Abstract: A cooler system having improved insulative properties. The cooler system includes, in various preferred embodiments, thicker sidewalls having insulative materials with improved thermal qualities, one or more reflective surfaces, a sealing mechanism to minimize the leakage of cold air, an insulative apron for containing cold air around the contents of the cooler, compression mechanisms for compressing the upper lid against the side walls of the cooler and many other features to improve the thermal benefit of the cooler.

Abstract: A heat-conducting support for a round or curved bottom vessel is provided. The support comprises a metallic unit having an inner portion, an outer portion, and a base that is adapted to be placed on a heating element. The inner portion is concavely curved to complement the shape of and support a vessel having a round or curved bottom. The outer portion adjoins the inner portion at an upper location remote from the curved bottom of the inner portion. The outer portion extends away from the upper location of the inner portion and toward the base, with which it merges.

Abstract: An article holding device for a cooler for removably positioning on a cooler for transportation items with the cooler. The article holding device for a cooler includes a top panel having a peripheral edge. A peripheral panel is attached to and extends along the peripheral edge such that a front panel, a back panel, and a pair of side panels are defined. The top panel is positionable on a cover of a cooler such that the peripheral panel generally covers walls of the cooler. A plurality of pockets is attached to the peripheral panel. Each of the pockets has an opening facing upwardly toward the top panel.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing ice in a container and dispensing ice from the container is provided in the form of a storage bin, having ice agitating apparatus for engaging ice to loosen the same and to keep ice particles from adhering together in a common mass. An ice dispenser is provided for delivering ice from a lower to an upper end. The ice dispenser and the ice agitator are provided with separate drives.

Abstract: A merchandise dispensing system and device are provided. The merchandise dispensing device is positioned in a preselected environment and includes a main body, a rotatable display positioned in the main body, and an outer thematic facade corresponding to the preselected environment and positioned to connect to the main body. The merchandise dispensing system includes a main body and a plurality of outer thematic facades connected thereto. The merchandise dispensing system also includes a server, a communications network positioned in communication with the server, and a plurality of merchandise dispensing devices positioned in communication with the server.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispensing propane filled containers. An enclosure has a conveying line with holders upon which propane filled containers rest. The enclosure has an opening closable by a door actuated upon command by the user. Upon opening of the door, an empty propane container may be inserted into the enclosure to rest upon a holder with the conveying line then being activated to align a new holder with a filled propane container adjacent the enclosure opening allowing the user to remove the filled container.

Abstract: A cover assembly for a container of coffee filters, with a tube, centrally located, extending below the cover. A plunger extending above and below the cover, slidably cooperating with the inner wall of the tube, the lower end terminated with an adhesive substance, the upper end terminated with a knob. When the plunger is depressed the adhesive attaches to the uppermost filter of a stack of nested filters and when the plunger is lifted up the filter is extracted from the nest of filters. The filter is then inserted into a coffee maker receptacle and the cover is pushed down to detach the filter from the adhesive tip on the plunger.

Abstract: A liquid dispensing apparatus and method that provides for precise adjustment of one or more dispensing modules relative to a substrate. The liquid dispensing apparatus and method includes a manifold which has a liquid discharge orifice that is adapted to connect to a source of liquid, such as adhesive. The manifold further has an elongated slot which has a plurality of walls and a recess portion formed in one of those walls. A mounting block has a flange portion that is disposed in and cooperating with the recess portion of the slot so that the mounting block is retained in and selectively slidable along the slot. A dispensing module with a liquid passageway is removably affixed to the mounting block with the liquid passageway in fluid communication with the liquid discharge orifice in the manifold.

Abstract: A pump may comprise a body, and a member movable relative to the body substantially along an axis of the pump. A pumping chamber may be defined by at least the body and the member. The pumping chamber may comprise a peripheral wall. The pump may further comprise an elastically deformable membrane comprising a first portion and a second portion. The first portion may be axially fixed relative to the peripheral wall, as well as being in contact with an inner surface of the peripheral wall at least in the presence of overpressure in the pumping chamber, and configured to place the pumping chamber in selective communication with at least one inlet passage. The second portion may be configured to place the pumping chamber in selective communication with at least one outlet passage.

Abstract: A portable dispensing device includes a hopper, a rotatable auger, a drive unit, and a rigid base. The hopper defines a receptacle including an upper opening for receiving a large quantity of bulk material and a lower opening for dispensing measured quantities of bulk material. The rotatable auger is positioned at the lower opening of the hopper for controlling the amount of bulk material which is dispensed from the hopper. The drive unit controls rotatable movement of the auger. The rigid base carries and provides support for the portable dispensing device during portable movement thereof.

Abstract: A pressure-activated flexible valve for use with a container for dispensing fluid material. The valve has a single sealing surface and comprises an inner component having a sealing portion and an outer component having an annular rim that seats against the sealing portion. The outer component also has a flexible portion that changes shape in response to pressure from the container material, thereby opening and closing the valve.

Abstract: A soldering gun, a solder pellet having a predetermined amount of solder, solder pellet dispensing wheel, kit related thereto and method of soldering is provided herein. The present invention provides a device for dispensing solder that includes a dispensing wheel that has a plurality of radially disposed dispensing wheel solder pellet retaining compartments. The compartments are sized to accommodate a predetermined size, single application solder pellet. The kit for dispensing solder comprises at least two of a fine solder pellet dispensing wheel having a plurality of fine solder pellets, a medium solder pellet dispensing wheel having a plurality of medium solder pellets, or a thick solder pellet dispensing wheel having a plurality of thick solder pellets. The kit also includes a portable, hand held, soldering device mating with the solder dispensing wheel.

Abstract: A clip for a clothes hanger having a horizontal bar of a first diameter has a body formed in a portion of a circle having an axis and a first diameter, the circular portion extending more than 180 degrees but less than 360 degrees, symmetrical about a vertical axis and closed at the top, a pair of legs extending from the body downward at equal angles away from the axis to a maximum width between the legs greater than the first diameter, and a length in the direction of the axis.

Abstract: A convertible bag has a front panel peripherally engaging a rear panel. The front panel defines an harness pouch encompassing an upper portion of the front panel. A flap 60 may be positioned over the harness pouch closing it with a zipper 70. The flap 60 alternately is positionable to one side of the front panel 30 to expose a carry harness 80. The lower portion of the elongated bag 13 is adapted for folded placement exteriorly to the rear panel in positional opposition to the harness pouch. In this position the flap covers the folded lower portion 13 and the zipper 70 joins the flap 60 over the rear panel 30 thereby forming a back pack for carrying the elongated bag and other items as desired.

Abstract: A pouch includes a first and second panel members joined to one another to define a compartment having an opening at the top thereof. A flexible cover overlaps the opening. A belt receiving portion is attached to one of the panels and is mountable on the belt of a user. The first panel is located on an exposed side of the second panel which faces away from the user. The flexible cover is positioned at the top of the second panel to encase the compartment opening in order to prevent the spillage of objects within the compartment when the pouch is inverted, tilted or jostled. At least a portion of the cover is flexibly movable to allow access to the compartment by the user. A belt receiving portion is positioned on a user side which is opposite the exposed side to prevent interference by the belt receiving portion during insertion and extraction of objects to and from the compartment.

Abstract: A safe, quick-drawing holster includes: (a) a frame support (23) with an open top, the frame support comprising a bottom end (22) and at least one side panel (15); (b) a retention assembly (30) including a retention bracket (31), a retention plate (34) adjacent to a side of the retention bracket, and a trigger-impinging means (37) projecting from a side of the retention plate (34) into the retention bracket (31); (c) a spring-loaded actuator assembly (29) including an actuator (40) connected to an actuator arm (42), a portion of the actuator (40) extending through the side panel (15) to the outside, a portion of the actuator arm (42) extending inwardly through the side panel 15 into the retention bracket (31) and to the retention plate (34); and (d) a stabilizer spring assembly (79) including a stabilizer pin (81) having a base end affixed to an inside panel of the holster, and a power spring (80) movably surrounding the stabilizer pin. A method of using the holster is also included herein.

Abstract: Keri-Ol may be made out of any material strong enough to carry up fifty pounds or more. The hooks on each end of the Keri-Ol will hold the shopping or grocery bags, or anything a person may wish to carry. With bags hooked on each end, the Keri-Ol is then positioned perpendicularly on the shoulder (one hook in front, and the other behind the person), with the plate at the base of the handle placed directly on the shoulder. Keri-Ol enables a person to carry bags while practically freeing their hands.

Abstract: A roof carrier has engagement portions at both sides of the intermediate portion of a bicycle receiver constituting a carrier main body portion. The one engagement portion is arranged in a manner that an erected arm is rotatable freely vertically and an engagement plate engages with the root portion of one of the pedals. The other engagement portion is arranged in a manner that the lower portion of a screw shaft is coupled to a buckle, and when a retainer hook provided at the tip end of the screw shaft is engaged with the root portion of the other pedal to fasten the buckle, the retainer hook engages-with the root portion of the pedal. A bicycle is strongly urged against the bicycle receiver by an engagement force between the engagement plate and the retainer hook.

Abstract: A utility holding device configured to be attached to a utility structure and to carry elongated objects includes a support base, a mounting stem supported by the support base, and a generally U-shaped holding member supported by the mounting stem. The U-shaped member has two upright arms which are open at the top so as to define a containment area configured to receive an elongate object. The U-shaped member further includes a plurality of alternating length gripping fins extending from at least one of the upright arms into the containment area to help hold items securely therein.

Abstract: A tool bracket for elongated tools. The tool bracket includes a mounting base having a mechanism for attaching to an external structure, a forked tool holder rotatably coupled to the mounting base and having pair of interconnected tines projecting from a neck portion, and a resilient biasing member coupled between the mounting base and the forked tool holder for urging relative rotation between the forked tool holder and the mounting base.

Abstract: A strap-like clip-on accessory retainer or holder for attachment to the user's belt or waistband for the convenience of carrying handy tools, such as knives, pouches for holding small items, tapes, etc. like a utility belt. The accessory retainer or holder allows belt accessories to be attached to the waistband of trousers, shorts, skirts, etc., with or without a belt, as well as to any other wearable or non-wearable material having a thin edge. The inventive strap-like accessory retainer or holder can accommodate several accessories at once and can, therefore, be used to assemble semi-permanent “kits” of accessories that are commonly used together in particular applications. With the belt's clip-on or clamp-on construction, it can supply the secondary function of a waist belt (to harness accessories) without the necessity of serving the primary function (to adjust waistband circumference).

Abstract: A nozzle assembly for nailers includes a magazine connected to a body of the nailer and a base plate is connected to an end of the magazine. A nozzle has two grooves with which the two sides of the base plate are movably engaged. A plurality of nail guide holes are defined through the nozzle and communicate with openings defined in the base plate and slots defined in a side of the magazine so that nails engaged with the slots are sent to the nail guide holes to be ejected. Two hooks extend from the nozzle and a cap is mounted on the nozzle by engaging the two hooks with two apertures defined through the cap. Pins extend through the nozzle and are engaged with the base plate.

Abstract: The electric stapler of the invention includes inside a body case: a sending means that sends out a sheet staple contained in a chamber to one end of a driving passage, a forming plate and a driver disposed to be able to reciprocate, a holder that holds the forming plate and the driver and makes the forming plate and the driver reciprocate, a drive shaft that reciprocates the holder, and a motor that rotates the drive shaft. And, a forward motion of the forming plate forms a staple sent out to the one end of the driving passage in a U-letter shape, the forward motion of the driver shoots out the staple formed in the U-letter shape from the other end of the driving passage, and a liner mechanism cliches the legs of the staple shot out. Further, the drive shaft is disposed on one centric straight line with a spindle of the motor, and planet gears for reduction that rotate the drive shaft by rotation of the motor spindle are disposed along the drive shaft.

Abstract: A solder ball attracting mask which is mounted on a suction apparatus for sucking a plurality of solder balls under vacuum so as to place the solder balls on electrodes of an electronic component and is formed, at its predetermined positions, with a plurality of through-holes for attracting the solder balls thereto, respectively, with the solder ball attracting mask having a principal face engageable with the solder balls and a rear face engageable with the suction apparatus such that the through-holes extend through the solder ball attracting mask from the principal face to the rear face, the through-holes each including a funnellike attraction area for attracting the solder ball thereto, which reduces its diameter gradually from the principal face towards the rear face up to a suction port and a suction hole which has a diameter larger than that of the suction port and extends from the suction port to the rear face so as to define a suction space.

Abstract: A welding and network information system and methodology is provided in accordance with the present invention.

Abstract: A method for assembling and testing an electronic circuit baseboard includes at least a step of soldering at least one electronic part to an electronic circuit baseboard using Pb excluded solder. One of erroneous wiring, erroneous mounting, malfunction, and defective soldering of the least one electronic part is tested by contacting a probe pin to various probe pin contact sections on the electronic circuit baseboard. During the step of soldering, the Pb excluded solder is also supplied to at least one of the various probe pin contact sections in order to suppress oxidation thereof.

Abstract: The present invention related to a method for producing AlMn strips or sheets for producing components by soldering, wherein a precursor material is produced from a melt which contains (in weight-percent) Si: 0.3-1.2%, Fe:≦0.5%, Cu:≦0.1%, Mn: 1.0-1.8%, Mg:≦0.3%, Cr+Zr: 0.05-0.4%, Zn:≦0.1%, Ti:≦0.1%, Sn:≦0.15%, and unavoidable companion elements, whose individual amounts are at most 0.05% and whose sum is at most 0.15%, as well as aluminum as the remainder, wherein the precursor material is preheated at a preheating temperature of less than 520° C. over a dwell time of at most 12 hours, wherein the preheated precursor material is hot rolled into a hot strip using a final hot rolling temperature of at least 250 ° C., wherein the hot strip is cold rolled into a cold strip without intermediate annealing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a structural assembly comprising a first workpiece and a second workpiece. The second workpiece at least partially underlies the first workpiece so as to define an interface therebetween. The assembly includes a friction stir weld joint joining the first and second workpieces. The assembly also includes an interface layer positioned between the first and second workpieces. The interface layer comprises a material having a melting temperature lower than the solidus temperatures of the first and second workpieces. The interface layer at least partially fills the interface proximate to the friction stir weld joint to thereby increase the strength and fracture toughness of the weld joint, as well as other mechanical and chemical properties, including resistance to crack growth and corrosion resistance.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool includes a body having an upper surface defining an entrance opening and a lower surface, and a pin having a lower surface defining an exit opening, wherein the pin extends from the lower surface of the body. The friction stir welding tool further includes a passageway defined by the body and the pin from the entrance opening to the exit opening and is capable of allowing a filler material to pass therethrough. A friction stir welding method includes applying a frictional heating source to a workpiece to plasticize a volume of the workpiece and applying the frictional heating source to to a filler material to plasticize the filler material. The method further includes introducing the filler material into the volume of the workpiece and incorporating the filler material into the volume of the workpiece.

Abstract: Face plates 11b and 12b of a hollow shape member 10 are abutted against face plates 21b and 22b of a hollow shape member 20. Projections 15, 16, 25 and 26 are formed to both sides of the face plates at the abutted areas. The rotary tool 50 comprises two large-diameter portions 53 and 54, and a small-diameter portion 51 disposed therebetween. The projections 15, 16, 25 and 26 of the portions 11b and 21b (12b and 22b) to be welded are sandwiched between the two large-diameter portions 53 and 54 upon performing the friction stir welding. According thereto, even if the heights of the abutted areas of the plates against the two large-diameter portions 53 and 54 differ, the face plates 11b and 21b (12b and 22b) will not be damaged (cut) by the tool since only the depth of the large-diameter portion being inserted to the projections varies. Therefore, the welding process will not reduce the thickness of the face plates, leading to design-related and function-related problems.

Abstract: A pressing device including a platen for pressing a workpiece is provided, which has a pressing plate provided between the platen and the workpiece to press the workpiece instead of the platen when the platen is moved toward the workpiece, and a liquid layer formed between the pressing plate and the platen to transfer a force for pressing the workpiece with a required pressure to the pressing plate from the platen through the liquid layer. The platen is a heating platen heatble to a temperature sufficient to heat the workpiece to a temperature required for pressing, and the liquid layer is filled with heat transfer oil. The pressing plate is metal plate with a mirror finished surfaces.

Abstract: A self-adhesive flexible circuit for printed circuit assembly repair is provided. The flexible circuit comprises a carrier film, a circuit trace and an adhesive. The flexible circuit is placeable on a printed circuit board having a circuit assembly and allows simple repair of boards not designed or manufactured correctly and which contain undesirable short or open circuits or misrouted traces. The flexible circuit allows for placement in a desired location, adherence to the circuit board using its own adhesive. The flexible circuit can then be electrically attached, i.e. solder or conductively adhered, to the board.

Abstract: A capillary threading tool is used to thread bond wire through the capillary tool of a wire bond machine. The capillary threading tool includes a handle that is grasped to manipulate a body portion into a gap between the upper end of the capillary tube and the lower end of a guide tube that is positioned above the capillary tube. The body portion includes a guide surface that is placed in contact with the wire bond machine, and a vertical slot extending from the guide surface that terminates in a closed end having an inclined surface. The length of the slot is selected to position the lower edge of the inclined surface above the end of the capillary tube so the bond wire can be threaded into the capillary tube simply by forcing the end of the wire on the inclined surface.

Abstract: The present invention includes a blank and container wherein the container includes truncated corner panels and the container is configured to attach or otherwise sit upon a supporting structure, such as, without limitation, a pallet. The truncated corners of the container coupled with the non-truncated corners of the supporting structure cause the corners of the supporting structure to extend beyond the perimeter of the container. Corner tabs having hazard-warning indicia upon an upper surface are configured to extend over the exposed supporting structure corners. Consequently, attention is drawn to the extended supporting structure corners thereby helping to prevent tripping over the pallet corners The indicia may be brightly colored stripes, solid fields or any other indicia. The indicia may be printed and formed in same process as printing labels on the container, thereby requiring no additional manufacturing steps.

Abstract: A paperless system for the online and offline collection of data representing votes cast and choices registered in elections and surveys is administered at a master Website at which election/survey and voter/participant data and qualifications are maintained and associated in a database with parameters for a uniquely identified election or survey event. Voter/participant identity records with a password are also maintained in the database and embedded on a smart card that is issued to a voter/participant upon registration. Upon the occurrence of an election/survey event, the smart card is entered in a terminal mechanism to permit voting or choice selection. Individual votes and choices are transmitted to the master Website in real time or in batches where they are tabulated and analyzed. After voting, an indicia is placed on the smart card to prevent its reuse for subsequent participation in the same event.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a data form for use with an optical mark reading apparatus, the form including rows and columns of data marks locations, the first column comprising timing marks, the second column including a form compatibility mark and a third column including data mark locations indicating form length and type. The present invention further relates to a data form including rows and columns of data marks locations, at least two of the rows proximate the top of the form designated control rows and data marks within the control rows in a first column indicating timing marks, in a second column indicating form compatibility and in a third column indicating form length and layout.

Abstract: A media sensing method for an automatic media dispenser for discriminating discharged media using minimum sensors is able to sense media which are discharged in abnormal status by discriminating skew of media, length of the media, thickness of the media, and a distance between successively discharged media using a feed sensor and a rotary variable differential transducer (RVDT) sensor installed on left/right sides of a transferring path on which the media are transferred after being discharged from a cassette as responding to a cash withdrawal request, and thereby an area for disposing the sensors can be reduced to minimize the dispenser, and the circuit can be constructed simply using the minimum sensors to reduce fabrication cost for the automatic media dispenser.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed to increase the efficiency of multi-party authentication communications protocols. One technique includes a four party authentication method utilizing a general authenticator to store and provide a credit card authentication password and other payment information to an issuing bank and/or other parties involved in the transaction. Other techniques include the use of skeleton messages to minimize the forwarding of information through a forwarding party, the elimination of redundant communications exchanges, the use of a merchant appliance hardware solution to minimize system integration difficulties, and/or the imposition of credit card constraints. The techniques may be used singly or in combination.

Abstract: An apparatus and method thereof to display a logo on a screen of an optical disc playback apparatus includes a storage unit storing logo data, wherein the storage unit is removable from the optical disc playback apparatus. A controller checks whether the storage unit is installed in the optical disc playback apparatus when the optical disc playback apparatus is turned on, and outputs the logo data stored in the storage unit when the storage unit is installed. An image processor performs image processing on the logo data stored in the storage unit controlled by the controller.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system.

Abstract: An electronic voting process sends votes that have been entered via a general purpose user interface such as the keyboard of a PC to a vote collecting system. To prevent viruses between the interface and the vote collecting system from entering fraudulent votes, individualized ballot forms are used. Each for a different voter and each containing entries for respective ones of the options that can be made in the vote. Entries for different options within each one of the forms contain mutually different identifiers, identifiers in entries for equal options in different ones of the forms containing mutually different identifiers. Each ballot forms is sent to the voter for which it was individually generated. The voter enters the identifiers for his or her option and a voting system compares the identifier with the information about the identifiers for the identified voter stored in the vote collecting system.

Abstract: Determination of the authenticity and integrity of various types of documents such as lottery tickets is accomplished by using an electronic verification machine to compare data contained in electronic circuits printed on the document to document data printed on the document. The electronic circuits are printed on the document in conductive or semiconductive ink using, for example, the gravure printing process, and the presence and status of the circuits can be used to verify or authenticate the document. Data can be represented in the electronic circuits by the electrical signature of the circuit which is measured by the electronic verification machine. In the case of lottery tickets, a ticket can be validated by having the electronic verification machine determine which play spots have been removed from the ticket and comparing data on the ticket with the removed play spots to determine a play redemption value for the ticket.

Abstract: A process for encoding and decoding data on the magnetic stripe of a card at any bit density is provided. Data is read from the magnetic stripe of a card and transmitted to a single board computer. The single board computer receives the data and determines if the bit density of the card is supported by the computer. If the bit density is supported, the data is sent to a demodulator object to be demodulated and converted to a data stream of ASCII characters. The data stream is then decoded, unpacked and sent to a ticket validator to check the validity of the data. If the bit density is not supported by the computer, a demodulator object supporting the bit density can be instantiated.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system.

Abstract: Methods of and systems for illuminating objects using planar laser illumination beams having substantially-planar spatial distribution characteristics that extend through the field of view (FOV) of image formation and detection modules employed in such systems. Each planar laser illumination beam is produced from a planar laser illumination beam array (PLIA) comprising an plurality of planar laser illumination modules (PLIMs). Each PLIM comprises a visible laser diode (VLD, a focusing lens, and a cylindrical optical element arranged therewith. The individual planar laser illumination beam components produced from each PLIM are optically combined to produce a composite substantially planar laser illumination beam having substantially uniform power density characteristics over the entire spatial extend thereof and thus the working range of the system.

Abstract: An illumination system periodically directs a short burst of bright light onto rotating indicia which makes the indicia appear to be stationary. The exact location of the indicia on the sidewall of the vehicle tire is determined by an emitter and sensor during each revolution of the tire, and a short burst of bright light is then directed onto the indicia which makes the indicia appear to be stationary and therefore discernable. Repeating design features of a vehicle wheel may also be sensed with an accompanying short burst of bright light which makes the wheel appear to be stationary.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical reading system comprising an optical reader (10) and a host processor (900). In one aspect of the invention, the host processor (900) may be configured to transmit a component control instruction in response to a user input command input by a user of the host processor (900) to remotely control the reader (10). The optical reader (10) subsequently receives the transmitted component control instruction and executes the component control instruction substantially on receipt thereof. In one embodiment, execution of the component control instruction by optical reader (10) has the same effect as the reader trigger (52) being manually pulled by a reader operator.

Abstract: The disclosed method and system enables the acquisition and capture of consumer information at the time of purchase, such that a product's bar code (UPC) label and a consumer's response are concurrently read at the time of purchase, so as to obtain timely consumer information of high integrity. In one embodiment, a method is provided where the consumer may respond individually to inquiries on a plurality of products such that the consumer's responses are captured at the check-out counter at the time of purchase, and a resulting set of information containing responses to a plurality of specific products can be generated.

Abstract: A method and system for acquiring bar code encoded information wherein a bar code is read using a portable bar code reader to produce bar code data which has a wireless communications transceiver for transmitting the bar code data. The bar code data is transmitted to a second bar code reader which has a wireless communications transceiver for receiving bar code data and has an output circuit for communicating bar code data by a cable to a host computer. The bar code data and additional bar code data produced by the second bar code reader is communicated by the cable or by a secondary wireless connection to the host computer.