Abstract: An automatic chemical analyzer utilizes reagents supplied in reagent bottles. The reagent bottles are labeled on their bottom surfaces with an identification label bearing a machine-readable identification code. The automatic chemical analyzer includes a reagent tray having a plurality of tray apertures therein which receive coded reagent bottles and which expose the bottom surface of each bottle for optical viewing of the machine-readable identification code. The analyzer further includes optical scanner means positioned below the reagent tray for reading the machine-readable identification code on the bottom surfaces of reagent bottles within the tray apertures. The tray apertures are selectively located over the optical scanner means so that the analyzer can identify the reagent bottle and the contents thereof.The identification label has a spaced pair of position reference dots defining and orienting a label area.

Abstract: A bar code reader using a high speed scanner, containing: a scanning unit scanning a surface on which a bar code is printed; a bar width detecting unit successively detecting widths of bars; a bar width storing unit storing the widths; an address generating unit generating an address of the bar width storing unit at which each of the widths is to be stored; a fast screening unit determining whether a set of widths successively detected by the bar width detecting unit satisfies a predetermined condition for the set of widths constituting a complete bar code; and a bar code decoding unit reading a set of successive widths from the generated address, and decoding the bar code determined by the complete bar code detecting unit. A type of bar code detecting unit detecting a type of bar code constituted by the detected widths, and an address & type storing unit storing the detected type of bar code, together with information on the generated addresses for the widths of the bar code, may be inserted.

Abstract: A data reproducing apparatus for reproducing information recorded in at least one track formed on a recording medium. The data reproducing apparatus includes at least one track number reading device for reading out the track number of at least one track formed on the recording medium; a designating controlling device for specifying a track having a track number which cannot be read out from among the track numbers of tracks which can be read out, and for designating an information reading starting position on the track; and a data reading device for reading out information on at least one track on the basis of the information reading starting position on the track designated by the designating controlling device.

Abstract: A method for shipping electronically stored letter contents or communications and/or data on flat information carriers, particularly chip cards, requiring postal franking or prepaid postage, includes storing shipping data in at least one of a plurality of memory regions of the information carrier. The shipping data is read out with a read-write module. The shipping data is linked to a postage table being stored in memory, for calculating a postage value appropriate for shipment of the information carrier. An accounting or debit is made for the calculated postage value for the information carrier with a postage meter device. A postage imprint is printed on an item to be shipped. In an apparatus for carrying out the invention, the read-write module and the postage meter device are integrated into a unit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a microcomputer in which an input signal is input via a resonance circuit, a CPU for processing data, an input circuit for detecting the input signal, a decoding circuit for demodulating the input signal and supplying a demodulated signal of a predetermined length to the CPU when the input circuit detects the input signal, an attenuation circuit for attenuating oscillation in the resonance circuit when said input circuit detects the input signal, and an output circuit for outputting an output signal from the CPU. A non-contact IC card utilizing the microcomputer includes an antenna circuit for transmitting and receiving data and incorporating the resonance circuit.

Abstract: A radio frequency proximity reader has a base plate housing portion that has an essentially rectangular shape with first and second opposed major surfaces and a centrally located bore. A cylindrical housing portion having a concentrically placed bore is attached to the base plate and extends substantially perpendicular to the first major surface, with the bores of the housing portions being substantially aligned. A radio frequency antenna including a cylindrical ferrite core having at least one concentrically wound coil is concentrically located within the cylindrical housing portion. A light emitting diode and a piezo buzzer are provided within the cylindrical housing portion adjacent the second major surface of the base plate. A cable electronically connects the reader to remotely located signal processing circuits. The base plate may be attached to a wall, whereby the first surface abuts the wall. A rectangular cover attached to the base plate covers the second major surface of the base plate.

Abstract: A sealing member such as an O-ring, packing, or gasket is provided on the inner wall of an insertion hole of a terminal connector and/or on the outer surface of a portable data storage device which is inserted into the terminal connector so that the clearance between the portable data storage device and the insertion hole of the terminal connector is filled. An area from the sealing member inside the insertion hole to the innermost electrode section is made air-tight, and therefore no dirt, dust, etc. can enter. Metal panels may be provided on each of the obverse and reverse sides of the portable device to improve mechanical strength. In a portable data storage device equipped with a releasable battery holder, a sealing member is provided on the outer surface of the battery holder and/or on the inner wall of a battery holder housing section of the portable device so that the clearance between the battery holder and the housing section is filled.

Abstract: An IC card (24) and a data memory card (23) are mounted to a terminal equipment (1) connected to a center computer (32) via a line. Confirmation information stored in the IC card is checked whether or not it coincides with confirmation information stored in an RAM (6) in the terminal equipment or confirmation information stored in the data memory card. After coincidence of the confirmation information is detected, the terminal equipment performs the processing to be conventionally performed by the center computer in place of the center computer. An IC card intake and outtake processing mechanism (104) in the terminal equipment does not send out the IC card to the outside of the terminal equipment when the power of the terminal equipment is shut down.

Abstract: A method for sending electrically stored data on flat information carriers requiring postal franking includes transmitting communication data from a personal computer into a memory of an information carrier with a read-write module. Associated shipping data are transmitted from the personal computer to a postage meter device synchronously with the transmission of the communication data. Postal charges for sending the information carrier are accounted for with the postage meter device on the basis of the shipping data. Control data are transmitted from the postage meter device to a printer for printing a postage imprint on each item intended for sending the information carrier.

Abstract: An automatic chemical analyzer utilizes reagents supplied in reagent bottles. The reagent bottles are labeled on their bottom surfaces with an identification label bearing a machine-readable identification code. The automatic chemical analyzer includes a reagent tray having a plurality of tray apertures therein which receive coded reagent bottles and which expose the bottom surface of each bottle for optical viewing of the machine-readable identification code. The analyzer further includes optical scanner means positioned below the reagent tray for reading the machine-readable identification code on the bottom surfaces of reagent bottles within the tray apertures. The tray apertures are selectively located over the optical scanner means so that the analyzer can identify the reagent bottle and the contents thereof.The identification label has a spaced pair of position reference dots defining and orienting a label area.

Abstract: A transaction system includes a portable electronic token and an external read/write unit which communicate by inductive coupling. The read/write unit transmits short pulses of an r.f. carrier when in its dormant or stand-by mode and, upon detecting the presence of a token, switches its r.f. on continuously to power up the token and conduct a transaction. Thus, the system conserves power but can react rapidly when a transaction is necessary.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a head for performing recording of information on and/or reproduction of information from a recording medium, a carriage on which the recording medium is loaded and being adapted to be movable relative to the head, a first detector for detecting a loading position of the recording medium with respect to the carriage, a second detector for detecting a position of the carriage in a moving direction and a circuit for outputting a signal representing that the medium is loaded at predetermined position with respect to the head on the basis of outputs from the first and second detectors.

Abstract: A system for filtering electrical signals and cancelling large amplitude disturbance events contaminating such signals which might otherwise interfere with these signals being further processed. The system includes a disturbance filter which is operative for identifying disturbance events and passing an inverted signal corresponding solely to these events to a summing junction for use in cancelling these events as they occur. In the preferred embodiment this system is adapted for use in a bar code reader.

Abstract: A method which provides for handling misplaced transaction documents in an image based transaction processing system which performs transaction balancing. A preferred form of the method provides for displaying out-of-balance transactions such that transaction debit and credit data are displayed along with one or more document images. Using this transaction display, it is determined whether a transaction includes a misplaced document which does not belong, or whether a document is missing from the transaction. If a transaction is found to include a document which does not belong, data corresponding to the document is stored in a free item store. If a transaction is found to have a missing document, the free item store is accessed and one or more documents therefrom are displayed to permit determining whether any of these candidates correspond to the missing document.

Abstract: A consumer electronics apparatus, such as a compact disk player installed and operated in a vehicle, includes resilient elements whose attenuation properties prevent shock and vibrations from being transmitted from a base or housing to a chassis or drive mechanism. The resonance frequency is made adjustable while the housing is closed, by adding or removing supplemental resilient elements. Alternatively, the resilience of individual resilient elements may be adjusted by way of a screw. These adjustments vary an effective resulting isolation resilience and thereby optimize reliability of the components. In another embodiment, a system of permanent magnets or electromagnets may be used together with the main resilient elements.

Abstract: A disc playing and controlling apparatus which includes a plurality of magazine type disc players. When a first disc player is operating, the apparatus controls the other disk players to find and load a disc holding the next song to be played. Before searching for the next song, the controller determines whether one player is already set in a standby position or whether the next song is located in the player currently being operated. If no player has been set for the next program, the apparatus reads the next selection from a program list and identifies which magazine contains the selected program based on a data map. The map stores each player number and magazine number in an one-to-one relation with the table of contents data for each song.

Abstract: An optical card of write-once type including a rectangular card-like substrate on which a number of tracks (62) are formed in parallel with each other. In each track, one or more data record sectors (65) are provided and at the same time, one or more alternative information record sectors (66) are provided. When data could not be recorded correctly in a desired data sector in a desired track, the same data is recorded again in an alternative data sector. Then, in an alternative information record sector in the desired track, there in recorded alternative information representing an address of the alternative data sector. The alternative information record sector can be made much smaller than the alternative data sector, so that user area can be utilized efficiently as compared with a known optical card in which one or more alternative data sectors are previously provided.

Abstract: The visibility of a laser beam emitted by a laser diode in a scanner is enhanced to facilitate aiming the laser beam at a symbol to be read. An aperture stop in an optical train has an increased dimension along a non-scan direction. The magnification of a focusing lens in the optical train is increased. Laser diode astigmatism is affirmatively used to enhance visibility. What results is an aiming spot (or aiming scan line) at a farther plane (d6) that is more visible to the user than the scanning spot at a closer plane (d3), at which closer plane the scanner is able to read a bar code.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the coding and the availability of a chip card, which is provided as memory storage in a programmable control system. During the initial operation of a chip card with a control system a coding process is performed. The coding process specifies the chip card to the control system and encodes the chip card. The chip card can only be copied after the coding process. However, the copy can only be used in the control system on which the original or master chip card was coded. In the event of a defect in the system hardware, a chip card may be used in a second control system so that the total system installation remains available. The second control system remains functionally operable with a chip card for a time-limited period if the code of the chip card does not coincide with the code of the control system.

Abstract: Tracks formed on an optical card loaded into a card holder are scanned so that ID information about a reference position on the card is read. This ID information may be used to correct an appraisal of where the card is loaded on the card holder. If the correction operation fails, then the optical head is moved in a direction transverse to the tracks to again perform the correction operation at another track.