Abstract: The invention enables digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device. An application running on the wireless device has been automatically adapted to parameters associated with the wireless device without end-user input (e.g. the application has been configured in dependence on the device OS and firmware, related bugs, screen size, pixel number, security models, connection handling, memory etc., This application enables an end-user to browse and search music content on a remote server using a wireless network; to download music content from that remote server using the wireless network and to playback and manage that downloaded music content. The application also includes a digital rights management system that enables unlimited legal downloads of different music tracks to the device and also enables any of those tracks stored on the device to be played so long as a subscription service has not terminated.

Abstract: Aspects and features of this disclosure use an RFID tag or other transponder embedded in an RFID antenna to provide a smart RFID antenna. The smart antenna can have a unique identity, at least in its system environment, and the identity can be readable by the RFID reader through a large insertion loss, providing the reader with the capability to accurately detect the antenna. A method of detecting a smart RFID antenna includes applying a transmit signal at a configured power level, and selectively increasing the configured power level of the transmit signal until detection. In some examples, the process also includes storing location and other useful information for the RFID antenna. In some examples, any or all of this location or other information can be written to a memory in the RFID antenna in addition to a database in the system.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a base, a columnar pedestal extending vertically from the base, and a button deck adjustably coupled to the pedestal. The button deck includes an upper surface including a transparent touchscreen element, a lower surface opposite the upper surface, and a button deck body extending therebetween. At least one of the lower surface and the body include one or more transparent display elements, the one or more transparent display elements are configured to generate images of gaming machine control actuators viewable on the upper surface. The transparent touchscreen element is configured to receive touches and gestures indicating control inputs. The gaming machine also includes a player tracking card reader positioned within the button deck and accessible through a slot in a front edge of the button deck, the player tracking card reader communicatively coupled to a player tracking display area of the gaming machine.

Abstract: A medical bandage or dressing, including an absorbent layer with at least one layer of polyurethane foam including a superabsorbent polymer additive. The medical bandage or dressing may include one or more hydrophilic non-woven fabric layers bound to the polyurethane foam and one or more layers of the dressing may be heated and sealed to reduce shedding of the superabsorbent polymer additive as liquid is absorbed by the dressing.

Abstract: The invention enables digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device. An application running on the wireless device has been automatically adapted to parameters associated with the wireless device without end-user input (e.g. the application has been configured in dependence on the device OS and firmware, related bugs, screen size, pixel number, security models, connection handling, memory etc. This application enables an end-user to browse and search music content on a remote server using a wireless network; to download music content from that remote server using the wireless network and to playback and manage that downloaded music content. The application also includes a digital rights management system that enables unlimited legal downloads of different music tracks to the device and also enables any of those tracks stored on the device to be played so long as a subscription service has not terminated.

Abstract: The invention enables digital music content to be downloaded to and used on a portable wireless computing device. An application running on the wireless device has been automatically adapted to parameters associated with the wireless device without end-user input (e.g. the application has been configured in dependence on the device OS and firmware, related bugs, screen size, pixel number, security models, connection handling, memory etc. This application enables an end-user to browse and search music content on a remote server using a wireless network; to download music content from that remote server using the wireless network and to playback and manage that downloaded music content. The application also includes a digital rights management system that enables unlimited legal downloads of different music tracks to the device and also enables any of those tracks stored on the device to be played so long as a subscription service has not terminated.

Abstract: A dressing including a top film, an adhesive layer positioned adjacent the top film closer to a user's skin when the bandage is in use, a hydrogel layer including a support layer, below the adhesive layer closer to the user's skin when the bandage is in use, and a lower perforated layer positioned under the hydrogel layer for adhering the bandage to a user's skin. All of the layers may be transparent or at least partially translucent to allow a user to view the user's skin through the bandage. The hydrogel layer provides pressure distribution to reduce stress on the user's skin and reduce the likelihood of pressure ulcers.

Abstract: An apparatus for modifying acoustic transmission comprises an array of structures arranged along a transmission path and each structure having a major axis and a minor axis, the structures being arranged such that a minor axis of each void or structure is aligned with the transmission path.

Abstract: A bottle (2) having a body portion (4) which comprises first and second major faces (22,24), each extending substantially along the length of the body portion, which are opposite to each other and mutually separated on opposite sides of a first central plane (P1-P1) of the bottle by a spacing (25), wherein the spacing decreases proceeding from the lower end (10) to a central portion (12) and from the central portion to the upper end (14). The bottle further comprises a recess (32) in the first major face (22), the recess being shaped to receive an adult human thumb, the recess having an open end (34) at the first side and a closed end (36) in the first major face, and the recess having a downwardly-oriented upper wall (38) extending between the open end and the closed end.

Abstract: A method, system, apparatus, and/or device for storing and organizing objects in a container. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include an insert panel configured to hold an object. The insert panel may include a first clamp cavity including a first opening configured to receive a first clamp post of a modular attachment assembly and a second clamp cavity including a second opening configured to receive a second clamp post of the modular attachment assembly. The method, system, apparatus, and/or device may include the modular attachment assembly configured to hold the object against the insert panel. The modular attachment assembly may include the first clamp post, a second clamp post, and a cord having a first end connected to the first clamp post and a second end connected to the second clamp post.

Abstract: A bottle (2) having a body portion (4) which comprises first and second major faces (22,24), each extending substantially along the length of the body portion, which are opposite to each other and mutually separated on opposite sides of a first central plane (P1-P1) of the bottle by a spacing (25), wherein the spacing decreases proceeding from the lower end (10) to a central portion (12) and from the central portion to the upper end (14). The bottle further comprises a recess (32) in the first major face (22), the recess being shaped to receive an adult human thumb, the recess having an open end (34) at the first side and a closed end (36) in the first major face, and the recess having a downwardly-oriented upper wall (38) extending between the open end and the closed end.

Abstract: A sound reproduction system for reproducing an audio signal as originating from a first direction relative to a nominal position (211) and orientation of a listener is provided. The system comprises a first sound transducer arrangement (105) arranged to generate sound reaching the nominal position (211) from a first position corresponding to the first direction; and a second sound transducer arrangement (107) arranged to generate sound reaching the nominal position (211) from a second position corresponding to a different direction than the first direction. The arrangements may specifically be loudspeakers positioned at the given positions. A drive circuit (103) generates a first drive signal for the first sound transducer arrangement (105) and a second drive signal for the second sound transducer arrangement (107) from the audio signal. The first position and the second position are located on a sound cone of confusion for the nominal position (211) and the nominal direction.

Abstract: A parametric loudspeaker system comprises a pre-compensator (305) for generating a pre-compensated envelope signal by applying a pre-compensation to the input audio signal where the pre-compensation compensates for distortion of in-air demodulation of the modulated ultrasound signal. A pre-modulator (307) generates a complex base band signal generating a phase signal from the pre-compensated envelope signal using a predetermined function for determining a phase signal from an amplitude signal such that the corresponding complex signal has either suppressed negative or positive frequencies. The complex base band signal is then generated to have an amplitude corresponding to the pre-compensated envelope signal and a phase corresponding to the phase signal. A modulator (309) quadrature modulates the complex base band signal on an ultrasonic quadrature carrier and an output circuit (311) drives the ultrasound transducer (301) from the modulated signal.

Abstract: A speaker system includes a first speaker (203) and a second speaker (205). A driving circuit receives an audio signal and has a first drive circuit (209) generating a first drive signal for the first speaker (203) in response to a first filtering of the audio signal with a first passband. A second drive circuit (211) generates a second drive signal for the second speaker (205) in response to a second filtering having a second passband which includes a frequency band below the first passband. A delay (213) delays the second drive signal relative to the first drive signal. The sound from the second speaker is directionally radiated with a directional radiation pattern having a notch towards the listening position (111). The system uses the precedence effect and non-direct low frequency audio radiation to ensure that directional cues are predominantly provided by the first speaker (203) which may be small and positioned remote from the second speaker (205).

Abstract: An apparatus for multi-energy tissue quantification includes an x-ray imaging system comprises an x-ray source configured to emit a beam of x-rays toward an object to be imaged, a detector configured to receive the x-rays attenuated by the object, and a data acquisition system (DAS) operably coupled to the detector. A computer operably connected to the x-ray source and the DAS is programmed to cause the x-ray source to emit x-rays at each of a first kVp and a second kVp toward the detector, acquire x-ray data from x-rays emitted at the first and second kVp through a region of interest (ROI), and perform a first multi-material decomposition based on the acquired x-ray data. The computer is also programmed to quantify a volume fraction of a first material in the ROI based on the first multi-material decomposition and display the volume fraction of the first material to a user.

Abstract: A method for confirming the association of a query QTL or a query gene in the genome of a second species with a clinical trait T exhibited by the second species. A first QTL or a first gene in a first species that is linked to a trait T? is found. The trait T? is indicative of trait T. A region of the genome of the first species that comprises the first QTL or the first gene is mapped to a particular region of the genome of the second species. A query QTL or a query gene in the second species that is potentially associated with the trait T is found. The potential association of the query QTL or the query gene with the clinical trait T is confirmed when the query QTL or the query gene is in the particular region of the genome of the second species.

Abstract: A surround sound system comprises a receiver (301) for receiving a multichannel spatial signal that comprises at least one surround channel. A directional ultrasound transducer (305) is used for emitting ultrasound towards a surface to reach a listening position (111) via a reflection of the surface. The ultrasound signal may specifically reach the listening position from the side, above or behind of a nominal listener. A first drive unit (303) generates a drive signal for the directional ultrasound transducer (301) from the surround channel. The use of an ultrasound transducer for providing the surround sound signal provides an improved spatial experience while allowing the speaker to be located e.g. to the front of the user. In particular, an ultrasound beam is much narrower and well defined than conventional audio beams and can accordingly better be directed to provide the desired reflections. In some scenarios, the ultrasound transducer (305) may be supplemented by an audio range loudspeaker (309).

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a test signal generator (401) which generates an ultrasonic test signal by modulating an audio band test signal on an ultrasonic signal. The ultrasonic test signal is radiated from a parametric loudspeaker (403) and is demodulated by non-linearities in the air. A reflected audio signal may arise from reflections of an object, such as a wall. An audio band sensor (405) generates an audio band captured signal which comprises the demodulated reflected audio band signal. A distance circuit (407) then generates a distance estimate for the distance from the parametric loudspeaker (403) to the object in response to a comparison of the audio band captured signal and the audio band test signal. Specifically two signals may be correlated to determine a delay corresponding to the full path length. Based on the distance estimates an audio environment may be estimated and a sound system may be adapted accordingly.