Abstract: An innovative method of playing a modified poker game with seven related variations featuring a novel method of tournament mechanics, through an electronic device or in a casino, known as “Tennessee Hold 'Em® Tournaments”, which promotes strategic decision making and greater player participation is defined. Three to nine players are permitted per table. Three players sitting to the left of the Dealer (Button) furnish blind bets. Five phases of card distribution and progressively increasing betting rounds are defined. After the third card distribution, players decide whether to hold all hole cards, or discard one or two hole cards. Next, all discards are revealed, giving players insight into opponents' hands. Players choosing to hold 4 hole cards are excluded from using the fourth, final community card. Players choosing to hold 5 hole cards are excluded from using the third and fourth community cards.

Abstract: A latch (202) includes a catch jaw (210) which is operative to releasably engage a post. A release pawl (212) is operative to hold the catch jaw in a latched jaw position, and upon movement of the release pawl, enables the catch jaw to move to an unlatched jaw position. In an unlocked condition of the latch, movement of a handle (206) is operative to enable the latch to change from the latched to unlatched condition. The latch includes a keylock (240) and an electrical actuator (308). Each of the keylock and the electrical actuator are operative to independently change the condition of the latch between locked and unlocked conditions.

Abstract: An actuator (24, 528, 606, 646, 670, 700, 702) is configured to cause a latch assembly (22, 322, 422, 522, 526, 604, 644, 668, 694) to be changed from a closed condition in which an item is latched, to an open condition in which the item is unlatched. A catch jaw (30, 530, 690) is operative in a first position to engage a member (106) connected to the item when the latch assembly is in the closed condition. The catch jaw in a second position enables the member to disengage from the catch jaw when the latch assembly is in the open condition. The actuator assembly includes a drive (152, 526, 608, 706) and a gear system (157, 563, 610, 712). The gear system is operative to move a release member (174, 538, 612, 722, 764). The release member is configured to be in operative connection with the catch jaw such that the movement of the release member causes the catch jaw to be enabled to move to the second position.

Abstract: A smart tracking device, such as a cellular M2M device, is attached to a plastic pallet for monitoring, recording and reporting the location, condition and manifest record of the pallet as it moves through a supply chain for shipment of products from a manufacturer to a consumer. The cellular M2M device has a subscriber identification module (SIM) to uniquely identify the pallet with which it is associated in a cellular network. The M2M device receives and transmits data about the products on the pallet, as the pallet moves through the supply chain. Actionable data allows supply chain managers to mitigate risks and losses in the supply chain. The supply chain data is also used to provide an electronic supply chain pedigree for a product shipped on the pallet. The product supply chain pedigree is made available to a consumer in a structured format, in order to influence the consumer's purchasing decisions.

Abstract: A dispensing system adapted for repeated activation of an aerosol can is described. The dispensing system includes components that improve the ability to receive and secure aerosol cans of different sizes within the dispensing system as well as improving the reliability and energy efficiency of the system.

Abstract: This disclosure describes a level indicator assembly for measuring the level of solids in a vessel. The level indicator may desirably comprise a solid shaft extending into a vessel. The shaft may have paddle connected to an interior end of the shaft and an external sensor attached to an exterior end of the shaft. A support structure may engage the sensor to prevent at least a portion of the sensor from moving. By keeping a portion of the sensor stationary, the sensor may measure the change in torsional force exerted on the shaft. By locating the sensor external to the vessel, operators may remove and replace sensors without accessing either the vessel interior or the portions of the level indicator assembly that extend into the vessel.

Abstract: A smart tracking device, such as a cellular M2M device, is attached to a plastic pallet for monitoring, recording and reporting the location, condition and manifest record of the pallet as it moves through a supply chain for shipment of products from a manufacturer to a consumer. The cellular M2M device has a subscriber identification module (SIM) to uniquely identify the pallet with which it is associated in a cellular network. The M2M device receives and transmits data about the products on the pallet, as the pallet moves through the supply chain. Actionable data allows supply chain managers to mitigate risks and losses in the supply chain. The supply chain data is also used to provide an electronic supply chain pedigree for a product shipped on the pallet. The product supply chain pedigree is made available to a consumer in a structured format, in order to influence the consumer's purchasing decisions.

Abstract: A latch is provided for latching and automatically unlatching a lid from a waste container. The latch mechanism includes a release weight that moves responsive to gravity in a housing from a first position to a second position to cause the latch to disengage from a striker when the latch is rotated to a dump angular orientation. The latch includes a damper that controls movement of the release weight in the housing such that an amount of time for the release weight to move responsive to gravity from the first position to the second position is at least two times an amount of time the release weight would take to move responsive to gravity from the first position to the second position absent the effect of the damper.

Abstract: A method for processing a PCBa panel to individualize the PCBa's on the PCBa panel and depanel the PCBa panel in substantially one step is described. The PCBa panel initially comprises a number of PCBa's having components and traces common to a number of different product SKUs. During processing, the PCBa panel is loaded into a machine containing a first and second laser. The first laser severs extra traces on each PCBa to individualize the PCBa's for specific SKUs and the second laser cuts the links between each PCBa, thereby depaneling the PCBa panel.

Abstract: A system for operating a gas turbine includes a controller configured to execute logic stored in a memory that causes the controller to determine two or more of a frequency, a coherence, a phase, and an amplitude, of a combustion instability; to compare two of more of the frequency, the coherence, the phase, and the amplitude of the combustion instability to a respective predetermined limit; and to adjust at least one parameter of the gas turbine if two or more of the frequency, the coherence, the phase, and the amplitude of the combustion instability are actionable relative to their respective predetermined limits. A related method of operating the gas turbine is also disclosed.

Abstract: A dispensing system adapted for repeated activation of an aerosol can is described. The dispensing system includes components that improve the ability to receive and secure aerosol cans of different sizes within the dispensing system as well as improving the reliability and energy efficiency of the system.

Abstract: A dispensing system adapted for repeated activation of an aerosol can is described. The dispensing system includes components that improve the ability to receive and secure aerosol cans of different sizes within the dispensing system as well as improving the reliability and energy efficiency of the system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system and method of encrypting and decrypting Optical Transport Network (OTN) payload content. A transmitter of the system includes a series of ordered encryption keys and a counter for generating an initialization vector to be combined with one of the encryption keys for encrypting the OTN payload content. A receiver of the system includes a series of ordered decryption keys and a counter for generating an initialization vector to be combined with one of the decryption keys for decrypting the encrypted OTN payload content. The system synchronizes switching, at the transmitter and the receiver, the encryption and decryption keys to the next keys in each series. The system also synchronizes the counters for generating the same initialization vector at the transmitter and the receiver.

Abstract: A latch is usable for latching and automatically unlatching a lid operative to close a bin of a waste container. The latch includes a release weight that is moveable responsive to gravity from a first position to a second position to cause the latch to disengage from a release mechanism when the latch is rotated to one or more angular positions in a dump angular orientation. The latch and release mechanism are held in latched engagement when release slide bolts and latch slide bolts are engaged in extended positions. Movement of the release weight causes the latch slide bolts to move to retracted positions to enable disengagement of the release slide bolts and latch slide bolts. A release knob is operative responsive to manual movement in two different directions to enable the latch and release slide bolts to disengage.

Abstract: A system includes a control system. The control system includes a coherence derivation system configured to derive a coherence between respective outputs of each of a plurality of combustors coupled to a gas turbine system, and a phase derivation system configured to derive a phase difference between the respective outputs of each of the plurality of combustors coupled to the gas turbine system. The control system is configured to derive an indication of an impending lean blowout (LBO) or an actual LBO of at least one of the plurality of combustors based at least in part on the coherence derivation, the phase derivation, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: Commanding GTs to base load level based upon measured ambient condition for each GT; commanding each GT to adjust a power output to match scaled power output value equal to a fraction of a difference between the respective power output and a nominal power output value, and measuring actual emissions value for each GT during the adjusting of the respective power output; and adjusting an operating condition of each GT in the set of GTs based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value, a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition and an emissions scale factor, wherein the nominal emissions value at the ambient condition and the emissions scale factor are stored in a pre-existing emissions model for the GT.

Abstract: A system includes: a computing device configured to tune a set of gas turbines (GTs) by: commanding each GT to a base load level; commanding each GT to adjust a respective power output to match a nominal power output value, and subsequently measuring an actual emissions value for each GT; adjusting an operating condition of each GT based upon a difference between the respective measured actual emissions value and a nominal emissions value at the ambient condition; updating a pre-existing emissions model for each GT based upon the adjusted operating condition; running a set of operating conditions on each GT and measuring an updated emissions value; and refining the updated pre-existing emissions model based upon a difference between the updated emissions value and the updated pre-existing emissions model.