A method of providing an interface to a first application is disclosed. The first application is retained within a memory means (276) of an electronic card (100), with at least one of a plurality of user interface elements (154) being associated with a user interface element object stored in the memory (276). The memory means (276) is coupled to a processor means (275) of the electronic card (100). The processor means (275) is coupled to a reading device (300) configured to facilitate reading of...

A wrapped-card assembly comprising a data-encoded card enclosed in a wrapping. The data-encoded card comprises confidential and non-confidential information in a visible form. The wrapping comprises an opaque area and a transparent area. The opaque area covers at least partially the confidential information. The transparent area covers at least partially the non-confidential information.

An optical tap is provided that includes an input waveguide having a first width for receiving an optical signal and a tap waveguide having a second width. The tap waveguide is coupled to the input waveguide in a junction region. An output waveguide, which has a third width, is coupled to the input waveguide in the junction region defined by the intersection of the input and tap waveguides. The input waveguide, tap waveguide and output waveguide respectively have input, tap and output longitudin...

Financial transaction and similar cards are fabricated with a split core adapted to received embedded electronic circuitry. The card core has two or more laminated layers. The cavity is milled into one or more of the layers to receive the electronic circuitry. The core layers are then laminated together, along with protective overlays. Alternative fabrication methods include co-extrusion and injection molding.

A non-contact IC card includes an information storage unit for storing information, a communication controller for controlling communication with an external device, and a loop antenna for transmitting and receiving a radio wave to and from the external device. The non-contact IC card further includes a changeover switch for changing a communication distance between the external device and the card, so that the cost and size of the card can be reduced. The non-contact IC card can be used both in...

An illumination apparatus for using a beam emitted from a light source to illuminate an object area includes a condensing optical system for condensing the beam emitted from the light source, and a reflection type optical integrator located between the condensing optical system and the object area, the optical integrator having an m-gonal (where m is an even number) sectional shape, forming multiple pairs of opposing reflection surfaces, and reflecting the beam between the multiple pairs of oppo...

An image reading apparatus includes a line sensor for reading an image of an original, a scanning optical system that has a light source and scans the original, a reference reflection member provided in such a position as to reflect a light emitted from the light source, a buffer memory for storing data of the image, an intermittent reading part interrupting and restarting scanning performed by the scanning optical system based on a residual storage capacity of the buffer memory, and a light amo...

The technique of the present invention effectively prevents banknotes from being stored in an inadequate state in a cabinet of a cash recycling-type bill handing machine. In the bill handling machine, it is determined whether or not the conveyance state of each banknote is within an allowable range Wst fit for storage in a recycle cabinet, and unfit banknotes are conveyed to a non-recycle cabinet. The determination is based on a deviation Ost of each banknote in conveying position. This arrangem...

An all-fiber depolarizer having a linear design includes a directional coupler associated with a polarization combiner. Linear light is pumped into the coupler where its intensity is split in two. Between the coupler and the combiner there is included an optical delay and the polarization of one intensity is made orthogonal to the other, as they enter the polarization combiner. The combiner combines the orthogonal polarizations and the light exits by an output in a depolarized state.

Techniques for determining a position for a rotating optical element, or spinner, of a bar code scanner are described. A diffractive element is positioned so as to be struck by a laser beam produced by a laser source and reflected from the spinner when the spinner is in a reference position. The diffractive element diffracts the reflected beam to produce a diffracted line which strikes a reference position photodetector, thereby causing the reference position photodetector to produce a reference...