Abstract: A polarization coupler includes a stress-inducing feature disposed to generate a stress-field in a substrate. First and second waveguides each have a coupling portion that pass through the stress-field. First and second periodic-structures are in optical communication with the coupling portions of the first and second waveguides.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for an automated teller machine (ATM), a call center, and a monitoring system. Even when a call center installed in an area is not in its service hours, the system can cope with an inquiry from a user in real time and realize a smooth 24-hour service. The system includes the ATM, the call center for monitoring and controlling the state of the automated teller machine at a remote place, and the monitoring apparatus for sequentially registering run information received from the ATM, service information and operator information received from various locations in the world. When receiving an inquiry from a user, the monitoring apparatus refers to information previously held in a storage within the monitoring apparatus, transmits the inquiry to the call center in service, and also transmits machine information and operation information of the monitoring apparatus from the monitoring apparatus to the call center.

Abstract: A package for a retail item includes a panel having a front side and a back side, and an enclosure attached to the panel. The enclosure encloses a retail item of the package. The package includes a product identification code or price code or bar code printed on either the front side or the back side of the panel. An aperture is defined in the panel and passes through the product identification code. The aperture is adapted to receive a hook for hanging the package. The product identification code may be adapted to be read by a machine at a checkout counter. The product identification code thus may provide information to the machine that enables the machine to determine the price of the retail item.

Abstract: Magnetic stripe documents are identified and authenticated on the basis of repeatable magnetic characteristics of a stripe recorded with digital data and waveform characteristics of the sensed digital data. Stripes are sensed to provide an analog signal, only the portion storing leading zeros being used. Cyclically, the leading-zero portion is sampled and digitized to provide a target number of samples using a frequency locked loop. The target number of samples is then reduced by a selection process that attains a predetermined number of digital samples from central locations in magnetized portions of the record specifically, spaces between data transitions. Selected groups, each of a predetermined number of digital samples, are then combined to provide magnetic characteristic data. Such data is then combined with waveform data (range) to provide an identification word. Documents are verified by correlating reference and sensed identification words.

Abstract: The present invention recognizes denomination and transporting direction of each bill to be deposited when the bill is deposited, selectively drives two light sources with different emission colors based on the recognized information on the denomination and direction of the bill, and scans and reads the portion where the serial number of the bill being transported is printed by means of an image sensor, so that the serial number of this bill is read while selectively changing the emission color of the light source according to the denomination of the bill. Even if the character color or background color of the serial number differs depending on the denomination, the serial number can be accurately recognized without providing many light sources with different emission colors.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a compact drive system serving to deflect a push force to move a carriage assigned to the chip card and mounted in a chip card receiving unit. A flexible, pressure-transmitting force conductor is provided in the form of individual spheres, the force conductor being assigned a direction-deflecting guide and a push rod provided with an actuating member. The force conductor is driven by a control slide engaging in the duct, the control slide being connected by a gear to a positioning motor.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an optical reader station for reading an object and a method of controlling an illumination source in the station for illuminating the object. The optical reader station comprises a mount for an optical reader and a stand with a surface for receiving the object, the optical reader includes an imager with an object field of view in which the object to be read is positioned. The station further includes a radiation source positioned within the object field of view and arranged to be obstructed by the object when the object is in position to be read. A detection mechanism, which is positioned to receive radiation from the radiation source when the radiation source is not obstructed by the object, deactivates the illumination source when radiation source radiation is detected.

Abstract: A device for reading and identifying a plate, with a camera means (100) with an optical device (110; 112, 114)) for digital image recording and an image processing device for the analysis of the image recorded by the camera means (100). In one embodiment, identification codes can be imaged from both sides of the plate (20)* by a mirror means (120; 122, 124, 126) onto the optical device (110; 112, 114) of the camera. The device is designed in such a way that each plate (40) can be recorded with two camera images, wherein a camera image is produced through the arrangement of several mirrors (122, 124, 126) of the mirror means (120) in such a way that one image half represents the right edge and the other image half represents the left edge of the plate (40) over a predetermined length.

Abstract: A method for issuing coupons through an automatic transaction apparatus, which permits consumers to enjoy discounts or other promotional services more widely and conveniently. Coupon descriptors containing various coupon information are stored in association with output medium identifiers. Each output medium identifier specifies at least one of a plurality of recording media (e.g., IC card, paper, portable information equipment) that can be used to store coupon information. When issuing a coupon to a user, the automatic transaction apparatus identifies which recording medium to use as an output medium for the requested coupon, by consulting a relevant output medium identifier. If there are two or more selectable media, the user is prompted to make a selection. The apparatus then outputs the coupon information to the identified or selected recording medium, thereby issuing a coupon to the user.

Abstract: A device for optical space switching in optical networks. The optical device comprises a broad area optical waveguide section having a number of electrodes extending over at least a portion of the length of the broad area optical waveguide section. The application of an electrical signal to an electrode causes a local change in effective refractive index of the broad area optical waveguide section, thereby causing light preferentially to propagate along a predetermined path in dependence on the configuration of the electrode. In particular the broad area waveguide device is implemented in indium phosphide (InP). Also described is a method for waveguiding in the optical device.

Abstract: A plastic ferrule including a centering section having a tubular body. The tubular body is provided with an outer-circumferential centering reference surface and a center axis of the centering reference surface. The centering section includes a resinous outer tube part having the outer-circumferential centering reference surface and provided, along the center axis, with a coated-fiber holding bore for securely accommodating a coated optical fiber and a fixing bore extending from the coated-fiber holding bore, the outer tube part forming a tubular wall with a generally uniform thickness as a whole. The centering section also includes an inner tube part fixed to the fixing bore of the outer tube part and provided along the center axis with an uncoated-fiber holding bore, communicating with the coated-fiber holding bore, for securely accommodating an uncoated optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical apparatus has an adjustment apparatus 5 and an optical unit 1 including a plurality of optical elements. The adjustment apparatus sequentially provides control signals that, according to a probabilistic search technique, change the parameters of a stipulated plurality of optical elements among the optical elements to become parameters that cause the functions of the optical apparatus to satisfy stipulated specifications. A method of adjusting the optical apparatus includes sequentially providing control signals that, according to a probabilistic search technique, change the parameters of the stipulated plurality of optical elements among the optical elements, and searching for optical values at which the functions of the optical apparatus the stipulated specification.

Abstract: Antenna errors are corrected in an integrated circuit design utilizing spare gates distributed throughout the integrated circuit. An integrated circuit in accordance with the invention includes standard cells interspersed with spare gates. For example, the circuit may include one or more rows of spare gates arranged between groups of rows of standard cells, or islands of spare gates arranged between groups of rows of standard cells. A signal line of the integrated circuit having a detected antenna error associated therewith is coupled via one or more conductors associated with at least one metal layer of the integrated circuit to a diode or other antenna error control circuitry formed using at least one of the spare gates. The standard cells and spare gates are preferably placed in accordance with a placement operation of an automated place and route process of a standard cell computer-aided design (CAD) tool.

Abstract: In a diffraction grating device (1), index modulations are formed along the longitudinal direction of an optical fiber (10) serving as an optical waveguide. The optical fiber (10) has a core region (11), an inner cladding region (12), and an outer cladding region (13) sequentially from the optical axis center. Index modulations are formed in both the core region (11) and the inner cladding region (12) of the optical fiber (10) in each of a plurality of regions A1 to AN (N is an integer; N?2) separated from each other along the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber (10). In the diffraction grating device (1), regions An (n=1 to N) in which index modulations are formed in both the core region (11) and the inner cladding region (12) and regions Bn (n=1 to N?1) in which no index modulations are formed alternately exist along the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a dispersion compensating optical waveguide, and an optical pump that pumps the dispersion compensating optical waveguide with light. The light from the pump provides suitable selective gain to a fundamental mode of the dispersion compensating optical waveguide that multi-path interference is substantially reduced. A method of reducing multi-path interference comprises pumping a dispersion compensating optical waveguide with light to provide suitable selective gain to a fundamental mode of the dispersion compensating optical waveguide so that MPI from said dispersion compensating optical waveguide is significantly reduced.

Abstract: A secure system and method for the transfer of value units between a plurality of gambling cards (CJ) and a plurality of gambling machines (200, 300). Each machine has a transcriber (210, 310) to debit value units of the gambling cards. The machines are connected via a secure network (123) to a central processing unit (1). Each gambling card (CJ1) stores data (S, Op1, Op2, Opx, Id, S) unique to the card and the use of that card in gambling. The central processing unit (1, BD) stores the same data as what is in the cards. The cards' and the CPU's data are maintained in parallel as the gambling progresses, and may include data from previous sessions. A monitor (BD) checks that the CPU (1, BD) data and the card (CJ1) data correspond. Thus the integrity of this smart card gambling is enhanced.

Abstract: The optical module optically aligns two adjacently located optical components. The optical module comprises a substrate and at least one pre-alignment groove formed therein for coarsely aligning the two optical components. The optical components are seated in the at least one groove with a gap between them. The optical module further comprises a waveguide core located in the gap between the two optical components. The waveguide core extends from a light-guiding portion of one optical component to a light-guiding portion of the other optical component and guides light from one optical component to the other.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensation of central wavelength shifting of a fiber grating by material with Invar effect. In the present invention, a substrate having a negative thermal expansion coefficient and a fiber with fiber grating is provided, and two portions of the fiber at both sides of the fiber grating are fixed to the substrate. The substrate and the fiber are satisfied with ?eff?bragg=K?AfEf(?c??f) in which ?eff is an effective thermal expansion coefficient of the fiber grating, ?bragg is a Bragg wavelength, K? is a constant, Af is a cross-section area of the fiber, Ef is an elastic modulus of the fiber, ?c is the negative thermal expansion coefficient of the substrate, and ?f is a thermal expansion coefficient of the fiber.

Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is to simplify the operation of an automatic transaction machine and to improve the convenience therein. In the automatic transaction machine, a transaction history of more than one account is managed together for every one user and is presented as a transaction menu. The transaction history is recorded in an IC card. A user can edit the transaction history selected as a transaction details in an arbitrary manner. By presenting the transaction history as a transaction menu, the machine can provide the user with a rapid and simple transaction.

Abstract: A method and system for verifying readings of contrasting elements such as bar code elements includes generating a profile of the contrasting elements; identifying a first zone of values representing a first contrasting element, a second zone of values representing a second contrasting element, and a working zone of values representing transitions between contrasting elements; detecting a change in the bar code profile indicative of an apparent transition between the contrasting elements and confirming the apparent transition as a true transition if it occurs in the working zone and rejecting it if it occurs in the first or second zones.