Abstract: Hollow cylindrical dynamo-electric machine stator cores may be made by superimposing at least two strips of core material to produce a composite strip. One or more of the strips may be run through a pressure roller structure prior to super-positioning of the strips. The composite strip is coiled helically to produce the hollow cylindrical stator core. By pressure rolling at least one strip, the internal diameter of the stator core can be adjusted to reduce irregularities. By superimposing strips prior to coiling, thinner strips can be used without requiring the stator forming machine to operate longer or faster to produce stator cores of a given size. The pressure rolling aspects of the invention are also applicable to coiling apparatus that uses only a single strip. Stator cores may also be made by coaxially assembling and joining two coils with a hollow annular lamination disposed between the two axially spaced coils.

Abstract: A ball hitting practice apparatus for use by a hitter is provided. The ball hitting practice apparatus includes a substantially rigid member having a first end and a second end, a hinge capable of suspension from a frame and attached near the first end of the rigid member such that the rigid member rotates about a substantially horizontal axis, and a ball mounting assembly suspended from the second end of the rigid member. Methods for using and making the ball hitting practice are also provided.

Abstract: An electronic program schedule system with access to both stored television program schedule information and data feeds containing status information for live programs such as sporting events. The system includes a data processor for receiving program schedule information for a plurality of programs and data feeds containing status information for certain of the programs, and a video display generator for generating a display signal simultaneously comprising information from both the stored schedule information and the received data feed. The system is further provided with user control means such as a remote controller for generating user control commands and transmitting signals to the data processor in response thereto so as to control the content of the display signal. The display signal may be displayed on a display apparatus such as a television receiver.

Abstract: An interactive system is provided in which information is displayed in response to the entry of the digits of a channel number. The interactive system may be implemented on a television, a computer, or a radio system. The displayed information may be program listings information such as the channel designator or the program currently airing on the channel. The displayed information may also be a list of channels. The list of channels may be associated with the entered digits, may be component channels, or channels of the same type and may be sorted by various techniques such as numerically, by favorite channels, by type, etc. The interactive system may allow a user to specify a source identifier to channels from different sources and display the channels with the source identifier when they are entered.

Abstract: An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.

Abstract: An interactive wagering system is provided that promotes wagering to users at user equipment. The user equipment may be based on a set-top box and television, a personal computer, a cellular telephone with a display, or other such devices. Wagering may be promoted by notifying the user of an opportunity to place a wager on a given race. Wagering may also be promoted by providing the user with an on-screen opportunity to sign up for a wagering television channel or interactive wagering service. The on-screen promotions that are displayed to the user may be targeted based on the television programming that is being displayed or the user's interests. The user's activities may be monitored to collect information on the user's interests. If a particular race or the like is being discussed during a television program, the user may be provided with an opportunity to wager on that race. In this situation, racetrack, race, and horse selections may be made in advance for the user.

Abstract: A ball hitting practice apparatus for use by a hitter is provided. The ball hitting practice apparatus includes a substantially rigid member having a first end and a second end, a hinge capable of suspension from a frame and attached near the first end of the rigid member such that the rigid member rotates about a substantially horizontal axis, and a ball mounting assembly suspended from the second end of the rigid member. Methods for using and making the ball hitting practice are also provided.

Abstract: Ultrasonic multi-element transducers and methods for achieving higher throughput rates in non-destructive testing are provided. By driving the transducer elements sequentially and/or in different combinations, and multiplexing the signals received from each transducer element, the inspection speed at high test sensitivity levels is significantly increased while the number of channels is not increased and cross-talk between the different transducer elements is avoided. At least one such transducer may be mounted on a rotary tester for testing manufactured objects such as tubes and bars.

Abstract: An interactive Web book (“ibook”) system is provided that allows material to be contributed to the World Wide Web. An ibook is a self-extending, self-sustaining information-redistributing Web robot, which is resident on a data network such as the Internet or an intranet. Users may enroll with an ibook as viewers or contributors. Viewers may view ibook material, such as text or multimedia content. Contributors may contribute original material to the ibook or may create derivations of existing ibook material. Attribution information that identifies the source of material in a derivation is automatically generated. Information concerning the derivation of each work and its characteristics can be used to help the user navigate through ibook material. The ibook system keeps track of how often users access each work within an ibook. Contributors may be automatically rewarded (e.g., by a monetary distribution) based on the extent to which their contributed material is viewed by the users.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for providing a user with the ability to submit a wager to a fixed-odds book or a pari-mutuel pool using an interactive wagering application. A conditional wagering option is provided. When the user selects a conditional wagering option, the interactive wagering application may automatically submit the wager to an alternative wager option (e.g., a fixed-odds book or a pari-mutuel pool) if the wager is rejected by the user's selected wager option. The interactive wagering application may notify the user of the status of the submitted wager.

Abstract: A system is provided in which locally-generated graphics may be displayed on a user's equipment. The user's equipment may be based on a set-top box and television or other user television equipment, a personal computer or handheld computing device or other user computer equipment, or a cellular telephone with a display or other user telephone equipment. The locally-generated graphics may be displayed as an overlay on top of video or as wrap-around graphics on the same screen as a reduced-size video window. The video and the graphics may be related to wagering and in particular may be related to horse racing. The user may interactively wager on horse races with the user equipment.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for replacing an old wire threaded through a flyer winder with a new wire are provided. A first end of the old wire is connected to a first end of the new wire. The wires may be connected by twining, clamping, welding or the like. A second end of the old wire that extends from one of the winder's flyers is then connected to a collection device, and the old wire is collected until the new wire has been threaded through the flyer winder along the same path traveled by the old wire. The collection device may be an armature or similar structure having recesses for collecting the old wire during wire change-over or replacement. Preferably the collection device is configured so that conventional coil lead connection operations may be used to expedite wire change-over or replacement.

Abstract: An electrode system is provided that generates a current flow that envelops and permeates an entire wound site. The electrode system includes two electrodes that are shaped and oriented to cause the current to flow from one electrode through the wound to the other electrode. A first electrode is applied to the wound site and the second electrode encircles the first electrode and is applied to the skin surrounding the wound cite. The two electrodes may be mounted to an oxygen-permeable layer that provides support for the electrodes and allows the wound site to breathe. An electrically insulative element may be disposed between the two electrodes. A power supply, which may be local to or remote from the electrode system, is provided for applying a voltage potential across the electrodes. In another suitable embodiment, the two electrodes are comprised of oppositely charged polymers.

Abstract: An interactive television program guide system is provided in which a user may direct the program guide to display a browsing display screen. The browsing display screen includes a list of current programs including a movable highlight region, a video window containing a television program to which the system is currently tuned, and a detailed description of the highlighted program listing. The user may position the highlight region using remote control cursor keys. The user may then synchronize the content of the video window with the highlighted program listing by pressing a select key or a channel up or down key. If the user changes channels repeatedly using the channel up and down keys, the contents of the video window and the highlighted program listings remain in synchronization.

Abstract: Systems and processes for interactive off-track wagering are provided. A user reviews racing information and places bets using an off-track terminal. The user interactively selects a desired racetrack and race. Odds, pools, and payoff amounts may be viewed for a variety of complex wager types. To place a wager, the user selects a wager type, wager amount, and the desired runners. Account information can be reviewed. If desired, the user can transfer funds from a bank account to an account used for wagering. Racing videos can be viewed while the user reviews odds and places bets. Video clips of past races can be ordered. Related advertisements can be presented using text or video clips. Merchandise may be ordered interactively. Information regarding system usage may be gathered.

Abstract: Systems and processes for interactive off-track wagering are provided. A user reviews racing information and places bets using an off-track terminal. The user interactively selects a desired racetrack and race. Odds, pools, and payoff amounts may be viewed for a variety of complex wager types. To place a wager, the user selects a wager type, wager amount, and the desired runners. Account information can be reviewed. If desired, the user can transfer funds from a bank account to an account used for wagering. Racing videos can be viewed while the user reviews odds and places bets. Video clips of past races can be ordered. Related advertisements can be presented using text or video clips. Merchandise may be ordered interactively. Information regarding system usage may be gathered.

Abstract: Interactive wagering systems and methods with multiple television feeds are provided. A plurality of television feeds may be related to a race and race-related characteristics. A television feed may carry television feed information, which may provide sufficient information to allow a user to select an appropriate television feed for a wager or to allow the system to automatically select an appropriate feed for a wager. The interactive wagering application may also record a television feed so that the user may interact with the television feeds at any time. Wagering services may be also provided to a user through more than one wagering interface.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for wire winding and fabrication for dynamo-electric machine components such as ferromagnetic armature or stator cores for motors or the like. Wire may be wound onto individual portions of dynamo-electric machine components, which may then be assembled to form complete components. Wire may be wound by steering a rotating flyer or the like in a trajectory that closely follows the surface of the core onto which the wire is being wound. Wire may also be wound by rotating the portions during winding. The same holding members that are used to hold the portions during winding may be used to hold the portions during assembly of the portions into machine components.

Abstract: Sensor arrangements are provided to detect whether initial and final wire leads were properly terminated to tang terminals of dynamo-electric machine components. The sensor arrangements may detect whether excess wire from the termination of the initial wire lead is present on a first side of a wire gripper. The sensor arrangements may detect whether excess wire from the termination of the final wire lead is present on a second side of a wire gripper. The sensor arrangements can include two sensors or a single sensor to detect the presence of the excess wire. Beam sensors, vision sensors, or tactile sensors may be used to detect the presence of the excess wire. A plunger device is provided to facilitate the tearing of thin initial and final wire leads to a tang terminal of a commutator.

Abstract: An interactive program guide system is provided. The system facilitates recording of programs selected from the program guide. The system handles the recording and viewing of pay programs, parentally-controlled programs, consecutive programs on different television channels, and programs with and without copy protection. Programs may be recorded using combination television videocassette recorder (TV/VCR) units.