摘要:
A consumable article includes a consumable item and a memory device. The memory device is organized to represent currency. Use of the consumable item causes the memory device to be reorganized. The consumable article is used in an apparatus that has a control circuit that can update the memory device to modify the amount of currency when the apparatus consumes the consumable item. The apparatus optionally includes a network interface coupled to the control circuit that interfaces to a clearinghouse for reconciling the amount of currency and use of the consumable item.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for detection of highlighted regions of a document. A document containing highlighted regions is scanned using a gray scale scanner. Morphology and threshold reduction techniques are used to separate highlighted and non-highlighted portions of the document. Having separated the highlighted and non-highlighted portions, optical character recognition (OCR) techniques can then be used to extract text from the highlighted regions.
摘要:
A marking array for use in an ionographic printer in which the transport fluid entrained ions presents a highly corrosive atmosphere to the modulation electrodes. Marking electrodes formed of an alloy of aluminum and copper wherein the copper is in the range of 0.5 to 4% exhibit a remarkably extended lifetime over unalloyed aluminum electrode.
摘要:
A contact structure and method of formation of a contact structure for an electro-optic modulator. Linear electrodes on a modulator crystal are covered with a dielectric layer. The electrodes are contacted by way of one or more vias through the dielectric layer. Contact pads are formed over the vias so as to contact the electrode and extend over several adjacent electrodes, providing significantly greater contact area for a driver chip applied to the modulator crystal.
摘要:
An improved modulation structure for the marking head of an ionographic marking aparatus for increasing the effective lifetime of the modulation electrodes in the highly corrosive atmosphere of such a device. A relative bias on the order of about 10% of the ion output cut-off bias is imposed across the ion modulation region in order to inhibit the deterioration effects of the ions on the modulation electrodes.
摘要:
A method for making an authenticating system for a package includes establishing a plurality of variable instruments on the package and depositing a product in the package after the instruments have been established thereon. The method also includes acquiring information from at least two of the plurality of instruments, and associating the acquired information with the product to render product-specific authentication data.
摘要:
A method and apparatus for market-based document layout selection use an automated auction or bartering system, i.e., an automated page layout system, to place objects within a page and automatically generate a page layout that is pleasing to a user. An object refers to any item that can be individually selected and manipulated, and may include shapes and pictures that appear on a display screen. The method and apparatus improve the quality of page layout in terms of user preferences, and optimize the speed at which various objects are arranged on a page in a pleasing manner. In addition, the resulting page layout may be consistent among pages because all pages are arranged according to a common algorithm.
摘要:
A barcode with enhanced visual quality may be used with an item such as a document. The barcode includes a background field having an embedded graphic. The background caries data related to the item. The embedded graphic may obscure some background data. A bar coding apparatus, system and a corresponding method involve two basic functions: encoding and decoding. The encoding function uses an encoding algorithm to generate the barcode. The graphic is then embedded onto the barcode and the thus-generated enhanced visually significant barcode is placed on the item. Decoding involves machine-reading the barcode using a decoding algorithm. The decoding algorithm can operate with or without an original bit map that was used to generate the graphic. The graphic may be enhanced in a manner that may make at least a portion of the encoded information within the graphic readable by a human.
摘要:
A forms recognition system having a method which assists an operator in creating an electronic template. The automated method would allow an operator to view an electronic bitmap of a master or blank form on a graphical display, the master form having bounded or semi-bounded regions depicting fields. An operator would display the bitmap, select a single point within a bounded or semi-bounded region on the bitmap with a pointing device, and the coordinates representing the bounded region would be automatically determined using the single point selected by the operator.
摘要:
A contact structure and method of formation of a contact structure for an electro-optic modulator. Linear electrodes on a modulator crystal are covered with a dielectric layer. The electrodes are contacted by way of one or more vias through the dielectric layer. Contact pads are formed over the vias so as to contact the electrode and extend over several adjacent electrodes, providing significantly greater contact area for a driver chip applied to the modulator crystal.