Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods to initiate, facilitate, process and/or perform money transfers. One such method includes receiving a request for a transfer pair verification from a vendor location (360), and verifying that the transfer pair is associated with a valid transfer pair record (362). The method includes sending the transfer pair verification to the vendor location (368), receiving a money transfer request (370) associated with the transfer pair from the vendor location, and authorizing a money transfer (372) to at least one of a first and second customers associated with the transfer pair. In this manner, a vendor location, which may include a point-of-sale device and may be a retail outlet (e.g., grocery store, gas station, or the like), can be used to facilitate a money transfer between two customers.

Abstract: A reduced pin count connection system for an insertable operational systems card having a plurality of input and output signals to a host device having operational circuits responsive to the input and output signals of the card includes a master serial data link in the card for communicating at least a portion of the plurality of input and output signals of the card. A slave serial data link is operably interconnected to the master serial data link through a connector having a second plurality contacts less than the plurality of input and output signals and communicates the input and output signals to the operational circuits in the host device.

Abstract: A barcode scanner with a tool free tower housing assembly. The barcode scanner includes a base, a tower section coupled to the base, and a tower housing assembly over the tower section including a tower housing and a bezel that are installable and removable without hand tools.

Abstract: A temperature-limiting device (14) is provided for an electric heater (2), the heater (2) being located behind a heatable surface (4) and comprising a dish-like support (6) having therein at least one electric heating element (12) having first and second terminal regions (12A, 12B). The device comprises thermally responsive bimetallic means (22) provided in a housing (16). The housing (16) is supported at a peripheral region of the heater (2), at least partially externally of the support (6). The bimetallic means (22) is thermally coupled with the heater (2) to sense heat generated therein by the heating element (12) and to respond at a predetermined temperature to operate at least one switch means (18) located in the housing (16).

Abstract: A system and method for managing content between different client devices in various domains (such as vehicle, home, and person). The system and method include receiving an input from a user on the first client device to pause the content. After receiving the input, the first client device determines whether the first client device is connected to a wireless communication system. If the first client device is connected to the wireless communication system, the first client device sends a data message to the second client device through a host system. In one embodiment, the second client device will then store the content in the second client device after receiving the data message to permit the user to resume playback of the content on the second client device. In another embodiment, the host system will store the content itself or access the content from a content provider and transfer the content directly to the second device with a data message that indicates the paused location of the content.

Abstract: A barcode scanner with configurable video modes which enhances readability of a wide range of barcode types. The barcode scanner includes a video circuit, and a configuration circuit for altering operating characteristics of the video circuit during a scanning operation for reading a plurality of different types of barcodes.

Abstract: A method for providing secure document distribution is disclosed.

Abstract: A barcode sensor package has an optical emitter circuit and an optical detector circuit which are formed as one or more integrated optical circuits disposed in a housing which has a reading surface and one or more apertures located between the optical emitter and detector circuits. The optical emitter circuit has an emitter die, such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), for emitting a light beam and a diffraction optical element disposed on the emitter die for focusing the light beam to a bar code. The optical detector circuit has a photodetector die, such as a phototransistor, for detecting reflective light and another diffraction optical element disposed on the photodetector die for guiding light reflected from the bar code to the detector. The diffraction optical elements are fabricated by patterning optical layers, deposited on respective emitter and detector dies, using photolithograph or a direct write process.

Abstract: To provide an IC card, which secures satisfied flatness of the card surface to achieve good printing properties on the card surface. An IC card has a core layer which includes a plurality of sheet materials wherein inner core sheets adjacent to an IC module have through holes formed in a region corresponding to the IC mounted portion, wherein a relationship A=(B1+C1)±30 ?m is satisfied, where A (?m) represents the sum of heights of the through holes, B1 represents a projection height on an IC mounted surface of the IC module, and C1 represents a projection height on an IC non-mounted surface. By virtue of having this structure, the IC card can secure card flatness sufficient to obtain satisfied printing properties with respect to the rewrite sheet.

Abstract: A system for verifying the authenticity of data contained in a magnetic medium using the remanent noise characteristics of the magnetic medium. In one embodiment, the invention includes a sensing unit configured to generate a signal indicative of the sensed magnetic field and an amplifier. The amplifier is in communication with the sensing unit, is configured to amplify signals having amplitudes less than a threshold by at least a first factor and configured to amplify signals having amplitudes greater than the threshold by at most a second factor. The first factor is greater than the second factor.

Abstract: A card device has a generally rectangular body formed from flexible material and including electronic circuitry electrically connected to a set of electrical contacts. At least part of the card device is flexed, bent or folded in such a manner that the inherent resilience of the card material provides a force for pressing the set of contacts against the electrical contacts of a USB receptacle.

Abstract: A communication terminal for connecting or mounting an IC card or the like to examine a ticket through a non-contact communication. The communication terminal includes a function for receiving information stored in the IC card or the like in the ticket examination process and controlling itself automatically. The communication terminal can automatically display the validity of a pass and/or the balance of a prepaid sum in a ticket. Also, the communication terminal can register a specific station so that an email in a pre-registered format is created or sent automatically in the ticket examination process at the registered station.

Abstract: A low cost data storage and communication system is disclosed. The low cost data storage and communication system has a host and at least one card connected to the host. A voltage negotiator located in the system for determining a common operating voltage range that is a common denominator of all independent operating voltage ranges of all of the cards connected to the system. In addition, a novel feature of partitioning the memory storages of the card is also disclosed. This feature provides the host the ability to simultaneously erase any combination of sectors in a single erase group, or any combination of the entire erase groups. Another feature provided by this novel method of partitioning the memory storages is the ability to write protect any combination of memory groups in the card.

Abstract: A portable reader is arranged to read a card. The card is provided with a set of contact areas. The reader is provided with a connector. The connector is provided with a set of contact pads. The portable reader comprises a first and a second holding elements arranged to hold the card so that at least one contact pad of the set contact pads can be connected to at least one contact area of the set of contact areas. At least the one of the holding elements is arranged to be movable.

Abstract: An ATM apparatus having a bulk sheet acceptor. The sheet acceptor is mounted in movable relation relative to a chest portion of the ATM. Access to an interior of the sheet acceptor for servicing may be made through an access opening. A service cover may be mounted at alternate mounting sites of the sheet acceptor housing in order to close the access opening. The interior of the sheet acceptor may be accessed by pivoting the cover on a set of tabs engaged in corresponding slots, or by selectively lifting the cover away from the tabs. The cover may be replaced by engagement of either a first set of tabs with corresponding first slots, or a second set of tabs with corresponding second slots.

Abstract: An electronic stripe card senses when it is being swiped passed a read head, and drives a conductive path to mimic a magnetic card track. Multiple conductive paths may be driven in an interleaved fashion one after another. The card may include multiple swipe sensors to detect when to start and stop driving the conductive paths. The conductive paths may include traces on a top metal layer and bottom metal layer without magnetic material therebetween.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an LCD includes the steps of (a) loading a first substrate and a second substrate having seals formed thereon on a bonding chamber, (b) bonding the first and second substrates, (c) fixing the bonded first and second substrates, and (d) unloading the fixed first and second substrates.

Abstract: A communications terminal that utilizes a SIM card is configured to allow a user to easily identify the owner of a SIM card. In one embodiment of the invention, owner identification data is stored on the SIM card, and when power is first applied to the communications terminal, the owner identification data is read from the SIM card and played by the communications terminal. In some embodiments, this could include reading an image of the owner from the SIM card and displaying the image on a display screen of the communications terminal. In other embodiments, this could include reading audio data from the SIM card and playing the audio data over a speaker of the communications terminal. In yet other embodiments of the invention, owner identifying data can be attached to a SIM card, and the SIM card is then inserted into a receiving slot of a communications terminal.

Abstract: A trigger for initiating reading, and a lightpipe for displaying the results of the reading, together form an integrated molded assembly for installation into an electro-optical reader.

Abstract: A system and method for tracking and managing maintenance of serviceable items based on unique identification labeling affixed to the items is disclosed. The serviceable items are described as filters within a common environment that require routine maintenance to adhere to certain expectations relative to the operability of the items. Such operability may relate to any type of filtering of contaminants from a liquid or gaseous substance that flows through the filters. A unique identifier (ID) label is affixed to each filter. The unique ID label represents a unique filter ID that uniquely identifies the filter relative to all other filters in the common environment. A handheld computing device communicatively connected to a local computer reads the unique ID label of each filter following maintenance of the filter to track maintenance of the filters over time.