Abstract: Certain non-limiting exemplary embodiments are taught which include a game comprising, a digital processor, digital storage coupled to the digital processor for storing instructions, a display coupled to the digital processor displaying a first plurality of indicia arranged in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns such that there are a plurality of paylines through a contiguous plurality of indicia, a user interface coupled to the digital processor to select a subset of the first plurality of indicia taken along at least one column and to initiate a display of a second plurality of indicia which includes the selected subset of the first plurality of indicia on the display, and an award dispenser providing an award which is at least as large as the largest award associated with the plurality of paylines.

Abstract: A game system including a progressive bonus apparatus connected to a plurality of individual game units. In an exemplary embodiment, the progressive bonus apparatus receives score contributions from each game unit to increase a progressive score. When players achieve a predetermined result on a game unit, they receive an award based on the progressive score. Each game unit connected to the progressive bonus apparatus may take the form of a game with a rotating wheel.

Abstract: A fixing device is described. The device fixes a fan and a protocol-control-information long card having a tailpiece without using screws or tools. The fan is for radiating heat from a hard disk and the protocol-control-information long card. The device comprises a plastic fan guard and a plastic fixture. The plastic fan guard is for fixing the fan in place, while the plastic fixture clamps the tailpiece of the protocol-control-information long card.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing core-shell type metallic nanoparticles involving (i) providing a dispersion of a first metal as nanoparticles in an appropriate organic solvent; (ii) providing a solution of a metallic precursor containing a second metal in an appropriate organic solvent, in which the second metal has a reduction potential higher than that of the first metal; and (iii) combining the dispersion from (i) and the solution from (ii) together to carry out the transmetalation reaction of the first and second metals, thereby forming core-shell type metallic nanoparticles.

Abstract: A method for reducing the loss of particles from the surface of porous getter bodies is taught herein. The method consists in producing on the surface of the porous getter a thin layer of a metal or metal alloy with a deposition technique selected among the deposition of materials from arc generated plasma, ionic beam deposition and cathodic deposition. The deposition technique allows for granular or columnar surface of the covering material but still allowing access to the surface of the getter material, resulting in a reduced getter particle loss.

Abstract: A method for removing oxygen from ammonia at low temperature is described. In one embodiment, oxygen contaminated ammonia is contacted with a getter material that includes iron and manganese that sorbs oxygen to yield ammonia that is substantially oxygen free. In one embodiment, the process of contacting ammonia with the getter material takes place at about 25° C. In another embodiment the weight ratio between iron and manganese is about 7:1. In another embodiment, the getter material is dispersed on an inert support of specific surface greater than 100 m2/g. In one embodiment, impure ammonia is contacted with getter material including iron and manganese that sorbs oxygen and with a drying agent that absorbs water to yield deoxygenated anhydrous ammonia. In yet another embodiment, an apparatus consisting of a gas inlet, gas purification chamber and gas outlet that deoxygenates ammonia when charged with getter material that includes iron and manganese is described.

Abstract: A slidably detachable mobile phone display unit, which includes a frame and an outer covering, is provided. The frame has a chamber into which a display panel is fixed whereas the outer covering is jointed to the frame in a slidably detachable way. Among which, the outer covering, which is slidably detachable from the frame, can be replaced easily; the hard and strong structure of the frame supports and protects the display panel from being damaged by hits of external sources. In addition, the frame, being small-sized, light and thin, makes it easier for the users to carry the mobile phones with them. The seamless outer covering features the integral beauty of the mobile phone.

Abstract: A process is described for the preparation of arylpyridine compounds by aryl-aryl cross-coupling reactions between a halopyridine and an arylmagnesium halide carried out in the presence of a catalytic amount of a zinc salt and a catalytic amount of palladium. The zinc salt is preferably selected from ZnCl2, ZnBr2 and/or Zn(OAc)2, while the palladium is preferably used in the form of Pd(PPh3)4 or Pd(OAc)2 +4 PPh3. The reaction can also be carried out in the presence of bidentate phosphines, such as, for example, 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphine)propane or 1,4-bis(diphenylphosphine)-butane. It is thus possible to obtain molar yields higher than 97% (calculated relative to the halopyridine) and a catalyticity of more than 2000.

Abstract: A flow controller (1), comprising a valve body (4) having flow paths forming an inlet and an outlet of fluid, a diaphragm (6) held fixedly between the valve body and a bonnet (5), and an operating mechanism (7) moving the diaphragm vertically, wherein the valve body flow paths communicate with each other through a projection-free communication path (8), the a diaphragm is formed so that, when lowering, it comes into close contact with the communication path so that it closes the flow path and, when rising, the center part thereof is recessed so that an area near the outer peripheral part is raised, and a curved surface (52), to which the outer upper surface (63) of the raised part is closely fitted, is formed on a bonnet on the inner lower surface of a diaphragm holding part (51).

Abstract: The present invention provides a gas purification system with improved efficiency, simpler construction, cost reduction, form factor improvements, and increased durability. The present invention provides cost and form factor improvements through fewer components overall and through utilizing multiple integrated components. Prior art gas purification system are more bulky and complicated. The present invention achieves increased thermal efficiency through utilization of a regenerative heat exchanger to recapture a portion of the heat energy transferred to the gas during the purification process. Prior art purifiers lacked a regenerative heat exchanger. The present invention integrates the two components into one integrated heater and purification vessel assembly. The present invention integrates the two discrete components into one integrated hydrogen sorption and particle filter assembly. The integrated hydrogen sorption and particle filter assembly is also capable of operating at higher temperatures.

Abstract: There is provided a double-sided printing press that includes a sheet-turning-over mechanism for turning sheets upside down at a sheet-turning-timing according to a set length of sheets, which has been previously set for the sheet-turning-over mechanism; and a sheet-length-detection means for detecting the length of sheets, which are fed to the sheet-turning-over mechanism; wherein where the length of sheets, which are fed to the sheet-turning-over mechanism and detected by the sheet-length-detection means, is deferent from the set length of sheets as a result of comparison therebetween, the sheets are stopped from being transferred to the sheet-turning-over mechanism.

Abstract: There is provided a printing press with a sheet-turning-over-mechanism for turning over a printing sheet, enabling the printing press to be selectively operable in a one-sided printing mode and a double-sided printing mode. The printing press includes a controller which, when any failure stops any one of steps of a mode switching operation for switching the printing press from the one-sided printing mode to the double-sided printing mode or vice versa, stores the information representative of a state of the mode switching operation at the moment of the stop due to the failure, and when a normal operable state is restored from the failure, resumes the mode switching operation from a step of the mode switching operation indicated by the operational state stored therein.

Abstract: A powder of a composite material comprising a non-evaporable getter material with a palladium coating continuously sorbs hydrogen. Embodiments in which the coverage of the palladium coating over the particles of the NEG material is complete can sorb hydrogen without the need for an activation treatment. Other embodiments in which the palladium coverage is less than total but greater than about 10% can also sorb gaseous species other than hydrogen. Loose powders, pressed powders, and sintered powders of the composite material are incorporated into getter devices and into the evacuated spaces of double-walled pipes, dewars, and thermal bottles. Methods for preparing powders of these composite materials utilize evaporative, sputter, and CVD deposition techniques. Another method prepares powders of the composite material by a liquid phase impregnation process.

Abstract: A fastening device for an electronic board comprises a base unit, a position shaft and a resilience device wherein the base unit has a first opening, a second opening and a sidewall used to connect the first opening and the second opening. The surface region of base unit adjacent to the first opening has a plurality of protrusions and the sidewall essentially includes a plurality of extension portions for tightly withstanding the electronic board by resilience inducing from the extension portion. The position shaft has a first flange having a smaller size than that of first opening to pass through the first opening and a second flange having a larger size than that of first opening to lean against the inner surface region of first opening. The resilient device, coupled to the position shaft and inside the sidewall, automatically aligns the locating holes of the electronic board.

Abstract: A device for handling substrates, used in an epitaxial apparatus or reactor (20) for chemical vapour deposition (CVD) onto the said substrates, comprises an internal robot (30) provided with means (60) for gripping and transporting substrates, which are in the form of semiconductor slices (24), in order to transfer them from cassettes (38, 40) containing the semiconductor slices (24) to be processed, the gripping and transportation means (60) having precisely the task of transporting the slices (24), which are present in a purging chamber (34) and supplied from a cassette (38) for storage of the said slices (24), from the purging chamber (34) into a reaction chamber (22) of the epitaxial reactor (20) and, more particularly, into seats (28a-e) formed on a flat disk-shaped susceptor (26) which is present in the reaction chamber (22) of the epitaxial reactor (20) and vice versa, from the reaction chamber (22) again passing through the purging chamber (34), to the cassettes (38, 40).

Abstract: A method for reducing the loss of particles from the surface of porous getter bodies is taught herein. The method consists in producing on the surface of the porous getter a thin layer of a metal or metal alloy with a deposition technique selected among the deposition of materials from arc generated plasma, ionic beam deposition and cathodic deposition. The deposition technique allows for granular or columnar surface of the covering material but still allowing access to the surface of the getter material, resulting in a reduced getter particle loss.

Abstract: A fixing device is described. The fixing device is for fixing a power supply unit in a computer cover having a first side plate and a second side plate. The first side plate has a square orifice and a guide slot connecting to the square orifice. The fixing device comprises a rotary-tightening-up device. The rotary-tightening-up device, made of plastic, has a first side member and a second side member. The fixing device further comprises plastic hook connected to the rotary-tightening-up device. The plastic hook is guided by the guide slot, thereby rotating the rotary-tightening-up device to mount the power supply unit upon the second side plate of the computer cover.

Abstract: A getter device is shaped like a substrate used in a deposition process. Embodiments of the device include a powdered getter material coated onto one or both sides of a support with a narrow rim portion left uncoated so that the device can be manipulated by automatic handling equipment. A method for using the getter device includes providing a vacuum chamber and automatic handling equipment, loading the device into the chamber, reducing the chamber pressure to a desired value by using the getter device in conjunction with an external pump, removing the getter device and replacing it with a substrate, and depositing a thin film on the substrate. The getter device can be in an activated state when loaded into the chamber, or it can be activated after being loaded by employing heating equipment ordinarily used to heat substrates placed in the chamber. The getter material of the device may also be activated in a separate activation chamber before the getter device is loaded into the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: A slit valve apparatus associated with an aperture in a chamber wall through which a semiconductor wafer may be passed along a transfer plane. The apparatus is characterized by a valve seat which is angled relative to the transfer plane and a door which moves linearly along an axis substantially perpendicular to the valve seat. All frictionally engaged parts of the slit valve assembly are isolated from the interior of the chamber by a bellow sleeve to reduce the formation of particles. The method is characterized by the steps of surrounding the aperture with a first seating surface defining a sealing plane which is angularly disposed with respect to the transfer plane and engaging or disengaging a second seating surface with the first seating surface by linearly moving the second seating surface in a direction perpendicular to the sealing plane.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing noise characterized by a number of input microphones arranged near an undesired noise source, a signal processor coupled to the input microphones and operative to develop a number of output signals from the input signals, and a number of speakers coupled to the output signals of the signal processor to produce anti-noise within a designated quiet zone. Each of the speakers derives a portion of its signal from each of the input microphones so that each output transducer has the maximum amount of information concerning the noise to be canceled. The method of the invention is characterized by the steps of detecting compression waves at a number of detection locations within a medium, and developing a number of complementary signals utilizing all of the detected compression wave information.