Abstract: An encryption-free technique for enabling the self-authentication of value documents (including personal and commercial checks) presented at a point of purchase or financial institution. Certain data contained on the value document may be signed with a first digital signature and authenticated with a public key certificate issued from a trusted certificate authority. The signed data and public key certificate are stored on the value document, preferably in a two-dimensional bar code data format. In the case of certain personal value documents (such as checks, credit cards, passports, birth certificates, Social Security cards, etc.), a unique personal identification number (PIN) also may be included in the document data that is signed by a second digital signature.

Abstract: A method of signal processing for use in reading data includes determining first and second waveforms, determining a cross-correlation of the first waveform with the second waveform, and determining a specific time delay corresponding to a maximum peak in the cross-correlation function. A filter is then applied based on the specific time value. The filter combines the first waveform and the second waveform so as to generate a filter output waveform including coherent information representing the data and including reduced incoherent noise.

Abstract: The invention is a method for creating a self-authenticating value document at a senders location and for verifying it at a receivers location. At the senders location a document is created having a machine readable data field, a taggant containing extractable first tag data, and a storage medium with clear text data and the first tag data extracted from said taggant written on it. The clear text, first tag data and data from a machine readable data field collectively make up a document message. The document message is hashed with a hashing algorithm to create a first message digest. The first message digest is digitally signed with a private key to create a digital signature which is written on the storage medium in addition with the clear text data, and the first tag data.

Abstract: A magnetic read head assembly and method for recognizing magnetic ink characters involves the scaling of peak information based on a second waveform. The read head assembly includes a first read head for generating a first waveform in response to a magnetic field of a magnetic ink character printed on a document. A second read head generates a second waveform in response to the magnetic field of the magnetic ink character. The read heads have a known head spacing, where the known head spacing defines an actual distance between the first read head and the second read head. In operation, peak information is determined for the character based on the first waveform. The peak information is scaled based on the first waveform and the second waveform. The scaled peak information is then compared to peak profiles, where the profiles correspond to known magnetic ink characters. Scaling the peak information based on the second waveform eliminates the need for precise knowledge or control of the document velocity.

Abstract: A low-cost, portable, magnetic ink printer calibration system including a device which directly measures magnetic flux from recorded magnetic ink characters and provides an electrical signal representative of that flux, an amplifier to convert the electrical signal into a readable signal level, and a device to provide a measure of that signal level so that the signal can be compared to one produced by a reference character and the comparison results used for printer calibration.

Abstract: An optical scanner is disclosed for reading of bar code symbols on packages moving through a reading field. The scanner generates a polyphase scan pattern which is adapted for omnidirectional reading of a bar code symbol. The scanner, in one embodiment, comprises an oscillatory mirror driven by an electromechanical resonator for producing beam deflection along the amplitude axis and includes a rotary multifaceted mirror for producing beam deflection along the time axis. In another embodiment an optical galvanometer is used to produce beam deflection along the amplitude axis and in this embodiment a substantially straight line trace is produced in addition to the polyphase pattern.

Abstract: An optical scanner is disclosed for reading of bar code symbols on packages moving through a reading field. The scanner generates a polyphase scan pattern which is adapted for omnidirectional reading of a bar code symbol. The scanner, in one embodiment, comprises an oscillatory mirror driven by an electromechanical resonator for producing beam deflection along the amplitude axis and includes a rotary multifaceted mirror for producing beam deflection along the time axis. In another embodiment an optical galvanometer is used to produce beam deflection along the amplitude axis and in this embodiment a substantially straight line trace is produced in addition to the polyphase pattern.

Abstract: An optical scanner is disclosed for reading of optical bar codes of the type used for point-of-sale data acquisition. The optical scanner provides a 3-line scan pattern adapted for omnidirectional reading of a bar code symbol. Beam deflection means in the path of a single light beam is operative to deflect the beam about a deflection axis and to tilt the deflection axis from one deflection plane to another after each beam deflection thereby producing three trace segments in separate deflection planes. Trace orienting means in each of the deflection planes redirect the beams so that the trace segments are projected into the scanning field to produce 3-line pattern of trace segments.