Abstract: An integrating optical system for measuring optical radiation. The system has a first sphere (forming a “primary” integrating cavity) and a second sphere (forming a “secondary” integrating cavity). An optical fiber interfaces to an input aperture of the first sphere so that light from the fiber enters the first sphere. A detector interfaces with the second sphere such that light from the first sphere couples to the detector by scattering within the first and second spheres and without a direct line of sight between the detector and the input aperture. The secondary integrating cavity has a smaller volume than the primary integrating cavity. The secondary integrating cavity is made smaller so as to decrease losses incurred by light scattering transmission through the first and second spheres. The detector is preferably configured so that it does not receive “specular” radiation (i.e., radiation from a single reflection) from the walls of the primary cavity.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a method and system is provided wherein IC card information can be changed in either of two ways: (1) the information stored in IC card is changed independently of the information that the center facility maintains, and then the corresponding IC card information maintained by the center facility is updated to reflect the changes made in the IC card, and (2) the IC card information maintained in the center apparatus is changed, and then the corresponding information in the IC card is updated to reflect the changes made in the center apparatus.

Abstract: A component has three, two-dimensional arrays that each contain three characters of its nine character, alphanumeric serial number. The first three characters of the serial number must be constant for all parts of this type. As a result, the serial number can be divided among the arrays by using the first character as the first digit in the first array, the second character as the first digit in the second array, and the third character as the first digit in the third array. The remaining characters of the serial number are interleaved in the arrays in the following pattern: the fourth and fifth characters are the second and third digits in the first array, the sixth and seventh characters are the second and third digits in the second array, and the eighth and ninth characters are the second and third digits in the third array.

Abstract: An assembly for quickly and efficiently distributing PC cards while in-transit for accessing a system on-board a mobile platform to communicate therewith. The assembly may be included as part of a seatback and includes a portion for securedly maintaining the PC card therein until payment is made using a credit card or similar payment card. The credit card is inserted within the assembly for processing and once approved, the PC card may be removed. The credit card is held and not returned until the PC card is replaced.

Abstract: A method for receiving and shipping vehicles or other manufactured items in which the items are assigned several identification numbers and in which the transport conveyances and/or railcars are similarly and respectively assigned several identification numbers. These identification numbers cooperatively allow the vehicles to be quickly located within a storage yard facility and to be efficiently and accurately assigned to a transport vehicle or railcar, effective to allow the vehicles to be transported to a desired destination.

Abstract: A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel provided with fitting screw insertion holes respectively at a pair of side surfaces thereof, a pair of brackets including a holding portion covering one side surface of the liquid crystal panel, and flat plate portions formed at both ends of the side surface in parallel to the liquid crystal surface and a liquid crystal casing including a rear panel and a front panel covering the liquid crystal panel. In the liquid crystal display device, the pair of the brackets are screwed respectively to both side surfaces of the liquid crystal panel through holes provided in the holding portions and the fitting screw insertion holes of the liquid crystal panel and are screwed to the inside of the liquid crystal casing through holes provided in the flat plate portions.

Abstract: An improved detector assembly restricting light striking a detector within the assembly to a relatively narrow bandwidth and techniques for fabricating the same. A pliable material is impregnated with a coloring agent selected so that the material provides a filtering effect admitting light within a range including a predetermined wavelength, with the wavelength having a value based on a wavelength of a laser to be employed with the detector assembly. The pliable material is shaped so as form a capsule enclosing a detector, with the capsule including a hemispherical lens element as an integral part of the capsule. The hemispherical lens element is coated with a filter coating selected to provide a filtering effect complementary to that provided by the coloring agent, such that the combined filtering effects provided by the filter coating and the coloring agent provide a bandpass filtering effect.

Abstract: A cash drawer device includes a command receiving and outputting circuit for receiving a plurality of open commands and outputs the open commands, and a simultaneous open inhibiting circuit for inhibiting the command receiving and outputting circuit from simultaneously outputting more than one of the open commands when more than one of the open commands are simultaneously received by the command receiving and outputting circuit. A first simultaneous open inhibiting circuits includes an exclusive OR gate. A second simultaneous open inhibiting circuit includes first and second D flip-flops. The cash drawer device may further include a concurrent open inhibiting circuit having a timer responsive to one of the open commands for inhibiting the command receiving and outputting circuit from outputting another of the open commands for a predetermined interval. Thus, power consumption of driving a plurality of drawers can be suppressed. The invention also includes a method of controlling cash drawers.

Abstract: A wafer stage overlay error map is created using standard overlay targets and a special numerical algorithm. A reticle including a 2-dimensional array of standard overlay targets is exposed several times onto a photoresist coated silicon wafer using a photolithographic exposure tool. After exposure, the overlay targets are measured for placement error using a conventional overlay metrology tool. The resulting overlay error data is then supplied to a software program that generates a 2-dimensional wafer stage distortion and yaw overlay error map.

Abstract: A bar code symbology comprises a set of symbols having characters and patterns of bars and spaces. Each character spans a distance of m module widths and is represented by n bars and p interleaved spaces. The largest single bar or space is limited to k modules in width. A human recognizable graphic element is included among the patterns of bars and spaces. At least a portion of the graphic element is machine readable and recognizable by a decoder as a portion of the symbol.

Abstract: A method to count tickets which includes a translucent ticket with an opaque pattern with translucent portions, including a light source on the first side of the ticket and a detector on a second side of the ticket, providing relative motion between the ticket and the detector. The pattern and translucent portions are detected with the detector.

Abstract: A password corresponding to an IC card or a service is stored or registered in a terminal apparatus provided with a preferably contactless IC card section having a read/write function. A password is inputted before utilizing the IC card function. The IC card function, which is disabled for utilization under other conditions, is enabled for utilization during a period of time only when the inputted password matches the registered password, thus even when the device is lost or stolen, others cannot have access to the services available for the apparatus without authentication.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a handheld device is disclosed. The handheld device includes a housing, a display mounted within the housing, and a light sensor mounted within the housing to detect light beams through the display. In a further embodiment, the handheld device includes a plurality of keypads mounted on the housing, and an electro luminescent (EL) sheet. The EL sheet is mounted within the housing below the display and the keypads, and illuminates the display and keypads whenever the handheld device is in a dark environment. In yet another embodiment, the handheld device includes a thumbwheel. The EL sheet or an LED illuminates the thumbwheel whenever the handheld device is in a dark environment.

Abstract: This invention discloses an electronic shelf label including an LCD display, a housing including a protective at least partially transparent cover layer disposed over the LCD display and in spaced relationship thereto, and an at least partially transparent intermediate layer formed over the LCD display and substantially filling a space between the LCD display and the protective at least partially transparent cover layer.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a method of using scatterometry measurements to control the photoresist etch process. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming at least one grating structure in a layer of photoresist material, the grating structure being comprised of a plurality of photoresist features of a first size, and performing an etching process on the photoresist features of the grating structure to reduce the photoresist features to a second size that is less than the first size.

Abstract: An apparatus for reading bar code symbols having parts of different light reflectivity by a scanning beam which forms a scan line through the bar code symbol includes focusing optics for collecting light reflected off at least a portion of the bar code symbol including a front surface for receiving the incoming light, and a first surface adjacent one end of the front surface, and a second surface adjacent to the other end of the front surface, and a rear surface. A photosensor is positioned so as to receive light collected by the focusing optics and transmitted through the rear surface, and for generating an electrical signal indicative of the detected light intensity. The first and second surfaces have different light reflectivity properties.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10) includes an adaptable fascia (12). The fascia (12) has a first appearance when not in use, and a second, different appearance when a user has been identified by the terminal (10). This enables a card issuer to associate its corporate color scheme with a user, so that when the user operates the terminal (10), the terminal can adapt the fascia to present the color scheme of the card issuer in a method of use.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include a financial transactions processing system to process financial transactions for a customer in a financial institution. One embodiment includes an entrance, a concierge desk, two or more teller towers, and a teller cash dispenser. The teller towers may contain a teller computer, a top surface, one or more cash slots, and a cash box. A bank employee at the teller tower performs transactions for a customer, such as depositing cash, performing account inquiries, etc. In one embodiment, the teller cash dispenser receives information regarding a withdrawal transaction and dispenses cash to a customer or the customer receives a printed receipt to receive cash from the cash dispenser. In another embodiment, the teller towers are arranged in a circle, semicircle, elongated circle, or oval.

Abstract: A recording medium comprises pairs of groove tracks and land tracks provided side by side while being bent periodically, a plurality of land prepits previously formed on the land tracks and carrying information about the groove tracks, and a recording layer formed on at least the groove tracks and the land tracks. The land prepits have a radius of a curvature smaller than a radius of a curvature of sides of the groove tracks in land-prepit absent regions of the land prepits and are defined by curved surfaces continuously extending from the sides of the groove tracks. Those sides of the groove tracks which face the continuous curved surfaces of the land prepits are curved surfaces that stricture the groove tracks.

Abstract: A bar code arrangement allows determining positions along an axis. The bar code arrangement includes a plurality of bar code symbols, each having start and stop end characters and encoded data therebetween. The symbols are positioned in a column along the axis and are so oriented that each bar of the symbols is parallel to the axis and that two consecutive bar code symbols have different orientations, one being rotated 180° relative to the other. Scanning the bar code symbol corresponding to a particular position among the plurality of bar code symbols in the column allows identification of the particular position along the axis. A symbol scan is considered successful when two different characters are found in a symbol scan. In the form of a ribbon, this bar code arrangement is suitable to correctly detect a liquid level on a bottle of liquid.