Abstract: A two dimensional row and column based system for storing digital data is formatted on a suitable base medium such as paper sheet 10. The data format is formed by a plurality of data units 10U having L data entry locations 14. The data is contained in the selective presence or absence of recording ink within the locations. Each data unit extends R locations along the row axis and C locations along the column axis.Any E entry locations of the L locations within the data unit are designated recording material present locations. The L-E remainder locations are designated recording material absent locations.The number of codes C that may be represented by these E in L type data units is determined by the relationship:C=(L!) / (L-E)!(E!).The number of entries E is the same for each data unit throughout the data storage area, and cannot be less than E. Codes having the greatest number of presence absence interfaces are discarded to reduce the effect of recording ink intrusions into adjacent units.

Abstract: A driver circuit for providing drive current to a coil for positioning a read/write head of a memory disk system and method are presented. The driver circuit includes a pair of high side driver transistors having current paths connected between respective terminals of the coil and a voltage source, a first pair of low side driver transistors having current paths connected between respective terminals of the coil and a first voltage sense node, and a second pair of low side driver transistors having current paths connected between respective terminals of the coil and a second voltage sense node. A first sense resistor is connected between the first and second voltage sense nodes, and a second sense resistor is connected between the second sense node and a reference potential.

Abstract: A moving course data collection system for use in a large-scale store such as a supermarket or the like in which a portable scanner is provided to customers which allows customers to input article code data for articles in the store customers wish to purchase. The display location of all articles in the store is stored. Thus, every time a customer inputs article code data, the time and an approximation of the customer's position in the store is determined from the article code data input by the customer and the display location of that article in the store. This information is sequentially recorded, thereby collecting data on the customer's moving course through the store.

Abstract: A data card for storing individual data for the use of an exerciser, such as a stationary bicycle. The data card includes a base having a transparent plate and a photo intercepting film formed on the plate for intercepting light except for a plurality of portions. A plurality of removable light stopping films each formed at least on one surface of the base at a position corresponding to the plurality of portions for stopping the passage of light through the portions. Individual data is stored by removing the light stopping film on a portion corresponding to the individual data.

Abstract: A bar code detection circuit accepts as input the discretized analog output of a CCD array, and performs piecewise linear reconstruction to produces a continuous polylinear output signal. In the region of a bar/space transition, the output signal is a close approximation of the reflectance function of a bar code symbol convolved with the system transfer function of the bar code reader. Linear interpolation is performed in order to determine the offset of a given threshold value from an edge of the CCD analog output.

Abstract: A method for analyzing the relative spatial alignment of the erase head pole tips relative to the record head pole tips on a recording of a magnetic tape to be partially overwritten by providing, through first and second erase heads, successive momentary erase pulses of a predetermined time duration in a predetermined phase relation on a non-overlapping basis, wherein each erase head thereby erases recorded information while leaving portions of information therebetween on adjacent track pairs, and then reading or playing back the results of the erasure for analysis of the RF envelope of the erasing pattern by a waveform monitor or ferrofluidic techniques. The duration of the erasures and playback is such that the RF envelope includes at least one erasure from the first erase head and at least one erasure from the second erase head.

Abstract: A method for changing a file name of one of data on a record medium having a plurality of data and a plurality of directories for the data including file names of the data recorded thereon, includes the steps of recording on the record medium a first change directory including the file name of the one data and information indicating that the change directory is a directory for changing the file name; and recording on the record medium a second change directory including a new file name to be imparted to the one data.

Abstract: A symbol read device which has separate gain controls for reading different scan lines. The symbol read device includes a light beam emitter, a scanner which scans the light beam over different positions on a symbol surface having a symbol to be read, a detector which detects light reflected from the symbol surface and generates a detection signal indicative thereof, and a variable gain amplifier which amplifies the detection signal. The device further includes a process which processes an amplified detection signal from the amplifier and recognizes therefrom the symbol being read, an automatic gain controller which sets a gain of the variable gain amplifier every scan line or scan line group in response to the detection signal, a scan position detector which detects a scan position, and a controller which selects the gain set by the automatic gain controller based on an output signal of the scan position detector.

Abstract: In a printer for passbooks or the like, a passbook or the like, which is brought in on a transfer path, is stopped at the position of a page-turning roller, where a sheet is turned over by the operation of the page-turning roller. When a sheet is turned over by the page-turning roller, at a position separate from a start position of turning over of a sheet, a passbook or the like undergoes an initial deformation in a out-of-plane direction so that the passbook is bent in a first-order mode. By this initial deformation, a sheet can be turned over steadily. Such a turnover of the sheet can be effected in conjunction with utilizing an optical system which provides an image of the three-dimensional deformation pattern of the passbook which is processed. In accordance with this pattern a decision is made whether or not the out-of-plane deformation of the passbook is more than a specified amount. In the vicinity of the transfer path, a page-turning roller is provided and is supported rotatably.

Abstract: An IC card has a contact portion which is exposed on one surface of a printed circuit board and has multiple terminals provided to electrically contact an external device. Wirings are arranged on the other surface of the printed circuit board at a position facing the contact portion with the printed circuit board in between, and are printed at least at positions opposite to gaps between the terminals. The arrangement of the wirings thus prevents that portion of the IC card at the gaps from becoming thinner than the other portion of the IC card.

Abstract: A magnetic reading and/or recording apparatus for reading and/or recording information from/on a magnetic information track on a photosensitive medium includes a magnetic reading and/or recording element connected to an edge follower having a variable tracking position. The edge follower tracks a longitudinal edge of a moving photosensitive medium by adjusting with the photosensitive medium responsive to any departures of the photosensitive medium from a defined path to effect a constant orientation of the magnetic reading and/or recording element with respect to the longitudinal edge of the photosensitive medium.

Abstract: In a process for evaluating binary data stored on the magnetic track of a magnetic storage card (10) in the form of flux changes in accordance with the two-frequency code, a relative movement (v) is produced between the magnetic storage card (10) and an electromagnetic transformer (30) which emits voltage pulses induced by the changes in magnetic flux. The time intervals between the voltage pulses are evaluated in order to obtain the data. To this end, standardization is carried out with uniform preliminary data at the beginning of a scanning operation. The output signal (U) of the electromagnetic transformer (30) is converted to digital values at predetermined times. The digital values are stored in the sequence in which they are stored and evaluated in order to obtain the data.

Abstract: A method and means is described wherein servo sectors written on a disk (or servo sections written on a tape) are equally spaced on a given track and read during seek, settle and track following operations. An algorithm is used to determine the allowable time separation between servo sectors (or sections) on a track and lengths of associated data sections, such as data sectors or variable length records, that may be accommodated on the disk or tape in such manner that each of the servo sectors (or sections) equally spaced on a given track is located within a data field of a data sector or within an identification region or immediately after an address indicating mark (such as address mark or index mark). The rate at which the servo sector (or section) is sampled is constant and independent of the number and lengths of the data sections.

Abstract: The invention relates to a microcircuit card having a card support with a cavity in which a cover foil (200) is fixed, which foil (200) includes a circuit support (20) and at least one circuit (210) arranged on an inner surface of the circuit support (20) facing towards the interior of the cavity, the circuit (210) being arranged opposite a first portion of a bottom of the cavity. The circuit support (20) includes on its lower surface at least one energy transfer element (220) arranged opposite a second portion of the bottom of the cavity at a distance from the first portion.

Abstract: A portable optical data reader for optically sensing and decoding data, comprising a carrier oscillator for producing a carrier signal at a predetermined frequency, an optical emitter electrically connected to the carrier oscillator for emitting optical radiation in an optical path to an optical data carrier at the predetermined frequency, an optical detector for detecting the emitted optical radiation returning from the optical data carrier thereby receiving the optical data and producing a detected electrical signal responsive thereto, and a double balanced demodulator electrically connected to the optical detector and the carrier oscillator for combining the detected radiation signal with the carrier signal to demodulate the optical data with the optical data carrier.

Abstract: Electrical power consumption is saved in a low-cost scanner for reading bar code symbols by oscillating a tall, narrow light collector, e.g., mirror, either by mechanical power along or by a low-power electrical drive. The collecting mirror has a width along the scan direction which is no more than about one-fifth its height, as considered along an orthogonal non-scan direction. A linear array of light emitting diodes is employed to illuminate the symbols.

Abstract: A card assembly permits xerographic printing of information cards, such as identification or authorization cards. The card assembly comprises a carrier sheet having a cavity. An information card is detachably bonded within the cavity. The foregoing card assembly can be passed through any conventional xerographic printer so that the information card can be printed with high quality xerographic print. The card assembly may be forwarded to the designated cardholder as an attractive package. Furthermore, a xerographic printer or other apparatus is provided with a magnetic encoder which is adapted to encode a magnetic strip situated on the card assembly passing through the xerographic printer or apparatus. Finally, a bar code may be disposed on the card assembly for encoding information regarding the card assembly and/or information card. The magnetic strip may be encoded in accordance with information decoded from the bar code.

Abstract: In a bar code laser scanning system operable in a continuous scan mode and a sleep mode, an object sensing circuit for automatically switching said laser scanning system from the sleep mode to the scan mode is provided to help extend the operational lifetimes of the system components such as the laser diode and the scanning motors. When in the sleep mode, pulsed light is received and processed to generate a steady state voltage signal. Derived from the steady state voltage signal is a positive threshold voltage signal and a negative threshold voltage signal each having a magnitude respectively greater than and less than that of the steady state voltage level. The steady state, positive threshold and negative threshold voltage signals are input to a comparator means which detects when an object is placed in the scanning field of the laser scanning system.

Abstract: An electronic system of the type comprising:at least one portable device comprising an electronic storage memory;at least one device including a transfer module designed to be coupled temporarily with at least a portable object so as to set up a communication link with the memory,wherein the system comprises a set of specialized portable objects for the access control function and wherein the device comprises two states:a free access state,a controlled access state in which the working of the device is conditional upon the coupling, at least occasionally, of one of the portable objects for access control.

Abstract: A printer slip table which employs a laser scan module in combination with a printer to expedite checkout and return of merchandise articles. The scan module may be employed to scan bar code labels on slips attached to the articles, coupons, and previous receipts for return articles. The printer may be a single printer or a plurality of specialized printers. The printer prints receipts, voids coupons by printing seller information thereon, and prints journals. The printer may additionally print buyer information on coupons and return information on receipts, slips, and journals. Return information, such as purchase date and location, may be encoded as a bar code label to be scanned upon return.