Author: claimsbot

1. A screen on which light beams are incident comprising:
a first layer having viewing angle control means for enlarging viewing angle; and
a second layer having angular conversion means for converting angles of incidence of incident light beams into a substantially same direction, wherein
the first layer is fixed,
the second layer has a moving section for moving the second layer relative to the first layer,
the first layer is a lenticular lens and the second layer is a Fresnel lens,
one of the first and second layers diffuses the incident light beams, and
the Fresnel lens moves at a linear velocity V, expressed by V\u2267P\xd750 (mmsec), where P is the lens pitch of the Fresnel lens and V is the linear velocity.
2. The screen according to claim 1,
wherein in the case that an optical image formed by a light modulation device including a plurality of pixels is projected on the screen on a pixel basis, the Fresnel lens moves in such a way that a first pixel projected on the screen moves in association with the motion of the Fresnel lens within the extent formed by second pixels located adjacent to and surrounding the first pixel.
3. The screen according to claim 1,
wherein the moving section includes an electromagnetic member and a magnetic member.
4. The screen according to claim 1,
wherein the moving section includes a metal member that extends and shrinks in response to current variation.
5. The screen according to claim 1,
wherein the moving section moves the second layer in the direction substantially parallel to the layer that faces the moving layer.
6. The screen according to claim 1,
wherein a protective member is disposed between the first and second layers to protect the first and second layers.
7. A screen on which light beams are incident comprising:
a first layer having viewing angle control means for enlarging viewing angle; and
a second layer having angular conversion means for converting angles of incidence of incident light beams into a substantially same direction, wherein
the first layer is fixed,
the second layer has a moving section for moving the second layer relative to the first layer,
the first layer is a lenticular lens and the second layer is a Fresnel lens,
both the first and second layers diffuses the incident light beams, and
the Fresnel lens moves at a linear velocity V, expressed by 0<V\u2266P\xd750 (mmsec), where P is the lens pitch of the Fresnel lens and V is the linear velocity.
8. The screen according to claim 7,
wherein in the case that an optical image formed by a light modulation device including a plurality of pixels is projected on the screen on a pixel basis, the Fresnel lens moves in such a way that a first pixel projected on the screen moves in association with the motion of the Fresnel lens within the extent formed by second pixels located adjacent to and surrounding the first pixel.
9. The screen according to claim 7,
wherein the moving section includes an electromagnetic member and a magnetic member.
10. The screen according to claim 7,
wherein the moving section includes a metal member that extends and shrinks in response to current variation.
11. The screen according to claim 7,
wherein the moving section moves the second layer in the direction substantially parallel to the layer that faces the moving layer.
12. The screen according to claim 7,
wherein a protective member is disposed between the first and second layers to protect the first and second layers.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of playing a multistage wagering card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
providing at least one standard deck of playing cards, each card having a value equal to its standard blackjack value;
requiring at least one player to place a first wager in a first wagering area;
dealing two cards to each said at least one player having placed said first wager in said first wagering area;
dealing one card face up to a dealer;
dealing one card face down to said dealer;
requiring each said at least one player having placed said first wager in said first wagering area to one of forfeit said first wager and place a second wager of an amount equal to said first wager in a second wagering area;
collecting each said first wager from any player having forfeited said first wager;
revealing said face down dealer card;
collecting said first wager from said first wagering area and said second wager from said second wagering area from any remaining player having a two-card value of between 18 and 22 when said dealer having a two-card value closer to a value of 21 than said player;
paying an amount at least equal to both said first wager and said second wager to any remaining player having a two-card value of between 18 and 22 and closer to a value of 21 than said dealer having a two-card value between 18 and 22;
moving said first wager of any remaining player from said first wagering area to a transitional area when said remaining player having a two-card value further from 21 than a two-card value of said dealer while at the same time said remaining player having a two-card value of less than 18;
returning said first wager from said first wagering area to any remaining player having a value equidistant to 21 as a value of said dealer;
dealing one additional card face up to any remaining player having a two-card value of less than 18;
dealing one additional card face up to said dealer when said dealer having a two-card value of less than 18;
collecting said first wager from one of said first wagering area and said transitional area and said second wager from said second wagering area from any remaining player having a value further from 21 than a value of said dealer;
paying an amount at least equal to said second wager to any remaining player having a value closer to a value of 21 than a value of said dealer;
paying an amount at least equal to said first wager to any remaining player having a three-card value closer to a value of 21 than a value of said dealer after said player previously having a two-card value less than 18 and closer to 21 than a two-card value of said dealer;
returning said first wager from said first wagering area to any remaining player having a value equidistant to 21 as said dealer and previously having a two-card value less than 18 and closer to 21 than a two-card value of said dealer;
returning said first wager from said transitional area to any remaining player having a three-card value closer to a value of 21 than a value of said dealer; and
one of returning said second wager from said second wagering area to any remaining player having a value equidistant to 21 as a value of said dealer and collecting said second wager from said second wagering area from any remaining player having a value further from 21 as a value of said dealer.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of paying an amount equal to 1.5 times said first wager and said second wager to any player having a two-card value of 21 when said dealer having a value of one of greater than and less than 21.
3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
paying an amount equal to 2 times said second wager to any player having a three-card value of 21 when said dealer having a value of one of greater than and less than 21; and
paying an amount equal to 2 times said first wager to any player having a three-card value of 21 when said dealer having a value of one of greater than and less than 21 and said dealer previously having a two-card value less than said player’s previous two-card value.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first wagering area and said second wagering area and said transitional area being personal to each of said at least one player.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
permitting each said at least one player to place a bonus wager;
paying each said at least one player having both placed said bonus wager and achieved a total combined card value of 21 with an amount equal to a factor of said bonus wager, wherein said factor being subject to a predetermined payout schedule;
collecting said bonus wager from each said at least one player having placed said bonus wager and having achieved a total combined card value of one of greater than and less than 21.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said predetermined payout schedule being:
paying each said at least one player 4 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having a two-card value of 21;
paying each said at least one player 6 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having a three-card value of 21 that also includes at least one card having a value of ten;
paying each said at least one player 20 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having a three-card value of 21, wherein each of said three cards having a value of at least one of Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9; and
paying each said at least one player 77 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having a three-card value of 21 comprising three cards each having a value of 7.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein two Aces having a value of 22.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
providing a video gaming machine; and
displaying said multistage wagering card game on said video gaming machine.
9. A method of playing a multistage wagering card game comprising, in combination, the steps of:
providing at least one standard deck of playing cards, each card having a value equal to its standard blackjack value;
requiring at least one player to place a first wager in a first wagering area, said first wagering area being personal to each said at least one player;
permitting each said at least one player to place a bonus wager in a bonus wagering area, said bonus wagering area being personal to each said at least one player;
dealing two cards to each at least one player having placed one of said first wager and said bonus wager and both said first wager and said bonus wager;
dealing one card face up to a dealer;
dealing one card face down to said dealer;
requiring each said at least one player having placed said first wager in said first wagering area to one of forfeit said first wager and place a second wager of an amount equal to said first wager in a second wagering area, said second wagering being personal to each said at least one player;
collecting each said first wager from any player having forfeited said first wager;
revealing said face down dealer card;
collecting said first wager from said first wagering area and said second wager from said second wagering area from any remaining player having a two-card value of between 18 and 22 when said dealer having a two-card value closer to a value of 21 than said player;
collecting said bonus wager from said bonus wagering area from any remaining player having a two card value of one of 18 and 19 and 20 and 22;
paying an amount at least equal to both said first wager and said second wager to any remaining player having a two-card value of between 18 and 22 and closer to a value of 21 than said dealer having a two-card value between 18 and 22;
moving said first wager of any remaining player from said first wagering area to a transitional area when said remaining player having a two-card value further from 21 than a two-card value of said dealer while at the same time said remaining player having a two-card value of less than 18;
one of returning said first wager from one of said first wagering area and said transitional area and collecting said first wager from one of said first wagering area and said transitional area and paying an amount equal to said first wager to any remaining player having a value equidistant to 21 as a value of said dealer;
dealing one additional card face up to any remaining player having a two-card value of less than 18;
dealing one additional card face up to said dealer when said dealer having a two-card value of less than 18;
collecting said first wager from one of said first wagering area and said transitional area and said second wager from said second wagering area from any remaining player having a value further from 21 than a value of said dealer;
paying an amount at least equal to said second wager to any remaining player having a value closer to a value of 21 than a value of said dealer;
paying an amount at least equal to said first wager to any remaining player having a three-card value closer to a value of 21 than a value of said dealer after said player previously having a two-card value less than 18 and closer to 21 than a two-card value of said dealer;
returning said first wager from said first wagering area to any remaining player having a value equidistant to 21 as said dealer and previously having a two-card value less than 18 and closer to 21 than a two-card value of said dealer;
returning said first wager from said transitional area to any remaining player having a three-card value closer to a value of 21 than a value of said dealer;
one of returning said second wager from said second wagering area to any remaining player having a value equidistant to 21 as a value of said dealer and collecting said second wager from said second wagering area from any remaining player having a value further from 21 as a value of said dealer;
paying an amount equal to 1.5 times said first wager and said second wager to any player having a two-card value of 21 when said dealer having a value of one of greater than and less than 21;
paying an amount equal to 2 times said second wager to any player having a three-card value of 21 when said dealer having a value of one of greater than and less than 21;
paying an amount equal to 2 times said first wager to any player having a three-card value of 21 when said dealer having a value of one of greater than and less than 21 and said dealer previously having a two-card value less than said player’s previous two-card value;
paying each said at least one player 4 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having a two-card value of 21;
paying each said at least one player 6 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having a three-card value of 21 that also includes at least one card having a value of ten;
paying each said at least one player 20 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having a three-card value of 21 that does not include a single card having a value of ten;
paying each said at least one player 77 times any placed bonus wager when said at least one player having a three-card value of 21 comprising three cards each having a value of 7; and
collecting said bonus wager from each said at least one player having placed said bonus wager and achieved a total combined card value of other than 21.
10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the steps of:
providing a video gaming machine; and
displaying said multistage wagering card game on said video gaming machine.

1. An objective lens configured to collect light beams with at least three wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3, which satisfy a relationship of \u03bb1<\u03bb2<\u03bb3, on signal recording surfaces of compatible optical discs corresponding to respective wavelengths, the objective lens comprising:
a diffractive portion that has a predetermined diffraction structure formed on an incident side surface,
wherein the diffractive portion has
a first region that is provided in an innermost peripheral portion so as to diffract the light beams,
a second region that is provided outside the first region so as to diffract the light beams, and
a third region that is provided outside the second region,

wherein the first to third regions are formed to have diameters of apertures allowing a light beam with the wavelength \u03bb1 to correspond to the first to third regions, a light beam with the wavelength \u03bb2 to correspond to the first and second regions, and a light beam with the wavelength \u03bb3 to correspond to the first region, and
wherein in the first region, a diffraction structure is formed in an orbicular zone shape with a predetermined height,
wherein the diffraction structure of the first region is a periodic structure in which structures having a unit period are successively formed in a radial direction of the orbicular zone, and a structure in which a blazed structure with a height h is overlapped with a multi-step diffraction structure,
wherein a slope direction of the blazed structure is an increasing direction opposite to a direction of increasing heights of steps of the multi-step diffraction structure,
wherein the height h satisfies a relational expression of h<(\u03bb1(n1\u22121)), where n1 is a refractive index of a constituent material of the objective lens at the wavelength \u03bb1, and
wherein the multi-step diffraction structure is a non-equidistant multi-step diffraction structure that is different from an equidistant multi-step diffraction structure, in which widths of the steps in the period are equivalent and heights of the steps in the period are equivalent, in that the widths thereof are changed;
wherein the diffraction structure of the first region is a structure in which one blazed structure is overlapped with the multi-step diffraction structure and a binary structure is further overlapped therewith, and
wherein the binary structure is a non-equidistant binary structure corresponding to the widths of the steps of the non-equidistant multi-step diffraction structure.
2. The objective lens according to claim 1, wherein a number of the blazed structure overlapped with the multi-step diffraction structure of the first region is one.
3. The objective lens according to claim 2,
wherein when orders of incident light beams diffracted in a direction of an optical axis are defined as positive orders, the diffraction structure of the first region diffracts the incident light beams so that (k1i, k2i, k3i)=(+1, \u22122, \u22123), where k1i, k2i, and k3i are orders having maximum diffraction efficiencies at the wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3, respectively, and
wherein a period of the overlapped blazed structure is m times a period of the multi-step diffraction structure, where m is an integer, and
wherein assuming that a height of the multi-step diffraction structure is d0 and a sum of heights of slopes, which are given by the blazed structure in a single period of the multi-step diffraction structure, is d0\xd7\u03b4, a relational expression of 0<\u03b4<0.15m is satisfied.
4. The objective lens according to claim 3, wherein the multi-step diffraction structure is a multi-step structure having 6 level differences and 7 levels, a ratio of the changed widths of the steps in the period is (7\u22125\u03b7)2:\u03b7:\u03b7:\u03b7:\u03b7:\u03b7:(7\u22125\u03b7)2 in order, and a relational expression of 1<\u03b7<1.11 is satisfied.
5. The objective lens according to claim 1,
wherein when the orders of the incident light beams diffracted in a direction of an optical axis are defined as positive orders, the diffraction structure of the first region diffracts the incident light beams so that (k1i, k2i, k3i)=(+1, \u22122, \u22123), where k1i, k2i, and k3i are orders having maximum diffraction efficiencies at the wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3, respectively, and
wherein a period of the overlapped blazed structure is equal to a period of the multi-step diffraction structure,
wherein assuming that a height of the multi-step diffraction structure is d0 and a sum of heights of slopes, which are given by the blazed structure in a single period of the multi-step diffraction structure, is d0\xd7\u03b4, a relational expression of 0<\u03b4<0.3 is satisfied.
6. The objective lens according to claim 5, wherein the multi-step diffraction structure is a multi-step structure having 6 level differences and 7 levels, a ratio of the changed widths of the steps is (7\u22125\u03b7)2:\u03b7:\u03b7:\u03b7:\u03b7:\u03b7:(7\u22125\u03b7)2 in order, and a relational expression of 1<\u03b7<1.11 is satisfied.
7. An objective lens configured to collect light beams with at least three wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3, which satisfy a relationship of \u03bb1<\u03bb2<\u03bb3, on signal recording surfaces of compatible optical discs corresponding to respective wavelengths, the objective lens comprising:
a diffractive portion that has a predetermined diffraction structure formed on an incident side surface,
wherein the diffractive portion has
a first region that is provided in an innermost peripheral portion so as to diffract the light beams,
a second region that is provided outside the first region so as to diffract the light beams, and
a third region that is provided outside the second region,

wherein the first to third regions are formed to have diameters of apertures allowing a light beam with the wavelength \u03bb1 to correspond to the first to third regions, a light beam with the wavelength \u03bb2 to correspond to the first and second regions, and a light beam with the wavelength \u03bb3 to correspond to the first region, and
wherein in the first region, a diffraction structure is formed in an orbicular zone shape with a predetermined height,
wherein the diffraction structure of the first region is a periodic structure in which structures having a unit period are successively formed in a radial direction of the orbicular zone, and a structure in which a blazed structure with a height h is overlapped with a multi-step diffraction structure,
wherein a slope direction of the blazed structure is an increasing direction opposite to a direction of increasing heights of steps of the multi-step diffraction structure,
wherein the height h satisfies a relational expression of h<(\u03bb1(n1\u22121)), where n1 is a refractive index of a constituent material of the objective lens at the wavelength \u03bb1, and
wherein the multi-step diffraction structure is a non-equidistant multi-step diffraction structure that is different from an equidistant multi-step diffraction structure, in which widths of the steps in the period are equivalent and heights of the steps in the period are equivalent, in that the widths thereof are changed;
wherein the diffraction structure of the first region is a structure in which one blazed structure is overlapped with the multi-step diffraction structure and a binary structure is further overlapped therewith,
wherein the binary structure is a non-equidistant binary structure corresponding to the widths of the steps of the non-equidistant multi-step diffraction structure; and
wherein a number of the blazed structures overlapped with the multi-step diffraction structure of the first region is two: one is a blazed structure having a period equal to the period of the multi-step diffraction structure, and the other is a blazed structure having a period equal to the integer multiple of the period of the multi-step diffraction structure.
8. The objective lens according to claim 7,
wherein when orders of incident light beams diffracted in a direction of an optical axis are defined as positive orders, the diffraction structure of the first region diffracts the incident light beams so that (k1i, k2i, k3i)=(+1, \u22122, \u22123), where k1i, k2i, and k3i are orders having maximum diffraction efficiencies at the wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3, respectively, and
wherein in the blazed structure having the period equal to the integer multiple thereof, the integer multiple is m, and
wherein assuming that a height of the multi-step diffraction structure is d0, a first sum of heights of slopes, which are given by the blazed structure having the period equal to the period of the multi-step diffraction structure in a single period thereof, is d0\xd7\u03b4s, and a second sum of heights of slopes, which are given by the blazed structure having the period equal to the integer multiple of the period of the multi-step diffraction structure in the single period thereof, is d0\xd7\u03b4m, a relational expression of 0<\u03b4m\xd7m+\u03b4s<0.15 is satisfied.
9. The objective lens according to claim 8, wherein the multi-step diffraction structure is a multi-step structure having 6 level differences and 7 levels, a ratio of the changed widths of the steps is (7\u22125\u03b7)2:\u03b7:\u03b7:\u03b7:\u03b7:\u03b7:(7\u22125\u03b7)2 in order, and a relational expression of 1<\u03b7<1.11 is satisfied.
10. An optical pickup comprising:
an objective lens to which light beams with the at least three wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3 satisfying a relationship of \u03bb1<\u03bb2<\u03bb3 are incident; and
a diffractive portion that is provided on one side of an optical element or the objective lens disposed in optical paths of the light beams with the three wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3 so as to collect the light beams with the three wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3 through the objective lens on signal recording surfaces of compatible optical discs corresponding to respective wavelengths,
wherein the diffractive portion has
a first region that is provided in an innermost peripheral portion so as to diffract the light beams,
a second region that is provided outside the first region so as to diffract the light beams, and
a third region that is provided outside the second region,

wherein the first to third regions are formed to have diameters of apertures allowing a light beam with the wavelength \u03bb1 to correspond to the first to third regions, a light beam with the wavelength \u03bb2 to correspond to the first and second regions, and a light beam with the wavelength \u03bb3 to correspond to the first region, and
wherein in the first region, a diffraction structure is formed in an orbicular zone shape with a predetermined height,
wherein the diffraction structure of the first region is a periodic structure in which structures having a unit period are successively formed in a radial direction of the orbicular zone, and a structure in which a blazed structure with a height h is overlapped with a multi-step diffraction structure,
wherein a slope direction of the blazed structure is an increasing direction opposite to a direction of increasing heights of steps of the multi-step diffraction structure,
wherein the height h satisfies a relational expression of h<(\u03bb1(n1\u22121)), where n1 is a refractive index of a constituent material of the objective lens at the wavelength \u03bb1, and
wherein the multi-step diffraction structure is a non-equidistant multi-step diffraction structure that is different from an equidistant multi-step diffraction structure, in which widths of the steps in the period are equivalent and heights of the steps in the period are equivalent, in that the widths thereof are changed,
wherein the diffraction structure of the first region is a structure in which one blazed structure is overlapped with the multi-step diffraction structure and a binary structure is further overlapped therewith, and
wherein the binary structure is a non-equidistant binary structure corresponding to the widths of the steps of the non-equidistant multi-step diffraction structure.
11. An optical disc apparatus comprising:
an optical pickup that records andor reproduces an information signal by selectively illuminating a plurality of light beams with different wavelengths on a plurality of types of optical discs which are driven to be rotated,
wherein the optical pickup includes
an objective lens to which light beams with at least three wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3 satisfying a relationship of \u03bb1<\u03bb2<\u03bb3 are incident, and
a diffractive portion that is provided on one side of an optical element or the objective lens disposed in optical paths of the light beams with the three wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3 so as to collect the light beams with the three wavelengths \u03bb1, \u03bb2, and \u03bb3 through the objective lens on signal recording surfaces of compatible optical discs corresponding to the respective wavelengths,

wherein the diffractive portion has
a first region that is provided in an innermost peripheral portion so as to diffract the light beams,
a second region that is provided outside the first region so as to diffract the light beams, and
a third region that is provided outside the second region,

wherein the first to third regions are formed to have diameters of apertures allowing the light beam with the wavelength \u03bb1 to correspond to the first to third regions, the light beam with the wavelength \u03bb2 to correspond to the first and second regions, and the light beam with the wavelength \u03bb3 to correspond to the first region, and
wherein in the first region, a diffraction structure is formed in an orbicular zone shape with a predetermined height,
wherein the diffraction structure of the first region is a periodic structure in which structures having a unit period are successively formed in a radial direction of the orbicular zone, and a structure in which a blazed structure with a height h is overlapped with a multi-step diffraction structure,
wherein a slope direction of the blazed structure is an increasing direction opposite to a direction of increasing heights of steps of the multi-step diffraction structure,
wherein the height h satisfies a relational expression of h<(\u03bb1(n1\u22121)), where n1 is a refractive index of a constituent material of the objective lens at the wavelength \u03bb1, and
wherein the multi-step diffraction structure is a non-equidistant multi-step diffraction structure that is different from an equidistant multi-step diffraction structure, in which widths of the steps in the period are equivalent and heights of the steps in the period are equivalent, in that the widths thereof are changed,
wherein a number of the blazed structures overlapped with the multi-step diffraction structure of the first region is two: one is a blazed structure having a period equal to the period of the multi-step diffraction structure, and the other is a blazed structure having a period equal to the integer multiple of the period of the multi-step diffraction structure.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A retaining ring assembly for chemical mechanical polishing comprising:
a substantially annular backing ring having an upper portion, a lower portion, an inner portion and an outer portion, wherein the lower portion, the inner portion and the outer portion are configured with a retaining grove;
substantially annular inserts located within the retaining groove;
a substantially annular retaining ring configured to cover the retaining groove so that chemicals used during processing cannot enter the retaining grove.
2. The retaining ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the backing ring is secured to the retaining ring using an attachment device.
3. The retaining ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said backing ring is made from polycarbonate, polyethylene terpthalate, polyethersulphone, polyetheretherketone, or polyphenelynesulfide.
4. The retaining ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the backing ring is made of a material having a hardness between 80 and 120 durometers.
5. The retaining ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the backing ring is made of a material having durometer readings between 80 and 120.
6. The retaining ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said inserts are made of stainless steel.
7. The retaining ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said inserts are made from a material which deforms less during stress than the backing ring.
8. The retaining ring assembly of claim 1, wherein said inserts are affixed in said receiving groove through use of an adhesive, press-fit features, injection molding, over-molding, or ultrasonic welding.
9. The retaining ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the mass of the inserts is at least 20% greater than the mass of the backing ring.