A binary punch marker identifies pipes and welds at joints of pipes, and a system and method fabricate such a binary punch marker. The binary punch marker has information encoded by recesses in the marker for identifying the pipes and welds. The information is encrypted to prevent forgery of metallic assets such as pipes, pipelines, storage tanks, etc. during inspection of the metallic assets.

A binary punch marker identifies pipes and welds at joints of pipes, and a system and method fabricate such a binary punch marker. The binary punch marker has information encoded by recesses in the marker for identifying the pipes and welds. The information is encrypted to prevent forgery of metallic assets such as pipes, pipelines, storage tanks, etc. during inspection of the metallic assets.

A card-type storage device and a slot device, which are capable of preventing lowering of the reliability due to repeated insertion and removal of the storage device. A card medium includes card thermal contacts each having a contact surface which intersects with a thickness direction of the card medium. A first card upper guide surface restricts the position of the card medium in the thickness direction to a first position. An escape portion restricts the position of the card medium in the thickness direction to a different position from the first position. A second card upper guide surface links the first card upper guide surface and the escape portion.

A punched card capacitive touch stamp is disclosed along with systems and methods for authentication using the punched card capacitive touch stamp. The punched card capacitive touch stamp provides for authentication and validation through interaction with a capacitive touch sensor of a computing device such as a smart phone. The punched card capacitive touch stamp has a substrate such as a card, and a plurality of punched holes through this substrate with either clearance for a user's fingers to directly contact the capacitive touch sensor or containing electrically conductive inserts allowing users to indirectly make electrical contact with the capacitive touch sensor. Contact with the capacitive touch sensor in a unique spatial pattern is transferred simultaneously, or in a sequential combination, and is captured by the electronic device and transmitted to an external server to be decoded and authenticated.

A punched card capacitive touch stamp is disclosed along with systems and methods for authentication using the punched card capacitive touch stamp. The punched card capacitive touch stamp provides for authentication and validation through interaction with a capacitive touch sensor of a computing device such as a smart phone. The punched card capacitive touch stamp has a substrate such as a card, and a plurality of punched holes through this substrate with either clearance for a user's fingers to directly contact the capacitive touch sensor or containing electrically conductive inserts allowing users to indirectly make electrical contact with the capacitive touch sensor. Contact with the capacitive touch sensor in a unique spatial pattern is transferred simultaneously, or in a sequential combination, and is captured by the electronic device and transmitted to an external server to be decoded and authenticated.

Techniques are described herein for reducing bowing effects on a substrate while the substrate is being transported, for example in an elevator mechanism, from a first travel path to a second travel path, where the first travel path is offset from the second travel path so that the first travel path is not collinear with the second travel path. The substrate can be any substrate that is bowed and for which one wishes to eliminate or reduce the bow. One specific substrate that can benefit from the techniques described herein are personalized documents such as plastic cards including but not limited to financial (e.g. credit and debit) cards, drivers' licenses, national identification cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, employee badges, and other plastic cards which bear personalized data unique to the card holder and/or which bear other card or document information.

Techniques are described herein for reducing bowing effects on a substrate while the substrate is being transported, for example in an elevator mechanism, from a first travel path to a second travel path, where the first travel path is offset from the second travel path so that the first travel path is not collinear with the second travel path. The substrate can be any substrate that is bowed and for which one wishes to eliminate or reduce the bow. One specific substrate that can benefit from the techniques described herein are personalized documents such as plastic cards including but not limited to financial (e.g. credit and debit) cards, drivers' licenses, national identification cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, employee badges, and other plastic cards which bear personalized data unique to the card holder and/or which bear other card or document information.

A card-type storage device and a slot device, which are capable of preventing lowering of the reliability due to repeated insertion and removal of the storage device. A card medium includes card thermal contacts each having a contact surface which intersects with a thickness direction of the card medium. A first card upper guide surface restricts the position of the card medium in the thickness direction to a first position. An escape portion restricts the position of the card medium in the thickness direction to a different position from the first position. A second card upper guide surface links the first card upper guide surface and the escape portion.

A card-type storage device and a slot device, which are capable of preventing lowering of the reliability due to repeated insertion and removal of the storage device. A card medium includes card thermal contacts each having a contact surface which intersects with a thickness direction of the card medium. A first card upper guide surface restricts the position of the card medium in the thickness direction to a first position. An escape portion restricts the position of the card medium in the thickness direction to a different position from the first position. A second card upper guide surface links the first card upper guide surface and the escape portion.

Techniques are described herein for reducing bowing effects on a substrate while the substrate is being transported, for example in an elevator mechanism, from a first travel path to a second travel path, where the first travel path is offset from the second travel path so that the first travel path is not collinear with the second travel path. The substrate can be any substrate that is bowed and for which one wishes to eliminate or reduce the bow. One specific substrate that can benefit from the techniques described herein are personalized documents such as plastic cards including but not limited to financial (e.g. credit and debit) cards, drivers' licenses, national identification cards, gift cards, loyalty cards, employee badges, and other plastic cards which bear personalized data unique to the card holder and/or which bear other card or document information.