Abstract: A system and method which allows an individual customer to select his or her own personal identification number for an ATM card through use of a telephone line. The system generally comprises a voice response unit linked to both existing telephone networks and a card encoding/embossing unit. The voice response unit is interactive to allow the acquisition and storage of data to be encoded. The system voice prompts, stores, and voice confirms the client identification data and transaction order number to the customer representative. The system then voice prompts, stores, and voice confirms to the customer his or her chosen PIN outside the range of perception of the customer representative. The system receives the requested PIN and combines it with the existing client data base. The system generates the initial encoding data and enters the data into the database. The appropriate transaction order number in the voice response unit is located, and the selected PIN is accessed.

Abstract: A retroreflective sheet having an adhesive surface, including a transparent base film, a plurality of small retroreflective members arranged on one surface of the transparent base film, and a transparent bonding agent layer laminated over the small retroreflective members, wherein the exposed laminated layer is adhered to a reflecting surface, thereby forming a retroreflective sheet. Light beams reflected through the retroreflective sheet are substantially collimated with the incident light beams, thereby intensifying the reflected signal and allowing the optical information to be read by a bar code reader from greater distances.

Abstract: An IC card reader/writer has frequency mode identifying means for determining whether or not an IC card loaded thereon has an identifiable frequency. When the frequency mode of the IC card is identifiable, clock frequency determining means reads frequency data representative of an operating clock frequency out of the IC card to determine an operating clock frequency particular to the card. Based on the determined operating clock frequency of the IC card, frequency setting means converts reference clock pulses being generated by reference clock generating means into clock pulses which match the clock frequency of the IC card, and feeds those clock pulses to the card. The reader/writer is capable of producing clock pulses the frequency of which is variable in matching relation to the frequency of operating clock pulses of an IC card.

Abstract: A magnetic sensor comprising a rotatable magnetic disc provided on its circular surface with a circular magnet belt having N and S magnetic poles alternately at a constant pitch; and a sensor means comprising a support and at least one sensor element having a plurality of magnetoresistive portions fixed to one or both surfaces of the support, the magnetoresistive portions being connected to each other in series and arranged radially at a constant interval in a point-symmetric manner on the support. This magnetic sensor is assembled in a card reader in which the magnetic disc serves as a roller rotatable with a card.

Abstract: A portable bar code scanner includes a base member and a overhanging scanning housing secured to the base member. A laser power supply mounted in the housing outputs a laser beam along a first light path directed to a compact optical system in the housing which reflects the laser beam along a second light path which intersects the first light path at approximately ninety degress to scan a coded label positioned below the scaning housing. A collection lens mounted in the housing collects and directs the reflected light from the coded label to a detector which generates electrical signals for transmission over a cable to a processor.

Abstract: A scanner can read machine-readable code on an object. A scanner has a scanning device, a data device, and a registration device. The scanning device can repetitively scan the code and provide a scan signal repetitively corresponding to at least fragments of the code. The data device is coupled to the scanning device and responds to its scan signal for repetitively storing it. The registration device is coupled to the data device for reconstructing the code from at least two of the fragments of the code. The registration device relatively shifts the code fragments until they are in registration. Thus one of the fragments provides a beginning portion of the code and the other an ending portion. Both fragments provide a registered middle portion of the code.