Abstract: A system which includes an information transmitting element including flexible length of cable supporting an array of energy emitting elements of such sizes, shapes and spacings as to represent bar code markings, a carrier for the information transmitting element which is adapted to be mounted on a person or object, where its movement from one place to another requires control and where its admission to such places might be selectively denied, and a receiver element for detecting and determining the encoded information being transmitted.

Abstract: A number of bistable magnetic devices are dispersed in a scanning region of a checking object. Each bistable magnetic device is formed of a nonmagnetic material which undergoes a drastic flux reversal attributable to the Large Barkhausen effect when subjected in succession to first and second external magnetic fields of opposite directions. A processing apparatus comprises magnetic generators for generating magnetic fields of opposite directions, a transportation mechanism for moving the checking object at constant speed, and a coil for detecting magnetic pulses, which are generated as the bistable magnetic devices are subjected to the flux reversal, as changes of electromagnetic induction voltage. A detection signal for the scanning region detected by the apparatus is converted into a cipher code and then recorded in a code indicator section of the checking object.

Abstract: A smart card protection system is provided for protecting against unauthorized access of data contents on a smart card through human or electronic-machine tampering. The smart card protection system includes a smart card having an authorized password stored thereon for associated data and a smart card terminal to supply an entered password for accessing the data on the smart card. The smart card includes a comparator to compare the entered password to the stored password, and two counters: a fail counter and a delay counter. The fail counter keeps a fail count indicative of the number of times that the entered password fails to match the stored password. The fail counter is incremented when the entered password fails to match the stored password and decremented when the entered password successfully matches the stored password. The delay counter maintains a delay count that is incremented each time the comparator compares the entered password to the stored password regardless of a match.

Abstract: A system and method for simultaneously collecting serial number information reports from numerous colliding coded-radio-frequency identity tags. Each tag has a unique multi-digit serial number that is stored in non-volatile RAM. A reader transmits an ASCII coded "D" character on a carrier of about 900 MHz and a power illumination field having a frequency of about 1.6 Ghz. A one MHz tone is modulated on the 1.6 Ghz carrier as a timing clock for a microprocessor in each of the identity tags. Over a thousand such tags may be in the vicinity and each is powered-up and clocked by the 1.6 Ghz power illumination field. Each identity tag looks for the "D" interrogator modulated on the 900 MHz carrier, and each uses a digit of its serial number to time a response. Clear responses received by the reader are repeated for verification. If no verification or a wrong number is received by any identity tag, it uses a second digital together with the first to time out a more extended period for response.

Abstract: A programmable electronic provides security among multiple users, allows independent use by multiple users of different types, and is modularly adaptable to various applications. Security is provided by the automatic updating of a lock code if an inserted card's key code bears a predetermined relation to the stored lock code. The present invention allows multiple types of users to access a given lock without affecting lock codes associated with other types or invalidating the stored lock codes of other users of the same type. For example, in a hotel room lock, a maid's key will not change the code for a guest's key, and other maid's keys will still open a lock after a first maid has accessed the lock if their lock codes are stored in the lock. The present invention also provides an additional functions circuit which allows add-on functions to be attached to the basic circuit to fit the needs of a particular site.

Abstract: A scanning arrangement contained in a scanning device which is operative for repetitively scanning indicia having parts of different light reflectivity; for instance, such as a bar code symbol through the intermediary of a scanning light or laser beam projected by the scanning arrangement in the form of a scan line which traverses the indicia at high scanning speeds in order to enable the reading of the information contained therein.

Abstract: A number of bistable magnetic devices are dispersed in a scanning region of a checking object. Each bistable magnetic device is formed of a nonmagnetic material which undergoes a drastic flux reversal attributable to the Large Barkhausen effect when subjected in succession to first and second external magnetic fields of opposite directions. A processing apparatus comprises magnetic generators for generating magnetic fields of opposite directions, a transportation mechanism for moving the checking object at constant speed, and a coil for detecting magnetic pulses, which are generated as the bistable magnetic devices are subjected to the flux reversal, as changes of electromagnetic induction voltage. A detection signal for the scanning region detected by the apparatus is converted into a cipher code and then recorded in a code indicator section of the checking object.

Abstract: A contact type IC card includes a power supply terminal, a reset terminal and an input/output terminal connected to an external device, an input/output circuit for receiving data from and delivering data to an external device through the input/output terminal, a data processing circuit connected to the input/output circuit for processing data, a memory circuit connected to the data processing circuit for storing data, and an internal reset signal generator for latching a predetermined potential when source power is applied from the external device through the power supply terminal, generating an internal reset signal by using the latched potential to bring the circuits info reset states, and stopping generation of the internal reset signal to release the circuits from reset states when a reset release signal is input from the external device through the reset terminal.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading a bar code symbol is provide which includes a bar code scanner and a receiver. The scanner transmits an RF signal representation of the bar code symbol to the receiver that includes substantially less information than that originally present in the bar code, thus reducing the need for electrical power. The receiver reconstructs the original information of the bar code symbol from the RF signal. The scanner comprises an encoding element that converts a first signal representative of light reflected from the bar code symbol to a second signal representative only of bar-to-space and space-to-bar transitions of the bar code symbol. An RF transmitter within the scanner provides an RF signal from the second signal. The receiver comprises an RF receiving element adapted to receive the RF signal and reconstruct the first signal from the RF signal.

Abstract: An encoded symbol reader for reading two-dimensional encoded symbols which can calculate a magnification of an image of the two-dimensional symbol. The encoded symbol is comprised of a n.times.n matrix of cells. The encoded symbol reader senses an image formed by an optical system, and detect a size of the formed image. Then, a magnification of the image is calculated based on the size of the image, and a length of the cell of the encoded symbol and a number of the cells.

Abstract: A method for converting characters represented by a 16-bit character encoding standard or a numeric string into bar code symbols computes three values for the 16-bit code or numeric string. These three values are encoded into three bar code codes. Counts associated with the bar code codes are retrieved, along with character font data. Both the bar code symbols and the human-readable characters are printed on a bar code label. The printing apparatus includes a central processing unit for performing the above method, intercoupled with a bar code printer, memory, and secondary storage. A bar code reader similarly includes a central processing unit intercoupled with memory, secondary storage, and a bar code reader. This bar code reader scans the bar code symbols and decodes them into standard bar code codes. Groups of three codes are converted into three numeric values. The hexadecimal equivalent of these three numeric values is computed.

Abstract: The flex cable common to commercially available smart card readers and hybrid card readers is eliminated resulting in lower cost, longer lifetimes, and increased reliability. The flex cable is replaced by an assemblage of molded plastic piece parts which travel in the plane of the card movement and elevate along an axis normal to that plane. The assemblage comprises a collar which moves in the plane of card movement but in a manner to elevate a mating spring contact array carraige vertically with respect to that plane. The vertical movement of the carraige distorts spring contacts in a mating, fixed position spring contact array so that the spring contacts distort to achieve electrical connection to the contacts on the card.

Abstract: A remote wireless transaction system has a hand-held transmitter which contains a digital memory device storing information unique to the user. The transmitter has a keypad to allow the user to key-in a unique PIN number, this PIN number also being stored in the transmitter. If the keyed-in PIN number corresponds to the stored PIN number the transmitter transmits the stored, user-unique, information. The system also includes a receiver which is arranged to receive the transmitted information and to log that information in a receiver memory. If the receiver information correlates with a valid user the transaction is completed. Communication between the transmitter and the receiver is exclusively one-way.

Abstract: A reader for contactless data cards includes a printed circuit, contacts for establishing contact with a contact-type data card, and at least one drive coil for transmitting in contactless manner energy and data between the printed circuit and a data medium on the data card. The at least one drive coil forms a component of the printed circuit, and the printed circuit in turn includes a flexible portion which establishes an electrical connection to outside the reader for both the contacts and the drive coil, thereby reducing the height of the reader. A variety of carriage configurations may be provided to bring the drive coils and/of contacts into proximity with the card, or for bringing the card into proximity with the drive coils and/or contacts in order to avoid wear on the contacts and ensure a good electromagnetic coupling between the drive coils and the card when the card is of the contactless type.

Abstract: A system for decoding a bar code symbol receives a signal representative of the symbol and searches the signal in one dimension to locate two adjacent critical points corresponding to an element of the symbol. The system also computes a value representative of the signal energy between the two critical points and determines the width of the element in accordance with the value.A bar code symbol decoding system receives a signal representative of a bar code symbol having a plurality of characters, one of which is a checksum character. The system determines a first choice for each of the characters and a second choice for at least one of the characters from the signal. The system performs checksum analysis in accordance with the first choice for each of the characters. If that checksum analysis is not satisfied, then the system performs checksum analysis using the second choice.

Abstract: A bar code reader decodes a bar code symbol in a pixel image by transforming the data corresponding to the symbol along a first scan line, where the transformation comprises rotation and stretching. The reader generates a composite vector and a count vector from the transformed data. The reader then transforms (by rotating and stretching) another set of data corresponding to the symbol along a second scan line. The reader updates the composite and count vectors using the second set of transformed data. The reader then generates a one-dimensional composite signal from the composite and count vectors. The reader decodes the symbol by decoding the composite signal.

Abstract: The invention relates to chip cards. There is disclosed a chip card (12) with only two contacts intented both to information exchanges (instructions and data) between the card (12) and a card reader and to the power supply of the card (12). According to the invention, the contacts are preferably a clock contact (CLK) used to the synchronization of data and instructions, and a data input/output contact (I/O) used to the transmission of data and instructions from the reader to the card (12) and to the transmission of data from the card (12) to the reader. For the power supply, a full-wave rectifier (bridge of diodes) may be arranged between the two contacts (CLK;I/O). The invention also relates to the communication protocole which allows to use only two contacts (CLK;I/O) while having instructions similar to those of conventional chip cards (initialization of the card, address incrementation of memory cell, reading of the cell, writing, comparison of a confidential code).

Abstract: In a system for displaying prices in a retail store, improved rail arrangements permit improved accuracy in confirming the physical location of an improved display device on one such rail arrangement. A response from the device to a host, or central computer, indicates a particular position of the device on the rail arrangement.

Abstract: Optical scanning of bar code symbols in which light reflected from the scanned symbol is collected with stationary light collection optics and swept across an array of individual light detection elements (e.g., photodetectors). Detection circuitry determines which of the detection elements is receiving the incoming light beam at a given time, and produces an output signal based preferably only on the outputs of those detection elements. The selection of detection elements to be used in forming the output signal may be made by synchronizing the sampling of the detection elements with the scanning movement of the outgoing light beam. Alternatively, the selection may be based on the output level of the detection elements (e.g., by only using outputs that exceed a predetermined threshold).

Abstract: A symbol read device useful as a bar code reader, optical character reader or the like. A symbol bearing surface is illuminated by two different light sources that are distinguishable based on their respective wavelengths or modulated frequencies. A detector detects light reflected from the symbol surface and provides a detection signal indicative thereof. The detection signal is processed to recognize the symbol being read. In a multi-scan embodiment, an automatic gain control (AGC) circuit controls a level of detector signal to aid in recognition of the symbols being read.