Abstract: There is provided a received-light pattern detection apparatus capable of reading received-light pattern data within a period of time shorter than a read interval of a video game, including a transfer time. A received-light pattern detection apparatus for detecting a received-light pattern representing the position of an object on the front surface of a monitor includes a detection section having photo-couplers arranged around the periphery of the monitor and a plane detection surface formed from the photo-couplers; timing control circuits for controlling a driving timing of the detection section; a read control circuit formed by means of connecting the timing control circuits in the form of a cascade; and an input/output interface for converting the received-light pattern data read from the read control circuit into a switch packet and transmitting the switch packet.

Abstract: An image generation apparatus, method and recording medium capable of expressing natural shadows with respect to changes of the motion of the character and creating shadows with less load on the CPU. It is possible to express a natural shadow with respect to changes of a motion of a character by changing density, degree of transparency and scale of a shadow object according to the positional relationship, speed relationship between a three-dimensional body and topographical object or environment surrounding the observing point etc. Even if the character has at least two legs (reference legs) and moves these legs, it is possible to determine the scale of the shadow object after the motion and display the shadow object based on desired reference points.

Abstract: A “spider” device for collecting and conveying signatures produced on rotary print machines. The inventive device is adapted to be moved outside the production line without stopping operation of the production line. The device is equipped with a hinging mechanism adapted to connect it to a vertical riser of the production line for rotating it around at least one vertical axis with respect to the ground. The inventive device is further equipped with a hooking/unhooking mechanism used to allow repositioning the device in the same operating position in the production line.

Abstract: A printing device (1) is disclosed for rotogravure printing machines comprising: a printing cylinder (3) with notches (50) for printing liquid, a rubber roller (4) for pushing paper web supports (2) against the cylinder (3) in order to print, and a scraper member (7) for cleaning the surface of the printing cylinder (3) of printing liquid not contained in notches (5); the scraper member (7) is equipped with thrusting members (9, 10) central therewith that thrust a central portion of the scraper member (7) towards the cylinder (3) in order to bend the scraper member (7) such that the bend in the scraper member (7) follows a bending to which the cylinder (3) is subjected upon the rubber roller (4) being pushed against the cylinder (3).

Abstract: A lighting control system provides variable arc current to one or more fluorescent gas discharge lamps and provides a heating voltage to the lamp electrodes. The system includes a start-up circuit which includes circuitry for providing a starting voltage to an output power conditioning circuit. The latter drives a switching unit to control the application of DC power to the fluorescent gas discharge lamps and to provide an operating voltage to an input power factor correction circuit. The input power factor correction circuit boosts the converted DC power and the operating voltage. The start-up circuit includes a plurality of voltage doubling rectifier circuits and a plurality of zener diodes which receive the operating voltage and are electrically connected to the input power factor correction circuit and the output power conditioning unit so as to provide a regulated bias voltage supply to the output power conditioning unit and to the input power factor correction circuit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a two-piece grommet adapted for holding a cable in an aperture, such as in a desk or work surface so as to absorb any strain imposed on the cable and to provide an attractive covering for the hole drilled to pass the cable. The grommet consists of two portions. The first portion comprises a cylindrical sleeve having a circular lip. The second portion comprises a cap having an extended flange and adapted to frictionally fit into the cylindrical sleeve and against the lip. The cap has an aperture cut into it through which the cable passes. A pivotal tab is connected under the cap to close the aperture when no cable passes therethrough.

Abstract: A client computer, server computer, network ranking system, network ranking method, task processing method and recording medium is provided allowing even experienced players to keep a feeling of tension and allowing even beginners to have chances to be ranked high. It is possible to set to only one the number of times the play result of a computer game issued as a task from the server computer 14 to each client computer 10, etc. can be registered for one day. This allows even experienced players to experience a feeling of tension that no retry is possible. On the other hand, this also allows beginners to maintain their interest in the computer game because their play results, however low they may be, also have chances to be ranked high.

Abstract: The invention relates to a card (7) reading device (1) comprising a housing (10) equipped with a keyboard (5), a display unit (4), a slot (8) for inserting a card (7) into the housing (10) and a cover (2) adapted to be pivoted between an open and closed position for protecting the keyboard (5) and the display unit (4), when in the closed position. The cover (2) includes an integral flap (6) and is attached to the housing (10) by an articulating element (3) that allows it to pivot between the closed position and open position and be brought into position underneath the housing (10) in the open position. The flap (6), which covers the insertion slot (8) when the cover (2) is closed, serves as a support base when in the open position to incline the housing (10) when the reading device is placed on a support surface such as desk or table.

Abstract: The method comprises at least one cycle comprising the following steps: creating a request (87) designating a target object (81) to be accessed in the tree (80) representing system resources and having a scope of only one level below the target object, using an access protocol attribute of the target object (81) indicating its access protocol (Pc) to allow access to the target object, and obtaining via the request a response that includes at least the naming attribute of each object (82, 83) contained in the scope of the request, and if at least one object contained in the scope of the request has an access protocol different from that of the target object, the access protocol attribute of this object.

Abstract: A method and a device is disclosed for encoding/decoding digital data transmitted through a serial link, particularly of the so-called “8B/10B” type. A full encoded binary word includes 8 data bits and a 2-bit label. The logical state of a center bit triplet of the byte is detected. When all of the bits are in the same logical state, the center bit of the triplet is inverted prior to transmission. Otherwise, the byte is transmitted as is. The label is forced to the logical configuration “10” when there is a bit inversion, and to “01” in the opposite case. Upon decoding, this configuration is tested and the center bit received is selectively inverted as a function of the result of the test. In a preferred variant, the method also includes tests of the label and the triplet after decoding, when there has been a bit inversion in the encoding.

Abstract: There is provided a game system which perceives a sign intended by a game player from the motion of a finger or hand of the player and controls the motions of game characters or the situation of a game in accordance with the sign. A game machine includes a received-light pattern detection apparatus for detecting the motion of a hand of a game player as a received-light pattern; a sign perception system for perceiving a sign from the received-light pattern input from the received-light pattern detection apparatus, and a main CPU for controlling a game in accordance with the sign perceived by the sign perception system.

Abstract: A system and a process are described for performing the Static Error Compensation on numerically controlled machine tools. The process comprises the steps of: connecting a measuring laser device (5) to a numerically controlled machine tool (1); automatically sending a point 0 of the machine (1) to the laser device (5); sending commands for taking m measure points of the machine (1) from the control (3) to the laser device (5); automatically detecting the measure points and sending consolidated data from the laser device (5) to the control (3); producing a model of static errors of the machine (1); executing the Static Error Compensation depending on said produced model.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wideband directional antenna in a wireless communication service, comprising at least one radiation element, wherein the radiation element includes at least one loop, wherein one feeding point of the loop is connected to feeder and the other feeding point is connected to a ground distributor.