Abstract: An optical reading apparatus for moving a mirror in a back and forth motion such that the mirror scans the light reflected from an optical pattern and sequentially projects narrow segments of the reflected image onto a linear image sensor. Moving the mirror includes means for mounting the mirror within a movable case which is mounted on a shaft to selectively cause the case to go back and forth in a seesaw-like fashion. As the case goes back and forth, it causes the mirror to sweep or scan across the reflected image of an optical pattern. As the mirror sweeps across the reflected image of the optical pattern it sequentially projects different segments of the optical pattern onto the linear image sensor until the entire optical pattern is projected onto the linear image sensor. The linear image sensor is operable at a high rate of speed and is sufficiently sensitive that it can sense numerous (e.g., 50, or more) segments of the reflected image during one sweep of the mirror.

Abstract: A system and method for registering and tracking network equipment at the circuit card level. A computer network server is coupled with an equipment database that contains location and identification data for telecommunication network assets. A hand-held client, comprising a display, keyboard, bar code scanner and printer is coupled, via a radio link, to the computer network server. The hand-held client is used to register network assets and to query the equipment database for information relating to network assets. Users visit remote sites and register network assets in real-time, while walking through the equipment bays. In one embodiment, bar codes are used to display part numbers and serial numbers on circuit cards. In addition, bar codes are used to identify circuit card locations in terms of predefined identification numbers for the site, equipment bay, rack, shelf and slot. In other embodiments, some or all of the preceding information is entered into the keyboard of the hand-held client.

Abstract: A semi-retroreflective optical scanning system has an optical scanning element which directs a scanning light beam via a stationary holographic optical element in a scan path across indicia to be read. Light from the indicia is collected by an optical collector, such as a lens or a mirror, which focuses it onto a small optical detector via the scanning element. The field of view of the optical detector scans across the indicia in synchronization with the outgoing scanning beam from the holographic optical element. Since the incoming reflected light is not limited by the aperture of the scanning element, the signal-to-noise ratio remains high even when a small scanning element is used. In a further embodiment the light source, scanning element collector and detector are provided in a common plane, the collector and scanning element sharing a common optical axis and a light source being provided substantially off axis to allow reduction in the scanning element size.

Abstract: A code symbol reading system comprising first and second scanners. The first scanner employs a holographic scanning disc to generate an omnidirectional laser scanning pattern within a large 3-D scanning volume. The first scanner detects the location of a code symbol within the 3-D scanning volume and produces data indicative of its location therewithin. Using this location data, the second scanner produces a high density scanning pattern to aggressively scan the region in which the code symbol has been detected, and collect scan data for decode processing. By virtue of the system and method of the present invention, it is now possible to read bar code symbols located anywhere within very large volume of space, with a high degree of accuracy hitherto impossible using prior art techniques.

Abstract: A data carrier configuration includes a semiconductor chip. A first conductor loop is connected to the semiconductor chip and has at least one winding and a cross-sectional area with approximately the dimensions of the semiconductor chip. At least one second conductor loop has at least one winding, a cross-sectional area with approximately the dimensions of the data carrier configuration and a region forming a third loop with approximately the dimensions of the first conductor loop. The third loop inductively couples the first conductor loop and the at least one second conductor loop to one another. The first and third conductor loops are disposed substantially concentrically.

Abstract: A protocol appropriate for use with smartcard purchase applications such as those that might be completed between a terminal or ATM and a users personal card. The protocol provides a signature scheme which allows the card to authenticate the terminal without unnecessary signature verification which is an computationally intense operation for the smart card. The only signature verification required is that of the terminal identification (as signed by the certifying authority, or CA, which is essential to any such protocol). In the preferred embodiment, the protocol provides the card and terminal from fraudulent attacks from impostor devices, either a card or terminal.

Abstract: An integrated credit/information exchange module includes a bill examination portion, a card examination portion, a display portion, and a data entry portion connected to and controlled by a processor portion. The integrated module also includes a modular housing and faceplate configured for simple retrofit installation into existing vending machines having bill acceptor slots to overcome the space limitations of such vending machines. The faceplate includes a bill insertion opening, a card insertion opening, a display screen, and a set of data entry keys located thereon. Bill examination, card examination, and advanced vending machine features such as data retrieval, reprogramming, card revaluation, smart message displays, and control operations are provided through programming of the processor portion.

Abstract: A method of providing security during operation of a checkout terminal, with the terminal having a scale, includes the step of storing a first identification code associated with a first item in a memory in response to entry of the first item into the terminal. The method also includes the step of detecting the weight of the first item with the scale and storing a first weight value associated with the weight of the first item in the memory in response thereto. The method further includes the step of storing a second identification code associated with a second item in the memory in response to entry of the second item into the terminal. The method moreover includes the step of detecting the weight of the second item with the scale and storing a second weight value associated with the weight of the second item in the memory in response thereto.

Abstract: A decoding facility for decoding signal samples characterizing symbols forming a particular pattern. The decoding facility, more particularly, forms the signal samples into groups and each group is decoded into a known symbol. This is done by matching a group of samples with each of a plurality of known symbols and selecting and outputting as the decoded symbol that one of the known symbols that is the closest match to the group of signals being processed.

Abstract: An electronic-money card is used for carrying out transactions such as depositing, drawing, cash exchanging and transfers of electronic money in an automatic teller machine. A plurality of menus showing a variety of transactions are displayed so that the user to select one of the menus. If the deposit menu is selected, menus for cash and electronic money are displayed to request the user to select whether the money to be deposited is cash or electronic money. If the user selects the electronic-money deposit menu, the user is requested to enter a cash card and a password number. Once the password number is entered, the validity of the user is verified. After the validity of the user has been verified, the user is requested to enter an IC card and to specify the amount of electronic money to be deposited.

Abstract: A bar code reader is provided which can read bar code symbols of varying contrast, from high to medium to low contrast. The bar code reader includes a digitizing circuit which digitizes an analog signal representing the reflectance function of a scanned bar code by comparing the analog signal to a threshold signal. In the present invention, the threshold signal is switchable between a first state wherein the threshold signal is a standard threshold signal suitable for digitizing analog signals representing medium to high contrast bar code symbols and a second state wherein the threshold signal is a non-standard threshold signal suitable for digitizing analog signals representing low contrast bar code symbols. In one embodiment of the invention, the threshold signal is manually adjustable.

Abstract: A technique for representing behavioral patterns indicating fraudulent electronic cash transactions through micro-dynamic simulation of an electronic cash transaction system implementable using smart cards with embedded microcomputers. The electronic cash transaction system is stochastically modeled by four categories of agents corresponding to the participants in an electronic cash transaction economy. Some categories of agents are further subdivided into segments that have different characteristics, including the circle of other agents with whom they regularly conduct electronic cash transactions. Agents with counterfeit or fraudulent smart cards may form a segment in the simulation to allow the effects of the counterfeit or fraudulent electronic cash transactions in the complete system to be observed.

Abstract: A portable data collection device is disclosed. The device includes an imaging assembly including a two dimensional (2D) photosensor array. The imaging assembly is selectively actuatable with a first trigger for reading a target dataform in the imaging assembly's target area and actuatable with a second trigger for capturing a image of the target object in the target area. The device also includes an illumination assembly including an circuit board assembly supporting illumination and targeting light emitting diodes and a lens array or panel positioned adjacent the circuit board assembly for focusing an even pattern of illumination on the target area and generating a crosshair illumination pattern for aiming the device at the target dataform. Three illumination assembly embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A high security data storage and retrieval system is disclosed which includes a novel low-cost laser-etched data card which can be read from and written to using a capacitively-coupled interface. The card includes a plurality of first and second electrodes arranged in a checkerboard pattern on a non-conductive substrate. A plurality of conductive links are interconnected between adjacent first and second electrodes of the card. The checkerboard pattern of electrodes on the cards permits each first electrode to be connected to as many as three or more second electrodes. An interface module is provided which can selectively address each first electrode and any adjacent second electrode. By this arrangement, the subject system is capable of storing a greater amount of information on a card. This increase in stored information is useable to provide a high level of protection against counterfeit card production.

Abstract: An electronic wallet includes a plurality of operating keys at least having a plurality of numeric and calculation keys, a display part for displaying thereon electronic money information and IC card state information, at least one independent function switch in addition to a power switch, a plurality of control keys for operating the electronic money information stored in IC cards and the IC card state information, and a plurality of function keys having a plurality of function level layers having a plurality of tasks, for selecting the plurality of tasks having the respective function level layers. Thereby the electronic wallet can have many functions. Further, a modem unit, which is removably mounted to card slots of the electronic wallet, is provided with a through opening to communicate with the card slots and a modular jack to be connected to a communication line.

Abstract: A constant divider is described which includes: a plurality of stages of partial dividers each including a group of decoders, one decoder being provided for each bit of a dividend and each decoder outputting a quotient and remainder resulting from division of a value associated with a bit when that bit is "1", and quotient adders that add the quotient output of each decoder of that decoder group; in partial dividers other than that of the last stage, a remainder adder that adds output values of remainders of each decoder of the decoder group of that stage; in the last stage of the partial dividers, a corrective decoder that outputs a corrective output of the quotient and a corrective output of the remainder produced by dividing the output of the remainders of each decoder of the last-stage decoder group by the divisor; and finally, a quotient output adder that adds the quotient adder output of each stage and the corrective output of the quotient of the last stage, wherein the first-stage partial divider recei

Abstract: A process run card encoded with bar-code information and providing controllers with scanners which can scan the bar-code information and configure the controller accordingly is disclosed. Such a system advantageously provides a semiconductor manufacturing system controller which minimizes or reduces the problems associated with having to reprogram controllers for various lots. Such a system also provides a mechanism for preventing the erroneous re-processing of semiconductor material which has already received a timed processing step.

Abstract: A fully automatic bar code symbol reading system comprising an automatic (i.e., triggerless) portable bar code symbol reading device with an omnidirectional projection laser scanning engine mounted within the head portion of its hand-supportable housing, and an associated base unit positioned within the data transmission range thereof without a physical wiring connection thereto. The hand-supportable bar code symbol reading device produces a narrowly confined scanning volume for omnidirectional scanning of code symbols presented therein, while preventing unintentional scanning of code symbols on nearby objects located outside thereof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the data throughput of decoded-output scanners by maintaining a tracking relationship between the scanning and decoding operations thereof. Data is scanned from an indicia to be read on an uninterrupted cyclic basis and stored in memory. Also stored is continuously updated data that allows the most recently completed block of scan data to be identified. Data is decoded on an uninterrupted cyclic basis, at the same timet hat new data is being scanned. A loose, tracking relationship is maintained betwen the scanning and decoding operations so that decoding always begins with the then most currently available data.

Abstract: A bar code symbol reading system is provided having at least one portable bar code symbol reading device and an associated base unit positioned within the data transmission range thereof without a physical wiring connection thereto. After each successful reading of a bar code symbol, the bar code reading device automatically produces symbol character data representative of the bar code symbol, synthesizes a group of data packets each containing the symbol character data, and then transmits the synthesized group of data packets to the base unit. Upon the successful receipt of one of the transmitted data packets and the recovery of symbol character data therefrom, the base unit generates an acoustic acknowledgment signal that is perceptible to the user of the bar code symbol reading device and indicates the transmitted symbol character data has been successfully received.