Abstract: A system, method and computer product to determine a fair price for an online exchange of all or part of a wager or fantasy sports entry. A user accesses the exchange application. Information associated with a ticket and selected for purchase by the user is displayed. The user indicates that the user wishes to bid by way of a quick-bid option. The user submits a first-counter offer. The seller rejects the first counter-offer and submits a second counter-offer. The user rejects the second counter-offer and submits a third counter-offer. The seller accepts the third counter-offer. A transaction between the user and the seller is processed.

Abstract: A rotary steerable drilling system that is operable to drill vertical wellbores and automatically maintain a vertical wellbore drilling path. The system includes a control module for operating solenoid valves that control an amount of fluid pressure applied to bias pad piston/cylinders. The control module is operable to determine when the system is deviating from vertical, in what direction the system is deviating, and where the bias pads are in relation to the direction of deviation. Based on these determinations, the control module actuates the requisite bias pads by controlling the amount of fluid pressure applied to the bias pad piston/cylinders to direct the system back to the vertical drilling path.

Abstract: A wagering game of change comprising: an input establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based on at least wagering activity; a memory device having computer-executable instructions stored thereon; and a processor, which upon executing the computer-executable instructions, is configured to: accept a wager, the wager amount decreasing the credit balance; use a random number generator to select and display a portion of each of a plurality of reels on a display, the plurality of reels comprising symbols thereon including one or more number symbols and at least one activator symbol; determine if the activator symbol is displayed; in response to the activator symbol being displayed, issue the sum of the number symbols displayed on the display as a monetary payout without regard to the alignment of the symbols on the reels and without regard to a paytable; and increment the credit balance by the issued sum.

Abstract: A camera system for a mobile device includes an array of compact catadioptric telescopes wherein at least some of the telescopes have a portion of their aperture truncated. At least some of the catadioptric telescopes in the array are tilted with respect to the system optical axis.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to symbol and reel substitution methods for slot machines. In one embodiment, A method of making a game is provided comprising selecting a plurality of reels with a plurality of symbol positions; selecting, by a random number generator, a selected template from a plurality of templates stored on a memory; populating symbol positions on the reels with symbols from the memory according to the selected template; displaying the reels on a visual display device; and issuing an award if a winning symbol combination appears on the visual display device.

Abstract: Optical systems based on an objective lens comprising one or more plastic lens elements are disclosed. The inclusion of plastic lens element reduces one or more of system cost, size, weight, and/or complexity. The chromatic performance of some imaging systems in accordance with the present invention is improved by incorporation of a diffractive surface into the entry surface of the objective lens.

Abstract: A method for distributing energy to a group of ground-based machines. The energy is supplied to the group of ground-based machines through a pattern of inductive power transfer lines physically associated with a ground in a work area. Operations are performed with the group of ground-based machines in the work area. The group of ground-based machines moves in the work area without following a path based on the inductive power transfer lines.

Abstract: Disclosed herein, among other things, are systems and methods for programming and modifying hearing assistance devices via low energy digital communications. One aspect of the present subject matter includes a method of using a hearing assistance device. The method includes providing characteristics and descriptors of the hearing assistance device compatible with a low energy digital communication protocol, the characteristics and descriptors accessible to an external communication device. According to various embodiments, the method also includes accepting individual read/write cycles from an external communication device configured to use the low energy digital communication protocol to read and update the characteristics and descriptors using an abstraction layer. The hearing assistance device is configured to compensate for a wearer's hearing loss based on the updated characteristics and descriptors, in various embodiments.

Abstract: Multi-sensor compressive imaging systems can include an imaging component (such an an RF, microwave, or mmW metamaterial surface antenna) and an auxialiary sensing component (such as an EO/IR sensor). In some approaches, the auxiliary sensing component includes a structured light sensor configured to identify the location or posture of an imaging target within a field of view of the imaging component. In some approaches, a reconstructed RF, microwave, or mmW image may be combined with a visual image of a region of interest to provide a multi-spectral representation of the region of interest.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for applying signals into a filter circuit is disclosed. The apparatus includes a filter circuit that filters an input signal and outputs a signal in a first frequency range, and a filter circuit that filters the input signal and outputs a signal in a second frequency range that is different from the first frequency range, wherein the second filter circuit includes an interface circuit for inserting a signal used to receive the first frequency range signal. The method includes receiving a signal containing content from a first source in a first frequency range and content from a second source in a second frequency range, providing filtering to produce a signal containing the first content, providing filtering to produce a signal containing the second content, and applying a signal to second content signal processing circuitry, the signal provided used for receiving the content from the first source.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capsule for a beverage production machine, the capsule comprising: an ingredient enclosed within the capsule; and an identifier; wherein the identifier is an area of conductive material incorporating a code pattern, the code pattern consisting of a predetermined arrangement of one or more discontinuities formed in the conductive material, and wherein the capsule comprises an orientation member for directing the alignment of the capsule within the beverage production machine.

Abstract: Systems and methods for generating a user location history are provided. One example method includes obtaining a plurality of location reports from one or more devices associated with the user. The method includes clustering the plurality of location reports to form a plurality of segments. The method includes identifying a plurality of location entities for each of the plurality of segments. The method includes determining, for each of the plurality of segments, one or more feature values associated with each of the location entities identified for such segment. The method includes determining, for each of the plurality of segments, a score for each of the plurality of location entities based at least in part on a scoring formula. The method includes selecting one of plurality of locations entities for each of the plurality of segments.

Abstract: A bus interface selects bit-lanes to allocate as spares by testing the performance margins of individual bit-lanes during initialization or calibration of the bus interface. The performance margins of the individual bit-lanes are evaluated as the operating frequency of the interface is increased until a number of remaining bit-lanes that meet specified performance margins is equal to the required width of the interface. The bit-lanes that do not meet the required performance margins are allocated as spares and the interface can be operated at the highest evaluated operating frequency. When an operating bit-lane fails, one of the spare bit-lanes is allocated as a replacement bit-lane and the interface operating frequency is reduced to a frequency at which the new set of operating bit-lanes meets the performance margins. The operating frequency of the interface can be dynamically increased and decreased during operation and the performance margins evaluated to optimize performance.

Abstract: A wagering game of chance comprising: an input device configured to accept an item associated with a monetary value, the monetary value establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity; a memory device having computer-executable instructions stored thereon; and a processor, which upon executing the computer-executable instructions, is configured to: accept a wager, the wager amount decreasing the credit balance; use a random number generator to select and display a portion of each of a plurality of reels on a display device, the plurality of reels comprising symbols thereon including one or more number symbols; determine if a number symbol is displayed on any one of the portions of the plurality of reels on the display device; in response to at least one number symbol being displayed on any displayed portions of the plurality of reels, issue the sum of all number symbols displayed on the display device as a monetary payout without regard t

Abstract: Methods for stitching multiple sub-images together to form a substantially seamless composite image are disclosed. Overlap regions formed by each pair of neighboring sub-images are periodically examined and key features common to the overlap regions in each sub-image of the pair are identified. A transformation is determined for each sub-image pair based on the positions of these key features. The transformation is split between the sub-images and applied to distort the overlap regions in each sub-image pair such that they are substantially aligned. Applying the transformations to each overlap region in the overall image enables creation of a substantially seamless composite image. In some embodiments, the process wherein the transformations are determined is run as a feedback loop to enable continuing refinement of the transformations.

Abstract: Compressive imaging captures images in compressed form, where each sensor does not directly correspond with a pixel, as opposed to standard image capture techniques. This can lead to faster image capture rates due to lower I/O bandwidth requirements, and avoids the need for image compression hardware, as the image is captured in compressed form. Measuring the transformation of an emitted multimodal signal is one method of compressive imaging. Metamaterial antennas and transceivers are well suited for both emitting and receiving multimodal signals, and are thus prime candidates for compressive imaging.

Abstract: A device is disclosed that is used temporarily to replace a trigger assembly of a weapon. In one embodiment, the device is self-resetting, including a biasing mechanism to reset a trigger lever to a firing position. As such, the feel of depressing a cocked trigger with each simulated trigger pull is simulated. This device allows the user to experience a more realistic dry fire training session, allowing the user to still cycle the gun action normally if they choose.

Abstract: A seal assembly for sealing between a rotating component and a stationary component in a turbomachine. The seal assembly includes a plurality of radially inwardly projecting, axially spaced teeth extending from the stationary component, wherein at least one of the plurality of teeth has at least one axially extending hole therethrough. Axial flow of an operating fluid through the holes acts as an air-curtain to interrupt swirl flow in a seal cavity, therefore reducing steam force that could act to destabilize rotordynamics.

Abstract: A multiscale imaging system including microcameras having controllable focus, dynamic range, exposure, and magnification is disclosed. The objective lens forms a three-dimensional image field of a scene. Image regions of the image field are relayed by the microcameras onto their respective focal-plane arrays, which collectively provide a plurality of digital sub-images of the scene. The digital sub-images can then be used to form a composite digital image of the scene that can have enhanced depth-of-field, enhanced dynamic range, parallax views of the scene, or three-dimensionality.

Abstract: A front air dam assembly for a vehicle includes a translatable front air deflecting panel for altering an airflow beneath the vehicle, a deploying mechanism for translating the front air deflecting panel between a raised position and one or more deployed positions, and a rapid raising mechanism for rapidly raising the front air deflecting panel from the one or more deployed positions. A controller in operative communication with the deploying mechanism and the rapid raising mechanism controls the operation thereof. At least one sensor is included for sending a signal indicative of a road or vehicle condition to the controller. A locking mechanism under the control of the controller is provided for locking the front air deflector panel in the raised or the one or more deployed position.