Abstract: An on-premises restaurant communication system for communicating a particular customer's table location to a food server at a central service counter. A communication device is mounted on each of the tables in the restaurant, and has a unique table identifier stored therein. The particular customer is provided with a data token on which a customer number is encoded. The customer selects a table and inputs the token in the communication device mounted on the selected table. In response to reading the customer number, the communication device sends a message to the central service counter that includes the unique table identifier and the customer number. There, the table identifier and the customer number are extracted from the received message, and a table location is determined and provided to the food server.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method and apparatus for determining the volume of single red blood cells or other particles that are suspended in liquids. The sample is disposed into an optical cuvette suitable for microscopic analysis. A fluorescent dye is added that does not leak into the cells, and that is able to absorb excitation light and emit fluorescence light at wavelengths that are only weakly absorbed by the cells. The cell volume is determined using fluorescence 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.

Abstract: A smart card is adapted to partially include and employ a triply-secure algorithm for data exchange. The algorithm verifies a user's identity and his simultaneous membership in any groups that he has joined. For this purpose, the algorithm requires only a single insertion of the smart card and only a single input of the user's personal identification number. The algorithm can be used in smart cards or in computer networks for identity verification and membership proof. A combination of three different hard problems is used. The first one is based on integer factorization, such as the RSA authenticating technique, and the second one is based on a discrete logarithm, and the third one is based on the coefficients of a polynomial function. In a typical application using smart cards, a certification authority (CA) establishes requirements for preparation and issuance of a multi-purpose card.

Abstract: A test fixture for testing circuit components includes at least one test bar, at least one tray, a test pedestal, a transportable test stage, a pickup collet, a first camera, and a second camera. Each test bar contains at least one circuit component. Each tray contains at least one test bar. The test pedestal is adapted to hold at least one test bar. The transportable test stage includes at least one tray and the test pedestal. The transportable test stage transports the circuit component under test from the pickup collet to the test site and return. The trays and test pedestal are in a fixed position with respect to the test stage. The pickup collet picks up test bars from the trays and the test pedestal. The pickup collet also places the test bars in the trays and on the test pedestal. The first camera is used to visually align the pickup collet and components on the test stage, and read test bar identification codes. The second camera is used to visually align the test bars with a test site.

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. The point of sale interface comprises a magnetic stripe emulator, a smart card emulator, or both. The magnetic stripe emulator may comprise at least one electromagnet.

Abstract: A radius of curvature of a projection lens for projecting illumination light on bar codes varies in the arranging direction of the line sensor to collimate the illumination light at each point along the extending direction of the projection lends such that a focal distance at each point agrees with a distance between the point and the position of the LED.

Abstract: The invention concerns microprocessor cards and, in such cards, various devices for hiding operations performed in the card against fraudulent breaches by analysing the current consumed. The invention is characterised in that it consists in adding in the card a device (20) modifying the consumed current, either by averaging it by integration, or by adding thereto random values by a random signal generator (28) so as to hide the operations performed. In another embodiment, it consists in carrying out simultaneously an operation for making secure and writing in an EEPROM memory, the latter generating chaotic current variations which hide the operation to be made secure.

Abstract: A multi-application IC card system is disclosed having selective application loading and deleting capability. Prior to loading an application onto an IC card a test is conducted to determine if the card is qualified to receive the application using personalization data stored on the card and comparing it with permissions data associated with the application indicating one or more sets of cards upon which the application may be loaded. If the personalization data of the card falls within the allowable set of permissions for that application then the card may be loaded with the application. Preferably, the personalization data includes data representative of the card number, issuer, a product class and the date on which the card is personalized.

Abstract: In a device for identifying objects resting on a carrier that are being moved along a conveyor line by a conveyor system and which undergo various processing steps along the conveyor line, with a marking carrier connected to the object and with a fixed reading device for the marking carrier, the marking carrier is attached to the carrier and the reading device is located below the conveyor line.

Abstract: Techniques for determining a position for a rotating optical element, or spinner, of a bar code scanner are described. A diffractive element is positioned so as to be struck by a laser beam produced by a laser source and reflected from the spinner when the spinner is in a reference position. The diffractive element diffracts the reflected beam to produce a diffracted line which strikes a reference position photodetector, thereby causing the reference position photodetector to produce a reference position photosignal. The reference position photosignal can be read by a controller to determine when the spinner is in the reference position, and the position of a Hall sensor can be read at the same time in order to calibrate the reading of the Hall sensor with the reference position.

Abstract: A bill transaction machine for transacting a bill. The machine includes a plurality of accepting boxes for accepting bills to be transacted each of the accepting boxes being mounted detachably and having the same outside dimension. A controller and a method thereof is provided for setting a condition for operation of the bill transaction machine.

Abstract: An identification system for tracking wafer carriers within a manufacturing facility. The system uses smart card technology in which an identification card is placed on each wafer carrier. The smart cards have memory for storing information about the wafer carrier. Power is transmitted to the card along with data so that the smart card does not require a separate power source. The devices for communicating with the smart cards can be stationary or they can be portable hand-carried devices. A network connects the readers to a central database.

Abstract: The disclosed method and system enables the acquisition and capture of consumer information at the time of purchase, such that a product's bar code (UPC) label and a consumer's response are concurrently read at the time of purchase, so as to obtain timely consumer information of high integrity. In one embodiment, a method is provided where the consumer may respond individually to inquiries on a plurality of products such that the consumer's responses are captured at the check-out counter at the time of purchase, and a resulting set of information containing responses to a plurality of specific products can be generated.

Abstract: Torch glassware for use with inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometers is provided. The glassware includes an outer tube and a stream of cool inert gas flowing radially within the inner surface thereof such that the cool inert gas creates a cushion between the tube and hot plasma contained within the stream of cool inert gas. The outer tube includes a sidewall having an open end and having a slot passing therethrough. The slot extends longitudinally along the sidewall from the open end thereof and is defined at least in part by a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge. The first longitudinal edge is offset radially inwardly from the second longitudinal edge. Stated another way, the tube includes a fixed center, and a distance between the fixed center and the first longitudinal edge is smaller than a distance between the fixed center and the second longitudinal edge.

Abstract: An inventory management system which determines item location and time spent on a shelf. The system includes an electronic shelf label (ESL) system including an ESL, a radio frequency identification (RFID) label interrogator associated with the ESL, RFID labels attached to items associated with the ESL, and a computer. The computer uses the ESL system to activate RFID labels on the items, obtains RFID label information from the RFID labels through the ESL system, and stores the RFID label information in a record. The computer completes repeats the process and compares the latest RFID label information with previous RFID label information to determine which items have been added or removed from the shelf.

Abstract: A chip-based plastic currency comprising a plastic cash card issued to the cardholder by an issuing bank, and an IC chip implanted in the plastic cash card for the loading of an amount of cash repeatedly, for enabling the plastic cash card to be re-useable. The amount of cash to be loaded in the IC chip is determined subject to the amount of money of cash paid in advance by the cardholder, or the amount of money deducted in advance from the savings account of the cardholder in the issuing bank.

Abstract: There is provided a method and device for selecting a communications protocol between an integrated circuit card and a terminal. The terminal supports at least two communications protocols, with one of the at least two communications protocols being a preferred communications protocol. The terminal transmits a reset to the integrated circuit card and receives an answer-to-reset from the integrated circuit card indicative of a first communications protocol. The terminal determines whether the first communications protocol matches the preferred communications protocol. If the first communications protocol does not match the preferred communications protocol, the terminal transmits another reset to the integrated circuit card and receives another answer-to-reset from the integrated circuit card indicatives of a second communications protocol.

Abstract: A multi-application IC card system is disclosed having selective application loading and deleting capability. Prior to loading an application onto an IC card a test is conducted to determine if the card is qualified to receive the application using personalization data stored on the card and comparing it with permissions data associated with the application indicating one or more sets of cards upon which the application may be loaded. If the personalization data of the card falls within the allowable set of permissions for that application then the card may be loaded with the application. Preferably, the personalization data includes data representative of the card number, issuer, a product class and the date on which the card is personalized.

Abstract: A portable integrated circuit device has a supporting body and a detachable mini-card bearing an integrated circuit. The mini-card is disposed on one end of the supporting body which has an elongated shape. The invention can be used for SIM cards in new generation mobile telephones.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card includes terminals for receiving data, a first control signal and a power supply by mechanical contact to the terminals and a coil for receiving data, a second control signal and a power supply by electromagnetic induction. The integrated circuit card also includes a mode designating circuit for designating a contact mode prior to the second control signal during the first control signal is received therein and for designating a contact-free mode during the second control signal is received therein. The integrated circuit card also includes a processing circuit for operating in the contact mode based on the contact mode designated by the mode designating circuit and for operating in the contact-free mode based on the contact-free mode designated by the mode designating circuit.