Patents Examined by Kimberly D. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7258276
    Abstract: A method and system for vending products from a defined area, such as a micro-warehouse with a door. The method includes fitting each product with a radio frequency identification tag, positioning the plurality of products in a micro-warehouse, sensing opening and closing of the micro-warehouse door, scanning the plurality of products in the micro-warehouse upon sensing closing of the door to determine the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, generating a message based on the number and type of products in the micro-warehouse, transmitting the message to a remote processor or server, and maintaining an inventory in the remote processor based on the message. The system is designed to be accessed by authorized individuals possessing some type of code or identifying mechanism. The micro-warehouses may be cabinets, refrigerators, secured rooms, or similar storage units or areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Promega Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Linton, John Linton, Julia E. Krueger, Michael P. Dearing
  • Patent number: 7252237
    Abstract: A scanner, especially one for the detection of one- and/or two-dimensional codes with a reception optics, projects the image of a reading line onto a linear arrangement of photoreceivers. An illumination arrangement for linearly illuminating an entire reading line has several substantially point-like light sources arranged adjacent to each other in a line. To boost the efficiency of the illumination arrangement, it has at least one anamorphotic illumination optics which forms the light emitted by the light sources into an illumination line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Sick AG
    Inventor: Wolfram Runge
  • Patent number: 7243854
    Abstract: A smart card includes: a plastic body, a module integral with the body and including a support bearing external electric connection pads, at least one electronic chip borne by the support and having one side called active surface bearing internal electric connection pads, and runs electrically connecting the external and internal electric connection pads, respectively. The invention is characterized in that at least one of the runs includes a conductor strip which is configured and arranged so as to project above the active surface while concealing at least a substantial part with at least one large-sized portion and has at least one small-sized portion adapted to involve easy disconnection by rupture upon displacement of the strip or elimination of all or part of the strip relative to the active surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Oberthur Card Systems SA
    Inventor: François Launay
  • Patent number: 7243846
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for creating and recording both an electronic and printed ballot for each voter during voting. The system can employ a variety of vote selection techniques, all of which can lead to the generation of an electronic tally of the vote in addition to the printing of a paper ballot. The printed ballot includes only the names of the candidates for whom the voter has voted in a form that is easily readable by both humans and machine. This unambiguous printed ballot makes it easy for voters to verify the accuracy of their intended vote and can subsequently be used to cast the voter's official vote or saved to provide an audit trail for subsequent confirmation of the electronic tally. These and other features accelerate the initial tabulation of results while providing multiple safeguards against fraud through the printing of a paper record for verifying voter intent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Inventor: David C. Reardon
  • Patent number: 7243852
    Abstract: An identification device (6) modified to fit into a lug nut hole (20). The device (6) includes a conical body molded of plastic material and has an embedded codded chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC
    Inventor: Stefan A. Parks
  • Patent number: 7240835
    Abstract: A modular integrated software and hardware suite can accept data exported from a voter registration database corresponding to requests for mail ballots, sort the data as necessary for ballot preparation, create a road map for ballot mailing preparation, provide for mail presorting, scan returned ballot envelopes using a ballot envelope scanner, and accept data from the scanner. The scanner uses a passive feed system, a separator brush, and a variable speed straight paper path to minimize jamming through the ballot envelope scanner. The scanner can work with a workstation application to interpret a barcode, store an image of the ballot envelope signature in association with a specific voter, print an endorsement on each verified ballot envelope, and store the endorsement with the signature image. The scanner can divert ballot envelopes with unrecognizable or unmatched barcodes to a separate tray for manual processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Diebold Election Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Brucker, Harminder Patria, Brian Clubb, Lester Wright, Bryan A. Pittman, Donald S. Nelson, Jr., Robert L. Leonard, Jr., Bradley W. Borne, Brett Barrett, Jerry Wagoner, Gary Lemmon, John Elder, Darrin Heffernan
  • Patent number: 7237719
    Abstract: An apparatus for a Universal Serial Bus (USB) and wireless smart card is provided. The apparatus includes a mode detection circuit, a switching block, a controller, an antenna, and a wired interface. Furthermore, an apparatus for a triple-mode smart card is also provided herein. The apparatus for the triple mode smart card includes a mode detection circuit, a switching block, a controller, an antenna, and a wired interface. The apparatus for the triple mode smart card operates in one of a wireless mode, a USB mode and an International Standards Organization 7816 mode or other wired mode. Furthermore, the apparatus for any of these smart cards could operate in both the wireless and wired mode(s) without conflict, and without switching power off and on to change configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Serge F. Fruhauf
  • Patent number: 7225979
    Abstract: A method of facilitating an interaction between a user and a product item, the product item having an identity and the method including a number of steps. The first step involves providing the user with an interface surface associated with the product item and containing information relating to the product item. The interface surface includes coded data indicative of the identity of the product item and of a number of reference points of the interface surface. The next step involves receiving, in a computer system, indicating data from a sensing device regarding the identity of the product item and a position of the sensing device relative to the interface surface. The sensing device, when placed in an operative position relative to the interface surface, sensing the coded data in the vicinity of the sensing device and generating the indicating data using the sensed coded data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Silverbrook Research Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Kia Silverbrook, Paul Lapstun, Simon Robert Walmsley
  • Patent number: 7219842
    Abstract: A scanning unit includes a lamp-mounting body having a top surface formed with an elongate opening that is disposed between a pair of parallel first and second grooves. First and second reflective layers are attached respectively over curved groove-defining surfaces of walls defining respectively the first and second grooves. Tubular first and second lamps are mounted respectively in the first and second grooves. An intersecting line of a first plane in which a middle line of the curved groove-defining surface defining the first groove and a first central axis of the first lamp are disposed, and a second plane in which a middle line of the curved groove-defining surface defining the second groove and a second central axis of the second lamp are disposed, is located on a scanning surface, and is disposed directly above the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Asia Optical Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Chung-Wei Wang, Yuan-Hsu Chou
  • Patent number: 7216808
    Abstract: A method that allows one to mark information with a pencil or ball point pen on a material and have the marked information represent answers to questions or responses to queries that may be read while the material is contained in an envelope. The material may be any cellulose type product, i.e., paper, cardboard, chipboard, wood or plastic, fabric, animal hide, etc. The marked entered information may be corrected by erasing the written information with an eraser and writing new information on the paper with a pencil or ball point pen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Darryl T. Rathbun, Thomas J. Foth, Andrei Obrea
  • Patent number: 7210635
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for providing a radio frequency identification. A barrier system is adapted to encase at least a portion of a radio frequency identification device. The barrier system includes a first layer defining a first set of physical properties and a second layer defining a second set of physical properties. A continuous transitory material is formed between the first and the second layers where they are interlinked at associated first and second margin portions. The physical properties of each layer of the barrier system provide protection to the component assembly from various types of physical and environmental damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc
    Inventors: Aaron K. Amstutz, Randall G. Sommer, Thomas J Grabenstetter, Christopher J. Stickling
  • Patent number: 7207490
    Abstract: A bar code is integrated in the paper in the form of a watermark. The fields (6) which separate the information-conveying bars of the bar code from each other are formed as watermarks. The information-conveying bars can be formed as watermarks, but they do not have to. Their width results from the spacing of the separating fields (6). The separating fields (6) are more narrow than the information-conveying bars, as a result of which the total length of the bar code is kept short.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Schneider
  • Patent number: 7204425
    Abstract: An enhanced identification appliance, such as a wristband, bracelet, patch, headband, neckband, ankleband, legband, card, sticker, or other wearable appliance, may have a biometric, chemical, optical, heat, pressure, humidity, electromagnetic, and/or acoustic sensor, various opto-electronics and/or various security features such as tamper-evident and tamper-resistant features. The sensors may obtain wearer-related information such as a fingerprint, retina, iris, blood, DNA, genetic data, voice pattern, temperature and other characteristic. Security features include a fastener on the identification appliance, which indicates whether the appliance has been attached to a wearer and if so, enables circuit functions. If one tampers with the appliance, circuit functions may be disabled, certain data erased, and/or evidence of tampering made apparent. The appliance may monitor the location or determine the identity of vehicle passengers for an airplane, train, boat, bus, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Precision Dynamics Corporation
    Inventors: Walter W. Mosher, Jr., Michael L. Beigel, H. Clark Bell, John Randall Tuttle, Oswaldo Penuela, Samuel D. Y. Marcus, David E. Wang
  • Patent number: 7201326
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent secret information that is being internally processed from being inferred through operational information of a secured device, including the current consumption information. One solution is provided by an information processing device having at least a key generation apparatus that generates key data automatically, an encryption unit that encrypts data with the corresponding key data, a register that stores a plurality of encrypted data items with the corresponding encryption key data items, and an arithmetic unit that performs operations using data expressed with the corresponding encryption key data and new key data as the input, encrypts the operation result with new input key data, and outputs the result, thereby being capable of performing internal processing on an encrypted data expression. Accordingly, only encrypted data is transferred on the internal or external data bus line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi ULSI Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Endo, Masahiro Kaminaga, Takashi Watanabe, Kunihiko Nakada, Takashi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7195163
    Abstract: A laser scanning unit to form an electrostatic latent image according to an image signal by projecting a light onto a photosensitive medium. The laser scanning unit has a light source having a cylindrical shape of a predetermined length; a reflective member surrounding the light source to focus the light from the light source; a micro-mirror array to reflect the light focused by the reflective member toward the photosensitive medium; a driving control unit to drive the micro-mirror array according to the image signal; and a micro-lens array disposed in an optical path between the micro-mirror array and the photosensitive medium, to focus the light reflected from the micro-mirror array onto the surface of the photosensitive medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-hwan Yoo
  • Patent number: 7195172
    Abstract: A card reader for an automated banking machine is provided. The card reader includes a processor and a card transport. The card transport moves at least one card a plurality of cycles between a first position and a second position within the card transport. The card transport continuously moves the card in a first direction for a first time period at a first speed, then continuously moves the card in the first direction for a second time period at a second speed which is slower than the first speed. Subsequent to the second time period, the card transport moves the card in the first direction for a third time period, during which the card stops and starts moving more than five times. Both the second and third time periods vary from cycle to cycle responsive to a variable parameter determined by the at least one processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Diebold Self-Service Systems, Incorporated
    Inventors: Pietro Scarafile, Emilio Caligaris Cappio
  • Patent number: 7195166
    Abstract: A method is provided for decoding data stored in a partial area of a coding pattern on a surface, based on a recorded image of the partial area. The coding pattern contains elements which each have at least two possible decoding values. The method identifies in the image a plurality of elements. The method further calculates, for each identified element, an associated value probability for each possible decoding value that the element has this decoding value. Additionally, the method performs the decoding of data based on the decoding values and the corresponding value probabilities. A device and a memory medium storing a computer program with instructions for performing such a data decoding technique are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Anoto AB
    Inventors: Andreas Olsson, Mats Petter Pettersson
  • Patent number: 7195169
    Abstract: The subject invention relates to systems and methods for employing a housing as part of a hand held scanner as to increase utility and add ruggedness. The housing comprises an upper top housing and lower bottom housing, with the top housing comprising a set of accessory rails adapted to accept accessories associated with the hand held scanner, and the lower housing including an adjustable mass element for balancing a weight of the scanner. Also, top housing can be adapted to accept various key pad configurations via a transitional mounting frame, and the bottom housing can hold a stylus. A bar code scanner system employing such housing can incorporate displays located on various sides of the housing and/or key pads to facilitate a reading from the scanner at slanted angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Sudhir Bhatia, Alistair Hamilton, Jaeho Choi, Curt Croley, Thomas Wulff
  • Patent number: 7191952
    Abstract: A selectable, multi-purpose card is provided. The card comprises a plurality of features stored in a memory storage device operatively mounted on the card. The plurality of card features allows the card to function as multiple cards, and a selection device mounted on the card enables a user to select any of the plurality of card features in a single step. In one embodiment the plurality of card features comprises a transaction card feature and a security card feature. The card may also include a flexible display configured to display a security code. In some embodiments, the display may also be configured to display a remaining amount of account value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.
    Inventor: George Blossom
  • Patent number: 7191951
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a price indication label comprising an detachable label body which has a price indication region capable of indicating a current price in an advertisement region capable of advertising information for sales promotion. In order to improve such price indication labels, the surface material of the price indication region and the surface material of the advertisement region are different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sato
    Inventors: Mitsutaka Hanyu, Ryota Suzuki