Abstract: A document delivery device for delivering a document such as a receipt or transaction record to a user at a kiosk or other automated device significantly reduces “pushing” of documents, increasing reliability and robustness. The document delivery device includes input and output roller assemblies that alternately engage and disengage a shared roller. Upon contacting the shared roller, the input roller assembly creates a first nip point to draw a document into a retention location. Likewise, an output roller creates a second nip point to draw a document out of the retention location for presentation to a user. The input and output roller assemblies are coupled together such that the rotation of one produces an opposite rotation of the other. A drive gear may be operably connected to the roller assemblies to drive the rotation thereof and to provide the translational force to engage or disengage the shared roller.

Abstract: A method for providing a secure transaction includes: receiving a new identification verification data by a transaction device directly from a user; storing the new identification verification data on the transaction device only, where the new identification verification data is not shared with another device; receiving an input of an identification verification data by the transaction device directly from the user; activating the transaction device for a predetermined period of time if the inputted identification verification data matches the new identification verification data; and deactivating the transaction device when an event occurs. The event can be the expiration of a predetermined period of time, the completion of the secure transaction, or some other event. No additional devices are needed to input or store the new identification verification data on the smart card.

Abstract: A tilt adjustment mechanism having an upper housing, a lower housing and a shaft assembly is disclosed. The shaft assembly receives the gears which are pressed on either end of shaft. The shaft fits through locating slots in the lower housing. Each of the gears are activated by internal gears located on each side of the upper housing. The internal gears are integrally formed with the upper housing. The upper housing is hinged on the lower housing and can rotate 20 degrees. The shaft assembly mechanism provides a torsion bar function to insure that the upper housing moves evenly with respect to the lower housing. Even motion in the upwards and downwards directions of the housing is provided by even rotational torsional motion and opposite rotational torsional motion of the shaft assembly of the tilt adjustment mechanism. The shaft assembly mechanism decouples the frictional load in the two different rotational directions about its shaft.

Abstract: A tilt adjustment mechanism having an upper housing, a lower housing and a shaft assembly is disclosed. The shaft assembly receives the gears which are pressed on either end of shaft. The shaft fits through locating slots in the lower housing. Each of the gears are activated by internal gears located on each side of the upper housing. The internal gears are integrally formed with the upper housing. The upper housing is hinged on the lower housing and can rotate 20 degrees. The shaft assembly mechanism provides a torsion bar function to insure that the upper housing moves evenly with respect to the lower housing. Even motion in the upwards and downwards directions of the housing is provided by even rotational torsional motion and opposite rotational torsional motion of the shaft assembly of the tilt adjustment mechanism. The shaft assembly mechanism decouples the frictional load in the two different rotational directions about its shaft.

Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for communicating between a central location and a plurality of identification tags or labels located in a container or in a space without separately passing each tag or labeled product through a read station. The disclosure includes use of hashing to reduce the amount of time needed to read the possible tags in the space. Reading is accomplished using radio communication with a combination of broadcast and time division multiplex architectures.

Abstract: A printer employs a print head having a wire column arranged at an angle between 0.degree. and 90.degree. relative to a permitted line of motion of the print head. This angled print head allows for both portrait and landscape printing. Portrait mode printing is performed by controlling movement of the angled print head along the permitted line of motion during printing of each line of images. Landscape mode printing is controlled by maintaining a stationary position of the print head while the print receivable medium is moved in a direction perpendicular to the permitted line of motion of the print head.

Abstract: An improved print ribbon cartridge, having a plurality of paper guide means therein capable of preventing the fouling of paper at the time of printing, for use with a typewriter or printer having a platen, a carrier movable along the platen which supports the cartridge, a print head supported on the carrier for operating in conjunction with the print ribbon in the cartridge to cause printing on a document.

Abstract: A product information module (such as a shelf tag, shelf label or the like) includes a housing in which a physical embodiment of information is mounted and a locking device which mounts the housing to a support surface. The locking device includes a locking member which coacts with the support surface to form an angle A whose tangent is less than the coefficient of friction between the locking member and the support surface. As a consequence, locking force is minimal and lateral movement of the module is resisted no matter how much force is applied.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for ultrasonically communicating information from a source to a destination and for acknowledging receipt of that information by the destination. The apparatus includes at least one processor, at least one transceiver, and at least one display device, each display device having a unique identifier. The processor communicates information for broadcast to the transceiver. The processor also performs digital signal processing for detecting an acknowledgement signal within a narrow bandwidth. The transceiver ultrasonically broadcasts an identifier and associated data to display devices within the broadcast area, and also receives ultrasonic signals. A display device includes a transducer, a comparator, a memory, a display panel, and logic. In the communication method, a processor, a transceivers, and a display device communicate by initially associating data with a unique display device identifier.

Abstract: An optical bar code scanner uses an improved deflector which deflects a scanning beam along different path lengths within the scanner. The beam is focused at different focal points outside a scanning window of said scanner. The different focal points provide a continuous depth of field with significant range. In one design the rotating deflector is configured as an asymmetrical polygon having a plurality of flat mirrors mounted on a support structure.

Abstract: Described is an electronic shelf label LCD device having a segmented liquid crystal (LC) film disposed on a plurality of segmented and non-segmented photovoltaic cells which provide power for driving the LCD device and electrical signals which are used to indicate malfunctioning LCD segments.

Abstract: The present invention accomplishes the above objects by employing a display having the capability to emit light and form images viewable from both the front and back of the display. The invention also shutters the images displayed on the front and back of the display so that the images can be correctly displayed depending on the viewpoint of the viewer. Text and images displayed such that they are seen from both the front and back of the display appear differently to the front and rear viewer. Electronic shutters are placed between the display and both the front and rear viewers so that they can be flashed on and off fast enough to provide a stable image appearing to each viewer. The shutters also flash slow enough so that display data can be rewritten to provide each viewer with a correct image. The correct image can be either the corrected image of that image seen by the opposing viewer, or a completely separate image. In this way, simultaneous images appear to both the front and rear viewer.

Abstract: The invention is a magnetically actuated clapper-style armature wire matrix print head. A light weight highly reliable and low cost design is achieved by utilizing single molded parts wherever possible. A unitary molded straight line channel wire matrix wire guide is molded as a single part. The flux return member is a single formed part with attached magnetic cores. The magnetic cores have thermal contact with an attached or integral heat sink that extend from the flux return member in the axial direction with the cores and which may be integrated with the support frame for the print head structure. A rebound absorbing backstop member receives the armatures on the rebound but also serves as a means of maintaining pivotal contact between the end of the armatures and the top edge of the flux return member so that a continuous flux path from the flux return member, through the armature and down through the cores of the electromagnets can be attained.

Abstract: An electrical switch actuation mechanism is described. Principally useful for keyboard switch data entry devices, the mechanism operates by means of cammed surfaces to produce a generally nutating, rocking snap action. Depression of the key button moves a stem with cam surfaces on it which contact cammed surfaces on a rocking plate member. The action produces a first rocking motion in a first axis followed by second and third combined snapping and rocking actions about second and third axes in that plane, but at different angular orientations from the first action. A hypothetical vertical axis constructed through the plane of the rocking member will nutate or precess in a generally orbital fashion about a central pivot point. The motion of the plane of the rocking plate may be easily coupled to any of a variety of transducer devices be they contacts, capacitive, optical or inductive.