Abstract: An apparatus and method for reading a bar code on an object includes a light diffusing cavity and a deflector. The deflector deflects and diffuses light from a light source which may be part of a bar code reader. Preferably the deflector deflects substantially all of the light from the reader, so that none of the light from the light source directly illuminates the bar code. Inner side wall surfaces of the light diffusing cavity redirect the deflected light to indirectly illuminate the bar code. Despite deflecting light from the light source, the deflector allows unhindered passage of light emanating from the bar code to a light detection system which may be part of the bar code reader.

Abstract: An enhanced scanner is equipped with a novel interfacing mechanism for communicating directly with a data communications network. This eliminates the requirement of using intelligent network interface devices to access data generated by any of a plurality of bar code scanners coupled to a communications network. This novel interfacing mechanism may include a program stored on a memory device within the scanner and executed by a scanner processing mechanism. The scanner processing mechanism is adapted to perform two functions—bar code scanning and network communications—thereby reducing the cost and complexity of a communications network that includes one or more bar code scanners coupled to a host device through the network.

Abstract: The invention relates to a contacting device for a chip card, wherein the term chip card also includes so-called IC cards or a SIM (subscriber identity module). In any case, the chip card comprises a chip (a contact image) with corresponding contact surfaces which, with the card being inserted, are contacted in the contacting device by corresponding contacts of the contacting device.

Abstract: An improved optical system for scanning optical codes is disclosed. A laser beam produced thereby is a diverging, nearly diffraction free beam and may be used to produce an elongated scanning spot. An aperture may be employed such that variation in size of the aperture in one orthogonal dimension varies the size of the scanning spot in another orthogonal dimension.

Abstract: Information pertaining to characteristics of metal welding electrode wire and which characteristics are useful in connection with adjusting welding parameters in an arc welding process and/or selecting between operating modes in a welding system are encoded on welding wire and/or on other memory components such as bar code labels and tags, RFID cards and tags, IC cards, and Touch Memory buttons, and the memory device is scanned prior to and/or at the point of use of the welding wire for enabling tracking of product distribution, manual and/or automatic selection of an operating mode for the welding system, manual and/or automatic adjustment of welding parameters in a given operating mode, consumables inventory, and the like.

Abstract: A card reader connector includes a main body (10) and an extension bracket (50) removably attached to the main body. The main body includes an insulative housing (12) and metal contacts (22). A memory card (90) is inserted into slide grooves (24) of the housing, connected to the metal contacts, and supported by the housing. When the extension bracket is attached to the main body, it guides the card into the slide grooves and facilitates support of the inserted card. In one use, the main body without the extension bracket is mounted to a circuit board(72)of an electronic device (70). Part of an inserted card remains exposed outside of the device. In an alternative use, the main body 10 with the extension bracket attached thereto is mounted to a circuit board (82) of an electronic device (80). An inserted card is thus hidden within the device.

Abstract: Information pertaining to characteristics of metal welding electrode wire and which characteristics are useful in connection with adjusting welding parameters in an arc welding process and/or selecting between operating modes in a welding system are encoded on welding wire and/or on other memory components such as bar code labels and tags, RFID cards and tags, IC cards, and Touch Memory buttons, and the memory device is scanned prior to and/or at the point of use of the welding wire for enabling tracking of product distribution, manual and/or automatic selection of an operating mode for the welding system, manual and/or automatic adjustment of welding parameters in a given operating mode, consumables inventory, and the like.

Abstract: A recognition system for identification-card singularity comprises an identification card, a detail communication device attached to a detail computer, and a master communication device attached to a master computer. If the identification card is set in the detail communication device, a pulse is generated at the detail communication device at regular intervals. When the pulse is applied to the identification card, an individual SAW is excited therein. The individual SAW is converted into an individual double-coded digital-signal at the detail communication device and delivered into a digital network. When the individual double-coded digital-signal is received by the master communication device, the signal decoding is achieved, so that the identification-card singularity is recognized by the master communication device.

Abstract: A method of developing a configuration for encoding a data glyph block such that the data capacity of the data glyph block is maximized or made optimal. The method of forming an encoded configuration for a data glyph block containing one or more occlusions includes performing one or more of cut off of one or more occlusions, enlargement of one or more occlusions and merger of two or more occlusions, and encoding the cut off, enlarged or merged occlusions with synchronization lines, and encoding any remaining occlusions by error correction, thereby forming the encoded configuration. A method of embedding a data glyph block containing occlusions into an image by halftone rendering of glyph marks, again preferably with the data glyph block having maximal or optimal data capacity, is also set forth.

Abstract: A smart card reader (100) has a housing (2) with contact elements (3) fixed in the housing, which are resiliently biased into a space into which the smart card is slid. When released, the contacts (3) move into the space to make electrical contact with areas on the smart card now inserted. The contacts are held out of the space by a pivot member (4) which is actuated by a cover (5) which is slidably mounted in the housing. The cover, pushed inward by the inserted card, moves the pivot member. Thus there is no contact until the card is in position.

Abstract: A multifunctional scanner having a first processor, an image scanner, a laser scanner, and a host interface port is provided. The image scanner scans documents to detect the presence of images imprinted thereon, generates image data based on the detected images, generates mark-sense row/column data based on downloaded data masks, and forwards the image data to the first processor. The laser scanner scans documents to detect the presence of bar-code symbols imprinted thereon, decodes the bar code symbols, generates bar code information based on the decoded bar code symbols, and forwards the bar code information to the first processor. The host interface port electrically couples the first processor to an external host processor. The first processor receives the image data from the image scanner, converts the image data into a host datastream, and forwards the host datastream to the external host processor via the host interface port.

Abstract: A system for creating, dispensing, and redeeming electronic discount coupons in a store. The system includes a “smart card”, product stations adjacent to selected products in the store, and a checkout station in the checkout area. To create an electronic coupon, the customer inserts the card into the product station adjacent to an product the customer wishes to purchase, and the product station then writes an electronic coupon onto the card. The customer thus shops throughout the store collecting electronic coupons for products of interest. Upon completion of shopping, the customer redeems the electronic coupons at the checkout area, by inserting the card into the checkout station. During checkout, when UPC data matches data stored on the card, the customer is credited with the value of the corresponding coupon. Periodically, the electronic coupon data is transferred to a remote clearing house.

Abstract: A method for permitting embedded data blocks to include intentional occlusions, for example human visible/readable information such as logos, within the embedded data block. The method encodes occlusions within data blocks such that the size and location of the occlusions are determinable for reliable decoding. The method includes determining a size and location of an occlusion comprised of one or more occluded areas within a data block, determining a regular polygon shape that encompasses only occluded areas of the occlusion, thereby separating the occlusion into occluded areas within the regular polygon shape and remainder occluded areas, if any, outside the regular polygon shape, directly encoding the regular polygon shape through the use of synchronization lines, and indirectly encoding any remainder occluded areas through error correction.

Abstract: A portable, hand-held reader reads a symbol associated with a product selected by a customer. A database of a host computer stores attribute data of many transactions. The database is accessed on a real-time basis to automatically retrieve the stored transaction attribute data. The retrieved data is displayed on a display associated with the reader. A card reading device is provided on the hand-held reader, for charging a customer's account, all at one location. A printer prints a written memorandum of the transaction.

Abstract: An optical pattern reading apparatus includes a housing with a light projecting means located within the housing for projecting a line of light onto an optical pattern located external to the housing and wherein the line of light is cyclically swept across an optical pattern to be read. A reflecting mirror located in the housing, posteriorly of the light source is moved in synchronism with the line of light projected onto the optical pattern to receive a line of light reflected from the optical pattern and projecting its reflected light via a light receiving and condensing optics assembly onto a linear image sensor. The information present within an area can thus be sensed using a linear image sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for recording and storing digital data on optical memory cards and labels in the form of miniature bar codes using laser recording of optical storage media to create multiple updatable, miniature 2-D bar codes, storing about 15 to more than 500 times as much digital data as the widely-adopted PDF-417, 2-D bar code. The optical storage media is of the DRAW (direct-read-after-write) type which requires no post processing. The optical storage media is pre-formatted with tracks to precisely locate the recorded microscopic data spots. Groups of these microscopic data spots form data bars which in turn form data pixels whose dimensions are at least four times greater linearly and 16 times greater in area than the microscopic data spots. The data pixels can be read with photodetector arrays such as CCD arrays.

Abstract: There is provided a consumer transaction facility for performing a discharge of a medium including cash from a cover member in accordance with an operation of a customer. The consumer transaction facility is provided with a receiver having an operating button and a medium discharge control unit for discharging the medium from the cover member, and in a case where the medium is left at a lapse of a predetermined time, taking the medium into the cover member. The medium discharge control unit has time extension element for extending a time up to taking the discharged medium into the cover member in accordance with the operating button on said receiver after a discharge of the medium.

Abstract: A customer at an enrollment section (12) uses a self-dial telephone (14) to make a toll-free call to a customer service operator at a workstation (26). The operator activates a check-cashing card (18) obtained by the customer at the enrollment section, which includes enrolling a checking account against which the customer wishes to cash checks. The customer can subsequently use the activated card with automatic teller machines (57) to cash checks in transactions that are entirely automated, and that do not require the customer to have funds available for withdrawal from an institutional account. Each automatic teller machine interacts with a switch system (42), which in turn interacts with a host system (37), in order to determine whether to proceed with the check-cashing transaction. If authorization is granted, a dispense amount is determined by deducting one or more fees from the amount of the check, and the customer is then paid the dispense amount in cash.

Abstract: A data carrier has a carrier body with a recess, an insulating layer with an outer surface exposed to an environment of the data carrier and with an inner surface, a chip module that is mounted in the recess, and a transmission coil with coil contacts. The chip module has a chip with chip contacts, a cover of electrically insulating material, and a metal lead frame. The transmission coil is mounted in a zone outside the chip module. The metal lead frame has a first part, a second part and a third part. The first, second a third parts are substantially coplanarly arranged with respect to each other. The first part carries the chip at a side remote from the environment, and the second and third parts form lead frame contacts that are electrically coupled to the coil contacts and the chip contacts. The insulating layer and a cover part inside the data carrier form the cover.

Abstract: A highly secure personal identification related document is achieved by having an area which contains machine readable information and also having a printed region having embedded data in the image printed thereon. The machine readable information as recorded has been encoded using a secure hash algorithm. For legitimate personal identification related documents, the machine readable data and the embedded data are identical information. The personal identification related document is used in conjunction with a reader system which includes a reader for the machine readable data, an optical scanner for scanning the image and data embedded therein, and a processor. The machine readable data is delivered to the processor which applies the secure hash algorithm thereto to generate a first data set. The digitized image data retrieved with the optical scanner is also delivered to the processor and the embedded data is retrieved therefrom to generate a second data set.