Abstract: An automated teller machine (10) includes a housing (12) with a top assembly (40). Rollout trays (46) are mounted in the top assembly and have components that require periodic servicing mounted thereon. An ATM fascia (18) is pivotally mounted to enable servicing of the components on the trays during servicing. The fascia is tilted upward and a technician is enabled to stand under the fascia and to selectively extend the trays to service the components thereon. As a result, the amount of clearance space that must be provided around the ATM for servicing is minimized.

Abstract: A magnetic medium processing apparatus includes a magnetism reading head for reading magnetic data recorded in a ticket, a peak value detector for detecting peak values of a signal output from the reading head, and a display for displaying the digital peak values detected by the peak value detector. Monitoring the state of reading by the reading head prevents unstable reading of magnetic data irrespective of whether the reading head is worn out.

Abstract: A scanner for reading indicia having portions of differing light reflectivity has means for directing a light beam from the scanner towards the indicia and collecting reflected light returning from the indicia. The scanner includes a scanning arrangement with a scanner component, such as a mirror. First and second vibratory means support the scanner component for angular oscillatory movement to scan the light beam in first and second orthogonal scan directions. The scanning arrangement includes read-start means for moving the scanner component to simultaneously scan the light beam in the first and second scan directions.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a POS terminal for making a package discount with respect to commodities previously purchased. The POS terminal for making a package discount intended to allow a discount through a combination of specified commodities, includes an input unit for inputting information concerning a commodity available for a package discount previously purchased; a determining unit for determining whether or not a package discount is provided by analyzing the information, which is entered at the input means, concerning a commodity eligible for the package discount and previously purchased, and information concerning a commodity eligible for the package discount currently purchased; and a discount unit which, when the package discount is provided, allows a discount from the price of the commodity currently being purchased.

Abstract: Encoded devices, for marking various products to which the devices are attached, comprise a comb-like structure comprising a plurality of cantilevered "teeth" or "tines" of different lengths extending from a common support. Each tine has a resonant frequency of vibration dependent upon the length of the tine, and the pattern of tines present on the device comprises the encoded data. Reading of the encoded data is done by setting the tines into vibration and determining the pattern of tines by detecting the presence of the resonant frequency vibrations of the respective tines. Excitation of and read-out of the tines can utilize acoustic, magnetic or electrostatic energy. Fabrication of the devices is preferably done using materials and processes utilized in semiconductor device manufacture. The comb-like structure can be a harp-like structure including beams extending between and secured to opposite sides of the structure, and selected beams are partially severed to provide tines.

Abstract: A scan head is adjustably mounted in a ball-and, socket joint on a scan module or housing of an electro-optical system for reading coded indicia. The scan head is movable about three mutually orthogonal axes intersecting within the scan head, thereby steering a light beam emitted from the head and/or steering a field of view of a sensor.

Abstract: An automatic card issuance apparatus and an issuance method automatically retrieve information to be recorded onto an information recording and playback section of a card on the basis of information read from an information playback section of the card, from a data storage section, to record information retrieved and taken out onto the information recording and playback section, whereby recording of the information corresponding to information on the information playback section is made reliable, and the card is automatically issued efficiently.

Abstract: A symbol scanning system which adaptively changes scanning system parameters including light beam pattern and focus to improve barcode readability. The scanning system including; a scanner, responsive to coordinate control signals, for directing a light beam in a pattern at a symbol at a predetermined location, detecting a reflected portion of the light beam, and generating a feedback signal corresponding to the detected portion of the reflected light beam, a microprocessor, responsive to the feedback signal, for generating pattern control signals, and a pattern generator for generating the coordinate control signals in responsive to the pattern control signals and for determining the light beam pattern.

Abstract: A wall-mounted, hands-free scanner capable of having its field of view adjusted using a pivot structure with a position-holding mechanism. The spacing of the field of view from the wall can be quickly adjusted to accommodate different size objects and different placement of indicia on objects. The scanner includes a base member configured to be installed on a vertical surface, a scanning unit including a light scanning source directing a light beam across a field of view toward an indicia located within the field of view, a pivot structure connecting the scanning unit to the base member (the pivot structure having a generally horizontal axis of rotation about which the scanning unit rotates relative to the base member), and a position-holding mechanism within the pivot structure.

Abstract: In order to enable a processing circuit to certainly detect insertion of a wrong card having a conductive line without using a plate member or a coil regulating the shape of a card storage unit, when the wrong card having the conductive line is inserted from a card insertion port, formed in one surface of a housing, into the card storage unit in the housing, and the external terminal of the card is brought into contact with a contact terminal, a radio wave radiated into the housing is induced to the conductive line. A reception circuit connected to the contact terminal receives, of signals appearing at the conductive line, a radio wave signal radiated from a clock signal source in a communication control unit located at a position spaced apart from the card storage unit and supplies the detection output of the radio wave signal to a determination circuit. The determination circuit determines insertion of the wrong card having the conductive line on the basis of the detection output.

Abstract: In an optical scanning module, for reading indicia with portions of differing light reflectivity, having a light emitter assembly for emitting a light beam towards the indicia, and a detector for receiving light reflected back from the indicia and producing an electrical signal corresponding to the differing light reflectivity of the indicia, an optical scan module component is provided which includes two circuits on respective circuit boards which are angularly mounted, and preferably orthogonally mounted, to each other. An electrical cable connects the circuits to each other so as to operate together to produce signals to drive the emitter assembly and to process the electrical signal produced by the detector.

Abstract: A hand-held symbology reader having a handle for grasping by a user and a head attached to the handle for adjustable angular movement of the head relative to the handle between the plurality of angular orientations. The head is selectively retained in a selected one of a plurality of angular orientations. The head is rotatable about three axes of rotation relative to the handle. The reader head has a rectangular pixel array that defines a rectangular imaging area, with the pixel array having a first position with a horizontal dimension of the pixel array that is greater than the vertical dimension of the pixel array, and a second position with the horizontal dimension that is less than the vertical dimension of the pixel array. The reader head is moveable such that the pixel array can be rotated between the first and second positions by rotating the reader head relative to the handle while the handle remains in a fixed position.

Abstract: A scanning arrangement in a scanner incorporating a scan element which is capable of the repetitive high-speed scanning of indicia having parts of different light reflectivity; for example, such as barcode symbols, and more particularly, pertains to the operation of a scanning arrangement of the type which, at high scanning speeds, will enable the scanning of indicia in variable and specified omni-directional scanning patterns. The variable omni-directional scanning pattern is attained through control over the electrical energy input to a read-start device for activating the scan element of the scanner for vibratory motion between first and second pairs of scan end position, in which the energy input is controlled and varied, and the scan element is rotated, in a manner so as to enable the scan element to implement the aforementioned omni-directional scanning patterns over the indicia.

Abstract: A locking system is utilized to control the locking and unlocking of a lock, such as on a door. The lock includes a magnetic card reader for reading a coded key card into a lock computer which in turn determines functions of and access to the lock. The key card includes a key code, key level code, and key record number stored thereon. The lock includes a memory accessed by the computer which is partitioned and includes a level storage area with level records identified by a lock level code and operational information for the level, and a key storage area for storing lock key records identified by a lock record number and associated with at least one lock level for storing key information associated with the record number. The computer validates a key card by reading and comparing the key level code to the lock level code to determine the level and the key record number to one of the lock record numbers identified with the level in the key storage area.

Abstract: A laser bar code system is described which includes a first scan module releasably affixed to a housing, which scan module is readily interchangeable with and plug compatible with a second scan module which is configured at least partly differently from the first scan module. In addition, a partitioned scan module is described which comprises a first laser diode subsystem, a first scanning subsystem, a first collection subsystem, and a first signal processing subsystem, a selected one of which is releasably affixed to a chassis, and readily interchangeable and plug compatible with a second laser diode subsystem, a second scanning subsystem, a first collection subsystem, and a second signal processing subsystem, respectively, which is configured at least partly differently from the first.

Abstract: Determination of the authenticity and integrity of various types of documents such as lottery tickets is accomplished by using an electronic verification machine to compare data contained in electronic circuits printed on the document to document data printed on the document. The electronic circuits are printed on the document in conductive or semiconductive ink using, for example the gravure printing process, and the presence or status of the circuits can be used to verify or authenticate the document. Data can be represented in the electronic circuits by the electrical signature of the circuit which is measured by the electronic verification machine. In the case of lottery tickets, a ticket can be validated by having the electronic verification machine determine which play spots have been removed from the ticket and comparing data on the ticket with the removed play spots to determine a play redemption value for the ticket.

Abstract: A credit card having thereon an actual enhanced authorized card holders finger print and corresponding digitized representation of the actual finger print, an apparatus to read the digitized finger print optically and magnetically and a method of reading the finger print optically and magnetically.

Abstract: A method of locking a smart card to block the operation of at least one protected program stored in a read-only memory or ROM of the smart card, the smart card incorporating a central processor, the ROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory or EPROM and a random access memory or RAM, the method including the steps of: entering a logic lock in the EPROM, making multiple copies of the logic lock in the EPROM, carrying out a logic OR on the logic lock in the EPROM and the multiple copies of the logic lock in the EPROM in order to block the performance of the protected program upon the detection of either (a) the logic lock in the EPROM or (b) at least one of the multiple copies of the logic lock in the EPROM, recopying the logic lock in the RAM, and performing the logic OR on the logic lock in the EPROM, the multiple copies of the logic lock in the EPROM, and the logic lock in the RAM.

Abstract: Information can be obtained from a document having printed electronic circuits by using an electronic verification machine that determines the electrical characteristics or signatures of the circuits printed on the document. The electronic verification machine electronically couples with the circuit and applies an excitation signal such as an AC signal having a predetermined frequency to the circuit. A detection circuit in the electronic verification machine then generates a detection signal in response to the excitation signal which represents the characteristics of the circuit printed on the document. The electronic verification machine can also be used to stigmatize the document by applying a signal to the electronic circuits having sufficient strength to alter the electronic circuit.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for locating multiple bar codes in a field. The apparatus includes a microcomputer programmed to detect the existence of bar codes in location cells in the field and then apply a location score to each location cell. Based on the scores assigned to the location cells, a particular location cell is selected and the location cells surrounding the selected cell are analyzed to determine whether they might contain a bar code segment. A location cell that is determined to be sufficiently likely to contain a bar code segment will be appended to the first selected location cell. In this manner, a bar code in the field can be located. The determination of whether the located bar code is a primary or a secondary bar code is made by further analyzing the located bar code. The further analyses may be to determine the located bar code's length, whether it has a predetermined prefix, or whether it has a predetermined pattern of descenders from its constituent line segments.