remaining outside of the housing after partial insertion extends at least partially above the keypad, forming a screen during input of the code to protect confidentiality.

Abstract: A portable dataform reader includes a large F# optic assembly that provides a working range from about 2.5" to at least 8.5" in front of the reader while maintaining a broad field of view. The reader is capable of capturing a high signal to noise ratio image in under 0.01 seconds thereby making the reader highly tolerant to hand jitter. To accommodate the large F# optic and short exposure period, the reader is provided with an efficient high intensity uniform illumination module.

Abstract: A data medium in the form of a check card is known. Such check cards include a memory in which at least one amount of money is stored. If the user wishes to purchase or use a product or service, the amount of money is debited by the vendor. If the vendor intents to defraud the user, or simply makes an unintentional error, too much money may be debited from the data medium without the user noticing immediately that this has occurred. This type of fraud or error may also occur when using other data mediums, including credit cards, debit cards, special purpose cards such as telephone cards and transportation cards, and the like. In order to avoid such fraud or error, further memories are provided in the data medium according to the present invention, wherein one internal memory serves solely for the purpose of accepting amounts of money from outside.

Abstract: A binary device suitable for a bar code reader performs a binary signal conversion, without depending on a laser beam scanning rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus locates multiple "bounding boxes" within an image of a symbol located within an image stored by a reader. The symbol preferably has a recognition pattern with an longitudinally extending bar and at least one vertically extending reference bar, such as in the Code One symbology. The method locates the positions of landmark points within the stored image. Landmark points include points at the end of the longitudinally extending bar, points at the corner or root formed between the longitudinally extending bar and the vertically extending bar, points at the ends of the vertically extending bars, and points at the intersection between the bars and blocks that extend transversely therefrom. Based on the locations of the landmark points, horizontal and vertical line functions are defined between collinear landmark points. Based on the intersection of the line functions, multiple bounding boxes are constructed to determine the periphery and all data areas of the symbol within the stored image.

Abstract: A electro-optical memory includes a substrate on which is printed (or otherwise inscribed) a complex symbol or "label" or "bar code" of a high density two-dimensional symbology. The bar code contains component symbols or "codewords" which are placed in row and column formation, with a variable number of codewords per row, and a variable number of rows. The symbology utilizes implicit bar code encoding scheme for implicit encoding the number of rows and the number of columns of codewords, as well as a predetermined amount of error correction. The symbology is capable of supporting a fixed number of bar code variants, with each variant having a predetermined number of rows and columns of codewords, and a predetermined error correction capability. For some codewords the implicit encoding scheme is combined with a gray coding scheme to reduce the inter-row codeword crosstalk.

Abstract: To reduce the size and weight of an optical scanner, the present invention provides a mirrorless beam scanning unit. A flexible member, such as a multi-wire, flat, electrical cable is connected to the light emitter. Reciprocation of the light emitter during emission of light by the light emitter causes the light to scan a surface, such as a surface bearing a bar code label. The cable flexes during such reciprocation.

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 for automatic object detection and subsequent automatic bar code symbol reading. 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: A novel and improved dual band antenna system comprising an inner antenna element surrounded by an outer antenna element. In a first embodiment, the inner antenna element radiates and receives RF signals in a first RF band, and the outer antenna element radiates and receives RF signals in a second RF band. Optionally, the inner and outer antennas may be coupled together when operating in the first RF band in order to improve the antenna gain pattern of the dual band antenna. In a second embodiment, the inner antenna element radiates and receives RF signals in both the first and second RF bands. In this second embodiment, when operating in the second RF band, the outer antenna element is grounded, thus altering the signal length of the inner antenna element to resonate in the second RF band.

Abstract: An optical data element includes a plurality of diffraction zones wherein each zone contains a multiplicity of diffraction gratings. These zones may be illuminated and the resultant one or more diffracted beams detected to provide a signature for the element consisting of a series of discrete signature signals each generated by the plurality of zones and each including portions or relatively different intensities. At least one of the diffraction zones has a segment thereof modified whereby to discernibly alter at least one of the discrete signature signals of the signature and to thereby form a data segment of the optical data element.

Abstract: The new bar code symbology under the present invention directly encodes one symbol character for each human readable character in known 16-bit data character encoding standards, such as Unicode. The symbology employs six bars and six spaces for each symbol, and has a total width of 21 modules for each symbol character, and thus is a (21,6) symbology. Bars and spaces in symbol characters having greater than six modules in width are eliminated, as are bounding strings of more than six adjacent one-wide elements. As a result, the symbology is wand scannable, readily printable, and can be read when out-of-focus. Parity codes are employed, to enable Hamming distances between symbol characters to be maximized, and thereby improve data security of the symbology (e.g., the total width of all bars in each symbol character is equal to an even number). As a result, the present symbology preferably encodes 80,077 data characters.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for imaging low contrast one and two-dimensional symbols are provided. A light source directs light onto a target that includes a low contrast symbol. An imaging element receives light reflected off of the target and creates an image of the target therefrom. A light level detector determines the intensity level of the light received by the imaging element, and when the intensity level exceeds a predetermined threshold, a controller causes the image data created by the imaging element to be stored in a data memory.

Abstract: Distance L between best focus surface BF to reading opening 22 is in a range satisfying the condition: 2 mm.ltoreq..vertline.L.vertline..ltoreq.2a.multidot..omega./D, where "D" represents the size of a short side of an elongated hole of a diaphragm 34a, "a" represents a distance from an objective-side principal point of an imaging lens 34 to the best focus surface BF, ".omega." represents a minimum width of a module of bar code 8, "L" represents a distance measured from the best focus surface BF toward imaging lens 34, and .vertline.L.vertline. represents an absolute value of distance L. With this arrangement, adverse effect of stains, wounds and scratches of bar code 8 can be averaged or decentralized along the longitudinal direction of the bar of bar code 8 without deteriorating a reading accuracy in the lateral direction.

Abstract: An arm mounted portable data collection device comprising a mounting assembly including a docking station and a strap for strapping the docking station to an arm of an operator. A housing is releasably affixed to the docking station. A dataform reading module is supported within a cavity of the housing. The dataform reading module is actuated by a switch adapted to be mounted on an index finger of the user. The dataform reading module is rotatable with respect to the housing and is also detachable from the housing. In a first embodiment of the device the dataform reading module has a single axis of rotation, that is, the module is rotable along a single horizontal plane. In a second embodiment of the device the dataform reading module is rotatable about multiple axis of rotation.

Abstract: A casing, including a grip portion and a head portion, houses a pair of light sources for illumination, an image sensing device, an optical system for forming an image on the image sensing device, a photosensor for detecting the luminance of symbol reading area, a signal processing circuit, and a light quantity detection circuit. The housing extends from the head portion towards the symbol reading area. An ambient light window is provided in the housing for introducing ambient light into the symbol reading area. A light source driving circuit controls an amount of light emitted by the light source, by increasing or decreasing the amount of light, such that the combined ambient light and light source illumination is between predetermined levels.