Abstract: A method for processing a document including the steps of applying a source of energy to the document having at least one generally rectangular field area with a coating, scanning the document to locate the coated filed, reading only the indicia highlighted, reading a code to determine the character of the indicia, developing digital information signals, and storing the digital information.

Abstract: Information is recorded in situ on a wallet-size card by disposing laser recordable material in the card, then recording indicia, in situ, on the material with a laser. At least some of the indicia are microscopic eye readable information, with the rest being machine readable information, with the eye readable information being redundant with at least some of the machine readable information. This visually read information is recorded as characters made up of matrices of nonconnected laser recorded spots. The characters may be alphanumeric characters, or the like. The characters are read with an optical magnifier. A laser beam and light detector may be used to read the digital information by scanning the card with the beam.

Abstract: In an access card having coded material which comprises a plurality of markings which under infrared radiation appear on an infrared receiver, it is provided in accordance with the invention in order to prevent counterfeiting that a continuous and transparent plastic foil or film blank (4), at least on a portion of its surface, has a layer (4a) that is not transparent to visible light and is transparent to infrared light; together with a substrate (5), the blank embodies a laminate which on its inside carries a photosensitive layer (7) covered by a layer that is transparent to infrared light. The markings (21-23) appear as a negative or positive on the photosensitive layer (7) as the result of exposure of the plastic foil or film blank (4) to light.

Abstract: In a system for optical display and photo-electric scanning of the contents of a counter equipped with counting wheels, and wherein each counting wheel includes a plurality of numeral members visually distinguishable from the periphery thereof, a coded optical marking member is associated with each numeral member of a respective counting wheel. The coded optical marking member includes at least one optical surface element, and the optical marking members of the counting wheels extend along respective rows, and may be scanned by a light ray moving along a corresponding row. The improvement includes one of the members being superimposed at least in part onto another of the members in a corresponding row, and being partially light-transmitting, while each optical surface element is light-reflective, so that the numeral members are visible upon being illuminated with diffuse light, but wherein a light ray directed onto a respective optical surface element is reflected therefrom.

Abstract: A concealed code of a card or badge arranged along a line parallel to one edge is read by advancing the card or badge along a slot defined between two internal chambers of a sensor housing that accomodate an infra-red light-emitting diode and a phototransistor respectively. The two chambers are provided with holes disposed on opposite sides of the slot to facilitate a beam of infra-red radiation passing through the holes and across the slot to read the code embodied in the card or badge. The surface at the bottom of the slot slopes upwardly from the peripery of the housing to a point of maximum height midway through the slot that is immediately below the point at which the infra-red beam passes across the slot so that the beam reads the code even when the edge of the card 1 is slightly misaligned.

Abstract: An identification card comprises a single media having a plurality of different heat sensitive image forming dye compounds on which are encoded a colored pictorial image of the card holder, colored text, and machine readable digital data. A laser printing method is also provided for activating the heat sensitive image forming dyes to provide the colored pictorial image of the card holder, the colored text and the machine readable digital code.

Abstract: A negotiable instrument operable for automatic bank scanning and processing wherein the negotiable instrument includes three field areas to receive maker, payee, and amount indicia. A fluorescent ink is applied as background on at least one of the field areas of the negotiable instrument. When ultraviolet light is used to illuminate the negotiable instrument indicia added on top of the fluorescent ink may be automatically detected and scanned.

Abstract: A printed substrate has areas printed in a screen of carbon black ink dots and other areas printed in a corresponding screen of infrared transparent ink dots, whereby, the presence of the carbon black ink dots is made visually undetectable but can readily be detected by an infrared emitter and detector.

Abstract: A watchman's tour recording system includes a portable housing containing a data reader for reading and recording data from tour stations and a printer for printing out recorded station data and entry time in alphanumeric form. The printer is located in a locked compartment and is accessible by supervisory personnel for periodic tour entry monitoring. Station keys carry coded identification as a linear array of apertures filled with alternative pellet materials which are transmissive or non-transmissive to infrared light but are visibly indistinguishable. Strobe holes are positioned in a parallel linear array for synchronizing data reading. During assembly, the pellets are mutually distinguishable by split and continuous rings which serve as energy directors during ultrasonic welding of the pellets into the key, and which are hidden from view in the assembled product.

Abstract: The card is particularly intended to give a card-holder access to a service such as pay-TV (broadcast or cable), but in principle could be adapted to any lock-and-key type of system, e.g. credit cards, cards giving access to computer terminals or rooms, etc. The data is encoded on the card in the form of data-significant marks and spaces (2, 3). For example, the marks (2) may be distributed along two parallel tracks with marks in one track representing "1" bits and marks in the other track representing "0" bits. Dummy marks (20, 21, 30, 31, 32, 33) are also made on the card. The dummy marks have the same appearance to the human eye and to photographic and photocopying equipment as the data-significant marks. However, they are printed using inks having a different response in an invisible part of the spectrum, so that card reading equipment can be made to treat dummy marks differently from the way it treats data-significant marks. This makes the cards difficult to fake using commonly available equipment.

Abstract: Teaching or amusement apparatus consists of a substrate bearing printed intelligence and a detector pen or unit for use therewith. The detector pen discriminates between areas on the printed substrate by means not visible to the naked eye e.g. by a difference in magnetic properties, infrared reflective properties or capacitative properties of different parts of the printing. Depending on the type of printing and the degree of complexity of detection, a wide variety of games and teaching aids may be produced using this basic approach. A typical example is a quiz game where a question may be followed by five printed answers, only one of which is correct, that correct one being printed in a detectably different way from the others.

Abstract: A machine readable document is disclosed with unknown variable data of a specified nature imprinted thereon in unknown, variable locations. The data is imprinted on the document in such a manner that it can be machine located, accurately read, and identified as to type for further use in creating a composite record. In one embodiment, the document is a negotiable instrument or bank check which can be machine read and used in the production of a composite image statement.

Abstract: This disclosure is concerned with providing automatic identification of lines of time cards and the like on which time-in, time-out and related data is to be printed or recorded, by printing distinctive marks in the data field of the card on such lines, and sensing the presence of the marks to signal advancement on the next card usage to the next line.

Abstract: An optically-based coded card identification system is provided in which a card having an access code defined by adjacent differently-polarized elements used in a transmissive or reflective mode is interrogated through a deep red or near infrared transmissive filter as the card is pased by a source of illumination. The use of polarization coupled with the adjacency of the differently-polarized elements makes the code nearly invisible to the naked eye, with the code being made more invisible due to the low visible light transmission of the filter on the face of the card. In one embodiment, coding for the cards is provided by overlying layers of material polarized in different directions, with portions of the layers provided with offset apertures so that light through an aperture in one layer is polaried by an unapertured portion of the adjacent layer immediately thereunder.

Abstract: A data card having an optical, high resolution laser recording material, such as a metal-containing film, adhering to it. The strip of laser recording material has a capacity for recording at least 250,000 data bits represented by optically contrasting spots having a dimension of less than 25 microns. The optical contrast of the spots with respect to the surrounding field is at least two to one. The strip may have a preinscribed formatting pattern for positioning, timing, programming and related functions.

Abstract: A method for making a data card involving photolithographically prerecording information, such as reference position information or servo tracks, on a strip of high resolution, direct-read-after-write laser recording material, then adhering the strip to a card such that the strip is recordable in place. A protective transparent laminating material is bonded to the recording surface and then user information is recorded on the strip using a laser aimed at the strip through the laminating material.

Abstract: An instruction or identification card or badge for use in a time recording system, to authorize admission to restricted locations or for use in credit transactions comprises layers of material that is opaque to visible light but transparent to infra-red radiation. A code that is readable by an optoelectronic reader but is invisible in ordinary light is provided by transparent windows alternating with infra-red opaque regions arranged along a line parallel to one edge of the card, one binary digit being represented by wide rectangular windows and the other binary digit being represented by narrower windows that when read in a badge reader give different peak heights. The code is self-clocking and need occupy only a small portion of the card area.

Abstract: A data card having an optical, high resolution reflective laser recording material, such as a metallic film adhered thereon. The strip of laser recording material has a capacity for recording at least 250,000 bits represented by bits having a dimension less than 50 microns. The data card is used in electronic passbook banking or identification uses.

Abstract: A method of treating paper money and the like for the purpose of identification by applying to one of the surfaces of the paper money a first treating material overcoating the first treating material with a layer of transparent material to prevent the first treating material from being removed from or obscured, and then applying a second treating material over the transparent material and the surface of the paper money where the first and second treating materials are normally invisible but rendered visible under ultra violet light. The method may also include providing means for detection of the paper money by touch, taste, smell or hearing. The invention also contemplates the article produced by the method.

Abstract: An identification card is disclosed as for supporting commercial or other significant transactions involving a designated subject. The card incorporates a machine-readable record and includes a composition to characteristically modulate a light beam for individual card identification. In one embodiment, the card incorporates light-changing crystals (e.g. polaroid) to modulate a light beam. The machine-readable record on the card indicates: the light beam modulation, a coded personal identification for the subject card bearer, and a time-related value criterion involving use for the card. Systems are disclosed for variously sensing card characteristics by modulated light including polarized light techniques and from different aspects.A system for processing the cards is also disclosed including apparatus for sensing recorded signals representative of: a modulated light beam characteristic, a personal identification for the card holder, and a time-related use limitation.

Abstract: An optical reading system employing a commercially available line scanning camera which is sensitive to the ink employed in preprinted document formats. The sensitivity of a line scan camera to the preprinted ink formats is minimized by employing an incandescent document illuminating source, a lens system for the line scan camera which is optimized for use in the near infrared region, and an infrared pass filter positioned between the line scan camera lens system and the document to filter the light reflected from the document.

Abstract: A badge reader which uses infrared light employs circuitry for determining whether portions of the identification badge are relatively opaque or transparent to infrared radiation upon insertion of the badge into the badge reader. The circuitry includes a source of infrared radiation, such as an infrared emitting diode, a detector of infrared radiation such as a phototransistor, an alignment device for detecting the alignment of the opaque or transparent portions of the badge with the source and detector and for producing an alignment signal. The alignment signal is delivered to an infrared emitting diode driver for driving the diode to produce a pulse of infrared radiation in response to the alignment signal. The detector detects a sufficient amount of infrared radiation only when that portion of the card is relatively transparent, and produces an output in response thereto.

Abstract: A detector 10 used to sense the presence of control markings 20 on a moving web 12. The detector responds to abrupt changes in intensity of electromagnetic radiation rather than merely to absolute intensity values. Gradual changes in or a constant level of detected radiation or detector temperature do not change the magnitude of the abrupt changes in radiation intensity to which the detector responds. This capability allows the detector to distinguish between electromagnetic radiation emitted by wavelength-shifting control marks 20 and changes in web background and/or ambient radiation. A filter 38 is interposed between a photo diode 36 in the detector 10 and the web 12 to further enhance detector performance.

Abstract: An optical probe comprising an optical emitter and a detector which are directed through a cylindrical lens to be focused into an elongated pattern which is arranged for reading a printed optical code. The emitter and detector are angled relative to the central and vertical axes of the lens to produce an elongated light pattern adapted for reading an elongated bar code. A shutter may enhance the slit effect. A planar base and viewing aperture may also be provided.

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 method for correcting erroneously encoded optical character recognition indicia through the application of a solution containing ferric chloride to the erroneously encoded indicia to effectively quench the florescense of the indicia when excited by ultraviolet light. The solution is permitted to dry and new ultraviolet excitable ink is utilized to re-encode the document over the quenched erroneously encoded indicia.

Abstract: After certain checks have been automatically made, and answer document is continuously scanned by successively and repeatedly switching the various phototransistors, one for each column of response positions or bubbles printed with ink visible to infrared energy, into a conductive or light-responsive state. In this way, between timing marks, each phototransistor is constantly employed to determine the light transmittivity of the document as far as that particular phototransistor is concerned. When an opaque timing mark is not passing by an additional phototransistor assigned to sense light passing through the document at that period, the data obtained is used to determine what the level of paper translucency is, an average paper level being stored for each cell that is subsequently compared with acquired data obtained between later arriving timing marks, the average being modified as required.

Abstract: A data card wherein various data are recorded with a fluorescent material which emits infrared rays when excited by infrared rays is disclosed.The data card according to this invention has such merit that it is very effective for the preservation of secrecy and the prevention of forgery, that it is not affected by stains, that different information can be recorded thereon one over the other, and that it can be read by an extraordinarily compact reader.

Abstract: In an apparatus for accurately counting a stack of documents and especially legal tender (i.e., paper money), tests for authenticity are performed simultaneously with the counting operation and without in any way impeding the type of counting operation being performed. At the same time that the counting operation is being performed, at speeds of the order of 1250 bills per minute, each bill or note currency is tested for certain properties of genuineness, including fluorescence and magnetic characteristics. Notes which fail to satisfy the tests are categorized as suspect notes and automatically stop the machine and thereby temporarily halt the counting operation. The suspect note is isolated as the top-most document in the outfeed stacker greatly facilitating the handling and removal of the suspect bill for further examination.

Abstract: In a first mode, a security system uses the Doppler effect to permit the automatic activation of a bolt by the patterned movement of a reflecting card in the vicinity of a Doppler unit. In a second mode, the system behaves as a conventional intrusion detection system to activate an alarm for an unauthorized intruder present within an area to be monitored.The first mode operates to verify a combination given a user implemented by the movement of a reflecting member towards and away from the Doppler unit based on a predetermined code. If the movement of the reflector is proper and within a predetermined time period, a valid comparison will be had to automatically cause a bolt to unlatch and open the door. The unit is placed in the second mode when all access to the door is prohibited and the system operates as a conventional intrusion detector.