Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic knife stand which comprises one or more slits for inserting knives. On the upper inner side of each inserting slit, one or more magnets are disposed. A hole or a hollow is disposed on the upper inner side of each inserting holes, and the magnet is placed inside the hole or hollow on the upper inner side of the inserting slit. During and after the process of inserting the knives into the knife stand, the magnets will keep the cutting edges of the knives away from the bottom inner sides of the inserting slits, thereby effectively preventing the edges from becoming blunt, which is caused by their rubbing against the inserting slits. The frequency of sharpening the blades can be reduced and the lifespan of the knives can be extended. Further, this magnetic knife stand is more effective in protecting the knife stand from being cut or worn out by the knives. This invention enables the knives to be stored securely in the knife stand.

Abstract: The present invention provides various apparatuses and methods that allow point of purchase products to be automatically dispensed. In an embodiment, the present invention operates with a self-scanning checkout and enables products to be dispensed with other retail items that a consumer collects and brings to the point of purchase. The product is immediately dispensed and provided to the consumer at the point of purchase. The cost of the dispensed product is added to the cost of the collected and transported retail items. The consumer makes one payment for both the dispensed product and the collected and transported retail items. In another embodiment, the present invention is modular and operates in a quick service restaurant environment. The present invention requires little counter/floor space, adds little to the cost of labor, can be mounted in a variety of locations, dispenses in any direction and integrates with virtually any existing system.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus reads and writes information in a plurality of recording media is provided. The apparatus includes a formatting determination section which, in the case of formatting the recording media, determines whether or not the recording media are to be formatted by handling the recording media as an integrated recording medium, and an integrated formatting section which, when the formatting determination section determines that the recording media are to be formatted by handling the recording media as the integrated recording medium, formats the recording media by handling the recording media as the integrated recording medium.

Abstract: A hand-held pinball game has a changeable display. The pinball game has a housing having a front face. A display screen is formed in the front face of the housing. A first opening is formed in the housing. A display card is visible through the display screen. The display card is insertable and removable through the first opening. A second opening in the housing receives additional display cards so that the pinball game display may be changed by a player. An impact sensor in the housing allows the player to nudge the housing to change the path of the simulated pinball.

Abstract: Service provision through a network is made available by intuitive operation. A private icon for a utilizing service is displayed in an icon folder. The user can display a content of the service by selecting the private icon by the mouse or the like. Because the private icon is an image representative of a content of the service, the user can select and utilize the service by intuitive operation.

Abstract: A gaming device having a primary game and a secondary game is provided. The gaming device includes a primary game, such as blackjack or 21 operable on a wager by a player, and an optional secondary game that is operable on a secondary game wager by a player. After placing a secondary game wager and satisfying certain criteria in the primary game, one or more players are provided with a secondary game card to be used in the secondary game. The secondary game is resolved after a player has accumulated a plurality of secondary game cards over the course of several sequentially played rounds of the primary game.

Abstract: A dishwasher having at least one actuator, at least one input device, at least one processor and at least one door defining at least part of a washing area when the door is closed. The dishwasher has at least one supply housing supported by the door, and the supply housing is sized to hold an amount of liquid dish washing supply which is sufficient for a plurality of wash cycles. The actuator is operable to cause movement of the liquid dish washing supply from the supply housing toward the washing area. The input device is operable to receive different inputs associated with different portions of the liquid dish washing supply. The processor is programmed to cause the actuator to cause movement of the different portions toward the washing area for different wash cycles.

Abstract: A mobile electronic device with a peripheral unit in which a configuration selection is provided in which operating configurations intended for a radio interface of the peripheral unit are allocated to locations, the location information of a position finding device can be supplied to the configuration selection and the latter is set up for providing the operating configurations of the base, which are associated with the current location, to the radio interface in accordance with the location information.

Abstract: A refrigerator having a water supplier, fluid director and fluid director access door. The fluid director is removable. The fluid director access door enables users to remove, clean and replace the fluid director.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a light-diffusing film having pores for use in a backlight unit of a TFT-LCD. The light-diffusing film having pores of this invention comprises a base sheet composed of a synthetic resin; a light-diffusing layer laminated on one surface of the base sheet and having pores formed by applying a composition including a light-diffusing resin and light-diffusing particles contained in the light-diffusing resin under controlled composition supply pressure of 1˜5 kgf/cm2 and travel speed of the base sheet of 10˜200 m/min; and an antiblocking layer laminated on the other surface of the base sheet. According to this invention, the light-diffusing film has improved total light transmittance and light diffusibility owing to the pores formed in the light-diffusing layer, and is thus usefully applicable to a backlight unit of a TFT-LCD.

Abstract: A semiconductor light-emitting device having a semiconductor light-emitting chip; a high refractive index lens covering around the semiconductor light-emitting chip; and a resin having fine particles mixed therein that fills a space between the semiconductor light-emitting chip and the lens is provided. In the semiconductor light emitting device, the resin having fine particles mixed therein is composed of an optically transparent resin into which a large number of high refractive fine particles having a mean diameter of 100 nm or less and composed of a dielectric material are mixed uniformly to have a distance 200 nm or less between respective particles.

Abstract: A micro-resonator of a single structure which outputs signals of two resonance frequencies of mutually opposite phases and in which different resonance frequencies are adjusted independently is provided. The micro-resonator includes: an oscillation portion 6 sustained with a gap by support portions 8 [8A, 8B] and an input electrode 3 and an output electrode 4 that become lower electrodes facing the oscillation portion 6 across the gap, in which the input electrode 3 and the output electrode 4 are disposed to face each other along a line intersecting the oscillation portion 6, the oscillation portion 6 generates torsional oscillation and flexural oscillation, and output signals of two resonance frequencies close to each other based on different resonance modes have mutually different phases by 180°.

Abstract: A peripheral, annular groove is incorporated into a throttle valve connector in one step. A first die and a second die are then inserted into the throttle valve connector and a first plastic material is introduced into a first cylindrical cavity formed thereby in a molten state and hardened, resulting in a plastic insert. The first die and the second die are subsequently removed from the throttle valve connector and a third die and a fourth die are inserted into the throttle valve connector. A second cavity is formed therebetween and filled with a second plastic material, whereby a throttle valve is formed and is fixed during the cooling process by shrinkage on the throttle valve shaft.

Abstract: An electronic money system is provided which requires lower management and running cost, and features higher flexibility. An acquirer/brand holder managing an electronic money brand manages all keys used for authentication processing in the system, and issues the keys as necessary. The acquirer/brand holder distributes keys according to a tie-up agreement to IC card issuers, a POS center, an MMK center, and an affiliate merchant terminal unit. The POS center, the MMK center, and the affiliate merchant terminal unit are apparatuses for users to use the IC cards or for managing them. The acquirer/brand holder, however, does not distribute issued keys to cybershops which users can access by using a personal computer and a reader/writer. Instead, in this case the acquirer/brand holder saves the issued key itself, and carries out authentication processing with a predetermined IC card upon a request from the cybershop.

Abstract: A drink supply container valve assembly connectable to a drink supply container for a beverage dispensing apparatus of a refrigeration device. The drink supply container valve assembly has a support connectable to an end of the container, a gas inlet valve mounted to the support, and a drink supply outlet valve mounted to the support.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus to anonymously request bids from a geographically centered plurality of vendors. The methods and apparatus enable a plurality of vendors to enter line card information (e.g., part numbers) and geographical information (e.g., zip codes) into a central database via a web page. Customers may then search for vendors in their area. The process automatically expands the geographical search area until a customer determined quantity of vendors are found. An anonymous e-mail message (i.e., a message not disclosing customer identity) is then sent to each selected vendor. The e-mail message preferably includes a hyperlink to a web page related to the customer request. Interested vendors may then supply vendor related information (e.g., price and delivery). If the customer locates a vendor able to meet the customer's needs, the customer may select the vendor to complete the purchase via the broker server.