Abstract: According to certain embodiments of the present invention, a graphical presentation is generated from a data representation. A transparency lens is applied to reveal a region-of-interest within an original image. The region-of-interest is occluded by an occluding portion of the original image. The transparency lens includes a focal region having a transparency to reduce occlusion of the region-of-interest by the occluding portion. The transparency lens also includes a shoulder region between the focal region and a foreground of the original image. The shoulder region has decreasing transparency from the focal region to the foreground. In an embodiment, occluding portion is sliced into slices normal to a depth axis of the original image. Transparencies are applied to the slices as a function of depth of the slices to form the shoulder region.

Abstract: A mobile device or a sender's PC, notebook, PDA or laptop creates questionnaires and sends it to other recipient devices. The questionnaire is created by user of mobile device using audio inputs for a questionnaire preamble and for preambles for a question. A server in the network incorporates other generic portions of the questionnaire. It collates results received and send it to user who made/sent the questionnaire. Thus, a user can make adhoc questionnaires, send them to recipients and receive the results. This makes it easy for a user to create, disseminate, conduct questionnaires or surveys on mobile handsets and to collect results for processing and storage.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols for display in a display area at a plurality of display positions, an outcome evaluator arranged to evaluate a game outcome based on the selected symbols and to identify a scatter outcome when a plurality of special symbols are disposed in the display area at any display position, and a prize allocator. The prize allocator is arranged to allocate a prize to a player when a scatter outcome exists and to determine the prize awarded to a player using the plurality of special symbols. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A packaging assembly having an open design for displaying a product is provided. The packaging assembly is configured for storage and display in high density arrays of packaging assemblies, such as storage in pallets, and is configured to display visual information to a user from any perspective, even when the packaging assembly is packed in high density arrays of packaging assemblies. The packaging assembly includes an inner portion designed to contain a product and a housing designed to house the inner portion, wherein the inner portion includes a substantially transparent cover that facilitates display of the product. The packaging assembly includes an outer portion having a three dimensional window box frame, wherein portions of the window box frame are configured to couple to flanges provided on the inner portion.

Abstract: The present invention relates a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor capable of improving dynamic range by using an additional driver transistor. The CMOS image sensor according to the present invention has a pixel array which has a plurality of unit pixels each of which includes a photodiode and a fist transistor to act as a source follower buffer amplifier to amplify photogenerated charges accumulated in the photodiode. Also, the CMOS image sensor includes a second transistor for a buffer amplifier to amplify and output a gate input voltage in the unit pixel, wherein an output signal of the first transistor is applied to a gate of the second.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display at a corresponding plurality of display positions, an outcome evaluator arranged to determine whether the selected symbols correspond to a winning symbol combination by evaluating symbols disposed in defined win lines, and a prize allocator arranged to allocate a prize to a player when a winning symbol combination exists in a defined win line. At least one display position is of different size to at least one other display position and the defined win lines are dependent on the respective sizes of and locations of the display positions. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: An instant lottery game system (10) includes a game play defining element (12). A symbol display zone (14) is carried on the game play defining element (12), the symbol display zone (14) containing a plurality of symbols related to gaming machine games. A masking medium (20) covers the symbols of the symbol display zone (14) prior to use. A symbol interpretation zone (16) is also carried on the game play defining element (12), the symbol interpretation zone (16) carrying a plurality of indicia with the indicia being used in interpreting symbols revealed after removal of the masking medium (20) to determine a prize outcome.

Abstract: A method of processing a jackpot win in a gaming network comprising: providing a jackpot server: receiving jackpot claim data at the jackpot server; locking a jackpot record corresponding to the jackpot claim data; aggregating any outstanding jackpot contributions for the jackpot record from contributing parts of the gaming network to form a prize; and communicating prize data corresponding to the prize to a network destination identified by the jackpot claim data.

Abstract: A hearing-aid device comprising a housing and circuitry module, wherein the circuitry module comprises a battery, a microphone, and a receiver, and the circuit module is inserted in the hearing aid housing. The hearing aid device further comprises a retractable battery sleeve, wherein a battery slot is exposed when the battery sleeve is retracted, and a battery can be inserted into the battery slot from either side of the battery slot with either polarity. The hearing aid housing may comprise an ear-tip, wherein a microphone is mounted in the hearing aid housing near the ear-tip and the microphone receives sounds through at least one sound inlet located on a side surface of the hearing aid housing. The ear-tip additionally comprises three flanges decreasing in size toward the flange closest to the ear canal, and the hearing aid can be inserted into the ear canal in any orientation.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of growing plants in a mineral wool growth substrate, the method comprises providing at least one mineral wool growth substrate comprising binder and wetting agent, positioning one or more plants for growth in the growth substrate, characterized in that the height of the mineral wool growth substrate is at least 53 mm and the wetting agent comprises ionic surfactant.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, a prize is awarded. A plurality of sub-games constitute the game displayed on the display. As an initial display, fewer than a full set of images of each of the sub-games are displayed to show a partial outcome of the game, the fewer than the full set of images being representative of a determination of an expected value for each of the sub-games.

Abstract: A gaming system (10, 100) implementing a base game and a feature game. A game controller (101) controls play of the game. The gaming system has at least one display (14, 106) and a player interface (107). The feature game comprises at least one series of game events, in which a plurality of symbols from at least one predetermined symbol set that includes at least first and second symbols, are randomly selected and displayed on the at least one display (14, 106). The feature game is a challenge feature and during play of the feature game, the game controller (101) maintains in computer memory (103) counters for said at least first and second symbols, varies the value of said counters on the occurrence of the at least first and second symbols and causes the at least one display to show a value of the counters. The values of the counters are evaluated against predetermined competitive criteria to determine the outcome of the series of game events.

Abstract: An electronic device is provided with at least one functional unit (HB) performing a processing, wherein the functional unit (HB) receives a supply current (Isupply). A supply current monitor (SCM) is provided for monitoring the supply current (Isupply) to determine an average supply current (Iavg). A characterization unit (CU) is provided for determining a first relation between the averaged supply current (Iavg) and an operation frequency of the functional unit and/or for determining a second relation between a workload of the functional unit (HB) and the average supply current (Iavg) of the functional unit (HB). Furthermore, a slope calculation unit (SCU) is provided for determining the slope of the first and/or second relation. The operation of the functional unit (HB) is controlled according to the results of the slope calculation unit (SCU).

Abstract: An online system uses, in various embodiments of the invention, credit report information, loan affordability screening and credit approval and management functionality to facilitate the purchase and finance of products online. The online system may include both sellers of products and lenders that offer financing to buyers seeking to purchase the products. The system may automatically obtain a buyer's credit report information and use that information to determine if the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to obtain financing for a particular product or products. The system also enables use of buyer credit information to identify only those of a seller's products for which the buyer is pre-approved, for example, to finance using one or more loans. The system then enables selection of an identified product or products for purchase, and selection of a loan, for example, for financing of the selected product or products.

Abstract: A jackpot triggering method comprising: determining a jackpot trigger value from a current value of at least one jackpot trigger parameter; generating a submission value in response to receipt of a contribution associated with a gaming device participating in the jackpot, by using a value of at least one contribution parameter associated with the contribution as a seed value to randomly generate the submission value; and making a jackpot award if the submission value corresponds to the jackpot trigger value.

Abstract: A gaming system comprising a symbol selector to select, in a first play round, a first symbol to form a part of a first player hand having a plurality of symbols and to select a second symbol to form a part of a second player hand having a plurality of symbols, and to select, in each subsequent play round, a replacement symbol for modifying one of the first player hand or second player hand; and an outcome generator to determine for each play round whether the game is completed or whether the game should proceed to a subsequent play round based on a ranking of one of the first player hand and the second player hand being higher than the other of the first player hand and the second player hand for at least two consecutive play rounds.

Abstract: A system for playing a secondary game in a network of play devices having at least one display, and a processor for controlling a display to display at least one primary device feature. Each device receives serial inputs to operate discrete operational functions. The system includes a system server and a communication network to provide communications between each play device and the server. The server includes a data structure storing (i) account data for each player, (ii) data corresponding to a predetermined secondary game trigger, said trigger data corresponding to at least one of said serial inputs or primary device feature and (iii) data representing at least a schedule of winning secondary game outcomes and awards there for.