Abstract: An image rejection quadratic filter is tunable to filter image frequencies over a wide band. In one embodiment, the image rejection filter includes in-phase and quadrature phase mixers. The image rejection has a fractional transfer function. The image rejection filter has two sub-circuits, wherein the first sub-circuit produces the imaginary component of the transfer function, and the second sub-circuit produces the real component of the transfer function. The first sub-circuit receives the Q signal, and the second sub-circuit receives the I signal. In one embodiment, to create the fractional transfer function, a multi-feedback looped integrator is used.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for generating multi-layer topological routes in a region of a design layout. The method selects a net that has routable elements on a several interconnect layers. For the selected net, the method defines a topological route that connects the selected net's routable elements. The topological route includes a topological via that specifies the defined route's traversal from one interconnect layer to another interconnect layer, without having a coordinate within the region.

Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide novel methods for removing acute angles form routes in a design layout. The method reacts a route with several segments. It then identifies an acute angle between first and second contiguous segments of the route. The method next inserts a third segment between the first and second segments, where the third segment has an associated shape that fills the acute angle between the first and second segments.

Abstract: A multi-tiered system for responding to natural language queries is using disclosed. The query resolution system returns zero or more links to content that is relevant to the users query. The present invention for query resolution combines two or more types of natural language query resolution methods, where the knowledge base for each of the methods comes from a single knowledge specification. The various different natural language query resolution methods differ fundamentally in how they match the user query to the web site content. The results of the resolution methods are ranked and all, some, or none of the results of each system may be displayed.