Patents Represented by Attorney McAndrews, Held & Malloy
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Patent number: 8182332Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 2004Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies AustraliaInventors: Peter Mitchell, William George Cormack, Chi We Chim
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Patent number: 8182325Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2006Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LtdInventors: Chi We Chim, William George Cormack
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Patent number: 8182329Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventor: Sen Van Ly
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Patent number: 8182322Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2007Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LtdInventor: Billy Ho Ching Tam
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Patent number: 8181851Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2011Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Inventors: James D. Bennett, Christopher C. Winslade
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Patent number: 8185215Abstract: 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).Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2008Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Nytell Software LLCInventors: Artur T. Burchard, Rinze I. M. P. Meijer
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Patent number: 8177646Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventor: Richard G. LeBaron
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Patent number: 8177124Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2011Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Inventors: James D. Bennett, Christopher C. Winslade
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Patent number: 8179396Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide a method for clinical presentation of a radiological study including: associating a customizable set of rules with image data corresponding to at least a portion of the radiological study; and rendering automatically the image data to form volumetric data; and navigating automatically the volumetric data with the customizable set of rules to present a navigated the at least a portion of the radiological study to a user. In an embodiment, the system further includes halting the navigating automatically the volumetric data from an interaction by the user. In an embodiment, the rendering automatically the image data is initiated from an interaction by the user. In an embodiment, the navigating automatically the volumetric data is initiated from an interaction by the user. In an embodiment, both the rendering automatically the image data and the navigating automatically the volumetric data are initiated an interaction by the user.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2006Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Murali Kumaran Kariathungal, Mark Ricard
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Patent number: 8177630Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines (50) participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller (60), while the communications network (62) is controlled by a network controller (61). A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Olive Scott
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Patent number: 8180276Abstract: An electronic infrastructure consisting a plurality of client mobile devices, a distribution server and a media creator computer, wherein the client mobile devices present interactive media upon user request. The plurality of client mobile devices support dynamic screen display and, contain a plurality of soft keys. The distribution server that supports delivery of interactive media to the client mobile devices. The media creator is a personal computer that generates interactive media and sends them to the distribution server for distribution. A network such as combination of Internet and mobile network communicatively couple the plurality of client mobile devices, distribution server and personal computer (media creator). The personal computer sends interactive media to the distribution server, the distribution server processes and sends the interactive media to the client mobile device and the client mobile devices presents the interactive media in a series of screens to the user.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Inventor: Bindu Rama Rao
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Patent number: 8178340Abstract: The present invention relates to human specific Escherichia coli strains.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2008Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: INSERM (Institut National de la Sante et de la Recherche Medicale)Inventors: Olivier Clermont, Erick Denamur, Tony Le Gall, Olivier Tenaillon
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Patent number: 8172667Abstract: A gaming system comprises a game controller arranged to control play of a game having a player skill aspect, and a display arranged to display a representation of the game, the game controller being arranged to control the display to display a set of symbols for selection, the game controller being responsive to the player skill aspect to facilitate selection of at least one of the symbols, a skill level factor of the player skill aspect being variable depending on operation of a game, whereby to vary a skill level required by the player.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventor: Chi We Chim
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Patent number: 8174233Abstract: Inductively coupled battery charging systems and methods are provided. Transmit circuitry can include a transmit coil operatively part of a transmit resonant circuit that exhibits resonance at a transmit resonant frequency and an unloaded Q value of at least about 20. Transmit coil can generate a magnetic field at about the transmit resonant frequency. Rechargeable battery assembly can include a receive coil configured to receive inductively coupled current, and circuitry configured to rectify the current and communicate charging power to a storage cell. Receive coil can be part of a receive resonant circuit that exhibits resonance at about the transmit resonant frequency and an unloaded Q value of at least about 10. Transmit circuitry can include multiple transmit coils and can selectively discontinue production of alternating current in the coils generating fields that are not most strongly coupled to the receive coil.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Etymotic Research, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Drake Julstrom, Timothy Scott Monroe
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Patent number: 8174234Abstract: Inductively coupled battery charging systems and methods are provided. Transmit circuitry can include a transmit coil operatively part of a transmit resonant circuit that exhibits resonance at a transmit resonant frequency and an unloaded Q value of at least about 20. Transmit coil can generate a magnetic field at about the transmit resonant frequency. Rechargeable battery assembly can include a receive coil configured to receive inductively coupled current, and circuitry configured to rectify the current and communicate charging power to a storage cell. Receive coil can be part of a receive resonant circuit that exhibits resonance at about the transmit resonant frequency. Transmit circuitry can be configured to detect the rechargeable battery assembly by monitoring a load on the transmit coil.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Etymotic Research, Inc.Inventors: Stephen Drake Julstrom, Timothy Scott Monroe
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Patent number: 8172557Abstract: A high-pressure gas compressor comprises a single-acting cam driven piston with a pressure compensation chamber disposed between the piston and the cam. A roller tappet assembly transmits reciprocating motion from the cam to the piston. A pressurized gas directed to the pressure compensation chamber offsets forces acting on the piston from the compression chamber gas pressure, thereby reducing Hertzian pressure between the tappet roller and the cam. Overall efficiency and durability can be improved by reducing friction between compressor components, for example by employing thin film coatings to reduce friction, pressurized oil lubrication systems and higher cylinder bore diameter to piston stroke ratios. The service life of gas seals and compression efficiency can be improved by thermal management strategies, including liquid-cooled compressor cylinder liners and intercoolers between compression stages.Type: GrantFiled: February 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Westport Power Inc.Inventors: Ulrich Hilger, Bernd Bartunek, Martin Blank
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Patent number: 8176361Abstract: A processing circuit has functional units (10a-c) configured to perform operations each in response to a respective command. The functional units (10a-c) are configured to execute at least one of the operations with a selectable level of susceptibility to incurring an error during execution. Different functional units may be provided, designed to execute the same operation with different levels of susceptibility at the cost of more circuit area, power consumption or execution time in the case of less susceptibility. The less susceptible functional unit may comprise additional error correction circuits, or more pipeline stages for example. The program directs commands to execute the operation to different functional units according to the required level of susceptibility. High level programs may be provided wherein variables are declared with a specified level of reliability. These declarations may be used during compilation to select how instructions will be executed.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Nytell Software LLCInventor: Jan Hoogerbrugge
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Patent number: 8172663Abstract: A gaming machine for playing a multi-line spinning reel game has a display and a game controller arranged to control images of symbols displayed on the display. In the game at least one random event, in particular a spin of the reels, is caused to be displayed on the display. If a winning event occurs the machine awards a prize. The player is constrained to wager a single amount on each play of the game and may not vary the amount. This single wager amount provides eligibility to play all available lines of the game and eligibility to bonus features. No choice of other wagering options is provided.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LtdInventor: Scott C. Olive
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Patent number: 8172845Abstract: A drill bit including a shaft which has a pyramidal shaped end defining a drill tip with a plurality of edges defining the pyramidal shape. One or more recesses are provided for directing away debris produced while drilling, the at least one recess having a first portion extending along the shaft and a second portion having a first portion extending along the shaft and a second portion which extends along the drill tip; wherein the. The second portion which extends along the drill tip. The second portion of the at least one recess extends along an edge of the drill tip.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: Surgibit IP Holdings Pty LimitedInventor: Liam Patrick Ellis
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Patent number: RE43371Abstract: This invention relates to the use in the treatment of HCV infection, either as single active agents or in combination with another active agent, of a cyclosporin having increased cyclophilin binding activity and essentially lacking immunosuppressive activity.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Inventors: Pietro Scalfaro, Jean-Maurice Dumont, Gregoire Vuagniaux, Rolland-Yves Mauvernay