Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining wafer characters are disclosed. In one example, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a processing tool configured to process a semiconductor wafer; a device configured to read an optical character disposed on the semiconductor wafer while the semiconductor wafer is located at the apparatus for wafer fabrication; and a controller configured to determine whether the optical character matches a predetermined character corresponding to the semiconductor wafer based on the optical character read in real-time at the apparatus.

Abstract: A magnetic field generation device may include a coil generating a magnetic field, a drive part configured to apply a voltage to the coil or supply a current to the coil, a monitoring part configured to acquire state information whose value is varied together with temperature of the coil, and a control part which controls the voltage applied by the drive part or the current supplied by the drive part based on the state information acquired by the monitoring part.

Abstract: Disclosed are apparatuses and methodologies for achieving current inventory data management with an electronic access control system. An access control system provides access control data while a sealed enclosure incorporates an RFID reading system for determining the identity of respective tagged contents therein. Particularly in conjunction with the storage of controlled substances, such as some drugs utilized on an EMS vehicle, a tamper evident RFID tag is fully or partially destroyed or damaged, or otherwise impacted or affected so as to generate a changed ID, whenever the contained medicinal dosage is acquired for administration. Specific container/cap combinations accommodate various drug dosages, and are combinable with tamper evident RFID tags. Usage of tagged drugs may be tracked by reading narcotics box contents before and after a work shift. Intra-shift access and usage reports at each point of consumption maintains a complete record of custody of control.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally related to an automated teller machine (ATM) and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, an apparatus is disclosed herein. The apparatus includes a body, a display, two or more currency dispensing components, two or more currency cartridges, two or more tracks, and a controller. Each currency dispensing component is dedicated to a specific currency denomination. The two or more currency cartridges are configured to store currency. Each currency cartridge dedicated to a specific currency denomination. Each track extends between a currency dispensing component and a currency cartridge. The two or more tracks are configured to transmit currency from the two or more currency cartridges to the two or more currency dispensing components. The controller is in communication with the display, the two or more currency dispensing components, the two or more currency cartridges, and the two or more tracks.

Abstract: An object recognition method includes: acquiring a first image through a camera in a first operating state in a case where a mobile terminal is in a screen-off state; if the first image has image characteristics of a target object type, controlling the camera to enter a second operating state, and acquiring a second image through the camera in the second operating state; and if it is recognized that the second image includes an incomplete image with the image characteristics, outputting prompt information for indicating that the second image is incomplete, an operating power of the camera in the second operating state being higher than an operating power of the camera in the first operating state.

Abstract: An apparatus (1) for inspecting an identity document (D) is disclosed, wherein the identity document, which includes an RFID tag and a printed code, is positioned on the apparatus in a reading area (3) where a linear image sensor, which is movable by a motor-driven command, performs a scan to read the code of the document, and in which an RFID device communicates with the RFID tag, authentication of the identity document being performed by comparing the information supplied by the linear image sensor and the information supplied by the RFID device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved system and method for using cryptography to secure computer-implemented choice mechanisms. In several preferred embodiments, a process is provided for securing participants' submissions while simultaneously providing the capability of validating their submissions. This is referred to as a random permutation. In several other preferred embodiments, a process is provided for securing participants' advance instructions while simultaneously providing the capability of validating their advance instructions. This is referred to as a secure advance instruction. Applications include voting mechanisms, school choice mechanisms, and auction mechanisms.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment, a wireless tag reading apparatus includes an antenna, first and second power feeding ports, and a controller. The first power feeding port feeds electric power into the antenna so as to emit the first linearly polarized wave from the antenna. The second power feeding port feeds electric power into the antenna so as to emit the second linearly polarized wave from the antenna. The controller sets a ratio of a time of power feeding from the first power feeding port to a time of power feeding from the second power feeding port to take a value according to a ratio of the number of wireless tags existing in the direction of the first linearly polarized wave to the number of wireless tags existing in the direction of the second linearly polarized wave.

Abstract: A decoding system for an optical identifier includes a feature detection module configured to locate an optical identifier on an item in a captured image. The optical identifier contains encoded data, the encoded data includes information about the item, the optical identifier includes a plurality of cells, and each of the plurality of cells has one of a first state and a second state. An enhancement module configured to generate an enhanced optical identifier by selectively mapping each of the plurality of cells to one of the first state and the second state based on states of neighboring ones of the plurality of cells. A decoder module is configured to decode the encoded data contained in the enhanced optical identifier to output the information about the item.

Abstract: A code reading device for the parallel reading of a plurality of codes on a plurality of objects arranged next to one another is provided that has a camera unit having at least one camera head for recording an image of the objects, a control and evaluation unit that is configured to localize code zones of the codes in the image and to read the code information of the codes, and a display unit to present the image and to mark the read codes and/or objects having read codes, Here a hand reading unit for reading codes is provided to subsequently read codes not read by means of the camera unit and to transfer the subsequently read code information to the control and evaluation unit.

Abstract: (i) Smartcards (SC) manufactured from a web of metal inlays (MI; FIGS. 12-14) with the coupling frame (CF) forming the metal card body (MCB) supported by metal struts (struts). In the production of smartcards having a coupling frame (CF) with a slit (S), the slit may form part of graphic elements (FIGS. 10-12). (ii) Printing and coating techniques may be used to camouflage the slit (FIGS. 9A-9D). (iii) Surface currents may be collected from one location in a card body (CB) and transported to another location (FIGS. 15AB). A flexible circuit (FC) may be connected to termination points (TP) across the slit (S), or may couple via a patch antenna (PA) with the slit (S). The flexible circuit may couple, via an antenna structure (AS) with the module antenna (MA) of a transponder chip module (TCM).

Abstract: A transaction card for dual interface communication of a transaction includes a card body, a chip opening, a discontinuity, and a transponder chip. The card body includes a first metal layer having an outer peripheral edge, a first metal face, and a second metal face. The chip opening includes a first chip hole transversely extending from the first metal face toward the second metal face thereby defining a first metal edge surrounding a predetermined hole shape. The discontinuity extends from the outer peripheral edge to the first metal edge. The transponder chip module has a module antenna and is configured to be received within the chip opening. The module antenna defines an outer antenna edge surrounding a predetermined antenna shape such that the predetermined antenna shape is the same as the predetermined hole shape for improved inductive coupling via the discontinuity during use.

Abstract: A voting system comprises at least one voting machine comprising: at least one voting machine processor performing voting machine operations comprising initializing a vote blockchain with a vote blockchain genesis block, the vote blockchain genesis block comprising a voting machine identifier and a genesis block hash value; creating a data structure comprising a plurality of votes and a hash value of a preceding block; determining a new block hash value of the data structure; appending a new block comprising the data structure and the new block hash value to the vote blockchain; and storing the vote blockchain in the at least one voting machine memory.

Abstract: Methods for accurate object tracking are disclosed herein. An example the method includes receiving, from a first optical imaging assembly having a first field of view (FOV), a first image captured over the first FOV and based on a decode of an indicia associated with an object of interest, identifying the object of interest within the first image. The method further includes determining a location of the object of interest within the first image and mapping the location of the object of interest within the first image to a predicted location of the object of interest within a second image, the second image being received from a second optical imaging assembly having a second FOV and the second image being captured over the second FOV.

Abstract: To easily determine whether an information code has been replaced, an information processing device obtains, based on original information obtained by photographing an optically readable information code and decoding the same, first class information indicating a class into which an object visually represented by first visual information which should be displayed together with an information code is classified. The information processing device obtains second class information indicating a class into which an object visually represented by second visual information photographed together with the information code because of display together with the information code is classified. The information processing device compares the first class information with the second class information. The information processing device controls, based on a result of the comparison, execution of predetermined processing using the original information.

Abstract: Various embodiments are described herein that relate to data processing systems and methods that may be implemented in a system configured between a source device and a destination device. Data generated at the source device may be received at the data processing system and processed to determine appropriate modifications. Modified data may then be transmitted to an intermediate device for processing, such as payment processing. Payment information and augmented data may be sent to the destination device to facilitate mobile payments.

Abstract: A barcode tag includes a base layer having a front side and a back side, an attachment surface disposed on at least a portion of the front side or the back side, and a barcode symbol comprising plural perforations formed entirely through the base layer. Methods and systems for tracking equipment items in an equipment rack using barcode tags are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for registering and identifying a user of an institution through biometric information is described, along with the associated registration system and identification device, wherein said registration method (100) comprises the steps of: obtaining (102) biometric information in digital format about said user, said biometric information comprising at least one fingerprint of said user; obtaining (108) personal information in digital format about said user; generating (110) a file from said personal information and said biometric information; encrypting (112) said file with a private key, so as to obtain an encrypted file; generating (114) a bar code from said encrypted file.

Abstract: Even if a size of a read image is large, a code search process can be speeded up to enable immediate output of a decoding result. Each time a predetermined number of lines of image data is taken, a pre-processing circuit executes pre-processing on the image data and calculates a characteristic amount indicating the likelihood of the code for each area in the image data. A processor determines a code candidate area based on the acquired characteristic amount and executes a decoding process of the determined area to generate a decoding result.

Abstract: An encoded information reading (EIR) terminal can comprise a microprocessor, a memory, and an EIR device including a two-dimensional imager. The EIR device can be configured to output raw message data containing an encoded message and/or outputting a decoded message corresponding to an encoded message. The EIR terminal can be configured, responsive to acquiring an image containing decodable indicia, to pre-process the acquired image and transmit the pre-processed image to an external decoding computer for decoding the decodable indicia.