An apparatus includes a head transducer configured to interact with a magnetic recording medium and a heater configured to thermally actuate the head transducer. A thermal sensor at or near the head transducer is configured to produce a sensor signal. Circuitry is coupled to the heater and configured to cause an oscillation in heater power. The heater power oscillation causes an oscillation in the sensor signal. A detector is coupled to the thermal sensor and configured to detect head-medium contact using the oscillating sensor signal and heater power.

A time recorder includes a first sensor that detects the side edge of a time card having a cut-out formed at at least one corner of the bottom, a second sensor that detects the bottom of the time card, and a card feeding unit that feeds the time card. When the time card is fed by this card feeding unit, a pulse counter of the card feeding unit counts the number of pulses of predetermined pulse signals after the first sensor detects the time card and until the second sensor detects the time card. Next, the front and back faces of the time card are determined based on the number of pulses that is a counting result. Hence, the front and back faces can be determined by the first sensor and the second sensor only.

A gamma prime nickel-base superalloy and components formed therefrom that exhibit improved high-temperature dwell capabilities, including creep and hold time fatigue crack growth behavior. A particular example of a component is a powder metallurgy turbine disk of a gas turbine engine. The gamma-prime nickel-base superalloy contains, by weight, 16.0 to 30.0% cobalt, 11.5 to 15.0% chromium, 4.0 to 6.0% tantalum, 2.0 to 4.0% aluminum, 1.5 to 6.0% titanium, up to 5.0% tungsten, 1.0 to 7.0% molybdenum, up to 3.5% niobium, up to 1.0% hafnium, 0.02 to 0.20% carbon, 0.01 to 0.05% boron, 0.02 to 0.10% zirconium, the balance essentially nickel and impurities, wherein the titanium:aluminum weight ratio is 0.5 to 2.0.

A gamma prime nickel-base superalloy and components formed therefrom that exhibit improved high-temperature dwell capabilities, including creep and hold time fatigue crack growth behavior. A particular example of a component is a powder metallurgy turbine disk of a gas turbine engine. The gamma-prime nickel-base superalloy contains, by weight, 18.0 to 30.0% cobalt, 11.4 to 16.0% chromium, up to 6.0% tantalum, 2.5 to 3.5% aluminum, 2.5 to 4.0% titanium, 5.5 to 7.5% molybdenum, up to 2.0% niobium, up to 2.0% hafnium, 0.04 to 0.20% carbon, 0.01 to 0.05% boron, 0.03 to 0.09% zirconium, the balance essentially nickel and impurities, wherein the titanium:aluminum weight ratio is 0.71 to 1.60.

Sliding parts are made of Pb-free Cu—Bi based sintered material. The side in contact with a shaft is machined to a predetermined roughness. A number of Bi phases are present on the finished surface. Stable performance of Bi is to be exhibited. Machined sintered material covers a portion of the Bi phases. The ratio of the exposed surface area of the Bi phases is 0.5% or more relative to the area of the finished surface.

A forging heat resistant steel of an embodiment contains in percent by mass C: 0.05-0.2, Si: 0.01-0.1, Mn: 0.01-0.15, Ni: 0.05-1, Cr: 8 or more and less than 10, Mo: 0.05-1, V: 0.05-0.3, Co: 1-5, W: 1-2.2, N: 0.01 or more and less than 0.015, Nb: 0.01-0.15, B: 0.003-0.03, and a remainder comprising Fe and unavoidable impurities.

There is provided a bearing for motor-powered fuel injection pumps, made from Cu—Ni-based sintered alloy, which is able to be obtained at a low cost, having excellent corrosion and abrasion resistances. The bearing contains 10 to 20% by mass of Ni, 5 to 13% by mass of Sn, 0.1 to 0.8% by mass of P, 1 to 6% by mass of C, and a remainder containing Cu and inevitable impurities, and is formed with a Ni—Sn—Cu—P phase containing at least 30% by mass of Sn in a grain boundary, and has a 8 to 18% porosity. The Ni—Sn—Cu—P phase contains 30 to 49% by mass of Ni, 10 to 30% by mass of Cu, 0.5 to 1.5% by mass of P, and a remainder containing Sn and inevitable impurities.

Nanostructured Mn—Al, Mn—Al—C permanent magnets are disclosed. The magnets have high coercivities (about 4.8 kOe and 5.2 kOe) and high magnetization values. An intennetallic composition includes a ternary transition metal modified manganese aluminum alloy Mn—Al—Fe, Mn—Al—Ni, or Mn—Al—Co having at least about 80% of a magnetic τ phase and permanent magnetic properties. The alloy may have a saturation magnetization value of at least 96 emu/g with approximately 5% ternary transition metal replacing Al. The alloy may also have a saturation magnetization value of at least 105 emu/g with 10% ternary transition metal replacing Al.

In a reflow process, a plurality of solder bumps between a first workpiece and a second workpiece is melted. During a solidification stage of the plurality of solder bumps, the plurality of solder bumps is cooled at a first cooling rate. After the solidification stage is finished, the plurality of solder bumps is cooled at a second cooling rate lower than the first cooling rate.

Magnesium-based hydrogen storage alloys with addition of transition and rare earth elements were produced by conventional induction melting and by rapid solidification. The magnesium based-alloys of this invention posses reversible hydrogen storage capacities ranging from 3 to over 6 wt. %, and excellent performance on the hydrogen absorption and desorption kinetics.

A nickel-base superalloy is characterized by the following chemical composition (details in % by weight): 7.7-8.3 Cr, 5.0-5.25 Co, 2.0-2.1 Mo, 7.8-8.3 W, 5.8-6.1 Ta, 4.9-5.1 Al, 1.0-1.5 Ti, 1.0-2.0 Re, 0.11-0.15 Si, 0.1-0.7 Hf, 0-0.5 Nb, 0.02-0.17 C, 50-400 ppm B, remainder Ni and production-related impurities. The alloy is distinguished by a very high resistance to oxidation, resistance to corrosion and good creep properties at high temperatures.

The present invention provides a sputtering target suitable for producing an amorphous transparent conductive film which can be formed without heating a substrate and without feeding water during the sputtering; which is easily crystallized by low-temperature annealing; and which has low resistivity after the crystallization. An oxide sintered compact containing an indium oxide as a main component, while containing tin as a first additive element, and one or more elements selected from germanium, nickel, manganese, and aluminum as a second additive element, with the content of tin which is the first additive element being 2-15 atom % relative to the total content of indium and tin, and the total content of the second additive element being 0.1-2 atom % relative to the total content of indium, tin and the second additive element.

An object of the present invention is to provide a Ni-based superalloy, especially for a conventional casting, having a good balance among high temperature strength, corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance, as compared to a conventional material. The Ni-based superalloy comprises Cr, Co, Al, Ti, Ta, W, Mo, Nb, C, B, and inevitable impurities, the balance being Ni, the Ni-based superalloy having a superalloy composition comprising, by mass, 13.1 to 16.0% Cr, 11.1 to 20.0% Co, 2.30 to 3.30% Al, 4.55 to 6.00% Ti, 2.50 to 3.50% Ta, 4.00 to 5.50% W, 0.10 to 1.20% Mo, 0.10 to 0.90% Nb, 0.05 to 0.20% C, and 0.005 to 0.02% B.

In a copper-based slide member in which needle-shaped Mn—Si based compounds are dispersed in a brass structure, 50% or more of a total number of the needle-shaped Mn—Si based compounds having lengths of 50 μm or more in a major axis direction are constituted of a plurality of small particles. Thereby, even if the needle-shaped Mn—Si based compounds fall off during sliding, the small particles which constitute the needle-shaped Mn—Si based compounds may fall off. Thus, the frequency of falling off of the coarse needle-shaped Mn—Si based compound which damages a shaft and a bearing is decreased. Therefore, seizure hardly occurs.

A motorized extension pole including a first hollow pole member having a second hollow pole member telescopically mounted in said first pole member. The second pole member is selectively moved between extended and retracted positions with respect to said first pole member by a battery powered drive motor.

A system for lifting a vehicle via multiple slings comprises a vehicle not engineered with structural facility to withstand lifting forces, including a frame which unmodified will deform in response to vertically imposed lifting forces, frame reinforcing elements affixed to the frame at selected locations which are subject to lifting deformation, at least two lifting members at spaced-apart forward frame locations, at least two lifting members at spaced-apart rearward frame locations, and a plurality of elongate slings extending respectively between each lifting member and a common lifting vertex. Each lifting member has an enlarged lower base portion rigidly affixed to the frame and an upper lifting portion. The frame reinforcing elements resist deformation of the frame in response to vertically imposed lifting forces. The enlarged base portions of the lifting members apply forces over a correspondingly enlarged area of the frame and the reinforcing elements without deforming the frame.

A guide has an open end and a finger structure preferably of a shape memory alloy. The guide is run in small-diameter configuration through a restriction with a fishing tool, such as an overshot, above it. Once through the restriction, power to heaters on the fingers takes the material past its transition temperature to allow the guide lower end to fan out and surround a skewed fish that is in a slanted position and leaning on a wall of a surrounding tubular that has a larger dimension than the restriction. The bottomhole assembly is then advanced until the fish is captured by the fishing tool and pulled out of the hole. The fingers are forcibly retracted as the assembly is pulled back through the restriction. The guide can use retained fingers with an outward bias to flare out after passing through a restriction, thus acting as a fish guide.

A securement device to make it much easier for a user to securely hold onto a personal, hand-held, tablet-shaped device such as an electronic reader, a tablet computing device, a cellular phone, a personal data assistant, and a common clipboard, including any of these items that are at least partially contained in protective housings—while minimizing the fatigue and discomfort on the user's hands: A typical device solves this problem by providing a system of one or more finger holds formed with a fabric or pliable material that are disposed on the back side of the personal, hand-held, tablet-shaped device. In many devices, the position and fit of the finger holds are easily adjustable by a user via hook-and-loop schemes.

A zirconium alloy nuclear reactor cylindrical cladding has an inner Zr substrate surface (10), an outer volume of protective material (22), and an integrated middle volume (20) of zirconium oxide, zirconium and protective material, where the protective material is applied by impaction at a velocity greater than 340 meters/second to provide the integrated middle volume (20) resulting in structural integrity for the cladding.

An integral pressurized water nuclear reactor for the production of steam utilizing a helical coil steam generator, a plurality of internal circulation pumps, and an internal control rod drive mechanism structure.

A nuclear power plant with an improved cooling system using nanoparticles in solid or fluid form is provided. The nanoparticles are delivered in locations such as the cold leg accumulator and high and low pressure pumps of an emergency core cooling system. Motor driven valves and pressurization can aid in the delivery. Methods for providing the nanoparticles are also provided.

A system for radioisotope production uses fast-neutron-caused fission of depleted or naturally occurring uranium targets in an irradiation chamber. Fast fission can be enhanced by having neutrons encountering the target undergo scattering or reflection to increase each neutron's probability of causing fission (n, f) reactions in U-238. The U-238 can be deployed as one or more layers sandwiched between layers of neutron-reflecting material, or as rods surrounded by neutron-reflecting material. The gaseous fission products can be withdrawn from the irradiation chamber on a continuous basis, and the radioactive iodine isotopes (including I-131) extracted.

A pressurized water reactor (PWR) includes a vertical cylindrical pressure vessel having a lower portion containing a nuclear reactor core and a vessel head defining an internal pressurizer. A reactor coolant pump (RCP) mounted on the vessel head includes an impeller inside the pressure vessel, a pump motor outside the pressure vessel, and a vertical drive shaft connecting the motor and impeller. The drive shaft does not pass through the internal pressurizer. A central riser may be disposed concentrically inside the pressure vessel, and the RCP impels primary coolant downward into a downcomer annulus between the central ser and the pressure vessel. A steam generator may be disposed in the downcomer annulus and spaced apart from with the impeller by an outlet plenum, A manway may access the outlet plenum so tube plugging can be performed on the steam generator via access through the manway without removing the RCP.

An axial power distribution control device includes an axial offset calculation unit 52, a parameter calculation unit 53, and an axial offset determining unit 55. The axial offset determining unit 55 predicts whether a core axial offset of the power distribution is increased or decreased after a current time, based on a major axis of an ellipse drawn by the xenon parameter and the iodine parameter calculated by the parameter calculation unit 53 and the xenon parameter and the iodine parameter at the current time. This makes it possible to predict a change of the axial offset of the power distribution of a reactor for suppressing a xenon oscillation in the reactor.

A jet pump beam (hereinafter, referred to as a beam) is fitted into a pair of projecting portions installed to a transition piece, and after the beam is arched, a beam bolt engaged with the beam is tightened. An end of the beam bolt comes in contact with a top surface of an insert member fitted into an elbow disposed between the pair of projecting portions. An ultrasonic sensor head is fixed to the beam bolt, and ultrasonic waves are sent to the beam bolt from the ultrasonic sensor in the ultrasonic sensor head. An ultrasonic measuring apparatus obtains echo intensity of each of reflected waves generated at the end of the beam bolt and a bottom surface of the insert member, and based on the echo intensities, an echo intensity ratio R is calculated. The installed state of the beam is checked using the echo intensity ratio R.

A sheathed, annular metal fuel system is described. A metal fuel pin system is described that includes an annular metal nuclear fuel alloy. A sheath may surround the metal nuclear fuel alloy, and a cladding may surround the sheath. A gas plenum may also be present. Mold arrangements and methods of fabrication of the sheathed, annular metal fuel are also described.

Disclosed is a coolant with dispersed neutron poison micro-particles, used in a supercritical water-cooled reactor (SCWR) emergency core cooling system. Since the neutron poison micro-particles are uniformly dispersed in the coolant of the emergency core cooling system for a long period time, their fluidity is not lowered even though the polarity of water is changed in a supercritical state. Therefore, the neutron poison micro-particles absorb neutrons produced from nuclear fission in a nuclear reactor core. Accordingly, the neutron poison micro-particles can be appropriately used as a means for controlling neutrons and stopping a nuclear reactor in the SCWR emergency core cooling system.

Nonconjugated conductive polymers absorb radioactive iodine, therefore are useful for protection against nuclear radiation. These polymers have at least one double bond per repeat unit. The ratio of the number of double bonds to the total number of bonds along the polymer chain is less than half. Examples of nonconjugated conductive polymers include: cis-1,4-polyisoprene (natural rubber), trans-1,4-polyisoprene (gutta percha), polybutadiene, polydimethyl butadiene, poly(b-pinene), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polyalloocimene, polynorbornene and many others. Through interaction with iodine atoms the double bonds in the nonconjugated polymers transform into radical cations leading to a dark color. The iodine atoms remain (immobile) bound to the polymer chain through the charge-transfer interaction, these polymers are very inexpensive and can be easily processed into any shape, structure and size. Therefore, these are useful for protection against nuclear radiation including radioactive iodine. These polymers when used as a thick cover can provide safe storage of nuclear waste materials including spent fuel rods.

A sintered fuel pellet for a water nuclear reactor fuel rod including a peripheral wall extending along a central axis and two end faces. At least one of the end faces includes at least a first chamfer extending from the peripheral wall towards the central axis with a first non-zero slope with respect to a plane perpendicular to the central axis and a second chamfer extending from the first chamfer towards the central axis with a second non-zero slope with respect to a plane perpendicular to the central axis, wherein the first slope is different from the second slope.

A card game monitor manages play of a game with a video feed of casino table game play. A dealer deals a game using a card-handling device that randomizes and dispenses cards, which may be grouped into sets of hands by the card-handling device. A card recognition system recognizes card information including rank and suit of each card dispensed by the card handling device while each card is under control of the card-handling device. A camera captures a video feed of casino table game play, which is transmitted to a computing device operated by a player. A control system receives the card information from the card recognition device and manages control of the game using hand information associated with players. Player action elections from the computing device are displayed to a dealer The player provides a player action through the computing device, which is used to facilitate play of the casino table game.

An apparatus for gaming, comprising a card reader system for reading card data from a game card associated with a player. An instant win game system for associating an instant win game entry with the card data. A jackpot game system for associating a jackpot game entry with the card data.

Gaming systems and methods provide a tournament game which selectively awards an enhanced tournament play result. The enhanced tournament play result may be of variable value which is selected for the given instance in order to place the receiving tournament player in some predetermined rank in the tournament. Such a variable enhanced tournament play result in the tournament game may be used to help keep all participants interested in the tournament, even those participants who trail the tournament leaders by a wide margin.

Shooters must presently take their firearms out of their hands to then manually actuate a new target into shooting position. This Target Apparatus will allow the shooter to shine his laser light, infrared light, flashlight, or multi-spectrum light onto a Target Apparatus-mounted sensor that engages a drive means mounted upon the target frame that then forwards a new target into position without removing the firearm from its' shooting position. The unit also uses a unique target backing material that does not require targets to be made of rolls of coated or heavy material stock. The system can utilize rolls of cash register paper, cut sections of gift wrapping paper, hand towel rolls, or even paper towels as target materials without snagging and preventing the next target from being presented.

A system and a method of conducting games of chance with enhanced payouts based on a cash in or initial investment amount are described. In response to a player's initial investment or cash in amount, a payout schedule is selected. The larger the initial investment the better the selected payout schedule for the player. Live games of chance, games of chance facilitated by electronic gaming machines or devices and server-based games may utilize the method shown here. Players may also receive enhanced awards such as enhanced player points based on the amount of the initial investment, or based on other parameters and factors. Awards and bonuses may also be provided to players who exhaust an initial investment exceeding a threshold amount. Other different variations and combinations of the games and winnings are also explained in details.

A grooved supporting member for assisting in the construction of a card structure is provided. Specifically, the grooved supporting member provides support for the beginning foundational planar stackable members. The grooved supporting member includes a planar base member, top surface, bottom surface, at least one edge, and at least one groove. Preferably, the groove is cut completely through the planar base member and provides lateral support for a planar stackable member. In the preferred embodiment, the grooved supporting member has four edges and four grooves, thus providing support for four planar stackable members to create the cell of a card structure. The user may employ one or more of the grooved supporting members of the present invention in a card structure. Further disclosed is a kit including a grooved supporting member of the present invention and a plurality of stackable planar members.

A system and a method of conducting games of chance with enhanced payouts based on a cash in or initial investment amount are described. In response to a player's initial investment or cash in amount, a payout schedule is selected. The larger the initial investment the better the selected payout schedule for the player. Live games of chance, games of chance facilitated by electronic gaming machines or devices and server-based games may utilize the method shown here. Players may also receive enhanced awards such as enhanced player points based on the amount of the initial investment, or based on other parameters and factors. Awards and bonuses may also be provided to players who exhaust an initial investment exceeding a threshold amount. Other different variations and combinations of the games and winnings are also explained in details.

A system and a method of conducting games of chance with enhanced payouts based on a cash in or initial investment amount are described. In response to a player's initial investment or cash in amount, a payout schedule is selected. The larger the initial investment the better the selected payout schedule for the player. Live games of chance, games of chance facilitated by electronic gaming machines or devices and server-based games may utilize the method shown here. Players may also receive enhanced awards such as enhanced player points based on the amount of the initial investment, or based on other parameters and factors. Awards and bonuses may also be provided to players who exhaust an initial investment exceeding a threshold amount. Other different variations and combinations of the games and winnings are also explained in details.

A system and a method of conducting games of chance with enhanced payouts based on a cash in or initial investment amount are described. In response to a player's initial investment or cash in amount, a payout schedule is selected. The larger the initial investment the better the selected payout schedule for the player. Live games of chance, games of chance facilitated by electronic gaming machines or devices and server-based games may utilize the method shown here. Players may also receive enhanced awards such as enhanced player points based on the amount of the initial investment, or based on other parameters and factors. Awards and bonuses may also be provided to players who exhaust an initial investment exceeding a threshold amount. Other different variations and combinations of the games and winnings are also explained in details.

A board game system comprises one or more game objects, a processing device, a memory device and one or more cameras. Each of the game objects comprise a unique visual marker positioned on a top surface of the game object, wherein the unique visual marker comprises a series of concentric rings that represent data that uniquely identifies the game object. As a result, during the course of game play, the location and identification of the game objects are able to be determined by the processing device by analyzing images captured by the one or more cameras of the visual markers of the game objects on the game board. The processing device is able to compare the data of the visual markers to a table stored in the memory device that associates the data with a specific game object.

There is provided a system and method for determining a number of players present using facial recognition. There is provided a method comprising capturing an image of the players present, and determining the number of players present based on the image. In this manner, players may more easily configure game settings, whereas spectators may be presented a more engaging experience.

A connector-equipped communication module includes a communication module and a connector. The communication module includes a wiring board including antenna-mounted and IC-mounted regions at different positions in a planar view, an antenna element mounted in the antenna-mounted region, a wireless IC and a mounted component mounted in the IC-mounted region, and side terminals in the IC-mounted region and peripheral portions near the IC-mounted region. The connector includes a receiving portion including a placement portion configured to mount the communication module and a wall portion extending around the placement portion, inner wall terminals on an inner side of the wall portion at positions facing the side terminals, and external terminals located outward of the receiving portion and electrically connected to the inner wall terminals. In a state where the communication module is received in the receiving portion, the inner wall and side terminals are fitted so as to contact with each other.

A method for scanning and decoding encoded symbols comprises processing low resolution image data from a full field of view and/or high resolution image data from one or more windowed segments of the field of view to provide imaging that is easily adaptable to different types of symbols and varying environmental conditions. The scanning method can be switched between the low resolution mode and the high resolution mode automatically based on whether the low resolution data is sufficiently accurate to decode the symbol.

Credit applicants may apply for instant credit, and use an instant account number (“IAN”) to make purchases after the instant credit has been granted. Fraud control methods may be used in authorizing the instant credit. When the IAN is issued to purchase airline tickets, it can be ensured that the applicant's last name matches the passenger's last name for the airline ticket being purchased, and that the ticket will not be renamed or sold. When the IAN is issued in conjunction with a partner's loyalty or rewards program, the applicant's account information with the rewards program is captured. It is ensured that the applicant has some tenure with the partner and that data submitted by the applicant is consistent with data on file with the partner.

A banking system operates responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system includes an automated banking machine comprising a card reader. The card reader includes a movable read head that can read card data along a magnetic stripe of a card that was inserted long-edge first. The card reader includes a card entry gate. The gate is opened for a card that is determined to be properly oriented for data reading. The card reader can encrypt card data, including account data. The card data is usable by the machine to authorize a user to carry out a financial transfer involving the account.

A banking system is controlled responsive to data read from data bearing records. The banking system includes an automated banking machine. The machine is operable to carry out a financial transaction for a person responsive to a determination that the person is an authorized user of the machine based on correspondence between identifying data read by a reader of the machine and data store information. The machine includes a check acceptor that is operative to receive checks from authorized machine users. The check acceptor is operable to continuously move a received check along its transport path while simultaneously rotationally orienting the check into alignment with the transport path. A check determined not to have at least one property of an acceptable check is returned to the machine user. Acceptable checks are processed and stored in the machine.

An approach for associating a card (e.g., a transaction card, an identification card, etc.) that corresponds to a primary account with one or more ancillary accounts (e.g., a library account, etc.) includes obtaining information from the card and associating that information with an ancillary account. The card may then be used to access the ancillary account. The card may be a transaction card and the primary account may be a financial account. The ancillary account may be a library account. When the card is a transaction card, fees associated with the ancillary account may be charged to the financial account.

A reader for a card having an information strip, the reader comprising a first movable member, a read head capable of reading the information strip, the read head disposed on the first movable member and a second movable member which upon translation causes the first movable member to translate in a direction opposite to the second movable member. The reader includes a guide slot disposed in line with the direction of translation of the second movable element such that when a card is placed in the guide slot and subsequently moved transversely along the guide slot, the card urges the first movable member in the opposite direction and moving the head across the information strip as the information strip is moved in the opposite direction as the read head movement.

Reference equipment including a reference card and a reference reader is provided for testing electronic payment devices such as cards and card readers. The reference equipment includes reference cards and reference readers that respectively can be used to verify compliance of product cards and product readers with product specifications The product specifications may, for example, be the ISO 14443 Standard specifications which are commonly accepted in the electronic payment industry The reference equipment is designed to enhance interoperability of product payment devices whose functional behaviors may vary because of vendor customization of device specifications or due to manufacturing tolerances In some embodiments, the reference equipment includes a reference card for testing card readers The exemplary reference card can comprise a current mirror to permit an electronically adjustable variable load using an external controller The reference card electronic circuit can exhibit variable load conditions.

A fleet management system for managing a fleet of encoded information reading (EIR) terminals can comprise one or more computers, a fleet management software module, and a payment processing software module in communication with the fleet management software module. The fleet management software module can be configured, responsive to receiving a customer initiated request, to generate an unlocking message upon processing a payment by the payment processing software module. The unlocking message can be provided by a bar code to be read by an EIR terminal, or by a bit stream to be transferred to an EIR terminal via network. Each EIR terminal can be configured to perform not more than a pre-defined number of EIR operations responsive to receiving the unlocking message.

A system and method for reading a bar code are disclosed which may include transmitting light pulsed at a selected frequency to illuminate the bar code; converting light received at the bar code reader from the bar code into an electrical signal; transmitting the electrical signal through a signal conditioning circuit to filter and amplify the electrical signal, to thereby provide a conditioned electrical signal; sampling the conditioned electrical signal at the selected frequency; removing energy due to light scattering within a housing of the bar code reader from the sampled, conditioned electrical signal; generating one of a logical “1” and a logical “0” output based on a value of the signal generated by the step of removing; and resolving output from the step of generating into data indicative of information on the bar code.