Author: claimsbot

1. A method of providing at least one card to a dealer for manual delivery of the cards by a dealer comprising:
providing a mechanical dealing shoe comprising a card in-feed area,
a card delivery area, a card transport mechanism and a card reader located between the card in-feed area and the card delivery area;
placing a set of cards within a card in-feed area;
mechanically moving cards in an order in which cards are removed from the set of cards from the card in-feed area to a card delivery area where at least one card becomes stationary;
reading individual cards for at least one of rank, suit or value after the cards are removed from the card in-feed area and before the at least one card becomes stationary in the card delivery area; and
dispensing cards individually from a card dispensing end of the mechanical dealing shoe.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the set of cards is placed in an approximately vertical stack in the card feed area.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one card from the set of cards is moved to a buffer area between the in-feed area and the card delivery area, and at least one card remains stationary within the buffer area until the card delivery area is sensed to be empty of cards.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein at least one card that remains stationary in a buffer area remain in the buffer area until a signal generated from the shoe indicates that at least one card is to be moved from the buffer area to the card delivery area,
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the signal is generated by a sensor in the card delivery area indicating that no cards are present in the card delivery area.
6. The method of claim 4 wherein the signal is generated by a sensor in the card delivery area indicating that an additional card is desired in the card delivery area.
7. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a card position sensor is present that triggers operation of the card reading sensors so that discontinuous signals of cards are provided by the card reading sensors.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein a card position sensor triggers reading of individual cards so that discontinuous signals of cards are provided.

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 fluid dispensing device for dispensing a fluid product having:
a dispensing outlet from which the fluid product is dispensable,
a supply of the fluid product,
a dispensing member mounted for movement in a dispensing direction along an axis from a first position to a second position which causes a dose of the fluid product in the supply to be dispensed from the dispensing outlet, and
a finger-operable actuator member mounted for movement in an actuating direction which is generally transverse to the axis,
wherein the actuator member has at least one cam surface and the dispensing member has at least one cam follower surface,
wherein the actuator member is movable in the actuating direction to cause the at least one cam surface to bear against the at least one cam follower surface to force the at least one cam follower surface to ride on the cam surface to cam the dispensing member in the dispensing direction from the first position to the second position,
wherein the at least one cam surface has a concavely arcuate commitment section, and an adjacent convexly arcuate drive section, wherein the concavely arcuate section and the convexly arcuate section define a continuously curved cam surface such that the entire cam surface is continuously curved,
wherein the device is configured and arranged such that, in use, the at least one cam follower surface successively rides on the commitment and drive sections of the at least one cam surface, on movement of the actuator member in the actuating direction, to cam the dispensing member from the first position to the second position, and
wherein the commitment section is constructed such that a minimum actuating force is required to be applied to the actuator member to cause the at least one cam follower surface to ride on the commitment section onto the drive section.
2. The device of claim 1, wherein the commitment section has a radius of curvature in the range of about 5-20 mm.
3. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive section has an arcuate transition sub-section contiguous with the commitment section.
4. The device of claim 3, wherein the transition sub-section has a radius of curvature in the range of about 1-5 mm.
5. The device of claim 3, wherein the arcuate transition sub-section of the drive section has a first radius of curvature and a remainder of the drive section has a second radius of curvature that is greater than the first radius of curvature.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the first arcuate portion has a radius of curvature in the range of about 1-5 mm and the second arcuate portion has a radius of curvature in the range of about 15-40 mm.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the minimum actuating force is in the range of about 10-45 N.
8. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator member is mounted in the device for movement on an arcuate path in the actuating direction.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein, in use, the at least one cam surface bears against the at least one cam follower surface at a contact point on the at least one cam surface, a tangent to the contact point forms an angle to the axis, and the device is configured and arranged such that when the contact point is on the drive section of the cam surface, the angle to the axis remains constant, or substantially constant, as the actuator member moves in the actuating direction.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator member is mounted for pivotal movement about a first end thereof and the at least one cam surface is disposed on the actuator member remote from the first end.
11. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing member is a dispensing container in which the supply of the fluid product is contained.
12. The device of claim 10, wherein the dispensing direction is an upward direction and the first end of the actuator member is a lower end thereof.
13. The device of claim 12, wherein the at least one cam follower surface is disposed towards an upper end of the dispensing member.
14. The device of claim 11, wherein the dispensing container has a pump which is caused to pump the dose of the fluid product from the dispensing outlet in response to the dispensing container being moved in the dispensing direction by the actuator member.
15. The device of claim 1, wherein the dispensing outlet is in a nozzle sized and shaped for insertion into a nostril of a human body.
16. The device of claim 1, wherein the supply contains a volume of fluid medicament formulation.
17. A fluid dispensing device for dispensing a fluid product comprising;
a housing,
a dispensing member mounted within the housing, for movement in a dispensing direction along an axis from a first position to a second position,
a finger operable actuator member moveably mounted to the housing, for movement in an actuating direction,
wherein the finger operable actuator member has at least one cam surface and the dispensing member has at least one cam follower surface,
wherein the at least one cam surface is a continuously curved surface comprising a first surface of concave constant radius, an adjoining second surface of constant convex radius, and an adjoining third surface of constant convex radius,
and the at least one cam follower surface is adapted to ride sequentially on the first surface, onto the second surface, on the second surface onto the third surface, and on the third surface, such that actuation of the lever causes the dispensing member to move from the first position to the second position,
wherein the actuating member and actuator member are adapted such that a threshold force must be applied to the finger operable actuator member to enable movement of the at least one cam follower surface sequentially on the first surface onto the second surface, on the second surface onto the third surface.
18. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the third convex surface has a radius of curvature greater than the second convex surface.
19. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the cam follower surface is rounded.
20. A fluid dispensing device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the at least one cam surface defines an s-shaped curve.

1-9. (canceled)
10. A single integrated circuit, comprising:
multiplexer circuitry configured to receive first video data, first audio data, second video data, and second audio data;
the multiplexer circuitry being configured, in a first mode, to multiplex the first video data, the first audio data, the second video data, and the second audio data into a first multiplexed stream operably coupled via a first output to circuitry external to the single integrated circuit; and
the multiplexer circuitry being configured, in a second mode, to:
multiplex the first video data and the first audio data into the first multiplexed stream operably coupled via the first output to circuitry external to the single integrated circuit; and
multiplex the second video data and the second audio data into a second multiplexed stream operably coupled via a second output to circuitry external to the single integrated circuit.
11. The single integrated circuit of claim 10, wherein the first video data, the first audio data, the second video data, and the second audio data are each compressed.
12. The single integrated circuit of claim 11, further comprising encoder circuitry configured to:
receive first uncompressed video data from a first video source external to the single integrated circuit and compress the first uncompressed video data to produce the first video data;
receive first uncompressed audio data from a first audio source external to the single integrated circuit and compress the first uncompressed audio data to produce the first audio data;
receive second uncompressed video data from a second video source external to the single integrated circuit and compress the second uncompressed video data to produce the second video data; and
receive second uncompressed audio data from a second audio source external to the single integrated circuit and compress the second uncompressed audio data to produce the second audio data.
13. The single integrated circuit of claim 12, wherein the encoder circuitry further comprises:
a first memory interface that interfaces directly with first storage external to the single integrated circuit, the first uncompressed video data and the first uncompressed audio data being received via the first memory interface; and
a second memory interface that interfaces directly with second storage external to the single integrated circuit, the second uncompressed video data and the second uncompressed audio data being received via the second memory interface.
14. The single integrated circuit of claim 12, further comprising controller circuitry configured to synchronize operation of the multiplexer circuitry and the encoder circuitry.
15. The single integrated circuit of claim 14, further comprising a bus interface that operably couples the controller circuitry and a processor external to the single integrated circuit.
16. The single integrated circuit of claim 10, further comprising circuitry configured to:
receive the first video data from a first video source external to the single integrated circuit;
receive the first audio data from a first audio source external to the single integrated circuit;
receive the second video data from a second video source external to the single integrated circuit; and
receive the second audio data from a second audio source external to the single integrated circuit.
17. The single integrated circuit of claim 10, wherein each of the first audio data and the second audio data represent at least two audio channels.
18. The single integrated circuit of claim 10, further comprising a corresponding plurality of search processors for performing motion analysis on each of the first video data and the second video data.
19. The single integrated circuit of claim 18, wherein the corresponding plurality of search processors is configured to operate in parallel upon a single macroblock, and each search processor operates at a different one of a plurality of resolutions.
20. A method, comprising:
receiving, by multiplexer circuitry in a single integrated circuit, first video data, first audio data, second video data, and second audio data;
responsive to the multiplexer circuitry being in a first mode, multiplexing, by the multiplexer circuitry, the first video data, the first audio data, the second video data, and the second audio data into a first multiplexed stream operably coupled via a first output to circuitry external to the single integrated circuit; and
responsive to the multiplexer circuitry being in a second mode:
multiplexing, by the multiplexer circuitry, the first video data and the first audio data into the first multiplexed stream operably coupled via the first output to circuitry external to the single integrated circuit; and
multiplexing, by the multiplexer circuitry, the second video data and the second audio data into a second multiplexed stream operably coupled via a second output to circuitry external to the single integrated circuit.
21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first video data, the first audio data, the second video data, and the second audio data are each compressed.
22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:
receiving, by encoder circuitry in the single integrated circuit, first uncompressed video data from a first video source external to the single integrated circuit and compress the first uncompressed video data to produce the first video data;
receiving, by the encoder circuitry, first uncompressed audio data from a first audio source external to the single integrated circuit and compress the first uncompressed audio data to produce the first audio data;
receiving, by the encoder circuitry, second uncompressed video data from a second video source external to the single integrated circuit and compress the second uncompressed video data to produce the second video data; and
receiving, by the encoder circuitry, second uncompressed audio data from a second audio source external to the single integrated circuit and compress the second uncompressed audio data to produce the second audio data.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:
receiving, by the encoder circuitry, the first uncompressed video data and the first uncompressed audio data via a first memory interface that interfaces directly with first storage external to the single integrated circuit; and
receiving, by the encoder circuitry, the second uncompressed video data and the second uncompressed audio data via a second memory interface that interfaces directly with second storage external to the single integrated circuit.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising synchronizing, by controller circuitry in the single integrated circuit, operation of the multiplexer circuitry and the encoder circuitry.
25. The method of claim 24, further comprising operably coupling the controller circuitry and a processor external to the single integrated circuit via a bus interface.
26. The method of claim 20, further comprising:
receiving, by the single integrated circuit, the first video data from a first video source external to the single integrated circuit;
receiving, by the single integrated circuit, the first audio data from a first audio source external to the single integrated circuit;
receiving, by the single integrated circuit, the second video data from a second video source external to the single integrated circuit; and
receiving, by the single integrated circuit, the second audio data from a second audio source external to the single integrated circuit.
27. The method of claim 20, further comprising performing a motion analysis on each of the first video data and the second video data using a corresponding plurality of search processors in the single integrated circuit.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the corresponding plurality of search processors is configured to operate in parallel upon a single macroblock, and each search processor operates at a different one of a plurality of resolutions.
29. A single-chip audiovideo encoder device, comprising:
a first encoder configured to generate first compressed video data and first compressed audio data;
a second encoder configured to generate second compressed video data and second compressed audio data;
a multiplexer configured to receive the first compressed video data and the first compressed audio data from the first encoder and to receive the second compressed video data and the second compressed audio data from the second encoder;
the multiplexer being configured, in a first mode, to multiplex the first compressed video data, the first compressed audio data, the second compressed video data, and the second compressed audio data into a first multiplexed stream operably coupled via a first output to circuitry external to the device; and
the multiplexer being configured, in a second mode, to:
multiplex the first compressed video data and the first compressed audio data into the first multiplexed stream operably coupled via the first output to circuitry external to the device; and
multiplex the second compressed video data and the second compressed audio data into a second multiplexed stream operably coupled via a second output to circuitry external to the device.

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 container assembly having a container, and a lid for mounting on the container, with a tamper evident mechanism located for operation between the container and the lid,
the lid having a lid skirt,
the tamper evident mechanism including at least one flange on either the container or lid and at least one corresponding projection on either the lid or container, respectively,
the container having a circumferential externally projecting barrier flange provided around a side wall of the container near to an upper end thereof and below the tamper evident mechanism, the barrier flange being located such that the lid skirt can extend downwardly thereto to prevent access to the tamper evident mechanism,
the flange and projection being substantially covered by the lid and being arranged such that when the lid is rotation mounted on the container, the flange moves relatively past the projection to a position such that removal of the lid by counter rotation may only occur by deforming or breaking either one or both of the flange and the projection,
the lid and barrier flange shielding the tamper evident mechanism to thereby restrict access to the tamper evident mechanism when the lid is mounted to the container, and
the lid substantially covering the flange and the projection during said lid counter rotation so that the flange and the projection remain inaccessible to tampering.
2. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the deforming or the breaking of either one or both of the flange and the projection is detectable by a user.
3. A container assembly of claim 1 wherein the projection is at least one finger projecting out from an external upper surface of the container and the flange is at least one shoulder projecting inwardly from the skirt of the lid, the finger and shoulder coming into engagement when the skirt is positioned over and around the upper surface of the container and the lid is rotated thereon, and wherein the projection and flange are positioned in proximity to a bayonet coupling mechanism for operation between the lid and container to fasten the same together.
4. The container assembly of claim 3 including three fingers and three corresponding shoulders.
5. The container assembly of claim 4 wherein the three fingers are located on the container upper surface above and aligned with a respective formation and each of the three shoulders are located on the skirt above and aligned with a respective element.
6. The container assembly of claim 3 including a stop positioned at one end of the bayonet coupling mechanism for delimiting the rotation of the lid during mounting on the container.
7. The container assembly of claim 6 wherein the delimiting location of the stop corresponds to a position in which the flange has moved past the projection.
8. The container assembly of claim 6 wherein the stop is defined by a closed end of a recess in a formation, such that an element eventually abuts a respective stop to delimit the rotation of the lid on the container.
9. The container assembly of claim 6 wherein the stop is part of the formation and projects upwardly from the barrier flange upper surface.
10. The container assembly of claim 9 wherein the barrier flange being located such that the lid skirt can extend downwardly thereto to prevent access to a projection and flange pair.
11. The container assembly of claim 3 wherein the bayonet coupling mechanism includes at least one element extending inwardly from the skirt of the lid and at least one formation located at the upper external surface of the container and defining a recess into which the element moves when the lid is rotation mounted to the container, the bayonet coupling mechanism enabling fastening of the lid to the container.
12. The container assembly of claim 11 wherein the recess is tapered to cause a progressive increase in interference as the element is moved progressively thereinto.
13. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein an underside of the lid andor an upper end of the container is provided with a sealing means which is engaged when the lid is mounted on the container to seal an opening thereat to the container.
14. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein temperature indicating patches are located on a sidewall of the container.
15. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the lid further includes a septum permitting the addition or removal of the contents of the container by hypodermic syringe.
16. The container assembly of claim 1 including a diagnostic test strip within the container for detecting predetermined substances.
17. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the container is nestable, having a base and sidewalls diverging upwardly and outwardly from the base to define an open top.
18. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the lid includes an upper portion hingedly connected to a lower portion, the upper portion being movable between an open position and a closed position.
19. The container assembly of claim 18 wherein the lower portion includes a peel away cover portion which, when peeled away, provides access to the container when the lid is mounted thereto, the cover portion being covered by the upper portion when in the closed position.
20. The container assembly of claim 1 wherein the lid has a projection with a closure mounted at the projection to cover an opening to a passage through the projection.
21. The container assembly of claim 20 including a sealing element located under the closure for closing the passage to fluid flow.
22. The container assembly of claim 20 wherein the closure itself is tamper evident and the projection is formed to be upstanding from the lid.
23. The container assembly of claim 20 wherein the projection is centrally located in the lid.
24. The container assembly of claim 20 wherein the closure is a ring pull formation including a tab defined within the closure that has a frangible sideline extending from a non-frangible hinge to the closure, with the ring connected to the tab, and such that pulling on the ring at a predetermined force causes the frangible sideline to break, thus exposing the passage.