Abstract: A process and equipment for safeguarding the operation of gambling machines with electronic cards in a manner that protects against counterfeiting and fraud. The microchip cards are numbered and a central computer stores at least the amount paid in for playing under the particular card number upon issuing the card. A card is inserted in a gambling machine, which has a read/write unit that compares the amount available for playing with the credit stored under the respective card number in the central computer before releasing the gambling machine for playing. Only if the two amounts match is the machine released for playing and the prevailing credit balance for the card is transmitted continuously during play to the central computer.

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 self-contained device for self-service delivery of electrical energy, comprising a plurality of terminals, each capable of being connected to an electrical appliance, and a central management unit, operable independently of the terminals. The central management unit serves to: (1) manage distribution of electricity from an electrical supply grid to each of the terminals, (2) manage interaction between a prepayment instrument and users of the terminals, and (3) manage connection of the terminals to the electrical supply grid for transmission of electricity therebetween for either a period of time or a quality of electricity, as determined in response to a signal from the prepayment instrument indicating prepayment by a user.

Abstract: A card system and method for accessing a public transit system that employs a card pre-encoded with trip data permitting a set number of trips on the transit system and a card processing unit to receive and process a card each time access to the transit system is desired. The card processing unit includes a time write head to record the time of current use on the card and a time read head to retrieve the time of last use from the card. A microprocessor computes the difference between the time of current use and the time of last use. A trip read head scans the encoded trip data to determine the number of trips remaining on the card and a trip write head is provided to write to the card to decrement the number of trips by a given amount after use. The trip write head and the time write head are employed only if the difference between the time of current use and the time of last use is greater than a preset period.

Abstract: A bar code scanning engine (34) is disposed in a housing (12) with a device (24, 26) which tracks the movement of the housing over a surface (22) displaying symbols such as bar codes and provides an integrated bar code reading and locating assembly, commonly known as a mouse (10). When the mouse is in proximity to the bar code on the surface over which it tracks, switches (18, 19) on the mouse are actuated and circuitry in the mouse associated with the device and with the scanning engine initiates scanning, and provide outputs representing the location of the mouse on the surface and the bar code. The circuitry may be adapted to enable bar code scanning only when the mouse is located at selected positions on the surface where bar codes are expected to be found. The entire mouse assembly may be lifted from the surface and operated in a manner similar to a tethered hand-held bar code scanner using switches (18), (19) and scanner engine (34).

Abstract: This invention relates to a credit card and security system to prevent use of credit cards, identification cards and the like by other than the assigned holder of the cards by inserting identifying information in electronic distorted form pertaining only to assigned holder, hidden within the card. The system provides for the person checking the validity of the card to see it undistorted and to examine the hidden information, to determine positively if the person presenting the card is the assigned holder of the card and decide if the card should be honored.

Abstract: Combining scan fragments of a bar code symbol. Each fragment is represented by a series of values, with each value representing the width of an element in the fragment. The alignment at which the fragments are combined is determined by shifting the alignment of the fragments over a range of positions, and determining for each position an index of the overall degree of similarity between the aligned values of the two fragments at that position. The fragments are combined at an alignment that produces a relatively larger index value (e.g., that maximizes the index). The index of overall similarity may be a correlation factor representing the degree of correlation, at each tested alignment, between the series of values representing each fragment. The index of overall similarity may alternately be the number of consecutive matching elements. At each position, the values in each series are compared and the number of consecutive values that match within a preselected tolerance is determined.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus equipped with a substrate supervisory device is contained in an air-conditioned chamber with a front door. The device has a library for storing a plurality of reticle cases with respective reticles therein, a bar code reader for reading respective bar codes of the reticle cases and shifting means for shifting the bar code reader for the reading. When an operator stores the cases in the library by opening the door of the chamber, the bar code reader is retreated to a predetermined position and the shifting means will not be activated for the operator's safety.

Abstract: An improved traveler's check issuable by a number of different institutions and substantially uniform in appearance. The traveler's check identifies on its face the individual customer to whom the check is issued. The individual identifying information includes a representation of the individual's portrait and signature and an account number, and appears on each traveler's check in a predetermined form and area. A system for issuing the improved traveler's checks includes: an identification imaging apparatus for recording the representation of the customer's portrait and signature, a central computer for storing recorded representations and customer account data, and a traveler's check dispenser through which checks may be issued upon proper request.

Abstract: Vehicles having an on-board device further have a communication device, a vehicle transceiver and an electronic purse in the form of a processor card. Pay stations are arranged at locations along a roadway. The pay stations implement a data exchange with a wireless communication device and debiting a use toll. A vehicle localization device is provided in addition to a communication device at the pay station. The vehicle localization device identifies the position of the vehicle just arriving based on a brief-duration optical signal output by the vehicle transceiver wherein the temporary identifier known from the communication protocol is allocated to the optical signal. The optical signal can be an infrared photoflash that is output on demand by the pay station. The vehicle localization device is an infrared-sensitive video camera that identifies the position based on the optical imaging of this vehicle with computer-controlled evaluation.

Abstract: A cash card dispensing and revaluing system having payment apparatus for receiving and validating payment operating in conjunction with a cash card dispensing assembly for storing a number of cash cards and for dispensing a cash card upon consumer request and payment of a predetermined payment amount. Additionally including in the system a cash card revaluing assembly for revaluing a cash card upon insertion of the card into the revaluing assembly in conjunction with insertion of payment into the payment apparatus. The payment apparatus includes currency accepting and validating systems such as bill validators or, alternatively, credit and debit card validators.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding a pixel image representative of a bar code symbol. A bar code symbol is scanned along a first scan line to determine a first set of candidate character values, each candidate character value of this first set having an error value associated therewith. If the scanning along the first scan line results in an unsuccessful reading of the bar code symbol, then the bar code symbol is scanned along a second differing scan line to determine a second set of candidate character values, each candidate character value of this second set having an error value associated therewith. Corresponding error values associated with the first and second sets of candidate character values are next compared. For each corresponding pair of candidate character values from the first and second sets, the candidate character value having the smallest associated error value is selected.

Abstract: A magnetic smartcard including a card base, an electric power source embedded in the card base which powers the magnetic smartcard, an at least partly ferromagnetic element embedded in the card base and arranged such that a portion of the ferromagnetic element is positioned at a location suitable for interfacing a magnetic card reader, a processor embedded in the card base which generates a modulated output corresponding to preselected card information and operative for updating the output in accordance with a preselected time schedule and an inductor operative to induce in the ferromagnetic element a modulated magnetic field corresponding to the modulated output.

Abstract: A bar code (14) on an object (12) is read a distance from the object by a television camera. The output signal of the camera is thresholded to obtain a binary signal indicative of the image information associated with at least one scan line. This binary signal is written into a FIFO storage device (28) at a rate corresponding to the rate at which the camera images the bar code. Once the binary signal is fully written into the FIFO storage device, the binary signal is read from the FIFO at a second, much slower rate for decoding by a bar code decoder (36). In this way, the image of the bar code can be obtained by a television camera which is capable of imaging the bar code at a distance, while the image information can be decoded by a bar code decoder that operates to perform decoding at a rate much slower than the rate at which the camera acquires information.

Abstract: A signal coupler for incorporating in a smartcard or a base device comprises an optocoupling arrangement for exchanging power or data signals between the demountable device and the base device, thereby eliminating problems associated with wear of metal contacts and allowing convenient manufacture.

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 defines 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. The read head is operative to float relative to the surface of the card and relative to the embossing on the card.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus provided with a reader for reading information for identifying an original document; a recording unit for recording the image of the original document on a recording medium; a selector for selecting a first mode or a second mode; and a controller for causing the recording unit to record the image only when the identifying information is read by the reading means if the first mode is selected, or causing the recording unit to record the image regardless of the reading of the identifying information if the second mode is selected.

Abstract: There is provided a system of detecting mark-sense indicia wherein the images of a light source and the region of sensitivity of a light sensor are substantially coaxial, coplanar, and coextensive throughout the working depth of field. This system is insensitive to the laminate and the diffusion effects. A light source is aimed at a beam splitter that diverts a portion of the light beam through optics that focus the light on a reflective target containing a bar code symbol to be scanned. The reflected beam is returned through the optics and the beam splitter, and a portion of the reflected beam is conducted to a light sensor. In this manner, the light path from the detector to the optical sensor is split twice by the beam splitter. The optics are configured so that the light beams that define the field of illumination and the region of sensitivity and which pass between the optics and the target are congruent, having identical optical axes and angles of divergence.

Abstract: A process in which by a bar code formed by bars are gaps located between them with different electromagnetic characteristics, an electromagnetic alternating field is produced and a measuring field variable by the bar code is detected. At lease one sensor is provided with a sensor core, an exciting coil subject to high frequency located thereon and in each case at least one sensor coil closely adjacent to the exciting coil. The bar code is formed by electrically conductive material bars placed on a carrier with gaps.

Abstract: Magnetic media containing data and method for data verification are disclosed. The data verification method utilizes the relative position of specific features of magnetic media signals, such as, peak zero crossings, the ratio of preselected amplitudes, the locii of preselected points along the signal, the RMS value of the waveform and the like. In the preferred embodiment, the ratio of the separation of adjacent pulses in the signal is employed. The deviation of the precise location of the placement of the peak points in the signal waveform is referred to as "jitter". This "jitter" is enhanced to provide a pattern of "jitter" or a magnetic "signature" that is random, nonreproducible and that can be used to positively identify a particular specimen of magnetic media and the associated data. The magnetic jitter pattern or security signature can be separate from or an integral part of the data recorded on the magnetic media.