Abstract: A card system prevents contacts of a smart card from being scratched by contact members of a card reader to prevent the smart card from malfunctioning. The smart card system includes a smart card having contacts and a perforation hole therein, a card reader body formed at an upper surface thereof with an aperture, a contact frame disposed within the aperture and having a plurality of contact members attached thereto so as to contact the contacts, a slide protrusion inserted into the perforation hole of the smart card when the smart card reaches a reading position in the card reader, and a detect switch for detecting the insertion of the smart card. The smart card system prevents the contacts of the smart card from being damaged, so that a malfunction of the smart card can be prevented. The smart card system has a simple construction, so it can be easily manufactured at a low cost.

Abstract: A system for filling orders, such as prescriptions for patients, having a generally cylindrical storage area for holding packages in known locations. Each location has a unique (r,.theta.,Y) coordinate. The system also has a computer controlled device for picking packages from selected locations in the storage area. The picker can also be provided with a sensor for detecting rods which hold the packages and relaying the coordinates of the selected locations to the control system. The system may also include a conveyor and a transfer device from the storage area to the conveyor. The picking device deposits the picked packages in the transfer device which directs the packages into a tray on the conveyor. In one embodiment, the contents of each package is a single dosage of medicine.

Abstract: Prior methods of reading MaxiCode dataforms have been subject to reduced resolution image scaling and processing and speed constraints of Fourier transform computations. Described spatial domain data extraction methods provide bull's eye center location by T-sequence pixel pattern analysis, axis identification by moment analysis of data cell pairs, and integral width square wave analysis of illumination transitions to avoid reading-line cell fragmentation. The center and top of a MaxiCode are identified in high-resolution pixel data, without scaling reduction or Fourier type frequency domain processing. Data is extracted serially from rows of data cells by sampling along lines of pixels aligned by fragmentation analysis so as to traverse complete rows of data cells. Dynamic thresholding accurately defines illumination value transitions between adjacent linear groups of data cells, each group consisting of one or more data cells of the same reflectivity.

Abstract: A transponder system for monitoring and logging depository transactions in which bags loaded with funds to be deposited in a bank are put, one at a time, into a bank inlet hopper from which the bags drop through a chute into a vault. Incorporated in each bag is a tag in the form of a passive transponder adapted to receive a radio-frequency interrogation signal and to retransmit the signal as a coded signal defining a number identifying the bag. Installed in the vault is a transceiver that transmits the interrogation signal in a confined radiation field within the vault, the field being intercepted only when a tagged bag falls into the vault or is withdrawn from the vault. When the field is intercepted by a tagged bag, its transponder picks up the interrogation signal and transmits to the transceiver the coded signal identifying the bag.

Abstract: A electro-optical memory includes a substrate on which is printed (or otherwise inscribed) a complex symbol or "label" or "bar code" of a high density two-dimensional symbology. The bar code contains component symbols or "codewords" which are placed in row and column formation, with a variable number of codewords per row, and a variable number of rows. The symbology utilizes implicit bar code encoding scheme for implicit encoding the number of rows and the number of columns of codewords, as well as a predetermined amount of error correction. The symbology is capable of supporting a fixed number of bar code variants, with each variant having a predetermined number of rows and columns of codewords, and a predetermined error correction capability. For some codewords the implicit encoding scheme is combined with a gray coding scheme to reduce the inter-row codeword crosstalk.

Abstract: A method of encoding and decoding a transaction card with a block of image data digitally representing the features of a digital portrait of an authorized transaction card user is disclosed along with apparatus for performing the method. The encoding method partitions the digital portrait of the transaction card user into feature blocks. Each feature block is compared against a library of like feature blocks to determine the best match with a pair of library feature blocks. The library's feature blocks are derived from a plurality of portraits taken from the general population. Each library feature block is represented (addressed for access) by a code-vector in a codebook.

Abstract: A self-propelled container handling apparatus handles a container in a container yard. The container handling apparatus reads an identification code borne on the container and senses a position of the container to be handled. On the basis of the container identification code read by the container handling apparatus and the container position sensed by the container handling apparatus, the inventory data for the containers stored in the container yard are updated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for decoding bar code symbols using an analysis of the ratios of the module size for the bars and spaces of the bar code. The invention is applicable to any bar code having one or more nominal widths in the bars and spaces, and is particularly useful in bar codes having multiples widths in the specification for the bar code and in situations where the bar code signal has a low signal-to-noise ratio, or is degraded because of a damaged, smudged, or dirty bar code, or where the bar code is read at less than the optimum angle. The invention identifies mis-decoded characters and uses adaptive techniques to decode characters previously non-decodable or mis-decoded by standard methods, thereby improving the decode rate as compared to prior techniques. The decoding rate is improved without having to re-scan the bar code for a new signal, thereby making the invention particularly useful for high-speed or one-pass decoding operations.

Abstract: A personnel dosimetry method and system wherein the identity of a radiation field mixture is determined by using the correlation between two ratios of the responses of two pairs of three TL elements that are filtered to respond differently to the mixed radiation field. Also described is a calibration methodology which links the response of a dosimeter to a variety of different radiation fields calibrated by a standardization agency to the response of the dosimeter to a local and uncalibrated reference source by definition of a local reference of generic unit.

Abstract: Nuclear spectroscopy method and apparatus for the stabilization of an energy spectrum, made from a signal, emitted by a radiation detector, and containing nuclear events, represented by pulses, whose amplitude is a measure of the energy of the particles, such as gamma rays, collected by the detector, the spectrum including at least a first reference energy peak coming from an ancillary nuclear source, wherein the method comprises: detecting the radiation under analysis by two detectors between which is placed the ancillary source; establishing at least one coincident spectrum corresponding to pairs of events simultaneously detected in both detectors and originating from the ancillary source; and stabilizing the coincident spectrum by using one energy peak of said spectrum as said first reference energy peak.

Abstract: The invention relates to a coaxial cable for use as an ionization chamber with an inner signal electrode (1) and an outer high-voltage electrode (2), surrounding the latter, which are held at a distance from each other by an insulator (3). The insulator (3) contains as an integral part a secreening electrode (4) which prevents leakage currents from flowing from the high-voltage electrode (2) to the signal electrode (1).

Abstract: The cutting horizon for mining machines, such as coal ploughs and roll loaders, in particular the position of the coal-rock interlayer, can be determined with the aid of light signals of selected wavelengths at reflection layers, at least one sensor head guiding iding dragging along the floor and having at least one optical waveguide bundle constructed as measured-value pickup and guided in a passage sealed with a crystal window being arranged on the mining machine and a transmitted and receving station being arranged on the machine body. For clear identification of the carbon-rock interlayer the passage (6) receiving the optical waveguide bundles (5,5') extends in the exit of the sensor head (3) at an angle of 30.degree. and the lower surface (13) of the crystal window (7) extends parallel to the floor (2).

Abstract: The invention is a method of evaluating a sample of an underground formation such as drill cuttings to determine the producibility of any hydrocarbons present in the formation by solvating a sample in a polar solvent which will solvate asphaltenes, solvating the sample in an aliphatic solvent which will solvate most crude fractions without solvating asphaltenes, quantitatively measuring the emission fluorescence at a wavelength below 400 nm of both solvated samples at an excitation wavelength at which most petroleum compounds fluoresce, and determining the producibility of any hydrocarbon present in the sample by comparing the emission fluorescence of the two samples to previous correlations made between fluorescence and known producibility.

Abstract: A recording medium magazine for an electron microscope feeds recording media to a recording position at which a recording medium is exposed to an electron beam which has passed thorugh a sample in an electron microscope. The recording medium magazine comprises a holder accommodating device for holding a plurality of holders which are permeable to an electron beam and each of which houses a single stimulable phosphor sheet serving as the recording medium so that the stimulable phosphor sheet can be taken out. A holder feed-in and feed-out device feeds the holders into and out of the holder accommodating device. A movement device moves the holder accommodating device with respect to the holder feed-in and feed-out device until a holder held in the holder accommodating device is associated with the holder feed-in and feed-out device.

Abstract: Apparatus for scan-stimulating a transparent image-storage phosphor to recover a latent image previously formed therein by, for example, an imagewise exposure to x-radiation. Such apparatus includes a source of stimulating radiation and optical apparatus for causing the stimulating radiation to appear (to the storage phosphor) to diverge from the same position in space as the source (x-ray) used to form the latent image in the phosphor. By scanning the phosphor with stimulating radiation propagating along the same path as that traversed by the imagewise-exposing radiation, the recovered image is significantly sharper than prior art techniques.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for detecting and storing for later readout the impingement of certain nuclear particles utilizing a particle detector system having a large area particle detector including a thin or thick film of electron trapping material is disclosed, in which, upon impingement or detection of a nuclear particle, electrons contained in the electron trapping material jump to a higher energy level and a luminescence of a predetermined wavelength is given off by the large area particle detector. The detector may later be subjected to infrared or near-infrared pulsed radiation which will cause the release of photon luminescence of a predetermined wavelength at a position and intensity corresponding to the impinged particles, which can be detected by a suitable sensor and analyzed by a microcomputer. Particle detectors of area of at least 100 cm.sup.2 are disclosed.

Abstract: A fast atomic line filter capable of operating at speeds and quantum efficiencies greatly in excess of prior art atomic line filters. Signal light excites to an intermediate energy level the atoms of a contained vapor. A pump beam further excited these atoms to a higher Rydberg level. Simultaneously the atoms are subjected to an electric field that Stark splits the Rydberg level and ionizes very quickly the doubly excited atoms. The resulting ions or electrons are then detected with near unity quantum efficiency by a detector sensitive to either ions or electrons. By directly detecting the resulting ions or electrons the fast atomic line filter has an inherently higher quantum efficiency and much greater speed than prior art ALF's which must use photosensitive detectors to detect fluorescence.

Abstract: A method for detecting a thinned out portion on the inner surface or the outer surface of a pipe, comprising heating or cooling a pipe to be tested from the outer surface or the inner surface thereof so that a difference in temperature is produced between two portions of the outer surface or the inner surface of the pipe corresponding to a thinned out portion and a normal portion of the inner surface or the outer surface of the pipe; shooting the outer surface or the inner surface of the pipe by means of a thermal imaging system to obtain a thermal image of the difference in temperature; and then calculating a differential value of a temperature distribution of the thermal image of the difference in temperature on a line passing the highest temperature point or the lowest temperature point in the thermal image of the difference in temperature.

Abstract: A pyroelectric sensor senses the infrared rays radiated from the human body and outputs the detected infrared rays as an electric signal. It detects the trespass of somebody on a room and is used for the prevention of crimes and the like. The pyroelectric sensor includes a substrate, an element-pair disposed on the surface of the substrate and an amplification circuit for amplifying the current signals output from the element-pair. The substrate is composed of a material having a thermal conductivity as low as not more than 0.04 cal/cm sec.degree. C. so as to prevent the heat from being released through the substrate. A hole is formed in the substrate. The amplification circuit amplifies the current signals of the element-pair, thereby dispensing with the impedance transformation which is inevitable in the prior art. Thus, the sensitivity of detection is improved and the manufacture of the sensor is facilitated.

Abstract: A radiation image read-out apparatus comprises a sheet holding device for holding an image-recorded stimulable phosphor sheet on a cylindrical surface, and a spinner provided with a deflection mirror for reflecting stimulating rays coming from a semi-transparent mirror to the stimulable phosphor sheet, and a condensing lens for converging the reflected stimulating rays on the stimulable phosphor sheet. The spinner rotates the deflection mirror and the condensing lens to scan the stimulating rays in a main scanning direction on the stimulable phosphor sheet, and the sheet holding device is moved normal to the main scanning direction. A detection lens converges light emitted by the stimulable phosphor sheet upon exposure to the stimulating rays, passing through the condensing lens and coming from the semi-transparent mirror.