Abstract: A small form-factor electronic device is provided which is configured to store audio, text, and/or video content and control delivery of such content from a user interface on the electronic device. Such device may be coupled to an audio/visual playback device to receive and output the delivered content to users. The electronic device may also provide a security mechanism that inhibits unauthorized copying of the content stored in the electronic device. The electronic device may provide a convenient way for storing and/or delivering publications (e.g., books, articles, printed news, etc.) in audio and/or text form.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a multilayer printed circuit board, including embedded electrically conductive elements formed as part of the fabrication of the layers of the printed circuit board. An insulating layer and a conductive layer are then pressed over the electrically conductive elements such that the electrically conductive elements protrude from the surface of the conductive layer. A mechanical process is the applied to remove these protrusions to expose the embedded electrically conductive elements. An electrically conductive undercoat may be applied over the surface of the conductive layer and a second circuit pattern is formed over the electrically conductive undercoat.

Abstract: A radio frequency identification (RFID) tag is coupled to a circuit board to track the specific operating and environmental conditions of each manufacturing stage as the circuit board passes through the manufacturing stages. An RFID reader and data collector are used at each stage to read the RFID tag and store its identifying information along with processing information, operating conditions, and results for each stage. This permits to quickly and accurately collect manufacturing information for each circuit board at various manufacturing stages as well as the operating conditions for each stage at a particular time. Such manufacturing metrics can then be retrieved on a stage-by-stage basis for a particular circuit board by an identifier printed on the circuit board.

Abstract: A self-tuning antenna that automatically adjusts its input impedance to compensate for externally induced impedance variations is provided. A variable impedance is adjusted by a control circuit to reconfigure the input impedance of than antenna to compensate for different environmental situations and different transponder mismatch situations. A negative-feedback signal is employed to determine or infer impedance mismatches and reconfigure the antenna input impedance (e.g., capacitance and/or resistance) until a desired equilibrium of the antenna input impedance is reached. A reference measurement (e.g., VSWR measurement) is automatically performed by an antenna tuning circuit that adjusts the antenna's impedance matching circuit to compensate for object interference. The antenna's impedance matching circuit includes a variable capacitor circuit having a plurality of individually controlled parallel plate capacitors that can be added or removed from the variable capacitor circuit, as necessary.