Abstract: An airflow shutdown system that includes an air distribution system and an air duct closure device. The air duct closure device is adapted to substantially instantaneously block airflow in the air distribution system when activated. The system also includes an integrated control system coupled to the air distribution system and adapted to activate the air duct closure device and stop an operation of other air distribution devices in the air distribution system in order to prevent migration of air through the system.

Abstract: A crop measuring arrangement is arranged on a harvesting vehicle to interact with a material that is to be investigated in order to detect at least one component of the material, and that can be fastened to a vehicle by means of a retaining arrangement, so that the measuring arrangement can be operated in the condition in which it is fastened to the retaining arrangement in order to analyze material handled and/or processed by means of the vehicle. The retaining arrangement for securing the measuring arrangement to the vehicle is constructed so that the measuring arrangement can be easily separated from the retaining arrangement and used to investigate material in a stationary application.

Abstract: Methods of weighting odds in shared bonus events and gaming systems and devices configured for weighting odds in shared bonus events. A number of participations or entries by the same gaming machine or player entity may be obtained for a shared bonus event in association with play of a base or primary game, allowing the odds of winning the shared bonus event to be weighted.

Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of reels or cards having several symbols. The symbols include at least one extender symbol. In one embodiment, when the extender symbol is randomly generated on the reels, one of the symbols randomly generated on the reels changes into another of the symbols randomly generated on the reels.

Abstract: A gaming device is provided that includes at least one game apparatus allowing a player to place a wager, play a game, and producing a bonus-activating event. The device includes at least one bonus display including a plurality of bonus prize displays and at least one selectively moveable indicator that moves relative to the bonus prize displays and indicates at least one of the bonus prize displays. Also included is at least one player input device allowing the player to stop the moveable indicator and at least one controller in communication with at least one bonus prize display. The controller detects a bonus activating event, detects the position of the moveable indicator, determines a bonus prize, and causes a bonus prize display proximate the moveable indicator to convey the bonus prize.

Abstract: A processor controlled gaming device that randomly generates and displays a pachinko-type game and outcome on a screen connected to the processor. The gaming device initially provides a preliminary game that yields the number of attempts or objects that the player has in the pachinko-type game. Next, the game displays the pachinko-type game screen having a player selectable starting area. The starting area is large enough so that when the player picks a certain position of the area, the object falls from the selected position, hits a plurality of pegs and lands in an award position. The selected start position affects which award position that object eventually falls in accordance with the probability distribution predicted by the laws of physics. The player's award, however, is not effected by which start position the player selects.

Abstract: A mechanical display and a mechanical indicator for gaming devices includes various embodiments, each of which have a number of elements in common. First, the embodiments each include a rotating set of symbols or indicia. Second, each of the embodiments includes an oscillating indicator, such as an arrow. The symbols rotate, appear and disappear from the player's view. In this manner, the player sees each of the symbols and hopes that the gaming device awards the symbol having the highest or best value. The one or more indicators move in a sequence to point out or indicate one of the symbols or one of the groups of symbols. The indicators provide a second random, visual element to the outcome, wherein the player's attention must account for both the changing symbols and the moving indicators. The symbol eventually indicated produces, at least in part, a game outcome.

Abstract: A gaming device including a primary game having one or more symbol generators and one or more secondary games associated with the symbol generators. The gaming device activates the symbol generators for a number of activations. When the symbol generator generates one or more predetermined symbols, the gaming device operates one or more of the secondary games associated with the symbol generators. In one embodiment, the gaming device continues to activate the symbol generators until at least one of the symbol generators generates one or more termination symbols, or until there are no activations remaining in the primary game.

Abstract: A casino gaming apparatus may include a display unit capable of generating video images, a value input device, a user input device and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit. The controller may comprise a processor and a memory and may be programmed to allow a person to make a wager, to cause a video image to be generated on the display unit, to cause a bonus image to be generated on the display unit for a time period in response to a trigger event, to award a bonus in response to the person making an input via the user input device in response to generation of the bonus image on the display unit, and to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of the game.

Abstract: The gaming machine comprises: game result display means for displaying a game result thereon; the main control circuit 41 for generating a beneficial state for a player when a specific game result is displayed on the game result display means; and the sub-control circuit 71 for controlling the game result display means so as to conduct demonstration display for collecting players based on information concerning with a game.

Abstract: There is provided a wireless system for a video game console having at least one of an Infrared (IR) receiver and a Radio Frequency (RF) receiver, and further having at least two operation modes including (i) a first game mode capable of playing video games and (ii) a second entertainment mode capable of playing DVD videos. The wireless system includes a dedicated DVD remote control transmitter and can also include a wireless game controller. The dedicated DVD remote control transmitter has DVD player function control buttons and is incapable of controlling all of the game functions of the video game console. The dedicated remote control transmitter wirelessly transmits DVD player control commands to at least one of the IR receiver and the RF receiver for controlling the DVD player functions of the video game console when in the second entertainment mode.

Abstract: A method, system, and software for preventing cheating during online gaming on a first computer system, include receiving information regarding cheaters detected during online gaming gathered by a second computer system; and making the received information available to the first computer system. Advantageously, a cheater identified on the second computer system is prevented from online gaming on the first computer system. A method, system, and software for preventing cheating during online gaming also is described, including receiving information regarding cheaters detected during online gaming from a first computer system; and transmitting information regarding cheaters detected during online gaming gathered from a plurality of online gaming computer systems to the first computer system. Advantageously, cheaters identified on the plurality of online gaming computer systems are prevented from online gaming on the first computer system.

Abstract: A method and computer software system are disclosed for using points in a massive multiplayer online gaming (MMOG) software application that performs functions for players of the application based on usable points associated with each of the players. Meta-points are allocated to a first player. Usable points are then allocated to a second player, as directed by the first player. The amount of usable points allocated to the second player is specified by the first player and is related to the amount of the first player's meta-points. Functionality is enabled within the application for the second player based on the amount of the second player's usable points. In one embodiment, a rating system is used in connection with the allocation of usable points to the second player, such that players with higher ratings receive more usable points than do players with lower ratings.

Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method of operating a gaming apparatus may include identifying a player, accessing stored player data relating to the player, and performing a personalized gaming operation based on the stored player data. The personalized gaming operation may include one of the following personalized gaming operations: generating a video image of a game piece, the game piece having one or more characteristics selected according to the stored player data, generating a personalized video image based on the stored player data, or generating a game environment, the game environment including video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects and one or more of the video images other than a video image of a game piece, music and sound effects selected according to the stored player data.

Abstract: Gaming machines connected to a network each have a smart card reader and an internal memory for receiving electronic tokens downloaded from the smart cards. In a secure room of a casino, there are a number of card readers containing smart cards having an appropriate memory size. These external card readers are connected to the various gaming machines via the network to provide secure financial transactions over the network. Whenever the electronic token balance of a gaming machine's internal memory exceeds a configurable upper limit, the balance is automatically reduced to a default level by the gaming machine transferring the excess money to an idle external smart card. Whenever the electronic token balance of a gaming machine's internal memory falls below a configurable lower limit, the balance is automatically increased to a default level by the gaming machine transferring the money from an idle external smart card.

Abstract: A torque fluctuation absorbing apparatus provided between a crankshaft of an engine and a driven-side input shaft includes a flywheel coupled to the crankshaft and a damper assembly disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the driven-side input shaft. The damper assembly includes a pair of drive plates, a driven plate and a spring damper. A torque limiter is disposed in a torque transmission path between the flywheel and the damper assembly. The torque limiter includes a pair of linings which generates relative rotational slip between the flywheel and the damper assembly when a torque larger than a predetermined amount is transmitted and are adapted to slip when receiving at least a predetermined amount of torque. The linings of the torque limiter are fixed to one of the drive plates and are interposed between a flywheel main body and a damper cover that forms a part of the torque limiter.

Abstract: A pool cue comprising a handle with standard taper section, a straight shaft section with tip at the end thereof, and a slidable sleeve disposed on the straight shaft section. An o-ring resides in a groove at the tip to prevent the slidable sleeve from falling off of the pool cue when the tip thereof is pointed downward. The tip o-ring can be detached to permit removal and/or replacement of the sleeve. A plurality of o-rings resides in grooves at the handle end of the straight shaft, approximately at the middle of the pool cue. The o-rings may be of the same diameter as the inner diameter of the sleeve, or alternately, slightly larger than the inner diameter of the sleeve, wherein the o-rings increase in diameter towards the handle. The sleeve can be positioned over the plurality of o-rings, wherein it is retained either by friction or interference.

Abstract: Disclosed is a golf club set having harmonized golf club performance among the club numbers. In the golf club set, for at least three golf clubs, a ratio or a sum of a frequency, the frequency being measured by vibrating a tip portion of a golf club shaft constituting each of the golf clubs, and a frequency, the frequency being measured by vibrating a rear end portion of the golf club shaft, is determined in relation with order of the club number.

Abstract: An iron golf club head having a hollow interior. The iron golf club head is formed from a first casing and a second casing. The first casing includes the hosel and strike face, while the second casing includes the sole, the back side, and the topline of the iron golf club head. The second casing also includes two cavities, one of which forms the hollow interior of the iron golf club head when the first casing is welded to the second casing. The thickness and hardness of the first casing vary between the long and short iron golf club heads.

Abstract: The present invention provides a golf putter head that is suitable for putting a golf ball by either left-handed or right-handed golfers by swinging the putter in the typical pendulum motion or by pushing the putter in a shuffleboard-like motion. Further, the present invention provides a golfer with the ability to select the angle of the golf putter shaft to the golf putter head. The golf putter head comprises a top, a bottom, at least one flat striking surface, at least one curvilinear striking surface and a shaft receiving aperture. The top contains an insert having a variety of shaft receiving apertures. The shaft receiving apertures are of different angles to allow a golfer to pick the desired angle to better fit his or her needs. Further, the radii of the curvilinear striking surfaces are of such dimensions that the curvilinear striking surface, when used in the shuffleboard-like motion, strikes a golf ball above the golf ball's horizontal midline, which encourages topspin.

Abstract: A golf club head having selectively oriented zones of relatively high flexural stiffness is disclosed. The hitting face is configured and dimensioned so that it includes an inner zone and a concentric intermediate zone. The inner zone has relatively high flexural stiffness and the intermediate zone has relatively lower flexural stiffness. The inner zone may have an elliptical shape or a substantially parallelogram shape. Preferably, the inner zone has a shape that comprises a major axis and a minor axis and the major axis aligns substantially in the direction of high heel to low toe. This arrangement of inner and intermediate zones creates a gradient of flexural stiffness in the direction of high toe to low heel and produces a desirable manipulation COR in that direction.

Abstract: A golf club head (42) having more than 50% of a volume forward of a center of gravity and more than 50% of a mass rearward of the center of gravity is disclosed herein. The golf club head (42) preferably has a volume ranging from 420 cubic centimeters to 470 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (42) preferably has a moment of inertia about the Izz axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 4000 grams-centimeters squared, and a moment of inertia about the Ixx axis through the center of gravity of the golf club head greater than 3000 grams-centimeters squared.

Abstract: A putter head includes a body and a light insert. The body includes a face portion, two mass portions, and a connecting portion. The face portion is located on a front side of the body, the mass portions are located on two sides of the body, and the connecting portion is formed between the mass portions for connecting the mass portions, with a compartment being defined between the mass portion and the connecting portion. The light insert is securely mounted in the compartment of the body. The light insert includes at least one aiming mark on a top face thereof. Further, the club head has a center of gravity positioned within the light insert.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a golf club head body, a striking plate and a plurality of equal-length buffers. In assembling, the striking plate mechanically connects to a front side of the golf club head body. Each of the equal-length buffers radially extends from an outer periphery to a center portion on a rear surface of the striking plate, and performs identical elastic deformation. Each of the equal-length buffers has an inner end adapted to commonly delimit a configuration for a striking zone substantially similar to that of the outer periphery of the striking plate.

Abstract: The method of design of a golf club with a hosel reinforcement bridge is disclosed. This reinforcement bridge helps stabilize the golf club at impact; preventing miss hits from the twisting of the club head.

Abstract: A hollow golf club head enables to increase the bonding strength of an outer shell member made of metal and an outer shell member made of fiber reinforced plastic. The hollow golf club head comprises a hollow golf club having a head body of a hollow structure formed by bonding the metallic outer shell member and the fiber reinforced plastic outer shell member, wherein the fiber reinforced plastic outer shell member is bonded to both faces of the bonding portion of the metallic outer shell member.

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-layered, multi-piece golf ball that comprises a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, wherein the core comprises a spherical body and ribs that are arranged on the surface of the spherical body and that have almost the same height as the thickness of the intermediate layer, wherein the intermediate layer fills a plurality of concave portions formed on the surface of the spherical body while being surrounded by the ribs. This arrangement enables the golf ball to have both high ball bounce resilience and a soft feel when hit.

Abstract: Golf ball 1 has a large number of dimples 2 on its surface. A surface area occupation ratio Y of these dimples 2 is equal to or greater than 75%. A ratio R1 of the diameter of the maximum dimple dmax to the diameter D of this golf ball 1 is 11.0% or greater and 18.0% or less. Total number N of the dimples is equal to or less than 320. A ratio R2 of number of dimples 2 having a diameter d accounting for 11.0% or greater and 18.0% or less of the diameter D, occupied in total number N is equal to or greater than 20%. A mean occupation ratio y which is a value calculated by dividing the surface area occupation ratio Y by total number N is equal to or greater than 0.22%. A summation X of the contour length x of the dimples 2 and the surface area occupation ratio Y satisfy the relationship represented by the following formula (I). X?38.

Abstract: A swing training device which utilizes an microprocessor controlled set of colored LEDs to teach the user to watch the ball through the contact of a ball hitting device such as a baseball bat or golf club with the ball. Also shown is a method of providing a confirmation visual for an observer to confirm the hitter has in fact watched the bat hit the ball. This swing training device may be mounted in a standard batting tee stanchion or may replace a standard batting tee stanchion. The swing training device may also be mounted in a practice golf tee especially those of the type used at driving ranges.

Abstract: A stringed-racquet pick including a handle body and a string-realignment member having a conical head with a circumferentially position ridge along the base forming a stop. Furthermore, the handle body tapers to an appropriately smaller cross sectional area on the handle side of the base ridge thereby serving as a finger support surface as the tool is being used. The present invention provides a device for fastening to an article depending from the handle body, such as a clip whereby the racquet pick can be clipped to a pocket. Additionally, the handle body can have a compartment including a device for providing access thereto.

Abstract: An adjustable collar for attachment around a handle such as the handle of a baseball bat. The adjustable collar has a rubber-like strip which has a strap affixed to its outer face. The strap extends past the rubber strip and has a ring at one end and a free end at the other end. The rubber-like strip is pressed against the place on the handle where it is desired to be attached and the free end is passed through the ring and is looped back toward the free end and affixed to the strap by a hook and loop fastener or other removable fastening structure.

Abstract: There are provided with a determination means for determining whether or not the correlation between the pressure value detected by the primary pressure sensor and the pressure value detected by the secondary pressure sensor is an actually impossible relation (Step 5), and a switchover means for switching over to an open control while prohibiting a feedback control when the correlation is determined to have become a relation actually impossible by the determination means (Step 6). Presence or absence of a fault to the primary pressure sensor or the secondary pressure sensor (particularly, fault of fixed output voltage) is judged based on the correlation between the output voltage of the primary pressure sensor and the output voltage of the secondary pressure sensor to prohibit the control of a primary pressure and a secondary pressure using the hydraulic pressure sensors when it is judged that there is a fault.

Abstract: A continuously variable transmission belt, including a metal ring assembly including a plurality of metal rings, and a plurality of metal elements which are retained by the metal ring assembly and each has a saddle surface contacted with an inner circumferential surface of the metal ring assembly. The saddle surface includes opposed end peripheries spaced from each other in a traveling direction of the belt and a curved portion located at each of the opposed end peripheries. The curved portion has a range length extending in the traveling direction of the belt and a radius of curvature larger than the range length. The metal element is produced by a method including subjecting a metal sheet to presswork to form a workpiece, subjecting the workpiece to heat treatment and deburring and then to preliminary beveling and subsequent beveling.

Abstract: A composite driving belt provided with a carrier and a plurality of transverse elements assembled slidably thereon, the carrier including one or more bands, preferably composed of a plurality of endless metal bands disposed radially around each other, each element being provided with a radially outward directed carrier contact plane for contacting a radial inner contact plane of the carrier while in operation, wherein the contact plane of both the carrier and the element have a non profiled surface. In particular the roughness and shape of the relevant contacting faces of a belt are adapted to achieve a hydrodynamic lubricating condition, while the lubricating oil is defined to meet the requirements of an improved efficiency push belt.

Abstract: A hybrid powertrain incorporates an engine, two motor/generator units and three planetary gearsets along with three torque-transmitting mechanisms to provide a two-mode compound-split electrically variable transmission.

Abstract: The electrically variable transmission family of the present invention provides low-content, low-cost electrically variable transmission mechanisms including first and second differential gear sets, a battery, two electric machines serving interchangeably as motors or generators, and four or five selectable torque-transfer devices. The selectable torque transfer devices are engaged singly or in combinations of two to yield an EVT with a continuously variable range of speeds (including reverse) and three mechanically fixed forward speed ratios. The torque transfer devices and the first and second motor/generators are operable to provide five operating modes in the electrically variable transmission, including battery reverse mode, EVT reverse mode, reverse and forward launch modes, continuously variable transmission range mode, and fixed ratio mode.

Abstract: A six-speed powertrain includes a simple planetary gearset having three operational elements and a compound planetary gearset having four operational elements. Regarding the four operational elements of the compound planetary gearset, two of them are variably connected to an input shaft where one of the two is variable connected to a transmission case, another one always acts as an output element, and the other one variably receives torque from the simple planetary gearset at a reduce speed.

Abstract: A variable speed transmission having a plurality of tilting balls and opposing input and output discs is illustrated and described that provides an infinite number of speed combinations over its transmission ratio range. The use of a planetary gear set allows minimum speeds to be in reverse and the unique geometry of the transmission allows all of the power paths to be coaxial, thereby reducing overall size and complexity of the transmission in comparison to transmissions achieving similar transmission ratio ranges.

Abstract: A vehicle has at least two driving wheels, each driven by an electric motor M via a gear change mechanism having at least two reduction gears. A sensor senses the rotation speed of the driving wheels. The gear change on the two driving wheels is carried out in an initial phase by: (a) releasing the current gear on a driving wheel referred to as the “operated” wheel, and stopping it in the neutral position, (b) changing the revolution speed of the motor so as to synchronize it as a function of the reduction of the gear to be engaged on the operated wheel, using as an estimate of the speed to-be-reached a speed information item obtained from another driving wheel, referred to as the “sensor” wheel, and (c) engaging the intended gear on the “operated” wheel. Then, in a successive phase, the gear on the other driving wheel is changed in the same manner by reversing the roles of the sensor wheel and the operated wheel.

Abstract: An engine idle speed control device set a target idle speed NsetN for a non-traveling range is set to a high value to activate the catalytic converter early, after the engine is started. Upon detecting that the automatic transmission has been shifted from a non-traveling range to a traveling range, the target idle speed is lowered to a first traveling idle speed Nset1. A feedback gain G used for feedback control of the ignition timing is then set to a larger gain value. The larger gain value is set such that it varies based on the temperature of the automatic transmission fluid or other parameter indicative of the engine friction and/or automatic transmission friction. As a result, the ignition timing is retarded in a precise manner, the engine speed is reduced, and the clutch engagement shock is reduced.

Abstract: A control apparatus and method control a torque of an engine coupled to an input shaft of an automatic transmission during a shift by that automatic transmission. A torque-down control by which the engine torque is decreased by a predetermined amount is performed, a torque-restore control starting point at which time torque-restore control is to be started is determined, and the torque-restore control so as to gradually restore the engine torque to a value before the torque-down control was performed is started at the torque-restore control starting point. The torque-restore control starting point is determined according to a dynamic model which simulates behavior of the automatic transmission over time from start of the torque-down control, so that a rotational speed of the input shaft of the automatic transmission at a target point substantially matches a target speed.

Abstract: A control system for an internal combustion engine having a plurality of cylinders and a switching mechanism for switching between an all-cylinder operation in which all of the plurality of cylinders are operated and a partial-cylinder operation in which at least one of the plurality of cylinders is halted. A condition for performing the partial-cylinder operation is determined, based on the detected operating parameters of the vehicle driven by the engine. A result of the determination is modified so that the partial-cylinder operation may be continued, when the detected operating parameters satisfy a predetermined continuation condition within a predetermined time period from the time a vehicle operating state where the condition for performing the partial-cylinder operation is satisfied, has changed to another vehicle operating state where the condition for performing the partial-cylinder operation is not satisfied.

Abstract: A method for clutch actuation at low temperatures for a motor vehicle having a hydraulically actuatable clutch, below a predetermined temperature a situation-dependent pre-opening of the clutch is executed when a braking is probable.

Abstract: A method for altering the coupling torque of a coupling in the drive train of a vehicle with an automatic gearbox and/or automatic coupling in a creep drive mode of a vehicle. According to the invention, the coupling torque is altered according to at least one variable, the parameter of the vehicle describing the creep drive mode thereof.

Abstract: In a driving condition control system, a sensing unit senses a first physical quantity indicative of a rotation of the first rotatable axle assembly and a second physical quantity indicative of a rotation of the second rotatable axle assembly. A determining unit compares the first and second physical quantities of the rotations of the first and second rotational axle assemblies and determines whether a driving condition of the vehicle is unstable according to the compared result. As a result, the unstable condition of the vehicle can be rapidly detected without detecting a yaw moment of the vehicle.

Abstract: To carry out step number measurement more precisely even when a walk signal enough to be detected is not obtained. After a fixed noise of a signal detected by an acceleration detecting portion having an acceleration sensor is removed by a filter portion of a counting portion, a walk cycle comparing portion compares a cycle of the resultant signal with a moving average value calculated by a walk cycle calculating portion, and each signal within a predetermined cycle range is counted as the number of steps for one step by a step number counting portion. A signal within a range similar to a cycle n times as large as a predetermined cycle of the signals each beyond the predetermined cycle range is judged as the number of steps for n steps by an extra-regulation step number processing portion and is counted as the number of steps for n steps by the step number counting portion. Data on the number of steps obtained through the counting in the step number counting portion is displayed on a display portion.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for assessments, which can be self-conducted or performed with the assistance of a healthcare provider. The system and method assist a user to interact with a user-centered system utilizing the musculo-skeletal system as a basis for generation a protocol for treatment for wellness, general health, diseases, pre employment physical capacity tests, prevention of repetitive stress, absence management, worker's compensation cost control, disease management, conditions, and athletics. The system and method disclosed assist the user in performing both physical or function capability assessment as well as physical or functional capacity assessment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for teaching the proper position of a user's wrist while paying the piano. The device includes a rod and two supports. The rod is long enough to span the length of a piano keyboard. The rod is deployed in a way that encourages proper positioning of the wrist by simply occupying the space that would otherwise be occupied by an incorrectly positioned wrist. The two support pieces are positioned at both ends of the keyboard and fit snugly over its surface. A trough for supporting the weight of the piano rod is configured into each of the support pieces.

Abstract: An exercise device having a cushioning mechanism assembly configured to absorb energy during exercise is provided. According to one aspect of the present invention, the cushioning mechanism assembly comprises a first and second biasing apparatus having a spring element configured to absorb energy by undergoing elastic deformation. According to another aspect of the present invention, a lever cushioning apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the lever cushioning apparatus includes a lever arm and a cushioning element that functions as a fulcrum of the lever arm. In another embodiment, the cushioning element is movable along the length of the elongate member to change the amount of cushioning provided by the cushioning element. By being movable, the cushioning element allows the user to select a desired amount of cushioning during exercise.

Abstract: A variable stride exercise apparatus is described. A variable stride exercise apparatus may include a frame. A crank system may be coupled to the frame. A movable member may be coupled to the crank system. The movable member may travel in a substantially curvilinear path during use of the apparatus. A foot member may be coupled to the movable member. The foot member and the movable member may allow a user of the apparatus to selectively control the path of the foot member. The foot of the user may travel in a substantially curvilinear path during use of the apparatus. At least a portion of the apparatus may remain substantially stationary during use.