Abstract: A high speed system for embedding antenna wire within a non-conductive (e.g. plastic) sheet on which electronic chips are mounted for manufacturing a plurality of smart cards, or the like. The antenna wire is installed in the non-conductive sheet by an ultrasonic actuator that is moved up and down relative to the sheet. The movement of the actuator relative to the substrate is controlled by the interaction between a stationary voicecoil magnet and a voicecoil that is coupled to the ultrasonic actuator and moveable with the slide assembly. Antenna wire is fed to the ultrasonic actuator from an antenna wire dispensing spool via an idler assembly. The idler assembly includes an encoder which is responsive to an increase in tension in the antenna wire feed line. Depending upon the output of the encoder, the speed and rotation of the wire dispensing spool is controlled until the tension in the antenna wire feed line is eliminated.

Abstract: A graphical code reader is disclosed. The graphical code reader includes control circuitry for the graphical code reader and a multi-functional optical element in electronic communication with the control circuitry. The multi-functional optical element includes a support structure and a monolithic imaging lens and target generating mechanism operably connected to the support structure. The imaging lens and target generating mechanism includes a lens and targeting structures for generating converging offset beams to feedback proper target distance. Laser diodes are positioned by the support structure such that laser light from the diodes is directed through the targeting structures to generate the converging offset beams. An imaging board is connected to the support structure. An imager is mounted to the imaging board and positioned to obtain an image from the lens.

Abstract: There is provided a returnable container physical distribution system adapted to the information society and, more particularly, a returnable container physical distribution system is provided in which IC cards are attached to returnable containers for easier connection with the internet to manage the returnable containers transported between a producer, a wholesaler and/or warehouse and a retailer more efficiently.

Abstract: A sales incentive system utilizing a portable handheld optical code reader for use by a consumer for scanning bar code symbols corresponding to product items to be purchased, including a memory for storing symbol data of items scanned by the reader a computer receives the stored data associated with the scanned items from the memory of the reader, and selectively generates coupon information based upon sales offers for specific products currently available based upon an analysis of the stored data by the computer. A printer may be coupled to the computer for printing at the consumer's location a set of coupons corresponding to the coupon information transferred from the computer to the consumer's location.

Abstract: A telephone calling card includes a planar card member with a scratch-off label positioned on a surface of the planar card member. The scratch-off label includes a base label having an opaque, releasable film layer and a PIN printed on the opaque, releasable film layer. A scratch-off cover label is secured on the base label and has a scratch-off layer that covers the PIN to obscure from viewing the PIN. Upon application of a peeling force to remove the scratch-off cover label, the opaque, releasable film layer is removed and hides the printed PIN from viewing via the backside of the opaque, releasable film layer. In one aspect of the present invention, the scratch-off cover label is folded over the base label.

Abstract: The interactive authentication system allows a consumer to interact with a base station, such as broadcast media (e.g., television and radio) or PC, to receive coupons, special sales offers, and other information with an electronic card. The electronic card can also be used to transmit a signal that can be received by the base station to perform a wide variety of tasks. These tasks can include launching an application, authenticating a user at a website, and completing a sales transaction at a website (e.g., by filling out a form automatically). The interaction between the base station and the electronic card is accomplished by using the conventional sound system in the base station so that a special reader hardware need not be installed to interact with the electronic card. The user is equipped with an electronic card that can receive and transmit data via sound waves. In the various embodiments, the sound waves can be audible or ultrasonic (which can be slightly audible to some groups of people).

Abstract: A communication method of an IC card reader/writer which transmits a telegraphic message from a host device to an IC card or from said IC card to said host device is disclosed. The host device divides the data into blocks, each of which is of a size smaller than the capacity of a memory device equipped in said IC card reader/writer to transmit said data to IC card reader/writer, and attaches a code to each of said data blocks to indicate whether or not the block is the final data block.

Abstract: An automatic transaction system is provided which is capable of easily transmitting money between a payer or a recipient even if the recipient has no account in a financial institution. The automatic transaction system includes an automatic teller machine (ATM), a terminal, and a connecting device. The automatic transaction system is made up of a storing section, an obtaining section, and a communicating unit. The connecting device has a destination designating section. The terminal has a recognizing unit, an inputting section, and a communicating section.

Abstract: A high speed system for embedding antenna wire within a non-conductive (e.g. plastic) sheet on which electronic chips are mounted for manufacturing a plurality of smart cards, or the like. The antenna wire is installed in the non-conductive sheet by an ultrasonic actuator that is moved up and down relative to the sheet. The movement of the actuator relative to the substrate is controlled by the interaction between a stationary voicecoil magnet and a voicecoil that is coupled to the ultrasonic actuator and moveable with the slide assembly. Antenna wire is fed to the ultrasonic actuator from an antenna wire dispensing spool via an idler assembly. The idler assembly includes an encoder which is responsive to an increase in tension in the antenna wire feed line. Depending upon the output of the encoder, the speed and rotation of the wire dispensing spool is controlled until the tension in the antenna wire feed line is eliminated.

Abstract: An automated photofinishing system and method for delivering photographic-based products such as prints to a customer includes a minilab that is adapted to receive instructions describing a customer order and specifically, the type and quantity of photographic-based products desired by the customer. The minilab further includes a UPC interface for printing UPC labels having UPC codes thereon that correspond to the type and quantity of the product produced. The UPC codes can correspond to multiple products produced in the same order or a single product having multiple quantity. The UPC code provides a link to a retailer's point-of-sale system.

Abstract: An animal tag having a keeper portion and a clear plastic case or panel through which a barcode can be read, with a pocket in which a barcode label is sealed. The barcode label has on it a barcode viewable through a wall of the case. The label is preferably self-supporting and may carry an RFID chip.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for performing periodic correction of metrology data. At least one semiconductor wafer is processed. Metrology data from the processed semiconductor wafer is acquired. At least one test wafer is processed. Test wafer metrology data from the processed test wafer is acquired. A test wafer metrology calibration process is performed upon the acquired metrology data using the acquired test wafer metrology data to produce a calibrated metrology data.

Abstract: A portable data backup device. The device has a flash memory reader to read digital data from a flash memory card, an input unit for producing a control signal, a backup unit for storing digital data, and a control unit coupled to the input unit. The device can read digital data from the flash memory card and store it to the backup unit after receiving the control signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data input device suitable for inputting data to electronic processing means. The data input device is configured to produce an output in response to a mechanical interaction and may be reconfigured into two operational configurations. In a first flexible configuration the device may be bent or flexed about a first axis, and in a second rigid configuration the data input device is substantially rigid such that bending or flexing of the device about the first axis is inhibited.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a manufacturing process of a photoelectric conversion apparatus, comprising putting a mark for controlling the manufacturing process in a peripheral region on a surface of a transparent substrate or in that region of a side surface of the transparent substrate, which is not irradiated with the laser beam used for the laser-scribing of each of a transparent electrode layer, a semiconductor layer and a reverse electrode layer, the mark being read in the subsequent process and the subsequent process being controlled by utilizing the mark thus read.

Abstract: A coupling antenna which includes a plurality of turns in series located on a planar support (14) formed by an insulating dielectric substrate. The antenna includes one or several sets of at least one turn (16) located on the planar support, mounted in series, at least one of the sets consisting of at least two spires (16,22) in series superposed along an axis perpendicular to the plane of the support and separated by an insulating strip (20) of dielectric ink, thereby resulting in a high inductance value. The invention also concerns the method for making such an antenna and the use of the antenna in a contactless smart card.

Abstract: An international postal address validation system is described. The system defines a grammar for the encoding of all required address fields (within an address) for a given country, so that the system can determine whether all address fields required for a country are present for a given international postal address. More particularly, the system stores information about: (1) Required address fields (i.e., metadata describing address fields and data that must be present in all addresses for a country), for error checking; (2) Address languages, for normalization; and (3) Address data, for validation. By providing a grammar that encodes information about the required address fields for a given country, and that takes into account the variety of different languages and character encodings that an address may appear in, the system provides international postal address validation even though certain addresses require application of country-specific requirements.

Abstract: A backlit display apparatus illuminates a film for displaying one or more images. The film has a series of frames and at least one mark printed on it corresponding to each frame. The marks provide information representative of frame position relative to the film or otherwise identifying the image displayed by the frame when illuminated. A light source, positioned behind the film relative to an intended viewer in front of the film, illuminates the frames. A detector detects the marks printed on the film as the film is advanced by a motor. An encoder associated with the motor detects the position of the frames as a function of the angular position of the motor when each mark on the film is detected. In response, the encoder generates a position signal representative of the detected positions of the frames. A processor controls the motor in response to the position signal to advance the film so that a selected frame is within the desired viewing area for a predetermined interval of time.

Abstract: A memory array includes a plurality of storage cells (10) and a selection device (14) which selects a storage cell (10) for physical access due to a logical address (23) supplied via an address bus (20). The selection device (14) includes a scrambling device (15) which allocates a storage cell (10) in the memory array in predictable fashion by scrambling to a logical address (23) transmitted to one of the selection devices (14), the cell then being physically accessed.

Abstract: A system for providing a user with prerecorded audio/visual information on a display unit, the system comprising a unit including an audio/visual display play mechanism; means for detecting the presence of a user within the vicinity of the unit; a library of stored audio/visual clips; an auto-ID reader, such as a bar code reader for indicating which of the stored audio/visual clips to use; and means for playing the clip to attract the attention of the user by using the audio/visual play mechanism.