Abstract: A transaction system comprising a card having a card balance recorded therein, at least one terminal transaction processor operable on the basis of on-line and off-line computer schemes, and a center operatively associated with the terminal transaction processor and having a file for recording thereon data corresponding to the card balance recorded on the card. Not only when the terminal processor is operating on the basis of the on-line computer scheme, but also when the terminal processor is operating on the basis of the off-line computer scheme, withdrawal or deposit of money can be effected within the framework of a maximum purchase amount. Each time such transaction has been made, the card balance is updated to read a new card balance.

Abstract: This invention discloses a magnetic stripe card reader/writer apparatus comprising a card reader/writer device and a basic interface circuit. The recording head of the card reader/writer device is mounted on the end of a sensor arm and is driven over the magnetic stripe in an arcuate path by a head drive motor. The card reader/writer device includes a unique card locking mechanism which allows insertion of the card in only one manner and locks the card in place before initiating the reading or writing operation of the device. The interface circuit controls the forward and reverse motion of the head drive motor, converts magnetic data previously recorded on the card into digital information and records digital information onto the magnetic stripe card in the form of magnetic data.

Abstract: A mark sensing apparatus for detecting the presence of electrically conductive mark traces at designated files on a mark sheet. A plurality of thin, insulated electrically conductive brushes contact each mark file. The brushes are arranged as interleaved pairs, with alternated brushes interconnected. The presence of a mark shortcircuits at least one of the brush pairs, and resulted in a detectable current pulse. A current waveform connected to the interconnected brush pairs produces an undistorted waveform whenever the brush pairs are short circuited.

Abstract: A programmable controller system for controlling industrial processes in which the system includes a central processing unit including a random or other access memory, a programming tape, a tape reader for sensing computer data bits on the programming tape and connected to the processing unit for storing the data bits in memory, and means for connecting I/O devices to the processing unit, wherein a work sheet is employed that is arranged for manual marking of the program process steps in terms of I/O functions thereon in sequentially consecutive binary notation fashion computer data word form, in the order of sequence of the process steps.

Abstract: A parameter entry device for electronic instruments that also displays the current user definable system parameters is described. This device allows the user to change those parameters without using conventional rotary switches, internal straps, jumpers, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of verification of credit cards, including sensing information thereon and comparing said information with information on a specially designed pre-printed carrier, followed by insertion of one or more cards in the matching carrier as required, folding and stacking card-inserted carriers in a manner ready for subsequent insertion into mailing envelopes. Sensing, input, comparison logic, and timed command circuitry for coordination of operation includes a pause mode of card advance and may optionally include a multiple card search mode to find matching cards when card sequence is improper.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for identifying beer barrels and the like by means of omnidirectional reading of coded labels affixed to the top end face of each barrel. The apparatus and method provides for machine readability of the coded labels and the subsequent systematic handling of the barrels through the use of a particular code label arrangement using multiple labels and multiple code scanners. In accordance with this method, four labels having identical codes are placed in such an array that pairs of labels are oriented at an angle of about 45.degree. relative to each other. A pair of spaced optical code readers scan the code bearing end faces of the barrels as they are conveyed through an identification region. The scanning beams are spaced by a distance greater than the diameter of the barrels and are arranged to converge at a location remote from the conveyor at an angle of about 45.degree..

Abstract: A transaction execution system having a multiple account data base and a plurality of transaction terminals in communication with the host. The terminals each include a keyboard, a display, document handlng subsystems, a hardware control subsystem, a communication subsystem and a programmable control subsystem supervising the other subsystems. A user initiates a transaction request by inserting a card, which may have been issued by any of a plurality of cooperating card issuers or banks, into one of the terminals. The issuer identification number is read from the card, and used to search a table of card format and encryption key data. If the corresponding format and key data is located in the table, the terminal requests entry of a preassigned personal ID number through the keyboard. Verification data located on the card by format data from the table is encrypted in response to the key data from the table for comparison with the keyboard entered ID number.

Abstract: There is provided a reader for reading information magnetically coded on a carrier. The reader includes a magnetizing device for magnetizing the information precoded on the carrier and a transducer for detecting the magnetized information as the carrier is translated successively past the magnetizer and transducer. The magnetizer includes at least one magnetic layer having a succession of adjoining zones, the length of alternate zones being much greater than the length of the other zones and the magnetic induction in the zones being of opposite sense. The transducer includes at least one magneto-resistive detecting member and a magneto-resistive compensating member which are of anisotropic magnetic material. The members are disposed to develop across the compensating member a voltage in response to the interference magnetic field which is equal to that developed across the detecting member due to that field.

Abstract: There are disclosed various embodiments of records having characters which represent data and incorporate a printability gauge. The characters can be of a type which are human readable or they can be of a type which can be optically scanned by optical scanning equipment. Also disclosed are printing members having one or more printing elements for printing the above-mentioned characters.

Abstract: A method for enhancing the reliability of output data from a label reader adapted to read a bar code consisting of a plurality of bars. Each bar in the bar code is scanned at a plurality of points and sets of binary symbols representative of the scanned points along each bar are obtained. Two sums are then formed for each bar, the first being the number of binary "1"s in the set and the second being the number of binary "0"s in the set, and the ratio of two sums is computed. If the ratio is larger than (1+.alpha.) for .alpha.>0, then the data corresponding to the numerator sum is regarded as reliable. If the ratio is less than (1-.beta.) for 0<.beta.<1, then the data corresponding to the denominator sum is regarded as reliable. If the ratio is equal to or larger than (1-.beta.) but equal to or less than (1+.alpha.), then the data is regarded as unreliable.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing bits of information magnetically recorded on a credit card or similar article. The apparatus includes a slot for receiving the credit card as well as a transducer for reading the bits of information when the card is manually moved thereunder. Circuitry connected to the transducer is operative to read the recorded bits of information. Sensors, provided at each side of the transducer, detect and time the initial movement of the card. An alarm circuit is operative to generate a warning if the card does not proceed at the minimum speed necessary to read the bits of information.

Abstract: An apparatus for verifying the tolerance of the positions of holes in in form of a continuous web is moved over an opaque plate on which there are a plurality of transparent areas in the form of slits. The slits in the plate are illuminated by light sources placed above the plate. Photocells are placed below the plate in position with the slits so as to be responsive to the light coming therethrough. The moving web of punched material is positioned with respect to the plate such that when the holes are in tolerance they pass between pairs of slits, thereby blocking the light from reaching the photocells. If a hole position is out of tolerance, it passes over one or more of the slits, thereby permitting the corresponding photocells to provide an output. This indicates the presence of an out-of-tolerance hole.

Abstract: A key-operated digital program calculator is adapted to receive in succession a plurality of different kinds of input data items and perform a specified program calculation thereupon. The calculator is further provided with a display capable of visually displaying which kinds of input data items to be entered thereinto, whereby the operator is visually informed of the kinds of input data items to be next introduced into the calculator.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method and device for reading data in the form of data pulses in a pulse train. The pulse train is obtained by the sensing of a flexible disc and contains, conventionally, a sequence of clock pulses which, in at least a portion of the pulse train, define mutually subsequent bit cells. These contain at most one of the data pulses. A bistable circuit is switched to its one state by the clock pulses and switched to its other state by the data pulses. The time which has elapsed after each switching of the bistable circuit is measured by means of a time circuit and the bistable circuit is switched if the elapsed time exceeds a value which is settable for each switching. A combinational circuit is provided for setting the above-mentioned level in dependence of the contents of at least the preceding bit cell.

Abstract: A data processing machine, especially ciphering equipment, comprising an input device for the entering of data to be processed. The input device comprises a perforated tape reader containing a scanner unit for scanning standardized teleprinter perforated tapes which possess a number of parallel information tracks formed by information perforations and a feed track formed by feed perforations. The information perforations have a different diameter than the feed perforations. The scanner unit or device is connected with a circuit which, based upon the signals received from the scanner device, determines which of the scanned tracks constitute the information tracks and which the feed track.

Abstract: In fabricating very-high-resolution devices with a lithographic tool such as an EBES machine, it is crucial that the planar mask or wafer members utilized therein be loaded into and maintained in the work chamber of the machine in a way that minimally affects their planarity. In accordance with the present invention this is accomplished by loading each member into a three-point-suspension cassette unit by means of a fixture that performs the loading in a precise and essentially stress-free manner.

Abstract: A circuit is disclosed for use in magnetic card readers to compensate for variations in card speed as a card moves under a read head. The subject circuit decodes two frequency coherent phase encoding. This self clocking binary code incorporates the presence or absence of pulses (or transitions of voltage levels) within periodic intervals or bit cells as a representation of a logic 1 or a logic 0 respectively.

Abstract: The valuable papers, such as the securities and the like, have safeguard elements against forgery or falsification and which can be mechanically examined using light of the visible, ultraviolet or infrared spectral regions and which are effective, particularly, against erasure. The paper is provided with a homogeneous protective coating which is applied either prior to or following the application of an information print by an ink impression. The paper, the protective coating and the printing ink have respective reflectance or fluoroescence properties such that, any damage to the protective coating, such as an attempted erasure, is detectable either at the wavelength of light serving to read the information print or at a special test wavelength.

Abstract: In a modular high speed document printing system an apparatus within each printing module for inhibiting printing on a document passing therethrough when a valid print inhibiting code is sensed on the document. The apparatus employs a document lead edge sensor for sensing the presence of a document within the printing module and a print inhibiting code sensor for scanning preselected portions of a document for a print inhibiting code. A timing means is responsively coupled to the lead edge sensor for defining a time interval corresponding to the time interval wherein a valid print inhibiting code may be found. A retriggerable counter is responsively coupled to the print inhibiting code sensor for initiating counting in a memory means upon the sensing of a possible print inhibiting code. Means are provided for determining from the outputs of the counter and the timing mechanism whether a code sensed by the print inhibiting code sensor is a valid print inhibiting code.