Abstract: A bar code label comprising a bar code which is made from a vitreous material. The label is formed on a substrate made of ceramics, pottery or porcelain enamel-coated metal or the like.

Abstract: An identification code provided in relief on an object is read in that a radiation beam is obliquely incident on the surface on which the identification code is provided, and in that the identification code is observed by a detection system by means of the shadows thus cast.

Abstract: A bar code configuration which may be molded in the sidewall of a tire and has even surface portions and uneven surface portions for selectively reflecting light from a light source toward a receiving sensor to define bars of a bar code. The uneven surface portions may have grooves or ribs with a sawtooth cross section and sloped faces for reflecting light to a receiving sensor at an angle to the sidewall surface. The bar code configuration for tires molded in a particular mold may be provided by an insert fastened to the mold and having even surfaces and uneven surfaces at the inner mold face to mold the even surface portions and uneven surface portions of the bar code configuration in the tire sidewall as the tire is being vulcanized. By changing the insert the bar code configuration can be changed to provide different information about the tire.

Abstract: A credit card including a credit card body bearing the usual information representing the type of card, as well as raised encoded symbols on the card for identifying the card owner, the card having a plurality of foldable tabs with each of the tabs being provided with a different code associated therewith. Folding of selective ones of the tabs, by the card user, provides an additional encoded identification for determining the authenticity of the individual when presenting the card to a vendor.

Abstract: In an electrical connection system between a payment card (10) including an integrated memory circuit (11), and an information transfer apparatus (15) for reading and writing data in the memory circuit, terminals (14) of the card (10) are covered with a protective layer of a plastic material (13) which is perforable and recoverable (self-healing), and the transfer apparatus is provided, for each terminal, with a projection (16) of hard metal ending at a point (17) to be urged with a defined force on to the corresponding terminal in the card through the protective layer.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining which of a plurality of molds produced a particular container. A specific concentric ring code is molded into the bottom of each container as it is produced. This code is defined by absence or presence of rings at possible ring positions. No rings are formed in adjacent positions. The containers are then passed by a reading station, where light whose intensity is proportional to the angle of incidence is projected onto the bottom of the container. The variation of intensity of light reflected to a particular point is used to determine the position of the rings on the container and suitable electronics may then decode the ring position to determine the container code, thus permitting identification of the mold which produced each container.

Abstract: An identification system comprising a plurality of differently frequency coded markings including mechanical vibrating means, and a detector device for detecting the frequency or combination of frequencies of the vibrating means. The vibrating means of the various markings are preferably made from identical comb-like members having teeth which are vibratory with different natural frequencies and of the type used in small music boxes. The different frequency codes may then be obtained by removing teeth in different combinations from the members used in the various markings. The markings may, for example, be arranged on dairy cattle, and the identification system may then be used in connection with a milk sampling system.

Abstract: Feed-back communication cards for ascertaining the views of participants in a meeting or conference in which pull off tabs are enhanced with ink marks on the edge and face of the edge of each card so that when a multiplicity of the cards are stacked, the openings in the card edges resulting from the removal of the pull off tabs and the ink markings on face of the card edges providing for quickly determining the outcome of the views of the assembly participants and a reliable estimate of the number who expressed themselves on the issue or issues which have been presented.