Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for the application of filtering in the collection and application of facial biometrics to a number of problems common to the vending and gaming environments. A succession of video frames of a scene are analyzed to determine if one or more faces are present. If so, the face most relevant to the application based in its position in the scene is selected. The selected face in each of the succession of video frames is then quality rated according to certain criteria to select the best frame for computing a biometric value of the selected face. One the biometric value has been computed, the value may be compared against a database to determine if a biometric value for a matching face was previously stored. If so, the quality rating of the new image and a quality rating previously stored with the stored biometric are compared.

Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method for the application of filtering in the collection and application of facial biometrics to a number of problems common to the vending and gaming environments. A succession of video frames of a scene are analyzed to determine if one or more faces are present. If so, the face most relevant to the application based in its position in the scene is selected. The selected face in each of the succession of video frames is then quality rated according to certain criteria to select the best frame for computing a biometric value of the selected face. One the biometric value has been computed, the value may be compared against a database to determine if a biometric value for a matching face was previously stored. If so, the quality rating of the new image and a quality rating previously stored with the stored biometric are compared.

Abstract: A gaming system including one or more group event eligibility sequences. Each group event eligibility sequence is associated with a set duration. In these embodiments, if one or more players at one or more gaming machines collectively satisfy a group event eligibility threshold within the set duration of an initiated or triggered group event eligibility sequence, the gaming system determines that such players are eligible to participate in a group event. For the group event, the gaming system provides one or more group event awards to such participating players.

Abstract: A gaming system including one or more group event eligibility sequences. Each group event eligibility sequence is associated with a set duration. In these embodiments, if one or more players at one or more gaming machines collectively satisfy a group event eligibility threshold within the set duration of an initiated or triggered group event eligibility sequence, the gaming system determines that such players are eligible to participate in a group event. For the group event, the gaming system provides one or more group event awards to such participating players.

Abstract: A gaming system including one or more group event eligibility sequences. Each group event eligibility sequence is associated with a set duration. In these embodiments, if one or more players at one or more gaming machines collectively satisfy a group event eligibility threshold within the set duration of an initiated or triggered group event eligibility sequence, the gaming system determines that such players are eligible to participate in a group event. For the group event, the gaming system provides one or more group event awards to such participating players.

Abstract: A gaming machine is provided including a display unit configured to generate video images, an input unit, an ambient light sensor, and a controller coupled to the display unit, input unit, and ambient light sensor. The controller is configured to receive physical characteristics of a player via the input unit, determine an ambient light level of an environment of the gaming machine based on a signal generated by the ambient light sensor, determine a desired brightness level for video images based on the determined ambient light level, determine a desired contrast level for the video images based on the received physical characteristics or the determined ambient light level, generate display settings for the video images based on the determined brightness level and the determined contrast level, and display the graphics to the player via the display unit using the generated display settings.

Abstract: A gaming system including one or more group event eligibility sequences. Each group event eligibility sequence is associated with a set duration. In these embodiments, if one or more players at one or more gaming machines collectively satisfy a group event eligibility threshold within the set duration of an initiated or triggered group event eligibility sequence, the gaming system determines that such players are eligible to participate in a group event. For the group event, the gaming system provides one or more group event awards to such participating players.

Abstract: A processor-based gaming machine or system running traditional wager-based primary games includes a secondary game component that provides a secondary game associated with the primary games. The secondary game includes persisting credits having a monetary value that remain across the play of multiple discrete primary games. The persisting credits can be cashed out by a player at any time, and have a value that can rise, fall, or remain constant based on the play of each discrete primary game. The secondary game can involve a themed game where players develop and maintain virtual entities and/or vanity items or statuses. Persisting credits and vanity items can persist across multiple primary game plays and separate gaming sessions, and may be available on separate social gaming venues. Systems can include a remote server that administers the secondary game and a database that stores player profiles for customized secondary game progressions.

Abstract: A gaming machine is provided including a display unit configured to generate video images, an input unit, an ambient light sensor, and a controller coupled to the display unit, input unit, and ambient light sensor. The controller is configured to receive physical characteristics of a player via the input unit, determine an ambient light level of an environment of the gaming machine based on a signal generated by the ambient light sensor, determine a desired brightness level for video images based on the determined ambient light level, determine a desired contrast level for the video images based on the received physical characteristics or the determined ambient light level, generate display settings for the video images based on the determined brightness level and the determined contrast level, and display the graphics to the player via the display unit using the generated display settings.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for fluidized bed catalyst regeneration. A mixture of spent catalyst, recycled hot regenerated catalyst and regeneration gas are charged to a riser having an outlet connective with a coke combustor immersed in a fluidized bed of catalyst. The coke combustor outlet is covered by the dense phase fluidized bed. Additional combustion air may be added to the fluidized bed of catalyst covering the coke combustor outlet for additional catalyst regeneration. Indirect heat exchange may heat spent catalyst in the riser and/or the coke combustor.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for high efficiency regeneration of spent FCC catalyst in an existing, single dense bed FCC regenerator is disclosed. Spent catalyst is added to a coke combustor immersed within the existing regenerator vessel catalyst bed. A dilute phase transport riser, above and connective with the coke combustor discharges a mixture of regenerated catalyst and flue gas. Regenerated catalyst collects around and under the coke combustor. The spent catalyst inlet, and combustion air inlet, are preferably immersed in, and in a heat exchange relationship with, the bed of hot regenerated catalyst. Heat pipes, or fins may be used to increase heat transfer into the coke combustor from the dense bed. Heating the coke combustor by indirect heat exchange, rather than recycle of hot regenerated catalyst, reduces particulates emissions and saves the energy needed to recycle catalyst in the regenerator.

Abstract: A tool for the removal of soft packing material from fluidic equipment. The packing removal tool of the present invention comprises a shaft having first and second ends, the first end terminating in a substantially pointed tip, at least one barbed lever, pivotally mounted to said first end of said shaft and means for urging said barbed lever outward from said shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process and apparatus for fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). Output of an FCC riser feeds a riser cyclone. A downstream end of the riser and the riser cyclone are located within a reactor vessel (disengaging vessel) having sidewalls. Cracked hydrocarbons in the output pass from the riser into a riser cyclone and discharge from the reactor vessel without being added to a reactor vessel atmosphere. A stripper cap divides the reactor vessel atmosphere into upper and lower portions. The stripper cap and a lower portion of the reactor vessel sidewalls define a stripping zone. A riser cyclone dipleg extends through an opening in the stripper cap into the stripping zone. A chimney vent conduit is provided for conducting stripped hydrocarbons out of the stripping zone without being added to the atmosphere of the reactor vessel above the stripper cap.

Abstract: A tool for the removal of soft packing material from fluidic equipment. The packing removal tool of the present invention comprises a shaft having first and second ends, the first end terminating in a substantially pointed tip, at least one barbed lever, pivotally mounted to said first end of said shaft and means for urging said barbed lever outward from said shaft.

Abstract: A flapper valve for sealing the cyclone diplegs on a fluid catalytic cracking unit has conical sealing surfaces provided between the movable valve body and the valve seat on the bottom of the cyclone dipleg. In addition, a retaining ring around the movable valve body retains catalyst on the valve body when the valve is in its horizontal, closed position to improve sealing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for feeding catalyst, oil and steam into a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) riser. Oil passes through respective oil lines into a multiplicity of upwardly extending nozzles located at a lower portion of the riser, while steam passes through respective steam lines into the nozzles where it blends with the oil, with the combined oil and steam mixture being fed through the nozzles into the riser. Each oil line and steam line is provided with a valve to separately control oil and steam flow rates, respectively, in each of the nozzles to obtain a substantially constant catalyst to oil ratio across a horizontal cross-section of the riser. The substantially constant catalyst to oil ratio is represented by a substantially isothermal temperature profile across the horizontal riser cross-section, which is detected by measuring the temperature at various points along the horizontal cross-section.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for improving the efficiency of a cyclone by the addition of a rough-cut device to a gas outlet tube of the cyclone. The rough-cut device includes a tangentially located dust collector that gradually reduces in size and is connected to a dipleg that can be buried in a dense bed or provided with a trickle valve. Gases containing entrained solid particles exit the gas outlet tube of the cyclone in an upward flowing spiral with the solid particles held against the wall of the tube by the centrifugal force of the spiraling gas. When the solid particles reach the tangential exit port, the centrifugal force causes the particles to follow the direction of the wall leaving the gas stream and falling toward the dipleg due to the loss of the upward driving force of the gases. The gases continue in an upward direction and exit the top of the rough-cut device with fewer entrained solid particles.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for feeding catalyst, oil and steam into a fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) riser. Oil passes through respective oil lines into a multiplicity of upwardly extending nozzles located at a lower portion of the riser, while steam passes through respective steam lines into the nozzles where it blends with the oil, with the combined oil and steam mixture being fed through the nozzles into the riser. Each oil line and steam line is provided with a valve to separately control oil and steam flow rates, respectively, in each of the nozzles to obtain a substantially constant catalyst to oil ratio across a horizontal cross-section of the riser. The substantially constant catalyst to oil ratio is represented by a substantially isothermal temperature profile across the horizontal riser cross-section, which is detected by measuring the temperature at various points along the horizontal cross-section.