text:
ODT Online
ODT /directory
Storms that damaged roofs and left a man injured in Tasmania
are expected to continue and may lead to flooding.
A line of thunderstorms brought down roofs, powerlines and
trees in northern Tasmania on Monday, with the bad weather
predicted to continue through last night.
The SES delivered 120 sandbags in the Launceston area alone
"The focus of planning in the north-west will be on being
ready for damaging winds and the focus in the north will also
include flood readiness for flood-prone areas," SES spokesman
George Cretu said.
Wind gusts up to 120 km/h have also been predicted in
southern Tasmania.
The Bureau of Meteorology said severe weather in the form of
damaging winds and heavy rainfall leading to flooding would
affect all parts of Tasmania until late tomorrow.
Mr Cretu said SES teams were being progressively stood down
but would remain on stand-by until Friday.
Monday's storms struck between Burnie and Latrobe from around
5.30pm, leaving a 68-year-old man with minor injuries.
Police said trees fell across a Devonport street, damaging a
car and closing the road, while several streets in East
Devonport were also affected by fallen trees and powerlines.
The roof of the Turners Beach Bowls Club was also severely
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text:
Miami Heat v Orlando Magic
Similar imagesView all
Chris Bosh of the Miami Heat walks back after a break in the action... News PhotoActivity,Amway Center,Basketball - NBA Pro,Basketball - Sport,Chris Bosh,Florida - USA,Gulf Coast States,Match - Sport,Miami Heat,Motion,Orlando - Florida,Orlando Magic,Sport,USA,Vertical,WalkingPhotographer Fernando MedinaCollection: National Basketball Association 2012 NBAEORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 31: Chris Bosh #1 of the Miami Heat walks back after a break in the action against the Orlando Magic during the game on December 31, 2012 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
- Blog Sponsors
Forex Trading Blog Updates
Creating a Simple Outline for a Basic Forex EA
Greetings, earthlings! As promised, this week's tutorial will put everything we've learned together in constructing a simple outline for your forex expert advisor.
Identifying Transition: The Account Killer
Being a "Jack of All Trades" is the only way to master the forex markets. Think it's true? Here's why I do...
Support Break on EUR/GBP?
EUR/GBP just broke a minor support area thanks to fresh bullish U.K. data. Is this the start of a new leg lower or a forex fake out?
Other recent posts:
Euro Dynamics – Stocks, Yield, Currency
We are seeing a dynamic relationship between German stocks, 2-year benchmark interest rates, and the currency—EUR/USD.
What the Heck is Russia's Forex Law All About?
I've been hearing about this "forex law" that the Russian government has been secretly working on since last year. What are Vladimir Putin and his boys up to now?
Another Forex Short on AUD/NZD
The Kiwi had been beaten down, but now it looks like the bleeding may have stopped & there's now potential for AUD/NZD to return to a long-term downtrend.
Other recent posts:
Cowabunga System Daily Update: Wednesday, 05/20/2015
It was a better day today as I was able to grab a small win at the beginning of our trading session. See how it all went down in today's Cowabunga Surf Report.
London Session Forex Recap - May 22, 2015
What a way to end the week! There was a lot of forex volatility during the morning London session, with almost all currency pairs on the move.
Jobs Data Update: U.K., Switzerland, & Euro zone
Hey forex traders! Catchup on employment conditions around the world with the second part of this month's recap, including the U.K., Switzerland, & Euro zone!
Intraday Chart Art Forex Update - May 22, 2015
Got more rising channels & a follow up to a broken triangle for today's intraday forex chart update. Check out the moves in GBP/AUD, NZD/JPY & EUR/CAD!
How to Cope with Forex Trading Stress
Forex trading, at the very least, requires you to deal with risk and the unknown every single day. How can you cope with this kind of stress?
Forex Trade Idea: AUD/USD Uptrend
I've been eyeing this rising trend line setup on AUD/USD's 4-hour forex chart and I think the freshly-released RBA minutes could keep the uptrend intact. What do you think of my trade idea?
HLHB System Update (May 4 - 8, 2015)
Time to try out better filters! Now that I'm not counting non-valid forex signals, how did the HLHB System perform on EUR/USD and GBP/USD early this month?


text:
That's - Uptown! Throw a stack at em
from Lil Wayne (Ft. Birdman) – Stuntin' Like My Daddy Lyrics on Genius
Lil Wayne is from Hollygrove, a low-income neighborhood in Uptown New Orleans (that's where you see a dead body every day). This follows the lines before it—they killed somebody, instead of disposing of the body they just "let em lay" because fuck it—he sees a dead body everyday-"Thats uptown" as he puts it. Solution to the dead body if it gets to be a problem? "Throw a stack at em"—"em" short for "them"= The cops. Throw money at the problem to make it go away.
To help improve the quality of the lyrics, visit Lil Wayne (Ft. Birdman) – Stuntin' Like My Daddy Lyrics and leave a suggestion at the bottom of the page


text:
It Runs: Torvalds Pleased with Kernel Development and Git
Development of the next Kernel 2.6.31 has just begun, which leaves Linus Torvalds some time for blogging again. He's apparently in good spirits, at least as to the current source code management.
"Happiness is a warm SCM" is how Torvalds titled his blog entry of June 11. In it, the chief Linux maintainer raves about the current status of kernel development and the Git management system. He thought he might best post while in a good mood "before somebody sends me the merge request from hell."
Though no longer writing code, he's been busy with the "flow of patches" and keeping an eye on kernel release cycles. The last ones were particularly challenging because of the "messy history" in which they were presented. The x86 tree went through some ups and downs with different development models and their specific issues, but now "seems to be working."
Torvalds attributes some of the messiness to the total flexibility of Git, which gives developers enough rope to "hang themselves with if they want to." Apparently they (and here Torvalds includes himself) need some time to learn the Git rules to make them workable. Thus ends his blog: let it be so.
Issue 175/2015
Buy this issue as a PDF
Code.org and College Board Team Reach Out for Talented High School Coders
New partnership will bring more and better CS training to US schools
A Peek Inside TeslaCrypt Ransomware
Criminals offer online help over Tor network
Mumblehard Still Spams
Sophisticated malware is still present on Joomla and WordPress sites around the world.
Launchpad Gets Git
Future versions of Ubuntu's code service will support the popular Git version control system used with Linux and other open source projects.
AMD Posts Code for Linux GPU Driver
New release marks the arrival of AMD's unified driver strategy.
30 Percent of New Server Equipment Goes to Cloud Infrastructure
A new study by IDC charts big changes in the big hardware market.
Windows Might Go Open Source
Azure CTO says Redmond has already considered the unthinkable.
Linux Mint Will Stay with Ubuntu
Lead developer quells rumors that the Debian version is slated for center stage.
Microsoft Frees Code for .NET Build Engine
MSBuild is now just another GitHub project as Redmond continues its path to the light.
Researchers Demonstrate Hack by Heat
Malware could pass data and commands between disconnected computers without leaving a trace on the network.


text:
- Exchange: -
- Sector: Health Care
- Industry: Medical Equipment & Devices
- Sub-Industry: Medical Equipment
Nordion Inc
Company Profile for Nordion Inc (NDN)
Nordion, Inc. manufactures products used in medical imaging and radiotherapeutics. The Company produces medical isotopes for cardiology, oncology, neurology and research products, offers molecular medicine services, and manufactures commercial gamma sterilization systems.
Contact Information
Nordion Inc
447 March Road
Suite 500
Ottawa, ON K2K 1X8
Phone: 1-613-592-2790
Fax: 1-613-592-6937
Key Executives for Nordion Inc (NDN)
|Steven M West "Steve"Pres/CEO/Interim COO:Therapies
|G Peter DansChief Financial Officer
|Scott Robert McIntoshCOO:Specialty Isotopes
|S Grant GardinerSenior VP/Secy/General Counsel
|Christopher K AshwoodSenior VP:Corporate Services
|Tamra BenjaminVP:Government Relations
|Ana RamanInvestor Relations
Quotes delayed, except where indicated otherwise. All prices in local currency. Time is ET.
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text:
Cheap YVB to Bristol flights
Popular Flights from Bonaventure, Quebec
Top Bonaventure Flights to US Destinations
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Top Bristol Flights to US Destinations
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YVB to BRS Route Map
Bonaventure to Bristol Flights, Stats and Airplanes
Route information for flights from Bonaventure PQ to Bristol Intl..
2,724.85 miles
BRS - Bristol Intl. Airlines
Browse the most popular airlines servicing the Bristol (BRS) airport. Visit their flights pages to learn more about the most popular routes these carriers fly.


text:
A method of monitoring, while on board an automotive vehicle, one or more of catalyst performance, engine misfire, and combustion quality, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine equipped with a catalyst for converting noxious emissions of the engine, comprising: (i) exposing at least one pair of EGO sensors to substantially the same emissions either exiting from the engine or from the catalyst, one of the EGO sensors having its electrode highly catalytic, and the other sensor having its electrode low-to-noncatalytic; (ii) comparing the outputs of the sensor electrodes (amplitude, frequency, or phase shift) to determine if there is a sufficient differential to indicate a misfire or poor combustion in the case of the sensors being located downstream of the engine exhaust but upstream of the catalyst, or indicating poor catalyst efficiency in the case of the sensors being placed substantially immediately downstream of the catalyst. The catalyst may be a three-way catalyst (or an oxidation catalyst). The sensors may be of the EGO, HEGO, or UEGO types. Two pairs of sensors may be used, a first pair being placed substantially immediately upstream of the catalyst and the second pair being placed substantially immediately downstream of the catalyst, the pairs of EGO sensors being incorporated into a closed-loop feedback control of the engine fuel control system.
1. A method of detecting malfunction or degradation of a primary gas mixture equilibrator, such as a device to fully catalytically convert substantially all exhaust gases of a flow, by the steps of:
(a) placing a pair of oxygen sensors in a common flow of gases exiting from said gas mixture equilibrator at essentially the same location to provide a pair of signals, said sensors differing in that one sensor has an electrode, exposed to such flow, which is designated to be substantially more catalytic than the design of the other sensor electrode exposed to such flow; and
(b) determining if there is a predetermined difference between the signals of said sensors, indicating that the sensor having a more catalytic design was able to more fully equilibrate the flow, such difference meaning there is malfunction or degradation of the primary equilibrator.
2. The method as in claim 1, in which (i) the gas mixture equilibrator is an internal combustion engine, (ii) the signal difference is based on frequency, and (iii) said detected malfunction is misfire of the engine.
3. The method as in claim 1, in which (i) the gas mixture equilibrator is a main catalyst converter for the exhaust gas of an engine, (ii) the signal difference is a change in amplitude, frequency, or both, and (iii) the detected malfunction is degradation of the main catalyst converter.
4. A method of detecting a difference in oxygen partial pressure between equilibrated and nonequilibrated exhaust gases from one selected from the group of an engine and a main conversion catalyst, comprising:
(a) placing differentially catalyzed electrodes of one or more oxygen sensors in a locale selected from the group of (i) same locale of exhaust gases downstream of said engine but upstream of said engine, and (ii) same locale of exhaust gases downstream of said catalyst, to generate a pair of signals; and
(b) comparing signals generated by each of said electrodes and, if a predetermined sufficient difference is present, make indication respectively of engine malfunction of catalyst degradation.
5. The method as in claim 4, in which at least the more catalytic electrode of said one or more sensors is used as part of an oxygen sensor in a closed-loop control of air/fuel ratio for said engine.
6. The method as in claim 5, in which said highly catalyzed electrode is located upstream of said main conversion catalyst.
7. The method as in claim 5, in which said highly catalytic electrode is located downstream of said main conversion catalyst.
8. The method as in claim 5, in which two pairs of said differentially catalyzed electrodes are deployed, one pair being upstream of said main conversion catalyst and the other downstream of said main conversion catalyst, either one or both of said highly catalytic electrodes of said pairs being used as part of oxygen sensors for feedback control of the engine.
9. The method as in claim 4, in which both said differentially catalyzed electrodes are placed upstream of said main conversion catalyst for detecting combustion malfunction of said engine, or both are placed downstream of said main conversion catalyst for detecting main catalyst degradation.
10. The method as in claim 4, in which said differentially catalyzed electrodes are characterized by one being effective to substantially equilibrate gases to which it is exposed and the other being ineffective to equilibrate such gases.
11. The method as in claim 6, in which the sensors are heated.
12. The method as in claim 4, in which the one or more sensors are of the type that switch voltage at stoichiometry of the gas being equilibrated by the sensor.
13. The method as in claim 4, in which the one or more sensors are of the type that provide a linear relationship with oxygen.
14. The method as in claim 4, in which during the comparing step, said electrodes are successively and repeatedly place in an air to fuel ratio feedback control at a predetermined frequency to establish a pattern of repetition for the highly catalytic and low-to-noncatalytic voltage signals.
15. The method as in claim 4, in which both said electrodes are placed essentially in the same exhaust gases at essentially the same location to eliminate temperature and flow differences.
16. The method as in claim 4, in which (i) both electrodes of said one or more sensors are located downstream of said main conversion catalyst and are alternatively switched into a closed-loop air/fuel feedback control for said engine, and (ii) the signals are compaired in step (b).
17. The method as in claim 16, in which comparison is of the magnitude of the signals.
18. The method as in claim 16, in which said comparison is effective to indicate the degree of catalyst degradation.
19. The method as in claim 4, in which (i) both electrodes of said one or more sensors are located downstream of said main conversion catalyst and are alternatively switched into a closed-loop feedback control for said engine, and (ii) the voltage signals, prior to or after reshaping of the signal to overcome high impedance, are compared in step (b).
20. The method as in claim 19, in which comparison is of a voltage characteristic selected from amplitude, frequency, and integrated area of the signal variation.
21. The method as in claim 4, in which (i) both electrodes are located upstream of the main conversion catalyst in the unconverted combustion gases, and (ii) the frequency character of the voltage signals from each of the electrodes are compared to detect engine misfire or slow or late engine combustion burn.
22. A method of on-board monitoring of an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine generating emissions and a catalyst through which such emissions flow, said monitoring being of one or more catalyst performance, engine misfire, and combustion quality, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) exposing at least a first pair of EGO sensors to one and the same portion of said emissions exiting from said catalyst to generate a pair of outputs, said first pair of EGO sensors having one sensor with an electrode highly catalytic and having the other sensor with an electrode low-to-noncatalytic, and exposing at least a second pair of EGO sensors to one and the same portions of said emissions that enter the catalyst to generate another pair of outputs, said second pair having one sensor with an electrode highly catalytic and having the other sensor with an electrode low-to-noncatalytic; and
(b) continuously rapidly comparing said outputs of one sensor with the other sensor of each pair to determine if there is a sufficient difference to indicate a misfire or poor combustion in the case of the second pair of sensors located upstream of the catalyst, and indicating poor catalyst efficiency in the case of the first pair of sensors located downstream of the catalyst.
23. The method as in claim 22, in which the catalyst is either an oxidation or a three-way catalyst.
24. The method as in claim 22, in which the step of exposing is carried out by immersing both differentially catalyzed electrodes in either the gases exiting from the engine or in the gases exiting from the main catalyst.
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to the art of using exhaust gas oxygen (EGO) sensors for detecting catalyst failure, such catalysts being of the type that converts automotive engine emissions to non-noxious gases and water vapor.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
There is growing concern that to improve air quality in the United States, emission related components, such as a catalyst, must be monitored on board the vehicle to determine any malfunction. Catalyst monitoring has been and still is the least understood, both conceptually and practically, of the emission related components.
EGO sensors have been used in the past, in pairs, to monitor catalysts, one sensor being placed upstream from a catalyst and the other placed downstream of the catalyst, and the signals from each of such sensors were evaluated to determine any difference that would indicate the catalyst was degraded. It is presumed by such prior art that a properly operating catalyst would be capable of dampening the periodic rich to lean excursions resulting from the limit cycle A/F feedback control or intentionally generated in the exhaust stream and that a substantial loss in catalyst performance through loss in actual conversion activity and/or oxygen storage activity would result in a decrease in this dampening ability of the catalyst. This generalized approach to catalyst monitoring compares complex signal features from both devices, each of which is disposed in a different environment and exposed to different exhaust gas locations, and furthermore presumes that there is a correlation between catalyst oxygen storage, sensed signal features, and catalyst performance. Often there is no such correlation. However, since each sensor uses a similar construction, including a catalytic coating that acts as a microcatalyst, failure based on the inability of the main catalyst to convert emissions may be hidden or masked by the sensor itself.
Patented variations of the two sensor catalyst monitoring system have utilized or compared many sensor signal characteristics, including voltage amplitude, phase shift, and frequency ratioing. In some cases, an artificial change in the sensor signal is created by modulation of the engine A/F ratio which, it is hoped, will more clearly show the onset of catalyst degradation. Unfortunately, all of such prior art approaches have at least the following characteristics in common: they expose the electrodes of the sensors to different emission gases, the sensors inherently have construction variations in tolerances and aging, and a decision as to catalyst degradation cannot be made without comparison to an artificial reference. Such prior art sensor system approaches are inaccurate not only due to such sensor differences but also are not able to sense a difference in oxygen between equilibrated and nonequilibrated oxygen conversion or combustion.
What is needed is a system that more reliably monitors catalyst degradation or inadequate engine combustion.
The invention uniquely deploys an EGO sensor's rapid ability to detect a gas mixture's difference from chemical equilibrium and not mask such ability by presuming the oxygen storage capability of a main catalyst must first be detected. This is a significant inversion of logic used by the prior art.
The invention herein uses an approach different than prior art to detect either catalyst malfunction or engine misfire. The invention recognizes that an engine or catalyst each are gas mixture equilibrators. That is, a properly functioning catalyst or engine burns combustible intake gases or fluids to near chemical equilibrium. However, a standard EGO sensor also is an equilibrator because it uses catalytic electrodes and coatings to more fully combust or "equilibrate" either engine or catalyst exhaust gases to improve its stoichiometric control point sensing accuracy. If the sensed gases are already at or near equilibrium, catalytic electrode or coatings activity would not be necessary and would perform no function; it would be superfluous.
The logic of this invention is based on controlled single factor variation. It follows below. Build nearly identical EGO sensor pairs which differ within a pair in that one sensor is fully catalytic while the other has reduced or no catalytic activity at its electrode or coating. Place such a nearly identical sensor pair in a common operating flow and gas environment downstream of either an engine or catalyst. If sensed gases are at or near equilibrium, there will not be a difference between the respective sensor outputs because a sensor's catalytic activity is not needed. If sensed gases are not at or near equilibrium (due to catalyst degradation or engine malfunction), there will be a difference between the sensors' outputs, because one sensor's catalytic activity is needed and is missing. The difference will occur because within a pair, one sensor's missing catalytic activity will actually be needed to bring gases to equilibrium.
Thus, the invention places differentially catalyzed electrodes of oxygen sensors in either the exhaust gas exiting from the engine or in the exhaust gas exiting from the catalyst, and then compares signals generated by each of the electrodes and, if a predetermined difference is present, makes indication, respectively, of engine malfunction or catalyst degradation. Monitoring, while on board an automotive vehicle, can be carried out for one or more of catalyst performance, engine misfire, and combustion quality, the vehicle having an internal combustion engine equipped with a catalyst for converting noxious emissions of the engine.
The catalyst may be a three-way catalyst or an oxidation catalyst. The sensors may be of the EGO, HEGO, or UEGO types. The sensors are used in pairs, a first pair being placed substantially immediately upstream of the catalyst and the second pair being placed substantially immediately downstream of the catalyst, the pairs of EGO sensors being incorporated into a closed-loop feedback control of the engine fuel control system. Both amplitude comparison, frequency change, or phase shift comparison may be used in detection of the difference in equilibrated and nonequilibrated gases passing by the sensors.
This invention can be used when operating the engine under closed-loop control, first with one sensor of a pair in the feedback control, and then the other during a short monitoring period, i.e., less than 20 seconds; a change in the feedback signal is observed to obtain a determination of catalyst degradation. The change from one sensor to the other may be cyclically controlled at a repeating frequency to enhance reliability of the system. A correlation is made between resulting changes in the signal with switching frequency.
Another aspect of this invention is the construction of a single sensor body having dual electrodes, one electrode being highly catalytic and the other being low-to-noncatalytic. The construction may have a common solid electrolyte zoned for two sensors by use of a barrier and two pairs of platinum electrodes, one of the pairs being exposed to an air reference cell and the other pair exposed to exhaust gases. One pair has the exhaust exposed electrode highly catalytic by use of a thin overcoating of porous platinum, and the other pair has the exhaust exposed electrode devoid of such coating or deactivated by lead or silver to produce a low-to-noncatalytic electrode. To simplify and make less expensive, the air reference may be eliminated from the construction and the differentially catalyzed electrodes placed on opposite sides of a non-zoned electrolyte thereby immersing the entire device in the exhaust gas.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the essential steps of the method of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of one usage of sensors of this invention with electrodes having significantly different catalytic activity, the usage here being for catalyst monitoring in a closed-loop feedback engine control having upstream and downstream control sensors (with respect to the catalyst) for feedback A/F control.
FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of another usage of sensors with electrodes having differing catalytic activity but using only the downstream highly catalytic electrode sensor for feedback A/F control while the pair provides catalyst monitoring.
FIG. 4 is an alternative system like that in FIG. 3, but using the downstream sensor pair in open loop while using an independent upstream sensor for feedback A/F control.
FIG. 5 is still another usage of sensors with electrodes having different catalytic activity but using the upstream highly catalyzed electrode sensor for feedback A/F control while the pair provides engine misfire or slow or late burn detection.
FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of yet still another usage of sensors with electrodes having differing catalytic activity, the usage here being for monitoring both engine misfire/combustion malfunction and catalyst degradation by the use of two pairs of sensors.
FIG. 7 is a composite of graphical illustrations of EGO signal voltage as a function of time, the first row of views respectively are for a highly catalytic electrode exposed to upstream exhaust gases, a highly catalytic sensor exposed to downstream exhaust gases, and a low-to-noncatalytic electrode exposed to downstream exhaust gases; the upper boxed group of signal views illustrating the effect of a good main catalyst and the lower boxed group of signal views illustrate the effect of a bad main catalyst.
FIG. 8 is a graphical illustration of oxygen sensor voltage plotted as a function of A/F signal.
FIG. 9 is a graphical illustration of main catalyst conversion efficiency plotted as a function of A/F signal.
FIG. 10 is a graphical illustration of pre-catalyst gas species content plotted as a function of A/F signal.
FIG. 11 is a plot of voltage signal taken prior to the P-I controller, such signal being plotted as a function of time for both a highly catalyzed electrode and a low-to-noncatalyzed electrode exposed to both a good and bad catalyst.
FIG. 12 is a plot of A/F signal as a function of time for both a highly catalyzed electrode and for a low-to-noncatalyzed electrode.
FIGS. 13 and 14 are respectively plots of (LAMBSE) voltage signal as a function of time for a highly catalyzed electrode and for a low-to-noncatalyzed electrode, the plots being marked to show when a misfire intentionally occurred.
FIG. 15 is a graphical illustration of A/F shift as a function of catalyst conversion efficiency, the difference in A/F signal between catalyzed and noncatalyzed sensors placed downstream of three catalysts, of known but varied catalyst efficiency, was plotted.
FIG. 16a is a schematic view of an oxygen sensor construction with a highly catalyzed electrode exposed to exhaust gases. FIG. 16b is a schematic view of an oxygen sensor construction with a low-to-noncatalyzed electrode exposed to exhaust gases.
FIG. 17 is a schematic view of an integrated oxygen sensor construction that provides essentially two separate oxygen sensors in one device, one being highly catalytic and the other not.
FIG. 18 is an oxygen sensor with differentially catalytic electrodes but having no air reference, both electrodes being exposed to the exhaust gases.
FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 17, but showing still yet another sensor construction.
It is conventional wisdom in the art that an oxygen sensor will be able to detect a change in oxygen storage capacity of a catalyst and thereby presumably detect catalyst efficiency. Attempts to implement this wisdom have used a conventional oxygen sensor placed downstream of the main catalyst, but it also functions as a catalyst, more accurately a microcatalyst, because its electrode, exposed to the exhaust gases, is highly catalytic in accordance with conventional construction. It is theorized that when the main catalyst degrades, it cannot cyclically store oxygen. Thus, the EGO sensor will provide a switching signal increased in frequency and/or increased in amplitude. However, the actual signal must be compared to a reference signal or library of reference signals to judge whether the main catalyst is degraded. Matching reference signals properly may lead to erroneous results because of the variable instantaneous conditions within the system. Amplitude changes are unreliable as an indicator of catalyst degradation because such changes are caused by changes in the oxygen storage of the catalyst, not necessarily by changes in its conversion efficiency. Also, some change in sensor output could be caused by changes in the response of the sensor itself. Frequency change may not be an indicator of a degraded catalyst for the same reasons given above.
To avoid the need for reference signals, it has also been theorized that an artificial fuel pulse be used to exceed the storage capacity of the main catalyst; analysis of the sensed signal, before and after the pulse, tends to more clearly indicate a degraded catalyst without the need for reference signals. This approach may be difficult to implement because of the need to use the downstream sensor in a closed-loop engine control and maintain the exhaust gases within a desired window of air/fuel ratio optimum for main catalyst conversion efficiency.
The invention herein avoids any reliance on a correlation between oxygen storage of the main catalyst and its efficiency. In the preferred embodiment, two differentially catalyzed EGO sensor electrodes, whether integrated along one con, non electrolyte or used in separate electrolyte constructions, are substituted for the conventional EGO sensor downstream of the main catalyst; simultaneous and instantaneous comparison of the actual signals from each of such electrodes provides very reliable proof as to the efficiency of the main catalyst. Unreliable reference signals are avoided, the engine control system is not disrupted to accommodate catalyst monitoring, and false conclusions from reliance on the catalyst's ability to store oxygen is avoided.
Essentially, the method of this invention comprises two main steps. The first step is to expose differentially catalyzed electrodes of an oxygen sensing system to essentially the exhaust gases from an engine (both being either upstream or downstream of the main catalyst, designed to convert all of such exhaust gases). The second step compares the signal outputs from such electrodes for an indication of a specific malfunction with respect to engine misfire, combustion deficiency, or main catalyst degradation (see FIG. 1).
A first aspect of this invention is concerned with how the differentially catalyzed sensor electrodes, exposed to the exhaust gases, are used in a catalyst monitoring system. As shown in FIG. 2, a closed-loop feedback control can be employed having a primary feedback loop 10(a) and an enhancement feedback loop 10(b). In the primary feedback loop, a conventional EGO sensor 11 is disposed in the emission flow 12 from an engine 13 (upstream of the catalyst), the signal from the EGO sensor 11 being connected to a feedback controller 14 which in turn supplies control information to an on-board computer or base fuel calculation means 16. Means 16 transmits a command signal to a fuel injector driver 17, the command signal controlling the pulse-width converter of the injector driver. There may be several injector drivers to accommodate each of the combustion cylinders of the engine, each of which must receive fuel pulses to carry out combustion therein within the engine in combination with inlet air 18 supplied to the engine. The signal from the first EGO sensor 11 may be modified by voltage follower (comparator) 15 which reshapes the signal from a sine-like wave to essentially a square wave thereby alleviating the very high impedance of the sensor output. To enhance the feedback control loop, it may further contain adaptive tables 20 to provide more precise calculation of A/F ratios during dynamic conditions where the feedback system cannot respond rapidly enough. The on-board computer or fuel calculation means 16 also receives information of mass airflow from a device 19. The controller 14 is preferably a proportional-integral type wherein the coefficients of proportional-integral terms of a control algorithm are adjusted to a different gain. Gain is the slope of the signal output to the signal input (essentially its strength). The gain of the signal directly from the sensor is extremely high at the switch point and thus would lead to erratic adjustments if such signal was not modified with respect to its gain.
To provide for enhanced feedback control and catalyst monitoring, the secondary control loop 10(b) deploys a second EGO sensor 30, having a highly catalytic electrode 30(a) exposed to the exhaust gases, and a third EGO sensor 31, having a low-to-noncatalytic electrode 31(a) exposed to the exhaust gases; sensors 30 and 31 are arranged for alternate connections to the feedback controller 14. The second and third EGO sensor electrodes that are exposed to the exhaust gases may be combined as a single split sensor construction placed after the catalyst to perform the monitoring. Such a split EGO sensor would actually be two EGO sensors in one; one of the EGO sensors would have a highly catalytic coating and the other would have no or little catalytic coating.
Each signal from the second and third sensor electrodes 30(a) and 31(a) are respectively modified by a separate voltage follower or comparator 32, 33. The voltage follower is useful because the signal emanating from the sensor itself has very high impedance. The signal from the follower is then subjected to a low-gain modifier 34 or integrator. Thus, the signal is developed at an output that increases with time at a constant rate or that decreases at a constant rate to vary the pulse width of the air/fuel ratio controller in a closed-loop manner. The low-gain modifier switches from an increasing ramp to its decreasing ramp and back again in response to the output of the follower or comparator, which can be either one of two levels. The comparator changes or switches levels at a point where the waveform voltage of an oxygen sensor exceeds a reference voltage input to the comparator. The reference voltage input to the comparator is preferably known to be a voltage that will provide a uniform result even in conditions where the sensor waveform ages.
The signal may further be modified by a bias adjust 35. The bias adjust is useful to compensate for dislocation of the air/fuel ratio signal to the lean side due to a slow change of partial pressure of oxygen, even when at the stoichiometric point of the sensor. This bias adjust moves the air/fuel ratio back to the proper window.
The enhanced feedback system uses the highly catalytic electrode 30(a) (or second sensor) in normal mode to provide the enhanced feedback control. The low-to-noncatalytic electrode 31(a) (or third sensor) is alternately switched into the enhanced feedback system control and a comparison is made between the signals from such differentially catalyzed electrode(s) (sensors). A switch 36 is interposed into the enhanced feedback loop preferably after the comparators 32, 33. Although the switch 36 may be disposed at other locations in the signal connection between the sensors and the controller, it is desirable at this location because it minimizes the use of redundant components. Comparison may be carried out by use of a detector 38 connected to the signal output of the controller 14 (sensing the A/F signal-LAMBSE) which in turn is interpreted by an indicator block 39 to alert the driver to the desired malfunction of the catalyst. Comparison of the signal output from the controller is advantageous because it allows a more accurate determination of the degree of degradation of the catalyst as will be discussed later.
Alternate usage schemes for the differentially catalyzed electrodes of an oxygen sensor are shown in FIGS. 3-6. In FIG. 3, the use of an upstream sensor to provide primary feedback control is eliminated (either during the detection test or during all engine operations). The highly catalytic electrode 40 of the downstream split sensor (or pair of sensors) may be used as the normal mode for feedback A/F control and the low-to-noncatalytic electrode 41 is used only during catalyst interrogation. It may be desirable to cyclically switch back and forth between the highly catalyzed and noncatalyzed sensor electrodes at some suitable frequency (rather than just switching once); the resulting changes in the feedback A/F signal are correlated with the switching signal frequency. This can be done by use of a repeater device 42 which promotes the cyclical switching. Such switching is done in order to obtain a catalyst monitoring signal that alternates between two values (during the catalyst testing interval) rather than a signal which just switches once. The potential advantage in doing this is that the procedure may provide more reliability in identifying marginally defective catalysts. The cyclical switching operation would only be performed during a designated catalyst monitoring interval such as for about 20 seconds. When the catalyst monitoring is not being performed, the highly catalyzed electrode or sensor 40 (rather than the low-to-noncatalyzed electrode or sensor 41) would be used in the feedback A/F control or feedback trimming enhancement to provide the maximum air/fuel control accuracy. The other elements modifying the A/F control signal may be the same as in FIG. 2 or simplified as shown in FIG. 3. Detection of a signal difference is here made prior to the low gain adjust 34 and bias adjust 35. Detection is by way of block 44 (which simply compares the difference between output from sensors 40 and 41 and produces a malfunction indication signal to malfunction indicator 45 when the difference is greater than a preset value corresponding to a bad catalyst. Preset value could be a function of speed and torque.
As shown in FIG. 4, differentially catalyzed electrodes (or sensors) 46 and 47 may be placed downstream of the catalyst in open loop, with upstream sensor 48 operating in closed loop to feed back oxygen sensing information for A/F control. A switching device 49 may be cyclically controlled by repeater as shown. Detection and indication of malfunction is made similar to FIG. 3.
The broad concept of this invention does not depend on which type of combusting device is upstream of the differentially catalyzed electrodes (sensors). The concept can be used to detect misfire and slow or late burn of each of the cylinders contributing to improper engine combustion, which improper combustion may damage the main catalytic converter. Two sensors or one split sensor device can be located upstream of the main catalyst converter 21 but downstream of the engine exhaust manifold of the engine 13. One EGO sensor (having only one type of catalyzed electrode), regardless of position in the exhaust stream, cannot readily detect improper combustion. But, differentially catalyzed sensors (electrodes) of this invention can do so readily. It has been discovered that the low-to-noncatalyzed sensor (electrode) will exhibit a decided change in frequency when there is an ignition misfire (that is to say, the noncatalyzed sensor will product an output signal having high frequency components corresponding to the rate of the misfire); a low-to-noncatalyzed sensor (electrode) will also exhibit a change in amplitude when slow or late cylinder burn occurs.
As shown in FIG. 5, sensor 50, having a highly catalytic electrode, and sensor 51, having a low-to-noncatalytic electrode, are placed downstream of engine 13 but upstream of catalyst 21. The sensor 50 is normally connected in closed-loop feedback A/F control of the engine. The signal from each of the sensors is fed to a detection block 52 which is effective in determining when there is a sufficient difference in frequency or amplitude to alert a malfunction indicator 53 of misfire or slow or late burn.
The use of differentially catalyzed sensors (electrodes) may be used to detect both misfire and combustion malfunction as well as provide interrogation of the main catalyst for proper functioning (see FIG. 6). In this embodiment, the highly catalyzed electrode (sensor) 55 acts to provide the normal oxygen sensing for closed-loop feedback A/F control. The low-to-noncatalyzed sensor (electrode) 56 is continuously compared by way of a detecting block 57 to trigger a malfunction indicator 58 if justified.
The downstream differentially catalyzed sensors (electrodes) 59 and 60 are used the same as in the embodiment of FIG. 2 to periodically interrogate the main catalyst 21 as to its efficiency. A repeater device 61 may be utilized to switch between each of the sensors (electrodes) 59 and 60 to make the comparison. Detector 62 and malfunction indicator 63 receive and operate on the signal received upstream of low gain block 34 and bias adjust 35.
This invention uses differentially catalyzed electrodes (sensors) that allow the monitoring system to be specific to combustion (whether performed by the engine or by the catalyst) while eliminating temperature and flow sensitivity and eliminating the distortion and interference inherent in absolute measurement from a single device.
For catalytic monitoring, a standard oxygen sensor with a highly catalytic electrode exposed to the exhaust flow downstream of a main catalyst can exhibit a voltage signal that shows little change from the signal sensed by an upstream sensor with a highly catalytic electrode when the main catalyst is bad (see FIG. 7). Each sensor is seeing essentially the same type of unconverted exhaust gas and each sensor equilibrates such gas in essentially the same way. When the catalyst is good, however, there is a substantial difference in signal between the highly catalytic upstream and downstream sensors. This substantial change in signal may be attributed to the fact that a good main catalyst fully equilibrates the exhaust gases prior to the downstream sensor seeing such gases. However, there is a decided change in signal in the downstream sensor when highly catalytic depending on whether the main catalyst is good or bad.
Even more clear is the fact that a highly catalyzed sensor (electrode) characteristic is shifted rich compared to the noncatalyzed sensor (electrode) (see FIG. 9). A rich shift herein means that the catalytic sensor will produce a certain mid-range output voltage at an A/F ratio which is richer than the A/F ratio required for the noncatalytic sensor to produce the same output voltage.- The amount of A/F shift is dependent on the catalytic activity (i.e., on the conversion efficiency) of the main catalyst. A goal of this invention is to be able to operate the engine under closed-loop control with first one sensor in the feedback control and then the other in the feedback control and observe the change in the engine A/F feedback signal (LAMBSE) while doing so. Since the two sensors will produce the same output voltage at a different A/F value, there will be a difference in the A/F feedback signal of the engine depending on which sensor is in control (see FIG. 9). The reason there is a shift in the A/F, depending on whether the catalyzed or low-to-noncatalyzed electrode is used, can best be understood by reference to FIG. 10. But a low-to-noncatalytic sensor, placed downstream of the main catalyst, will exhibit little amplitude change in signal between a good and bad catalyst. The exhaust gases are passing through the main catalyst equilibrated in the case of a good catalyst but essentially unconverted in the case of a bad catalyst. But since the sensor cannot itself equilibrate the gases, there is a saturation of the sensor and the signal appears as a stretched form of the good catalyst signal, possibly at different levels due to a different mean A/F of the modulating A/F signal. Thus, when a sensor is capable of equilibrating itself, it will exhibit a greater signal amplitude and/or frequency. Therefore, since the difference between the two sensor characteristics is a function of the catalyst conversion efficiency, the magnitude of the change in the A/F feedback signal (LAMBSE), which occurs when switching from one sensor to the other, can be used as an indicator of the catalyst condition.
Although this invention comprehends detecting the signal of the differentially catalyzed electrodes (sensors) anywhere along the closed-loop circuit, it is preferred to detect the A/F ratio feedback signal (LAMBSE). This preference can be understood by reference to FIGS. 12 and 13.
During use of the highly catalyzed sensor (electrode), shown to the left of line 60 in FIG. 11, the voltage signal is relatively steady at a predetermined plateau 61. When the low-to-noncatalyzed electrode (sensor) is made operative by switching, the voltage signal (to the right of line 60) will exhibit a difference if the main catalyst is bad. The voltage will abruptly rise to a new plateau 62 and gradually recede to its original plateau as the A/F controller readjusts the A/F ratio. To see a decided difference in signal, using the voltage data of FIG. 11, the comparison must be made rather quickly at a moment when the voltage has made a sharp move, which leads to inaccuracy because of its rapid change. If the comparison is made too slowly, i.e., about 10-15 seconds, the voltage will have receded and little difference will remain. Furthermore, the plateau 62 will saturate at some limiting value for all catalysts having conversion efficiency below a certain value.
In FIG. 12, a preferred signal comparison is illustrated. The A/F feedback signal is sensed. This may be accomplished by taking the signal at a location 63 (A/F feedback signal), as shown in FIG. 2, as opposed to taking the voltage signal at a location 64, as shown in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 12, the feedback signal, using a low-to-noncatalyzed electrode, will gradually rise to a new plateau 65 over a period of 5-10 seconds if the main catalyst is bad. In the case of a good catalyst, the A/F feedback signal will remain substantially at the original plateau 66, essentially the same as for the highly catalyzed sensor (electrode). This enables an interrogation scheme whereby after about 5-10 seconds, from the time the highly catalyzed electrode is switched to the low-to-noncatalyzed electrode, a clear, definite signal comparison can be made, free from inaccuracies.
An additional virtue of using the A/F feedback signal for detection (i.e., taken at 63) is that it permits determination of a degree of malfunction or efficiency. The amount of A/F shift (or Δ A/F) is indicative of the degree of hydrocarbon conversion efficiency degradation of the main catalyst. Engine/dynamometer tests were performed using the system of FIG. 2. Specifically, closed-loop A/F measurements were made with first the highly catalytic sensor and then the noncatalytic EGO sensor in control, and the differences between the closed-loop A/F for each situation was determined. The tests were repeated using three different catalysts and the results were plotted as a function of hydrocarbon conversion efficiency as shown in FIG. 15. Examination of the results shown in FIG. 15 verify that the invention concept works as anticipated for the catalysts examined.
However, when using the voltage signal, such as taken at location 64, the amplitude or frequency gives no clue as to the degree of efficiency of the catalyst.
The voltage signal obtained from the sensor when placed upstream and used to detect misfire of combustion malfunction, is illustrated in FIGS. 13 and 14. A highly catalyzed electrode (sensor), as shown in FIG. 13, will exhibit a voltage variation that is roughly sinusoidal (for normal limit cycle operation) for both signals 67 and 68 during normal combustion and cylinder misfire conditions, respectively. However, when the low-to-noncatalyzed electrode (sensor) is activated, the voltage variation 70, 71 differs significantly from the normal combustion (to the left of line 69) and cylinder misfire (to the right of line 69) as shown in FIG. 15. The frequency is highly increased when a misfire occurs. Slow or late burn (other combustion malfunctions) will give rise to an amplitude change in the voltage signal of the low-to-noncatalyzed sensor (electrode).
The construction of FIG. 16(a) has a thimble-like structure positioned in the exhaust system of the engine. The exhaust gases 70 from the manifold, including unburned hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, and carbon, along with O2, are passed in proximity to the oxygen sensor. The oxygen sensor 79 has a reference port 71 located within an insulator base 72 that receives ambient atmospheric gases comprised essentially of 79% nitrogen and 21% oxygen in the form of O2. The oxygen sensor 79 further comprises a solid electrolyte oxygen ion conductor 73 of ZrO2 or the like which has an inner electrode 74 of some noble metal, preferably platinum. On the outer surface of the solid electrolyte 73 is a highly catalytic electrode 75 comprised preferably of a noble metal solid strip, such as platinum, with a painted dot of porous platinum 75(a). A protective oxide covering 76, in the preferred form of a porous coating of MgO.Al2 O3 spinel, overlays the entire outside active surface of the sensor 70. All the layers 73/74/75/76 are porous either to molecules or ions of oxygen; the two platinum conduction layers 74/75 and terminals 77/78 are interconnected thereto for the collection of electron current respectively.
Theoretically, the operation of such oxygen sensors occur by O2 molecules becoming oxygen ions with the addition of four electrons at the surface of electrode 74. The oxygen ions then diffuse into the solid electrolyte 73. Since the partial pressure of oxygen is higher on surface 74 than on surface 76, the net oxygen ions will move freely through the solid electrolyte to the outer catalytic electrode 75. At this point, the oxygen ions will give up electrons and combine to form O2 molecules once more. A net voltage will thus develop between electrode 74 and electrode 75 in response to the difference of partial pressure of O2 between the exhaust gas and the ambient atmosphere. Increasing the difference in partial pressures between the electrodes will, as a rule, increase the voltage created. Generally, a net partial pressure of O2 in the exhaust gas of about 10-22 atmospheres (corresponding to rich A/F mixtures) will cause the sensor to output a voltage in the order of 1.0 volts. When the net pressure of oxygen increases, the sensor output voltage decreases, becoming less than 0.1-0.2 volts when the new partial pressure of O2 in the exhaust gas is 10-2 atmospheres or more (corresponding to lean A/F mixtures).
It has been discovered that a sensor without the thin platinum overlayer 75(a), equivalent to the structure in FIG. 16(b), cannot equilibrate the exhaust gas behind a bad three-way catalyst; the sensor is essentially a low-to-noncatalytic electrode sensor. Such construction merely has an outer platinum electrode 99 in the form of a long, thick platinum strip but absent a thin porous platinum overlayer. It is the platinum overlayer that promotes the high catalytic activity.
An integrated closed-loop sensor construction is shown in FIG. 17 as an improved and alternative embodiment. Using two separate EGO sensors to implement the method of this invention, differences might arise due to sensor location, local flow, different heater temperature, etc. These differences could be minimized by carefully engineering, but are largely eliminated by constructing the two sensors on a single substrate as shown in FIG. 17. This will enhance the accuracy of the monitoring over that performed using two sensors. The proposed device of FIG. 17 incorporates two oxygen sensors on a single oxygen conductive substrate 80. Both devices would then be subjected to nearly identical location, flow, temperature, and aging conditions to lower output differences because of these interfering factors. The electrolyte is separated into two portions 80(a) and 80(b) by a material 84 to prevent cross-talk (O2 transfer between two sensors). Alumina (Al2 O3) may be used as such insulating material 87. The portion of the sensor which would carry out highly catalyzed equilibration has an electrode 81 formed of a thin platinum strip accompanied by a highly catalytic overcoating of the electrolyte. To complete one part of the dual sensor, an electrode 83 is formed either of highly catalytic or noncatalytic material subjected to the air reference interior of the construction. On the other side of the construction is a low-to-noncatalyzed electrode 82 which is exposed to the exhaust gases and accompanied by its other electrode 84 subjected to the air reference side, which electrode may be either catalyzed or noncatalyzed. To improve the accuracy of the device, a heating element 85 may be disposed to maintain the air reference temperature at an elevated level. Leads are connected to each of the electrodes as shown in FIG. 18 and respectively are labeled G1, V1, G2, and V2. Both air reference side electrodes could be of identical material. Both devices would be mounted inside a housing containing a heater, although this might not be essential in the case of devices used for catalyst monitoring only.
The insulating layer 87 (Al2 O3) can be eliminated if the alternative construction of FIG. 19 is utilized. Electrodes 83 and 84 (of FIG. 17) are formed as a common inner electrode 88. The two differentially catalyzed electrodes (81, 82 of FIG. 17) are shifted laterally to become electrodes 86 89; cross-talk is minimized. This construction is desirable for mechanical reasons because Al2 O3 can have a different thermal expansion coefficient than ZrO2 (which can result in cracking).
Still another alternative embodiment within the concept of this invention is a simplified open-loop type sensor 90 (as shown in FIG. 18) that eliminates the air reference and provides a differential measurement of the exhaust gas between a highly catalytic electrode 93 and a low-to-noncatalytic electrode 92. It consists of a single block or piece 91 of ZrO2 electrolyte having one side 94 adapted to receive a highly catalyzed electrode by utilizing the conventional platinum strip/platinum overlayer combination, the overlayer providing the porous film that is necessary to provide the high catalytic activity. The opposite side 95 contains only a narrow, solid strip of platinum which operates low-to-noncatalytically. Alternatively, a thin silver layer may displace the solid platinum strip to operate as a noncatalytic electrode. The device is immersed completely in exhaust gases which makes the whole structure simpler and less expensive than a conventional EGO sensor. A central bored hole 97 completes the ability to immerse the entire electrolyte in exhaust gas. This type of sensor functions because the partial pressure between an equilibrated gas and a nonequilibrated gas promotes a difference in voltage. When the main catalyst is not functioning properly, this difference in voltage will be readily apparent. However, when the main catalyst is operating properly, the difference in voltage will be relatively minor. Since this type of sensor will not operate as a switch type about stoichiometry, it cannot be used in a closed-loop fuel control system in addition to acting as a catalyst monitor.
Patent Citations
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Get this dude a job at a 900 number ASAP.
Get this dude a job at a 900 number ASAP.
We've featured Yafa—a budding young talent with a knack for getting possibly intoxicated Minnesota students to say funny stuff—before.
Why do girls use New Year's as an excuse to start over, and believe that doing so means having sex with a random male.
Halloween is the one night where you get to be what you want to be.
If you've ever lived next to a chick who's a gigantic hoe in a cheap apartment with paper-thin walls, you know just how obnoxious it can be when someone's taking her to poundtown.


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Underwriters, Universities and Government Debt Issuers Face a Critical Deadline
Former SEC Chairman David Ruder Discusses the Dodd-Frank Timeline, Volcker Rule & Cost Benefit Rules (Part 2 of 2)
ICD-10 implementation has been delayed by Medicare until October 2015. Many believe it may be delayed again and are putting off thinking about its impact until it is clear that the updated code set will be implemented by...more
Army Corps Drops Regional Permit -
The Army Corps has announced that it has abandoned the idea of establishing a regional general permit for the New England states. The proposal would have replaced the individual...more
As the end of the year approaches, reporting companies should be aware of the various SEC filing deadlines for 2015. Companies also should be mindful of the 2015 financial statement "staleness" dates (when financial...more
Covered entities and business associates have only until September 22, 2014 to update business associate agreements that were in place as of January 25, 2013. For those members of the health industry and their vendors that...more
In a final rule released on July 31, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) confirmed October 1, 2015 as the compliance date for health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses to...more
Health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses ("Health Care Entities") are required to comply with ICD-10 (which stands for the International Classification for Diseases, 10th Edition) on October 1,...more
With 2014 being a federal election year, and primary elections occurring during a span of just six quick months, it is important to keep an eye on the dates of those primaries when making political contributions to avoid a...more
On October 1, 2014, all HIPAA-covered persons and entities must be compliant with the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS,...more
ICD-9 diagnosis and inpatient procedure codes will make way for ICD-10 codes starting October 1, 2014. Health care entities and providers need to be ready to make the switch if they want to receive reimbursement for claims....more
On January 23, 2014, the National Futures Association (NFA) issued a Request for Comments from commodity pool operators (CPOs) and commodity trading advisors (CTAs) as to whether the NFA should adopt rules to: (1) ensure that...more
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") recently adopted a Final Rule to establish a permanent registration regime for Municipal Advisors as required to implement the provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street...more
In June 2011, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) proposed new regulations that would significantly narrow the DOL's interpretation of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) that has been in force since...more
Staff responds to industry concerns and confusion surrounding SEF operations and onboarding.
One of the key aspects of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the Dodd-Frank Act) is...more
Will you have completed training? And, are you ready for the "Ripple Effect?" -
By now, most companies are aware that the OSHA Hazard Communication (HazCom) standard was changed in 2012, and that the first compliance...more
On September 23rd, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published in the Federal Register final amendments to sections of its 2012 New Source Performance Standard OOOO (NSPS OOOO) applicable to storage...more
Today, September 24, 2013, the OFCCP published in the federal register the Final Rule revising the VEVRAA and Rehabilitation Act regulations. This means the revised regulations will take effect March 24, 2014, which is 180...more
September 23, 2013, the deadline for compliance with the new Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) regulations, is here. Although there has been much discussion about the new regulations since they were...more
September 23, 2013 is the effective compliance date for many changes to the HIPAA Privacy, Security, Enforcement Rules and Breach Notification Rules as required by the "HIPAA Omnibus Rule" as published in January 2013. All...more
Dis-Like! Senator Markey Urges the FTC to Investigate Facebook's New Policies -
As we previously reported, Facebook has proposed a number of revisions to its Data Use Policy and Statement of Rights and...more
In response to a recent lawsuit and outcry from a variety of players in the health care market, the Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") has committed to issuing guidance by September 23rd (the compliance date for...more
September 23 is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Omnibus Rule compliance deadline. We have solutions and tools that may help you meet these changes now.
Starting in 2014, the Affordable Care Act requires that nonexempt individuals either maintain "minimum essential coverage" or pay an individual payment with their income tax returns. Minimum essential coverage may be...more
Don't look now, but another HIPAA deadline is just around the corner.
As we noted last month, the deadline is looming for employer-sponsored health benefit plans to come into compliance with U.S. Department of Health...more
The September 23, 2013 deadline for covered entities, business associates and their subcontractors to implement the new HIPAA rules is approaching quickly. In case you missed it, on January 25, 2013, the U.S. Department of...more
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Babolat Star II owner here. Have a question.
I love my Babolat Star II machine, however, I'm about to send in both of my locking clamps for repair and inspection. Since parts won't be readily available in the future, is it wise to keep this machine up and running? I only string for myself and a couple of my friends right now and other than the locking clamps, the machine runs great. Has anyone ever bought parts from **** or Craigslist for old Babolat machines? Does any Star II owner (or former owner) have any tips about the maintenance or longevity of this machine? Thanks.
if its just for you you can get away with just keeping it up. but if volume goes up i would upgrade
Just make sure to use a good surge protector. It will probably work for another 25 years.
All you really need to do is replace or recondition the clamps.
To the best of my knowledge you can purchase clamps from Babolat or from Tennis Machines dot com
Thanks for the reassuring comments about my Star II. I'll definitely plan to keep it in good working order......nice to know it'll be around for many more years.
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Temporary freedom for detained activist-poet Ericson Acosta
MANILA, Philippines—A poet-activist detained for more than a year in Samar for possession of explosives was temporarily freed by the court to undergo medical treatment at the National Kidney Center in Manila.
The regional trial court (RTC) in Gandara, Samar finally granted a motion for a medical checkup filed by lawyers of former University of the Philippines student Ericson Acosta in July 2012, after the detainee displayed symptoms of serious renal problems.
It took a visit by Public Attorney's Office (PAO) chief Persida Rueda-Acosta (no relation to the detainee), who arrived at the Calbayog sub-provincial jail with a medico-legal consultant and a paralegal team from human rights organization Karapatan, to get authorities to act on Acosta's plea for medical assistance.
The detainee, a former editor of the UP student organ Collegian, arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 on Friday morning amid cheers from his supporters, friends and family, including his 80-year-old mother Liwayway.
FEAC request
The PAO chief had flown to Calbayog upon the request of Acosta's family and the Free Ericson Acosta Campaign (FEAC).
It was found that Acosta has been suffering from nephritis, a condition characterized by blood in the urine (hematuria), lower back pains, high fever and painful urination (dysuria). These findings prompted the RTC to immediately grant Acosta's motion for check-up, and allowed the PAO chief to accompany him right away to the National Kidney Institute in Quezon City.
Acosta, 40, was arrested by the military in San Jorge, Samar on suspicion of membership in the rebel New People's Army. He was charged with illegal possession of explosives.
Acosta claimed he was doing volunteer research work for a local peasant group.
He has been detained at the Calbayog Sub-Provincial Jail for 23 months.
FEAC convenor Renato Reyes Jr. welcomed Acosta's medical furlough, saying that it was long overdue yet something that could have been avoided.
"Ericson's aggravated medical condition is a result of his incarceration and torture in the hands of a government that criminalizes political opposition and what it arbitrarily tags as 'enemies of the state,'" Reyes said.
Activists noted that special detainees like former president Gloria Arroyo are granted hospital arrest, while detainees like Acosta languish in jail with serious medical conditions.
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HOYLAKE, England - Rory McIlroy had everything go his way Thursday in the British Open.
A lovely summer day in England with abundant sunshine and minimal wind allowed him to attack Royal Liverpool. He made half his six birdies on the par 5s and kept bogeys off his card. And on the day Tiger Woods made a promising return, McIlroy took the lead with a 6-under 66, his best score in nearly two years at a major.
Now if he can only find a way to get to the weekend.
McIlroy either set himself up for a good run at the claret jug or another dose of Friday failures. In what already has been an unusual year for golf, no trend is more mysterious than Boy Wonder going from awesome to awful overnight.
Six times in his last eight tournaments, he has had a nine-hole score of 40 or higher on Friday that has taken him out of the mix.
"It's not like I've shot good scores in first rounds and haven't backed them up before," McIlroy said. "I'm used to doing that. I just haven't done it recently. We'll see what tomorrow brings and what weather it is and try and handle it as best I can.
"Hopefully," he said, "it's just one of those things and I'm able to turn it around tomorrow."
Woods also would like to keep moving in the right direction. He got off to a troubling start with two quick bogeys, nearly made another one on the fourth hole, and then looked like a 14-time major champion when he ran off five birdies in six holes toward the end of his round for a 69.
Not bad for guy who had back surgery March 31, who started taking full swings only a month ago and who had not played in a major in 11 months.
"It felt good to be back out there competing again," Woods said.
Such pristine weather — how long it lasts is the big unknown — gave just about everyone a chance to score. Matteo Manassero broke par in The Open for the first time since he was a 16-year-old amateur. He began his round by hitting into a pot bunker, blasting out to the fairway and holing out from 160 yards for birdie. He made five birdies on the back nine, three on the par 5s.
That made him low Italian — barely.
Francesco Molinari and Edoardo Molinari have games that are nothing alike, though they shot the same score. They were in a large group at 68 along with Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Brooks Koepka, Shane Lowry and Adam Scott.
Scott stands out as the No. 1 player in the world, and because he was the only player in the top 10 who played in the afternoon when the wind made Hoylake tougher. Scott went out in 31 and was slowed only by two bogeys on the back nine.
Even in tame conditions, the British Open can mete out punishment — to players, to spectators and even a golf club.
Phil Mickelson was trying to get back to even par when he hooked his approach to the 18th beyond the out-of-bounds stakes down the right side of the hole and had to scramble for a bogey and a 74. He hasn't broken par at a major since winning at Muirfield last summer.
That still doesn't top the bad day of Ernie Els. His opening tee shot hit a spectator in the face, and the sight of so much blood shook the Big Easy. When he got to the green, he missed a 1-foot putt, and then carelessly tried to back-hand the next one into the hole and missed that one. The triple bogey sent him to a 79.
Henrik Stenson knocked a 30-foot birdie putt off the 12th green and made double bogey, and then took two hacks out of the shin-high grass left of the 17th fairway. Walking to his next shot, he snapped his gap wedge over his thigh like a baseball player — Bo Jackson comes to mind — who had just struck out with the bases loaded.
Through all this activity, two names came to the forefront — McIlroy and Woods, both trying to restore their games from different circumstances.
McIlroy's only victory this year was at the BMW PGA Championship, where he started his week by breaking off his engagement with Caroline Wozniacki. He could have had more chances to win except for that 40 on the front nine at Quail Hollow, the 42 on the front nine at The Players Championship and the 43 on the back nine at the Memorial.
He met with Jack Nicklaus, and the topic of his freaky Fridays came up.
"I didn't mention it to him," McIlroy said. "He mentioned it to me — 'How the hell can you shoot 63 and then 78?' No, I think what we talked about was just holding a round together. And he was never afraid to make a change in the middle of the round ... to get it back on track."
The trick for McIlroy is to not get derailed in the second round. For the year, he is 55-under par in the first round and 15-over par in the second round.
Woods gave a light fist pump when he rolled in a 30-foot putt from just off the green on No. 11. He then hit a beautiful approach to 6 feet for birdie on the 12th. That put him under par in a tournament for the first time since March 9, the final round of Doral. OK, the sample size is small — that was the last tournament he played until returning to Congressional three weeks ago after back surgery.
Even so, he was playing with such rhythm late in his round that he might have wanted to keep going. That makes Friday a big day for Woods, too.
By Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press
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text:
My name is Daniel Miessler (\mē'slûr\) and I'm an information security professional and writer born, raised, and living in the San Francisco Bay Area.
I'll start by saying that if you've not tried to summarize yourself in this way, i.e., via some sort of "about me" page, you should do so. It requires a considerable amount of self-discovery, and is more difficult than it seems.
I started this site in 1999 as a platform for collecting technical knowledge. Today it is my most important life project, with over 6,500 posts, articles, arguments, and other types of content. In fact, it's less a project and more like an avatar, or even a child. It is where I put both my time and my (currently weak) hopes for immortality.
While most see their websites as a place to release pressure through ranting, or to project a presence, I see my site as nothing less than an extension of myself in digital form. I use it as a means of organizing everything I have learned and want to learn, and then as a way to share that same content with others.
My interests, and therefore content on the site, drift towards the following:
- Philosophy: Thinking about the interesting questions in life that aren't easily answered by science, discovering what brilliant people have said about these questions throughout time, and sharing these thoughts with others
- Existentialism: Contemplating how to create our own meaning and our own happiness in this life, since I don't believe it exists intrinsically in our universe
- Happiness: How to live a happier, more fulfilled life, especially given my Absurdist outlook
- Productivity: How to be more effective in everything you do, ideally leading to improved happiness
- Beauty and Wonder: Finding and sharing interesting and beautiful things, such as art, writing, science, wonder, etc. I enjoy sharing such things, spreading the feeling they give me, and experiencing it with others
- Politics: A discussion of what we are doing today to build a civilization, what's wrong with the current approach, the reasoning behind those errors, and what we should be doing instead
- Technology: I find technology fascinating. But I see it as subordinate to the pursuit of creativity and beauty
- Future: I enjoy thinking about the future and trying to predict certain parts of it based on understanding of current trends
- Information Security: This is my profession, and it's also something I've always been fascinated with. That works well in every way, except that it keeps me from #4
- Concept Mapping: Finding discrete components of wisdom, identifying them in various mediums, being able to map and link them together, and ideally even being able to create new ones
You'll find the common sections here that most sites have, such as an about page (here), a contact page, and the blog, but much of the site's content is in other sections, as described below:
- Projects: Rather than being just a set of discrete projects (which it also is), this section also serves as a repository for various collections and sections of the site that don't fit in other places. You should start here.
- Study: Articles, often technical but not necessarily, capturing the essence of how something works. The goal is not completeness, but concise, high density, and clear transmission of the concept with the goal of it being easily recalled.
- Writing: Articles or essays that shouldn't change too much over time and are not generally technical. Many of my blog posts will ultimately get cleaned up and migrated here as permanent essays.
- Arguments: A collection of articles and essays (ideally my own but I'll also collect other peoples' as well) on a wide range of topics that are important to me. These tend to be big issues, like political theory, philosophy, economics, etc.
The goal is to be able to refer to "the best argument I know of" on any given topic I'm discussing, and to be able to refer others there as well. Few things are as frustrating as having someone willing to listen to your points, for a brief moment, and not being able to summon the narrative you want.
The site logo was redone in 2012 and is a binary tree. The tree symbolizes constant growth, and the binary refers to logic, science, and reason, which help us mature as a species.
In sum, my site is where I keep everything that matters to me. It supplements my ability to create, acquire, organize, process, and share understanding, wonder, fascination, beauty, and love, which I think are the best pursuits in this life.
Here's the short version of my perspective on life:
- I do not believe in any gods due to 1) the claims being extraordinary, 2) the lack of evidence for those claims, and 3) the clear presence of an overwhelming desire for those gods. In short, it seems more likely that we invented them than that they are real.
- I don't believe we have free will, and I think it matters that we don't.
- A materialist view of the universe, combined with my belief that we lack free will, means that I believe we create our own meaning in the universe. That meaning is illusory, but it's as real as it gets for us, which is fine with me.
- I hold simultaneously in my mind two things: 1) the lucid acceptance that we don't have free will and that there is likely no meaning in the universe, and 2) a childlike fascination with everything life has to offer. Art, beauty, love, literature, poetry, laughter, friendship, and wonder—these things are more precious to me because they are literally all we have in this life.
- Within this construct, I believe the Good Life to be one inspired by love and guided by knowledge (Russell), and that morality is best defined as attempting to reduce the suffering and increase the happiness of conscious creatures using science a our light source (Harris).
- I think we are a mostly primitive life form floating through space, on a rock, all alone together. The only thing we have is each other and our experiences, and we should try to give as many life forms as possible the best lives possible—all the while knowing that our choices and efforts don't matter.
- Given this outlook, I tend to be progressive in my political views. I believe that those who are successful are lucky, and that those who are suffering are unlucky, but I live within the illusion of free choice because it'd simply be too hard to function as one who doesn't.
- So I live in two worlds: One where I know free choice is not possible and life has no meaning, and another where I gleefully embrace the illusion and enjoy life's pleasures for what they are. I actually feel that knowing that life's enjoyments are both transient and literally all we have makes me cherish them all the more.
- I am able to seamlessly pivot between these two outlooks as needed. When I give my woman a flower, and she cries happy tears, I embrace the illusions of romance and love and her being different from me, and us being different from the universe. I do this because to me these things are real—at least to me—or at the very least they're more real and more valuable than anything I can experience.
- But when it comes to punishment, reward, holding a grudge for trespasses against me, giving to those in need, picking a politics, building policy for society, etc., I tend to live more in the cold, rational world of knowing we don't have free will. And on that view I see suffering creatures who need assistance. So all all of my political stances are based around providing that help. If that means paying more taxes, or closing borders, or legalizing drugs, or giving people free healthcare—then that's what I'm going to be for.
- I believe the strength of my worldview comes from the fact that I can pivot between these two outlooks quickly and without friction. I believe those who believe in true choice must naturally (and history bears this out) conclude that humans are responsible for their station in life. In other words, if you believe in choice, and there is ANY example of a poor person breaking out of poverty, then it must follow that person X didn't break out of poverty because he didn't CHOOSE to do so. This justifies apathy towards the suffering of our fellow humans, which I abhor.
- On the opposite side of that, there are those who see the (ultimate) meaningless of the world and become nihilistic or otherwise disengaged from the happiness and suffering here. This too is a mistake, as I feel there is so much in life worth doing. Friendship, love, exploration, literature, poetry, science, laughter, music—these things make life worth living regardless of the ugly truth. It's an illusion—so what? It's wonderful, and I'm happy to ride along and try to make it better for everyone.
- So those are the two sides of my reality framework: A materialist outlook lacking freedom and meaning, and a compassionate and an artistic oultlook that embraces and celebrates everything beautiful and interesting.
What this worldview provides me is a framework for letting the bad roll off me like rain on a windshield, while letting the good soak in deeply. And I get both of those without sacrificing truth. Let me show you.
- If a friend lies to me, or says something that hurts my feelings, I see it as an inevitable playing out of the universe. I explain to the person what they did, hopefully get an apology, and I move on as if it never happened.
- If a friend says or does something kind, I absorb that positive energy and smile deeply. Do I suddenly forget that they lack free will and that this too was just a configuration of the universe? No, of course not. But I set that aside in order to experience the illusion's gifts, as they are all we have.
Other models of the universe lack one or more features of this approach. For example, if someone you love dies and you're comforted by a religious person, they might tell you:
You'll see them again in heaven…
While that may seem nice, this belief comes at a price. Believing in an afterlife tends to come bundled with all manner of harmful thoughts, beliefs, and practices. So while the belief in the supernatural may have a few benefits, I'll happily take my memories of the person when they were alive and go on my way.
Now, one may say in response:
Ah, but aren't you doing the same thing when you embrace the illusion and enjoy feelings of happiness, love, etc., when you "know" that those things are illusory?
Good question, but no. The difference is that I know that I'm participating in an illusion, and I never forget it. Once a situation arises that requires me to consider the true state of reality, I am back in a sober state of mind. So:
- I embrace the beautiful parts of life fully, like a child experiencing them for the first time, every time.
- But I always know that I'm doing so from within the illusion, and that truth (our lack of true choice, responsibility) guides me in deciding how others should be treated.
My perspective on life is described above, and as I said, I do not subscribe to or embrace any religion or structured philosophy. That being true, I do find that the principles of Secular Humanism to be quite strong.
- The need to test beliefs – A conviction that dogmas, ideologies and traditions, whether religious, political or social, must be weighed and tested by each individual and not simply accepted on faith.
- Reason, evidence, scientific method – A commitment to the use of critical reason, factual evidence and scientific methods of inquiry, rather than faith and mysticism, in seeking solutions to human problems and answers to important human questions.
- Fulfillment, growth, creativity – A primary concern with fulfillment, growth and creativity for both the individual and humankind in general.
- Search for truth – A constant search for objective truth, with the understanding that new knowledge and experience constantly alter our imperfect perception of it.
- This life – A concern for this life and a commitment to making it meaningful through better understanding of ourselves, our history, our intellectual and artistic achievements, and the outlooks of those who differ from us.
- Ethics – A search for viable individual, social and political principles of ethical conduct, judging them on their ability to enhance human well-being and individual responsibility.
- Building a better world – A conviction that with reason, an open exchange of ideas, good will, and tolerance, progress can be made in building a better world for ourselves and our children.
In my view, these basics—my embrace of the illusion, Russell's reason and compassion, the secular humanist tenets, and Harris's argument for science as a means to pursue morality—serve as strong foundation for living in this world.
Peoples' favorites are full of insights about them, and for that reason they're good to include on a page like this. It's a great conversation starter, and helps people find common interests.
One of the things I do on my site (poorly right now) is maintain a list of these collections—or a collection of these lists—so I can refer to them when needed.
One of my primary life metrics is the creation of ideas. Not all of them are possible for me to pursue, or even desirable to pursue, but I capture them anyway.
Have a look:
[ /ideas ]
I enjoy reading, which would make sense given my worldview. When experiences are all you have, it makes sense that you'd want to have as many as possible.
[ /books ]
[ Follow me on Goodreads ]
I'm not any sort of major movie person, but I do enjoy them. I have been trying to get more into quality movies, e.g., top picks from movie festivals and such, rather than wasting time on mainstream stuff.
I'm still working on getting the list going.
[ /movies ]
I am highly attracted to aphorisms, which is basically what most quotes are; the concept of distilled wisdom resonates strongly with me. I've got a pretty solid list going:
[ /quotes ]
Music magnifies my life experience. Whether positive or negative, it provides an energy that reminds me how lucky I am to be alive, and that I should appreciate this reality.
In general I am partial to Metal, Techno, Classical, Classical Guitar, and Indy Rock (whatever that means — think 'The XX'). Music is big for me.
[ /music ]
Laughter is one of the more generous gifts of life, and a good joke is something to be carefully archived and respected. I've a fairly solid collection going.
[ /jokes ]
This one I've mostly added for completeness, but now that it's added I think it's a good idea to build it out.
[ /food ]
I like to laugh, and my preferred style seems to include a good amount of irony. British humor is one of my favorite types, with Gervais probably being my flagship.
Charlie the Unicorn, Arrested Development, Seinfeld, LOLCats, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Socially Awkward Penguin, Dilbert, Ricky Gervais, Success Kid, XKCD, Key and Peele, Pulp Fiction, Monty Python, Robot Chicken, The Office (British), Family Guy, Laughing Babies, Daniel Tosh
[ /humor ]
It's highly unfortunate when you are enjoying the company of some friends (new or old) who also travel, and you're unable to remember the names of your favorite restaurants in various places.
[ /restaurants ]
Bucket List
Some think it's depressing, but not me because I don't plan on dying!
[ /bucketlist ]
Here's I'll try to cover some other areas of my life, including activities, technologies I use, etc.
Here are the primary ways I spend my time:
- Reading: Mostly non-fiction, with focus on psychology/sociology and economics-oriented titles that give me new perspectives on the world. My latest interest, however, has been with classic literature. I have found that reading high quality literature (Orwell, Vonnegut, etc.) is infinitely more valuable to me than most newer content. I feel like reading the greats is perhaps the best way to spend my time right now, but I do mix it up with technical books, some fiction, and other types of non-fiction.
- Writing: Most everything I write can be found here—either on the blog or in my writing section of the site. My focus, as described above, is synthesizing what I learn from my various inputs into ideas and then capturing them here.
- Amateur Astronomy: I've always been a lover of astronomy and I'm joining my local astronomy club and purchasing a scope soon.
- Presentation: I present a lot for my job in Information Security, but I'm looking to start presenting locally on the topics that truly interest me, such as philosophy and politics.
- Table Tennis: I have been playing for around 15 years and have roughly a 1600 rating. I am highly inconsistent however, and I can regularly take games off of 1800-rated players (even in tournaments) yet can also lose to someone significantly below me. Hence my rating.
- Drums: I used to play drums, and I'm looking to buy an electronic set and get back into it soon. My first goal is to master Tom Sawyer.
- Rowing: I'm just getting into the sport (2013), and I currently row at home in the mornings as part of my regular routine. I'm also joining a club here in San Francisco, but haven't yet completed all of my training.
- Programming: I program, but I'm not a programmer, if you know what I mean. I really enjoy it when I do it, but probably wouldn't want to do it as a job. Find me here on Github.
- Photography I dabble with my DS7000 and mostly use my iPhone. I'd like to do more, but time is limited.
- Radio Receivers I used to be into scanners when I was in High School, and I'm currently looking to get into Software Defined Radio, that I can control with my Mac.
I really appreciate good design in the things I purchase and use, and this crosses into every area of my life. Wardrobe, technology, furniture—whatever. I like things to be well put together. Other good examples of this include a frightening level of obsession with typography, sites like Apartment Therapy, etc.
I'd like to say it's purely because high quality items tend to last longer (which is true), but the reality is that I enjoy being surrounded by beauty. It's like going into a bookstore; it inspires me to be a better person.
To the design point, I like technology to be not only functional but also attractive. But not just attractive…elegant. I have tried to use Android phones many times, for example, and have been unable to because of the horrifically designed hardware. Squishy buttons, cheap plastic, hardware buttons that don't behave consistently—all these things are like a perpetual screaming in my ear.
So I'm an Apple person (for hardware), while being a Google person when it comes to vision. Or, another way to say that is that I'm a Google person, but I'll be using Apple products while being so.
For an overview of the various tools I use, please check out my setup page.
[ /setup ]
So that's a bit about me. If you have a question, a comment, or if you just want to say hello, reach out to me. Until then, I hope you find something here worth your time.


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You like fantasy sports, right? Stupid question. Who doesn't?
How's this for fantasy. Say you, a Patriots fan, were presented with a choice by an NFL genie. Given the option to select one of the two to join the Patriots as currently constructed (Tom Brady, Bill Belichick et al), which would you take: a) Denver's receiving corps or b) Seattle's defensive backs?
Choose one and tell us why!
Leave your comments below, or on our Facebook page. The best of the best could be used during tonight's show at 6:30 p.m., as Trenni Kusnierek and Gary Tanguay discuss.


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