Abstract: A system is provided for setting various acoustic and visual parameters to improve the reproduction of audio signals and visual signals. The system incorporates a hand-held remote control device which operates the main surround sound unit (e.g., home theatre receiver and/or digital decoder) and the display device via electromagnetic link, for example. The remote control includes a sensor capable of detecting various types of signals emitted by a number of speakers, and a processor that makes adjustments to the signal provided to each of the speaker based on the signal received from that speaker.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a system and method for setting various acoustic and visual parameters for optimal or intended reproduction of digital multi-channel surround encoded audio and for optimal or intended reproduction of a visual image from a display device in a home theater system. For example, one feature of the present invention is to incorporate a hand-held remote control device which operates the main surround sound unit (e.g., home theater receiver and/or digital decoder) and the display device via electromagnetic link, for example. Of course, it is not necessary to the invention that the device be incorporated in the remote control device of the surround sound unit, or the display device.

Abstract: A system and method are set for providing a progressive bonus to eligible devices in a set of linked gaming machines. A server is linked to the machines and from wagers accumulates a bonus pool. Each machine has a designated bonus outcome which, if obtained, causes the system to select from a set of displays, a bonus display for the machine. The bonus display remains until another bonus outcome is obtained and another bonus display is selected or the machine falls from the set of eligible machines based upon lack of play or the like. The system periodically selects a bonus prize and compares it to the bonus pool to make sure the pool is sufficient to award the prize. If the pool is greater than or equal to the selected prize, the system selects a winning bonus corresponding to a bonus display of the set and awards the prize to any eligible machine displaying the selected bonus display.

Abstract: An ignition distributor, for an internal combustion engine, comprising a conventional distributor body housing and a cap having a centrally disposed input terminal and peripherally disposed output terminals connected to the engine spark plugs. A rotor is mounted on the end of the distributor shaft, and a dielectric timing ring is concentrically disposed in the housing between the rotor and the cap peripheral terminals. The timing ring has a conductive segment for each terminal, and the angular positioning of the timing ring segments relative to their corresponding spark plug terminals determine the timing of the beginning of the sparking across the gap between the rotor end contact and the spark plug terminal, and consequently across the corresponding spark plug electrodes. The timing ring is supported by a plate which is angularly orientable by way of a conventional vacuum spark timing mechanism.

Abstract: A contactless ignition system for internal combustion engines permitting the elimination of mechanical ignition points by replacing such ignition points by a radiation source and a radiation sensitive element mounted on the distributor breaker plate. The radiation source, such as a light emitting diode, emits a radiation beam, such as a light beam, impinging upon the cam portion of the distributor shaft and which is reflected onto the radiation sensitive element, such as a photoelectric cell, or photoresistor or photoconductor, for example, or preferably a phototransistor providing at its output an appropriate timing pulse for a given angular position of the distributor shaft.