Abstract: A board game and methods for playing the same are disclosed. The board game can include a playing surface having a plurality of playing spaces, and a plurality of playing pieces that comprise at least first and second player playing pieces, wherein each playing piece is assigned a numerical value, and wherein the numerical value corresponds to: a movement value, wherein the movement value corresponds to the number of playing spaces that each playing piece can move on the playing surface; and a challenge value, wherein the challenge value corresponds to a challenge between a first player playing piece and a second player playing piece, wherein the second player playing piece can be removed from the playing surface when the first player playing piece has an equal or greater challenge value then the second player playing piece and when the first player playing piece is moved into the second player playing piece's playing space.

Abstract: A board game and methods for playing the same are disclosed. The board game can include a playing surface having a plurality of playing spaces, and a plurality of playing pieces that comprise at least first and second player playing pieces, wherein each playing piece is assigned a numerical value, and wherein the numerical value corresponds to: a movement value, wherein the movement value corresponds to the number of playing spaces that each playing piece can move on the playing surface; and a challenge value, wherein the challenge value corresponds to a challenge between a first player playing piece and a second player playing piece, wherein the second player playing piece can be removed from the playing surface when the first player playing piece has an equal or greater challenge value then the second player playing piece and when the first player playing piece is moved into the second player playing piece's playing space.

Abstract: An interlocking mechanism for a fluid dispenser includes a container body and a top portion. The container body includes a first sidewall having a first slot therein and a second sidewall having a second slot therein. The top portion includes a first lock channel, a first magnet adjacent to the first lock channel, a second lock channel, and a second magnet adjacent to the second lock channel. A first sliding lock member is positioned within and slidable along the first lock channel. The first sliding lock member has a tip portion configured to engage and disengage with the first slot, and a base portion having a third magnet disposed therein. A second sliding lock member is positioned within and slidable along the second lock channel. The second sliding lock member has a tip portion configured to be engaged and disengaged with the second slot, and a base portion having a fourth magnet disposed therein.

Abstract: An embodiment of a locking bottle holder includes a bottle support having a base portion, a body portion, and a top portion; and a collar plate having a collar portion with at least one dispenser opening, and a support portion with a first limit pin hole. The locking bottle holder further includes a first limit pin having a limit pin notch and a first limit pin shaft passing through the first limit pin hole, a first ring affixed to the support portion, and a floating lock pin passing through the first ring. The floating lock pin includes a lock pin shaft having a lock pin notch and rotatable between unlocked and locked positions. In the locked position, the support portion of the collar plate is positioned proximate to the body portion and the lock pin shaft is substantially engaged with the limit pin notch.

Abstract: A method for preparing a metal-fly ash composite material includes classifying a fly ash-containing material to provide a classified fly ash material having a mean particle size of from about 4 ?m to about 40 ?m. The classified fly ash material is blended with a metal matrix whereby the fly ash material and the metal matrix form a substantially homogenous mixture. Suitable conditions of temperature and/or pressure are applied to form a metal-fly ash composite material is formed. The metal matrix may be provided as a liquid or as a powder.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically checking out items located on a moving conveyor belt for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of a checkout process and revenue at a point-of-sale. The system includes a conveyor subsystem for moving the items, a housing that enclosed a portion of the conveyor subsystem, a lighting subsystem that illuminates an area within the housing, visual sensors that can take images of the items including UPCs, and a checkout system that receives the images from the visual sensors and automatically identifies the items. The system may include a scale subsystem located under the conveyor subsystem to measure the weights of the items, where the weight of each item is used to check if the corresponding item is identified correctly. The system relies on matching visual features from images stored in a database to match against features extracted from images taken by the visual sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically checking out items located on a moving conveyor belt for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of a checkout process and revenue at a point-of-sale. The system includes a conveyor subsystem for moving the items, a housing that enclosed a portion of the conveyor subsystem, a lighting subsystem that illuminates an area within the housing, visual sensors that can take images of the items including UPCs, and a checkout system that receives the images from the visual sensors and automatically identifies the items. The system may include a scale subsystem located under the conveyor subsystem to measure the weights of the items, where the weight of each item is used to check if the corresponding item is identified correctly. The system relies on matching visual features from images stored in a database to match against features extracted from images taken by the visual sensors.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically checking out items located on a moving conveyor belt for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of a checkout process and revenue at a point-of-sale. The system includes a conveyor subsystem for moving the items, a housing that enclosed a portion of the conveyor subsystem, a lighting subsystem that illuminates an area within the housing, visual sensors that can take images of the items including UPCs, and a checkout system that receives the images from the visual sensors and automatically identifies the items. The system may include a scale subsystem located under the conveyor subsystem to measure the weights of the items, where the weight of each item is used to check if the corresponding item is identified correctly. The system relies on matching visual features from images stored in a database to match against features extracted from images taken by the visual sensors.

Abstract: Light detection apparatus for determining the location of a body within a predetermined area comprises at least two light detecting devices (10,10′,10″), supported on the body and capable of receiving light at points which are spaced about a central axis (8). The apparatus further includes means for supplying information representative of the level of light detected by each light detecting device (10, 10′, 10″). Information received from the light detection apparatus is compared with information previously received from the light detection apparatus and stored in a memory so as to identify when the light detected by the light detection apparatus is the same or substantially the same as light previously detected by the light detection apparatus. When used on an autonomous vehicle, this can allow the vehicle to determine when it has returned to a similar position in an area.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for efficiently implementing weighted median filters are described. In a first hardware embodiment, the median filter is implemented using a number of storage locations which is equal to or greater than the sum of the weight values used to implement the filtering operation. In other embodiments, the number of storage locations required to store data values is reduced to equal or approximately equal the number of data values, used in the filtering operation. In such embodiments, the data values are sorted according to size and a filter weight is associated with each data value, e.g., as part of a data record created for each one of the data values. The data value to output, as the result of the filtering operation, is determined from the stored weight values.