Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, a hardened data terminal having a heavy cover with a small, essentially sealed, internal cavity housing electronic components; a sealed visual data display; and a keyboard mounted on a base member, which base member transmits most of the force from the punching of the keys directly to the surface upon which the terminal is placed, by virtue of a free edge of the base, in proximity to the keyboard, which directly contacts the surface upon which the terminal rests. The balance of such force is transmitted to the surface by the cover which is a relatively heavy single-piece casing and which has a relatively large area contacting the surface. The terminal housing may be assembled using only adhesives and as few as two screws.

Abstract: Optically-readable identification means embedded in an article to be identified. One method of the invention is to apply the identification means to an article and then subsequently cover the article, at least in the area of the identification means, with a protective layer so that the identification means becomes an integral part of the article. In the case of fiberglass articles, the identification means is applied to the article before the final layer of epoxy or polyester is applied. In one preferred embodiment for high temperature applications, there is provided an embeddable bar code strip comprising a bar code which can withstand high temperatures disposesd on a polymeric carrier substrate which is stable at temperatures to at about 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This bar code is preferably iron powder placed on a polyimide substrate by means of xerographic copying. In another preferred embodiment, for nonreflective articles, one surface of the carrier substrate is coated with aluminum by vapor deposition.

Abstract: A bar code reader head having an optical block with cavities formed therein into which various optical elements may be placed without the need for any adjustment thereof. A first illumination source, producing any desired spectrum of light, illuminates at least a portion of the bar code. A second illumination source may be provided to produce a second spectrum of light. Reflected light passes through a lens in front of which is an aperture slit parallel to the bar code bars. A channel is formed between the lens and a photodetector perpendicular to the light path. If both visible and infrared illumination sources are used, visible light is focused at the side of the channel toward the lens and infrared light is focused at the other side of the channel. In the channel is a template having at least one discriminator slit parallel with the slit in front of the lens. The width of the discriminator slit depends upon the widths of the bars to be read.

Abstract: A bar coded index tab for affixation of a label to an article. The tab has a base (60) including a front face (70) and a notch (80) extending across the front face for affixing thereto a label (20) having machine-readable bar coded information on a portion of the label and human-readable information on another portion of the label. The machine-readable information is read in one portion of the notch and the human-readable information is read in another portion of the notch. Lips (110A and 110B) are provided along each side of the notch to grip the label. The reading instrument is located against one of the lips for movement along the lip to accurately read the bar code information without the necessity for human visual contact with the label. The tab has means (120) for attaching the base to an object to be labelled.

Abstract: A label or identification card has a base with a region which absorbs invisible light and a region which reflects invisible light. Both regions absorb visible light over a predetermined spectral range. A filter is disposed on the base. The filter transmits both invisible light and visible light over the said spectral range, while absorbing visible light over the spectral range outside the said range absorbed by the two regions of the base. Accordingly, the unaided human eye cannot perceive the information represented by the array of the regions on the base, while this array can be detected by scanning with invisible light. In one embodiment, the bar code is a return-to-zero double frequency code.

Abstract: A bar code label protection device includes a plate (12) and a bar code label (14), both of which are mounted to an article (10). The plate which protects the label includes a slot (15) dimensioned and configured such that a reading wand (16) may be located to the label to read the bar code. The slot provides a guide for the wand which may be properly and accurately positioned for reading even though there is no visual contact with the label.