Other

Canadian Patents & Development Ltd.

Societe Canadienne Des Brevets Et D'exploitation Limitee

Tokyo Mechatronics Co., Limited

Doyle Argosy Innovators Ltd.

George A May

David M Farmer

Koichi Awano

Henry A Strobel

Capacitive data electrostatically recorded on a medium such as cards, papers, and labels is read by shifting the medium and the data reading device opposite to each other. The capacitive data is formed in multiple kinds of different widths and contains a plurality of electrode planesformed being spaced apart from each other in one direction or in a direction opposite to the one direction, and non-electrode planesor ground electrode planesformed between electrode planes, and forms a capacitor between the electrode planesand the electrode for reading data, and a string of data (01, 11, and 11) is read according to temporal changes (T, Tand T) in an electrostatic induction voltage value in accordance with the width of the electrode planesand the non-electrode planesor the ground electrode planes, when the electrode for reading data charged on the electrode planesand the non-electrode planesor the ground electrode planesare scanned in one direction.

Capacitive data body and data reading device thereof

The present invention provides a method of authenticating objects, comprising embedding a unique plurality of randomly-located, irregularly shaped, non-interconnected, electrically conductive regions within the surface of said object to thereby provide a unique electrically readable signature correlated to the genuine document; providing a unique identifier on the object; providing means for electrically reading said unique signature and digitally storing the signature in connection with the unique identifier for that object, and when an object is to be authenticated, obtaining a digitized record of the signature and comparing it to the stored signature.

Method and system for the detection of counterfeit credit or debit cards

A data storage and retrieval system is disclosed which includes an interface module and a data card. Both the interface module and card include a plurality of primary and secondary electrodes having the same pattern. The data card further includes a plurality of fuses extending between each of the primary and secondary electrodes. When the fuse is intact, it will conduct current. When the fuse is blown, the resistance will substantially increase. The state of the resistance of the fuse is used to represent bits of data. In operation, the card is juxtaposed with respect to the interface module so that the respective electrodes can be capacitively coupled. In order to read the data on the card, a an output having a predetermined voltage and frequency is applied to the electrodes. The level of AC current passing through the fuse is measured and the result is used to derive the state of the fuse. When information is to be written onto the card, the voltage level and the oscillating frequency are increased causing the current flow in the electrodes to increase thereby blowing the fuse. The hardware is low in cost, requires low power to operate and provides a write once/read many memory (WORM) in the form of a disposable data card.

Capacitive data card system

Signal phase delay may be accurately measured by transmitting a pseudo-random noise coded reference signal, deriving in-phase and quadrature components of the received coded signal and then separately decoding the in-phase and quadrature components. This technique effectively compresses the transmitted signal pulse to a very narrow width (thereby simplifying discrimination of separate pulses with similar arrival times) while magnifying the pulse amplitude (thereby enhancing the signal to noise ratio).

Phase measurements using pseudo-random code

A high resolution light pen comprises a collimation tube slidably mounted within a housing. The collimation tube includes an axially extending channel having a non-reflective surface. A photodetector is fixably mounted within the housing aligned with the channel. A lens is mounted adjacent to the front end of the channel and has a focal length equal to the spacing between the lens and an aligned pixel of the video screen. By this arrangement, all light rays emanting from an aligned pixel and passing through the lens are refracted axially along the channel and directed to the photodetector thereby maximizing the input thereto. The light pen further includes a discrimination circuit which generates computer interrupt signals for reading an address counter. The discrimination circuit generates an interrupt signal when the signal from the photodetector is valid. The interrupt signal is generated at a time which is substantialy independent of the slope of the signals thereby reducing the effects of jitter.

Circuit for use with a light pen to reduce jitter

A video computing system is disclosed having an automatically refreshed memory. The computing system includes a dynamic memory connected to a cathode ray tube. A cathode ray tube controller is also connected to the memory and is capable of sequentially generating addresses, corresponding to locations in the memory. A central processor is connected to the dynamic memory and operates on an alternating, two phase fetch and execute cycle. During the fetch phase, the central processor has access to the dynamic memory, while during each execute phase, when computing operations are carried out, access to the dynamic memory is prevented. In contrast, during the execute phase, the cathode ray tube controller is permitted direct access to the memory enabling the video information stored therein to be supplied to the cathode ray tube. The sequential and continuous reading of the memory during each execute phase functions to continually refresh the dynamic memory.

Video computing system with automatically refreshed memory

A high resolution light pen comprises a collimation tube slidably mounted within a housing. The collimation tube includes an axially extending channel having a non-reflective surface. A photodetector is fixably mounted within the housing aligned with the channel. A lens is mounted adjacent to the front end of the channel and has a focal length equal to the spacing between the lens and an aligned pixel of the video screen. By this arrangement, all light rays emanating from an aligned pixel and passing through the lens are refracted axially along the channel and directed to the photodetector thereby maximizing the input thereto. The light pen further includes a discrimination circuit which generates computer interrupt signals for reading an address counter. The discrimination circuit generates an interrupt signal when the signal from the photodetector is valid. The interrupt signal is generated at a time which is substantially independent of the slope of the signals thereby reducing the effects of jitter.

High resolution light pen for use with graphic displays

A computer input/output device is disclosed for performing the functions of a telephone. More particularly, an input/output device is disclosed particularly adapted for use with computer communication equipment. The subject device includes a video display connected to a central processor. The central processor is capable of generating and supplying video output to the display. The video output includes the representation of telephone keys. The central processor is also capable of generating output tones respectively corresponding to the telephone keys. An interactive light pen is provided for receiving optical input from the video display and supplying an electrical output to the cental processor. In use, the light pen is placed over the image of particular telephone keys whereby the central procesor will generate an output tone corresponding to that key. In the preferred embodiment of the subject invention, an automatic dial directory is provided to permit the rapid dialing of frequently called numbers. In addition, a nonmechanical volume control is disclosed.

Telephone system with computer generated dial pad and automatic dialing

A computing system is disclosed including a new optical parametric logic gate. The parametric logic gate includes an optical resonant cavity having nonlinear optical characteristics, such that the cavity will generate a subharmonic output signal having a frequency f when supplied with a pump frequency of 2f. The subharmonic output signal may have one of two possible phases which differ by .pi. radians to one another, and correspond to binary 1 and 0 respectively. A bias signal having a frequency f is supplied to the resonant cavity. Optical input signals are summed with the bias signal to produce a resultant seed input signal having one of the two phases. The phase of the seed input signal is imparted to the phase of the output subharmonic. The type of logical operation which the parametron performs can be controlled by adjusting the power of the bias signal. The subject disclosure also includes a description of computing systems having various pump arrangements. In addition, data input/output interfaces are disclosed.

Optical parametrons

Electronic key systems using no moving parts are disclosed. In one embodiment capacitive sensing is provided and in a further embodiment ultrasonic sensing is used. Both embodiments can employ binary coding for use with local or remote logic circuits to control locking mechanisms.

Growing community of inventors

Sooke, Canada

George A May