Abstract: A hand held bar code reader or scanner includes a universal locking cable connector assembly attaching a signal cable to the handle of the scanner. Signals and/or power to and from the scanner are carried by the signal cable. The signal cable is removably connected to a connector recessed in the handle of the scanner. The signal cable includes (i) a connector member attached to a terminal end thereof and engagable with the connector of the scanner handle and (ii) a collar adjacent the connector. A plastic retaining member is positionable over the collar and includes an internal stepped bore forming a collar at one end of the retaining member for engaging the collar portion of the signal cable within the bore. A manually lockable bayonet or threaded portion of the retaining member is formed at an opposite end and cooperates with an internal surface of the scanner for securing the retaining member to the housing.

Abstract: A bar code is scanned to generate a signal which is representative of the bar code and contains a series of maxima and minima. The signal is sampled to detect the maxima and minima corresponding to the encoded information of the bar code. The detected maxima are compared with an upper threshold value while the detected minima are compared with a lower threshold value. For each detected maximum and minimum, a "0" or "1" is entered in a memory depending upon whether or not the detected maximum or minimum exceeds the corresponding threshold value. This produces an array of bits which is then decoded.

Abstract: Chip cards that operate contact-free are supplemented by additional elements to enable remote transmission of data. Also, elements include sensors that enable the acquisition of physical, chemical or biological information from the environment of the card. Further, the card includes elements for storing electrical energy, electronic components for constructing an electronic oscillation circuit for the remote transmission and reception of data, as well as a switch accessible by a user for selectively connecting the energy storage elements to the electronic components thereby forming an electromagnetic oscillation circuit for the transmission of electromagnetic oscillations with information modulated thereon. In a preferred embodiment, one or both of the coils that are provided on the card are connected via the switch such that the coils serve as an antenna for the electromagnetic oscillation circuit for the remote transmission of data.

Abstract: To reduce the size and weight of an optical scanner, the present invention provides a mirrorless beam scanning unit. A flexible support structure, such as one or more strips of mylar, movably mounts the objective lens in front of the light emitter. The objective lens is laterally reciprocated in response to a motive force, for example as might be applied by a combination of a permanent magnet coupled to the objective lens and a fixedly mounted electromagnet driven by an alternating current signal. Reciprocation of the objective lens during emission of light by the light emitter causes the light to scan a surface, such as a surface bearing a bar code label.

Abstract: Cash transaction machine and method for receiving and/or dispensing money by user's manipulation to transact the money includes a bill receptacle, a bill dispense port, a bill storage and a transport unit for transporting the bill between the receptacle and/or the dispense port, a disinfection unit, and the storage. The bills received and/or to be dispensed are disinfected by the disinfection unit arranged in the transport unit by heating the bills by a heated roller, irradiating the bills by an ultraviolet ray from an ultraviolet ray lamp or applying disinfecting liquid to the bills. Alternatively, the bills are disinfected by a disinfection unit arranged in the storage by heating the bills by a heater or irradiating an electromagnetic wave to the bills.

Abstract: A card identification system comprises generally a card reader head composed of a light generating unit, a main circuit A/D convertion unit, a transmitter/receiver rack, a MF keyboard decode unit, a LCD unit and a CPU, and a reader device composed of a MF keyboard decode unit, a LCD unit, a EEPROM unit, a CPU and a driver device thereof. This disclosure is characterized in adapting an infrared ray scanning method to the card reader head therein to precisely detect a symbol on a identification card which can be unlimitedly made from a variety of materials. The identification code marked on the card may be made by printing or perforating a symbol or sticking up a tape, or a sticker thereon.

Abstract: A maximum likelihood detector for a continuous time disk drive read channel includes a dynamic threshold updating circuit for a maximum likelihood detector using both positive and negative comparators for detecting the positive and negative peaks of an input signal; this includes comparing the input signal with at least one present dynamic threshold to produce positive and negative binary gating signals; a control circuit responsive to the binary gating signals, to the input signal, and to the peak detector circuit which identifies qualified input signal peaks; and a threshold update circuit responsive to the identification of qualified input signal peaks, which adjusts the present dynamic threshold by the difference between the input signal and the present dynamic threshold to obtain the next dynamic threshold.

Abstract: In an optical scanner, a component for producing a beam scanning motion is mounted on a first flexible strip or planar spring. One or more additional flexible strips, adjacent the first flexible strip, provide additional support to prevent droop by the first flexible strip under the weight of the scanning component. The additional flexible strips also frictionally damp the low frequency motion of the first flexible strip to prevent interference with scanning due to vibration induced from movement of the scanner by an operator. In two-dimensional scanners, where the component moves in two orthogonal directions at two different speeds, the additional strip type frictional damping is applied to the planar spring which provides the necessary flexible support for motion in the slow speed scanning direction.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine for articles such as newspapers has a housing with a card slot for the insertion of a subscriber card into a card reader in the housing to read information from the card. The card reader is connected to a programmable computer which controls an article delivery apparatus to deliver a newspaper from a delivery slot in the housing. The subscriber card has an electrically conductive encodable contact array formed thereon for providing the information necessary to actuate the article delivery apparatus. The array includes a plurality of contact pads and a contact bridge formed of copper foil, for example. At least one of the contact pads is connected to the contact bridge and the card reader has a plurality of reeds for contacting the contact pads to read the encoded information into the computer.

Abstract: A read-write head of a magneto-optical disc player has an optical head having an optical pickup, and a magnetic head having an electromagnet. The optical head and the magnetic head are each slidably held by guide members so as to be moved in a radial direction of an optical disc. A motor is mounted on each head for moving the head along the guide member. A relative position between both heads at a position where both heads oppose each other is detected, and both heads are moved along the guide members, maintaining the relative position.

Abstract: A height- or width-modulated bar code is decoded by scanning an oblong laser beam across the bar code. Light reflected from the bar code varies in intensity as the laser beam traverses dark and light regions of the bar code. The bar code can be decoded by locating the valleys in the variation of intensity of the reflected light, and comparing the depth of these valleys; the deepest valleys correspond to tall or wide bars and the remainder correspond to short or narrow bars.

Abstract: A stop sensing section senses movements by comparing data on two lines separated by a time interval in the same place (line) of the digital image information on the bar codes from a signal processing section and, when there is no movement, outputs a decode start trigger signal to a decoder section. A CPU in the decoder section, receiving the decode start trigger signal, judges that the bar codes have stopped in the proper position, and reads the bar code image information stored in a frame memory at that time for decoding.

Abstract: Counterfeit objects, such as products or documents, can be detected by checking associated ID numbers, which include one or more appended fields of one or more randomly selected digits, in a database containing the correct authorized ID numbers. This use of random selection makes it impossible for counterfeiters to effectively predict or anticipate correct ID numbers. For example, by using bar coded ID numbers with two distinct appended fields of randomly selected numbers, instead of traditional serial numbers, counterfeit products can be conveniently and positively detected either on a wholesaler's or vendor's shelf using a truncated outside ID number found on the product's packaging, or, for example, upon receipt of a customer's product registration card on which the complete inside ID number is found, this complete inside ID number having been concealed from casual perusal during the product's distribution.

Abstract: An IC card according to the present invention includes data processing means for processing data; a memory for storing a personal identification number; a power-supply terminal to which a power-supply voltage is applied by an external unit; an input/output terminal for inputting data from and outputting data to the external unit; a voltage detecting circuit for detecting the power-supply voltage applied to the power-supply terminal from the external unit; and a check-processing circuit for verifying a personal identification number input from the external unit by comparison with a personal identification number stored in the memory in response to a command for verifying applied to the input/output terminal when the power-supply voltage detected in the voltage detecting circuit is at least equal to a threshold voltage and constantly responding that an identification error has occurred when the power-supply voltage detected in the voltage detecting circuit is lower than the threshold voltage.

Abstract: In bar code symbol scanning systems employing laser, optical and sensor components, mirrorless scanner arrangement mounts one or more of these components on a drive for repetitive reciprocating movement either about an axis or in a plane to effect scanning. The system has a movable exit port to permit scanning from opposite sides of a housing.

Abstract: A portable data collection system includes a portable data collection terminal with a voice prompt circuit having a recording capability, and optionally a bar code scanning device, such as a wand. The portable data collection terminal is similar in size and performs the same data collection functions as prior art portable data collection terminals but adds voice prompts for improved functionality, flexibility, and ease of use. When data is entered from either a keypad, or a bar code scanner, or when the operator needs to be prompted to take a particular action, a voice prompt circuit is activated to provide an oral message to the operator. A feature of the voice prompt circuit is simple recording by the user of oral messages used to generate voice prompts. This allows the user to customize voice prompts for a specific application.

Abstract: The invention provides an IC card which performs control of allowing or inhibiting input of a clock signal externally of the card via no CPU. In the present IC card, those ones of a CPU 1a, a UART 7a, a timer 3 and an EEPROM 5a which require the clock signal for operation generate operation signals. In accordance with these operation signals, a clock control circuit 8 performs control of allowing or inhibiting input of the clock signal externally of the card without intervention of the CPU 1a. Supply of the clock signal to the CPU 1a is stopped upon an STP command executed by the CPU 1a, and resumed in accordance with any of start-up select conditions set by the CPU 1a and corresponding one of operation end signals from the UART 7a, the timer 3 and the EEPROM 5a.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading a bar code symbol with an illumination beam of light. The apparatus includes an integrally formed lens with a first lens surface for transmitting the beam of light toward the bar code symbol along an optical axis and second and third lens surfaces for receiving any of the beam of light that is reflected from the bar code symbol and transmitting the received light along two distinct optical paths to two photodiodes. The two distinct optical paths are separated from each other and not aligned with the optical axis. The configuration of lenses provides an improved depth of field.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting and validating multibit acquisition burst sequences which precede and follow each data block in a multitrack data storage system. An acquisition sequence pattern detection circuit is utilized to provide an indication of acquisition burst sequence detection in response to an occurrence of an accurate sequence of a selected number of acquisition burst sequence bits. A latch is utilized to store the pattern criteria indication for each associated track and the latch outputs are then combined in a logic circuit to provide a composite burst pattern error indication signal.

Abstract: A low cost, easily-manufacturable circuit for a data card transaction terminal for reading a magnetic stripe on a data card. The circuit comprises a single, double-sided circuit board having minimized circuit components. The printed circuit board mounts an alphanumeric liquid crystal display (LCD) to a first side of the circuit board, a single chip LCD driver circuit, a bracket for extending through mounting holes in the circuit board and holding the liquid crystal display, keypad electrical contacts formed on the first side of the circuit board, and a plurality of circuit components all affixed to the second side of the circuit board.