Abstract: In an article sales system, a POS terminal 100 is connected to a depositing/withdrawing apparatus 200. Purchased articles may be paid for by inserting a credit or cash card into slot 102, or a prepaid card into slot 122. Banknotes and coins are inserted into the depositing/withdrawing apparatus 209, 210. The customer selects whether excess cash inserted into the depositing/withdrawing apparatus is to be paid to the customer in cash, or in the form of a prepaid card, or deposited in the account read from the credit or cash card.

Abstract: An access control ticket having three fields of data, a first field (3) of fixed data, a second field (7) of variable data, and a third field (8) of variable data is read and information processed by a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines the validity of information on the ticket data fields and which of the variable fields has older data. Writing only occurs on (over) the variable field with invalid or older data. Upon subsequent use, the ticket contains current access data (just written) and last previous access data, as well as fixed field data. This added data (past use) can be used for statistical analysis or other purposes. More importantly, the added data field reduces read/write reliability problems. One improperly written variable data field does not invalidate ticket, only the last variable data entry. The microprocessor is programmed to overwrite invalid data in one of the variable data fields during the next use.

Abstract: A mutual certification method includes an IC card having a random number generator, a plurality of key data and a plurality of encryption algorithms, and an IC card terminal which also has a random number generator, a plurality of key data and a plurality of encryption algorithms. The key data and encryption algorithm to be used are designated, and a random number may be transmitted for encryption and return, so that mutual certification may be performed.

Abstract: A desired coded pattern such as a bar code is formed with two materials which are magnetically different, e.g., in permeability or conductivity. A sensor has primary coils which are excited by reference AC signals which are different in phase from each other, to produce an induced output signal. When at least one of the primary coils is moved relative to the pattern to approach the pattern, the induced signal produced in the primary coil changes in accordance with existence of a material in the pattern and the electrical phase of a composite output signal of the induced signals in the respective primary coils corresponds to the existence of the material in the pattern. By measuring the electrical phase of this induced output signal, therefore, the pattern corresponding to the existence of the material can be read on the basis of the measured data of the electrical phase.

Abstract: A self-service beverage distribution system includes a piping network with refrigerated tubing for transporting beverages, such as beer, from at least one source to at least one output. A drinker purchases a magnetic card which represents a predetermined quantity of beer, and which specifies which beer sources the drinker can have access to. A flow meter measures how much beer the drinker dispenses, and the quantity of beer represented on the card is decreased accordingly.

Abstract: An X-ray cassette 30 has a window 32 for mounting a back-lit LCD 34 to expose the film therein with patient identifying information in the form of a barcode. A strip of lead 38 opposite window 32 shields film 37 when cover 31 is closed. The LCD is activated after a sensor 56 connected to an X-ray tube 54 detects the discharge of X-rays. The patient identifying information may be read directly from the patient's bracelet 47 at the same time the X-ray is taken using barcode scanner 44.

Abstract: Apparatus for reading an identification code from a blood sample container includes an elastic member (42) which engages the upper side (34) of the sample container. A rotary device rotates the elastic member bidirectionally. An up-and-down moving device moves the elastic member up and down. A rotating/up-and-down moving control device (56) controls the movement of the container. An identification code reader (19) reads the sample code from the container, and a reading controller (57) permits the identification code reader to read from the container as it rotates in either forward or reverse direction. The elastic member abuts the upper part of the sample container and rotates it. If the identification code reader cannot read the identification code when the container rotates in the forward direction, the elastic member rotates the sample container in the reverse direction for the identification code to be read again.

Abstract: In a bar code reading apparatus, a laser beam emitted from a laser beam source disposed in a casing is reflected by a rotational mirror to scan a bar code. The reflected laser beam is reflected by a fixed scan mirror having four mirror members continually arranged with given angles therebetween, and the resultant beams are irradiated outward through a read window formed in the casing. Multiple scan lines in multiple directions are obtained on a normal plane to the read window. These scan lines consist of two groups of vertical scan lines in the normal plane, and two groups of oblique scan lines inclined at a given angle with respect to the horizontal direction.

Abstract: Light emitted from either one or two light sources is converged by first and second lenses to illuminate a strip shaped area where an object with a bar code is disposed. Alternatively, the first and second lenses may be combined with one another to form a single, multi-functional lens.

Abstract: A method for decoding bar code symbols in which a bar code reader and associated components scan a bar code symbol, produce a representation of the symbol, and attempt to decode that representation in order to produce a character message. The method consists of the steps of storing a first representation of the bar code symbol corresponding to a first scan path through a first portion of said symbol smaller than the entire symbol, and storing a second representation of the bar code symbol corresponding to a second scan path through the symbol. The method then processes said representations in the event a successful decode has not taken place by utilizing the signal from a first scan with the signal from a subsequent scan to determine the best alignment at which successive scans can be concatenated to form a combined signal. The process is repeated with different subsequent scans until successful decoding of the combined signal.

Abstract: A device for reading bar codes affixed in a predetermined order on an elongated photographic film. The bar codes are provided at the same positions relative to a plurality of image frames that are recorded in the longitudinal direction of the photographic film as the photographic film is being conveyed in the longitudinal direction. The film includes a plurality of symbol reading units disposed parallel to the direction in which the photographic film is being conveyed for reading symbols. The results read by the plurality of symbol reading units are compared with each other, and a determination is made as to whether or not the read symbol is a bar code on the basis of the comparison results. In consequence, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of bar codes.

Abstract: An environmentally tolerant personal identification, access control and monitoring system including a dual contact limb-worn identification (ID) code-producing unit and a multiple-physical contact arrayed ID code reader are described. Momentary physical contact between the unit's dual contacts, in any position and orientation, and the reader's arrayed multiple contacts is detected by sequentially energizing contact pairs of the array until a characteristic low-impedance is sensed and then the indicated contact pair is reverse-energized to read the ID code from the ID unit. Preferably, the contact array geometry is of closely spaced, nickel-plated, planar, hexagonally shaped conductors that are group-encoded and -energized to minimize the input/output port requirements of a microprocessor and associated drive/sense electronics that accomplish the scanning of the array and the reading of the ID unit.

Abstract: A dual motor speed control circuit for providing independent speed control of two motors in a laser scanning device is disclosed herein. This apparatus utilizes a single input signal having variable frequency and duty cycle components. The speed of the first motor is controlled by utilizing the frequency component of said input signal while the speed of the second motor is controlled by utilizing the frequency and duty cycle components of said input signal. Specifically, a DC signal is generated that is dependent upon the duty cycle component of said input signal and said DC signal is utilized to offset the speed of the second motor from the speed value as determined by the frequency component of said input signal.

Abstract: An information memory medium (10) includes disk-shaped substrates (30a, 30b) and recording layers (32a, 32b). It also has a centering member (38a, 38b) whose coefficient of thermal expansion resembles that of the substrates (30a, 30b). Two flat magnetic members (40a, 40b) are situated in annular depressions (68a, 68b) provided in the centering member. The annular depressions are larger than the magnetic members so that differences in thermal expansion can be absorbed.

Abstract: A card conveyance mechanism used in a card reader so as to convey a card in a card travel path. The mechanism includes an abnormal card travel detecting device for detecting whether the card has jammed, and a card discharge device for discharging the card from the travel path in response to an output from the abnormal card travel detecting device. The discharge device includes an endless belt or chain (7) having a projecting pawl (8) which may normally be kept outside the card travel path by position detection sensor (9). The card may be discharged either to the card insertion port (4) or to a recovering box (5).

Abstract: A method for reading bar code symbols which enables legitimate characters recognized by the code in use to be derived from a plurality of scans corresponding to illegitimate characters not recognized by the code in use is disclosed. The method includes the steps of storing representations of the bar code symbol which cannot be decoded to produce legitimate character(s). One of the representations is improved, or corrected, using another representation, and an attempt is made at decoding the corrected representation to produce a legitimate character. If the decoding attempt is not successful, further corrections are made in order to provide a representation which may be decoded to produce a legitimate character.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for scanning a bar code label on purchased merchandise items, including a support member having a first conveyor belt mounted above a second conveyor belt, and a digitizer panel oriented in a downward direction positioned therebetween. The digitizer panel will track the X and Y locations of the merchandise items as they move down the face of the panel. A plurality of optical canners are positioned above and below the digitizer panel for scanning a bar code label on a merchandise item moving across the digitizer. Processing means coupled to the digitizer and each of the scanners will detect the bar code label being read by each scanner when more than one merchandise item is located on the digitizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-disk player which can store a plurality of disks and can choose any of the stored disks for consecutive play. An elevating and lowering rack (44) provided at one end of a loading base (12) is driven by a worm gear (43) to incrementally raise and lower the loading base for selectively supplying a disk from a magazine to the disk playing section. The loading base also has a horizontal retaining structure, including an elevating and lowering level (49) and a sub elevating and lowering lever (50), installed at both sides of the loading base.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for supplying a rental service provider such as a hotel or an automobile rental agency with advance printed notice of customers who are approaching the hotel or agency aboard a shuttle bus from a nearby airport, thereby enabling the hotel or agency to prepare rental agreements for the customers in advance of the customers' arrival. First, a credit card reader receives one or more credit cards and automatically reads the data contained thereon. A computer directs insertion of the data into a memory buffer and establishes a radio frequency communications connection with equipment at a remote location. The contents of the memory buffer are transmitted via the radio frequency connection to the remotely located equipment for printing, and the communications connection is automatically terminated after the printing of the data.

Abstract: An electronic gift certificate dispenser device for printing and dispensing a gift certificate purchased by a credit card. A consumer approaches the device and inserts a credit card into a magnetic card reader. The consumer chooses a retailer from a menu of participating retailers and enters the gift certificate value. The machine automatically verifies the credit card, causes the account to be debited and prints the gift certificate. A plurality of gift certificate dispensing devices can be connected in a network under the control of a central processing unit. Information regarding gift certificate purchases is transferred from the devices to the central processing unit to be collated and billed to credit card accounts. The central processing unit also informs merchants of the purchase of gift certificates that will be redeemed at their stores.