Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the parameterization of scanners for printed codes, in which in a preliminary phase a coding symbology is selected, in which character strings representing parameterization commands and parameters assigned to said commands are defined, these character strings are stored and a display menu of various suggested options is established for each command and; various parameter values. Furthermore, according to this process, at the time of the parameterization of a scanner, after selection of the various commands and parameters, the selected character strings are reassembled into at least one sequence of character strings of a length at the most equal to that of the scanning range of the scanners, each of said sequences is converted to obtain the corresponding graphical symbol, and each of these symbols is read by means of the scanners.

Abstract: A sheet-framed IC carrier has a sheet frame having an aperature, and a backing film with a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer on one surface thereof which is adhered to the back surface of the sheet frame. An IC carrier having an IC module is secured in the aperature of the sheet frame with the adhesive layer on the backing film. When the IC carrier is removed from the sheet-framed IC carrier, no excessive load is exerted on the IC module and no projection remains on the peripheral edge of the carrier base.

Abstract: A measurement probe 1 for a machine tool has a housing 4/5 incorporating a window 6 which allows the optical transmission or receipt of signals from/to infrared transmitters 12 or receivers 13. To obviate the need to mount the transmitter and receiver components on an external surface of the housing, they are surface mounted to a circuit board 8′.

Abstract: A ballistics fire control system for a spin or fin stabilized projectile is provided with means which are operated such that the closest point of approach between a fired projectile and a target is taken to be at the instant the projectile velocity vector (6) is orthogonal to the position error vector (13) between the projectile and target in accordance with the relationship: Vp•(PP−PF)=0 where Vp is the projectile velocity vector, PP is the projectile trajectory or position vector, PF is the target future position vector, • is the vector dot product and (PP−PF) is the position error vector.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for adjusting the phase of an optical beam. In one aspect of the present invention, an optical device includes a substrate through which an optical beam is to be directed along an optical path. In one embodiment, the optical device includes an array of segments of optical phase-shifting structures along the path. In one embodiment, each respective one of the segments is to be selectively switched on or off to adjust a phase of the optical beam. In one embodiment, the optical phase-shifting structures include capacitive structures to induce the plasma optical effect to adjust the phase of an optical beam. In another embodiment, the optical phase-shifting structures include an electro-optic material such as Lithium Niobate.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical gain equalization system for receiving and equalizing a multiple-channel input optical signal. The optical gain equalization system includes a cascaded array of tunable optical filters filtering the multiple-channel input optical signal and generating a plurality of sub-signals and a residual signal and each of the sub-signals transmitted over a mutually exclusive filter-specific spectrum-range while a combination of all the filter-specific spectrums dynamically covering the spectral portions of said multi-channel input optical signal where power equalizations are required, and all said filter-specific spectrums together with the residual signal spectrum substantially covering an entire spectral range of the multi-channel input optical signal.

Abstract: An adapter for use with a conventional POS card reader to interface with PDA's, Wireless Phones, and other Handheld devices, through Infrared or RF media, such that signals received from the devices can be converted to conventional magnetic stripe and/or smart card format, as required by the conventional POS card readers. The adapter includes a housing, including at least a reader-insertable portion capable of being inserted in the card reader, a receive circuit in the housing, a processor in the housing connected to the receive circuit; and a point of sale interface in the reader insertable portion of the housing and connected to the processor. The housing may be approximately the size of a conventional credit card and may be fully reader-insertable.

Abstract: Checks, drafts and negotiable instruments are modified to optically hide, block or print over the account number encoded on the standard MICR line, using non-magnetic ink. This deters casual check fraud by visually obscuring an account number on the check, while allowing the number to be magnetically read using MICR check scanners.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a tape read head bias signal control circuit configured to present to a tape read head a first amplitude bias signal in response to at least a first control signal and a second amplitude bias signal in response to at least a second control signal, wherein the second amplitude is lower than the first amplitude. The read head, thereby, may have a reduced operating temperature.

Abstract: A reusable container which comprises therein one or more electronically and/or optically readable identification means; and a process for the monitoring and recordal of product information during the filling or refilling of a reusable container, which comprises reading an electronic and/or optical identification means on said reusable container and storing the information obtained therefrom in a storage means that is capable of being interrogated to extract and optionally process said information. The information can include customer data, such as buying frequency, quantity, product type, produce customisation characteristics, and/or other consumer related data.

Abstract: An optical scanning system and method for scanning graphical codes on an object or media to obtain the Internet address that is represented by the graphical code. An Internet address is graphically encoded and is displayed on an object. The codes are then disseminated to the public, where users see the codes graphically encoded on objects or in media purchased or viewed by the public. Once the user determines that more information is desired, the user elects which option for code scanning is desired: automatic access to the Internet address represented by the graphical code, automatic storage of the Internet address represented by the graphical code into memory or automatic insertion of the Internet address represented by the graphical code into a query of a Web browser. The graphical code is then scanned by an optical scanner. The scanned graphical code is then transmitted to a computer where the graphical code is processed and the encoded Internet address is obtained.

Abstract: A method for operating a code reader and a code reader. According to the method, laser light is transmitted from a laser light source to illuminate an object having a code, wherein the laser light is amplitude-modulated to reduce the speckle noise of the light illuminating the object. Reflected or re-emitted light from the object is received by a light receiver. According to the code reader, the code reader includes a light transmitter having a laser light source adapted for transmitting laser light to illuminate an object having a code. The code reader also includes a light receiver arranged for receiving reflected or re-emitted light from the object and for producing electrical signals corresponding to the received light. The code reader also includes a modulation apparatus that modulates the laser light source such that amplitude-modulated light can be transmitted from the laser light source to the object.

Abstract: A smart card having a display is provided. The card is capable of storing application programs and displaying symbols or logos of the stored application programs to allow a user to view which applications are currently available in the smart card.

Abstract: A system and method of flexibly loading an application and its associated data from an application provider onto an IC card. The application and its associated data is divided into segments which can each fit into the input buffer of an Integrated circuit card. Each segment is transmitted separately and the Integrated circuit card then stores the segment in an available space in the IC card's memory. The segments can be placed in non-contiguous memory in order to reduce memory fragmentation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for write-protecting the contents of a flash memory device are disclosed. According to one aspect of the present invention, a memory storage device includes a memory, and interface, and a housing. The interface is coupled to the memory, and allows the device to communicate or interface with an external device. The housing is arranged around the memory, and includes a first section and a tab that is partially attached to the first section to enable data to be written onto the memory through the interface. The tab is arranged to be detached from the first section to substantially prevent the data from being written onto the memory through the interface. In one embodiment, when the tab is partially attached to the first section, the memory storage device is substantially write-enabled.

Abstract: A method is provided for adjusting the optical axis of a light transmission path that includes a plurality of optical components. The method uses an apparatus to sequentially adjust the optical axis of one or more of the optical components, using a probabilistic search technique to obtain optimum evaluation value with respect to light transmitted through the light transmission path.

Abstract: A digital information recording carrier has a planar recording surface having an information recording area in which cells corresponding to bits are virtually set in a matrix form, each cell being provided with an optically recognizable mark corresponding to digital information so that the digital information is recorded in the information recording area as a two-dimensional pattern. The carrier also has specific patterns each consisting of a plurality of cells which are linked together and which are given marks in a given pattern. Some of the specific patterns are placed in an inner portion apart from a perimeter of the information recording area.

Abstract: The sort result of sorting into the denominations of bills fitted to storage and the denominations of bills not fitted to storage for each of cartridges 11a to 11d placed in a main unit of an apparatus are displayed on a display section 4. When the denomination of bills to be stored for each of the cartridges 11a to 11d is entered in an input section 3, a control section 2 sets the denomination of bills to be stored for each of the cartridges based on the entry. Thus, the denomination of bills to be stored for each of the cartridges 11a to 11d can be set by the easy operation of entering the denomination of bills to be stored for each of the cartridges 11a to 11d in the input section 3.

Abstract: An automated media library gathers information about each readable cartridge label using a camera. From the label information, the orientation of the cartridge may be determined. For each cartridge with an unreadable label or no label, the media library attempts a get/put operation. If the get/put operation fails, the cartridge is marked as incorrectly oriented. Alternatively, the tape library may attempt a get/put operation on all removable media cartridges. A similar process is performed when a cartridge access port is closed and the cartridge access port is marked inaccessible to the host when an incorrectly oriented cartridge is detected.

Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus and a method for determining the volume of individual red blood cells or other particles that are suspended in liquids. The sample is disposed into an optical cuvette suitable for microscopic analysis. An absorbing dye is added that does not leak into the cells, and that is able to absorb light at wavelengths that are only weakly absorbed by the cells. The cell volume is determined using transmitted light intensity values measured (i) in a first area comprising a single cell, (ii) in a second area close to that cell, and (iii) in said second area, after changing the cuvette thickness by a known amount.