Abstract: A child-resistant lift-top container is disclosed. The container includes a vessel, a lift-off inner cap and an outer locking cap. The outer locking cap engages the lift-off inner cap and is rotatable about the inner cap. The vessel includes a generally downwardly-facing abutment that engages an upwardly-facing abutment on the locking cap to lock the container and prevent the lift-off inner cap from opening. The container is opened by rotating the outer locking cap to disengage the abutments, permitting the lift-off inner cap to be lifted to open the container. The outer locking cap includes at least one spring that engages a spring-engaging surface on the vessel as the outer locking cap is rotated to assist in disengaging the abutments and to allow the outer locking cap to return to its closed and locked position.

Abstract: A circuit for self-calibrating a gain control system samples the output of a digital amplifier coupled in series with one or more analog amplifiers to correct errors in a discrete stepped gain control. A digital gain control circuit controls both the digital amplifier and at least one analog amplifier to produce a smooth linear and continuous gain, wherein perturbations in the digital control of gain are smoothed by a signal applied to gain control circuit by a gain step correction circuit.

Abstract: A glove system including a glove and a wrist attachment. The glove has a base portion, which includes a first fastener. The wrist attachment includes one or more straps for enabling wearing of the wrist attachment on a human wrist, a functional feature, and a second fastener adapted to couple with the first fastener and for selectively attaching the first wrist attachment to the glove.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide a sound attenuator for reducing high level sounds within the ear canal while maintaining high audibility for lower level sounds. The sound attenuator comprises a housing with a passageway for passing external sound, a damping member to restore resonance within a plugged ear, and a disc interposed across the passageway. The disc comprises a cavity, at least one hole through said disc and a flexible diaphragm positioned across the cavity. At a sound pressure level less than that of a predetermined value the flexible diaphragm expands upon an increase in the external sound pressure level maintaining a near constant level of attenuation. For sound pressure levels at or greater than that of the predetermined value the diaphragm contacts the interior surface of the cavity, thereby limiting the flexibility of the diaphragm and increasing the level of attenuation provided by the attenuator.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide a cable comprising a conductor and a cable layer. The cable layer comprises a polypropylene material. The cable layer and/or the polypropylene material comprise a crystalline fraction crystallizing in the temperature range of 200 to 105° C. determined by stepwise isothermal segregation technique. The crystalline fraction comprises a part, wherein, during subsequent melting at a melting rate of 10° C./min, the part melts at or below 130° C. and the part represents at least 20 percent by weight of the crystalline fraction. In certain embodiments, the part melts at or below the temperature T=Tm?3° C., wherein Tm is the melting temperature of the cable layer and/or the polypropylene material, and the part represents at least 45 percent by weight of the crystalline fraction. Certain embodiments provide methods and processes for manufacturing the cable described above and herein.

Abstract: Verification of software to be run in a secure environment is performed by comparing a critical portion of the executable boot program code in an EPROM with code stored in a logic circuit. The comparison may be performed before the code to be verified is run or while it is running. in the event that the validation fails certain critical functions of the platform are inhibited to prevent fraudulent operation of the platform. The system is particularly applicable to gaming machines to avoid cheating.

Abstract: A stratified photodiode for high resolution CMOS image sensors implemented with STI technology is provided. The photodiode includes a semi-conductive layer of a first conductivity type, multiple doping regions of a second conductivity type, multiple doping regions of the first conductivity type, and a pinning layer. The multiple doping regions of the second conductivity type are formed to different depths in the semi-conductive layer. The multiple doping regions of the first conductivity type are disposed between the multiple doping regions of the second conductivity type and form multiple junction capacitances without full depletion. In particular, the stratified doping arrangement allows the photodiode to have a small size, high charge storage capacity, low dark current, and low operation voltages.

Abstract: There are provided a CMOS image sensor and a method for fabrication thereof. The CMOS image sensor having a reset transistor, a select transistor, a drive transistor and a photodiode, includes an active region in shape of a line, a gate electrode of the drive transistor, which is intersected with the active region, a blocking layer interposed between the active region and the gate electrode in which the blocking layer is formed on an intersection region of the active region and the gate electrode, and a metal contact electrically connected to the gate electrode, wherein the metal contact is not electrically connected to the active region by the blocking layer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming machine having mechanical spinning reels and display units mounted inside the reels that are driven between a retracted position and a forward position. The display unit is displaced inwardly toward a central axis of the reel when located in the retracted position, and in this position the reel is free to rotate in response to a wager being placed. The display unit is located closer toward the outer periphery of the reel when in the forward position and in registration with a variable display when the reel is stopped. Movement of the display unit between the retracted and forward positions minimizes parallax effects and increases enjoyment for a player.

Abstract: A method of processing a user data card comprising: determining that a user data card comprising a non-compatible smart card has been entered into a card reader; obtaining a user identifier from a magnetic stripe of the user data card; and processing the user identifier to obtain data from a user record to enable further processing in respect of the user data card.

Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of gaming machines and a communications network arranged to facilitate communications to and from the gaming machines. Each gaming machine is arranged to implement a game, and to generate status information indicative of whether the gaming machine is vacant or occupied, and the system is arranged to display availability information derived from the status information indicative of whether at least some of the gaming machines are vacant or occupied. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and apparatuses for providing random numbers for a gaming system. A random number generator (RNG) processor is arranged to select a plurality of RNG system components and configure them in an RNG pipeline, to provide random numbers to a gaming system. In one embodiment, a true random number generator (TRNG) is used to generate seeds for a pseudo random number generator in the pipeline. Analysers, loggers and other elements may also be included in the pipeline.

Abstract: A cover assembly for use on a recessed in-floor fitting. The cover assembly includes a flange configured to be mounted along the surface of a floor and a cover rotatably connected to the flange and configured to be moved with respect to the flange from a closed position covering the interior of the in-floor fitting to an open position allowing access to the interior. The cover includes a gasket that forms a radial seal along an inner wall of the flange when the cover is in the closed position and at least one door that is movable from a closed position that covers up an egress passageway in the cover to an open position that exposes the egress passageway. The door is configured to slide under a top surface of the cover when moved between the open and closed positions and is biased toward the closed position.

Abstract: A pixel and a pixel array of an image sensor device of the present invention have small pixel sizes by resetting sensed charge using a diode built vertically above a substrate. The pixel and the pixel array also have low noise performance by using a JFET as a source follower transistor for sensing charge. The pixel includes a floating diffusion node configured to sense photo-generated charge, a reset diode configured to reset the floating diffusion node in response to a reset signal, and a junction field effect transistor configured to output a signal having an output voltage level corresponding to a charge level of the floating diffusion node.

Abstract: A method for use with a gaming system that provides a game in which a plurality of symbols are selected and presented on a display to form one or more combinations includes: providing a base game, providing a feature game on the occurrence of a first event during play of the base game, awarding a jackpot on the occurrence of a second event during play of the feature game, and varying the probability of both the first and the second events dependent on at least an aspect of a wager placed by a player to play the base game, wherein said variation maintains at least an approximately constant probability of the jackpot being won despite variations in said aspect of the wager.

Abstract: Inductively coupled battery charging systems and methods are provided. Transmit circuitry can include a transmit coil operatively part of a transmit resonant circuit exhibiting 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 regulate alternating current produced in the transmit coil based on current flowing in the transmit resonant circuit and/or maintain the magnetic field at about the transmit resonant frequency by maintaining about a ninety degree phase shift between a square wave input and output.

Abstract: A method for location-dependent billing for a services that are available to a mobile terminal, a local communication connection is set up to a fixably installed external location tag with a corresponding wireless interface between the fixably installed tag and the mobile terminal, the method including the steps of accessing the external location tag and transmitting a billing rate code from the external location tag to the mobile terminal, forwarding the billing rate code from the mobile terminal to a central unit of a mobile communication network, in which the mobile terminal is logged, determining a geographic location identification of the external location tag by evaluation of the billing rate code at the central unit, and selecting a billing rate for billing for the service available to the user based on the billing rate code at the central unit.

Abstract: A sound recording and reproduction system for testing hearing and hearing aids is disclosed. Recordings of sound are made in a real word acoustic environment, for example, which are stored as audio signals. In a testing environment, a plurality of loudspeakers is located about a listening position where a test subject is placed during a testing procedure. The plurality of loudspeakers receive at least a portion of the plurality of the stored audio signals, and convert those audio signals received into a combination of sounds that produce, at the listening position, acoustic elements of the real world acoustic environment where the recordings were made. The system enables, in a clinical or other test setting, the evaluation of hearing and/or hearing aid performance as if in a real world environment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a genetic cluster of strains of Streptococcus thermophilus, which have a lysotype distinct from that of the strains currently used. Within this cluster novel acidifying and texturizing strains have been identified.

Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding multi-level pulse amplitude modulated signals using integrated optoelectronics are disclosed and may include generating a multi-level, amplitude-modulated optical signal utilizing an optical modulator driven by two or more electrical input signals. The optical modulator may include optical modulator elements coupled in series and configured into groups. The number of optical modular elements and groups may configure the number of levels in the multi-level amplitude modulated optical signal. Unit drivers may be coupled to each of the groups. The electrical input signals may be synchronized before communicating them to the unit drivers utilizing flip-flops. Phase addition may be synchronized utilizing one or more electrical delay lines. The optical modulator may be integrated on a single substrate, which may include one of: silicon, gallium arsenide, germanium, indium gallium arsenide, polymers, or indium phosphide.