Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a game device. In one aspect, a foosball game apparatus is provided. The foosball game apparatus includes a game body having a playing field, an endwall adjacent each end of the playing field, and a sidewall adjacent each side of the playing field. The foosball apparatus further includes an electronic digital display formed in each end wall for indicating a time period and a score. In another aspect, a method of playing a timed foosball game is provided.

Abstract: A needle assembly includes a transparent or translucent housing with a fluid inlet and outlet end, a flashback chamber, and a venting mechanism therebetween. The venting mechanism includes a blocking member to control the fluid flow in the venting mechanism so that it flows along the longest path through the vent. Substantially axially aligned inlet and outlet cannulas extend from the housing and communicate with the chamber. A sealable sleeve covers the external end of the outlet cannula. Relative volumes of the cannulas, the chamber, and the sleeve are selected to provide rapid reliable flashback indicative of venous entry with an internal vent positioned within the housing to divide the interior into first and second chambers, with the second chamber being adapted to maintain a negative pressure therein relative to the external environment so as to inhibit leakage of blood from the needle tip on withdrawal from the patient.

Abstract: An injector 12 includes a plunger 17 for expelling drugs from a cartridge 10 which can be inserted into the injector 12. An actuator 27 is provided for operating an escapement mechanism 21 to control the movement of the plunger under a drive force and hence the expelled drug.

Abstract: An intelligent electronic appliance preferably includes a user interface, data input and/or output port, and an intelligent processor. A preferred embodiment comprises a set top box for interacting with broadband media streams, with an adaptive user interface, content-based media processing and/or media metadata processing, and telecommunications integration. An adaptive user interface models the user, by observation, feedback, and/or explicit input, and presents a user interface and/or executes functions based on the user model. A content-based media processing system analyzes media content, for example audio and video, to understand the content, for example to generate content-descriptive metadata. A media metadata processing system operates on locally or remotely generated metadata to process the media in accordance with the metadata, which may be, for example, an electronic program guide, MPEG 7 data, and/or automatically generated format.

Abstract: A method to detect component removal while operating in a battery backup mode, comprising providing power from a battery backup unit (BBU) to a control card memory device, and measuring the current drawn by the control card memory device. If the current drawn by the control card memory device is less than or equals a pre-determined disconnect current, the method determines if a BBU release pin has been asserted. If the BBU release pin has been asserted, the method encodes in an event log a battery backup removal event. If the BBU release pin has not been asserted, the method encodes in the event log a control card removal event.

Abstract: Payment card transactions at a point of sale (POS) are secured in certain embodiments by intercepting, with a POS security layer installed on a POS terminal, payment data from the POS terminal, transmitting the payment data from the POS security layer to a server security application installed on a POS server, and providing false payment data from the POS security layer to a POS terminal application installed on the POS terminal. The false payment data in various embodiments is processed as if it were the payment data, such that the POS terminal transmits an authorization request to the POS server using the false payment data. In addition, the authorization request may be transmitted from the POS server to a payment gateway.

Abstract: Imaging devices and methods of operating imaging devices that facilitate reducing nonvolatile storage needs of the imaging devices. The imaging devices are adapted to request control programs from external devices. Control programs are received on a communication input of the imaging device and stored on a volatile storage media for use by a processor of the imaging device. The embodiments can also facilitate more reliable updating within a networked system in that updating an image of a control program on one network device can automatically lead to updating of multiple imaging devices, thus eliminating a need to individually update each imaging device. A default control program is used if no control program is received on the communication input within a predetermined timeout period.

Abstract: A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.

Abstract: A method and circuit for providing a bias voltage to a MOS device is disclosed. The method and circuit comprise utilizing at least one diode connected circuit to provide a voltage that tracks process, voltage and temperature variations of a semiconductor device. The method and circuit includes utilizing a current mirror circuit coupled to the at least one diode connected circuit to generate a bias voltage for the body of the semiconductor device from the voltage. The bias voltage allows for compensation for the process, voltage and temperature variations.

Abstract: A technique is provided for adapting or “relegending” interface device views. The views include static content and dynamic content. At least a part of the static content defined a look and feel of the interface screens, including screens in a design-time environment and a run-time environment. The adaptable static content may be loaded as bitmaps, JPEG files, and so forth, such as in HTML standard style sheets. The static content may be changed for various original equipment manufacturers, applications, and so forth, while allowing dynamic content to vary depending upon the software and application running on the interface device.

Abstract: A migration tool for merging disparate virtual universes by selecting a source region or source account, selecting a destination edge or destination account, retrieving and storing virtual universe information for the source region or account, inserting the virtual universe resources of the source region or account into the destination region or account, activating the inserted resources, and deleting the source resources from the source region or account.

Abstract: A method begins when a dispersed storage (DS) processing unit of a DS unit has at least one of DS unit operational data and DS unit operating system algorithm to store. The method continues with the DS processing unit encoding at least a portion of the at least one of DS unit operational data and DS unit operating system algorithm in accordance with an error coding dispersal storage function to produce a plurality of data slices. The method continues with the DS processing unit storing at least some of the plurality of data slices in memory devices of the DS unit in accordance with the error coding dispersal storage function.

Abstract: A circuit for detecting antigens on biosample tracks comprising a processor, an electromagnetic write head for magnetizing nanoparticles attached to the antigens via antibodies in response to a write signal from the processor, and a first amplifier for supplying power to the write head. The circuit further comprises a magneto-resistive read sensor for detecting the magnetized nanoparticles upon receiving a read signal from the processor, and a second amplifier for supplying power to the read sensor. The write head and read sensor may be part of a head module in a magnetic tape drive. Nanoparticles of differing magnetic properties may be selectively paired with antibodies associated with different antigens to allow different antigens to be detected upon a single scan by the read-sensor.

Abstract: An inertial force transducer having an operative frequency range comprises a resonant element having a frequency distribution of modes in the operative frequency range of the transducer and a coupler for mounting the resonant element to a site to which force is to be applied. The resonant element is a piezoelectric device comprising a layer of piezoelectric material and a substrate layer on the layer of piezoelectric material. The substrate layer has a region extending beyond the piezoelectric layer, with the coupler mounted to the extended region whereby the low frequency performance of the transducer is extended.

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: A direct current (DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS) configured as an intrinsic power transfer switch is provided. The DC UPS includes first and second inputs. First and second rectifiers are coupled to the first and second inputs. A common node is coupled to the first and second rectifiers. At least one DC output is coupled to the common node. The at least one DC output is adapted for connection to at least one electrical load. The first input is adapted for connection to a first electrical service, and the second input is adapted for connection to a second electrical service. The DC UPS continues to supply power to the at least one electrical load in the event of a loss of either the first or second electrical services.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a direct current (DC) uninterruptible power supply (UPS) configured as an intrinsic power transfer switch are provided. One method includes providing multiple inputs, multiple rectifiers coupled to the inputs, a common node coupled to the rectifiers, and at least one DC output coupled to the common node. The DC output(s) is/are adapted for connection to at least one electrical load and a first input is adapted for connection to a first electrical service. A second input is adapted for connection to a second electrical service, the DC UPS continuing to supply power to the at least one electrical load in the event of a loss of either the first or second electrical services. Also provided are methods of manufacturing an intrinsic power transfer switch for a high-power electrical load requiring at least two electrical service inputs.

Abstract: Payment card transactions at a point of sale (POS) are secured in certain embodiments by intercepting, with a POS security layer installed on a POS terminal, payment data from the POS terminal, transmitting the payment data from the POS security layer to a server security application installed on a POS server, and providing false payment data from the POS security layer to a POS terminal application installed on the POS terminal. The false payment data in various embodiments is processed as if it were the payment data, such that the POS terminal transmits an authorization request to the POS server using the false payment data. In addition, the authorization request may be transmitted from the POS server to a payment gateway.

Abstract: The present invention provides T cell receptors (TCRs) having the property of binding to SLLMWITQC-HLA-A*0201, the SLLMWITQC peptide being derived from the NY-ESO-1 protein which is expressed by a range of tumour cells. The TCRs have a KD for the said that peptide-HLA complex of less than or equal to 1 ?M and/or have an off-rate (koff) of 1×10?3 S?1 or slower.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for restricting input/output device peer-to-peer operations in a data processing system to improve reliability, availability, and serviceability. A peer-to-peer (P2P) control logic is provided to perform a lookup of P2P lookup table entries. Each P2P lookup table entry comprises bus, device and function number fields, optional control fields, and an accept/reject bit. Upon receiving a communication request from a requesting I/O device, P2P control logic implemented in either a logical bridge or an I/O device identifies the requester ID of the request and determines if a match exists in the P2P lookup table entries. If a match is found and the accept/reject bit is enabled, I/O operations can be received from the requester.