Abstract: A credit card system includes a card having storage columns for recording first identification information, a generating unit for generating a check code from the first identification information and second identification information, a card reader/writer for reading information from and writing information on the card, a keyboard for entering the second identification information and a check code. A comparing unit compares the check code generated by the generating means with a check code entered by the keyboard or a check code recorded on the card, and a unit for indicating or displaying information representing that the check codes compared by the comparing unit do not agree with each other if the compared check codes do not agree with each other.

Abstract: A system for operating minibars in hotel rooms based on a plurality of individual minibars, one in each of the hotel rooms, each of which is equipped with means for reading an electronic card coded for each hotel guest or according to the credit card of a guest, thus enabling the guest to open the minibar, a central computer which receives information on each opening of the individual minibar, and which can be used to deny access to such minibar when a reason for this exists. The system can also comprise means for monitoring the cooling of each minibar. The main computer stores data on each individual access to the minibar by each guest and facilitates the presentation of a list of charges to the guest checking out from the hotel.

Abstract: Disclosed are an electronic identification system having remote automatic response capability comprising a wireless portable electronic apparatus (100) for data transmission and reception and a wireless automatic identification control apparatus (200) for data transmission and reception, and an automatic identification control method thereof. The portable electronic apparatus (100) comprises a first memory (130) for storing a user access code and password plus a specific code which are assigned to at least one automatic identification control apparatus (200), a receiver (140), a transmitter (150), and a controller (120) for generating an identification signal using the user access code if a received specific code matches one of a plurality of specific codes registered in the first memory (130).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating an X-dimension of a machine-readable symbol having a recognition pattern that includes elements comprising bars and spaces. The method and apparatus proceed from a boundary between two of the elements of the machine-readable symbol. The method and apparatus selects a plurality of sampling paths across a particular one of the elements at the boundary, and determines a median path length across the particular one of the elements out of each of the plurality of sampling paths. The selection of a plurality of sampling paths and the determination of the median path length are repeated for each of the elements of the recognition pattern. The method and apparatus then averages the median path length for all the elements to provide the estimated X-dimension of the machine-readable symbol.

Abstract: A card C having a predetermined thickness is guided by guide grooves formed in corresponding projecting portions of a card slot to enter. When the leading end of the card C is brought into contact with the lower edges of contact portions of a shutter member, the shutter member is pivoted about the front end sides of arm portions. A shutter plate arranged on the rear end side of the shutter member is moved upward to allow the card C having the predetermined thickness to pass deep. If a card C' having a thickness smaller than the predetermined thickness enters, a regulation portion projecting from the lower portion of the shutter plate of the shutter member is located lower than the bottom surface of a card passage. The leading end of the card C' having the smaller thickness is brought into contact with the regulation portion to prevent the card C' from entering deep.

Abstract: The reading and decoding of two-dimensional bar codes and other dataforms are simplified and field loading of different data character sets is enabled. Dynamic loading of new data character sets fully or partially superseding a factory installed default character set correlation listing is enabled by use of loadable correlation listings keyed to foreign language characters, symbols, words or phrases relevant to particular applications. The loadable correlation listings can be encoded into a two-dimensional bar code and loaded via a reading of the bar code by the bar code reader. Two or more correlation listings may be loaded into a bar code reader, with one of the correlation listings selected for decoding a particular bar code.

Abstract: A apparatus for reading film information provided in plural stages on an outer surface of a cartridge containing a film. The apparatus comprises a light source; a pocket including a main body having a space for containing the cartridge in the main body and a window for exposing the film information of the cartridge contained in the space to outside, and a support unit for movably supporting the main body in a direction of varying the stages of the film information; an actuator for moving the main body of the pocket; and a reading mechanism for detecting light emitted from the light source, and reflected at an area of the film information through the window. The film information such as bar codes provided in two or more stages on the outer surface of the cartridge can be automatically read by one sensor, so that labor saving and downsizing of the apparatus can be achieved.

Abstract: A low cost, compact embossed card reader for reading embossed characters on credit or debit cards and for integration into a combined magnetic character/magnetic stripe terminal. A low-profile housing forms a card path and provides a surface for mounting a removable read head. The housing includes an integrated card guide for guiding the embossed characters along a linear path adjacent the read head. The read head includes a plurality of pins mounted orthogonally to the card, and aligned so as to scan each of the embossed characters in parallel paths as the card moves relative to the read head. The pins move upwardly as they encounter an embossed character and open a normally closed switch formed by a printed circuit board and a plurality of leaf spring fingers. Improved data acquisition and decode methods for sampling the embossed character data and decoding the data to form an account number. The data acquisition method samples the embossed characters at a predetermined rate.

Abstract: The invention disclosed and claimed here is a multiple-merchant credit card authorization terminal ("CAT"). The CAT enables more than one merchant to input and obtain credit card authorization from a single CAT device. Likewise, transaction settlements may be handled for a single merchant or all of the merchants collectively at the same time. In the past, individual merchants had to use their own dedicated devices.

Abstract: A single width bar code exhibiting inherent self clocking characteristics is provided so as to be particularly useful in the identification of semiconductor wafers in very large scale integrated circuit manufacturing processes. The codes described herein are robust, reliable and highly readable even in the face of relatively high variations in scanning speed. The codes are also desirably dense in terms of character representations per linear centimeter, an important consideration in semiconductor manufacturing wherein space on the chips and the wafer is at a premium. Additionally, a preferred embodiment of the present invention exhibits a minimum number for the maximum number of spaces between adjacent bars in code symbol sequences.

Abstract: A print quality, see-through template determines if a hexagonal coded symbol area imprinted on a package falls within allowable limits. The template includes boundaries corresponding to a minimum allowable coded symbol areas and boundaries corresponding to a maximum allowable coded symbol areas. When placed on top of the coded symbol area of the package, it can be determined if the encoded symbol area falls within the bounds shown on the template. The template also includes alignment hexagons for lining up to orientation hexagons that exist on hexagonal code labels. Once these hexagons are lined up, a bull's eye center on the coded symbol area is compared to a dual-size, inverse-color bull's eye on the template, to ensure that the bull's eye meets the specified requirements of the hexagonal code.

Abstract: An optical information reading apparatus includes a two-dimensional image pickup apparatus having a number of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in a plane for capturing an image of optical information on a read object. The optical information reading apparatus detects a bar code contained in the captured information image and derives an area of each of bars and spaces of the bar code in the captured information image. The optical information reading apparatus recognizes and decodes the bar code using a ratio of the derived areas of the bars and the spaces of the bar code.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for calibrating a bar code scanner. The bar code scanner contains circuitry including a programmable read-only memory (PROM) which stores data affecting the operation of other circuitry in the bar code scanner. The operation of the bar code scanner can be optimized by being monitored by an adjustment circuit under the control of a computer, the adjustment circuit producing signals which change the data stored in the PROM. Among the aspects of the bar code scanner which can be affected are optimization of the output signal, optimization of the signal which causes the bar code symbol to be illuminated, and response of the bar code scanner to the lack of a bar code symbol to read.

Abstract: A wide bandwidth slope detector has a comparator with first and second time constant circuits coupled to first and second inputs thereof. Where one time constant is on the order of three times the other, the comparator will change state in response to the slopes of an input analog signal coupled to the time constant circuit. Feedback can be provided by a fixed resistor or by a tracking circuit. A smoothing or clipping circuit can be used to pre-process the input analog signals to eliminate noise therefrom. A bar code reading system combines first and second clipping circuits to smooth the highs and lows of the input signal, coupled to a slope detector. The tracking circuit can be used to provide a symmetrical hysteresis characteristic.

Abstract: Accessory apparatus for authenticating articles is used in conjunction with existing readers or scanners of articles bearing stored data, such as credit cards or identification cards. The accessory apparatus is disposed before, after, on, under, inside, or adjacent to existing reader apparatus, to have a view of the article whose data is to be read. Information in addition to the stored data is coded on the article in non-visible indicia and is detected by the accessory authenticating apparatus. This coded additional information may be related to identification data stored in the article by the article's normal storage mechanism, such as a magnetic stripe or an embedded memory IC chip. The additional information may be coded in various combinations of predetermined characteristics of light emitted by the article to be authenticated when the article is irradiated with non-visible light from the accessory apparatus.

Abstract: An apparatus (38) for storing data includes a storage media (14). Also included are a number of vertical bars (40), each providing a vertical edge (50) for defining columns (44), and a number of horizontal bars (42), each providing a horizontal edge (52) for defining rows (46). The vertical bars (40) and the horizontal bars (42) are printed on storage media (14). A number of data blocks (48) are formed, each data block (48) located in a row (46), column (44) position.

Abstract: A magnetic card reader apparatus includes a convey unit, a sensor, a buffer, a reading unit, a detection unit, and a calculation unit. The convey unit conveys an inserted prepaid card at a predetermined speed, and the prepaid card has a punch hole formed at a position corresponding to balance information. The sensor samples the punch hole of the prepaid card during conveying of the prepaid card at a predetermined time interval from a leading end side of the prepaid card. The buffer stores sampling data output from the sensor. The reading unit sequentially reads out the sampling data stored in the buffer from sampling data corresponding to a trailing end portion of the prepaid card. The detection unit detects data first representing a punch hole from the sampling data read out from the buffer. The calculation unit calculates a position of the punch hole on the basis of a detection output from the detection unit to detect the balance information of the prepaid card.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are used to detect and identify coded patterns on articles such as bank notes, in the form of magnetic regions (e.g., small areas printed with ink containing magnetic pigment). The apparatus includes a mechanism for passing a given article rapidly past a scanning location where a "write" magnetic head and its associated circuitry applies one or more recording signals (of a suitably high frequency) to these regions. The thus magnetized regions are then immediately sensed by a highly sensitive "read" head. The circuitry associated with the read head selectively amplifies the high frequency signals recorded on the magnetic regions. This further improves the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. It then compares the phases of the detected signals with a reference signal fed-forward from the write head circuitry. This further improves the accuracy of detecting the presence or absence of magnetized regions.

Abstract: A portable laser diode scanning head, aimable at each symbol to be read, emits and receives non-readily-visible laser light, and is equipped with a trigger-actuated aiming light arrangement for visually locating and tracking each symbol. A compact laser diode optical train and an optical folded path assembly, as well as an interchangeable component design and an integral window construction for the head also are disclosed. An embodiment that employs a stationary folding mirror mounted in fixed stationary relationship with a curved collecting mirror and a lightweight, movable scanning mirror is disclosed.

Abstract: A bar code scanning system including an optical scanner for scanning a target symbol, such as a bar code, and generating a corresponding electrical signal. The scanner housing may be mounted to a single finger ring support, which can be cylindrical in shape. The scanner housing may include a scanner activation switch, which may be of the voice recognition type. A transmitter for transmitting the analog or digitized electrical signal, either by wire or RF signal, to a receiver on the user's person is also included in the scanner housing. A decoder is preferably included within the receiver housing. The receiver housing may also have a display for displaying decoded data and a keyboard for inputting entry data. Signal processing circuitry for digitizing the electrical signals generated by the scanner may be included either in the scanner or receiver housing. The receiver housing also may include an RF transmitter for transmitting the decoded data and any entry data to a separate computer unit.