Abstract: Disclosed herein are unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Some UAVs include a vertically-mounted printed circuit board (PCB). The UAVs have yaw, pitch, and roll axes. The UAVs comprise a plurality of propellers, each of the plurality of propellers configured to rotate about a respective one of a plurality of axes of rotation; a base assembly coupled to each of the plurality of propellers; and a PCB coupled to the base assembly. A surface of the PCB lies in a plane defined by the yaw axis and the roll axis, and no portion of the PCB intersects any axis of rotation of any propeller of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The PCB may have a non-rectangular shape, such as the shape of a shark. Some UAVs include a PCB comprising a mechanical feature configured to engage with a peripheral or a peripheral subassembly.

Abstract: A circular wheel is aligned in a rotational plane and has a peripheral outfacing surface symmetrical about the plane of rotational. A center line of the width of the peripheral outfacing surface is sinusoidal around the wheel. The wheel may have a central hub, a rim, a medial wheel structure between the hub and the rim, and a tire mounted on the rim. The outfacing surface may be that of the hub, the medial wheel structure, the rim, or the tire depending on the application.

Abstract: An automatic card shuffler to shuffle eight decks of cards (or less) and deal a round of Baccarat. The automatic shuffler comprises two pre-shuffle bins, each receiving approximately four decks of cards wherein the pre-shuffle bins are spaced apart from one another with card slides directing to a card-receiving area. Cards are randomly selected from the cards in each of the pre-shuffle bins and propelled onto the card slides directing the cards to the card-receiving area. Once a sufficient number of buffer cards (e.g., seven) have been deposited into the card-receiving area, a card flipper moves the seven cards against a face plate of an integral dealing shoe. A buffer-holder member maintains the buffer cards against the face plate for dealing as the card flipper returns to a home position to receive more shuffled cards while buffer cards are being dealt in a round of Baccarat.

Abstract: An individual bottle accessory is taught, namely, a mechanism to secure a cup to the bottle such that an otherwise ordinary cup adapts and screws onto existing beverage containers that can be used to share the beverage or just be able to drink from a cup rather than directly from the bottle wherein, existing bottles can be utilized with very little, if any, extra footprint and minimal retooling.

Abstract: In a base station device for transmitting data signals to a plurality of terminal devices, the base station device includes a signal multiplexing unit that multiplexes data signals for at least a first terminal device and a second terminal device, a control information generation unit that generates, for the first terminal device, control information containing information related to the data signal destined for the second terminal device, and a radio receiving unit that receives information of a reception processing capability of each terminal device.

Abstract: An automatic playing card shuffler incorporating means for detecting marked cards. One or more light spectrum emitters or variable light spectrum illuminators transmit light at frequencies/wavelengths which is reflected off card backs through one or more spectrum filters causing invisible markings to become visible. A camera may capture images of the now visible markings. A camera and software collaborate to capture images and analyze the same for markings on the card backs such as smudges, nicks and scuffs and edge demarcations. The automatic playing card shufflers are configured to not only detect marked cards but to detect patterns relative to the card markings. The automatic card shufflers are communicatively linked with a casino management system and/or security system such that casino personnel may be alerted in real time to the discovery of marked cards.

Abstract: A protective helmet including a shell on which are moveably mounted a shield and a chin guard, the chin guard being moveable between a closed position and an open position and having two lateral branches each provided with a guide in which is meshed a guiding finger fixed on the shell, and the shield being moveable between a lowered position and a lifted position and having two lateral arms articulated on the shell, the helmet having an automatic lifting mechanism of the shield configured to lift the shield from the lowered position during the closing movement of the chin guard and including at least a cam-follower system including: a rotary cam secured to a guiding finger pivotally mounted on the shell and connected in rotation to the corresponding lateral branch of the chin guard by cooperation of form with the guide, and a follower element secured to a lateral arm of the shield, wherein the cam and the follower element are at least in partial contact along a given cam surface.

Abstract: An automatic playing card shuffler incorporating means for detecting marked cards. One or more light spectrum emitters or variable light spectrum illuminators transmit light at frequencies/wavelengths which is reflected off card backs through one or more spectrum filters causing invisible markings to become visible. A camera may capture images of the now visible markings. A camera and software collaborate to capture images and analyze the same for markings on the card backs such as smudges, nicks and scuffs and edge demarcations. The automatic playing card shufflers are configured to not only detect marked cards but to detect patterns relative to the card markings. The automatic card shufflers are communicatively linked with a casino management system and/or security system such that casino personnel may be alerted in real time to the discovery of marked cards.

Abstract: A single deck shuffler includes a pre-shuffle bin, card-selector assembly, drive wheel and post-shuffle bin. The pre-shuffle bin is configured to accept a single deck of cards. While in the pre-shuffle bin, a modest downward force is applied to the single deck of cards. A base of the pre-shuffle bin is an independent member that selectively raises and lowers the deck of cards pursuant to a randomly-selected card number (e.g., 1-52). Once positioned correctly based on the randomly-selected card number, an upper body of the card-selector assembly moves forward to push a number of cards off the top of the deck corresponding to the randomly-selected card number thereby exposing a bottom card (i.e., the randomly-selected card) to a drive wheel. The drive wheel propels the card from the pre-shuffle bin into the post-shuffle bin. The process is repeated until each card is propelled into the post-shuffle bin.

Abstract: An integrated microfluidic device for carrying out a series of fluidic operations includes a housing including a plurality of n microfluidic conduits, wherein n is at least three, and a rotating valve having an internal channel with an entrance port and an exit port that are angularly separated. The rotating valve is positionable in a first position to connect two of the n fluidic conduits via the internal channel, and upon rotating the valve to a second position, two other of the n fluidic conduits are connected by the internal channel. The device further may include one or more fluidic chambers in fluid communication with respective fluidic conduits. Fluid contained in one fluidic chamber is transferrable by application of positive or negative gas pressure through associated fluidic conduits into another fluidic chamber via the internal channel. The device may be utilized to perform a variety of fluidic operations.

Abstract: A method for treating surfaces of cement, concrete, mortar or floor screed or stone, marble or granite by applying at least one layer of a composition comprising of 2-20% by weight of particles of plasticized polyvinyl butyral (PVB) dispersed in water in an amount of 100 g/m2-600 g/m2. This ensures that the surfaces exhibit improved resistance to wear and reduced creation of dust during wear, i.e., a dust binding effect is achieved and protects the surfaces from being stained. The application of the aqueous PVB dispersion provides improved adhesion of conventional top coatings, such as epoxy or polyurethane (PU) based resins and results in a brighter surface on the treated surfaces. A composition and uses are also disclosed.

Abstract: A power generation system in which a thermally expandable fluid, e.g., R134a, CO2, is circulated in a loop between a first location and a second location, the second location being at a higher elevation than the first location. The fluid is heated at the first location to expand it, so that it rises to the second location where it is cooled and contracted. The cooled fluid, being denser, then falls back to the first location under hydrostatic pressure, causing a circular fluid flow. This flow is used to generate power in a power transfer system. The system is regulated so that the fluid does not flash to a vapor, i.e., the fluid does not change state, which improves the efficiency of the system. The system is suitable for use in any situation where a height difference exists, and is particularly suited for geothermal heating sources.

Abstract: A handheld device, such as a mobile phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), tablet computer, palmtop computer, or the like, can be protected from physical shock by being suspended within a multiple layer enclosure forming a protective case. The protective case includes an outer shell and an inner cushioning layer comprising one or more cushions. The cushions can be interlocked with opposing ends of the outer shell via an interlocking connection, so that the pieces of the cushion layer can be secured within the protective case. The cushions can cooperate to suspend the handheld device within the enclosure of the protective case and isolate the handheld device from the outer shell to protect the handheld device from physical shocks imparted to the outer shell.

Abstract: A device for protecting the cervical vertebrae, in sports motorcycle racing and car racing, includes elements suitable for opposing inertia forces due to strong accelerations whereto the individual is subject, prevents harmful stresses to the bony structure, in the normal performance of the races, and minimizes them in the event of an accident. The device includes a support structure, made substantially integral to the pilot's trunk, a helmet, and elements suitable for connecting the helmet to the support so as to restrict the mobility of the helmet with respect to the support, which include a ring element, or collar suitable for quickly connecting the helmet to the support structure, and obtaining a swivel coupling therewith, the reciprocal rotation between the helmet and the support taking place according to an axis that, in the zone of the cervical vertebrae, substantially coincides with the physiological axis of rotation of the cervical vertebrae.

Abstract: A power generation system in which a thermally expandable fluid, e.g., R134a, CO2, is circulated in a loop between a first location and a second location, the second location being at a higher elevation than the first location. The fluid is heated at the first location to expand it, so that it rises to the second location where it is cooled and contracted. The cooled fluid, being denser, then falls back to the first location under hydrostatic pressure, causing a circular fluid flow. This flow is used to generate power in a power transfer system. The system is regulated so that the fluid does not flash to a vapor, i.e., the fluid does not change state, which improves the efficiency of the system. The system is suitable for use in any situation where a height difference exists, and is particularly suited for geothermal heating sources.

Abstract: A stretcher, suitable for carrying out rescue of injured persons in not easily accessible areas, such as speleologists trapped in caves, people in difficulty in the mountains, people to be rescued from the water, also with the intervention of helicopters, includes a rigid board, which can easily be dismantled and reassembled without tools, the rigid part including elements that slot together to form the rigid board, designed to support the weight of the person to be carried, and is characterized in that it envisages at least one element that develops basically in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the board and connects up directly to the other elements constituting the board, there being provided first members designed to prevent relative movements between the elements constituting the board, out of the plane of the board, and second members designed to prevent any relative sliding between the elements.

Abstract: In a facility and a method for separating glass residues from PVB-film, comminuted material is passed through several process steps, where treating with beaters (12) in a chamber (2) is effected in one of the first steps. At the discharge end (18) of the chamber there is arranged a separation, as heavy particular material can be discharged through a perforated bottom section (19) in the chamber (2). Through an air inlet (22) at the side (15) of the chamber, air is drawn in induced by a ventilator-like impeller rotor (28) drawing air in through a central opening (26) spaced apart from the bottom section (19). Thereby, light film-like materials are carried away from the heavy particles.