All The Claims

1. A gaming device comprising:
at least one display device;
at least one input device;
at least one processor; and
at least one memory device which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least one display device and the at least one input device to control each play of a game by:
(a) causing a pick of one of a plurality of selections in one of a plurality of levels, wherein:
(i) at least one of said levels is related to at least another one of said levels;
(ii) a plurality of selections are in each of said levels, wherein for each of said levels, said selections in said level are only in said level;
(iii) at least one award is associated with at least one of said selections; and
(iv) only one of the selections in each of said levels may be picked;

(b) limiting at least one selection in at least another one of said levels from being subsequently picked in the play of the game prior to causing any picks of any selections in said level which includes the selection which is limited from being subsequently picked, wherein said level which includes the selection which is limited from being subsequently picked in the play of the game is related to the level of said picked selection;
(c) causing a repeat of (a) to (b) for at least another one of said levels, wherein (a) to (b) are repeated until a terminating event occurs; and
(d) causing a display of any award associated with the picked selections.
2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said selections is selectable by a player.
3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the level which includes the selection which is limited from being subsequently picked in the play of the game is directly related to the level of said picked selection.
4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the level which includes the selection which is limited from being subsequently picked in the play of the game is indirectly related to the level of said picked selection.
5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by said at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to control the play of the game by limiting a plurality of selections in at least one of said levels from being subsequently picked in the game, wherein said selections which are limited from being subsequently picked in the play of the game are based on the picked selection.
6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by said at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to control the play of the game by limiting a plurality of selections in a plurality of said levels from being subsequently picked in the game, wherein said selections which are limited from being subsequently picked in the play of the game are based on the picked selection.
7. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein said terminating event occurs if one of the selections in each of said levels is picked.
8. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein at least one terminator is associated with at least one of said selections and said terminating event occurs if the picked selection is associated with one of said terminators.
9. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein when executed by said at least one processor, said plurality of instructions cause the at least one processor to control the play of the game by causing: (i) a deselection of at least one of any previously selected selections; (ii) a selection of at least one of said previously unselected selections; or (iii) a deselection of at least one of any previously selected selections and a selection of at least one of said previously unselected selections.
10. A method of operating a gaming device, said method comprising:
(a) causing a pick of one of a plurality of selections in one of a plurality of levels, wherein at least one of said levels is related to at least another one of said levels, each of said levels includes a plurality of selections, wherein for each of said levels, said selections in said level are only in said level, and only one of the selections in each of said levels may be picked;
(b) causing at least one processor to execute a plurality of instructions to limit at least one selection in at least one of said levels from being subsequently picked prior to causing any picks of any selections in said level which includes the selection which is limited from being subsequently picked, wherein said level which includes the selection which is limited from being subsequently picked in the play of the game is related to the level of said picked selection;
(c) causing a repeat of (a) to (b) for at least another one of said levels, wherein (a) to (b) are repeated until a terminating event occurs; and
(d) causing at least one display device to display any award associated with the picked selections.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of said selections is selectable by a player.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein the level which includes the selection which is limited from being subsequently picked is directly related to the level of said picked selection.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein the level which includes the selection which is limited from being subsequently picked is indirectly related to the level of said picked selection.
14. The method of claim 10, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to limit a plurality of selections in at least one of said levels from being subsequently picked in the game, wherein said selections which are limited from being subsequently picked are based on the picked selection.
15. The method of claim 10, which includes causing the at least one processor to execute the plurality of instructions to limit a plurality of selections in a plurality of said levels from being subsequently picked in the game, wherein said selections which are limited from being subsequently picked are based on the picked selection.
16. The method of claim 10, wherein said terminating event occurs if one of the selections in each of said levels is picked.
17. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one terminator is associated with at least one of said selections and said terminating event occurs if the picked selection is associated with one of said terminators.
18. The method of claim 10, which includes causing: (i) a deselection of at least one of any previously selected selections; (ii) a selection of at least one of said previously unselected selections; or (iii) a deselection of at least one of any previously selected selections and a selection of at least one of said previously unselected selections.
19. The method of claim 10, which is provided through a data network.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data network is an internet.

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

What is claimed is:

1. A yarn parameter measuring instrument comprising an inlet yarn guiding element and n outlet yarn guiding element, and a plurality of sensing devices mounted successively within the instrument, each sensing device having at least one operative sensing element adapted to be responsive to a respective yarn parameter, wherein the yarn is guided through the instrument by contact only with the inlet and outlet guiding elements and the sensing elements that are contact operative.
2. An instrument according to claim 1, comprising a yarn tension sensing device.
3. An instrument according to claim 2, wherein the yarn tension sensing device has a contact operative sensing element which comprises a tension sensing pin.
4. An instrument according to claim 3, wherein the tension sensing pin has stress measuring means secured thereto responsive to the deflection of the tension sensing pin due to the tension in a yarn passing therearound.
5. An instrument according to claim 4, wherein the tension sensing pin comprises a supporting stem and the stress measuring means comprises at least one strain gauge secured to the stem.
6. An instrument according to claim 1, comprising an interlace sensing device.
7. An instrument according to claim 6, wherein the interlace sensing device has operative sensing elements comprising a laser beam generating device and a photo diode operable to receive the laser beam.
8. An instrument according to claim 1, comprising an oil content sensing device.
9. An instrument according to claim 8, wherein the oil content sensing device has contact operative sensing elements which comprise a first pin to which an electrical voltage is applied and a second pin adapted to measure the voltage on the yarn to determine the electrical resistance of the yarn between the first pin and the second pin.
10. An instrument according to claim 9, wherein substantially 200 volts are applied to the first pin.
11. An instrument according to claim 1, comprising, in succession, an interlace sensing device, a tension sensing device and an oil content sensing device.
12. An instrument according to claim 11, wherein the oil content sensing device has contact operative sensing elements which comprise a first pin to which an electrical voltage is applied and a second pin adapted to measure the voltage on the yarn to determine the electrical resistance of the yarn between the first pin and the second pin, and wherein the first pin is a tension sensing pin, and the second pin is the outlet guiding element.

1. A composite optical element comprising:
(a) at least one photochromic linear polarizing element comprising:
(i) an at least partially ordered polymeric sheet; and
(ii) a reversible organic photochromic-dichroic compound that is imbibed onto and at least partially aligned with the polymeric sheet and has an average absorption ratio of at least 1.5 in the activated state, said photochromic-dichroic compound having a first state having a first absorption state and a second state having a second absorption state different from the first absorption state, and being operable to transition from the first absorption state to the second absorption state in response to at least actinic radiation, and to linearly polarize transmitted radiation in at least the second state; and

(b) at least one birefringent layer comprising a polymeric coating or polymeric sheet connected to the photochromic linear polarizing element (a), wherein the composite optical element is operable to circularly or elliptically polarize transmitted radiation.
2. The composite optical element of claim 1 wherein said organic photochromic-dichroic material is chosen from:
(1) 3-phenyl-3-(4-(4-(3-piperidin-4-yl-propyl)piperidino)phenyl)-13,13-dimethyl-indeno2\u2032,3\u2032:3,4-naphtho1,2-bpyran;
(2) 3-phenyl-3-(4-(4-(3-(1-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperidin-4-yl)propyl)piperidino)phenyl)-13,13-dimethyl-indeno2\u2032,3\u2032:3,4naphtho1,2-bpyran;
(3) 3-phenyl-3-(4-(4-(4-butyl-phenylcarbamoyl)-piperidin-1-yl)phenyl)-13,13-dimethyl-6-methoxy-7-(4-phenyl-piperazin-1-yl)indeno2\u2032,3:3,4naphtho1,2-bpyran;
(4) 3-phenyl-3-(4-(1,4\u2032bipiperidinyl-1\u2032-yl)phenyl)-13,13-dimethyl-6-methoxy-7-(1,4\u2032bipiperidinyl-1\u2032-yl)indeno2\u2032,3\u2032:3,4naphtho1,2-bpyran;
(5) 3-phenyl-3-(4-(4-phenyl-piperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-13,13-dimethyl-6-methoxy-7-(4-(4-hexylbenzoyloxy)-piperidin-1-yl)indeno2\u2032,3\u2032:3,4naphtho1,2-bpyran; and
(6) 3-phenyl-3-(4-(4-phenyl-piperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-13,13-dimethyl-6-methoxy-7-(4-(4\u2032-octyloxy-biphenyl-4-carbonyloxy)-piperid-1-yl)indeno2\u2032,3\u2032:3,4naphtho1,2-bpyran.
3. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the at least partially ordered polymeric sheet (i) comprises self-assembling materials, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyimide, poly(meth)acrylate, polycyclic alkene, polyurethane, poly(urea)urethane, polythiourethane, polythio(urea)urethane, polyol(allyl carbonate), cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, polyalkene, polyalkylene-vinyl acetate, poly(vinylacetate), poly(vinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylformal), poly(vinylacetal), poly(vinylidene chloride), poly(ethylene terephthalate), polyester, polysulfone, polyolefin, copolymers thereof, andor mixtures thereof.
4. The composite optical element of claim 1 wherein the polymeric sheet (i) is chosen from a stretched polymer sheet, an at least partially ordered liquid crystal polymer sheet, and a photo-oriented polymer sheet.
5. The composite optical element of claim 1 wherein said polymeric sheet (i) comprises a sheet having a first ordered region having a first general direction, and at least one second ordered region adjacent the first ordered region having a second general direction that is the same or different from the first general direction so as to form a desired pattern in the sheet.
6. The composite optical element of claim 1, wherein the birefringent layer comprises a quarter-wave plate.
7. The composite optical element of claim 1 wherein said birefringent layer comprises a polymeric coating chosen from self-assembling materials and film-forming materials.
8. The composite optical element of claim 1 wherein said birefringent layer (b) comprises a polymeric sheet comprising self-assembling materials, polycarbonate, polyamide, polyimide, poly(meth)acrylate, polycyclic alkene, polyurethane, poly(urea)urethane, polythiourethane, polythio(urea)urethane, polyol(allyl carbonate), cellulose acetate, cellulose diacetate, cellulose triacetate, cellulose acetate propionate, cellulose acetate butyrate, alkylene-vinyl acetate, poly(vinylacetate), polyvinyl alcohol), poly(vinyl chloride), poly(vinylidene chloride), polyethylene terephthalate), polyester, polysulfone, polyolefin, copolymers thereof, andor mixtures thereof.
9. The composite optical element of claim 1 wherein said birefringent layer (b) comprises a layer having a first ordered region having a first general direction, and at least one second ordered region adjacent the first ordered region having a second general direction that is the same or different from the first general direction so as to form a desired pattern in the layer.
10. The composite optical element of claim 1 further comprises a substrate formed from organic materials, inorganic materials, or combinations thereof.
11. The composite optical element of claim 10 wherein said substrate is at least translucent.
12. The composite optical element of claim 10 wherein said substrate comprises untinted substrates, tinted substrates, photochromic substrates, tinted photochromic substrates, and linearly polarizing substrates.
13. The composite optical element of claim 1, wherein said optical element comprises ophthalmic elements, display elements, windows, mirrors, packaging materials andor active and passive liquid crystal cell elements.
14. The composite optical element of claim 13, wherein the ophthalmic element comprises corrective lenses, non-corrective lenses, contact lenses, intra-ocular lenses, magnifying lenses, protective lenses, or visors.
15. The composite optical element of claim 13, wherein the display element comprises screens, monitors, and security elements.
16. The composite optical element of claim 1 connected to a display element.
17. The composite optical element of claim 16 further comprising at least one additional at least partial coating chosen from photochromic coatings, anti-reflective coatings, linearly polarizing coatings, transitional coatings, primer coatings, adhesive coatings, mirrored coatings and protective coatings.

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 compensating for disabilities of a user when presenting media assets, the method comprising:
determining, by a user device, a measure of a sensory disability of a user;
receiving, by the user device, a media asset;
determining, by the user device, based on the measure of the sensory disability of the user, whether the user can comprehend the media asset by:
determining a user disability level, wherein the user disability level is based on the measure of sensory disability of the user;
determining a threshold disability level for the media asset, wherein the threshold disability level indicates a measure of disability that would prevent users from comprehending the media asset; and
comparing the threshold disability level to the user disability level;

in response to determining the user cannot comprehend the media asset based on the measure of the sensory disability of the user, requesting supplemental data, wherein the supplemental data corresponds to the measure of the sensory disability of the user; and
supplementing, by the user device, the media asset with the supplemental data such that the user can comprehend the media asset.
2. (canceled)
3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the threshold disability level for the media asset, further comprises individually determining threshold disability levels for a plurality of media asset.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising not supplementing the media asset with the supplemental data in response to determining that the threshold disability level is below the user disability level.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining an adjusted threshold disability level for a presentation of the media asset with the supplemental data wherein the adjusted threshold disability level indicates a measure of disability that would prevent users from comprehending the media asset with the supplemental data;
comparing the adjusted threshold disability level to the user disability level; and
supplementing the media asset with the supplemental data in response to determining that the user disability level exceeds the adjusted threshold disability level.
6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:
determining a difference between the threshold disability level and the user disability level; and
cross-referencing the difference with a database associated with measures for disabilities to identify the supplemental data based on the supplemental data resulting in the adjusted threshold disability level being below the user disability level.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the measure of the sensory disability of the user, further comprises:
monitoring user inputs, associated with media assets, of the user to generate a user profile; and
cross-referencing the user profile with a database associated with measures for disabilities to determine the measure of the sensory disability of a user.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising in response to determining that the supplemental data is not available, presenting an alternative media asset.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a measure of blindness of the user; and in response to the determining, supplementing the media asset with supplemental data in an audio format.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining a measure of deafness of the user; and in response to the determining, supplementing the media asset with supplemental data in a video format.
11. A system for compensating for disabilities of a user when presenting media assets, the system comprising control circuitry to:
determine a measure of a sensory disability of a user;
receive a media asset;
determine based on the measure of the sensory disability of the user, whether the user can comprehend the media asset by:
determining a user disability level, wherein the user disability level is based on the measure of sensory disability of the user;
determining a threshold disability level for the media asset, wherein the threshold disability level indicates a measure of disability that would prevent users from comprehending the media asset; and
comparing the threshold disability level to the user disability level;

in response to determining the user cannot comprehend the media asset based on the measure of the sensory disability of the user, request supplemental data, wherein the supplemental data corresponds to the measure of the sensory disability of the user; and
supplement the media asset with the supplemental data such that the user can comprehend the media asset.
12. (canceled)
13. The system of claim 11, wherein determining the threshold disability level for the media asset, further comprises individually determining threshold disability levels for a plurality of media asset.
14. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to not supplement the media asset with the supplemental data in response to determining that the threshold disability level is below the user disability level.
15. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine an adjusted threshold disability level for a presentation of the media asset with the supplemental data wherein the adjusted threshold disability level indicates a measure of disability that would prevent users from comprehending the media asset with the supplemental data;
compare the adjusted threshold disability level to the user disability level; and
supplement the media asset with the supplemental data in response to determining that the user disability level exceeds the adjusted threshold disability level.
16. The system of claim 15, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a difference between the threshold disability level and the user disability level; and
cross-reference the difference with a database associated with measures for disabilities to identify the supplemental data based on the supplemental data resulting in the adjusted threshold disability level being below the user disability level.
17. The system of claim 11, wherein determining the measure of the sensory disability of the user, further comprises:
monitoring user inputs, associated with media assets, of the user to generate a user profile; and
cross-referencing the user profile with a database associated with measures for disabilities to determine the measure of the sensory disability of a user.
18. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to present an alternative media asset in response to determining that the supplemental data is not available.
19. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a measure of blindness of the user; and
in response to the determining, supplementing the media asset with supplemental data in an audio format.
20. The system of claim 11, wherein the control circuitry is further configured to:
determine a measure of deafness of the user; and
in response to the determining, supplement the media asset with supplemental data in a video format.
21-40. (canceled)