Disclosed herein are systems, methods, and non-transitory computer-readable storage media for receiving data from a giver at a first time, the data being used to identify a merchant at which a gift from the giver to a recipient is redeemable. The system presents a group of merchants associated with the data to the giver, each merchant of the group of merchants offering a promotion in connection with the gift. The system receives from the giver a selection of a chosen merchant from the group of merchants, the chosen merchant having an associated promotion. The system then generates a policy comprising the gift, the chosen merchant, and the associated promotion such that upon receiving an indication of a triggering event caused by the recipient, the system can apply the gift and the associated promotion according to the policy.

System and method for processing financial transactions

An apparatus (10) and method for obtaining data stored in an electronic module (30) within a power tool (18) over a power line cord (16) of the tool (18), and without any disassembly of the tool (18) being required. An interface subsystem (12) applies a high frequency, low power AC input signal to the power cord (16) of the tool (18). A controller (28) within the tool (18) recognizes this signal as an indication that the tool (18) is to be placed in a communications mode. The controller (28) modulates a power switching device used for turning on and off the motor of the tool (18) in such a fashion that current pulses are transmitted over the power line cord (16) back to the interface subsystem (12). The current pulses correspond to tool (18) usage/performance/identification information stored in the electronic module (30) of the tool (18). This information is interpreted by a current reader circuit of the interface subsystem (12) as binary information which is then transmitted to an external computer (13) data logging device for analysis and/or recording.

System and method for data retrieval in ac power tools via an ac line cord

A data communication system includes an external unit, such as a card reader/writer, with the ability of reading and writing data for a recording medium. The recording medium, such as an IC card, transacts signals with the external unit by being coupled electromagnetically in non-contact fashion with the external unit and is supplied power from the external unit. The external unit includes a first data processor, a first electromagnetic transducing coil for the electromagnetic coupling with the medium, a carrier wave generator connected to the first coil for generating a carrier for transmitting a signal to the recording medium, and a received signal discriminator. The recording medium includes a second data processor, a second electromagnetic transducing coil for the electromagnetic coupling with the external unit, a switching circuit connected to the second coil for varying the load impedance of the second coil in response to a signal to be sent to the first coil, and a received signal detecting circuit. The data signal from the recording medium is demodulated for the carrier frequency from the external unit in response to the data signal, and transmitted to the external unit. The recording medium includes circuits which detect a variation in the power voltage supplied through the electromagnetic coupling and feed it back electromagnetically to the external unit.

Method and system of communication for a non-contact IC card

A novel antenna system disposed around a conveyor belt for the interrogation of objects passing through the antenna which overcomes centralized dead zone problems is disclosed. A frame antenna which is disposed around the conveyor belt achieves the interrogation and a separate reading antenna, which is disposed hingedly from the top of the frame antenna performs the reception.

Hinged read-out antenna system

A two-step analog-to-digital converter (300) and BiCMOS fabrication method to make the converter. The fabrication method provides pseudosubstrate isolation of digital CMOS devices from analog devices. The converter uses NPN current switching in a flash analog-to-digital converter (306) and in a digital-to-analog converter (310) for low noise operation. CMOS digital error correction (318) and BiCMOS output drivers (320) provide high packing density plus large output load handling. Timing control (330) aggregates switching events and puts them into intervals when noise sensitive operations are inactive. The fabrication method uses a thin epitaxial layer with limited thermal processing to provide NPN and PNP devices with large breakdown and Early voltages. Laser trimmed resistors provide small-long term drift due to dopant stabilization in underlying BPSG and low hydrogen nitride passivation.

Analog-to-digital converter and method of fabrication

A device for transmitting of binary data between a mobile data carrier (10) and a stationary station (11) is provided with a first resonance circuit (13) in the stationary station (11), whereby a switchable field effect transistor (25) is parallel switched to its condenser (17) by means of a switching pulse sequence, a second resonance circuit (12) in the data carrier (10) which is at least conductively coupled for a short time with the first resonance circuit (13). For the purpose of enlarging the inductively to be bridged distances between the resonance circuits (12,13) of data carrier (10) and stationary station (11) without impairing the operating safety during the data transmission the resonance circuit (13) in the stationary station (11) is designed in such a manner that its resonance frequency is about equal to the switching pulse sequence. The data transmission from the data carrier (10) to the stationary station (11) is performed by amplitude demodulation in the data carrier (10) and by amplitude demodulation in the stationary station (11). The data transmission from the stationary station (11) to the data carrier (10) is performed by frequency demodulation, whereby the frequency ratio is adjusted to 2:1.

Device for transmitting of binary data between a mobile data carrier and a stationary station

Es wird ein Kodiersystem zum Erfassen von binaren Daten an Werkstucktragem oder dgl. vorgeschlagen, durch die verschiedene Werkstucke auf einer Transferstrase den verschiedenen Bearbeitungsstationen zugefuhrt werden sollen. Das Kodiersystem umfast einen den jeweiligen Werkstuck zugeordneten mobilen Datentrager (18), dessen Daten an ortsfesten Lesestationen (15) einer Transferstrase ausgelesen und weiterverarbeitet werden. Das Auslesen der Daten erfolgt durch einen Ubertrager (20) dessen erste Koppelspule (21) und Ferritkem (22) am mobilen Datenspeicher (18) und dessen zweite Koppelspule (23) mit Ferritkern (24) an der Lesestation (15) sitzt. Die Energieversorgung des Datentragers (18) erfolgt uber eine an der Lesestation (15) erzeugte Impulskette. Zum Auslesen der Daten im Datenspeicher (18) wird jeweils der Ausschwingvorgang in den Koppelspulen (21 und 23) des Ubertragers (20) am Ende eines Impulses einer in der Lesestation (15) erzeugten Impulskette durch eine elektronische Schaltung (27) des Datentragers (18) beeinflust und diese Beeinflussung wird an der Lesestation (15) durch eine elektronische Schaltung (29) erfast.

Kodiersystem zum erfassen von daten von werkstuecken auf transferstrassen

A circuit arrangement for monitoring the current supply of an electric consumer has a voltage regulator connected to an operating voltage that is variable over time and has a voltage monitor for switching on a consumer exclusively during the constant phase of the supply voltage. The voltage monitor is defined by a comparator at one input of which a reference voltage proportional to the regulator output voltage is present and at the other input of which a difference voltage picked up at the regulator output and exceeding a threshold value is present. A switch-on and switch-off signal can be take off at the comparator output.

Circuit arrangement for monitoring the current supply of an electric consumer

1. Coding system for reading binary data via the identifier as well as the machining and assembly status of workpieces on a transfer line, which includes the following features : a) the mobile workpieces, workpiece carriers (10) or similar are provided with a data carrier (18) ; b) the mobile data carrier (18) interacts without contact via an inductive coupling with fixed stations (15) arranged on the transfer line ; c) the fixed station (15) reads out data via the inductive coupling from a mobile data carrier (18) which is moved past it by sensing the voltage curve at at least one coupling coil (23) arranged in the fixed station (15) ; d) during the read-out process, the voltage curve can be influenced at at least one first coupling coil (21), arranged in the data carrier (18), depending on the binary value (1/0) transferred in each case, by an electronic circuit (27) in the mobile data carrier (18) ; e) the mobile data carrier (18) contains at least one energy store (26), which can be charged with electrical energy by means of a pulse train (a) generated by the fixed station (15), when the mobile data carrier (18) is moved past ; characterized in that f) the inductive coupling takes place by means of a transformer (20) which contains the first coupling coil (21) arranged in the mobile data carrier (18) and the coupling coil (23) arranged in the fixed station (15) as well as the cores (22, 24) arranged in the coupling coils (21, 23), g) the fixed station (15) writes new data onto the mobile data carrier (18) in at least one part of the pulse train (a) and h) the electronic circuit (27) of the mobile data carrier (18) influences, or does not influence, respectively, the decay process of the voltages (U21, U23) in the coupling coils (21, 23) of the transformer (20) during reading out of the binary data after each pulse (i) of the pulse train (a), depending on the corresponding binary value (1/0).

Coding system for reading data of work pieces on transfer lines

The unit for the transfer of binary data between a movable data medium (12) and a fixed station (11) comprises a first oscillating circuit (13) and the fixed station (11). This oscillating circuit comprises a capacitor (17). A field effect transistor (25) is switched in parallel with the capacitor by means of a switching pulse train. A second oscillating circuit (12) in the data medium (10) is inductively coupled with the first oscillating circuit (13) during at least a short time interval. In order to increase the gaps to be inductively overcome between the oscillating circuits (12, 13) of the data medium and the fixed station (11) without reducing the safety of operation during the data transmission, the oscillating circuit (13) is so arranged in the fixed station (11) that its resonance frequency is approximately equal to the frequency of the switching pulse train. The data transmission from the medium (10) to the fixed station (11) is carried out by amplitude modulation in the data medium (10) and by demodulation in the fixed station (11). The data transmission from the fixed station (11) to the data medium (10) is carried by frequency modulation and frequency demodulation, the frequency ratio being 2:1.

Hans List

Papers

Device for transmitting of binary data between a mobile data carrier and a stationary station

Kodiersystem zum erfassen von daten von werkstuecken auf transferstrassen

Circuit arrangement for monitoring the current supply of an electric consumer

Coding system for reading data of work pieces on transfer lines

Unit for transferring binary data between a movable data medium and a fixed station