International Business Machines Corporation

Robert Scott Fortenberry

LeRoy D Dickson

Robert Thomas Cato

Timothy Wayne Crockett

Eric C Broockman

Wayne Roger Hucaby

Alberto Gustavo Gonzalez Conde

A method for providing a touch interface on a display is described. The method includes providing an emitter on a first side of the display and providing a detector on a second side of the display. The emitter provides an electromagnetic signal to the display. The electromagnetic signal has a path from the emitter to the detector through the display in the absence of a user's touch such that the electromagnetic signal is detected by the detector in the absence of the user's touch. The path includes at least one total internal reflection in the display. The emitter and the detector are configured such that the user's touch at any of the at least one total internal reflection alters the path such that a portion of the electromagnetic signal does not reach the detector.

Providing a frustrated total internal reflection touch interface

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for measuring purchase items. An identification module identifies a purchase item conforming to a specified characteristic. A communication module directs the customer to place the purchase item in an auxiliary receptacle in response to the purchase item conforming to the specified characteristic. A measurement module measures the parameter for the purchase item when placed in the auxiliary receptacle. In one embodiment, a verification module verifies that the measured parameter is substantially equivalent to an expected parameter for the purchase item. In a certain embodiment a notification module communicates a security notification in the response to the measured parameter not being substantially equivalent to the expected parameter.

Apparatus, system, and method for measuring light-weight purchase items

A point of sale device having a verifiable electronic journal system which maintains an electronic journal file in lieu of using a journal print station. Transaction information is first stored in a non-volatile random access memory. A data signature is determined based on the contents of the random access memory for a journal. Both the transaction information and the data signature are transferred to the separate journal memory. The journal memory may, for example, reside on the point of sale terminal and tampering with the journal transaction information may be detected by reference to the data signature which is also transferred and maintained in the electronic journal file. Preferably, the data signature is encrypted such as by a shared key encryption scheme and the associated public key is also transferred and stored in the electronic journal file from the device, such as a fiscal base, which is tracking the transaction information as it is created. A hashing technique is preferably used so that a comparatively small NVRAM may be utilized to support generation of a transaction information set for an electronic journal file for a journal period. Accordingly, the data signature is an encrypted version of a message digest which is a running value reflecting the total of transaction information passed to the electronic journal file during a journal period.

Verifiable electronic journal for a point of sale device and methods for using the same

A dual beam laser array provides two overlapping beams for use in a direct read after write (DRAW) optical data storage system. A first portion of the overlapping beams is directed to a first optical detector and a second portion of the overlapping beams is directed to a second optical detector. A logic circuit connected to the optical detectors generates power signals representative of the power levels of each of the overlapping beams without the need to completely separate the beams.

Multi-beam optical system and method with power detection of overlapping

A holographic scanner includes a rotating glass disk carrying a plurality of scan line generating holograms, a laser light source and means for detecting reflected optical energy. The scanner is improved by adding a plurality of relatively small position-indicating holograms in alternation with the scan line generating holograms. The position-indicating holograms redirect the laser beam along desired paths on the same side of the disk as the laser. The redirected laser beam may be detected by the system photodetector or an auxiliary photodetector to provide signals indicating the current disk position. The position information can be used by a system processor to optimize scanner parameters as a function of the characteristics of the next active scan line generating hologram.

Holographic disk scanner having special position-indicating holograms

An optical scanner is improved by securing beam directing holograpic films to the transparent scanner window. The films alter the paths of beams at the window to provide scanning beams suitable for rear or side scanning of label-carrying products. A vertical scanning beam, which sweeps a path parallel to the window's leading edge, might be used to detect the approach of a product to be scanned.

Growing community of inventors

Raleigh, NC, United States of America

Robert Scott Fortenberry