Abstract: A data carrier (1) which can be operated in a contact-bound mode and in a contactless mode and a circuit (1A) for such a data carrier (1) has a.c. detection means (69) for detecting the presence of a useful HF signal (HF) received via a transmission coil (31) and clock signal detection means (73) for detecting a clock signal (CLK1) received via a transmission contact (16), and has logic means (82) which cooperate with the a.c. detection means (69) and the clock signal detection means (73) and which enable the activation of the contact-bound mode (CONTACT) and the activation of the contactless mode (CONTACTLESS) to be initiated.

Abstract: An integrated scanner for scanning a barcode is formed on a common substrate. The scanner may include a micro-machined mirror, a laser diode, and a detector, mounted on a single substrate or several connected substrates. Lenses can be used to focus a laser beam from the laser diode as well as expand a laser beam deflected by the micro-machined mirror. The scanner may also scan a barcode without using a micro-machined mirror by rotating the laser diode.

Abstract: A plurality of scan lines is used to detect characteristic features of a checkerboard structure or similar pattern structure of symbology within a field of view. The scan lines cross leading edges of the symbology which provides signals to a plurality of processors. The processors detect instances wherein sequential leading edges exhibit angular shifts corresponding to a pattern of the symbology. A further processor is used to detect when a coincidence of these angular shifts occur, thereby providing an indication of the location of the symbology within the field of view.

Abstract: An optical or symbol reader including CMOS circuitry preferably integrated on a single chip. A CMOS optical reader chip comprises a CMOS imaging array having a plurality of pixels each with a dedicated pixel-site circuit. Charge is accumulated at each pixel location transferred upon demand to a common bus. In a preferred embodiment, exposure time of the imaging array is controlled using a feedback loop. One or more exposure control pixels are positioned adjacent to or within the imaging array and receive light along with the imaging array. The charge of the exposure control pixel or pixels is measured against a threshold level, and the amount of time taken to reach the threshold level determines the time exposure of the pixels of the imaging array. CMOS signal processing circuitry is employed which, in combination with the exposure control circuitry, minimizes time-to-read over a large range of light levels, while performing spatially optimal filtering.

Abstract: A wireless debit card communications system comprising a radio unit, a base station, and an end station. The radio unit, for example, a radio telephone, includes a first processor, a reader for reading a credit amount and a personal access number from a debit card, and a transceiver for communicating, using radio waves, a credit signal. The base station receives and relays the credit signal over a communications channel to the end station. The end station includes a switch to generate a first control signal to allocate the credit amount of the debit card to the radio unit, and to set a radio unit access number of the radio unit to the personal access number of the debit card with a communications path through the base station. The end station also generates a second control signal for changing the credit amount and the personal access number of the debit card. The base station may be connected to a debit meter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the progress of a plurality of batches of semiconductor wafer or memory disks through a multiplicity of processing operations at various locations within a plant facility and maintaining information regarding the progress of each batch at the respective batch. The method includes the step of inserting each of the batches of wafers or memory disks in a carrier constructed and arranged for supporting the wafers or disks in parallel, axially arranged, spaced arrays. A transponder is embedded in a planar wall portion within each carrier by way of a recess extending inwardly from a lower edge of the wall portion. The transponder has a code to identify the carrier and a batch of wafers or disks contained therein and to further identify the various processing operations to which the batch has been subjected.

Abstract: There is provided an integrated circuit card having an associated operating mode. The integrated circuit card includes: a microprocessor; a memory coupled to the microprocessor; data stored in the memory representative of the operating mode; an operating system stored in the memory for processing selected information in a first IC card format; a shell application stored in the memory for processing the selected information in a second IC card format; and means for routing the selected information to either the operating system or the shell application responsive to the operating mode. The selected information may be a command, such as a file access command.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for enabling a processor to execute processing routine even if a power-source voltage drop occurs during processing. When an ignition key switch 102 is closed, voltage VB is supplied from a vehicle-mounted battery B1 to a comparator AMP of a CPU 108 and to a power-source stabilizer circuit 201 of a regulator 200. Also, capacitors C1 and C2 are charged with a load from the vehicle-mounted battery B1. Even if the power-source line is momentarily interrupted while in this state, the capacitor C1 has already been charged, and so the transition of the drop in voltage VB is gradual compared with a case wherein the capacitor C1 is absent. Additionally, because the capacitor C2 has already been charged, voltage VCC supplied to the CPU 108 from the regulator 200 is held at a fixed value for a certain interval.

Abstract: An optical or symbol reader including CMOS circuitry preferably integrated on a single chip. A CMOS optical reader chip comprises a CMOS imaging array having a plurality of pixels each with a dedicated pixel-site circuit. Charge is accumulated at each pixel location transferred upon demand to a common bus. In a preferred embodiment, exposure time of the imaging array is controlled using a feedback loop. One or more exposure control pixels are positioned adjacent to or within the imaging array and receive light along with the imaging array. The charge of the exposure control pixel or pixels is measured against a threshold level, and the amount of time taken to reach the threshold level determines the time exposure of the pixels of the imaging array. CMOS signal processing circuitry is employed which, in combination with the exposure control circuitry, minimizes time-to-read over a large range of light levels, while performing spatially optimal filtering.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling and monitoring credit card transactions of a vending machine that dispenses and/or encodes prepaid cards. The system reads magnetically stored information from a credit card or debit card, receives an authorization amount for a transaction from a credit verification source or determines whether a selected prepaid amount is below a maximum allowed transaction amount, and stores transaction information. The system also controls the vending of the use of a general purpose computer and peripheral devices.

Abstract: An optical or symbol reader including CMOS circuitry preferably integrated on a single chip. A CMOS optical reader chip comprises a CMOS imaging array having a plurality of pixels each with a dedicated pixel-site circuit. Charge is accumulated at each pixel location transferred upon demand to a common bus. In a preferred embodiment, exposure time of the imaging array is controlled using a feedback loop. One or more exposure control pixels are positioned adjacent to or within the imaging array and receive light along with the imaging array. The charge of the exposure control pixel or pixels is measured against a threshold level, and the amount of time taken to reach the threshold level determines the time exposure of the pixels of the imaging array. CMOS signal processing circuitry is employed which, in combination with the exposure control circuitry, minimizes time-to-read over a large range of light levels, while performing spatially optimal filtering.

Abstract: A data carrier (1) which can be operated in a contact-bound mode and in a contactless mode and a circuit (1A) for such a data carrier (1) has supply voltage generating means (35) for deriving a supply voltage (VDD), for various circuit sections of the data carrier (1) and of the circuit (1A), from a received useful HF signal (HF), and, in addition, potential equalizing circuit (94) by which at least two contact terminals (17A, 19A) each connected to a respective transmission contact (17, 19) can be brought at the same potential (ground).

Abstract: An optical scanner for reading indicia of variable light reflectivity, such as bar code symbols, having a light source for producing a light beam for scanning a target; a sensor for collecting the reflected light from the target; and various light collection systems, including a louver formed from an array of thin slats positioned adjacent to the sensor so that light directed along substantially only one angle reaches the sensor, as well as imaging/diffusing optical systems.

Abstract: By providing subpixel accuracy in the detection of the position of an element of a pixel data image, the invention makes possible reductions in scanner and storage resolution of the order of 65 percent or greater for two-dimensional applications. Methods use normalized gray level values to determine the extent of coverage of an image cell by individual pixels. By then applying such gray level values of a plurality of successive pixels to a preconstructed lookup table, ambiguities are resolved to determine the position of cell edges. The cell edge data can be used to determine cell position or used directly in edge-based bar code decoding techniques. Cell position data is used for construction of a virtual image of a bar code or other dataform of interest and virtual image information may then be used for purposes of decoding the bar code or other dataform.

Abstract: A portable card reader is designed to be carried in a wallet or purse. In a first embodiment, the card reader has an electromagnetic head that reads information from a magnetic strip of a card. In a second embodiment, information is read from the card by an array of Hall sensors. In both embodiments, the information read from the card is converted to a sequence of electronic bursts of predetermined frequency, preferably in the audible or ultrasound range. The sound signals are output by a speaker to the microphone of a telephone. The signal is then transmitted over the telephone lines to a remote receiver. The receiver then converts the sound bursts into signal pulses which can be read using the computer software of a conventional card reader.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing communication with a higher communication rate while maintaining the occupied frequency band narrow, a signal processing unit of a reader/writer unit Biphase Shift Keying (BPSK)-modulates data to be transmitted, and thereafter outputs the modulated signal to a modem. The modem Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK)-modulates the modulated signal and outputs the ASK-modulated signal to a first loop coil. The first loop coil generates a magnetic field corresponding to the modulated wave. An IC card converts a part of the magnetic field radiated from the reader/writer unit with another loop coil to generate a power source from the electrical signal, and also extracts the data transmitted. In the case of transmitting the data to the reader/writer unit, a load of another loop coil is changed in accordance with the data. The reader/writer unit detects, with the first loop coil, any change in load of another loop coil of the IC card magnetically coupled with the first loop coil.

Abstract: A vending control system and method for interfacing a control device to a vending machine having input/output control lines along which are transmitted control signals for controlling the operation of the vending machine. The control device includes, means for connecting to the control lines of the vending machine, means for reading the control signal, means for determining operational responses/outputs of the vending machine which correspond to the control signals, means for storing the control signals and information concerning the operational responses and means for reading the stored information to control the vending machine.

Abstract: A transaction-oriented electronic accommodation system includes an IC card storing electronic monetary information and an identification number, an IC card read/write unit for reading and/or writing information in/from the IC card, a key control unit for controlling locking and unlocking of a door of the article receiving/housing unit, an identification number storing unit for storing identification number of the IC card, an amount-of-money information storing unit for storing amount-of-money information, a collating unit for collating the identification number stored in the identification number storing unit with the identification number read out from the IC card, and a line control unit for transferring the electronic monetary information via transmission line. For utilizing the article receiving/housing unit, the IC card is inserted, whereby the article receiving/housing unit is locked.

Abstract: A chip card system, whose chip cards (AK, LK) have in each case at least one internal processor (P) and a non-volatile memory (S) at least for an operating system of the processor (P). There are a multiplicity of user chip cards (AKn) whose processors (P) can in each case execute user command instructions only after an activation, and there is at least one license chip card (LK), in whose non-volatile memory (S) a limitable number of activatable user chip cards (AKn) can be managed. By means of at least one read-write station (AKg) for chip cards (LK), the activation of the internal processor (P) is effected in a user chip card (AKi) if in the memory (S) of the license chip card (LK) the number of activatable user chip cards (AKn) is not yet exhausted. Thereafter, the number of activatable user chip cards (AKn) is decremented in the memory (S) of the license chip card (LK).

Abstract: A data carrier (1) which can be operated in a contact-bound mode and in a contactless mode and a circuit (2) for such a data carrier (1) has contact-bound interface means (3), contactless interface means (4), data processing means (22) and data transfer means (27) by which data received when the contact-bound mode is activated and when the contactless mode is activated can be transferred from the respective interface means (3, 4) to the data processing means (22), the data transfer means (27) being constructed to perform a logic OR function and, in conformity with this construction, when simultaneously data are received by the contact-bound interface means (3) and by the contactless interface means (4) to transfer said simultaneously received data to the data processing means (22).