Abstract: In a payment validation system, a mobile phone or other communications terminal associated with a particular user is used. A vending node communicates with a validation platform which either returns a telephone number to be displayed for the user to call or which calls the alleged users phone or terminal for confirmation.

Abstract: A reservation system, particularly suited to small businesses, includes, a database accessible through the public switched telephone network (PSTN), an electronic diary at each serviced customer premises and a plurality of customer telephone channels connecting each customer premises to the PSTN.

Abstract: An optical apparatus records light reflected from one or more of a user's facial features. While the image is captured, visible light from a display or other scene to be viewed by the user passes to the user's eye. A portable iris pattern capture device is used. Near-infrared light is directed towards the user's eye from where it is reflected back into the apparatus. Visible light from an LCD display mounted at the rear of the apparatus travels out to the user's eye from the apparatus. A hot mirror inside the apparatus directs the near-infrared light reflected from the user's eye to a camera unit, and does not significantly attenuate the visible light emanating from the display.

Abstract: A low cost, disposable, unitized dampening roller/dampening cover component consisting of a hollow tube on which is fixedly bonded a resilient layer and with a moisture absorbent cover fixedly bonded on the resilient layer. The tube is fitted with supportive injection molded end caps for mounting the roller/cover component as an integral component on a lithographic press. This all in one construction allows for fast and easy changing of dampening covers.

Abstract: A transmission holographic element (30) comprises a holographic material (330) deposited onto a substrate (31) to form a composite substrate structure. The substrate (31) is coated with a mirror coating (32) prior to the deposit of the holographic material (33) which is reflecting at the reading wavelength and non-reflecting at the recording wavelength. This allows the use of substrates that need not be of good optical quality because when the holographic element is exposed to light at the reading wavelength, light is reflected by the mirror coating before passing through the substrate. In addition, the mirror coating is protectred from damage during processing since it is between the substrate (31) and holographic material (33).

Abstract: An optical filter includes a volume diffraction grating provided within a waveguide. The grating has a thickness T sufficient such that when an optical beam R is incident on the grating from outside the waveguide, wavelengths at or near the Bragg wavelength for the grating are diffracted and coupled into the waveguide, all but the first order interferences being substantially eliminated, while wavelengths away from the Bragg wavelength pass through the waveguide substantially undiffracted. The grating pitch L may be varied to permit tuning of the filter response.