Abstract: A bar code reader includes an image capture means for storing a two dimensional image in memory, which stored image may include a bar code symbol within the field of view of said image. The present bar code reader further includes method and apparatus for determining the location and orientation of said bar code symbol within the field of view of said image, and then filtering said located and oriented bar code symbol along an axis perpendicular to said detected orientation. Thereafter, the filtered bar code symbol is scanned and applied to a decoder to produce a decoded bar code output.

Abstract: An adapter having female contacts (24) is inserted into a slot provided in an electronic apparatus. The adapter includes a memory card (20) permanently connected to the female contacts, and an opening for receiving an IC card (30). Alternatively, the adapter (80) may use a inductive coil (84) and a circuit unit (83) to interface with a non-contact IC card (50). The latter adapter may include a keyboard (85), display (86), and power supply (87).

Abstract: A laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols in which the "dead zone" is minimized by appropriate positioning and size of the optical components. The vertical height (non-scan direction) of the collecting mirror is minimized, while the horizontal width (scan direction) is increased proportionally, thereby collecting less specular reflected light. The optical components are mounted on a single printed circuit board so that the optical paths are angularly offset for minimizing the specular component, while maintaining an optically-aligned relationship. The printed circuit board may be mounted in hand held laser scanning head having a single exit window.

Abstract: A mailing piece comprising the usual envelope enclosing a legible text. To induce the recipient to open the envelope and read the text, the envelope has a window (18) at which there is a manually operable actuator for a device which generates an audible message.

Abstract: A card issuing apparatus comprising a convey path for a card, a conveying section for moving the card along the convey path, a magnetic card reading/writing device and a thermal printer which are arranged on the convey path and sequentially subject the card to magnetical recording and printing, respectively. The card issuing apparatus further comprises a main processor connected to receive boarding information, for converting the boarding information into control data for the magnetical recording and the printing, a memory section for storing the control data supplied from the main processor, and a sub-processor for causing each of the magnetic card reading/writing device and the thermal printer to process the card according to corresponding control data stored in the memory section while the card passes through the magnetic card reading/writing device and the thermal printer.

Abstract: A hand-held processing system wherein a peripheral module may receive therein a computer processor basic module of standardized construction, with a user-immune real-time multi-tasking operating system. Advantageously the peripheral module or computer processor module may include a touch screen or other highly versatile and compact data input/output device adaptable to graphical and/or other input/output modes suitable for different applications, languages and the like.

Abstract: A system for converting analog bar code signals from the photo detector of a bar code reader or scanner into pulses occurring in time in correspondence with the spacing of the edges of the bars of the code which has a differentiator circuit and a circuit for integrating in time the differentiated signal to produce a second signal lower in amplitude and delayed with respect to the differentiated signal. A comparator compares the differentiated signal and the integrated signal. The output of the comparator is a train of pulses having edges occurring when the differentiated signal and integrated signal are in a certain amplitude relationship (i.e., approximately equal to each other). The peaks of the differentiated bar code signal occur in coincidence with the scanning of the edges of the bar code. The integrated signal is delayed by a fixed time delay.

Abstract: A method for recovering lost or unavailable images in an image based document processing system. Images of documents having an ordered relationship are captured and stored while the documents are sorted by a document processor into respective pockets based on data read from the documents during sorting. If images are lost or unavailable after sorting, it would be very time consuming to collect the corresponding documents from the pockets and arrange them back into their original order for a re-pass by the document processor. This problem is solved by re-passing the documents without reordering, while using previously recorded document identification and sequence data derived during the first pass on the document processor, to electronically reestablish the original ordered relationship for the document images captured on re-pass when they are stored.

Abstract: In a non-contact IC card based on an electromagnetic induction system, N small thin-film coils formed by thin-film technology are arranged to perform N-bit parallel data transfer at an increased data transfer rate. Each thin-film coil may be constructed with a pot core to solve a problem relating to errors in positioning the card relative to a terminal unit and thereby improving the reliability of data transfer. Shielding walls may be provided between the adjacent thin-film coils to prevent interference therebetween. The N thin-film coils are integrally formed as a thin-film coil module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for on-line evaluation of bar code symbol quality is disclosed in which bar code decoding and evaluation functions are integrated within a single unit. The integration of the bar code decoding and evaluation functions results in significantly more conclusive analysis of the quality of the bar code symbols as the analysis methodology and decoding process utilize a common scanning device. Thus, the ambiguities associated with hardware differernces between the decoding apparatus and stand alone bar code verifiers in evaluating the quality of the bar code symbols associated with conventional evaluation techniques are eliminated.

Abstract: A bar code reading apparatus includes a bar code reader for generating, in a single operation, plural pieces of bar block data corresponding to a bar code having a number of digits which is a predetermined standard value, for example, 8 or 13. A detector detects the numbers of digits in each piece of bar block data generated by the bar code reader 11. A four digit memory and a six digit memory are used to store bar block data having four digits and six digits, respectively. A comparator detects whether or not the four digit memory and six digit memory each store bar block data. Each piece of bar block data output from the bar code reader 11 is stored in either the four digit memory or the six digit memory depending upon the number of digits detected by the digit detector. If the comparator determines that bar block data is stored in both the four digit memory and the six digit memory, then it is determined that the bar code reading operation is erroneous.

Abstract: A moving coil, linear positioning transducer actuator suitable for optical recording and playback devices is constructed by forming the actuator frame, magnetic pole pieces and the magnetic core of the moving coil from a single piece of ferrous material and wherein the path of the moving coil and transducer are substantially collinear. The transducer is supported by parallel rails which are mounted to the frame.

Abstract: A hand scanner intended for optically reading a bar code on an item of goods and therewith produce an electric signal which corresponds to the read bar code. The invention is characterized in that the hand scanner (1) is provided with one or more permanent magnets (3, 4) in the vicinity of its optical bar-code reading device.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a compact disc pickup drive mechanism which eliminates any alignment problems between a drive screw, a drive motor and a supporting frame. The drive mechanism comprises a drive screw having one end rotationally secured to a portion of the supporting frame. The drive screw engages a threaded portion of the pickup carriage so that rotation of the drive screw moves the carriage linearly with respect to the frame. The other end of the drive screw is directly coupled to the shaft of the motor. The shaft of the motor is rotatably supported in the frame. The housing of the motor is not directly connected to the frame so that the drive screw will automatically align with respect to the frame.

Abstract: An optical pickup guide mechanism for guiding the optical pickup of an optical disk player is capable of correctly guiding the optical pickup regardless of the position of the optical pickup relative to the guide rails of the optical pickup guide mechanism. The optical pickup guide mechanism comprises a fixed guide rail, a movable guide rail, and a holding mechanism capable of holding the movable guide rail constantly in parallel to the fixed guide rail and of resiliently biasing the movable guide rail toward the fixed guide rail so that the movable guide rail can be translated. The movable rail is held always in parallel to the fixed guide rail regardless of the position of the optical pickup relative to the fixed guide rail and the movable guide rail and, consequently, the optical pickup can be guided for smooth movement radially to the center of the optical disk loaded on the optical disk player in a plane parallel to the optical disk, so that the optical pickup is able to function satisfactorily.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium includes a truth determining code for determining whether the medium is authentic. The truth determining code is indicated by a magnetic polarity at at least an edge of the medium. A method of determining whether the medium is authentic comprises the steps of detecting a magnetic polarity at an edge of the magnetic recording medium, and collating a combination of the magnetic polarity with a proper combination of the magnetic polarity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of authenticating an object by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, the method being characterized in that at least one authenticating substance is added to the object, said substance having an EPR peak whose width is not greater than about 1.5 gauss, with the spectroscopy being performed in a static field of an amplitude such that the substance has a resonance frequency in the radio-frequency domain, and with the width of the EPR peak of the substance being used as a criterion for discrimination.

Abstract: A self-service sales system for large containers such as pet food bags and the like includes a fixture having a plurality of container or bag shelves. A price channel positioned at each of the shelves contains product identification and marketing information. In addition, a plurality of Universal Product Code (UPC) symbol pads are fixed to the price channels. The symbol pads are attached by an adhesive coated foam strip. The pad contains a plurality of removable sheets, each of which are imprinted with a product description and UPC code. The purchaser may remove a sheet corresponding to each product to be purchased. The sheets are taken to the checkout counter where the UPC code is read. After payment for the product, the retailer retrieves the product for the customer.

Abstract: An image-based transaction processing system which captures and stores images of debit and credit transaction documents, while also extracting document data for storage in a computer data base. The computer processes the extracted document data to identify out-of-balance transactions. The document images of an out-of-balance transaction are sent to a balancing workstation which provides a multi-window display for controllably displaying the transaction in a manner which permits the cause of the out-of-balance condition to be readily determined and corrected. The multi-window display includes windows for displaying selected images of debit and credit documents as well as windows for displaying credit and debit amounts and the out-of-balance amount of the transaction. A dialogue window is additionally provided for dialoguing with the computer.

Abstract: An automatic apparatus and method for face examination and fare adjustment processing in which a monetary value of a money card or other fare card inserted from an insertion port for adjustment purposes according to the instruction on the display unit is read by a read head, a new monetary value is calculated by a CPU by subtracting a monetary value corresponding to an amount to be adjusted from the read monetary value, magnetic information corresponding to the calculated new monetary value is updated and recorded on the money card by a write head, the money card on a convey path is ejected from an ejection port by a conveyor belt after the magnetic information is recorded, and a gate is opened to allow passage of a person who inserted the money card. Since a passenger does not insert small change or the like, fare adjustment processing can be performed at the same entrance and exit gates at which such cards are normally used within a short period of time, and efficient examination processing is realized.