Abstract: Described is a wearable item, such as eyewear, that is formed to be stored and worn on a user's wrist. The eyewear includes a pair of lenses separated by a nose bridge assembly. Arms are affixed with each of the lenses. Notably, the pair of lenses are foldable between an open configuration in which they can be worn as eyeglasses and a collapsed configuration in which they fold toward one another and can be worn on the user's wrist.

Abstract: Devices and methods of detecting a predetermined audio signal in audio signals are provided. A device includes a processor coupled to a clock signal generator, a power controller and an audio detector. The power controller controls a clock rate provided to the processor by the clock signal generator, to control the device to operate in a low power mode having a relatively low power consumption or in a normal power mode having a relatively high power consumption. The audio detector receives audio signals and detects, in the low power mode, probable presence of a predetermined audio signal in the audio signals. The power controller controls the device to switch from the low power mode to the normal power mode responsive to the detected presence of the predetermined audio signal by the audio detector.

Abstract: The present invention teaches novel methods for simultaneous indication of winning combinations in the symbol matrix. More specifically, the present invention simultaneously indicates all winning combinations formed by symbols appearing in symbol positions common to multiple pay lines. In a preferred embodiment, symbol positions common to multiple pay lines that display winning symbol combinations are simultaneously indicated to the player in a first manner. In addition, the remaining symbol positions for each of said multiple pay lines are simultaneously indicated in a second manner.

Abstract: The present invention provides a variety of systems and methods of playing a slot machine game in which players accumulate elements during one or more spins and at the conclusion of any spin may record the accumulation of said elements for future use at the same or different slot machine game. In three preferred embodiments, a player accumulates: the cumulative number of times one or more predetermined symbols appear in the symbol matrix; the cumulative number of points awarded by the game for winning symbol combinations appearing in the symbol matrix; or a set of predetermined winning symbol combinations.

Abstract: A signal receiver capable of operating in two modes: a normal mode for reception and decoding of signals and a detection mode for detecting the presence of signals, the signal receiver having: a functional unit that can operate in two manners: a first manner having relatively low power consumption and relatively poor accuracy and a second manner having relatively high power consumption and relatively high accuracy, and a controller for causing the functional unit to operate in the first manner when the receiver is in its detection mode and in the second manner when the receiver is in its normal mode.

Abstract: The present invention replicates a symbol into one or more other symbol positions of the symbol matrix in accordance with the replication properties of the location in which said symbol appears in the symbol matrix. A preferred embodiment of the present invention (“Replicating Wilds”) uses a symbol matrix formed by three rows and five columns in which the middle position of the third column possesses replication properties for the wildcard symbol such that a wildcard symbol replicates itself into all adjacent symbol positions.

Abstract: A communication device arranged to operate in accordance with a communication protocol in which a transmitting device is scheduled to commence a transmission at a time known in advance to the receiving device, includes at least two antennas and is arranged to select one of those antennas to receive a transmission from a transmitting device by, immediately before the transmitting device is scheduled to commence its transmission: assessing a quality of a signal received by means of a first one of the antennas; assessing a quality of a signal received by means of a second one of the antennas; and determining, based on the assessed quality of the signals received by means of the first and second antennas, the antenna to be used for receiving the transmission from the transmitting device.

Abstract: A process for laser forming a blind via in at least one layer of a circuit substrate having a plurality of capture pads of varying geometry can include, for at least one blind via to be formed in at least one layer of a circuit substrate, evaluating a capture pad geometry value (such as area and/or volume) within a predetermined distance from a drilling location with respect to a blind via geometry value (such as area and/or volume) to be formed at the drilling location. The process can include setting at least one laser operating parameter based on the evaluation in order to obtain a desired capture pad appearance after blind via formation. The process can include imaging a capture pad area defined as an area within a predetermined distance from a blind via drilling location in at least one layer of a circuit substrate, quantifying at least one appearance value for the imaged capture pad area, and determining an acceptability of the imaged capture pad areas based on the quantified appearance value.

Abstract: The present invention expands a wildcard symbol into one or more symbol positions of the symbol matrix if two or more wildcard symbols appear in the symbol matrix in a predetermined configuration relative to one another. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, two or more wildcard symbols appearing in adjacent positions of the same row of a symbol matrix expand into all symbol positions of the columns in which the adjacent wildcard symbols appear.

Abstract: A communication device for receiving a signal in the form of a series of bursts, each burst being at one of a plurality of different available transmission modes, the communication device comprising: two antennas; a receiver unit coupled to the antennas for preferentially receiving signals from a selected one of the antennas; and an antenna selection unit for selecting for each received burst with which of the antennas the receiver unit is to preferentially receive signals.

Abstract: The Present Invention teaches methods to allow multiple players to simultaneously wager on the same gaming device. In one embodiment, two or more players place simultaneous wagers upon the results of the same gaming device and each player collects the maximum award, if issued. In another embodiment, two or more players simultaneously wager on the results of the same gaming device and each player collects the biggest award issued. In another embodiment, two or more players simultaneously wager on the results of the same gaming device and each player collects any award or sub-set of awards issued.

Abstract: A radio transceiver comprising: a signal receiver for receiving signals in the form of bursts according to a first protocol; a transmitter for transmitting signals in the form of bursts according to a second protocol, the first and second protocols being such that signals of the first and second protocols are mutually interfering; a transmission scheduler for predicting, based on the timings of signal bursts of the first protocol received by the receiver, the timings of future bursts of the first protocol and arranged to influence the transmitter to transmit bursts according to the second protocol so as to avoid the signal bursts of the first protocol as predicted.

Abstract: The present invention includes a variety of methods to calculate symbol award values based upon the location of one or more predetermined symbols in the symbol matrix. In a preferred embodiment, the award value for a symbol varies according to the row in which the symbol appears. In another embodiment, the award value for symbols varies according to the relative locations of the symbols to each other in the symbol matrix.

Abstract: A signal receiver capable of operating in two modes: a normal mode for reception and decoding of signals and a detection mode for detecting the presence of signals, the signal receiver having: a functional unit that can operate in two manners: a first manner having relatively low power consumption and relatively poor accuracy and a second manner having relatively high power consumption and relatively high accuracy, and a controller for causing the functional unit to operate in the first manner when the receiver is in its detection mode and in the second manner when the receiver is in its normal mode.

Abstract: The present invention extends a slot machine game by providing an initial opportunity to form winning symbol combinations and then, if any winning combinations appear in the symbol matrix, providing one or more subsequent opportunities by removing and replacing the symbols comprising the winning combinations.

Abstract: A communication device arranged to operate in accordance with a communication protocol in which a transmitting device is scheduled to commence a transmission at a time known in advance to the receiving device, includes at least two antennas and is arranged to select one of those antennas to receive a transmission from a transmitting device by, immediately before the transmitting device is scheduled to commence its transmission: assessing a quality of a signal received by means of a first one of the antennas; assessing a quality of a signal received by means of a second one of the antennas; and determining, based on the assessed quality of the signals received by means of the first and second antennas, the antenna to be used for receiving the transmission from the transmitting device.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for a player to become sequentially eligible for a bonus event based upon the appearance of predetermined symbols in designated locations of the symbol matrix during the play of one or more rounds of a slot machine game. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a specific predetermined symbol must appear in each of the columns comprising the symbol matrix during the play of one or more free spins of the slot machine game to initiate a bonus event.

Abstract: The present invention includes a variety of methods for wagering upon one or more positions of a symbol matrix and issuing awards based upon the number of symbols in the symbol matrix matching each of the symbols displayed in the wagered upon symbol positions. In a preferred embodiment, players may wager upon any number of the available symbol positions and collect awards for matching each symbol appearing in a wagered upon symbol position with 2 or more other symbols in the symbol matrix.

Abstract: The present invention includes a variety of methods to issue awards based upon the order of appearance of symbols in the symbol matrix. An “In-A-Row” embodiment of the present invention displays symbols in random positions of the symbol matrix and issues awards for three or more same symbols appearing in sequential order. For example, the first symbol displayed is an “A,” the second symbol is a “B,” and the third, fourth, fifth and sixth symbols are “C”s. The sequential appearance of four “C” symbols results in an In-A-Row award.

Abstract: The present invention includes a variety of methods to provide free games on a slot machine device until the appearance of two or more predetermined symbol combinations in the symbol matrix. A preferred embodiment, Capture Spins, provides free games until three, winning Capture symbol combinations appear in the symbol matrix.