Abstract: A slot machine providing a video display screen controlled to display indicia images arranged in a matrix. The video screen is of the touch sensitive variety, having an array of touch sensitive areas located on its display surface with one such area associated with each matrix element. The player selects pairs of indicia by touching the screen within the area of each of the displayed indicia to be selected, thereby causing the indicia to change to reveal the associated prize values.

Abstract: A process for extending the cognizable range of two-digit fixed-point number fields by encoding and decoding within existing size constraints of such fields in records and database segments stored with ASCII, EBCDIC and/or packed decimal representations in digital data processing systems, particularly adapted to application and database management software in mature in large mainframe computer installations.

Abstract: A system for delivering a CO.sub.2 laser beam to the roots of a tooth is provided. The system includes a laser beam source, a first fiber having a first diameter connected to the laser beam source at its proximal end and to a hand piece at its distal end, the hand piece including an optical assembly operative to transfer the beam from the distal end of the first fiber to the proximal end of a second fiber having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter with substantial power loss.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating skin includes applying pulsed light to the skin to heat and shrinking collagen within the skin, thereby reviving the elasticity of the collagen and of the skin. The epidermis and outer layers of the skin may be protected by cooling with a transparent substance, such as ice or gel, to the skin. The temperature distribution within the skin is controlled by controlling the delay between the time the coolant is applied, and the time the light is applied, by controlling the pulse duration and applying multiple pulses, and by filtering the light and controlling the radiation spectrum, preferably, the spectrum includes light having a wavelength in the range of 600-1200 nm. The pulsed light may be incoherent, such as that produced by a flashlamp, or coherent, such as that produced by a Nd(Yag) laser or a ruby laser, and may be directed to the skin using a flexible or rigid light guide.

Abstract: A handpiece assembly for laser apparatus is provided which includes a manually-graspable handpiece having a proximal end, a distal end, and a passageway through the handpiece from its proximal end to its distal end for receiving an optical fiber having a proximal end to be optically coupled to a laser beam source and a distal end to project through the distal end of the handpiece for delivering the laser beam to a working area; a clamping device for clamping the optical fiber to the handpiece such that a predetermined length of the optical fiber projects outwardly of the distal end of the handpiece; and an applicator device having at one end a quickly-attachable connector quickly attachable to and detachable from the distal end of the handpiece, and at the opposite end a rigid preformed sheath of a length to enclose the projecting length of the optical fiber, and of a shape to impart to the optical fiber a desired shape according to the particular working area to receive the laser beam.

Abstract: An orally absorbable improved dental formulation is provided. The dental formulation includes a base to which an active component is added. The active component comprises, based on the overall weight thereof, Vitamin C in an amount between about 10 and 25 weight percent, and coenzyme Q-10 (or ubiquinone), in an amount between 10 and 25 weight percent, are added.

Abstract: An optional security system for monitoring door opening is designed to be plugged into the main board of a slot machine without any change of hardware or addition of extra switches. This security system allows time stamping of any access to the machine interior and will operate while the machine is powered down. Standard and optional security is designed so that when the optional security module is added it can share the same sensors as the standard system. The normal security system does not prevent the security module functioning when the power is off. Ideally, a security module can be plugged into a machine and take over or add the new security features. The isolation between the main board and the security system is achieved by the use of schottky diodes. When operating from battery power, the security subsystem remains in a low power drain "sleep" state for the majority of the time, "waking up" periodically to check the door switches and then going to sleep again.

Abstract: A method of forming a short channel field effect transistor is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate having a well region of a first conductivity type; forming a gate electrode on the well region; implanting first impurities into the well region and adjacent to the gate electrode, the first implant step being at a first dose and a second conductivity type; forming sidewall spacers on edges of the gate electrode; implanting second impurities into the well region and adjacent to the gate electrode, the second implant step being at a second dose and at the second conductivity type; and implanting third impurities into the well region and adjacent the gate electrode, the third implant step being at a third dose and at the first conductivity type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing hair is disclosed. The method includes the step of producing a plurality of pulses of incoherent electromagnetic energy. The delay between pulses is in the range of 0.1 msec to 100 msec. The incoherent electromagnetic energy is then coupled to an area of surface of the tissue that includes more than one hair follicle. One or more filters are used to provide energy having a wavelength selected in accordance with the color of the hair. The method may alternatively include the step of applying a gel on a surface of the tissue to cool the tissue. The energy heats the hairs and hair follicles, without heating the tissue. The apparatus includes a source of pulsed incoherent electromagnetic energy. The source is located within a housing, and a coupler directs the incoherent electromagnetic energy to the surface of the tissue.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for tracking the operation of a light beam, preferably a laser light beam, which operates to treat the skin of the patient. The apparatus includes plurality of markings in accordance with the light beam impinges on the locations to be treated. The apparatus including the plurality of markings may be a cooling apparatus which also cools the skin during the treatment.

Abstract: A socket-compatible plug which includes a plug body with a plurality of holes, plurality of plug pins respectively insertable into selected ones of the plurality holes, and a medium mounted into respective selected ones of the plural holes for urging selected ones of the plurality of plug pins beyond the respectively selected ones of the plurality of holes. The plug further includes a back cover. The plurality of holes of the plug body includes a medium-mounting hole and the selected ones of the plurality of holes. Each of the selected ones can include a plug pin positioning region and a medium positioning region. The plug pin positioning region can include an upper edge and the plug pin includes a flange engaged with the upper edge. The back cover urges the medium to the medium positioning region, while the plug body is assembled with the back cover.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for monitoring an image of a treatment site and the spectral emissions from a portion of that region is provided. A CCD camera and spectrometer coupled to a housing can be directed toward an opening in the housing. This opening can be placed near a treatment site so that an image of the treatment site and a spectral measurement of the treatment site can be measured at the same time.

Abstract: A method is provided for cooling skin during irradiation treatment including thermally coupling a window to the skin and actively extracting heat from the window. The window may be transparent to therapeutic wavelengths transmitted to and through the window and to the skin below. An apparatus for therapeutic treatment of skin tissue is provided, including a source of electromagnetic radiation, a window transparent to the radiation coupled to the skin being treated to remove heat from the skin, coolant fluid coupled to the window to extract heat from the window, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled to the coolant to remove thermal energy from the coolant.

Abstract: The present invention provides an encoding-decoding method for an actuating system having an encoding device, a decoding device, at least one code having a counter code, and an actuating device. The method includes steps of: a) executing a first logic operation on said at least one code for obtaining a specific expansion code in said encoding device to form a transmission code including said specific expansion code and said counter code; b) transmitting said transmission code to said decoding device; and c) executing a second logic operation on said at least one code and said counter code to obtain an operated code for identifying whether said operated code is matchable with said specific expansion code in said decoding device.

Abstract: A semiconductor device has an improved schottky barrier junction. The device includes: a substrate; an epitaxial layer covering the substrate and lightly doped with a dopant selected from a group consisting of a rare earth element and an oxide of a rare earth element; and a metal layer covering the epitaxial layer and forming said schottky barrier junction with said epitaxial layer.