Systems and methods for implementing FlexRay communications between FlexRay nodes using Ethernet are provided. An Ethernet switch includes ports, each of which receives an Ethernet data packet (EDP) from a respective FlexRay node. Each EDP includes a FlexRay message, which includes at least one of a data frame and a frame identification (ID). A first EDP is received at a first port no later than a second EDP is received at a second port. The Ethernet switch also includes a controller module that determines whether the second EDP has higher priority than the first EDP based on the frame IDs associated with the first and second EDPs. The controller module is configured to route the second EDP to a second destination no later than routing the first EDP to a first destination and meet FlexRay transmission cycle times when it has been determined that the second EDP has higher priority.

A multi-participant conference system and method is described. The multi-participant system includes a PSTN client, at least one remote client and a first participant client. The PSTN client communicates audio data and the remote clients communicate audio-video data. The first participant client includes a voice over IP (VoIP) encoder, a VoIP decoder, a first audio mixer, and a second audio mixer. The VoIP encoder compresses audio data transported to the PSTN client. The VoIP decoder then decodes audio data from the PSTN client. The first audio mixer mixes the decoded audio data from the PSTN client with the audio-video data from the first participant into a first mixed audio-video data stream transmitted to the remote client. The second audio mixer mixes the audio-video data stream from the first participant with the audio-video data stream from each remote client into a second mixed audio transmitted to the PSTN client.

The present invention relates to a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and to an apparatus for transmitting an SRS in a multi-antenna system. The method comprises the steps of: acquiring specific information for discriminating a first antenna group and a second antenna group from among a plurality of antennas, wherein said first antenna group includes one or more antennas which are set to a turned-on state to perform communication with a base station, and said second antenna group includes one or more other antennas which are set to a turned-off state; transmitting an SRS to the base station if a predetermined condition is satisfied, under the condition that the second antenna group is set to the turned-off state; and setting the second antenna group to a turned-off state after the transmission of the SRS.

A method and apparatus for mixing fluids, such as beverage syrup and water, uses countercurrent injection to improve blending of the fluids. A mixing chamber has a first inlet through which a first fluid is fed to the mixing chamber, and a second inlet through which a countercurrent injection nozzle extends and is operative to inject a second fluid into a stream of the first fluid. The countercurrent injection nozzle is equipped with a check valve to control the flow of fluid into the mixing chamber. The mixing chamber may include additional inlets that may be fitted with countercurrent injection nozzles to permit the countercurrent injection of other fluid, such as flavorings, into the stream of the first fluid.

An apparatus, system and method for mixing and dispensing dental impression materials is described. A dental impression material mixing machine comprises a water dispenser fluidly coupled to a hollow mixing axle, the mixing axle extending through a pulley, wherein an inner circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a water conduit and an outer circumference of the hollow mixing axle forms a hub connector, a closeable valve inserted at a water entrance to the water conduit and electronically coupled to a water pump, an electronically commutated motor rotatably coupled to the pulley, wherein the hub connector receives a tubular rotatable hub of a disposable mixing vessel comprising dry dental impression powder, and wherein water is dispensed from the water dispenser into the disposable mixing vessel through the water conduit and hub orifice.

The present invention is directed to ethanamine compounds, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same, and methods of treating depression by administering the ethanamine compound.

The present invention relates to novel synthetic substituted heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same that are capable of inhibiting or antagonizing a family of receptor tyrosine kinases, Tropomysosin Related Kinases (Trk), in particular the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor, TrkA. The invention further concerns the use of such compounds in the treatment and/or prevention of pain, cancer, restenosis, atherosclerosis, psoriasis, thrombosis, or a disease, disorder or injury relating to dysmyelination or demyelination or the disease or disorder associated with abnormal activities of NGF receptor TrkA.

The present invention relates to the use of selective adenosine A1 agonists, in particular the dicyanopyridines of formula (I), for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of glaucoma and ocular hypertension as well as the their use for the production of a medicament for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

A fastening assembly includes a connecting member, a mounting member mounted to the connecting member, and a sliding member. The mounting member includes a first fixing portion. The sliding member is slidably received in the mounting member and the connecting member. The sliding member includes a first end exposed out of the first fixing portion, and a second end slidably received in the connecting member. The second end of the sliding member is operable to be extended out of or substantially coplanar with an end of the connecting member. The fastening assembly can be utilized to mount a heat sink to a board.

A process for producing hollow bolts including a longitudinal bore with the hollow bolts being provided with circumferential notches. The hollow bolts are provided with longitudinal grooves extending between elevations determining the bolt diameter, wherein circumferential notches are rolled onto the hollow bolts provided with the longitudinal grooves and the elevations, the longitudinal grooves being of such cross-section that some of the material displaced during rolling-on of the notches flows into the longitudinal grooves.

The polishing solution for CMP according to the invention comprises abrasive grains, an additive and water, and the polishing solution comprises an organic compound satisfying specified conditions as the additive. The polishing method of the invention is for polishing of a substrate having a silicon oxide film on the surface, and the polishing method comprises a step of polishing the silicon oxide film with a polishing pad while supplying the polishing solution for CMP between the silicon oxide film and the polishing pad.

A combined processing tool includes a shank of a cylindrical shape, a mandrel fixed to the shank, a frame rotation-universally fitted outside the mandrel, a burnishing unit for performing a burnishing to an inner peripheral surface of a workpiece by rolling members, a dimple forming unit for performing a dimple forming to the surface of the workpiece by surface compression members so as to universally appear from and disappear in the frame, a body fixed to a top portion of the shank, and a skiving unit for performing a cutting, wherein, on an outer peripheral region of the mandrel, an outer peripheral surface 31c and a concave and convex shape area which consists of concave parts and convex parts alternately arranged along an outer peripheral direction of the mandrel are formed, and wherein the concave and convex parts are alternately engaged in the compression members with being rotated.

Particularly, a thin-film solar cell panel or the like is processed without necessity of attaching and detaching of mask and washing steps with respect to a workpiece in a fine blasting employing a fine abrasive. A negative pressure space (20) and an opposing negative pressure space (40) having openings (22, 42) are opposed by being spaced at a movement allowable interval of the workpiece such as a thin-film solar cell panel or the like and so as to face one side edge in the same direction as a moving direction of the workpiece. Further, a fine abrasive is injected while relatively moving the workpiece in a moving direction (T) with respect to a blast gun (30) in which an injection hole (31) is disposed within the negative pressure space (20), and the fine abrasive injected into the negative pressure space (20) and/or the opposing negative pressure space (40) and a cut and removed cut scrap such as a thin film layer or the like are sucked and recovered through the intermediary of suction devices (21a, 21b) and/or an opposing suction device (41) respectively communicating with the spaces (20) and/or (40).

Methods and apparatus for making and using tools, for example concrete cutting blades. The tool includes a first layer and second layer that are oppositely disposed. The first and second layers include working surfaces that support at least one working element when the working element is applied to a work piece. Additionally, an intermediate structure is included between the first and second layers. The intermediate structure can include a plurality of components extending in the area between the structural surfaces and the working surfaces.

Provided is a lubricating oil composition for sizing which is excellent in machinability and degreasing efficiency and which is excellent in compatibility with an impregnating oil and a sintered metal of oil impregnated bearings. A lubricating oil composition for sizing, including (A) a lubricating base oil having a kinematic viscosity of 0.5 to 100 mm2/s at 40° C. and compounded therein (B) an extreme-pressure agent in an amount of 0.1 to 10% by mass, and (C) a metal deactivator in an amount of 0.01 to 5% by mass, each based on a total amount of the composition.

The present invention provide a two-component anti-seizure agent for hot metal working process comprising the first aqueous solution and the second aqueous solution, wherein the first aqueous solution contains 10˜30 mass % of sodium silicate equivalent to anhydride to 100 mass % of total mass of the first aqueous solution, and the second aqueous solution contains at least one kind selected from a group consisting of: an organic acid and water-soluble amine salts thereof, an inorganic acid and water-soluble amine salts thereof, a water-soluble amine, a water-soluble alcohol, and a water-soluble metal chloride. When the two-component anti-seizure agent is applied onto disk-roll type guide shoes, it can be provided and maintained on the circumferential surface of the disk-roll type guide shoes without washed away by rolls' cooling water. Thereby, the anti-seizure agent does not adhere to rolls and the rolls and a pipe material do not cause slippage each other. Thus, it is capable to carry out piercing-rolling of the pipe material.

The invention relates to a machine part comprising a first physical component, wherein: the first physical component is configured for moving relative to a second physical component; the first physical component has a first surface with a contact area for physical contact with the second physical component; the first physical component is shaped spatially complementarity to the second physical component at the contact area, and a polyelectrolyte layer is present on the first surface at a location of the contact area. The invention further relates to a machine comprising the present machine part and the second physical component. In addition, the invention relates to the use of a polyelectrolyte layer to reduce the friction between the first physical component and the second physical component, and a rolling-elements bearing.

The invention provides a lubricant composition containing (A) an ionic liquid having an anion represented by formula 1: (Rf1-SO2) (Rf2-SO2) N− or formula 2: (Rf3) (Rf3) (Rf3) PF3− wherein Rf1 and Rf2 in formula 1 may be the same or different and are each F, CF3, C2F5, C3F7 or C4F9, and Rf3 in formula 2 may be the same or different and is CF3, C2F5, C3F7 or C4F9; and (B) a fatty acid amine salt in an amount of 0.1 to 5.0 mass %. The lubricant composition of the invention can favorably be used under a high vacuum or an ultra high vacuum, or under high temperatures, and exhibits excellent rust prevention properties.

Lubrication additives of the current invention require formation of emulsions in base lubricants, created with an aqueous salt solution plus a single-phase compound such that partitioning within the resulting emulsion provides thermodynamically targeted compounds for boundary layer organization thus establishing anti-friction and/or anti-wear. The single-phase compound is termed “boundary layer organizer”, abbreviated BLO. These emulsion-contained compounds energetically favor association with tribologic surfaces in accord with the Second Law of Thermodynamics, and will organize boundary layers on those surfaces in ways specific to the chemistry of the salt and BLO additives. In this way friction modifications may be provided by BLOs targeted to boundary layers via emulsions within lubricating fluids, wherein those lubricating fluids may be water-based or oil-based.

Provided are a lubricant composition capable of reducing friction between sliding parts at least one of which contains an aluminum-based material in a lubrication section, and a method for lubricating an aluminum-based member with the composition. The lubricant composition is for use in a lubrication section having sliding parts at least one of which contains an aluminum-based material, and contains a lubricant base oil and at least one of a phosphorus-containing carboxylic compound and a metal salt thereof (component (A)) at 0.001 to 1 mass % of the composition in terms of phosphorus. The composition may suitably be used as lubricant such as drive train lubricant for automatic or manual transmissions, grease, wet brake oil, hydraulic actuation oil, turbine oil, compressor oil, bearing oil, refrigerant oil, and the like used in apparatus having the sliding parts.

The invention provides optical interconnects of data-processing cores of multicore chips by means of digital planar holographic microchips. The method comprises delivering “N” laser lights to “N” data-processing cores on the host chip, coding the obtained optical signals by modulating them with the core-generated data, and then delivering the modulated and coded optical signals to a holographic microchip formed on the same substrate of the host chip as the data-processing cores, splitting the modulated and coded optical signals into (N−1)N modulated optical copy signals, delivering the copy signals to all data-processing cores except the one that generates the copy signals, and decoding the data obtained from the output signals delivered to the processing cores by the receivers. The method is efficient in that it allows replacing electrical interconnects between the cores with optical interconnects and can be matched to current semiconductor production technology.

A skiving tool for manufacturing a rotationally symmetrical periodical structure on a work piece by means of a power skiving method. The skiving tool comprises a base body comprising a central rotation axis and a plurality of receiving openings and a plurality of cutter bars, fewer than or equal to the number of receiving openings. Each of the receiving openings has an elongate shape having a longitudinal axis, and the receiving openings can be arranged uniformly around the central rotation axis. The longitudinal axes of the receiving openings are generators of a rotation hyperboloid, which is arranged rotationally symmetrical to the central rotation axis.

A cutting insert of the present invention includes an upper surface; a lower surface; a side surface; a cutting edge which is located along an intersection of the upper surface and the side surface, and comprises a major cutting edge, a flat cutting edge, and a minor cutting edge located between the major cutting edge and the flat cutting edge; and a land part located along the cutting edge on the upper surface. The land part includes a minor cutting edge land portion located correspondingly to the minor cutting edge. The minor cutting edge land portion is inclined downward toward a central part of the upper surface. The present invention also provides a cutting tool including the cutting insert, and a method of manufacturing a machined product by using the cutting tool.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sintered cBN compact having excellent wear resistance and fracture resistance even in machining centrifugally cast iron having a property of being difficult to machine, and to provide a sintered cBN compact tool. A sintered cBN compact of the present invention contains 20% by volume or more and 65% by volume or less of cBN and, as a binder, 34% by volume or more and less than 80% by volume of Al2O3, at least one selected from the group consisting of nitrides, carbides, carbonitrides, borides, and boronitrides of Zr and solid solutions thereof (hereinafter, referred to as “X”), and ZrO2, the total amount of X and ZrO2 being 1.0% by volume or more and 6.0% by volume or less, the volume ratio of ZrO2 to Al2O3, ZrO2/Al2O3, being 0.010 or more and less than 0.100, in which the ratio Itetragonal ZrO2(101)/IαAl2O3(110) is 0.1 or more and 3 or less, where Itetragonal ZrO2(101) is the intensity of the (101) plane of tetragonal ZrO2 and IαAl2O3(110) is the intensity of the (110) plane of αAl2O3 among X-ray diffraction peaks of the sintered cBN compact.

A cutting insert includes an upper surface; a lower surface; a side surface which is connected to each of the upper surface and the lower surface and includes a first side surface, a second side surface and a third side surface being adjacent to each other in order; an upper cutting edge including an upper major cutting edge located at an intersection of the upper surface and the first side surface, and an upper flat cutting edge located closer to the upper major cutting edge in an intersection of the upper surface and the second side surface; and a lower cutting edge including a lower major cutting edge located at an intersection of the lower surface and the third side surface, and a lower flat cutting edge located closer to the lower major cutting edge in an intersection of the lower surface and the second side surface. The second side surface comprises an upper flank surface connected to the upper flat cutting edge, and a lower flank surface connected to the lower flat cutting edge. As going from the upper surface to the lower surface, the upper flank surface is closer to a central axis extending between the upper surface and the lower surface and the lower flank surface is separated from the central axis in a side sectional view. A cutting tool including the cutting insert, and a method of manufacturing a machined product by using the cutting tool are also provided.

In a cutting tool for chip removing machining a holder for a cutter has a body received therein and movable with surfaces to bear against the cutter for defining the position of the cutter in the direction of an intended axis of rotation of the holder as well as a screw which may be screwed in a threaded bore in the holder. Spring members are arranged to act between the holder and the body for biasing the body against said screw portions.

A cutting insert having excellent chip discharge performance is provided. The cutting insert (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an upper surface (2), a lower surface (3), a side surface (4) connected to the upper surface (2) and the lower surface (3), and a cutting edge (5) which is located at an intersection of the upper surface (2) and the side surface (4), and includes a major cutting edge (51) and a flat cutting edge (52). The major cutting edge (51) includes a major cutting section (512) which has a concave shape and is inclined downward as a straight line connecting both ends thereof is away from the flat cutting edge (52) in a side view. A cutting tool (11) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the cutting insert (1) and a holder (10) configured to attach the cutting insert (1) thereto.

A cutting insert according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an upper surface; a lower surface; a side surface located between the upper surface and the lower surface; at least one concave part extending in a thickness direction in the side surface, and having one end thereof located at the upper surface; and a cutting edge which is located at an intersection region of the upper surface and the side surface, and is divided into a plurality of divided cutting edges with the at least one concave part interposed therebetween. The upper surface includes a first raised part located inwardly of the at least one concave part, and a plurality of second raised parts respectively located inwardly of the plurality of divided cutting edges. The plurality of the second raised parts are located inward compared to one end of the first raised part close to the cutting edge in a top view. A cutting tool including the cutting insert, and a method of manufacturing a machined product using the cutting tool are also provided.

A cutting insert according to an embodiment of the invention includes: an upper surface; a lower surface; a side surface which is connected to each of the upper surface and the lower surface, and includes a first side surface and a second side surface adjacent to each other; and a cutting edge including a major cutting edge located at an intersection of the upper surface and the first side surface, and a minor cutting edge located at an intersection of the upper surface and the second side surface. The upper surface includes a rake surface which is located along the major cutting edge, and is inclined downward as the upper surface separates from the major cutting edge. The second side surface includes a second upper constraining surface and a second lower constraining surface in order as the second side surface goes from the upper surface to the lower surface. The second upper constraining surface is inclined inward at an inclination angle α1 with reference to a central axis extending between the upper surface and the lower surface. The second lower constraining surface is continuous with the second upper constraining surface, and is inclined outward at an inclination angle α2 with reference to the central axis. A cutting tool with the cutting inserts, and a method of manufacturing a machined product by using the cutting tool are also provided.

An apparatus for storing and dispensing a test strip includes a container configured to store a stack of test strips. The container maintains appropriate environmental conditions, such as humidity, for storing the test strips. An engaging member is disposed in the container and is adapted to contact one test strip of the stack of test strips. An actuator actuates the engaging member to dispense the one test strip from the container. Since one test strip is dispensed at a time, the remaining test strips are not handled by the user. Accordingly, the unused test strips remain free of contaminants such as naturally occurring oils on the user's hand.

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus and process for forming medical devices from an injectable composition. The apparatus includes a supply assembly configured to maintain and selective dispense a first precursor and a second precursor, a mixing assembly configured to mix the first and second precursors, and at least one catalyzing element including a transition metal ion to aid in the polymerization of the first and second precursors. The process includes dispensing a volume of the first precursor and a volume of the second precursor into a mixing assembly and mixing the first and second precursors. The first and second precursors each possess a core and at least one functional group known to have click reactivity with each other. The mixed precursors are contacted with a transition metal catalyst to produce a flowable composition for use as a medical device.

The present invention extends to a disinfection cap for disinfecting a male luer end of an infusion therapy device. The disinfection cap can include an internal reservoir containing an antimicrobial or saline solution which is sealed with a flexible septum to prevent the solution from evaporating. The septum can include one or more slits or pierceable seams that allow a male luer end of an infusion therapy device to be inserted through the septum and into the solution. While the male luer is inserted through the septum, the solution contacts both the inner and outer surfaces of the male luer. Because the septum reduces evaporation of the solution and prevents the solution from leaking out of the cap, the solution remains in contact with the male luer for a longer duration then when typical disinfection caps are used thereby increasing the effectiveness of the disinfectant.

A biosensor is provided. The biosensor is used to sense a biological sample and has a code representing features of the biosensor. The biosensor includes a substrate and a conductive layer. The conductive layer is disposed on a first side of the substrate and includes a first conductive loop and a second conductive loop. The first conductive loop is formed between a first node and a second node and has a first impedance. The second conductive loop is formed between the second node and a third node and has a second impedance. The code is determined according to a comparison result between the second impedance and the first impedance.

Bioprinting station (1) comprising:—a Bioprinting device (4) adapted to deposit a pattern of biological material (2) onto an area of interest (3a) of a substrate (3),—an imaging system (15) adapted to acquire an image of the substrate (3) and to reveal on the acquired image the area of interest (3a) with respect to a remaining part (3b) of the substrate (3), the acquired image of the substrate (3) being processed so as to detect the revealed area of interest (3a) on the acquired image and to determine the pattern corresponding to the area of interest (3a) detected on the acquired image.

A sensing device including an inlet port for receiving a fluid, a measurement chamber for sensing the fluid, a fluid channel coupling the inlet port and the measurement chamber for transporting the fluid from the inlet port to the measurement chamber, and a fluid stop unit for stopping and controllably releasing the flow of fluid between the inlet port and the measurement chamber.

The present invention is for extremely pure solutions of chlorine dioxide, methods for making such solutions and to compositions and methods for storing, shipping and using such solutions. Generally, the chlorine dioxide solutions of the invention are aqueous solutions containing about 2500 ppm or less of total impurities. The chlorine dioxide solution can be prepare by passing dilute highly pure chlorine gas through a bed of substantially solid sodium chlorite and contacting the resulting chlorine dioxide gas with a liquid.

Systems and methods for processing and analyzing samples are disclosed. The system may process samples, such as biological fluids, using assay cartridges which can be processed at different processing locations. In some cases, the system can be used for PCR processing. The different processing locations may include a preparation location where samples can be prepared and an analysis location where samples can be analyzed. To assist with the preparation of samples, the system may also include a number of processing stations which may include processing lanes. During the analysis of samples, in some cases, thermal cycler modules and an appropriate optical detection system can be used to detect the presence or absence of certain nucleic acid sequences in the samples. The system can be used to accurately and rapidly process samples.

This disclosure describes an optical method of detecting the presence of pressure-sensitive labels, using the reflective properties of their edges. Labels that are removably attached to a liner are moved through a light beam that is directed across their direction of motion so the light impinges on the labels at a predetermined angle of incidence. The light remains in its plane of incidence when it reflects off all parts of the liner and labels except the labels' edges. Due to the angularity of the labels' edges, the light beam is deflected out of the plane of incidence upon reflection off the edges, thus enabling detection of the label edges by light reflected out of the plane of incidence.

The present invention pertains to systems and methods for the capture of information regarding scenes using single or multiple three-dimensional LADAR systems. Where multiple systems are included, those systems can be placed in different positions about the imaged scene such that each LADAR system provides different viewing perspectives and/or angles. In accordance with further embodiments, the single or multiple LADAR systems can include two-dimensional focal plane arrays, in addition to three-dimensional focal plane arrays, and associated light sources for obtaining three-dimensional information about a scene, including information regarding the contours of the objects within the scene. Processing of captured image information can be performed in real time, and processed scene information can include data frames that comprise three-dimensional and two-dimensional image data.

A portable, tabletop fluid sampling device simplifies spectral analysis to produce an accurate but inexpensive chromatic fingerprint for fluid samples. In one embodiment, the sampling device uses an array of variable wavelength LED emitters and photodiode detectors to measure Rayleigh scattering of electromagnetic energy from the fluid sample contained in a cuvette. Either the fluid itself, or particles suspended in the fluid can then be identified by performing spectral pattern matching to compare results of a spectral scan against a library of known spectra. A wide range of applications include substance identification, security screening, authentication, quality control, and medical diagnostics.

An estimation device is configured to estimate a feature value of a specific component contained in a sample and includes: a spectral estimation parameter storage module; a calibration parameter storage module; a multiband image acquirer; an optical spectrum operator configured to compute an optical spectrum from a multiband image using a spectral estimation parameter; and a calibration processor configured to compute the feature value from the optical spectrum using a calibration parameter.

A system for imposing and analyzing surface acoustic waves in a substrate to determine characteristics of the substrate is disclosed. Optical elements and arrangements for imposing and analyzing surface acoustic waves in a substrate are also disclosed. NSOM's, gratings, and nanolight elements may be used to impose surface acoustic waves in a substrate and may also be used to measure transient changes in the substrate due to the passage of surface acoustic waves therethrough.

An optical system for occupancy sensing according to the invention includes a plurality of optical line sensors, each consisting of a linear array of light sensing elements; and an optical light integrating device that integrates light from rays with incidence angles subject to geometric constraints to be sensed by a light sensing element.

A system, that includes a hybrid sensor that comprises: a monochromatic portion that is arranged to obtain a monochromatic image of a first area of an object; a multiple-color portion that is arranged to obtain a multi-colored image of a second area of the object; wherein the monochromatic portion comprises monochromatic sensing elements that sense radiation of a same frequency band; wherein the multiple-color portion comprises color sensing elements of different types, wherein different types of color sensing elements are associated with different frequency bands.

A biochip for the integration of all steps in a complex process from the insertion of a sample to the generation of a result, performed without operator intervention includes microfluidic and macrofluidic features that are acted on by instrument subsystems in a series of scripted processing steps. Methods for fabricating these complex biochips of high feature density by injection molding are also provided.

Provided is a power conversion system that includes a first transformer adapted to be connected to an AC network, the first transformer including a first primary winding and two first secondary windings, and two power converters, each being connected to a first respective secondary winding. The system further includes a second transformer and a secondary electrical device, the second transformer including a second primary winding and two second secondary windings, each second secondary winding being connected to a respective first secondary winding, and the secondary device being connected to the second primary winding.

A Low Forward Voltage Rectifier (LFVR) circuit includes a bipolar transistor, a parallel diode, and a capacitive current splitting network. The LFVR circuit, when it is performing a rectifying function, conducts the forward current from a first node to a second node provided that the voltage from the first node to the second node is adequately positive. The capacitive current splitting network causes a portion of the forward current to be a base current of the bipolar transistor, thereby biasing the transistor so that the forward current experiences a low forward voltage drop across the transistor. The LFVR circuit sees use in as a rectifier in many different types of switching power converters, including in flyback, Cuk, SEPIC, boost, buck-boost, PFC, half-bridge resonant, and full-bridge resonant converters. Due to the low forward voltage drop across the LFVR, converter efficiency is improved.

A high voltage full wave rectifier and doubler circuit having complementary serially connected low voltage MOSFET stacks to provide high voltage capability. The state of the MOSFETs in the MOSFET stacks is controlled by means of resistors coupled between the circuit's outputs and a time varying input signal. The resistance values of the resistors are selected to maintain operation of the stacked MOSFETs below their breakdown voltages.

A digital jukebox (14) allows for playback of a first offering and a second offering. The contents of each offering are individually licensed for public performance at a particular location where the jukebox is found. The jukebox (14) displays advertisements that are selected in response to user interaction with the jukebox or a number of other factors. The jukebox (14) features a screen (18 and 20) that allows user to interact with the jukebox to select offerings, but also to respond to advertising. Jukebox can function in cooperation with a server (12), but in the alternate, can function as an independent and stand-alone device when connection (16) to server (12) is not available.

A wireless media player and a related system and methodology are disclosed. One aspect of the wireless media player system pertains to a virtual connector system, apparatus, and method for the automatic establishment of wireless connectivity with other electronic devices. In one embodiment, the media player device employs the use of integrated Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to exchange communication settings, media capability, and other parameters with an external device that also has integrated RFID technology. The automatic exchange of settings and other information via a proximity-based RFID data exchange allows a media player to quickly establish a secure communication link with another device via a commonly supported wireless protocol such as Ultra Wideband (UWB) or Bluetooth. Another aspect of the media player system pertains to a method of using the captured media capability of the connecting device to customize certain menu options and software parameters in the media player.