Abstract: NDIR gas sensing methodology is advanced which renders the output of an NDIR gas sensor, when implemented with this new methodology, to remain stable or drift-free over time. Furthermore, the output of such a sensor will also be independent of the temperature of an environ wherein the sensor is in physical contact. This method utilizes the same narrow band-pass spectral filter for the detection of the gas of interest for both the signal and the reference channels. By so doing, the two channels always receive radiation of the same spectral content from the infrared source of the sensor convoluted with that from any external elements exposed to the sensor. While the same sample chamber through which the gas of interest to be detected flows is shared by the two channels, the detector package for the reference channel is hermetically sealed with 100% of the gas to be detected instead of 100% N2 as for the signal detector.

Abstract: A sporting game in which a game ball that behaves differently from a conventional soccer ball is kicked from a starting point toward an end point for the purpose of getting the game ball in the end point in as few as strikes as possible and, if this is not accomplished in one kick, then the game ball is kicked one or more additional times until it is in the end point. However, unlike the direction of travel for a conventional ball, the game ball's direction of travel is to the right when a counterclockwise spin is applied at a point of contact with the player's foot, to the left when a clockwise spin is applied at the point of contact, and straight when a top spin is applied at the point of contact.

Abstract: An NDIR gas sensor is housed within a mechanical housing made up of a can and a header housing. The header housing body contains a tunnel waveguide sample chamber. The header housing also has a top surface with a pair of windows formed in it and a signal detector, a reference detector, a MEMS source and a signal processor mounted to it. The can has inner reflective surfaces and the reference detector and the signal detector are affixed to the top surface so that the inner reflective surfaces of the can and the tunnel waveguide sample chamber create a signal channel path length detected by the signal detector that is greater than a reference channel path length detected by the reference detector and an absorption bias between the signal and reference outputs can be used to determine a gas concentration in the sample chamber.

Abstract: An electronic circuit contains a circuit board with conducting tracks to which one or more electronic components with conducting contacts are positioned overlying portions of the conducting tracks and each such electronic component is held in place by a clamp that covers and is contact with the top surface of the electronic components so as to hold their conducting contacts in electrical contact with the conducting tracks of the circuit board. The clamp can include a resilient layer held between the top surface of electronic components and a rigid clamping sheet.

Abstract: Methods are implemented in a computer system with one or more processors configured to execute one or more computer program modules in which one or more computer program modules configured to communicate with electronic storage media that stores a set of at least six colors and questions having multiple answers, one of which is a predicted answer, individual questions and their predicted answers being based at least in part on unique color pair personality profiles determined from a color pair and its selection ordering, wherein the set of colors is displayed to a first user and a set of color selections is received from the first user which establish three color pairs (the first being a most liked and second most liked color pair, the second being a third and a fourth most liked color pair, the third being the most liked and the least liked color pair), receiving an answering player's selection of a chosen answer to each question and displaying an answering player's score, wherein the questions asked include

Abstract: A dual-camera 3-D rig has a support, a first camera with a first lens mounted to the support in a stationary position, a structural member with a curve affixed to the support adjustable over a range of positions to cause the curve to rotate relative to the axis of the structural member, and a second camera with a second lens slidably mounted to the structural member so it is free to move along the curve to vary interaxial spacing between the two cameras while the convergence distance between the two cameras is varied by adjustment of the curved structural member over a range of positions. Pinhole lenses are used and a mirror is positioned along an axis of the first lens in a position such that a reflected image of a first camera entrance pupil is at the height and longitudinal position of the second camera entrance pupil.

Abstract: An autostereoscopic 3-D image is provided in a viewing zone without the need for 3-D glasses by use of one or more projectors that project two or more images having projected exit pupils separated horizontally by no more than an average human interocular spacing onto a 3-D forming screen (which is a lenticular or a raster barrier screen) with a substantially smooth and nominally white back projection surface and a front side with multiple individual vertical elements that project left and right images so that the 3-D forming screen retro-reflects projected light on the screen received from a light source back to the light source.

Abstract: A subway tunnel light box for displaying a back-lighted image to a viewer inside of a subway car traveling in the subway tunnel in which a transparent video display for displaying a number of images, such as an LCD, is mounted in the light box and a narrow light source, preferably having a width of one pixel, is positioned in the box behind each of the images at a distance less than a typical viewing distance so that each image is illuminated by an associated narrow light source with an associated narrow light source horizontal illumination angle substantially the same as a preselected perceived horizontal viewing angle calculated for the typical viewing distance based upon a physical height of the transparent video display and a desired aspect ratio of a perceived image.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for displaying back-lighted images to viewers moving along a path of travel past viewing boxes containing transparent images illuminated by substantially vertical light sources which are then reflected to obtain a shallow light box depth relative to the transparent images, the light sources being located behind the transparent images, relative to the viewer.

Abstract: A solar tracker has a mounting surface to which a solar device is mounted and means for causing the mounting surface to change its orientation so as to be substantially perpendicular to the sun's rays as the sun travels through a useful arc relative to the solar tracker wherein change of orientation of the mounting surface is caused by bending of the solar tracker attributable. The bending can be caused by mechanical contraction or due to shrinkage caused by loss of water in which case capillary action causes the outer surface material to be saturated and grow when it is not exposed to sunlight. The bendable mounting surface support is an elongated tube held in a nominally vertical position in the absence of sunlight by a vertical support which can be a coiled compression spring, an extruded tube of closed-end structural foam, a vertical floating pole or an air-inflated tube.

Abstract: A ball having an inflatable ball shell within which is found an inflatable inner ball partially filled with an inner ball gas and partially filled with a liquid that is held in the center of the inflatable ball shell by an inflatable support when the inflatable inner ball, the inflatable ball shell and the inflatable support are inflated. The ball exhibits an eccentric and unpredictable motion unless a concomitant spin is appropriately applied to it and the motion of the ball is primarily determined by movement of the liquid within the inflatable inner ball. The inflatable support can be a donut-shaped chamber having an inner radius which is substantially the same as, and may be attached to, an outer radius of the inflatable inner ball. Alternatively, the inflatable support can be three or more elastic spherical shells attached to the inflatable inner ball.

Abstract: An East-West casino offers two or more gambling games in which at least one game involves a Feng Shui element of chance and the other involves either a game based upon a new Chinese Poker Deck of cards or a video slot machine having a carousel in which two or more wheels rotate in opposite directions and a random event associated with the two or more wheels is used in connection with a payout or bonus round of the video slot machine. The game involving a Feng Shui element of chance can be a Yin-Yang roulette game or a video slot machine or a Feng Shui keno machine while a game based upon the Chinese Poker Deck may be a poker game and the casino itself may be a website. The video slot machine can use a carousel in which two or more wheels rotating in opposite directions.

Abstract: A lighting system for clothing, footwear, backpacks, and other accessories incorporates a battery, a switch, a counter circuit, a flasher and lamps or LEDs driven by the flasher. The switch has a tubular housing of electrical insulating material which may be round or square in cross section. A pair of electrical contact pins extend into the interior of the housing and are aligned longitudinally. The external ends of the contact pins are wired to the counter circuit and the battery. A free-floating contact bar of electrical conducting material normally resides on the bottom of the pins thus closing the switch and causing an input signal to the counter circuit and causing the lamps or LEDs to be illuminated momentarily. The contact pins can alternatively extend through the bottom of the housing and the contact bar may rest against the contact pins.

Abstract: A method for implementing an anonymous face to face or Mail Order Telephone Order credit card transaction by a user who has established a user account associated with a fictitious name. The user generates a valid personal charge number by executing an algorithm in a computer affixed to the electronic credit card that uses a user key and a card number as input variables. A merchant is provided with the valid personal charge number and the fictitious name that is submitted for approval to a credit approval center. The electronic credit card is sized such that a standard magnetic stripe reader can read it.

Abstract: A method of playing a community card poker game in which two down cards are dealt to each player from a deck having suited cards, non-suited cards and a wild cards, followed by a betting round, then three community cards are dealt face up followed by a betting round, then a fourth community card is dealt face up followed by a betting round and a final card is then dealt followed by a final betting round, a winning hand is then declared and wagers are settled. The winning hand can only contain one wild card and if a player cannot make a hand with only one wild card (because the player has too many wild cards), the player's hand is declared a losing hand. A betting variation is that a losing calling party pays a penalty in some circumstances based upon the ranking of the winning hand.

Abstract: A method for implementing an anonymous payment card transaction, in either a face-to-face transaction or a MOTO transaction, in which the user is allowed to select an option for anonymous delivery of goods. The option is conveyed to a money source by means of a customization parameter. The customization parameter is used to customize generation of a user one-time payment card number, to customize a user identifier or as a customization variable that is included in a user transaction data packet which includes the user one-time payment card number and the user identifier. A delivery agent can be used to deliver the purchased goods to a delivery location that is not known by the merchant by use of a tracking identifier provided by the money source to the merchant and the delivery agent.

Abstract: A sealed, double walled water packet has an inner packet filled with potable water that has a porous outer surface layer containing absorbed water and an outer packet that encloses the inner packet and is connected to the inner layer. The inner packet (which may contain as little as a swallow of water) is connected to the outer packet (both of which can be made as envelopes with tearable sections or peel off corners) along one side or by a string so that the inner packet can be twirled or waved to cause rapid evaporation of water in the porous outer surface layer (which can include hydrogel) to thereby cool the potable water contained inside the inner packet before it is opened.

Abstract: A jewelry travel case has two halves connected by a hinge and closure mechanism. A first half has an inner compartment with a first pair of straps positioned toward its top side for releaseably engaging and holding one or more necklaces, including Omega-style necklaces, and a second pair of straps positioned between the first pair of straps and a pocket for releaseably engaging and holding one or more bracelets so that necklaces and bracelets will hang in the inner compartment when the case is vertical. A second half has an inner compartment with an earring bar releaseably secured to its upper portion and a ring bar releaseably secured to its lower portion. The earring bar can be detached at both of its ends so that it can be removed and has openings for holding earrings. The ring bar's substantially circular cross section provides tension to the pocket.

Abstract: A hybrid whistle has two pealess whistle chambers with air vents to the left and right and a central pea whistle with an air vent facing generally perpendicularly to the left and right air vents that are integrally formed together, preferably in a two piece, top and bottom, construction. The hybrid whistle has a mouthpiece with a left air opening, a central air opening and a right air opening, each of which is connected to its respective whistle chamber by an air passageway. The three whistle chambers produce differing whistle pitch sounds as air flows through them and out the chambers' exits. The central pea whistle has a barrel chamber with a pea block formed within it so as to modify the barrel shape of the chamber and block the air flow as the pea circulates in the air current causing a staccato effect, while creating enough circulating air movement to prevent the pea from getting stuck in the vent by the air as it exits out of the central air exit when the whistle is blown.

Abstract: A combination of weights for fishing while using a casting reel with a rig attached to a fishing line relies upon a first sinker lifter having a forward streamlined surface shape, an internal bore through which the fishing line can be threaded and a rear cavity and a second sinker weight having a second internal bore through which the fishing line can be threaded and can be held within the rear cavity of the sinker lifter, the sinker lifter having a specific gravity greater than, but approximately, 1.0 while the sinker weight has a specific gravity substantially greater than 1.0.