Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for recognizing a two-dimensional code are disclosed. In an implementation, a method comprises: identifying, by an electronic device, a two-dimensional code, wherein the two-dimensional code comprises an image region in the center and a ring region surrounding the image region, wherein the ring region comprises a code region including a first code region and a second code region, a first spacing region, and a second spacing region, wherein the first spacing region and the second spacing region are arranged between the first code region and the second code region, determining values corresponding to a plurality of code elements in the code region, and recognizing, by the electronic device based on the values, first information corresponding to the two-dimensional code.

Abstract: A surface is laser-etched to convey a 2D machine-readable code pattern. Various strategies are detailed to minimize the etching time. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to reduce a path length traveled by the laser. Some strategies include modifying the code pattern to make it sub-optimal, i.e., making the code pattern a less-faithful approximation of an ideal code pattern. In some embodiments the etched surface is the surface of a plastic container, and the code pattern conveys information indicating the type of plastic of which the container is manufactured. A variety of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

Abstract: An inlay for a laminated transaction card may include a core layer including at least about 50% recycled polyethylene by weight. The inlay may include a first support layer adhered to a first surface of the core layer by a first adhesive layer positioned between the first support layer and the first surface of the core layer. A material of the first support layer may include one of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, or polyethylene terephthalate. The inlay may include a second support layer adhered to a second surface of the core layer by a second adhesive layer positioned between the second support layer and the second surface of the core layer. A material of the second support layer may include one of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate glycol, or polyethylene terephthalate.

Abstract: Printing a code on a flexible medical solution container includes providing a flexible medical solution container which is at least partially light transmissive, storing in a memory circuit a code comprising numbers and translating the code comprising numbers using a bar code symbology, the bar code symbology defining dark areas and light areas. The method includes applying a light-reflective ink to the container based on the bar code symbology, wherein the light-reflective ink is applied in areas defined by the dark areas, and applying a light-absorbing ink to the container based on the bar code symbology, wherein the light-absorbing ink is applied in areas defined by the light areas. The applied light-reflective ink and light-absorbing ink results in a code which represents a reversal of the dark and light areas defined in the bar code symbology.

Abstract: A system for utilizing an identification marker on a tool part for determining a dimension thereof. The system includes a reader device for reading a machine readable code, and an electronic device connected to the reader device. The electronic device has a processing circuitry that causes the system to detect with the reader device, an identification marker at a tool part, wherein the identification marker is a unique machine readable code read by the reader device, and the unique machine readable code of the identification marker, and obtain from the unique machine readable code, individual dimension information data including at least one individually measured dimension of the tool part measured when manufacturing the tool part. A method and a computer program product for utilizing an identification marker on a tool part to be used for determining a dimension of the tool part and to a tool part is also provided.

Abstract: A QR code according to an embodiment includes a code frame formed from a first frame and a second frame spaced a predetermined distance apart from the first frame inside the first frame; one or more position detection patterns arranged in a space formed by means of the interval between the first frame and the second frame; a data pattern in which a plurality of codes are recorded on the basis of information data formed from a plurality of first data cells and a plurality of second data cells arranged along the outer circumferential surface of the code frame in the space; and an image inserted into an image area formed inside the second frame.

Abstract: The disclosed technology provides enhanced financial statements such as credit statements that provide customized payment options to a customer that takes into account the total amount owed by the customer, and past payments made by the customer. The customized payment options are determined with the goal of providing more payment options that encourage financial health, while not overwhelming the customer with too many options or irrelevant options. The customized payment options can be displayed in an interactive user interface for paying a credit statement that can visually inform a user of the benefit of the respective payment options with respect to the impact of the respective payment option on the customer's financial health—at least as it pertains to a credit account for which the statement was issued.

Abstract: A method includes a first computer encoding input data into a sequence of two-dimensional barcodes, the first computer displaying an image of each of the two-dimensional barcodes on a display screen in sequential order, a second computer using an imaging device to capture each of the displayed images to obtain the sequence of two-dimensional barcodes, and the second computer decoding each of the two-dimensional barcodes to obtain the input data. Separately, a first computer may divide input data into a sequence of data segments, receiving a personal value from a second computer, and perform an iterated mathematical function that uses the personal value and the sequence of data segments to generate a sequence of parameter values. The first computer may then transmit the iterated function and the initial segment to the second computer through a first channel and transmit the parameter values to the second computer through a second channel.

Abstract: A card body for a chip card, having two metal layers, between which a nonconductive central layer is arranged, wherein a module opening for receive a chip module is already produced in one metal layer and in the aforementioned metal layer or can still be produced in a module opening zone, and two slots, one of which extends from the peripheral surface of the card body to the module opening or to the module opening zone in a metal layer and severs each of the metal layers at a respective height. The entry angle of the two slots into the metal layer does not equal 90° relative to the surface of the metal layer in each case, and the two slots have opposite inclinations relative to a surface normal of the surface of the metal layer.

Abstract: Devices for improving user-interface (UI) controls in an imaging device are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, such imaging devices include a housing having an internal cavity and a window where a flange portion extending around some portion of the window includes touch-enabled UI controls positioned on an exterior surface. On a correspondingly opposite (interior) surface of the flange portion there exists a printed circuit board (PCB) with touch-sensors that correspond to the UI controls. To increase the efficacy of the touch-controls, a spring element is positioned behind the PCB to bias the PCB towards the rear surface of the interior surface of the flange portion and reduce and/or eliminate an air gap between said surface and the sensor(s) and/or the PCB.

Abstract: A tag detection system comprising a source for producing an interrogation signal having a first frequency; a harmonic radar tag comprising: an antenna structure; a tunneling junction electrically and integrally coupled to the antenna; and wherein the harmonic radar tag when stimulated by the interrogation signal having the first frequency, and the harmonic radar tag produces a response signal at a second frequency different from the first frequency.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a wireless-tagged label issuing apparatus includes a conveying roller to convey the label that has a wireless tag, an antenna for communicating with the wireless tag of the label, a tag reader to read a tag identification from the wireless tag via the antenna, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to compare the read tag identification to previously read tag identifications, and execute a first operation on the label if the read tag identification matches a previously read tag identification and a second operation on the label if the read tag identification does not match a previously read tag identification. For example, the first operation may be physically disabling the wireless tag, printing a voiding image on the label, or routing the label to a particular destination for invalid labels or the like.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a vehicle grille configured to be mounted to a front of a vehicle body, wherein the vehicle grille comprises a grating structure through which air is receivable into the vehicle, wherein at least a portion of said grating structure is shaped as a scannable matrix structure forming a code pattern. The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle comprising such a vehicle grille. The present disclosure further relates to a data access system which comprises such a vehicle and a remote server containing data associated with said vehicle, said data being accessible by a camera-equipped communication device, such as a mobile phone, when scanning said scannable matrix structure.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for tracking and monitoring sets of assets in or on a container using RFID-RF tags associated with the assets. The system comprises a specimen holder bin or similar container and a wireless tag affixed to the specimen holder bin. The specimen bin holder is configured to hold a plurality of assets. The wireless tag comprises a radio frequency identifier (RFID) circuit, a radio frequency (RF) circuit, a processor, a memory storing an identifier (ID) associated with the RFID circuit, and an energy source electrically connected to the RFID circuit, the RF circuit, and the processor. The wireless tag is configured to broadcast the identifier associated with the RFID circuit responsive to an interrogation signal by one or more gateways associated with the system. In some embodiments, each asset of the plurality of assets additionally comprises an RFID tag.

Abstract: Combined use transaction cards are disclosed including preferably the functionality of being usable for conducting a financial transaction along with the additional functionality for activation or access to at least one other event. Many types of non-financial events are contemplated such as for access or entry, employee need, student need, and the like. Such cards preferably utilize electronically readable means as may be provided to such cards, such as including magnetic stripes, RFID transponders, OCR text, and one dimensional or two dimensional bar codes.

Abstract: An automated teller machine includes: a bundle storage unit into which a bundle of paper mediums are input and which separates the bundle of paper mediums into individual sheets and conveys the paper mediums individually; a paper medium alignment unit that aligns and conveys the paper mediums conveyed individually from the bundle storage unit; a discrimination unit that discriminates the aligned paper mediums conveyed individually from the paper medium alignment unit; a normal banknote temporary holding unit that temporarily holds normal banknotes discriminated in the discrimination unit and conveyed individually; and a rejected banknote temporary holding unit that temporarily holds rejected banknotes discriminated in the discrimination unit and conveyed individually.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to code scanning methods based on vehicle-mounted cameras. One example method includes collecting a first image by using a vehicle-mounted camera, parsing a target encoding pattern included in the first image, and when no parsing information is obtained, collecting, based on image data obtained by the vehicle-mounted camera, another image that is close to the first image in a time relationship for parsing to attempt to obtain parsing information in the target encoding pattern.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a smartcard inlay the method comprising: providing a dielectric sheet; depositing, on a first major surface of the dielectric sheet, an active matrix TFT array comprising at least one conductive layer; wherein the at least one conductive layer is deposited on regions of the dielectric sheet outside the active matrix TFT array to provide electrical connections of the inlay.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method for detecting an address block and barcode on a captured image of an item, and reading the detected barcode using connected component analysis. In one aspect, the method includes binarizing a captured image to generate a binarized image having pixel values, inverting the pixel values of the binarized image, processing the inverted pixel values, and filtering the processed image by area. The method may also include machine learning the processed image to cluster objects in the processed image into a plurality of groups using the filtered image, and determining a number of objects in each of the clustered groups by performing additional operations on the clustered objects to detect the address block. The method may also include selecting the group having the greatest number of objects as the address block, and extracting the selected address block.

Abstract: A casino system in a casino using a gaming chip to which an RFID tag storing identification information is attached, comprising a registration device for registering the identification information of the gaming chip to be used in the casino, and a database for storing a list of the identification information registered by the registration device. The list includes status information that indicates whether or not the gaming chip is usable, and the registration device makes the status information usable for the gaming chip that has already been registered.