Abstract: A precision guided firearm (PGF) includes a trigger assembly and an optical device coupled to the trigger assembly. The optical device is to predict a time when an aim point of the PGF is less than a programmable threshold distance from a selected location on a target and to control the trigger assembly to discharge the PGF at the time.

Abstract: A dual-mode smart card comprising several pads of physical contact with an external reader and two pads of connection to an antenna for a contactless operation, and comprising a voltage regulator capable of extracting from a radio frequency excitation reaching the antenna, a supply voltage of the chip's processing circuits, this regulator being controllable by a central circuit to be deactivated in the presence of a supply voltage on contacts of the chip.

Abstract: A voting system for storing voter input data on a voter selection card, which is capable of storing data for a plurality of candidates, and the system, subsequently, prints a ballot marked in accordance with data on the voter selection card. A voter-assist terminal receives a blank voter selection card, and then presents candidate selection options to the voter visually by means of an LCD touch screen menu and aurally by means of a synthesized speech menu. Candidate selections entered by means of the touch screen menu or by means of the audio menu are stored on the voter selection card, and the voter selection card is returned to the voter to take to a reader terminal. The reader terminal sends the stored data on the voter selection card to an attached printer which prints a marked ballot corresponding to the voter's selections. The ballot is inserted in a ballot scanning device, wherein the ballot is tallied and deposited in a locked ballot box.

Abstract: A fully automated package identification and measuring system, in which an omni-directional holographic scanning tunnel is used to read bar codes on packages entering the tunnel, while a package dimensioning subsystem is used to capture information about the package prior to entry into the tunnel. Mathematical models are created on a real-time basis for the geometry of the package and the position of the laser scanning beam used to read the bar code symbol thereon. The mathematical models are analyzed to determine if collected and queued package identification data is spatially and/or temporally correlated with package measurement data using vector-based ray-tracing methods, homogeneous transformations, and object-oriented decision logic so as to enable simultaneous tracking of multiple packages being transported through the scanning tunnel.

Abstract: A security mark having multiple optically orthogonal coaligned bar codes is produced using a reflection hologram visible substantially at only a first wavelength that is layered over a wavelength sensitive filter, which blocks light transmission at the first wavelength but transmits light at a second wavelength, and having beneath it an additional bar code visible through the hologram and the wavelength sensitive filter at the second wavelength. A validation means reads multiple holographic bar codes with light at the first wavelength by illuminating the hologram separately from multiple directions, and further reads the bar code beneath the wavelength sensitive filter by illuminating the mark with light of the second wavelength. By suitable choice of multi-directional and multi-wavelength illumination, multiple coaligned bar codes may be read in the same physical location with no mutual interference.

Abstract: A microcircuit card (31) includes a microcircuit and a card body. The card body is formed of a base (10) in which is formed a cavity provided with a bottom and an internal part fixed in the cavity and to which the microcircuit is joined, the internal part and the microcircuit (12) together constituting at least a part of a second microcircuit card (11) including at least a part of the body of the second card.

Abstract: A system to produce a high pressure stream of deionized water, for cleaning vehicle bodies, comprising, in combination, first and second deionization beds within first and second vessels, a first conduit or conduits to conduct non-deionized water at a relatively low pressure or pressures to pass through the first bed to deionize the water, a primary sensor to measure the deionization level of water that has passed through the first bed, a second conduit or conduits to conduct water from the first bed to the second bed to further deionize the water, if required, a pump to receive water that has passed through the first bed, or through the first and second beds, and to pressurized said received water to a level of at least about 1,200 PSI, and a nozzle connected to the pump to dispense a high pressure stream of the water.

Abstract: The present invention provides a card type recording medium such as an IC card, which contains storage units to store data and an access control unit to control an access to the data by an access subject. The access control unit is designed to include an access subject identification information generating unit to generate an access subject identification information for identifying the access subject, an access authority information read-in unit to read in access authority information set in correspondence with the data that the access subject requests to access, and a control unit to obtain an access authority from the access subject identification information and the access authority information, and to control an access to the data by the access subject on the basis of the access authority obtained. Thereby, the card type recording medium intends to simplify the setting and modifying work of an access authority, and to reliably perform the management and operation of a security system.

Abstract: Coin-shaped one-wire communication modules with a flange for mounting convenience may be attached to contact extensions on items such as work totes for ease of communication. A host computer can keep track and locate multiple items which have mounted communication modules with use of a single data line and a single ground line for all of the modules.

Abstract: An optical scanning system includes a laser pulser configured to output light at a predetermined duty cycle having an on time and an off time. The system also includes a receiver that receives light at the predetermined duty cycle, where the receiver includes an ambient light measuring and analyzing unit for analyzing received ambient light during the off time. The ambient light measuring and analyzing unit outputs a signal to the laser pulser that includes information as to characteristics of the received ambient light. The laser pulser operates at a modulating frequency that is separate from a frequency band of the received ambient light.

Abstract: A detector for sensing the presence of a magnetic tag having an axis of easy magnetization, which comprises (1) either (i) a magnet or (ii) a pair of magnets arranged in magnetic opposition, the magnet or magnets being disposed so as to define a spatial region through or across which the magnetic tag is, in use, passed, the disposition of the magnet(s) and the resultant magnetic field pattern being such as to cause a change in polarity of the magnetization of the magnetic tag in the course of its passage through a magnetic null within the spatial region; and (2) a receiver coil or coils positioned above and in proximity to one pole of the magnet (where a single magnet is employed), or positioned between the pair of magnets (where two magnets are employed) and arranged to detect magnetic dipole radiation emitted by a magnetic tag as it passes through the magnetic null with the easy axis of magnetization of the tag oriented in the direction of travel.

Abstract: A scanner for reading two-dimensional optical information sets is described which includes a housing for supporting a photosensitive array associated with an optical string adapted to focus optical information on the array. Also provided are array and optical string controls for controlling the array and optical string such that the output of selected images on the array are processed via pattern recognition techniques. Images recognized to contain decodable optical information are displayed and highlighted by a display. In addition, the scanner provides autodetect circuitry for determining the type of terminal to which it is attached and automatically converts the two-dimensional code information into an appropriate one dimensional format, as needed, for communication to an attached terminal.

Abstract: An optical scanning system for reading indicia of differing light reflectivity has an optical scan module which is adapted to be mounted on a finger of a user. A first peripheral module, preferably in the form of a wrist watch, has a receiver which detects the reflected light. A second peripheral module, mounted on the other arm of the user, communicates with the first module by radio frequency transmission. According to other aspects of the invention, the light detector may be mounted in a housing which is separate and part from the optical scan module. According to another aspect, a laser pointer or scanner is mounted to a ring which is arranged to be worn on a single finger of the user.

Abstract: A substrate capable of receiving and retaining imaging is coded so as to maximize the amount of the scannable information that can be packed into an area, and/or to provide an effective security feature. A first machine readable identification code (e.g. bar code) is imaged on a predetermined area of the substrate, and is opaque to a first predetermined wavelength range of electromagnetic energy (e.g. the infra-red region of light). An overlay is applied over and at least partially covering the first code. The overlay is transparent to the first wavelength range, and opaque to a second wavelength range (e.g. the visible spectrum of light). The overlay may be a security block which substantially completely covers the first code, or may be a second bar code (or additional codes) which is transparent to the second range.

Abstract: A method of processing transaction charges from continuing billing arrangements that allows such charges to continue to be authorized after the account number to which the charges are directed has been invalidated, such as would result if the account number related to a credit or debit card that was lost, stolen or expired, or to a checking or savings account that was closed or transferred. A security key is used to indicate charges that are to be authorized after the account number has been invalidated. Charges that include the key are authorized, while charges that do not include the key are rejected.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pledge lock for shopping trolleys and luggage trolleys, to be releasably attached to one another, the lock having a casing 1 attached to the first trolley and formed with an opening 1b for a pledge and an opening 1a for a coupling member, which is attached to the second trolley and kept locked by a closure bolt until the pledge has been inserted, the pledge being a card which during insertion moves a control member 3 which moves the closure bolt 4 out of the locking and into the unlocked position, the card having at least a first zone which can be bent out of the plane of the card in relation to the remaining, second card zone by a lock projection 14 extending into the card insertion path, said first zone when in the bent-out state impinging directly or via an intermediate member against a stop 3d of the control member, in order to move the control member.

Abstract: A bar code scanner for stationary disposition at a counter to projecting a scanning pattern comprising first, second, third, fourth and fifth groups of parallel scan lines within a relatively narrow, yet diverging, volume, e.g., pyramid, cone, etc., centered about a projection axis. The scanner includes a compact housing mounted on an adjustible base. The housing includes a window, five stationary mirrors, a laser diode, a rotating reflective polygon for sweeping the laser beam from the diode across the mirrors and out a window so that the projection axis is substantially but not precisely perpendicular to the window. The scanner also includes a fixed curved collecting mirror and a concentrating lens to focus light which is reflected off of a bar code to a photodetector. One mirror extends along an axis parallel to the transverse axis to produce the first group of scan lines.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-stage digital Automatic Gain Control (AGC)circuit for selectively sampling the outputs of a serially connected amplification stages and for selectively controlling the gain of one or more stages in order to keep the amplitude of the final stage output within a predetermined range. The AGC provides a "quick" adjustment to overall system gain so that the system can produce a regulated signal within a short period of time, thereby improving the regulation response time. The AGC includes a number of serially connected amplification stages, and a gain controller. The output of each amplification stage, in addition to feeding the next amplification stage, is also an input to the gain controller. The gain controller receives the amplification-stage outputs, processes the outputs, determines the required gains of the various amplification stages and adjusts the gains via a number of gain control signals.

Abstract: Bar codes, comprised of black and white stripes, are shown to be a finite topic, and the optimum bar code methodology is binary coded binary, BCB. Binary digits are utilized to represent bar coded messages and each binary digit is immediately complemented, forming two independent but binarily complemented messages in one bar code symbol. BCB represents given information in less space than, e.g., Interleaved 2 of 5 and Code 39, while using the same x width (the width of a module), and BCB is far more versatile and is easier and less expensive to print and scan. BCB avoids misreads more reliably and achieves a dramatically higher first time read rate through use of error correcting bar codes.

Abstract: A method wherein an image of an object bearing an optical code is divided into a number of elementary images for which a brightness gradient vector is calculated. The calculated gradients of a magnitude above a given threshold value (Glim) are transformed to eliminate the information relative to the direction of the vector, while maintaining the information relative to the path of the vector. The transformed and quantized vectors of a subimage including a number of elementary images are added to calculate a total gradient vector, which is compared with reference values to select significant subimages containing a sufficient number of gradient vectors of substantially the same path.