Abstract: An abdominal exercise device, comprising a strut, at least one wheel attached to one end of the strut, a handle attached to the other end, and a leg pivotally attached to the strut in between. The distal end of the leg rests on a flat surface. In one embodiment, the strut may further comprise a semi-flexible region with the benefit, among other things, of causing the handle to move in an arc-like path and thereby facilitate the abdominal exercise. A further embodiment may additionally comprise one or more resistive elements attached to the strut and the leg to provide additional resistance during the abdominal exercise.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises at least one visual display (mechanical or video) and a game of chance controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game of chance includes a primary game and a sorting feature. The sorting feature is triggered by certain start-feature outcomes of the primary game. The sorting feature includes a collection of scrambled objects, such as letters, symbols, pictures, or puzzle pieces, that are at least partially sorted during operation of the sorting feature. The sorting feature generates an award, such as a payoff, a payoff multiplier, or extended play, if the sorted objects match predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A gaming machine comprises at least one visual display (mechanical or video) and a game of chance controlled by a processor in response to a wager. The game of chance includes a primary game and a sorting feature. The sorting feature is triggered by certain start-feature outcomes of the primary game. The sorting feature includes a collection of scrambled objects, such as letters, symbols, pictures, or puzzle pieces, that are at least partially sorted during operation of the sorting feature. The sorting feature generates an award, such as a payoff, a payoff multiplier, or extended play, if the sorted objects match predetermined criteria.

Abstract: An integrated circuit layout is provided, which includes a base platform for an integrated circuit, a processor hardmac and a support memory. The base platform includes a memory matrix having leaf cells arranged in rows and columns. Each column of leaf cells has interface pins that are routed to a common matrix edge and have a common pin order along the matrix edge. The processor hardmac is placed along the memory matrix and has a hardmac edge adjacent the memory matrix edge and a plurality of interface pins for interfacing with corresponding interface pins of the memory matrix. The interface pins of the processor hardmac have the same pin order along the hardmac edge as the interface pins along the matrix edge. The support memory for the processor hardmac is mapped to a portion of the memory matrix along the hardmac edge.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for accelerating development and debug of a printed circuit board (PCB) designed for use with a platform ASIC in advance of availability of a prototype sample of the platform ASIC. Aspects of the invention include a pin-out adapter card that implements a predefined pin-out of the ASIC and that hosts FPGA logic resources for emulating I/O functionality and some (or all) of the ASIC core logic; a PCB designed for use with the platform ASIC, wherein the PCB includes the predefined ASIC pin-out for eventually mating with the ASIC; and a socket having mating connectors on both sides for mating with the ASIC pin-out on the PCB and to the ASIC pin-out on the adapter card, respectively, for coupling the adapter card to the PCB, thereby enabling development and debug of the PCB prior to availability of ASIC samples.

Abstract: A wagering game system is provided and includes a plurality of gaming terminals, each gaming terminal communicating with a gaming control system configured to conduct a basic wagering game and a group game. The gaming control system is configured to assign at least a portion an award or a wager associated with a gaming terminal to the group game. In the group game, each player's assignment is applied to perform a collecting or building of an object or objects in the group game. Upon satisfaction of a predetermined realization event in the basic wagering game or the group game, an award is awarded for a selected group of objects in the group game at a time of the predetermined realization event.

Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game having a plurality of players playing at a plurality of gaming terminals, the wagering game including a basic game and a bonus game. The method includes the steps of conducting the basic game at a first gaming terminal, fulfilling a bonus game entry event at the first gaming terminal and satisfying, at the first gaming terminal during a bonus game, a bonus prize unlocking event to unlock a bonus prize. The method also includes satisfying, at any of the plurality of gaming terminals, a bonus prize win event subsequent to the bonus prize unlocking event to win a bonus prize and awarding bonus prize to a player satisfying the bonus prize win event.

Abstract: A wagering game system includes a service for conducting a group-wagering game for a group of players under the control of a gaming control system and a plurality of gaming terminals, each gaming terminal connected to the service and being configured to conduct a group-wagering game in combination with the service. The gaming control system is configured to permit a player in the group of players to unilaterally alter a membership of the group of players.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for providing scalability in an integrated circuit (IC) having a package coupled to a die through package balls. The die includes a plurality of input/output (I/O) slots and a hardmac configured to implement a logic function. A patch board is included between the hardmac and the I/O slots, wherein the hardmac includes a plurality of attachment points. The hardmac is attached to the plurality of I/O slots through the patch board, wherein adjacent attachment points join to non-adjacent I/O slots through the patch board.

Abstract: A method for playing a wagering game includes receiving wager inputs from a player for a wagering game. A randomly-selected outcome is selected from a plurality of outcomes in response to receiving the wager inputs. The selecting of the randomly-selected outcome is determined in accordance with a gaming math feature. A data set representing a game-play characteristic is stored before discontinuing game-play in a gaming session. In response to the player continuing the wagering game in a subsequent gaming session, the data set is accessed. The gaming math feature for the wagering game in the subsequent gaming session is altered based on the game-play characteristic.

Abstract: A clothes dryer has a heat source, preferably a heat pump, a rotating drum, and means to generate flow of air from the heat source to an inlet in the drum. At least two outlets are separated from each other in the drum to enable higher air flow rates without increase in pressure drop, resulting in reduced drying time.

Abstract: A slot machine conducts a wagering game in which a plurality of arrays of symbols are successively displayed. Each array may, for example, result from a free spin of a plurality of symbol-bearing reels during a bonus feature. In each free spin, the reels are rotated and stopped to place the symbols on the reels in visual association with a display area. In response to a random event, at least one symbol may change its function and maintain that function for a plurality of the successive free spins. For example, the symbol may become a wild symbol or a scatter pay symbol. Payouts for the free spins are awarded according to a pay table.

Abstract: The invention provides a system and method for providing scalability in an integrated circuit (IC) having a package coupled to a die through package balls. The die includes a plurality of input/output (I/O) slots and a hardmac configured to implement a logic function. A patch board is included between the hardmac and the I/O slots, wherein the hardmac includes a plurality of attachment points. The hardmac is attached to the plurality of I/O slots through the patch board, wherein adjacent attachment points join to non-adjacent I/O slots through the patch board.

Abstract: A gaming machine is provided for playing a wagering game. The gaming machine includes a wager-input device and at least one display for displaying a bonus game of the wagering game. The bonus game has a plurality of outcomes. A probability of winning a certain one or more of the plurality of outcomes varies in response to an occurrence of a predetermined event during the bonus game.

Abstract: A gaming machine is provided for playing a wagering game. The gaming machine includes a wager-input device and at least one display for displaying a plurality of player-selectable elements that mask corresponding ones of a plurality of awards. The plurality of awards include multiple types of the plurality of awards. Each one of the plurality of awards of the same type has a predetermined value that is different from a value of a different one of the types of the plurality of awards. At least one player-selectable element masks at least two different types of awards. An input device receives player-inputs that select at least two of the plurality of player-selectable elements. A number and a type of the masked awards corresponding with the selected player-selectable elements are revealed to the player in response to receiving the player inputs.

Abstract: A gaming machine includes a value input device, one or more displays, and a controller. The value input device receives a wager from a player to play the wagering game. The one or more displays display a trail including a plurality of spaces and an award value associated with one or more of the plurality of spaces. The controller is operative to change the award value based on an occurrence of a random event independent from the trail.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to wagering games and, more particularly, to a gaming machine which determines game outcomes with a mechanical selector mechanism. Wagering games with game outcomes produced by a mechanical mechanism have not been widely accepted. Mechanical gaming machines are susceptible to bias from both inherent manufacturing defects and wear related degradation. Because gaming machines must meet regulatory required payback percentages, deviation from random operation may jeopardize the gaming machine's license. To overcome bias that may cause operation of the gaming machine outside its regulatory approved technical specifications, a feedback control loop can be implemented in the gaming machine to detect and correct bias as it occurs.

Abstract: The present invention is a gaming machine having a shuffle feature and a simultaneous multiple award feature. The method for conducting the shuffle feature includes displaying a plurality of value-based symbols in a random array where each of the plurality of value-based symbols displays a number indicating a value, increasing the displayed number of one of the plurality of value-based symbols in response to a player selection, rearranging the plurality of value-based symbols in view of the random array such that the rearranged plurality defines an award and awarding the award to the player. The method for conducting the simultaneous multiple award feature includes displaying an assemblage of selectable tiles that conceal an associated plurality of icons, receiving successive player selections of the tiles, selectively revealing a first group and a second group of related game-theme icons, selectively revealing a wild icon and simultaneously awarding a first and a second award.

Abstract: A method for improving clinical data quality in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The method provides for the processing of PET data to accurately and efficiently determine a data signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) corresponding to each individual clinical patient scan, as a function of a singles rate in a PET scanner. The method relates an injected dose to the singles rate to determine SNR(Dinj), and provides an accurate estimate of a quantity proportional to SNR, similar in function to the SNR(Dinj). Knowledge of SNR(Dinj) permits determination of peak SNR, optimal dose, SNR deficit, dose deficit, and differential dose benefit. The patient dose is fractionated, with a small calibration dose given initially. After a short uptake, the patient is pre-scanned to determine T, S, and R. An optimal dose is then determined and the remainder injected.

Abstract: A serviceable gas/liquid separator is provided. The gas/liquid separator has a cross-section with one long axis and one short axis, with an aspect ratio of at least 1.3. A preferred cross-section, is an elliptical cross-section. Assemblies in which the separator unit can be used, are provided. In addition methods of use and construction are provided.