Disclosed is a circuit, comprising a device having a minimum operating voltage, a voltage supply, wherein the voltage supply may have a value above or below or equal to the minimum operating voltage of the device, a voltage boost converter circuit having a boosted voltage output, a switch coupled between the voltage supply, the boosted voltage output and the device, wherein the switch is capable of passing one of the voltage supply or the boosted voltage output to the device, and a processing element capable of controlling the switch. A system comprising the circuit and a method of using the circuit are further described.

One of the leading challenges facing designers of wireless products is achieving acceptable battery life without requiring large batteries that would impact the weight and form factor of the product. An important step in increasing battery life of wireless devices is to reduce the power consumed by integrated circuits (ICs) inside the device.
Integrated circuits are typically specified with a guaranteed operating voltage range. The manufacturer guarantees operation above a minimum voltage termed Vcc(min), and below a maximum operating voltage termed Vcc(max). A somewhat higher "Absolute Maximum" supply voltage is also specified above which damage to the IC may occur. Operation from a supply greater than Vcc(max) but lower than the absolute maximum is not guaranteed, but no damage will result to the IC.
In practice, most ICs will operate correctly somewhat below Vcc(min). In order to guarantee operation at a specified Vcc(min), IC manufacturers typically test operation both slightly above the maximum rated temperature, and slightly below the minimum rated temperature at a voltage somewhat below Vcc(min). The voltage at which an IC will cease to operate correctly will generally therefore be below the Vcc(min), and in many cases well below Vcc(min) if the device is operated at room temperature.
In one example, an IC may be rated with a Vcc(min) of 2.7V and Vcc(max) of 3.6V, with an operating temperature range of 0 to 70 degrees Celsius. The IC manufacturer may test every device at 2.6V at both minus 10 and plus 80 degrees Celsius. In this example, a typical instance of the IC may work correctly in all respects down to 2.5V, and with degraded performance down to 2.3V, provided that the temperature of operation is constrained to a smaller range than that specified, for example plus 10 to minus 40 degrees. In some cases, it may be easy to determine whether or not an IC being supplied with a lower voltage than specified is performing correctly; in other cases, it may not.
Many ICs are used in battery powered applications where the output voltage range of the batteries does not match the operating voltage range of the IC. In such cases, there may be a number of different ICs, with different operating voltage ranges. In this case, it is common to use a direct current to direct current (DC-DC) boost converter to supply an approximately constant voltage to all ICs, ensuring correct operation of the ICs regardless of the output voltage of the batteries. A disadvantage of this approach is that for part of the life of the batteries the output may be being boosted unnecessarily, causing the batteries to be drained more quickly than necessary.

Method of increasing battery life in a wireless device


Techniques for augmenting an image of an object captured and displayed in real time with associated content are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method for augmenting the image includes receiving information defining a sampled frame of a video being captured by an electronic device in substantially real time, determining information representative of an object captured in the sampled frame based on the received information, causing the determined information to match stored information defining a plurality of items to locate an item matched to the captured object, retrieving content associated with the matched item, and providing the retrieved content for display with the captured image on the electronic device. The retrieved content may be rendered in an overlay element that overlays the captured image displayed on the electronic device. The rendered content is configured to enable a user to interact with the content.

Various conventional content delivery systems enable the user of a computing device (e.g., a smartphone) to obtain content related to an image the user has provided, such as by capturing the image using a camera of the computing device. For example, a user may capture an image of a movie poster through the camera and upload the captured image to a content delivery system. In turn, the content delivery system returns content related to the movie associated with the movie poster (e.g., information about the movie, multimedia content, etc.).
In order to deliver content related to the uploaded image, a conventional content delivery system attempts to match the image received from the client device against images stored in the content delivery system's image database. The image database can store thousands of images from magazines, posters, newspapers, the Internet, etc. For example, the image database can store the images of wall posters and billboard advertisements corresponding to a particular movie "X". Consequently, when the content delivery system receives the image of the poster of the movie "X" from a communication device, the system attempts to match the received image with all the images stored in its image database. Such an approach can be very resource intensive, and can provide significant lag time when a user submits a request to a system with a large set of images that must be analyzed.


A process for drilling oil holes in a crankshaft at various positions lengthwise and widthwise about a longitudinal axis of the crankshaft, where the oil holes are perpendicular to and have angled directions with regards to the longitudinal axis. The process includes the sequential steps of placing the crankshaft in a horizontal position in a crankshaft holding unit and maintaining the crankshaft in a horizontal position through the drilling process. The holding unit is then rotated on a vertical axis until the crankshaft faces the drilling unit. The crankshaft is next rotated along the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft to position the crankshaft in a position for drilling a hole. The drill tool is then moved on a second and third axis until the drill tool is situated in order to drill the hole in the crankshaft.

This invention relates to a flexible process and machine for drilling oil-holes in different positions in a range of various types of crankshaft, in medium- or high-capacity production, for combustion engines (cars, . . . ).
Oil-holes may be situated in various positions lengthways and widthways on the longitudinal axis of a crankshaft, as well as in different positions around the circumference described when turning on this longitudinal axis. They may also be perpendicular or with various angles of inclination with respect to this longitudinal axis of the crankshaft.
Until the automotive industry concerned itself with the concept of flexibility, the machining described was undertaken by transfer units (multi-station lines), with each station drilling one of various holes. This solution has been valid in times of few changes in the dimension and shape of crankshafts, when an automobile engine was certain to have an extended life on the market. But now that changes are frequent, both machine and process need to be flexible to adapt to crankshafts with dimensional and geometrical modifications, as well as variations in the position/inclination of the oil-holes and also in the number of such holes. This adaptation needs to be rapid, simple and low-cost, due to the frequency of such a need.
There is another factor that has been changing in recent years: when a new automobile engine is launched onto the market, there are always doubts about the demand and any initial forecast may be miscalculated, either above or below the mark. For this reason, automobile manufacturers nowadays prefer production methods that begin with low-scale investment and production and later, if there is a growing response from the market, to gradually add new productive units the same as at the beginning. If the first unit is enough for a production volume of up to 50,000 pieces/year, they will need to add a second unit when there is a demand for up to 100,000/year, a third unit if there is a further demand and so on.
These factors cannot be tackled with multi-station transfer units, because they are not very flexible, nor do they admit progressive investment in line with escalating production brought on by increasing demand, since these are high-cost and high-production machines from the outset.
Furthermore, the diversity of oil-hole placement, explained previously, is not possible in traditional machining centres, with their X, Y and Z axes, at least in mid-high production level. Also, there is the problem of the additional W axis which is needed to position independently the drill guide bushings, since this fourth axis does not exist in traditional machining centres. Neither is there a special device to enable occasional automatic changing of the tool+guide bushing, and at other times just the bushing, because the tool is being used for the next drilling, but the bushing needs to be changed because it requires a different plane on the front end, to adapt it to the plane of the zone of the crankshaft it is resting on.
Because of all this, there is a need for a machine for drilling oil-holes in different positions and in a varied range of crankshafts, it needs to be flexible and at the same time a productive unit capable of being included in a production line in a quantity that increases as production increases.
There has been a previous attempt to meet this ambitious objective, but it has not produced the expected results, as it has important drawbacks which in medium-high production are a great inconvenience for an industry as demanding as the automotive industry. Below are some of the known drawbacks of this previous attempt, which for simplicity""s sake will be referred to as xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d (U.S. Pat. No. 5,759,140):
a) The machine has to be capable of working with gun drills which have a collector for the chips produced during the drilling, as well as with twist drills with no collector, and then the chips are scattered over the working area. The second alternative requires the layout of the working area to be such that there is no piling up of the chips on the crankshaft-bearing tools and on adjoining mechanisms, making it essential for the chips to be eliminated by falling through cleared areas and without any obstacle.
In the xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d machine, the crankshafts are supported on a box-shaped rectangular frame, almost closed in on one side and with an opening on the other side for loading and unloading the crankshafts. This box-frame pivots on a horizontal axis supported on two opposing bearings. The pivoting is so that the longitudinal axes of the crankshafts situated in the box-frame can take various positions:
1st position: horizontal during the loading/unloading of the crankshafts.
2nd position: vertical, when drilling the holes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the crankshafts.
3rd position: inclined upwards when drilling the holes which are inclined in one direction with respect to the longitudinal axis of the crankshafts.
4th position: inclined downwards when drilling holes with the opposite inclination to the previous one.
The box-frame is almost closed in on one side and also receives the crankshafts, as well as the positioning and fixture mechanisms, together with the turning mechanisms of the crankshafts on their longitudinal axis and other necessary mechanisms, piping etc. All these elements are piled up in the box-frame. And in the 3rd and 4th positions, which are inclined, the chips from drills with twist drills fall directly and in great quantity onto the box-frame and all the mechanisms contained therein, and as they have no free-fall, they start blocking up crevices and anywhere else they can find to settle. This is a serious drawback, and in subsequent loading/unloading of crankshafts, the piling up of chips will cause malfunctions which are inadmissible in mid-high production.
In the summary of the invention which is presented further on, point a1) describes its layout which is totally different to that of xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d, the way in which the drawbacks of xe2x80x9cA Ixe2x80x9d are avoided and the lack of comparison in layout and results between xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d and this invention, both in this aspect and in those which are set out afterwards.
b) The problem of chips scattering all over the work area, when drilling with twist drills, is avoided when working with gun drills, because they have a chips collector in the shape of a collecting bin joined to the outlet pipe. But with xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d there now arises another problem and serious at that. The collecting bin and the outlet pipe together are fairly bulky, and if the chips are of steel, they need to be very bulky, since steel chips are sizeable and difficult to evacuate. And the external configuration of this apparatus collides with the crankshaft-bearing box-frame and with its piled up mechanisms. This occurs in the 3rd and 4th positions, both inclined, as described in a). And to avoid this collision, one has to make do with combined collecting bin/outlet pipe apparatuses that are insufficient for their function, giving rise to obstructions in the evacuation of chips, continual stoppages and maintenance requirements that are unacceptable in mid-high production.
See b1) for the totally different layout of this invention that avoids this problem inherent in xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d.
c) The pivoting on two bearings of the box-frame which supports the crankshafts in xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d leaves this device supported only on its centrally-situated pivotal axis and the rest is hanging free. This is too much to be hanging free. Crankshafts are lengthy pieces, and at each end are the referencing and support elements, which make the sub-unit even longer and they can give some 500-600 mm to the right and to the left of the pivoting, with no additional support but for the pivotal axis. The other side of the rectangle of the box-frame is also rather large and the crankshafts, together with all the mechanisms in the box-frame make up a great weight, forming an enormous and heavy mobile sub-unit, which also bears the drilling forces. This situation is not helped by just the pivotal axis, even by adding braking to the pivotal axis, as the zones hanging free are some distance away. In this respect, the inclinations of the crankshafts for holes to be drilled at particular angles to the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft are not precise, as they are affected by the imprecision caused by the zones hanging free, lacking any support. In addition, the zones hanging free, acting as a counterweight, do not favour precision in inclined positioning power-controlled by the pivoting activator.
See c1) for how this invention, with a totally different layout to that of xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d avoids these drawbacks.
d) When turning of the crankshafts on their respective longitudinal axes so that the circumferential position for beginning the drilling of the next hole is aligned with the corresponding tool, is effected by xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d with transmission by a toothed belt connected to three toothed pulleys, one of which is on the servomotor and the other two on the shafts turning the two crankshafts. The transmission has a circuit in the shape of an isosceles triangle, with pulleys at the three vertices. This layout has the following drawbacks:
The toothed belt, as a result of long-term use, becomes longer and this produces gaps in the gearing with the toothed pulleys, giving rise to defects in the precise circumferential positioning of the crankshafts when turning on their longitudinal axes.
The toothed belts have a limited life and tend to break, requiring their periodical replacement. This gives rise to maintenance problems, because the transmission is situated in an area with difficult access, as it is surrounded by a large number of mechanisms that get in the way.
The transmission, with its belt, its three toothed pulleys, protective covering and servomotor form a bulky sub-unit which aggravates the problems of space produced by the box-frame which houses the crankshafts and the rest of the mechanisms. This makes maintenance access to these mechanisms difficult. It also creates an obstruction in the box-frame sub-unit, affecting the elimination of chips (see point a).
There is a further problem. With the drawbacks already mentioned, the layout is applicable to two crankshafts per cycle. But there are further problems if there are, for example, three crankshafts, due to the difficulty of belt transmission between one activating axis (the servomotor) and three activated axes in a line.
See d1) for how this invention has none of these drawbacks, due to a totally different layout.
e) The W axis of the machining module bears the guide bushings of the tools. When using gun drills, the bushings rest with spring pressure on the area of the crankshaft where drilling is begun, so that the chips and pressure coolant can be evacuated. With twist drills, the bushings are placed a little apart from this area, so that the chips and coolant can escape through this small space. The W axis runs parallel to the Z axis (the tool feed) of the machining module, and is activated independently, so that first the W axis moves into place until the bushings are situated in their correct positions, then the Z axis moves into place to begin drilling, while W remains static. In the xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d machine, the W axis is in the shape of a quill unit, emerging from the body carrying the drill bushings and positioning itself in between the two bushings. This layout has the following drawbacks:
Positioning quill unit between the two bushings is only possible when two crankshafts per cycle are being drilled. But if only one or more than two crankshafts are being drilled, as the machining module has to carry one or more than two bushings, the position of the quill with respect to the bushings is not balanced, resulting in problems related to parts hanging free, imbalances and various other complications affecting the stability of the guide bushings during drilling and consequently the precise positioning of the holes.
As the quill unit is mounted in the body carrying the guide bushings, when Z moves while drilling, this simultaneously moves W forward. But since, as was previously mentioned, W with its guide bushings has to remain static during the drilling process, this means that the independent activation of W has to move back while Z moves forward. Thus, the relative position between the crankshafts and their respective guide bushings is unchanged. But this combination of Z moving forward while W moves back requires an interpolation between the two servoactivators to be programmed, an interpolation that complicates programming. As this is supposed to be a flexible machine and therefore suitable for drilling different kinds of crankshaft, any complication as described above is counter-productive in terms of maximum operative simplicity.
The quill unit-shaped W axis gives rise to some overhang between the support carrying the guide bushings and the seat of the quill unit on the body carrying the bushings. With the option of drilling with gun drills, the collecting bin with the outlet pipe, designed to collect the chips, is also connected to the support carrying the guide bushings. This makes up a bulky and weighty sub-unit with a lot of overhang with respect to the seating of the quill unit, and it does not have the strength and stability needed to support such a sub-unit. This poses snags and drawbacks of application, even when two crankshafts per cycle are being drilled and the quill unit is between the two bushings. But these drawbacks are intensified when drilling just one or more than two crankshafts per cycle: the position of the quill unit with respect to the bushings adds further problems (see the first drawback in e).
With all these problems, it is evident that the quill unit is not a good solution for the W axis. See e1) for how this invention eliminates all these problems with an independent module instead of a quill unit mounted in the bushings unit.
f) In mid-high production, the loading and unloading of pieces into the machine is of relevant importance, and more so with pieces of certain weight and volume, as is the case with crankshafts, particularly if several pieces per cycle are being machined. Usually automatic loading/unloading is used, either with handling gantries or similar systems. For this reason, the loading/unloading station needs to be endowed with suitable characteristics, and even extra options in order to meet special circumstances which arise in mid-high production. The aim is to be able to favourably organise such an important aspect, whatever the circumstances attached to each particular application. The flexibility of a machine exists for a reasonxe2x80x94to be able to adapt to a whole range of situations. The xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d machine does not offer these suitable characteristics or additional options. The loading/unloading station is inflexible and precarious. It is inflexible for automatic as well as manual loading/unloading. This involves hazards for the operator in manual loading/unloading if the automatic function has had to be stopped temporarily because of a breakdown or for maintenance. As these machines are situated in a line with various productive units, attended by a lengthy crankshaft transport and handling system, working simultaneously with a number of arms on their respective production units, if there is a malfunction at one of these stations (for example the grip clamps for handling the crankshafts), then the automatic load/unload function has to be disabled, yet the overall transport and handling system is still functioning at all the stations, and the operator manually loading and unloading at the affected station faces problems and even hazards due to the difficulty of establishing complete safety conditions because the overall system is still operating above.
See f1) for how this invention offers ideal characteristics and extra options for loading/unloading, based on a totally different layout.
g) For the automatic changing of tools+their guide bushings, or just the bushings when applicable, the xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d machine requires an additional xe2x80x9cUxe2x80x9d axis which involves columns, a gantry, a module for the elements to be changed, together with their endless belt-driven mechanisms, as well as other complementary mechanisms. All this involves considerable bulk and which needs to fit and move in the hazardous gap between the machining module and the crankshaft-carrying sub-unit. So much so that this sub-unit means placing the box-frame with all it contains (crankshafts, fixtures, etc.) vertically, otherwise there would not be room to move the U axis that automatically changes the tool etc. This is a solution that is complicated, a costly investment, awkward and not at all ideal for a flexible machine.
See g1) for a completely new solution with this invention, which avoids the drawbacks of xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d.
h) For the purposes of productivity with a machine devoted to mid-high production, if the aim is to achieve the required flexibility, further options are desirable, such as:
The machine needs two stations, one for machining and the other for loading/unloading the pieces. Thus one can load/unload at one station, while machining at the other, thereby saving all the time spent handling, loading/unloading and supporting the pieces, and so increasing productivity, with only a slightly higher investment, because of the duplication of fixtures.
Similarly, one could establish cells, with two machining modules facing each other and a centrally-situated sub-unit carrying the crankshafts and their tools, also double-sided. This would be like a xe2x80x9cmirrorxe2x80x9d cell. It would duplicate production, but the investment would be less than double.
These options are impossible with xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d, while thanks to its totally different overall layout, this invention, as can be seen in h1) and in the description and plans, does make them possible.
i) A serious problem in mid-high production is the lack of direct and easy access to all parts of the machine whenever adjustment, checking or maintenance is required. This demands the intelligent laying out of all the mechanisms/sub-units/units. This is not the case with xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d, which is an agglomeration of parts which get in the way of each other.
On the other hand, see i1) and the plans for how this invention is uncluttered and accessible from all sides thanks to its layout, which has eliminated every unnecessary complication and agglomeration.
Depending on the production level, this invention can be manufactured or laid out to drill one, two or more crankshafts per cycle. The plans show the layout for two crankshafts, but this is by way of example, the options for more crankshafts being equally as valid. There now follows a summary of the various characteristics of the invention and the novel layout which eliminates the drawbacks and/or deficits of xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d and the advantages this invention presents. To aid understanding, paragraphs a), b), c) etc. indicating the properties of xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d are listed a1), b1), c1) etc. in the explanation of this invention, as follows:
a1) During the loading/unloading and supporting of the crankshafts and also during all pre-drilling positioning sequences as well as the drilling process, in other words, the whole time the crankshafts are in the machine, their longitudinal axes remain inalterably horizontal (unlike xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d, with its different inclinations to the horizontal). One crankshaft is situated above another, with a suitable distance between them. This is an improvement on the xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d box-frame with its pivoting, in fact the layout is completely different; the work area is uncluttered, with nothing obstructing the free fall of the chips produced in the drilling process. With no chips piling up on the support elements for the crankshafts, there is no risk of malfunction in automatic loading/unloading.
b1) In the absence of the xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d box-frame with its pivoting for different inclinations to the horizontal, the chips collecting-bin with outlet pipe (when working with gun drilling) does not collide with the crankshaft support elements and neighbouring mechanisms. Thus a collecting-bin and outlet pipe of the required voluminous size can be used, especially when drilling steel crankshafts.
c1) In the absence of a box-frame and its pivoting, there are no overhanging parts, nor braking on the pivoting shaft, and no great unsupported mass/weight or negative repercussions in precision arising from such negative properties.
One of the principal novelties, which has eliminated the drawbacks in c) and other paragraphs also, is based on a horizontally-faced turntable with a vertical shaft, which completely supports the sub-unit carrying the crankshafts. This turntable with vertical shaft enables the sub-unit carrying the various crankshafts, situated parallel to each other and with their longitudinal axes always in a horizontal position, to rotate to various inclinations in a plane horizontal to the Z axis (the tool feed) of the machining module, in order to drill the holes which are angled to the longitudinal axis of the crankshafts. This completely different solution is not particularly complex, is devoid of drawbacks and has all the desirable advantages, with a positive effect on point c1) as well as all the subsequent points.
The vertical shaft rotary table is servoactivated by a servomotor and a wormwheel mechanism, with zero play, with 360,000 programmable positions guaranteeing strict precision in drill positioning, both for holes angled to the longitudinal axes of the crankshafts, which require positioning of the table at xc2x1Nxc2x0, as well as for non-angled holes at right angles to the longitudinal axes, which call for positioning of the table at 0xc2x0. The rest of the positionings are xe2x88x9290xc2x0, xe2x88x92180xc2x0 and xe2x88x92270xc2x0, to achieve the combinations shown in f1).
d1) The layout for the rotating of the crankshafts on their horizontal axes, which in xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d presents many serious drawbacks, in this invention is completely different and with no drawbacks, as there is no toothed belt, cogged pulleys or protective covering. The servomotor, by means of a coupling, transmits its rotation to a worm, which engages with its wheel or gear, the latter being mounted on the shaft carrying the upper crankshaft. But synchronised and exactly equal rotations are transmitted simultaneously to the crankshafts situated below the upper one, with equal worms and wheels, and by means of a multiple drive-shaft going from top to bottom of the layout. The drive-shaft, worms and wheels are precise and with zero play, providing high-precision positioning for all the crankshafts. The servo-action is provided with a positional measurement encoder which guarantees high precision.
This novel layout has a further great advantage: the mechanisms in use do not clutter up the work area. The servomotor (with its vertical axis) is above this area, and higher than the crankshaft-carrying tools.
The rest of the simplified compact mechanism is behind the tools, between them and the panel supporting them, completely separate and apart from the drilling area and the dropping of chips. Thus all the chips can drop free with no obstacles.
Another advantage: if instead of two crankshafts per cycle, there is only one or more than two, this layout is valid: with one crankshaft, the servomotor activates the worm directly and with more than two, one only has to lengthen the multiple drive-shaft.
e1) The W axis carrying the guide brushings of the tools moves on a module with linear guides and runners, a completely different layout which is incomparably superior to the xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d quill unit device. The direction of movement is parallel to Z and it operates independently. In addition, the module is independent of the bushings-bearing unit which moves in accordance with the Z axis. The drawbacks eliminated and the advantages of the invention are as follows:
This system and the strength of the module makes it valid for carrying the guide bushings of the tools, whether for one/two/or more than two crankshafts per cycle, because with the module the problem of positioning the quill unit with respect to the bushings is eliminated, since the module is independent of the unit carrying the bushings. Overhang, imbalance etc is thus avoided.
The independence of the W axis with respect to the bushings unit which moves in accordance with the Z axis, eliminates the programming by interpolation of the Z and W axes. Thus, W moves to where it has to be statically situated, then Z moves to drill, but as this move does not take W with it, as in the xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d layout, W does not need to move back (through interpolation) to counteract the undesirable pull exerted by the advance of Z in xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d. This is a simpler and faster programme.
The module has more than enough strength to support not only the guide-bushings, but also the bulky and heavy collector-bin with outlet pipe sub-unit, which is needed to collect the chips with the gun drill option, something which is even more of an advantage with steel crankshafts, which need this sub-unit to be very bulky and therefore heavy.
f1) In the plans of this invention it can be seen that as a result of the novel layout of the horizontally-faced turntable with a vertical shaft, the machine has four station options (each one 90xc2x0) which permit the following combinations (see FIG. 4e for a clearer view):
Station 1 drilling and station 2 automatic loading/unloading.
Station 1 drilling and station 3 automatic loading/unloading.
Station 1 drilling, station 2 automatic loading/unloading and station 3 manual loading/unloading.
Station 1 drilling, station 2 manual loading/unloading and station 3 automatic loading/unloading.
(*) Station 1 drilling and station 3 automatic loading/unloading, carried out while drilling, in other words saving time in handling, loading/unloading and fitting the crankshafts, thus increasing production. This requires duplicating the crankshaft fitting tools.
(*) Stations 1 and 3 drilling with two modules facing each other and with duplication of crankshaft fitting tools, forming a xe2x80x9cmirrorxe2x80x9d cell, and stations 2 and 4 automatic loading/unloading. This doubles production with an investment of less than double.
These six possible combinations, and the fact of having four stations to achieve them, show that this invention""s layout and results are incomparable with xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d, which has just one hazardous station and only one function mode in these aspects.
Furthermore, in the manual loading/unloading mode (used in tests or when automatic mode has been temporarily disabled due to a malfunction or for maintenance), handling is much more effortless and convenient with the two crankshafts, one over the other, nearby and parallel to the operators chest height, in comparison to xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d which calls for placing and removing the crankshafts in/from a box-frame situated horizontally, too high and far away from the operator""s chest height, and this means he has to work with stretched arms to carry out inconveniently tiring tasks which can injure the spinal column, even more so if we take the weight and volume of the crankshafts into account. And although these are temporary circumstances, they happen fairly frequently, which is why the best and most convenient solution is important.
The manual loading/unloading station, being independent and a certain distance away from the automatic loading/unloading station, allows all safety measures demanded by the automobile industry to be implanted, with a view to eliminating hazards for the operator (security gate, etc.), because he is not standing underneath the general system of transport and automatic handling of crankshafts, which carries on functioning overhead, in the case of a line with various production units served by this general system.
These are aspects which show that the layout of this invention cannot be compared with xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d and that the results are vastly superior.
g1) The plans of the invention and their description show that the system for automatic changing of the tools+their guide-bushings, or just the bushings when applicable, makes good use of the movement of the X axis to take the machining module to the area on the right which contains the store of elements to be changed, and similarly, the movements of the Z and W axes to extract-introduce these elements out of/into the bushings and take/leave them in the store. This constitutes maximum simplicity: the three axes, X, Z and W, which are necessary for the machining module to carry out its positioning and drilling approach, also serve for the automatic changing of tools and guide-bushings. Thus, every awkward and complex aspect of xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d is eliminated: columns, gantry, module for the elements to be changed, their activation by endless belt, etc. This not only eliminates complications and monetary investment, it also eliminates an enormous bulk which is such a problem with xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d.
h1) For the purposes of productivity and its relationship with economic investment, the last two combinations marked with an asterisk (*) in f1) show that this invention has additional possibilities not found in xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d. This increases flexibility as well as the scope of application.
i1) One only has to analyse the plans to realise that the direct and convenient accessibility of all parts of the invention, for adjustment, checking and maintenance, has been achieved, thanks to the intelligent layout of all mechanisms/sub-units/units, with the elimination of unnecessary complications and cluttering which cause such problems with xe2x80x9cI Axe2x80x9d.

Process for drilling oil-holes in crankshafts


A system comprises a receiver to receive a main content. The system further comprises a detector to detect a placeholder in the main content for placement of a media object. Further, the system comprises an obtainer to obtain a plurality of media objects having placement attributes corresponding to the placeholder in the main content, where a placement attribute is indicative of characteristics of a media object compatible with the placeholder. The system further comprises a selector to select one of the plurality of media objects for being placed in the placeholder of the main content, based on a user profile. Further, the system comprises a generator to generate a final content indicative of the selected media object embedded in the main content.

With the growing competition in the market place, it is getting difficult for organizations to establish and maintain their position in their sector. In order to stay ahead in the race, organizations are using various marketing strategies to reach out to customers. One such technique is depicting products and services by inserting media objects while streaming online content to viewers. Such content may include, but is not limited to, audio files, videos and images.
Such media objects to be inserted in a content may have to be selected based on various criteria, such as regulatory guidelines and historical data of a user. For example, in a video content showing an alcoholic beverage, the alcoholic beverage may be replaced with a non-alcoholic beverage in countries where displaying alcohol-based beverage is not allowed.
In recent times, targeted product display has gained widespread recognition. As is generally known, targeted product display refers to an approach where products and services are offered to an individual as the media objects in a content, based on preferences that can be determined from historical records of the user. Such a focused approach assists organizations to cater to consumers based on their specific preferences.
However, such an approach may require the generation of a number of versions of the same content with different media objects. For example, for each customer-specific variation, a new version of multi-media content having a user-specific display as a media object has to be generated. Owing to large consumer base, numerous versions of the same content with different media objects are generated and stored, which would need a large storage space. Resource consumption may also be excessive owing to continuous repetitive efforts required for generation of the versions. This may also lead to high costs and maintenance concerns considering handling for such a large amount of data. Moreover, handling of such a large amount of data may lead to slow content processing and inconvenience in viewing the content as well. Thus, modification of media objects in a product display may be expensive to implement and may require intensive CPU (Central Processing Unit) processing for implementation.


A block for use in constructing a multiple course retaining wall. The block has a substantially planar top surface, a front surface, wherein said front surface is of a substantially curvilinear shape, a rear surface, opposed side surfaces, and a bottom surface. The bottom surface has a predetermined area and a non-planar portion, with the non-planar portion comprising a continuous area making up at least one-quarter of the bottom surface and creating a cavity between the bottom surface of the block and a top surface of a lower course of blocks when the block is placed on the top surface of the lower course of blocks. The cavity allows dirt and other foreign matter to exist between successive courses of blocks without creating instability between the block and the lower course of blocks.

Retaining walls can be both functional and decorative and range from small gardening applications to large-scale construction. Such walls are typically used to maximize horizontal surface areas by providing lateral support between differing ground levels, and reduce the possibility of erosion and slumping. They may be constructed of a variety of materials and shapes. Some have been constructed of wood timbers, others of rock in a natural form (such as limestone). Still others have been constructed of manufactured aggregate or concrete blocks.
Constructing a fit and true retaining wall can be a more labor intensive and exacting endeavor than one would believe. In addition to laying a level first course, the builder must take pains to ensure that each subsequent course is level. Otherwise, an error made in positioning a block in a lower course may become magnified as successive courses are stacked thereabove and become readily apparent to the human eye. This is especially true of mortarless wall constructions because there is no way to effectively compensate for irregularities and discontinuities, as opposed to block and mortar construction.
Present mortarless wall building methods usually include laying a course of blocks, filling the space behind the course with fill material, packing the fill material, and carefully removing extraneous fill material from the top of each completed course prior to the addition of the next course. This fill material usually consists of small, stones or similar material and is preferred because it provides a path for moisture to follow and relieves water pressure that may build up behind a wall. It is also preferred because of its ability to reduce water borne material from seeping between the joints of the blocks due to inclement weather. The final step of removing the extraneous fill material is time consuming but necessary to ensure the next course of blocks lies flat in intimate contact on the lower course.
One particular problem the prior art has failed to overcome is developing a retaining wall block configured to minimize or prevent unintended discontinuities and irregularities caused by blocks being stacked on extraneous fill material, dirt, and debris that is often present on the upper surface of the lower course of blocks.
For example, some larger blocks incorporate through-holes that extend from their bottom surface to their top surfaces. These through-holes are intended to reduce the amount of material required to form the block, thereby reducing its cost and weight, and they also create space into which fill material may be introduced once a course is finished. At first blush it would appear that, because the presence of through-holes reduces the surface area of the top and bottom of the block, they would also serve to decrease the area of possible interference by small stones and debris between courses. However, the mere presence of through-holes ensures the chances that some of the fill material dumped therein will spill over onto the remaining upper surfaces. Thus, through-holes actually exacerbate, rather than alleviate the problem.
Smaller blocks, on the other hand, cannot easily incorporate through-holes without jeopardizing their structural integrity, and this inability of smaller blocks to accommodate through-holes creates other problems. Fabricating a solid block out of material such as concrete may often result in a block which may weigh as much as or more than a larger block that includes through-holes. And, working with such blocks may be more difficult than working with larger blocks with through-holes. That is, the absence of through-holes or interruptions in the side walls makes it difficult to grasp and lift these blocks. This becomes an important consideration in light of the number of blocks that must be lifted and set in place during the construction of even a relatively small retaining wall.
There is a need for a retaining wall block, which may accommodate debris between courses without adversely affecting the overall structure and aesthetics of the resulting wall. There is also a need for a small retaining wall block that has a reduced unit weight due to the absence of block material in an area that will not adversely affect the strength of the block or its appearance. And, there is a need for a small retaining wall block that is relatively easy to grasp and pick up off of a stack of similar blocks.


A method for fabricating a semiconductor structure is disclosed. First, an interposer is disposed on a carrier. The carrier has a base body and a bonding layer bonded to the base body. The interposer has opposite first and second sides and the first side has a plurality of conductive elements. The interposer is disposed on the carrier with the first side bonded to the bonding layer and the conductive elements embedded in the bonding layer. Then, at least a semiconductor element is disposed on the second side of the interposer. As such, the semiconductor element and the interposer form a semiconductor structure. Since the conductive elements are embedded in the bonding layer instead of the base body, the present invention eliminates the need to form concave portions in the base body for receiving the conductive elements. Therefore, the method of the present invention is applicable to interposers of different specifications.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor structures, and more particularly, to a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure having an interposer.
2. Description of Related Art
Flip-chip technologies facilitate to reduce chip packaging sizes and shorten signal transmission paths and therefore have been widely used for chip packaging. Various types of packages such as chip scale packages (CSPs), direct chip attached (DCA) packages and multi-chip module (MCM) packages can be achieved through flip-chip technologies.
In a flip-chip packaging process, a big CTE (Coefficient of Thermal Expansion) mismatch between a chip and a packaging substrate adversely affects the formation of joints between conductive bumps of the chip and contacts of the packaging substrate, thus easily resulting in delamination of the conductive bumps from the packaging substrate. On the other hand, along with increased integration of integrated circuits, a CIE mismatch between a chip and a packaging substrate induces more thermal stresses and leads to more serious warpage, thereby reducing the product reliability and resulting in failure of a reliability test.
Accordingly, an interposer made of a semiconductor material close to a semiconductor chip has been developed to overcome the above-described drawbacks caused by a CTE mismatch.
FIG. 1A shows a conventional semiconductor package having a through silicon interposer. Referring to FIG. 1A, the semiconductor package has a packaging substrate 9 having a plurality of bonding pads 90 having a large pitch, a semiconductor chip 3 having a plurality of electrode pads 30 having a small pitch, and a through silicon interposer (TSI) 2 disposed between the packaging substrate 9 and the semiconductor chip 3. The through silicon interposer 2 has a substrate unit 20, a plurality of through silicon vias (TSVs) 21 formed in the substrate unit 20 and a redistribution layer (RDL) structure 22 formed on a lower side of the substrate unit 20. The RDL structure 22 of the through silicon interposer 2 is electrically connected to the bonding pads 90 of the packaging substrate 9 through a plurality of conductive elements 23, and the electrode pads 30 of the semiconductor chip 3 are electrically connected to the TSVs 21 through a plurality of solder bumps 31. Further, an underfill 32 is formed between the semiconductor chip 3 and the through silicon interposer 2 to encapsulate the solder bumps 31. In an alternative embodiment, referring to FIG. 1B, an RDL structure 22′ is formed on an upper side of the through silicon interposer 2 on which the semiconductor chip 3 is to be disposed.
The use of the through silicon interposer 2 facilitates to overcome the above-described drawbacks and also reduces the size of the semiconductor package. For example, a flip-chip packaging substrate generally has a minimum line width and pitch of 12 um. When the number of the electrode pads of a semiconductor chip increases, since the line width and pitch of the flip-chip packaging substrate cannot be reduced, the area of the flip-chip packaging substrate must be increased to increase the wiring density so as to accommodate the semiconductor chip having high I/O counts. On the other hand, referring to FIG. 1A, the through silicon interposer 2 can have a minimum line width and pitch of 3 um. Therefore, the semiconductor chip 3 having high I/O counts can be disposed on the through silicon interposer 2 without increasing the area of the packaging substrate 9. As such, the semiconductor chip 3 is electrically connected to the packaging substrate 9 through the through silicon interposer 2.
Further, the through silicon interposer 2 has characteristics of fine pitch and fine line width and therefore facilitates to shorten the electrical transmission path. Therefore, compared with a semiconductor chip directly disposed on a packaging substrate, the semiconductor chip 3 disposed on the through silicon interposer 2 achieves a higher electrical transmission speed.
To fabricate the above-described semiconductor package having the through silicon interposer 2, the through silicon interposer 2 is first bonded to the semiconductor chip 3 to form a semiconductor structure 1 and then the semiconductor structure 1 is disposed on the packaging substrate 9. However, the through silicon interposer 2 is generally comprised of a plurality of substrate units 20. After a plurality of semiconductor chips 3 are bonded to the substrate units 20 of the interposer 2, the overall structure needs to be singulated to obtain a plurality of semiconductor structures 1. Therefore, warpage easily occurs to the through silicon interposer 2 when the semiconductor chips 3 are bonded to the substrate units 20, thereby adversely affecting the electrical connection between the semiconductor chips 3 and the through silicon interposer 2.
Accordingly, referring to FIG. 1B, a carrier 4 having a plurality of concave portions 400 for carrying the interposer has been proposed.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a plurality of concave portions 400 are formed on a surface of a silicon substrate 40 and then a bonding layer 41 made of an adhesive material is formed on the silicon substrate 40 by spin coating. In the present embodiment, the bonding layer 41 is only formed on the surface of the silicon substrate 40. In another embodiment, the bonding layer 41 can be formed not only on the surface of the silicon substrate 40 but also in the concave portions 400 of the silicon substrate 40. Then, the through silicon interposer 2 is attached to the bonding layer 41 with the conductive elements 23 received in the concave portions 400. As such, when the semiconductor chips 3 are disposed on the substrate units 20 of the through silicon interposer 20, the bonding layer 41 facilitates to prevent warping of the through silicon interposer 2 and cracking of the semiconductor chips 3 and ensures a good electrical connection quality between the solder bumps 31 and the through silicon interposer 2.
However, in the above-described method for forming the semiconductor structure 1, different silicon substrates 40 are required according to silicon interposers 2 of different specifications (for example, different numbers and pitches of the conductive elements 23) so as to provide different sizes and numbers of concave portions 400, thus increasing the fabrication cost of the semiconductor package.
Further, the method needs an expensive photoresist material to form the concave portions 400 in the silicon substrate 40. As such, to fabricate different silicon substrates 40, a large amount of the photoresist material is used, thereby greatly increasing the fabrication cost.
Therefore, there is a need to provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor structure so as to overcome the above-described drawbacks.

Method for fabricating semiconductor structure

Siliconware Precision Industries Co., Ltd.


A patterned tool and method for producing a durable tactile warning surface for sidewalks and other walkways including pouring a concrete base, applying pigmented or colored hardener to the upper surface of the concrete base, stamping the upper surface of the concrete base with the patterned tool including a substantially flat member having a plurality of symmetrically disposed recesses of a predetermined diameter and depth formed on the lower surface thereof and a plurality of corresponding vent channels formed through the substantially flat member in communication with each corresponding recess and curing the concrete base to form a durable tactile warning surface including a plurality of symmetrically disposed raised elements of a predetermined diameter, height and spacing corresponding to the plurality of recesses to produce an uneven surface visually contrasting with adjacent surface areas.

1. Field of the Invention
A patterned tool and method for producing a durable tactile warning surface for sidewalks and other walkways.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As a society, we have come to recognize the importance of providing means for the visually impaired to more fully participate in the main stream of recreational and employment opportunities. Concomitantly, numerous efforts have been undertaken to improve and enhance means to allow self-sufficient movement from place to place. Of particular importance in realizing such aims and goals is the ability of movement on public sidewalks and the like without assistance.
As a matter of fact, 28 CFR Part 36 sets forth specific rules of detectable warnings on walking surfaces.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,310,370 shows a process for producing articles comprising the steps of placing into mutual contact and laminating a hardenable decorative material layer and an expansion-contraction deformable sheet provided with regions susceptible to expansion-contraction deformation and regions not susceptible to deformation; causing the deformable sheet to undergo deformation under pressure to impart a pattern of unevennesses to the decorative material layer in contact with the sheet; and causing the hardenable decorative material layer to fully harden. The sheet deformed under pressure imparts a pattern of surface unevenness corresponding to the two kinds of regions to the decorative material layer. The degree or surface unevenness can be controlled by adjusting the pressure. Colored patterns corresponding to the unevennesses can also be formed.
U S. Pat. No. 3,836,619 describes a method of forming an artificial stone comprising the steps of providing a flexible mold; pouring a curable mixture of polyester plastic and catalyst in the mold to form a polyester plastic body having a configured surface; scraping off excess of the curable mixture by applying sufficient pressure to depress the edges of the mold and form a raised lip on the plastic body; curing the mixture; removing the plastic body from the mold; spraying the configured surface with a liquid color layer and drying; spraying the color layer with a curable, transparent, liquid coat and curing said coat until the outer surface is gelled; spraying a thin layer of sand on the outer surface of said transparent coat, and curing the transparent coat, thereby bonding the sand layer to the transparent coat layer.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,349,588 teaches a method for producing simulated brick, tile wall or floor using cement, water-based adhesive and water insoluble powdered pigment. The mixture is applied and then partially set. Scoring indentations are made to remove cement. After being completely set, mortar is placed in the indentations as a grout and allowed to set. The final step is a clear water-resistant coating on the entire surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,126,727 shows a resinous polymer sheet material having selective, decorative effects comprising a first layer of a resinous polymer composition; a pattern or design printed on and adhered to the surface of the first layer of resinous polymer composition and having relatively dark colored printed portions and relatively light colored printed portions A second layer of a resinous polymer composition is applied on and adhered to the printed pattern or design and to the first layer of resinous polymer composition. The second layer of resinous polymer composition includes a layer of relatively small, flat, decorative chips or flakes comprising a very thin layer of translucent or transparent platelets provided with coating. Light wave interference and color absorptive effects are created as light waves strike and reflect from the second layer of resinous polymer composition whereby the decorative chips or flakes located over the relatively dark colored printed portions are discernible from eye-level or a distance of about five feet whereas those decorative chips or flakes located over the relatively light colored printed portions are indiscernible from eye-level or a distance of about five feet.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,105,816 describes a decorative relief finished surface formed to a substrate by applying an undercoat material to a predetermined thickness and forming an uneven pattern with a rolling device having a plurality of convex parts of curved continued, disconnected to perforated line shape. Then, the top portions of the projections of the partially hardened surface which extend beyond a predetermined height are pressed with a pressing roll such that the projections are uniformly flattened to a predetermined thickness while the rest of the convex parts are left unflattened.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,882,218 shows embossed decorative patterns and decorative laminates, particularly textured film finished structural elements and the method of manufacture wherein a resilient material such as a wadding sheet or pad sheet is interposed between the surface film and the substrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,152,002 describes a process of making elastomeric flooring of varigated color comprising the steps of coating a sheet of backing material with a liquid polyvinyl chloride plastisol, delivering a charge of solid unheated plastic granules of polyvinyl chloride compound and different colors to the coated backing sheet, spreading the granules in a layer of substantially uniform thickness in the liquid plastisol, partially curing the plastisol to fix the position of the granules on the backing sheet and then molding the components into a product of the desired surface texture.
U S. Pat. No. 3,012,285 teaches a process of producing an elastomeric covering for floors, walls and the like comprising the steps of mixing a plurality of moldable vinyl elastomers of different shades of the same base color, calendering the mixture to form a solid mottled sheet of the selected colors, heating the calendered elastomeric sheet to molding temperature, molding the overall surface area of the sheet by applying a mold having a plurality of scattered low protuberances of irregular outline and of varying size, depth, configuration and distribution, removing the mold from the molded sheet, coating the molded surface of the elastomeric sheet with a paint of a color contrasting with the base color and then removing the colored paint immediately to expose plane surface areas of the molded elastomeric sheet while leaving the depressed areas of the cavities thereof permanently coated with the contrasting colored paint.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,577,241 shows a method of producing a face configuration of variable pattern which comprises impressing in the face of deformable material a textured surface element having a definite face pattern to thereby provide the deformable material with a face presenting a complete pattern complemental to the pattern of the element and then impressing on the deformable material face to a less depth a textured surface element in random relation to the complemental pattern to randomly modify the pattern of said material face while maintaining the general texture resulting from the first impression.
Additional examples of the prior art are found in U.S. Pat. No. 2,518,648; U.S. Pat. No. 2,955,324; U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,514; U.S. Pat. No. 3,839,514 U.S. Pat. No. 3,853,577; U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,043 and WO 86/03433.
In addition, Applicant's copending applications Ser. No. 699,207 filed May 13, 1991 which issued Dec. 1, l992 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,167,991 and Ser. No. 084,081 filed Jun. 28, 1993 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 700,623 filed May 15, 1991 disclose methods of producing irregular surfaces with the use of a patterned tool.

Method for producing a durable tactile warning surface


Described are methods, systems, and apparatus for reducing storage system polling when collecting and providing storage system state data. A plurality of poll requests for storage system state data is received. For each poll request of the plurality of poll requests, a poll request arrival time associated with the poll request is stored. A first poll is initiated to collect first storage system state data for a first poll request of the plurality of poll requests. A first poll start time associated with the first poll is stored. The first poll is completed, forming the first storage system state data. For each poll request of the plurality of poll requests, the first storage system state data is provided for the poll request provided that the poll request arrival time is before the first poll start time.

In some applications, a storage system can provide storage system state data in response to requests from consumers of such storage system state data. For example, an administrator can request storage system state data from a storage system through a storage system management application interface to obtain information about the storage system operation. As another example, a user can request storage system state data from the storage system through a web-based interface to obtain information about his or her storage utilization. As still another example, a program can request storage system state data through an API made available by the storage system.
When multiple consumers request storage system state data from a storage system, the consumers can experience degraded performance (e.g, delays in receiving current system state data) due to the delay from the storage system handling the multiple requests.


Substituted cinnamoyl anthranilate compounds exhibiting anti-fibrotic activity; or derivatives thereof, analogs thereof, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and metabolites thereof, with the proviso that the compound is no Tranilast.

Tranilast (n-[3,4-dimethoxycinnamoyl]anthranilic acid) is an anti-fibrotic agent used in Japan for the treatment of fibrotic skin disorders such as keloids [8] and scleroderma [9]. Although the precise mechanisms and mode of action are incompletely understood, its ability to inhibit ERK phosphorylation [20], a major intermediate in the TGF-β signalling pathway, may underlie its antifibrotic effects, with known actions of tranilast including the inhibition of TGF-β-induced extracellular matrix production in a range of cell types [10, 11, 14, 16]. Tranilast has also been shown to attenuate TGF-β-induced collagen synthesis in cardiac fibroblasts using an experimental model of diabetic cardiac disease [15].
Fibrosis is a common response to a range of tissue insults that may lead to organ dysfunction. Diseases that are characterised by such pathological fibrosis include hepatic cirrhosis, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, glomerulonephritis, heart failure (ischaemic and non-ischaemic), diabetic nephropathy, scleroderma, excessive scar tissue post surgery or device insertion, progressive kidney disease, glomerulonephritis, hypertension, heart failure due to ischaemic heart disease, valvular heart disease or hypertensive heart disease and hypertrophic scars. In addition, the elaboration of pathological matrix also has a role in fibroproliferative tumor progression and metastasis.
Diabetic subjects have a two- to fivefold increase risk of developing heart failure [1]. In addition to ischaemic heart disease, heart failure in diabetes is also associated with a cardiomyopathy, independent of coronary artery disease [2]. This so-called "diabetic cardiomyopathy" is characterised histologically by myocardial fibrosis with reduced myocardial elasticity, impaired contractility and overt cardiac dysfunction [3-6]. Accordingly, strategies that reduce the pathological accumulation of extracellular matrix have been advocated as potential therapies for the treatment and prevention of heart failure in both diabetic and nondiabetic states [7].
Current treatment of chronic heart failure focuses on the modulation of the neurohormonal activation that typically develops in response to the evolving functional abnormalities. However, despite such therapy, frequently used in combination, cardiac dysfunction continues to progress in the majority of patients. Given the importance of pathological fibrosis in adverse cardiac remodelling, a potential role of antifibrotic agents has been suggested [16]. Studies conducted over more than a decade have consistently indicated a major role for the prosclerotic growth factor, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in organ fibrosis and dysfunction [17], such that blockade of its expression and action represent an important therapeutic target.
Tranilast has also been shown to reduce inflammation in allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma, etc. [42].
In addition, tranilast has been shown to have anti-proliferative activity [43, 44].
However, it has recently been shown [19] that genetic factors in certain patients, specifically a Gilbert's syndrome UGT1A1 variant, confers susceptibility to tranilast-induced hyperbilirubinemia. Such hyperbilirubinemia may be associated with tranilast itself or the formation, in vivo, of the following tranilast metabolite

It would be useful to provide further compounds with potential anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-proliferative or anti-neoplastic activity for the treatment or prevention of diseases associated with fibrosis diseases characterised by inflammation and neoplastic disease (both benign and malignant), and as alternatives/adjuncts to tranilast.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least alleviate one or more of the difficulties and/or deficiencies related to the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A communication terminal according to the present invention is configured so that a user can selectively set any one of a first display mode for displaying a CLI message with high priority, a second display mode for displaying a phone book storage information with high priority, and a third display mode for displaying both of the CLI message and phone book storage information. When an incoming call takes place, it is determined whether or not any one of the first, second, and third modes is set. According to the determination result, the caller name notified by the CLI message and the user name stored in the phone book are selectively displayed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication terminal with a function for notification of a message that contains at least one of a caller phone number and a caller name to a called terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
The CDMA standard, IS-95A specifies a CLI (Call Line Identifier) message notification function. The CLI message notification function generates a CLI message that contains a caller phone number of a first terminal that is an outgoing call source, over a network, when the first terminal transmits an outgoing call signal to a destination, the second terminal. Then, when an incoming call signal is transmitted to a second terminal that is an incoming call destination over the network, the network notifies of the CLI message to the second terminal (the called terminal).
Upon receipt of the CLI message, the second terminal compares the caller phone number contained in the received CLI message with a user identification information stored in the phone book. Then, if the user identification information corresponds to the caller phone number, the second terminal displays the stored user identification information corresponding to the caller phone number, for example, a user name on a display. With this configuration makes it possible for a user of the second terminal to check a caller prior to an incoming call response operation, which is very convenient.
However, the CLI message contains only the caller phone number. Because of this, in the case where the second terminal does not comprise a phone book or in the case where the corresponding storage information is not stored even if the terminal comprises the phone book, it is impossible for the second terminal user to know detailed information related to the caller, such as a caller name.
In view of this circumstance, a CDMA standard, IS-95B that is an upgraded version of the above IS-95A has specified that the CLI message contains a caller name as well as the caller phone number. If the second terminal receives the CLI message containing the caller name, even if the second terminal does not comprise the phone book or if the storage user identification information corresponding to the received caller phone number is not stored in the phone book, it becomes possible for the user to specify the caller with verifying the received caller name.
However, in the case where the second terminal comprises the phone book, and moreover, the user identification information corresponding to the caller is stored in this phone book, the phone book storage user identification information and the caller name notified by the CLI message may be displayed so that they coexist. If such display is made, the user will be confused, which is not preferable.

Communication terminal having caller identification information display function


The present invention relates to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), a potent neurotrophin that exhibits a broad spectrum of biological activities on a variety of cell types from both the central and peripheral nervous systems. The present invention involves the cloning and characterization of receptors for GDNF. Nucleic acid and amino acid sequences are described for GDNFR protein products. A hydrophobic domain with the features of a signal peptide is found at the amino terminus, while a second hydrophobic domain at the carboxy terminus is involved in the linkage of the receptor to the cell membrane. The lack of a transmembrane domain and cytoplasmic region indicates that GDNFR requires one or more accessory molecules in order to mediate transmembrane signaling. GDNFR mRNA is widely distributed in both nervous system and non-neural tissues, consistent with the similar distribution found for GDNF.

Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor
Glial cell line-derived neurotophic factor (GDNF) was initially isolated and cloned from rat B49 cells as a potent neurotrophic factor that enhances survival of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (Lin et al., Science, 260, 1130-1132, 1993). Recent studies have indicated that this molecule exhibits a variety of other biological activities, having effects on several types of neurons from both the central and peripheral nervous systems. In the central nervous system (CNS), GDNF has been shown to prevent the axotomy-induced death of mammalian facial and spinal cord motor neurons (Li et al., Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences, U.S.A., 92, 9771-9775, 1995; Oppenheim et al., Nature, 373, 344-346, 1995; Yan et al., Nature, 373, 341-344, 1995; Henderson et al., Science, 266, 1062-1064, 1994; Zurn et al., Neuroreport, 6, 113-118, 1994), and to rescue developing avian motor neurons from natural programmed cell death (Oppenheim et al., 1995 supra). Local administration of GDNF has been shown to protect nigral dopaminergic neurons from axotomy-induced (Kearns and Gash, Brain Research, 672, 104-111, 1995; Beck et al., Nature, 373, 339-341, 1995) or neurotoxin-induced degeneration (Sauer et al., Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences U.S.A., 92, 8935-8939, 1995; Tomac et al., Nature, 373, 335-339, 1995). In addition, local administration of GDNF has been shown to induce sprouting from dopaminergic neurons, increase levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin, and improve motor behavior (Tomac et al., 1995 supra).
More recently, GDNF has been reported to be a potential trophic factor for brain noradrenergic neurons and Purkinje cells. Grafting of fibroblasts ectopically expressing GDNF prevented 6-hydroxydopamine-induced degeneration and promoted the phenotype of adult noradrenergic neurons in vivo (Arenas et al., Neuron, 15, 1465-1473, 1995), while exogeneously applied GDNF effectively promoted survival and morphological differentiation of embryonic Purkinje cells in vitro (Mount et al., Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences U.S.A., 92, 9092-9096, 1995). In the peripheral nervous system, GDNF has been shown to promote the survival of neurons in nodose, ciliary, and sympathetic ganglia, as well as small populations of embryonic sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia (Trupp et al., Journal Of Cell Biology, 130, 137-148, 1995; Ebendal et al., Journal Of Neuroscience Research, 40, 276-284, 1995; Oppenheim et al., 1995 supra; Yan et al., 1995 supra; Henderson et al., 1994 supra). GDNF has also been reported to enhance the expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide and preprotachykinin-A mRNA in cultured superior cervical ganglion (SCG) neurons, and thus effects the phenotype of SCG neurons and induces bundle-like sprouting (Trupp et al., 1995 supra).
Expression of GDNF has been observed in a number of different cell types and structures of the nervous system. In the CNS, GDNF mRNA expression has been observed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in both developing and adult rat striatum, the major target of nigral dopaminergic innervation, and widely in other regions, including hippocampus, cortex, thalamus, septum, cerebellum, spinal cord, and medulla oblongata (Arenas et al., supra 1995; Poulsen et al., Neuron, 13, 1245-1252, 1994; Springer et al., Experimental Neurology, 127, 167-170, 1994; Stroemberg et al., Experimental Neurology, 124, 401-412, 1993; Schaar et al., Experimental Neurology, 124, 368-371, 1993). In human, GDNF transcripts have also been detected in striatum, with highest level in the caudate and lower levels in the putamen. Detectable levels are also found in hippocampus, cortex, and spinal cord, but not in cerebellum (Schaar et al., Experimental Neurology, 130, 387-393, 1994; Springer et al., 1994 supra). In the periphery, GDNF mRNA expression has been reported in DRG and SCG of postnatal day I rats, sciatic nerve, and primary cultures of neonatal Schwann cells (Trupp et al., 1995 supra; Hoffer et al., Neuroscience Letters, 182, 107-111, 1994; Henderson et al., 1994 supra; Springer et al., 1994 supra). In addition, recent studies have shown that GDNF transcripts are also widely expressed in peripheral non-neuronal organs, including postnatal testis and kidney, embryonic whisker pad, stomach, and skin. Expression can be detected at lower levels in embryonic muscle, adrenal gland and limb bud, and in postnatal lung, liver and ovary (Trupp et al., 1995 supra; Henderson et al., 1994 supra). So far, however, the biological significance of the non-neuronal expression of GDNF is not clear.
A neurotrophic factor refered to as "neurturin" is described in Nature 384(5):467-470, 1996. Detailed descriptions of the preparation and characterization of GDNF protein products may be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/182,183 filed May 23, 1994, now abandoned, and its parent applications (also see PCT/US92/07888, WO 93/06116 filed Sep. 17, 1992 and European Patent Application No. 92921022.7, Publication No. EP 610 254) the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference. Additional GDNF protein products are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/535,681 filed Sep. 28, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,184,200, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference. As used herein, the term "GDNF protein product" includes biologically active synthetic or recombinant GDNF proteins and analogs, as well as chemically modified derivatives thereof. GDNF analogs include deletion variants such as truncated GDNF proteins, as well as insertion and substitution variants of GDNF. Also included are GDNF proteins that are substantially homologous to the human GDNF protein.
GDNF Therapy
GDNF therapy is helpful in the treatment of nerve damage caused by conditions that compromise the survival and/or proper function of one or more types of nerve cells. Such nerve damage may occur from a wide variety of different causes. Nerve damage may occur to one or more types of nerve cells by: (1) physical injury, which causes the degeneration of the axonal processes and/or nerve cell bodies near the site of injury; (2) temporary or permanent cessation of blood flow to parts of the nervous system, as in stroke; (3) intentional or accidental exposure to neurotoxins, such as chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., cisplatinum) for the treatment of cancer or dideoxycytidine (ddC) for the treatment of AIDS; (4) chronic metabolic diseases, such as diabetes or renal dysfunction; or (5) neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which result from the degeneration of specific neuronal populations.
Several studies indicate that GDNF therapy is particularly helpful in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions such as the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra in Parkinson's disease. The only current treatments for Parkinson's disease are palliative, aiming at increasing dopamine levels in the striatum. The expected impact of GDNF therapy is not simply to produce an increase in the dopaminergic neurotransmission at the dopaminergic nerve terminals in the striatum (which will result in a relief of the symptoms), but also to slow down, or even stop, the progression of the degenerative processes and to repair the damaged nigrostriatal pathway and restore its function. GDNF may also be used in treating other forms of damage to or improper function of dopaminergic nerve cells in human patients. Such damage or malfunction may occur in schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis. The only current treatments for such conditions are symptomatic and require drugs which act upon dopamine receptors or dopamine uptake sites, consistent with the view that the improper functioning of the dopaminergic neurons which innervate these receptor-bearing neuronal populations may be involved in the disease process.
Receptor
A number of receptors which mediate binding and response to protein factors have been characterized and molecularly cloned, including receptors for insulin, platelet derived growth factor, epidermal growth factor and its relatives, the fibroblast growth factors, various interleukins, hematopoietic growth factors and ciliary neurotrophic factor (U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,177). Study results indicate that some receptors can bind to multiple (related) growth factors, while in other cases the same factor can bind and activate multiple (related) receptors (e.g., Lupu et al., Science, 249:1552-1555, 1990; Dionne et al., EMBO J., 9:2685-2692, 1990; Miki et al., Science, 251:72-75, 1991). Most receptors can broadly be characterized as having an extracellular portion or domain responsible for specifically binding a protein factor, a transmembrane domain which spans the cell membrane, and an intracellular domain that is often involved in initiating signal transduction upon binding of the protein factor to the receptor's extracellular portion. Although many receptors are comprised of a single polypeptide chain, other receptors apparently require two or more separate subunits in order to bind to their protein factor with high-affinity and to allow functional response following binding (e.g., Hempstead et al., Science, 243:373-375, 1989; Hibi et al., Cell, 63:1149-1157, 1990).
The extracellular and intracellular portions of a given receptor may share common structural motifs with the corresponding regions of other receptors, suggesting evolutionary and functional relationships between different receptors. These relationships can often be quite distant and may simply reflect the repeated use of certain general domain structures. For example, a variety of different receptors that bind unrelated factors make use of "immunoglobulin" domains in their extracellular portions, while other receptors utilize "cytokine receptor" domains in their factor-binding regions (e.g., Akira et al., The FASEB J., 4:2860-2867, 1990). A large number of receptors with distinct extracellular binding domains (which thus bind different factors) contain related intracytoplasmnic domains encoding tyrosine-specific protein kinases that are activated in response to factor binding (e.g., Ullrich and Schlessinger, Cell, 61:203-212, 1990). The mechanisms by which factor-binding "activates" the signal transduction process is poorly understood, even in the case of receptor tyrosine kinases. For other receptors, in which the intracellular domain encodes a domain of unknown function or in which the binding component associates with a second protein of unknown function (e.g., Hibi et al., Cell, 63:1149-1157, 1990), activation of signal transduction is not well characterized.
The mode of action of GDNF in vivo is not clearly elucidated in the art, in part due to the absence of information on a receptor for GDNF. Two groups have independently found that striatum injected [125I]-labeled GDNF can be retrogradely transported by dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (Tomac et al., Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America. 92, 8274-8278, 1995; Yan et al., 1995 supra). Retrograde transport of [125I]-GDNF by spinal cord motor neurons, DRG sensory neurons and neurons in the B layer of retina ganglia was also been observed. These retrograde transport phenomena can all be specifically inhibited by 100-fold or higher concentrations of unlabeled GDNF, suggesting a saturable, receptor-mediated transport process. In vitro, recombinant GDNF has been shown to enhance the survival and promote dopamine uptake of cultured dopaminergic neurons at very low concentrations. The observed half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) of GDNF on these neurons is 0.2 to 1.6 pM (Lin et al., 1993 supra). GDNF has also been shown to support the survival of dissociated motor neurons at low concentrations. The reported EC50 of GDNF on motor neurons, in a 5 to 10 fM range, is even lower than that on dopaminergic neurons (Henderson et al., 1994 supra).
Taken together, these observations indicate that receptor(s) for GDNF expressed in these cells have very high ligand binding affinities. Similar to members of the TGF-β family, the widely diversified tissue distribution and varied biological function of GDNF on different populations of cells suggest that different types of receptor(s) for GDNF or receptor complexes may exist. Saturation steady-state and competitive binding of [125I]-GDNF to E10 chick sympathetic neurons has shown that these neurons express GDNF binding sites differing from those observed in dopaminergic and motor neurons. The half maximal saturation concentration and the half-maximal inhibition concentration of GDNF on these binding sites is in the range of 1 to 5 nM (Trupp et al., 1995 supra). Similarly, the EC50 of GDNF in supporting the survival of sympathetic neurons from P1 rat SCG has also been reported to be in the nanomolar range (Trupp et al., 1995 supra).
To better understand the mechanism by which GDNF activates signal transduction to exert its affects on cells, it would be beneficial to identify the receptor(s) which mediate binding and response to this protein factor. It would also be beneficial for GDNF therapy to identify and make possible the production of accessory molecules which provide for or enhance GDNF signal transduction. Moreover, the identification of a protein receptor for GDNF would provide powerful applications in diagnostic uses, for example, as an aid in determining if individuals would benefit from GDNF protein therapy. Furthermore, the protein receptor for GDNF could be a key component in an assay for identifying additional molecules which bind to the receptor and result in desired biological activity.

Polynucleotides encoding a neurotrophic factor receptor


A quantizer for an analog to digital converter has an input for receiving an analog input signal. A detector senses a common mode voltage component of the input signal. A reference voltage source produces a plurality of reference voltages. A voltage source biases the reference voltage source in response to the sensed common mode voltage component. Therefore, the common mode voltage in the input signal establishes the common mode voltage of the reference voltage source. A plurality of comparators are connected to the reference voltage source, wherein each of the plurality of comparators compares the input signal to one of the plurality of reference voltages and produces a output bit denoting a result of the comparing.

1. Field of Use
The present disclosure relates to a multiple bit sigma-delta modulator, such as used for analog to digital converters; and more particularly to the quantizer employed in that modulator.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 depicts a multiple bit sigma-delta modulator type analog to digital converter (ADC). In this type of converter, the input signal is applied to a summing stage 11 that is configured to generate a signal as a difference between the analog input signal and a feedback signal. The output of the summing stage is applied to a loop filter 12 that shapes the quantization noise thereby producing a filtered signal. The filtered result is applied as an input signal to a multiple bit quantizer 14 configured to quantize that input signal and apply the result to an encoder 15 which produces a digital value. That digital value is applied to a decimation filter 16. The output of the quantizer 14 also is applied to a feedback circuit that includes a digital to analog converter 18, the analog output of which is fed to the summing stage 11 as the feedback signal.
A concern with respect to this type of ADC is the effect on performance due to common mode voltages when the device operates at relatively low supply voltage levels. The quantizer 14 is typically implemented by a plurality of voltage comparators which compare the signal from the loop filter 12 to different reference voltages produced by a voltage divider formed by a resistor ladder. Each comparator has a pair of differential input lines across which the input signal being processed is applied. The output of a particular one of those comparators has a true state when the following expression is satisfied:((VINP+VCM—IN)−(VINM+VCM—IN))>((VREFP+VCM—REF)−(VREFM+VCM—REF))  (1)where VINP and VINM are voltages present on the two input signal lines of the quantizer, VREFP and VREFM are reference voltages for comparing to VINP and VINM, respectively, VCM—IN is the common mode voltage on the input lines, and VCM—REF is the common mode voltage component of the reference voltages.
When a voltage comparator operates at a relatively high supply voltage, all the terms of equation (1) are determined. In that case, the two common mode input voltage variables (VCM—IN) arithmetically cancel each other and the two common mode reference voltage variables (VCM—REF) arithmetically cancel each other. Thus the comparator trips to a true state in response to the input signals satisfying the following relationship:(VINP−VINM)>(VREFP−VREFM)  (2)which is based solely on the input voltage levels and the reference voltage levels.
However, when the voltage comparators operate at a relatively low supply voltage, as may be required for some circuit applications, some of the comparators may not determine all the terms of equation (1) because their biasing requirements are not fulfilled. A particular comparator may not produce values for the (VINM+VCM—IN) and the (VREFM+VCM—REF) components of that equation. As a result, the common mode voltages do not cancel and that comparator transitions to a true state when the following relationship is satisfied:(VINP+VCM—IN)>(VREFP+VCM—REF)  (3).
Another comparator may not produce values for the (VINP+VCM—IN) and the (VREFP+VCM—REF) components of equation (1). Here too, the common mode voltages do not cancel and the comparator transitions to a true state when the following relationship is satisfied:(VINM+VCM—IN)>(VREFM+VCM—REF)  (4).
In both situations represented by equations (3) and (4), the comparator operation is affected by the common mode voltage components of the input signal and the reference voltages. Therefore, the comparator operation is not defined by expression (2).
It is therefore desirable to remove the effects that the common mode input voltage (VCM—IN) and the common mode reference voltage (VCM—REF) have on ADC performance when the quantizer operates at a relatively low supply voltage. Doing so results in the comparator having an output state based solely on the input voltage levels and the reference voltage levels.

Multiple bit sigma-delta modulator with a common mode compensated quantizer


A solution for conducting an auction, such as an online auction, is provided, which includes provisions for sharing with bidders a portion of a bid. A method for conducting the auction includes identifying an item for auction; receiving a first bid for the item placed at a first time; receiving a second bid for the item placed at a second time, wherein the second bid exceeds the first bid by a bid increment and the second time is different than the first time by a time increment; and assigning a portion of the second bid for distribution to at least one participant of the auction. In various embodiments, the portion may be assigned to all bidders, the winning bidders, only the non-winning bidders, and/or the like. The distribution of the portion may be time and/or bid amount related.

Auctions, particularly online auctions, have developed recently and are widespread and increasingly popular (e.g., over the Internet). These auctions typically include at a minimum a seller, or sellers, offering up for sale at the auction one, or more, goods and services. The auction is conducted, over sought, and/or managed by an auctioneer wherein the auction, if successful, includes at least one bidder who ultimately ends up the buyer of the offered-for-sale goods and/or services. Post-auction activities typically may include the exchange of money (in the successful bid amount) for the shipment of the purchased goods and/or services.
Online auctions have drawbacks that are similar to traditional in-person auctions. Amongst them may include "winner's curse" which essentially states that the winner at the auction (i.e., winning bidder) often overbids (i.e., pays a higher price than the rational value of the item). Also, there is the occurrence where the winning bidder has placed a winning bid for a good that is below, or far below, the fair market price, or rational value, for the particular good. Indeed, under the "classical" auctioning method, this is often the ultimate goal of the bidders. That is auction participants often do not necessarily wish to purchase desired goods and services, but are ultimately just looking for a "great deal." Various theories abound as to what aspects may attribute to this. In fact, online auctions have attributes which may exacerbate these shortcomings as compared to in-person auctions. Due to the relative technical ease of, for example, searching online auctions, bidding quickly at online auctions, and bidding immediately prior to the close of the online auctions, there are a host of bidders that search, bid, and obtain goods for an irrationally low bid price. This often occurs when there is a single bidder at the auction. For example, due to a lack of bidding activity from any other bidders, the bidder may get lucky and purchase a good for $1 at the auction (when the rational value of the good may, in fact, be $100). Applying a participant-centric paradigm to an online auction reveals that all bidders (assuming rational behavior) want to obtain the offered item at the lowest possible bid. Contrastingly, the seller typically wants to sell the item at the highest possible bid. The auctioneer wants to sell the item as quickly as possible and at as high a possible bid; and, continue selling more items at the instant auction and at future auctions. Overlaid on this dynamic is the tension between what an "equilibrium", "fair", "true", and/or "rational" price for a good or service is and an "irrational" or "undervalued" price for the same good or service. Due to these inherently conflicting positions and viewpoints from the various participants (i.e., bidder, seller, buyer, auctioneer), current auction scenarios (e.g., online and/or in-person auctions) invariably result in one, or more, participants being unsatisfied.
In view of the foregoing, a need exists to overcome one or more of the deficiencies in the related art.

International Business Machines Corporation


A road vehicle radar system for discriminating between hazard and non-hazard targets within a predetermined zone uses a pair of frequency modulated continuous wave radar cycles (FM-CW) and a single continuous wave cycle (CW) in the generation of radar quantities for measuring target range and apparent target velocity. Measured quantities from the FM-CW and CW cycles are compared with predetermined quantities for discriminating between hazard and non-hazard targets.

This invention is related to radar systems for automotive hazard detection. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in discrimination of bona fide hazard targets from various non-hazard targets and/or clutter commonly encountered in the typical automotive operating environment.
Many attempts at providing reliable hazard target discrimination have been carried out in the field of vehicular radar systems which provide target range and relative velocity measurements thereof. The operating environment of an automotive radar system presents many challenges to the system designer, among the most troublesome being differentiation between hazard and non-hazard targets, both of which return transmitted radar signals. Typical non-hazard targets include road signs, bridges, fences, guard rails and road-side burms, etc. Poor discrimination of such non-hazards from hazards of course limits the effectiveness and reliability of automotive radar systems.
Various attempts in the art have been made to remedy these radar system shortfalls. One such example of these attempts includes limiting the range and pattern width of signal transmission and reception which in turn also undesirably limits the area of detection. This is an especially unattractive option where, as in a vehicle blind-zone detection radar system, a relatively wide area needs to be covered. Other proposals for solving these radar system shortfalls includes multiple transmitter and/or receiver configurations which of course add complexity and cost. Variable transmitted radar pattern angle and range, interactive in response to steering input, have also been proposed to limit return signals from non-hazard targets such as those which are tangential to a vehicle's travel around a curve or bend. This technique may be useful for look-ahead or look-back radar systems where radar pattern is substantially aligned with the major axis of the vehicle but does not address the problems of blind-zone radar systems where the transmission pattern is intentionally at an angle from the major axis of the vehicle. Additionally, relatively complicated return signal processing to separate multipath signals in frequency bands have been proposed to discriminate between multiple targets.

Multimode radar for road vehicle blind-zone target discrimination


Systems and methods are disclosed for receiving a target electronic image corresponding to a target specimen, the target specimen comprising a tissue sample of a patient, applying a machine learning system to the target electronic image to determine at least one characteristic of the target specimen and/or at least one characteristic of the target electronic image, the machine learning system having been generated by processing a plurality of training images to predict at least one characteristic, the training images comprising images of human tissue and/or images that are algorithmically generated, and outputting the target electronic image identifying an area of interest based on the at least one characteristic of the target specimen and/or the at least one characteristic of the target electronic image.

In order to use digital pathology images within a hospital or in research environments, it can be important to identify and categorize a specimen's tissue type, the nature of the specimen's acquisition (e.g., prostate needle biopsy, breast biopsy, breast resection, etc.), and other relevant properties of the specimen or the image.
A desire exists for a way to provide an integrated pathology workflow based on processing images of tissue specimens. The following disclosure is directed to systems and methods for providing user interfaces and artificial intelligence (AI) tools that may be integrated into a workflow to expedite and improve a pathologist's work solutions.
The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure. The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art, or suggestions of the prior art, by inclusion in this section.

Systems and methods for processing images of slides for digital pathology