Abstract: A headset comprises two earphones joined together by a band which can be worn over the head of a wearer. Each earphone includes a noise plate, which functions to attenuate or eliminate noise from the environment such as a tournament gaming environment. The noise plate includes an aperture through which a boom assembly that houses a microphone may engage to transmit utterances of the wearer to audio processing circuitry. A grille can be exposed when the noise plate is removed, which allows sounds produced in the ambient environment to enter the earphone.

Abstract: A head tube for a bicycle frame is aluminum alloy, is formed by stamping an aluminum alloy sheet, which may have an equal thickness or may be a special-shaped sheet having an unequal thickness, and has a rear side, an outer surface, a seam, a soldering layer and at least one bossed pattern. The seam is formed longitudinally on the rear side of the head tube. The soldering layer is formed in the seam of the head tube. The at least one bossed pattern is formed on the outer surface of the head tube and is non planar with the head tube. Because the head tube is formed by stamping, the at least one bossed pattern with intricate edges or corners can be formed easily on the outer surface of the head tube with low manufacturing costs to give the head tube an appeasing aesthetic appearance.

Abstract: A card-based game machine includes a game item card storing machine-readable virtual item data which includes a potency value, and a game host unit. The game host unit includes: a game card reader for reading the machine-readable virtual item data; and a processor coupled to the game card reader, and generating a virtual game piece, a virtual item on the basis of the machine-readable virtual item data, and a game potency value on the basis of the potency value. The processor changes the game potency value during game play, and updates the machine-readable virtual item data through the game card reader at game completion, such that the potency value reflects the game potency value at game completion. A card-based game method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-display gaming machine includes a housing, a plurality of display devices mounted to the housing, an input device operable for generating control instructions, and a processing device disposed inside the housing, coupled to the display devices and the input device, and loaded with a plurality of gaming programs. The processing device is responsive to the control instructions from the input device for simultaneously executing at least two of the gaming programs, and for outputting gaming screen contents resulting from execution of the gaming programs to respective ones of the display devices for viewing by a player.

Abstract: An algorithm for modulating printer half-tone screening based on the tonal values of the region being reproduced is provided. The algorithm determines the tonal values for a particular region and assigns real number constants to that region. As the clustering screen is applied, the threshold values in the clustering screen are reduced (divided) by the real number constants thereby modulating the effect of the application of the clustering screen. For deep tonal regions, the clustering screen is applied at full strength, while in light tonal regions no clustering effect is applied. The algorithm results in a an image that has a greater dynamic range without the appearance of stair stepping while eliminating clustering artifacts from the lighter regions.

Abstract: A daisy-chainable game exchange facilitates social networking among at least two game consoles by allowing gamers to share audio information, such as voice communication, without having to play the identical game or connect via a local area network or a wide area network such as the Internet. Control of voice communication and game audio information is facilitated to allow gamers to focus better on social networking through a stream of voice communication or to refocus on game play through the stream of game audio information without losing either stream.

Abstract: A gaming table includes a table body, a display device, and a positioning unit. The display device is mounted pivotably to the table body, is pivotable relative to the table body between at least one viewing position and a storage position, and is operable to display a gaming screen thereon. The positioning unit is for positioning releasably the display device at the viewing position relative to the table body.

Abstract: A perforate projection screen for movies, planetariums and the like having inconspicuous seams and uniform reflectivity throughout its visible surface. The screen is made from a plurality of perforate panels and is mounted, when in use, with a dark non-reflective chamber behind the screen. Any overlapped areas of the panels and any frame members or other objects, in close proximity to the back of the panels are covered with a black velour type material to prevent light reflection from panel holes where objects are in close proximity to the back of the panel. The edges of adjacent panels overlap to form seams with the overlapped edges of the panels being crimped to form recesses to receive the overlapping edge strip of an adjacent panel, thereby hiding the overlapping panel edge to reduce shadow lines and make the panel edges inconspicuous to viewers.

Abstract: A bicycle frame has a front frame, a lower bracket assembly, an upper bracket assembly, a rear frame and a shock absorber. The front frame has a head tube, a down tube, a bottom bracket shell and seat tube. The lower bracket assembly is connected pivotally to the bottom bracket shell and has a lower connecting bracket. The upper bracket assembly is connected pivotally to the seat tube and has two upper connecting brackets. The rear frame is connected pivotally to the upper connecting brackets and the lower connecting bracket of the upper and lower bracket assemblies and has an upper fork, a lower fork and two dropouts. The shock absorber is mounted pivotally between the upper connecting brackets and the lower connecting bracket.

Abstract: A gaming method is implemented using an electronic gaming apparatus, and includes: upon initiating a game, displaying a betting cell group including a plurality of betting cells, each displaying a randomly selected indicium; after bets are placed on selected ones of the betting cells, displaying a game-result cell group including a plurality of game-result cells, each displaying a randomly selected indicium; determining if at least one of the indicia displayed in the game-result cells matches the indicia displayed in the selected ones of the betting cells, and if yes, granting an award to the player on the basis of the bets placed by the player and predetermined winning criteria. A gaming apparatus and a computer program product are also disclosed.

Abstract: A thermal printing apparatus and a method of controlling a thermal printing apparatus is provided wherein the duration of the strobe pulse utilized to transfer the ink from the carrier to the media is controlled and adjusted by a correction factor. The correction factor is calculated by the printer controller based directly on feedback regarding the actual transport time required to advance the media between encoder steps. Generally, the present invention controls a thermal printer in a manner that accounts for the transport speed between each encoder step and applies the correction factor to the strobe signal duration in a manner that maintains a uniform print density.

Abstract: An assembly for feeding, printing, and cutting a continuous web of material is provided. The web is fed from a roll supported in a roll feeding unit to a printer unit. The web can carry distinct image-receiving media items or can be a plain continuous web material. The assembly is particularly useful for feeding a web carrying pressure-sensitive adhesive labels to a laser printer. The printer produces printed images on each label as the web is fed through the printer. Then, the web can be cut to produce a finished roll of printed labels ready for application. The assembly includes a roll feeding unit, a printer, a controller for the roll feeding unit, and a controller for the printer which communicate with each other. The controller is responsive to sensors and signals received from the printer controller, and the printer controller is responsive to the sensors and signals received from the roll feeding unit controller. In this manner, the feeding, printing, and cutting of the web are controlled precisely.

Abstract: A sill pan system is provided for installation along the bottom plate of a framed-in window or door opening to prevent water leakage. The system includes end pieces that are fitted in the bottom corners of the opening and a central web that spans, partially overlaps, and is adhered to the end pieces. The central web is formed of a transparent or translucent plastic to allow visual confirmation that a good seal is formed between the overlapping portions of the web and end pieces. The web is formed with inside flanges and flashing strips that are connected with flexible hinges so that web material can be rolled into a roll. The components may be formed with an abrasion resistant upper surface cladding and the central web may be formed with longitudinally extending drain channels for directing water to the ends of the pan for drainage.

Abstract: A perforate projection screen for movies, planetariums and the like having inconspicuous seams and uniform reflectivity throughout its visible surface. The screen is made from a plurality of perforate panels and is mounted, when in use, with a dark non-reflective chamber behind the screen. Any overlapped areas of the panels and any frame members or other objects, in close proximity to the back of the panels are covered with a black velour type material having vertically extending fibers to absorb the light rays entering the holes in those areas of the panels and thereby prevent light reflection from such holes which would cause undesirable light strips or areas to be visible in the overlapped portions of the screen or in the area of the screen where frame members or other objects are in close proximity to the back of the panel.

Abstract: A method of incrementally increasing a revenue stream generated by an incrementally built satellite communication system comprising the following steps: (A) planning an initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system to cover an initial predetermined coverage area; (B) building the initial number of satellites for the initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system; (C) launching each satellite to fill the initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system; and (D) collecting an initial revenue stream generated by the initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system. The initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system comprises an initial number of satellites and is substantially completed to carry an initial communication traffic for the initial predetermined coverage area. The initial revenue stream can be used for building the subsequent phase of the planned satellite communication system.

Abstract: A method of incrementally increasing a revenue stream generated by an incrementally built satellite communication system comprising the following steps: (A) planning an initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system to cover an initial predetermined coverage area; (B) building the initial number of satellites for the initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system; (C) launching each satellite to fill the initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system; and (D) collecting an initial revenue stream generated by the initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system. The initial constellation phase of the satellite communication system comprises an initial number of satellites and is substantially completed to carry an initial communication traffic for the initial predetermined coverage area. The initial revenue stream can be used for building the subsequent phase of the planned satellite communication system.

Abstract: A multi-player gaming system includes a plurality of player terminals adapted for operation by game players, respectively, and a host terminal connected to the player terminals and operable so as to enable the game players to play a wagering game therewith. The host terminal is configured to allow the game player of each of the player terminals to place a main bet for the wagering game with the host terminal, and an optional side bet for the wagering game with the game players of other ones of the player terminals. Based on an outcome of the wagering game, the host terminal is configured to settle the main bets placed with the host terminal according to predetermined first winning criteria, and to settle the side bets among the game players of the player terminals who placed a respective side bet according to predetermined second winning criteria.

Abstract: A display device configured to receive a board shaped sporting device. The display device has substantially parallel arms that extend away from a mounting surface thereby forming at least one slot. A board shaped sporting device, such as a skateboard, is received by the slot and thereafter cantilevered in a storage position. The display device leaves the design of the received board substantially unobstructed for display.

Abstract: An infrared emitter comprises a preamplifier, an infrared RF emitter, an infrared channel controller and a photodiode emitting-medium. With the emitter, by switching between two channels with an infrared channel controller, and by the mode of arrangement of a plurality of infrared emitting diodes and two Darlington amplifying circuits on the parts in a photodiode emitting-medium, crosstalk disturbance during transmitting carrier waves to a wireless earphone is inhibited. The emitter is applied to industries of audio/video playing, car audio/video equipment and hi-fi equipment.