Abstract: A device is capable of locking or unlocking a card in a card reader. An actuator carries a drive bushing onto which one end of a coil spring is mounted such that the axis of the coil spring is approximately parallel to the rotation axis of the actuator. The opposite end of the coil spring is mounted on a drive nut. A threaded shaft is fixed to a slide block with an elongated hole, and the movements of both are constrained to a single degree of freedom by the engagement of the elongated hole with a fixed pin and by the engagement of an extension of the threaded shaft with the inner hole of the drive bushing. The linear movement of the slide block causes a latch plate to move by means of a linear sliding pair between them so as to lock or unlock the inserted card.

Abstract: An automated banking machine (10) is operatively controlled from a front consumer user station (12) and a rear maintenance user station (14). The machine is operative to output a consumer user interface (28) through a front display device (16, 80). The consumer user interface includes interactive options for performing transactions with the machine including dispensing cash with a cash dispenser (32). The machine is further operative to output a maintenance user interface (30), through a rear display device (18, 82). The maintenance user interface includes options for configuring, troubleshooting, servicing and maintaining the machine. The operating system of the machine is operative to generate a desktop environment (84) that spans both the front display device and rear display device, such that a first portion (86) of the desktop is output by the first display device and a second portion (88) of the desktop is output by the second display device.

Abstract: A method and a device for protecting text for reading (23), arranged on at least one written face (22) of an object (25). The object (25) is connected to at least one matching antenna (12), produced by printing on a support (11) and having at least one electromagnetic coupling zone (14) with an individual antenna of smaller dimensions. At least one security film (3), not provided with a matching antenna (12) but with at least one individual integrated antenna microcircuit called a microtransponder (7), is applied to cover the text for reading (23) for which authentication information may be delivered using the microtransponder (7).

Abstract: A security means comprises a spray tray; a dispenser slot positioned so as to dispense media into the spray tray; and a security cover positioned to cover said spray tray and slot. The cover is arranged so as to cause a sweep member to sweep past the dispenser slot and thus dislodge any foreign body adjacent the slot, when the cover is moved between closed and opened positions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a contact-free microcircuit card (10) used in combination with a receiver (40) for carrying out an electronic transaction, incorporating a keyboard (12) for inputting data used during the transaction.

Abstract: A device for storing and displaying numerous optically readable codes. The device includes a memory for storing the codes, a display for displaying the codes of sufficient contrast to be readable by an optical scanner, an optional selector for allowing the user to request display of the code(s), and a processor for coordinating operation of the memory, display and optional selector.

Abstract: An automated banking machine is operative to enable users to operate the machine to carry out transactions such as the dispensing of cash. The exemplary machine provides audible instructions which are output through external loudspeakers, a headphone, or a handset. Rotation of a rotatable knob (372, 382) or other movable item causes the output of user selectable characters, transaction types and/or amounts corresponding to each respective position. The user selects the audible output produced in the current position of the knob for receipt by the machine as a transaction input by pressing on the knob. Characters and other selectable inputs corresponding to knob positions can be varied by the computer in the machine to reduce the risk of a criminal intercepting the user's inputs to the machine.

Abstract: A self-service terminal (10), for example an automated teller machine, comprising a deposit mechanism for receiving deposits from a user. Associated with the deposit mechanism is a sensor for sensing or determining the thickness of media that is to be deposited in the terminal (10). Typically, this sensor is part of a shutter mechanism (24) for selectively opening or closing a deposit slot, this mechanism comprising a shutter (24) that captures and bears against media (34) that is to be deposited. By sensing the thickness of media (34) that is to be deposited, overloading of the deposit mechanism can be avoided.

Abstract: A method and system for utilizing an image capture device for obtaining information relating to an item having a barcode corresponding to a barcode number is described. The method and system includes capturing an image of the barcode and converting the image of the barcode to the barcode number. The barcode number is used to access a category of information related to the item and that may include information for at least one other product having a different barcode number. In another aspect, the method and system include providing information related to the item. In this aspect, data indicating the barcode number is received. The barcode number being determined based on an image captured of the barcode. The barcode is utilized to remotely access the category of information related to the item and including information for at least one other product having a different barcode number. At least a portion of the information is returned.

Abstract: A method for installing a file system (26) in a portable data carrier (10) comprises the steps of reading in specification data (SD) that at least partly describe the file system (26) at the semantic level, interpreting the read-in specification data (SD) by means of a processor core (12) of the data carrier (10), and installing the file system (26) in accordance with the interpreted specification data (SD) in a memory (14) of the data carrier (10). A computer-readable data carrier (30) and a device (28) for initializing and/or personalizing a portable data carrier (10) are equipped for storing specification data (SD) and/or transferring them into a portable data carrier (10) in accordance with the invention. The invention makes available a technique for installing a file system (26) in a data carrier (10) that reduces the hitherto strong dependency between the file format used and internal aspects of the operating system of the data carrier (10).

Abstract: An aiming pattern is used with an automatic focusing system for an imaging-based bar code reader. The combination of the thick horizontal line and the thin vertical line yields an aiming pattern that can be effectively used for ranging purposes while at the same time providing sufficient illumination for decoding 1-D barcodes.

Abstract: There is disclosed a laser processing device, comprising: a laser light source for emitting laser light; an irradiating optical system for irradiating laser light emitted from the laser light source substantially perpendicularly onto a processing surface of an object to be processed; a reflected light monitoring unit for monitoring the intensity of light reflected from the processing surface which is being irradiated with the laser light from the irradiating optical system; a thermal radiation monitoring unit for monitoring the intensity of thermal radiation generated at the processing surface which is being irradiated with the laser light from the irradiating optical system; and a controller for controlling output of laser light from the laser light source, wherein the controller determines abnormality and either one of reduces and stops output of laser light from the laser light source when the intensity of reflected light monitored by the reflected light monitoring unit drops below a first prescribed value

Abstract: A method and apparatus for targeted education and advertising preferably includes sanitary paper comprising a plurality of portions and a consumer-friendly message disposed on at least one of the plurality of portions. The consumer-friendly message preferably comprises commercial or noncommercial health-related advertising information. A URL is preferably disposed on the at least one of the plurality of portions and the URL is preferably associated with a host computer system hosting a health-related newsletter template. The paper preferably also includes a code disposed on the at least one of the plurality of portions, where the code is preferably associated with the health-related advertising information and health-related newsletter content.

Abstract: A position detection system includes: a scan beam illumination section which causes a first-direction line-shaped scan beam that is parallel to the X-axis to scan in the Y-axis direction at a predetermined scanning speed, then causes a second-direction line-shaped scan beam that is parallel to the Y-axis to scan in the X-axis direction at a predetermined scanning speed; a light-receiving section which detects the timings at which the first and second-direction line-shaped scan beams pass through a pointing position on a screen; and a position calculation section which calculates the pointing position by a pointing device on the screen, based on the time from the start of scanning of the first-direction line-shaped scan beam until the passage thereof through the pointing position is detected and the time from the start of scanning of the second-direction line-shaped scan beam until the passage thereof through the pointing position is detected.

Abstract: A method for maintaining a complex article, including retrieving maintenance information relating to maintenance of a component of a complex article from an electronically-accessible tag coupled to the component and applying the retrieved maintenance information to a determination regarding maintenance of the complex article. A device including a complex article including a first component and a second component, the first and second components being one of individually replaceable and maintainable. The first component is tagged with a first tag that stores first computer accessible information including a first identifier identifying the first component and first maintenance information describing maintenance of the first component. The second component is tagged with a second tag that stores second computer accessible information including a second identifier identifying the second component and second maintenance information describing maintenance of the second component.

Abstract: A multi-step method for producing contactless tickets or cards, the tickets or cards including a chip (24) which is connected to an antenna (10) on a paper carrier. The method includes: printing the antennae in series on the paper carrier strip using a silkscreen ink; fixing a chip to each ticket by connecting bond pads of the chip to the antennas' bond pads (14, 16); and covering the paper strip, including the silkscreen-printed antenna and the corresponding chip, with an adhesive paper strip. After each step, the paper carrier strip is wound up before the next step is begun. Each of the silkscreen-printed antennae is coated with a protective layer (12) to prevent silkscreen ink from being transferred to the back of the paper carrier strip during the successive winding-up following each step.

Abstract: A method of transferring information from a plant for the production of packaging material to a filling machine involves producing a web of the packaging material, measuring, on the production of the web, a predetermined magnitude in a first portion of the web, with the portion being intended to form a first package in a filling machine, providing, on the production of the web, a second portion which is intended to form a second package in a filling machine, with information as to the measured magnitude, reading-off the information in a filling machine and controlling a second predetermined magnitude in the filling machine on the basis of the information.

Abstract: A chip card module having a carrier with contact areas. Arranged on the carrier lying opposite the contact areas is a semiconductor chip, which has an integrated circuit which has on a surface of the chip terminal contacts which are connected in an electrically conducting manner to assigned contact areas. The contact areas have a first conducting layer and a second conducting layer, with cluster elements embedded in the second conducting layer.

Abstract: A two dimensional symbol is decoded by forming a sub-sampled image that is used to generate symbol margins for use in digitization. The sub-sampled image is based on local levels of contrast in the symbol. By using a sub-sampled image derived from local levels of contrast in the symbol to determine the symbol margins, margins can be located efficiently and in the presence of symbol contrast variation caused by irregularities in the marked surface or light source angles. Digitization proceeds based on the determined margins.

Abstract: A device (80) for reading a coded golf ball (40) comprises a helical track (82) on the inside or outside of a cylindrical housing (81), the track serving to change the orientation of the ball relative to an antenna coil (85) to ensure that the code is read. The track may be arranged horizontally and rotated by a motor; a flap (30) may be provided to avoid balls following each other too closely onto the helical track. Alternatively the track may be arranged vertically and the balls may fall under gravity.