Abstract: A card reader for a point-of-sale system that is configured to accept both magnetic strip-type and integrated circuit (IC) chip-type payment cards. The card reader is a component of a point-of-sale system including a portable computing device in communication with the card reader that is configured to present a first graphical user interface (GUI) when a magnetic stripe-type card is detected and a second GUI when an IC chip-type card is detected in the card reader. The card reader comprises a slot configured to receive the payment card, a magnetic reading device and an IC chip reading device. The card reader also includes a discriminator contact disposed within the slot that is configured to conduct across a surface of a metal pad of the IC chip-type card prior to the CI chip reading device making contact with the IC chip.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card (200) is described. The integrated circuit card comprises a card body having an opening (310) extending through the thickness of the card body (306); and two components located in the card body (204) opening (310), wherein a first component (214) of the two components includes an integrated circuit.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for automatically gathering seed-specific data for an agricultural crop. Simulated seeds with contactless machine-readable data are co-mingled with actual seeds. Whether in stored form prior to planting, during planting, or after planting with the actual seed in the ground, appropriate readers can quickly and accurately read the seed-specific data for a variety of purposes. That can include simply confirming that the actual seed at least in proximity to a simulated seed is of a particular hybrid or variety. It could also include other seed-specific data such as time and date of planning, seed production company, seed-specific usage restrictions, etc. The data can be utilized by other systems. One example would be a precision agricultural system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention may provide the capability to identify a specific object being interacted with that may be cheaply and easily included in mass-produced objects. In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method for object identification may comprise receiving a signal produced by a physical interaction with an object to be identified, the signal produced by an identification structure coupled to the object during physical interaction with the object, processing the signal to form digital data identifying the object, and accessing a database using the digital data to retrieve additional information identifying or describing properties of the object identified.

Abstract: In various embodiments, an antenna arrangement is provided. The antenna arrangement includes a first antenna and a second antenna. The first antenna and the second antenna are arranged substantially in the same plane. The first antenna and the second antenna are arranged with respect to one another in such a manner that an intermediate area is defined between the first antenna and the second antenna. The antenna arrangement further includes a controller which is configured to control the first antenna and the second antenna in such a manner that a magnetic field produced in the intermediate area is greater, in terms of magnitude, than the magnetic field generated by the first antenna in the intermediate area and the magnetic field generated by the second antenna in the intermediate area.

Abstract: A system controlled responsive at least in part to data read from data bearing records is operative to cause vehicle repair parts to be determined and furnished. Data read by a reader from a tag associated with a damaged vehicle is used to determine vehicle identifying data. A repair estimate calculation circuit (RECC) operates responsive to the read data to produce a needed parts record (NPR). The records produced by the RECC are operative to cause a vehicle repair entity (VRE) to be furnished the vehicle repair parts.

Abstract: An imaging sensor of an imaging reader senses return light from a target to be read by image capture along an imaging axis over a field of view that extends along mutually orthogonal, horizontal and vertical axes. Two aiming light assemblies are offset from the sensor and are spaced apart along the horizontal axis at opposite sides of the sensor, and direct two aiming light lines, each having a predetermined brightness, at the target. The aiming lines are collinear along the horizontal axis and have inner linear end regions that overlap on the target to form a bright, linear, aiming mark having a brightness greater than the predetermined brightness to visually indicate a center zone of the field of view, as well as outer linear end regions that visually indicate approximate end limits of the field of view, over a range of working distances.

Abstract: An illumination light source emits illumination light toward a target to be read by image capture. An imaging assembly captures the illumination light returning from the target along an imaging axis over a field of view that extends along mutually orthogonal, first and second directions that are generally perpendicular to the imaging axis. A compound parabolic reflector receives, and optically modifies, the emitted illumination light to generate a generally uniform illumination light pattern that is substantially congruent to, and substantially overlaps, the field of view along both of the first and second directions. The compound parabolic reflector has first and second pairs of parabolic segments for respectively reflecting the emitted illumination light over first and second illumination angles along the first and second directions.

Abstract: A wearable device is provided. A wearable device includes a display assembly having a display component, a network component, and a computing component, at least one reader coupled to the computing component and reading at least one of a barcode or Radio-frequency identification (RFID), a wrist band unit having a first wrist band unit and a second wrist band unit. The first wrist band unit is extended in opposite direction from the second wrist band unit, and accommodates the display assembly. The at least one reader is disposed to face in a tangential direction to a surface of the wrist band unit. The first wrist band unit has an attachment component and the attachment component is detachably attached to at least one of the display assembly and the second wrist band unit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for real-time provisioning of new card numbers to users of a consumer computing system. A consumer computing system (“CCS”) may have servers and databases situated within a banking infrastructure in order to provide various features to users via a software application executed by a client device. The software application may interact with the CCS servers, such that the CCS servers and the software application offer the client device and the user certain features not ordinarily available in conventional banking infrastructures. These features may include the real-time provisioning of card numbers for a user's banking account. In operation, the client device may submit a request for a new card number to a CCS server, which may be generated in real-time and active in the payment stream when the card number is generated.

Abstract: A computer system for decoding a signal of decodable indicia is disclosed. The computer system includes a laser scanner configured that outputs a signal of decodable indicia and a microprocessor that include a camera sensor interface that is configured to receive the signal from the laser scanner.

Abstract: A card reader may include a card passage where a card inserted into an insertion port for the card is passed, a shutter member for closing the card passage, a magnetic head disposed on a rear side relative to the shutter member and structured to perform reading of magnetic data recorded in a magnetic stripe of the card and/or recording of magnetic data to the magnetic stripe, and a foreign matter detection mechanism which is structured to detect a foreign matter attached to the card passage. The foreign matter detection mechanism is disposed on a rear side relative to the shutter member and is disposed at a position in the width direction of the card where the magnetic stripe is passed. The foreign matter detection mechanism may be structured of an electrostatic capacitance sensor.

Abstract: A product management device searches for a missing bar-code ID which is not present among bar-code IDs read by a reading section from among a list of bar-code IDs recorded, in advance, in a predetermined order, calculates a reading time of the missing bar-code ID using reading times associated with bar-code IDs before and after the missing bar-code ID, and instructs the outputting of image data of capture times by cameras of the product to which the missing bar-code ID is attached using the calculated reading time, the relative positions of the cameras, and a speed of a belt conveyor.

Abstract: An electronic transaction card communicates with an add-on slot of an intelligent electronic device. The add-on slot may be a memory card slot. The intelligent electronic device may be a mobile phone or other device with or without network connectivity. The electronic transaction card may have magnetic field producing circuitry compatible with magnetic card readers, smartcard circuitry, other point-of-sale interfaces, or any combination thereof.

Abstract: A control subsystem determines based on the characteristics of light from a secondary illumination source reflected off optics of a data collection device whether a display screen of an electronic device (e.g., smartphone, smartwatch, tablet computer) are in a field of view of the data collection device, and switches operational modes accordingly. Thus, the control subsystem can employ a Fresnel pattern for such determination. The data collection device can operate in a diffuse reading mode, characterized by active illumination and/or relatively fast exposure times. The data collection device can operate in a reflective reading mode, characterized by a lack of active illumination and/or relatively slow exposure times. Characteristics can include the number of reflections versus a number of air-substrate interfaces and/or a relative intensity of the reflections produced by successive air-substrate interfaces in a path of the light.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking a weapon, wherein a server computing system tracks, analyzes, evaluates, and resources data, statistics, perceptions, and relationships for weapon transactions, storage, transporting, practice, training, holding, aiming, firing, cleaning, and/or the like.

Abstract: A cash management system includes a cloud server, a banknote cash unit and a verification center. The banknote cash unit senses serial numbers of banknotes introduced therein for obtaining serial number data corresponding to the banknotes. The banknote cash unit further uploads the serial number data to the cloud server, such that the verification center downloads the serial number data. The verification center senses the banknotes sent thereto for obtaining the verification data corresponding to the banknotes sent to the verification center and determines whether the serial number data matches the verification data. Accordingly, the cash management system is able to verify all of banknotes delivered from backyard area to verification headquarter at one time.

Abstract: A scannable code is used to facilitate copy and paste of content, wherein the content is serialized and encoded directly into the scannable code along with context information. When the scannable code is decoded, the content is pasted into a desired location in a manner that is consistent with the content information.

Abstract: An identification code-based three-dimensional interactive technique includes acquiring an image including an identification-coded real object, the image being taken by video-capable equipment, identifying an identification code from the identification-coded real object, obtaining object information corresponding to the identification code, acquiring a reference image associated with the identification code and feature points of the reference image, obtaining a position, an orientation, or a combination thereof on the video-capable equipment relative to the identification-coded real object based on the reference image and the feature points of the reference image, and conducting a three-dimensional interaction based on the position, the orientation, or a combination thereof of the video-capable equipment relative to the identification-coded real object and the object information corresponding to the identification code.

Abstract: In a payment-enabled smartphone, a shared cardholder verification method (CVM) applet serves a number of mobile payment cardlets. The shared CVM applet validates CVM information input by a user of the smartphone and in response issues a CVM token. The CVM token is passed to a particular one of the mobile payment cardlets that is selected for a current transaction. The selected mobile payment cardlet submits the CVM token back to the shared CVM applet for verification. Upon verifying the CVM token, the shared CVM applet enables the selected mobile payment cardlet to perform the current transaction.