A conveying system includes conveying cells (14) for accommodating in particular hot bulk goods or lumpy conveying material. The conveying cells have a bottom (16), a front wall (30) and a rear wall (31) in the conveying direction of the conveying system and side walls (15) connecting the latter. The conveying cells (14) open at the top are shielded from the surrounding atmosphere by a stationary and gas-tight top cover (17) that spans the open surface of the conveying cells. Both sealing elements (22; 34, 35) shielding intermediate spaces (32) existing between the conveying cells (14) in the conveying direction from the surrounding atmosphere and also sealing elements (22; 28) projecting laterally on both sides beyond the side walls (15) of the conveying cells (14) are disposed in the bottom region of the conveying cells (14) lying opposite the top cover (17).

The invention relates to a conveying system, in particular bucket conveyors or cell conveyors, with conveying cells for accommodating in particular hot bulk goods or lumpy conveying material, said conveying cells comprising a bottom, a front wall and a rear wall in the conveying direction of the conveying system and side walls connecting the latter, wherein the conveying cells open at the top are shielded from the surrounding atmosphere by means of a stationary and gas-tight top cover that spans the open surface of the conveying cells and by means of stationary and gas-tight side covers disposed on both sides of the conveying cells and a protective gas is introducible into the interior enclosed by the top cover and the side covers.
A conveying system with the aforementioned features is known from WO 2007/065582 A1. The conveying elements of the conveying system, which are constituted in the form of conveying cells or conveying buckets which in each case comprise a bottom, a front wall and a rear wall in the conveying direction and side walls connecting the latter and which are connected by chains as traction members, slide on rails by means rollers fitted laterally to said conveying elements. A top cover and mutually opposite side covers are fitted above and at the sides of the conveying elements in each case in a stationary arrangement, said covers shielding the conveying elements running inside the covers from the surrounding atmosphere and thus creating on the one hand a thermal insulation of a hot or warm conveyed material and on the other hand enabling the generation of a protective gas atmosphere in the interior of the covers by the introduction of a suitable protective gas, in order to prevent undesired reactions, in particular oxidation, in the conveyed material. The stationary side covers are disposed in the plane of the lateral rollers and end at a distance above the latter.
The drawback is still associated with the known conveying system that sealing of the space enclosed by the top cover and the side covers is not provided at the bottom, so that in this region the admission of surrounding air or an escape of introduced protective gas is possible.
The problem underlying the invention, therefore, is to improve the shielding of the conveying elements from the surrounding atmosphere in a conveying system with the generic features.

Conveying system sealed off from the surrounding atmosphere


A method is for activating or deactivating at least one part of data stored in a memory arrangement of a microcomputer system, in particular one part of a program stored there. In the event of a manipulation of data stored in the memory arrangement by unauthorized third parties, a method having the following method steps may prevent utilization of the manipulated data reliably and effectively:

Conventional methods exist to protect data stored in a memory arrangement of a microcomputer system, in particular to protect a program stored there against manipulation. Such methods are used, for example, to prevent an unauthorized manipulation of a control program stored in a control unit of a motor vehicle or of data stored there. The control program controls or regulates specific functions in the motor vehicle, for example, an internal combustion engine, an electronic stability program, an antilock braking system (ABS) or an electronic steering system (steer-by-wire). A manipulation of the control program may result in a defect of the controlled or regulated unit of the motor vehicle. For that reason, manipulation of the control program or of the data should be prevented if possible; at the least however, it should be possible to recognize the manipulation in retrospect so that the cause of a defect of a controlled or regulated unit may be determined or warranty claims may be correctly assigned with it.
Despite the danger of a manipulation of the control program or of the data by unauthorized persons, it may not make sense to completely prohibit access to the memory arrangement of the control unit. In order, for example, to be able to reprogram the control unit, authorized users may need to gain access to the memory arrangement. It may be necessary, for example, to store a new version of a control program or new parameters or limit values in the control unit from time to time in order, for example, to eliminate errors in the software or to take new legal requirements into account.
In automotive control units, a distinction may be made between series units and application units. Control units are normally delivered as series units after production. In series units, mechanisms are activated to check a manipulation of the data stored in the memory arrangement of the control unit. These mechanisms may recognize the manipulated data so that the data may be blocked. The mechanisms may be of a diverse configuration. Various conventional check mechanisms may exist. In certain situations, in particular during the development and testing phase of the control units, it may be necessary to deactivate the check mechanisms so that various data may be stored rapidly and easily in the memory arrangement. A control unit with deactivated check mechanisms is identified as an application unit.
To ensure complete test coverage of the data stored in the memory arrangement, the same data, in particular the same control program must be stored in the memory arrangement of the control unit in the series case and in the application case. For this reason, a control unit may be required to be switched from a series case to an application case without having to load other data into the memory arrangement. A switch from the application case back into the series case is not desirable and may even be impossible in order to prevent control units with control programs that have not been tested and approved by the manufacturer of the control units from being in circulation.
Conventional application units are characterized by an entry in a secret non-volatile memory area of the memory arrangement of the control unit. The secret memory area is located outside of the memory area of the memory arrangement to be programmed during a reprogramming of the control unit. Depending on whether the unit is a series unit or an application unit, the secret memory area is programmed with an appropriate entry immediately after the memory arrangement is programmed initially or is triggered by an appropriate method when the control unit is started up.
When the control unit is started up subsequently, then only the entry in the secret memory area is checked and a switch is made between a series case and an application case as a function of the entry, i.e., the check mechanisms are activated or deactivated. If no entry is present in the secret memory area, a series case is assumed and the check mechanisms are activated. Thus in conventional control units, it is possible to switch from a series case into an application case by writing an appropriate entry to the secret memory area.
It is, however, possible without great difficulty in the conventional control units to record the action of switching from a series case into an application case by writing to the secret memory area. Of particular interest is the entry which is stored in the secret memory area of an application unit. In the conventional methods for activating or deactivating data stored in a memory arrangement of a microcomputer system, the entry may be read from an application unit and used to switch additional control units into the application case with deactivated check mechanisms. Manipulated data may be stored in such manipulated application units and the manipulated data may then by executed or used.-It may not be possible to reliably protect the manipulated data against use.

Method for activating or deactivating data stored in a memory arrangement of a microcomputer system

Abstract: a microcomputer-individual identifier is stored in a signed or encoded fashion a specifiable memory area of the memory arrangement;

Abstract: when the microcomputer system is started up, the signature of the identifier is checked or the identifier is decoded; and

Abstract: as a function of the result of the identifier, one part of the data is activated or deactivated.


Embodiments of the present invention disclose a computer method, computer program product, and computer system for automatically updating a conference invitation with contact information corresponding to a user's geographical location. A user on a client device accepts an invitation to a conference. The geographical location of the client device is determined and stored in a database. Using the location of the client device, a conference information database is accessed, and location specific conference contact information is determined. The location specific conference contact information is then input into the conference invitation so that the user has location specific conference contact information. In another embodiment, when the user accesses the conference invitation, the location of the client device is determined, and if the location has changed from when the invitation was accepted, a new location is determined. The conference contact information for the new location is determined and input into the invitation.

Many projects require the participation of multiple individuals who often need to meet with each other in order to achieve the goals of their project. In many instances, the individuals working on the project are not located in close geographic proximity to each other. Therefore, instead of face-to-face meetings, the individuals working on the project may have a teleconference or web conference. Conferencing software permits multiple participants across different locations and time zones to converge in a shared conference. In a teleconference system, each participant dials a telephone number to reach the host of the conference, and then enters a pass code to access the specific conference in the system. Specific call-in numbers and pass codes exist for different geographic locations. Some devices that a participant may use to access the conference have location awareness capabilities that can passively or actively determine the location of the device and participant. For example, client-based location awareness uses Internet Protocol (IP) based profiling, which uses the participant's network information (Media Access Control (MAC) address, subnet) to determine the geographical location of the participant.

Updating a conference invitation responsive to user location

International Business Machines Corporation


The composition for oxidative dyeing of hair contains at least one coupler and 0.010 to 3.0 percent by weight of at least one developer selected from the group consisting of aminopyrazole derivatives of the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl groups having one to four carbon atoms; n=2 or 3; and physiologically tolerated, water-soluble salts thereof. The developer and coupler substances are present in the composition in a total amount of from 0.1 to 5.0 percent. New pyrazole derivative compounds are also part of the invention.

The invention relates to compositions for the oxidative dyeing of keratin fibers based on aminopyrazole derivatives as well as new pyrazole derivatives.
Oxidative dyes have achieved considerable importance in the dyeing of hair. The dyeing is brought about by the reaction of certain developers with certain couplers in the presence of a suitable oxidizing agent.
In particular, 2,5-diaminotoluene, 2,5-diaminophenyl-ethyl alcohol, p-aminophenol and 1,4-diaminobenzene are used as developers. Resorcinol, 4-chlororesorcinol, 1-naphthol, 5-amino-2-methylphenol and derivatives of m-phenylenediamine are included among those couplers whose use is preferred.
Oxidative dyestuffs used for dyeing human hair are subject to numerous special requirements. For example, they must be unobjectionable in toxicological and dermatological respects and must enable the desired intensity of coloring. In addition, a favorable fastness to light, permanent waving, acids and rubbing are demanded of the achieved hair dyes. But, in every instance, such hair dyes must remain stable over a period of at least 4 to 6 weeks without being influenced by light, rubbing or chemical agents. Moreover, it is necessary that a wide assortment of various color shades can be produced by combining suitable developers and couplers. In particular, 4-aminophenol, by itself or in a mixture with other developers, is used in combination with suitable couplers to achieve natural and especially fashionable shades in the red range.
The developer 4-aminophenol which was chiefly used formerly for the red range of the color scale has recently been criticized with respect to its physiological tolerability, while more recently recommended developers such as pyrimidine derivatives are not entirely satisfactory with respect to coloring. The pyrazole derivatives described in DE-OS 21 60 317, e.g. 3-amino-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolone-5, provide only a shallow depth of color which is unusable in hair dyeing practice.
The 4,5-diaminopyrazoles described in DE-OS 38 42 892 are satisfactory with respect to color intensity, but they show disadvantages which impede their use as hair dyes, e.g. 3(5), 4-diaminopyrazole shows a slight sensitizing activity. Because mixtures of isomers, which can only be separated by chromatography, are produced during their production other compounds, e.g. 4,5-diamino-1-methylpyrazole or 4,5-diamino-1-benzylpyrazole, are difficult to prepare.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an oxidative hair dye composition based on a combination of developers and couplers containing a developer for the red range which is very favorably tolerated physiologically, is simple to produce and, together with conventional couplers, dyes the hair in brilliant red color hues with a great depth of color.
It has now been found that the proposed problem is solved in an outstanding manner by a composition for the oxidative dyeing of hair based on a combination of developers and couplers containing an aminopyrazole derivative of the general formula (I) ##STR2## or its physiologically tolerated, water-soluble salts as developer, where R=hydrogen or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms and n=2 or 3.
The developers of formula (I), of which the 3-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (R=H, n=3), the 7-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazole (R=H, n=2), and the 3-amino-6-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (R=CH.sub.3, n=3) are preferred, are to be contained in the hair dye composition in a quantity of approximately 0.01 to 3.0 percent by weight, preferably in a quantity of 0.1 to 2.5 percent by weight.
Although it would appear obvious in view of the advantageous characteristics of the novel developers described here to use them as the only developers, it is also possible, of course, to use the developers of formula (I) together with known developers such as 1,4-diaminobenzene, 2,5-diaminotoluene or 2,5-diaminophenylethyl alcohol.
The following known couplers are preferred for use as constituents of the hair dye composition described here: resorcinol, 4-chlororesorcinol, 4,6-dichlororesorcinol, 2-methylresorcinol, 2-amino-4-(2'-hydroxyethyl)aminoanisole, 2,4-diaminobenzyl alcohol, 2,4-diaminophenylethyl alcohol, m-phenylenediamine, 2,4-diamino-5-(2'-hydroxyethoxy)toluene, 5-amino-2-methylphenol, 5-amino-4-fluoro-2-methylphenol, 5-amino-2-ethyl-4-fluorophenol, 5-amino-4-methoxy-2-methylphenol, 2,4-diaminophenoxyethanol, 4-amino-2-hydroxyphenoxyethanol, 1-naphthol, 3-aminophenol, 3-amino-2-methylphenol, 4-hydroxy-1,2-methylenedioxybenzene, 4-amino-1,2-methylenedioxybenzene, 4-(2'-hydroxyethyl)amino-1,2-methylenedioxybenzene, 2,4-diaminophenetole, 2,4-diamino-5-methylphenetole, 4-hydroxyindole, 3-amino-5-hydroxy-2,6-dimethoxypyridine, and 3,5-diamino-2,6-dimethoxypyridine.
The coupler and developers can be contained in the hair dye composition individually or in combination.
The total quantity of combined developers and couplers contained in the hair dye composition described here is 0.1 to 5.0 percent by weight, preferably 0.5 to 4.0 percent by weight.
The developer components are generally used in approximately equimolar quantities with respect to the coupler components. However, it is not disadvantageous if the quantity of developers is somewhat larger or smaller.
Further, the hair dye composition, according to the invention, can contain other dye components in addition, e.g. 6-amino-2-methylphenol and 2-amino-5-methylphenol, as well as other conventional direct-dyeing dyestuffs, e.g. triphenylmethane dyes such as 4-[(4'-aminophenyl)-(4"-imino-2",5"-cyclohexadiene-1"-ylidine)-methyl]-2-m ethyl-aminobenzene monohydrochloride or Diamond Fuchsine (C.I. 42,510) and 4-[(4'-amino-3'-methylphenyl)-(4"-imino-3"-methyl-2",5"-cyclohexadiene-1"- ylidene-methyl]-2-methyl-aminobenzene-monohydrochloride or Leather Ruby HF (C.I. 42,520), aromatic nitro dyes such as 2-nitro-1,4-diaminobenzene, 2-amino-4-nitrophenol, 2-amino-5-nitrophenol, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrophenol, 2-amino-5(2'-hydroxyethyl)aminonitrobenzene, and 2-methylamino-5bis(2'-hydroxyethyl)aminonitrobenzene, azo dyes such as the sodium salt of 7-[4'-amino-phenylazo]-8-hydroxynaphthaline-4-sulfonic acid or Acid Brown 4 (C.I. 14,805) and dispersed dyes such as 1,4-diaminoanthraquinone and 1,4,5,8-tetraaminoanthraquinone. The hair dye composition can contain these dye components in a quantity of approximately 0.1 to 4.0 percent by weight.
Of course, the couplers and developers as well as the other dye components, insofar as they are bases, can also be used in the form of physiologically tolerated salts with organic or inorganic acids such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid, or--insofar as they have aromatic OH groups--in the form of salts with bases, e.g. as alkali phenolates.
Moreover, other conventional cosmetic ingredients can also be contained in the hair dye composition, e.g. antioxidants such as ascorbic acid, thiogylcolic acid or sodium sulfite, as well as perfume oils, complexing agents, wetting agents, emulsifiers, thickeners and hair care materials.
The preparation form of the novel hair dye composition can be e.g. a solution, particularly an aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic solution. But the particularly preferred preparation forms are a cream, gel or emulsion. Its composition is a mixture of dye components and conventional ingredients for such preparations.
Conventional ingredients in solutions, creams, emulsions or gels are e.g. solvents such as water, lower aliphatic alcohols, e.g. ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, glycerol or glycols such as 1,2-propylene glycol, wetting agents or emulsifiers from the classes of anionic, cationic, amphoteric or nonionic surface-active substances such as fatty alcohol sulfates, ethoxylated fatty alcohol sulfates, alkyl sulfonates, alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkylbenzene sulfonates, alkyltrimethylammonium salts, alkyl betaines, ethoxylated fatty alcohols, ethoxylated nonylphenols, fatty acid alkanol amides, ethoxylated fatty acid esters, also thickeners such as higher fatty alcohols, starch, cellulose derivatives, vaseline, paraffin oil and fatty acids, as well as hair care materials such as cationic resins, lanolin derivatives, cholesterol, pantothenic acid and betaine. The aforementioned components are used in quantities which are conventional for such purposes. For example, the wetting agents and emulsifiers are used in concentrations of approximately 0.5 to 30 percent by weight, the thickeners are used in quantities of approximately 0.1 to 25 percent by weight, and the hair care materials are used in a concentration of approximately 0.1 to 5.0 percent by weight.
Depending on the composition, the hair dye composition, according to the invention, can react in a slightly acidic, neutral or alkaline manner. In particular, it has a pH between 8.0 and 11.5, and it is preferably adjusted with ammonia. However, organic amines such as monoethanolamine and triethanolamine, or inorganic bases such as sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide can also be used.
When used for the oxidative dyeing of hair, the hair dye composition described above is mixed immediately prior to use with an oxidizing agent and a quantity of this mixture sufficient for the hair dyeing treatment, generally approximately 60 to 200 g depending on the fullness of the hair, is applied to the hair. Hydrogen peroxide or its addition compounds in urea, melamine or sodium borate in the form of a 3- to 12-percent, preferably a 6-percent aqueous solution chiefly come under consideration as oxidizing agents for developing the hair dye. If a 6-percent hydrogen peroxide solution is used as oxidizing agent, the weight ratio of hair dye composition to oxidizing agent is 5:1 to 1:2, but preferably 1:1. Larger quantities of oxidizing agent are used in the hair dye composition chiefly with higher concentrations of dyestuff or when a more intensive bleaching of hair is intended simultaneously. The mixture is allowed to act on the hair at 15.degree. to 30.degree. C. for approximately 10 to 45 minutes, preferably 30 minutes; the hair is then rinsed with water and dried. The hair is washed with a shampoo after this rinse, if necessary, and possibly re-rinsed with a weak organic acid such as citric acid or tartaric acid. The hair is then dried.
The production of the developers according to the invention has not yet been described in publications.
The production of 7-nitro-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo-[1,2-b]pyrazole is described in A. J. Goddard et al., Anti Cancer Drug Design 2, 235 (1987). It is based on a 5-amino-4-cyano-1-(2'-hydroxyethyl)pyrazole, from which the desired compound is obtained after ring closure and subsequent nitration with a yield of approximately 10%.
On the other hand, a better yield is obtained by alkylation with dibromoalkanes and subsequent reduction of the nitro group of the 3(5)-amino-4-nitropyrazole described in H. Dorn et al., Liebigs-Ann. Chem. 707 (1967), 141-146.
The compounds according to the invention can be produced in a manner analogous to the method described above.
The developers of formula (I) are used in the hair dye composition either as free bases or in the form of their physiologically tolerated salts with inorganic or organic acids, e.g. hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, lactic acid or citric acid. The compounds of formula (I) have good solubility in water. Moreover, they have an excellent shelf stability, particularly as constituents of the hair dye composition described here.
The hair dye composition, according to the invention, containing aminopyrazole derivatives as developers makes it possible to dye hair with excellent color fastness, particularly with respect to light, washing and rubbing, and the hair dyes can be removed again with reducing agents.
With respect to dyeing characteristics, the hair dye composition according to the invention offers possibilities reaching far beyond the substitution of conventionally used 4-aminophenols. It can produce brilliant red hues with extraordinary depth of color which cannot be achieved with current dye components. But apart from this application in the field of high fashion, natural color hues can also be produced by combining it with suitable couplers without requiring an additional developer of the p-phenylenediamine type.
The very good dyeing properties of the hair dye composition according to the present application can also be seen in that this composition makes it possible to dye gray hair that has not been chemically damaged beforehand easily and with good covering power.
The subject matter of the present patent application is further directed to novel pyrazole derivatives of the general formula (II) ##STR3## where R.sup.1 is hydrogen or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, n=2 or 3, and X is a nitro or amino group, where 7-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[1,2-b]pyrazole, 3-nitro-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, 3-amino-4,5,6,7-tetrahydro-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, 3-nitro-6-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine, and 3-amino-6-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine are mentioned in particular.

Hair dye containing aminopyrazole derivatives as well as pyrazole derivatives


A rotary internal combustion engine includes a housing having a separate compression chamber and power chamber formed therein with a fuel and air mixture reservoir disposed intermediate the two chambers. A plenum chamber is disposed in the housing intermediate the power chamber and the fuel and air mixture reservoir with a rotating impeller disposed therein forming a magazine which rotates synchronously with the rotors to deliver compressed volumes of fuel and air mixture into the power chamber for enhanced power delivery capabilities.

The present invention relates broadly to rotary-type internal combustion engines and, more particularly, to a vane-type rotary internal combustion engine having internal, post compression magazines.
Rotary engines are engines with a working chamber whose volume is varied by revolving two or more elements with respect to one another. Rotary engines offer advantages over piston engines in that the center of gravity of the moving power output member of the reciprocating engine oscillates in a straight line while that of the rotary engine moves in one continuous circular motion. For a vehicular application, this has the advantage of smooth operation when compared to piston engines.
Modern rotary engines include a stationary housing with an internal rotor which may be moved in planetary motion within the housing. In the familiar Wankel engine, the rotor has the shape of a triangle with slightly rounded sides and rotates within a chamber formed as a "figure 8." The tips of the rotor follow the outline of the internal housing to form three working chambers which move around the housing with the rotor. As the rotor rotates, the gap between the flanks of the rotor and the wall of the housing vary cyclically, expanding and contracting to provide the four strokes of a four-cycle engine. Seals are provided at the tips of the rotor to separate the three chambers formed between the rotor and the housing.
Because each flank of the rotor acts effectively as a piston in a reciprocating engine, operation and construction of a typical rotary engine may be understood by considering only one flank of the rotor and its motion. Inlet and exhaust ports are provided at the appropriate stages and movement of the rotor carries the combustion volume over the ports.
Shaft speed in a rotary engine is typically very high but this may be achieved because of the absence of reciprocating parts. On the downside, the orbital motion of the rotor may produce out of balance loads yet these are easily counterbalanced. As will be seen, another solution to the loading due to the orbital rotor is the use of a round rotor with moving vanes. Moving vane-type rotary engines are disclosed in Kelly U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,725, Chisholm U.S. Pat. No. 3,929,105 and Hunter U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,112. In each of these patents, a round rotor is used in an eccentric rotor chamber with a plurality of vanes which are configured to move inwardly and outwardly of compartments contained within the rotors to provide the variable volume working chamber while avoiding the loads imposed by orbital rotors.
Other advantages of rotary engines include fewer moving parts, including the elimination of a valve train and as a result, the engines are typically compact.
One of the problems with rotary engines was disclosed early in their development and is caused by the shape of the combustion chamber formed between the housing and the rotor. Such a chamber is long and narrow with a large surface area for its volume which is not particularly conducive to flame propagation. These problems are exacerbated by movement of the mixture as the rotor rotates. In addition, the shape is capable of producing a high quenching action which tends to quench the flame at an early stage in the cycle resulting in dirty exhaust gases, thick with hydrocarbons.
Enhancements have been made in rotary engine design to increase combustion efficiency. Multiple inlet ports which are progressively brought into action as the power increases, direct fuel injection and the use of multiple spark plugs have enhanced combustion efficiency. Nevertheless, areas exist in rotary engine development for power enhancement as well as increased combustion efficiency.

Rotary engine with post compression magazine


A force sensor can include a magnetic field generator, a magnetic flux return, and a magneto-elastic layer. The magnetic flux return can extend along a first portion of at least one pathway of magnetic flux generated by the magnetic field generator. The magneto-elastic layer can be operable to be in contact with a surface subjected to force and thereby strained. The magneto-elastic layer can extend along a second portion of the at least one pathway of magnetic flux distinct from the first portion.

There is demand in the automotive industry for pressure sensors that can be operated in combustion engines to determine pressure and/or temperature in a combustion chamber. By accurately monitoring and controlling the pressure and temperature in the combustion chamber, engine efficiency can be raised and the fuel consumption and the pollutant emissions reduced. A low cost non-obtrusive pressure sensor installed inside the engine cylinder could measure the combustion pressure and output that data as a waveform signal. Through the analysis thereof, with appropriate packaging, circuitry, and data algorithms, it would be possible to monitor the knocking and misfire and thus to control the variable valve timing, minimum timing for best torque, lean burn, etc.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named Inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.

In-cylinder pressure measurement utilizing a magneto-elastic element for measuring a force exerted on an engine valve assembly


Apparatus and a method are disclosed for transferring acid catalyst from a transport vehicle where liquid acid is carried under a relatively low vapor pressure level to a process vessel in an alkylation process where liquid acid is contained at a higher pressure level, while minimizing the loss of acid vapor to the environment. The acid transfer is accomplished without venting the process vessel by employing a relatively small volume pressure lock chamber between the transport vessel and the storage vessel. In a preferred embodiment the small volume pressure lock chamber also serves as a storage vessel for make-up acid which is added to the alkylation process as required.

It is common practice in the petroleum industry to produce high octane motor fuel by alkylating an isoparaffin with an olefin in the presence of a catalyst which preferably is liquid hydrofluoric acid or hydrogen fluoride (HF). Such a process is commonly known as an HF alkylation process or merely an alkylation process. The effluent from the alkylation reactor containing hydrocarbons and acid, is usually passed to a generally vertically arranged settler vessel at an intermediate point along the length of the settler vessel. A hydrocarbon phase is separated from an acid phase in the settler vessel, with the hydrocarbon phase contained in the upper part of the settler vessel and the acid phase contained in the lower part of the settler vessel. Accordingly a liquid-liquid interface between the acid phase and the hydrocarbon phase is formed within the settler vessel.
In a normal operation a portion of the liquid hydrofluoric acid phase is withdrawn from the lower part of the settler vessel, cooled and then recycled to the alkylation reactor for reuse in the alkylation process. It is known in an alkylation process that there is a tendency for water to accumulate in the acid catalyst as the acid catalyst is repeatedly recycled through the system. It is also known that a material known as acid soluble oil is produced in the alkylation reaction and that this material acts as diluent for the catalyst phase. In general the production of acid soluble oil is substantially in excess of that necessary or desirable for dilution of the catalyst.
It is common practice for alkylation systems employing acid type catalyst to include a so called "rerun" system through which at least a portion of the acid catalyst is continuously passed in normal operation to remove the water and the acid soluble oil. This purification of the acid catalyst results in anhydrous acid as a product and a small quantity of an azeotrope mixture of hydrogen fluoride and water as a by-product. The by-product mixture of hydrogen fluoride and water is generally discarded because of the relative difficulty accompanying it's separation.
Because of the loss of HF acid from the rerun systems as organically combined fluoride in the azeotrope mixture of water and hydrogen fluoride, make-up acid must be added to the alkylation catalyst system either continuously or at periodic intervals. In order to have available make-up hydrofluoric acid at all times, fresh anhydrous acid is stored in an HF acid storage vessel from which fresh acid is conveyed to the alkylation process when needed. The acid may be conveyed from the HF acid storage vessel directly to the reaction zone itself or to the settler vessel.
Even in HF acid alkylation systems where make-up acid is added occasionally, for example once a month, only about ten percent of the total volume of HF acid inventory used in the alkylation process is added for make-up at any one time. Thus the volume of time HF acid storage vessel required to handle the HF acid make-up would be approximately equal to the volume of ten percent of the total HF acid inventory required for tile alkylation process.
In order to safely operate the HF alkylation process, however, an acid inventory storage vessel of sufficient volume to contain the total inventor of HF acid used in the alkylation process must be provided. This storage space is necessary to provide a safe storage vessel where the total inventory of HF acid used throughout the process could be safely stored in the event of an emergency such as a leak somewhere in the process. The total acid inventory includes acid required in the reactor, the cooler, and the settler, plus approximately 10% excess for make-up storage. Since this acid inventory storage vessel is sized so as to hold the entire HF acid inventory but, under normal operation, only contains the quantity of acid required for make-up storage, there exists a relatively large vapor space in the acid inventory storage vessel under normal operating conditions. Transfer of make-up acid from the storage vessel to the alkylation process is usually accomplished by compressed gas. This transfer generally involves pressuring the relatively large vapor space in the storage vessel with a gas such as nitrogen so that liquid HF acid is transferred from the storage vessel to the alkylation process, which in operation is at about 100 to 150 psig pressure.
The fresh anhydrous liquid HF acid required to replenish the make-up acid, or provide an initial charge of acid catalyst, is usually transported in steel railroad tank cars or truck trailers to the plant where it is being used and stored, and the acid must be transferred from the tank cars or truck trailers where the liquid HF acid is under a vapor pressure of about 35-60 psig, to the HF acid alkylation storage vessel where a pressure of about 150-175 psig is required for transfer to the alkylation process.
Transfer of HF acid from the transport vehicle to the storage vessel is usually accomplished by isolating the storage vessel from alkylation process and then venting the pressure in the storage vessel while pressuring the transport vehicle with nitrogen gas in such a manner that the liquid acid is forced through a transfer line from the transport vehicle to the acid catalyst storage vessel at a relative low pressure level compatible with the transport vehicle.
In normal operation, the relatively large gas or vapor space above the liquid HF acid level in the HF acid inventory storage vessel is therefore filled with the pressuring gas required for transferring the acid catalyst to the alkylation process. Upon venting the storage vessel, such as at the time of replenishing the make-up acid, the vent gas carries with it a considerable amount of hydrogen fluoride which is then lost from the alkylation system. This loss of hydrogen fluoride, that may have vaporized under the conditions of temperature and pressure existing in the HF acid storage vessel, when replenishing the make-up acid constitutes not only an economic loss of valuable material but also introduces a potential environmental health hazard since neutralizing of such HF containing vapors may not always be 100 percent effective. It is desired, therefore, to eliminate or at least minimize the loss of hydrogen fluoride vapor with the gases vented from a storage vessel containing liquid hydrofluoric acid.
Accordingly it is an object of this invention to improve environmental safety in operating an HF alkylation process.
A further object of this invention is to increase the safety of a petroleum refining process and the apparatus employed therein.
Yet another object of this invention is to increase the efficiency of operation of an HF alkylation process.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide apparatus and method for reducing the loss of hydrofluoric acid vapors from a vessel in which make-up HF acid is stored and must be occasionally recharged.


A system for resolving address conflicts in a network. In an illustrative embodiment, the system includes an address-configuration module that is adapted to assign addresses to one or more devices. The one or more devices are connected to the network via device interfaces. An interface-monitoring module communicates with the address-configuration module. The interface-monitoring module is adapted to determine when an address conflict involving plural addresses occurs and to provide a signal in response thereto. A conflict-resolution module is adapted to selectively terminate one or more device interfaces associated with the plural addresses in response to the signal and based on the addresses and one or more predetermined precedence rules. In a more specific embodiment, the system further employs a user interface for facilitating selectively adjusting the precedence rules. The conflict-resolution module runs one or more routines adapted to implement a static conflict-resolution policy, a longest-prefix policy, a highest-address policy, and/or an interface-identifier policy for Internet Protocol (IP) addresses.

This invention is related in general to networks and more specifically to systems and methods for resolving conflicts associated with network device addresses.
Systems and methods for avoiding and/or resolving address conflicts are employed in various applications including Local Area Network (LANs) and Internet Applications. Devices connected to these networks are often associated with plural addresses, such as Media Access Control (MAC) and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Such networks demand address-assignment and conflict-resolution systems that effectively balance the need for network-address assignment versatility with network priorities.
Systems for effectively assigning addresses and resolving address conflicts are particularly important in IP-addressing applications, where dynamic IP-address assignment is increasingly used. In such applications, IP addresses are often automatically assigned to network devices upon connecting to a network. Unfortunately, such dynamic address assignment may result in devices being assigned conflicting IP addresses. Conventionally, network connections associated with conflicting IP addresses are terminated, which degrades network utility and fault tolerance. Alternatively, IP address configurations are limited to those that cannot result in conflicts. Unfortunately, limiting IP address configurations is impractical for many applications, especially applications involving devices with multiple nodes running distributed IP protocol stacks that have high IP-address availability requirements.

System and method for resolving address conflicts in a network


The present invention relates to dual textured treatment pads comprising at least one paper pad layer laminated to at least one nonwoven, synthetic fiber pad layer. The invention also encompases treatment pads impregnated with a suitable medicated, cleansing, or cosmetic composition. The invention further encompasses a method of treating acne and skin wrinkling and/or atrophy with these medicated pads.

It is highly desirable to deliver cleansing products or products for treating disorders of the skin (e.g., acne) from a single use disposable pad. Disposable pads are both convenient and sanitary to use. However, current disposable pads have limitations.
Most disposable pads comprise a single layer having a single textured surface and cannot provide both gentle and vigorous cleansing from the same pad. Moreover, many single layered pads lack the rigidity and integrity required for effective cleansing and/or treatment. The rigidity and integrity of these pads can be improved by increasing their thickness or by laminating them to a second nonwoven pad layer to form a dual layered nonwoven pad. However, these dual layered pads are not very cost effective for onetime use. Also known are dual layered pads which comprise a paper pad layer laminated to a high-loft nonwoven pad layer. However, these dual layered pads are still relatively expensive for one time use. Therefore, it would be highly desirable to develop treatment pads having two differently textured surfaces, which have sufficient rigidity and integrity, and which are also cost effective.
It has been found herein that by laminating a relatively low cost paper pad layer to a nonwoven synthetic fiber pad layer having a low basis weight (and also a relatively low cost) that a dual textured pad can be produced having improved strength and rigidity, textural variety from side to side, and cost effectiveness. The nonwoven pad layer can comprise a repeating textured pattern having at least two adjacent delineated regions of different thicknesses. Alternatively, the nonwoven pad layer can have an apertured, textured, repeating pattern.
The pattern of the nonwoven layer provides a macroscopic texture that is smoother and less irritating to the skin than more expensive high-loft nonwovens. Also, because the nonwoven layer is laminated to a paper layer, a less rigid and lower cost nonwoven can be employed to achieve a finished pad having good rigidity and durability in comparison to a single layer nonwoven pad.
The dual textured pads of the instant invention allow for one side to be used, for example, for scrubbing and the other for gentle cleansing. Furthermore, the patterned or apertured side of these dual-sided pads tend to concentrate removed soil and dirt on the raised areas, thereby enhancing the user's perception of cleansing efficacy. Also, the dual sided pads can be manufactured in which the layers are of different colors, thereby helping the user to further distinguish the surfaces.
The treatment pads of the instant invention are useful for delivering a wide variety of cleansing compositions, pharmaceutical actives, and cosmetics, including astringents, toners, lotions, emulsions, moisturizers, and the like. These pads are especially well suited for delivering cleansers and compositions for the treatment of acne. These pads are also useful for delivering compositions for the regulation of skin wrinkles and/or atrophy. Also, these pads are useful for make-up removal.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide dual textured treatment pads having improved efficacy and aesthetics, and yet which are also cost effective and durable. Another object of the present invention is to provide dual textured treatment pads comprising at least one paper pad layer laminated to at least one nonwoven synthetic fiber pad layer in which the nonwoven layer comprises a repeating textured pattern having at least two adjacent delineated regions simultaneously not having the same mean thickness. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide dual textured treatment pads comprising at least one paper pad layer laminated to at least one nonwoven synthetic fiber pad layer having an apertured, textured, repeating pattern. Still another object of the present invention is to provide treatment pads which contain a medicated composition. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for treating acne in mammalian skin employing a medicated pad. An even further object of the present invention is to provide a method for regulating skin wrinkles and/or atrophy in mammalian skin employing a medicated pad. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for delivering a wide variety of skin care products to human skin.
These and other objects of this invention will become apparent in light of the following disclosure.


The present invention is an electrically conducting ceramic having improved electrical conductivity which comprises a perovskite-type composite oxide of a composition represented by the following formula EQU (La.sub.1-x-y A.sub.x B.sub.y).sub.z (Mn.sub.1-u C.sub.u).sub.v O.sub..delta.. wherein A represents at least one type of atom selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, Nd, Yb, Er, Gd, Sm and Dy, B represents at least one type of atom selected from the group consisting of Ba, Sr and Ca, and C represents at least one type of atom selected from the group consisting of Co, Fe, Ni, Ce, Zr, Mg, Al, Sb and Cr, and x, y, z, u, v and .delta. are the numbers that satisfy the following formulas: EQU 0.02.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.0.5, EQU 0.1.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.0.6, EQU 0.90.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1.05, EQU 0.ltoreq.u.ltoreq.0.5, EQU v=1.0, PA1 and at a temperature of 1000.degree. C. in the open air, EQU 2.97.ltoreq..delta..ltoreq.3.04.. A tubular-type fuel cell containing an electroconductive ceramic in accordance with this invention as an air electrode does not deform during operation for long period of time and yields a stabilized output and a planar type fuel cell which is free from peeling of air electrodes or does not decrease its output by the deformation of the cell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel electrically conducting ceramic that can be desirably used as an electrode material in an electrochemical apparatus operated at high-temperature conditions in addition to being used for the isolation of gases and electrolysis in a vapor phase.
The invention further relates to a solid oxide fuel cell and, particularly, to an improvement of an air electrode formed on one surface of a solid electrolyte.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ceramic materials have heretofore been used in a variety of applications owing to their multiple functions. Among them, a ceramic having electrically conducting property is finding applications in various fields where it is not allowed to used metals to substitute for the metals that are good electrically conducting materials.
In a solid oxide fuel cell, for instance, electrodes are deposited on both sides of the electrolyte. Such a fuel cell makes use of an electrically conducting ceramic of the type of oxide as a cathode electrode since the environment in which it is used is as severe as 800.degree. C. or higher.
The solid oxide fuel cells that are known so far can be divided into two types, i.e., those of the tubular type and those of the planar type. The fuel cell of the planar type has an advantage of power generation of a high power density per a unit volume but involves problems in regard to incomplete gas sealing and non-uniform temperature distribution in the cell when it is to be put into practical use. On the other hand, the fuel cell of the tubular type has a low power density but presents such features that the cell has a large mechanical strength and the temperature is maintained uniform in the cell. Study has been positively forwarded concerning the solid oxide fuel cells of these two types in order to utilize their respective features.
In the fuel cell of the tubular type, a unit cell is obtained as shown in FIG. 3 by forming a porous air electrode 2 composed of an LaMnO.sub.3 -type material by the slurry-dip method on the surface of a support tube 1 composed of a CaO-stabilized ZrO.sub.2 having an open porosity of about 40%, forming on the surface thereof a Y.sub.2 O.sub.3 stabilized ZrO.sub.2 electrolyte 3 by the vapor-phase synthesizing method (EVD) or the spraying method, and forming a fuel electrode 4 composed of porous Ni-zirconia cermet surface of the solid electrolyte. In a module of fuel cell, a plurality of the thus constituted single cells are connected together via an interconnector 5 composed of an LaCrO.sub.3 -type material or the like material. The electric power is generated by flowing the air (oxygen) into the support tube 1 and flowing the fuel (hydrogen) into the outer portion at a temperature of 1000.degree. to 1050.degree. C.
In order to fabricate the fuel cell through a simplified process in recent years, it has been attempted to use the LaMnO.sub.3 -type material which is the air electrode directly as a porous support tube. As the support tube material which also functions as the air electrode, use is made of the LaMnO.sub.3 solid solution in which La is substituted by 10-20 atomic % of Ca or 10-15 atomic% of Sr.
In a single cell of the fuel cell of the planar type which uses the same materials as those of the tubular type fuel cell as shown in FIG. 4, on the other hand, a porous air electrode 9 is provided on one side of a solid electrolyte 8 and a porous fuel electrode 10 is provided on the other side thereof. The single cells are connected together by a separator 11 composed of the LaCrO.sub.3 -type material in which is solid-dissolved MgO or CaO which is a dense material. The electric power is generated by feeding the air (oxygen) toward the side of the air electrode and feeding the fuel (hydrogen) toward the side of the fuel electrode at a temperature of 1000.degree. to 1050.degree. C.
In the above-mentioned LaMnO.sub.3 perovskite-type composite oxide, however, the electrical conductivity is about 150 to 200.OMEGA..sup.-1. cm.sup.-1 in the open air at 1000.degree. C. In can be expected to increase the formation of holes by substituting La in an increased amount with a divalent metal element. When La is substituted by more than about 30%, however, there is formed a crystal phase which is different from the perovskite type, and the electrical conductivity is not improved.
Furthermore, according to the report of Mori et al. in Electrical Central Laboratory Report (W90002) dated Feb. 7, 1990, LaMnO.sub.3 -type perovskite compounds have three type crystalline structures according to temperatures, and have a problem of lacking stability at high temperatures because the thermal expansion behaviors of these crystalline phases are different. The report tells that stability at high temperatures is improved by substituting a part of La with a moderate amount of Sr or Ca. But in a system wherein a part of La is substituted with Sr or Ca, the crystalline structure changes. Thus, a substantial improvement is not attained. On the other hand, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 303565/1992 proposes that annealing treatment is carried out at a temperature of 800 to 1400.degree. C. in order to solve a problem that La (Sr, Ca) MnO.sub.3 is unstable at high temperatures. Its effect is not sufficient.
Moreover, in a cell of the structure in which the CaO-stabilized ZrO.sub.2 is used as the support tube and is equipped with the LaMnO.sub.3 material as the air electrode in which is solid-dissolved SrO, and in a tubular fuel cell of the structure which uses the air electrode directly as the support tube, when a power generating system using this material is operated for a long period of time, the cell is deformed or the output decreases.

Electrically conducting ceramic and fuel cell using the same


An optical resonance analysis system comprising a sensor means (60) and an illumination means (400) for generating non-monochromatic illumination. The illumination means (400) further comprises a means for generating illumination at a plurality of angles, a lens system for projecting said illumination at said plurality of angles (390) and a dispersive device (380) for dispersing said illumination at each of said plurality of angles so that there is a correlation between said plurality of angles and the wavelengths of said illumination such that a resonance condition is generated on said sensor mean (60) for all wavelengths generated by said non-monochromatic source simultaneously. The analysis system also comprises a detection means (90) for detecting the reflected or transmitted illumination. Another embodiment comprises an anamorphic imaging means (120).

This invention relates generally to optical resonance analysis systems, specifically to certain sensor design aspects and to analysis systems comprising illumination and detection systems that utilize those sensors for analysis
Because of the recent surge in applications, sensor based instruments are becoming very popular. This growth in applications has been primarily spurred by the biotechnology and the pharmaceutical industries especially from the enormous influx of information from the Human Genome Program. This drove of information has resulted in a corresponding spawning of new industries. Some of the newest, rapidly growing industries are: proteomics, where proteins, function and genomics come together; and pharmacokinetics where researchers attempt to find products of combinatorial synthesis that have binding properties to unique sites such as receptors, that typically result in a biological altering event. Both technologies rely on assays to be robust and process thousands of samples/day. It is obvious that handling this amount of material at these speeds would benefit from automated processes and miniaturization. One very popular application such as monitoring DNA/DNA, DNA/RNA, RNA/RNA hybridization has always been important, but as genes are discovered and associated with disease states, genetic analysis in diagnostics requiring hybridization assays becomes a necessity. However, to obtain the information to determine the genetically relevant data, thousands of tests need to be run on one sample if conventional technologies are used. New developments in sensor technology can reduce this analysis time from weeks to hours.
Sensors can be described as being composed of two parts; the transducer and the active site. The transducer is defined as the part of the device that is capable of reporting change in its environment. Transducers can operate in several different modes but the most common are optical based devices. Examples of optical based transducers include surface plasmon resonance (SPR) devices and planar waveguide devices and grating coupled waveguide devices. These types of sensors are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,882,288, 4931,384, 4,992,385, and 5,118,608 all incorporated by reference. The sensor may consist of a single analysis site, a one dimensional or linear array of analysis sites or a two dimensional array of analysis sites.
Surface plasmon, which exists at the boundary between metal and dielectric, represents a mode of surface charge vibrations. The surface charge vibration is the vibration of the electrons on the metal surface generated by exterior light, these electrons behaving like free electrons. The surface plasmon wave extends into space or dielectrics as an evanescent wave and travels along the surface. The plasmon field satisfies the Maxwell equations and boundary conditions for p-polarized radiation. This boundary condition requires that the dielectric constants of metal and dielectrics have opposite sign. Since the common dielectric compound has a positive dielectric constant, the plasmon exists in the frequency region of the metal where the dielectric constant is negative. This situation happens at a frequency of the exterior light and lower frequencies, in which the real part of the refractive index of the metal is equal to or smaller than its imaginary part. For instance, for metals such as Gold, Silver or Aluminum, this frequency, the plasmon frequency, is about 5, 4 or 15 eV, respectively, resulting in a plasmon wave being available in a frequency range covering WV, Visible and Infrared regions. In this frequency range, since the wave vector of the surface plasmon is larger than that of the exterior light, the exterior light cannot interact directly with surface plasmon.
Utilization of the surface plasmon becomes possible when the exterior light wave is coupled with the surface plasmon by means of a grating or prism. These optical components provide an additional wave vector component to the exterior light, enabling energy exchange between the exterior light and the surface plasmon. The plasmon on the metal grating can interact with the exterior light by picking up an additional transverse momentum defined by the period of the structure.
On the other hand (as in the back illuminated Kretchman design), attenuated total reflection in a high refractive index material such as a prism provides additional transverse momentum so that the exterior wave has a wave vector larger than the vacuum wave vector, and the wave vector in the prism is large enough to match to the plasmon wave vector.
The prism method has been frequently utilized to determine optical constants of metals, because the resonance condition changes by the change in the refractive index. As gratings play an important role in promoting the surface plasmon, this in turn means that the surface plasmon causes some anomalies to grating performance. Because of the phenomena, theory of surface plasmons was also developed by grating scientists.
The SPR type device basically measures refractive index changes in a thin 1 xcexcm evanescent field zone at its surface. The active surface defines the application and the specificity of the transducer. Various types of surface modifications can be used, for example, polymer coated transducers can be used to measure volatile organic compounds, bound proteins can be used to look for trace amounts of pesticides or other interactive molecules, DNA can be used to look for the presence of complementary DNA or even compounds that bind unique DNA sites. Specific sensors can be obtained by generating arrays of specific DNA sequences that hybridize the sample DNA. This technique is commonly referred to as array hybridization.
This type of sensor can operate in a gas or a liquid environment, as long as its performance is not degraded. Temperature range is selected by the application and should be controlled to better than 0.1xc2x0 C. for maximum sensitivity measurements.
Arrays have been built using fluorescence as the reporter but technologies such as SPR may be used resulting in reduced hardware cost, and greater generality. The use of SPR is especially appropriate in monitoring the binding of combinatorial products because these products will not all have labels or properties such as fluorescence that one could monitor. An extension of surface plasmon resonance is the ability to combine this technique with others such as mass spectrometry. An example would be if a signal is detected on the SPR sensors indicating binding, a second technique could be used to identify the bound material.
Surface Plasmon Resonance
The propagation of electromagnetic wave is expressed in terms of the waves equation as
E(x,t)=E0exp i(Kxxxe2x88x92xcfx89t)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
where Kx and D represent the wave vector in the x-direction and the angular frequency of the wave, respectively. The terms, x and t are distance and time, respectively. The plasmon wave vector is given by
Kx=2xcfx80v[xcex50+xcex51]xc2xd=(xcfx89/c)[xcex50xcex51/(xcex50+xcex51]xc2xd=(2xcfx80/xcex)[xcex50xcex51/(xcex50+xcex51]xc2xd.xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
where xcex50 and xcex51 are dielectric constants of dielectric compound and metal and xcex is the wavelength of the exterior light. Twice the imaginary part of Kx, 2Kxi, determines the distance the plasmon electric field decays to 1/e along the metal surface.
Gratings provide the standing wave vector parallel to the boundary depending on the groove space and order of the grating. Thus, resonance absorption occurs when the exterior light wave vector component in the boundary plus the grating vector equal to the plasmon vector as given by
xe2x80x83(xcfx89/c)sin xcex8+2xcfx80m/a=(xcfx89/c)[xcex50xcex51/(xcex50+xcex51)]xc2xdxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
where a and m are the groove spacing and the order of grating. Term xcex8 is the incident angle of the exterior light.
Resonance Width
For a given metal/dielectric boundary, the SPR wavevector Kx corresponding to a given frequency xcfx89 can be estimated as given in eq (1).
We define ksp as the real part of the center wavevector of the plasmon. The Lorentzian full width at half maximum, in the absence of radiative coupling, is given by twice the imaginary part of the wavevector, ki.
xcex94kFWHM=2 kixe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4)
The HWHM xcex94kxc2xd is obviously half of this value.:
xcex94kxc2xd=kixe2x80x83xe2x80x83(5)
Addition of radiative coupling or other losses can only increase the SPR linewidth. The question we seek to answer is the following: What is the non-radiative SPR width observed in terms of input wavelength xcex or angle xcex8, for both the grating coupling and prism coupling (Otto or Kretchman) cases.
Grating Coupling
ksp=(2xcfx80/xcex) sin xcex8+(2xcfx80m/a)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(6)
where xcex is the vacuum wavelength, xcex8 is the input angle in air (not in the sample medium), m is the integer grating coupling order, and a is the grating groove pitch.
Prism Coupling:
ksp=(2xcfx80n/xcex) sin xcex8Pxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(7)
where n is the refractive index of the coupling prism and xcex8P is the input coupling angle within the prism medium.
In the case where the wavelength is fixed and the angle varies, since xcex is unchanged and monochromatic, the plasmon itself is unaffected by the angle change. Only the efficiency of in-coupling is affected. Imagine that the angle is initially set at xcex8 such that the plasmon is maximally excited. Now we shift the input angle to xcex8xe2x80x2 such that the excitation is reduced by 50%, to one of the half intensity points. Then we have simply
dxcex8xc2xd=xcex8xe2x80x2xe2x88x92xcex8=xcex94kxc2xd[∂xcex8/∂k]xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(8)
For the grating case, Eqn 6 gives
∂xcex8/∂k=xcex/{2xcfx80 cos xcex8}xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(9)
so that the in-air half-angle is
dxcex8xc2xd=xcex94kxc2xdxcex/(2xcfx80 cos xcex8)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(10)
For the prism case, Eqn 7 gives
∂xcex8P/∂k=xcex/{2xcfx80n cos xcex8P}xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(11)
so that the in-prism half-angle is
dxcex8xc2xd(Prism)=xcex94kxc2xdxcex/(2xcfx80n cos xcex8)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(12)
If the prism is beveled to allow near-normal incidence coupling from air into the prism, then according to Snell""s law the differential angle in air is n times that inside the glass. The net result for the prism case is that the in-air half-angle is
dxcex8xc2xd(Air)=xcex94kxc2xdxcex/(2xcfx80 cos xcex8P),xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(13)
a result nearly identical to the grating result (10).
In other words, to the extent that the nominal incoupling angle in air for the grating case is similar to the incoupling angle in glass for the prism case, the in-air angular resonance widths are nearly the same. The full FWHM angular width in air, for either case, is found from doubling (10) or (13) to be
xe2x80x83xcex94xcex8FWHM=2 kixcex/(2xcfx80 cos xcex8)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(14)
In the case where the angle is fixed and the wavelength varies, since xcfx89 varies when we change xcex, the plasmon itself changes as we vat, the input wavelength. At the same time, the coupling conditions also change so the new plasmon is not being excited on-resonance. Both effects need to be taken properly into account.
Assume that we start, as before, with xcex and xcex8 chosen so that we are tuned to the SPR peak initially, which has wavevector ksp. Now we change the wavelength to xcexxe2x80x2 so as to attempt to reach the half intensity point. That is, we seek to have
xcexxe2x80x2=xcex+xcex94xcexxc2xdxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(15)
As we do this, the plasmon wavevector must change to kxe2x80x2sp such that
kxe2x80x2sp32 ksp+(∂k/∂xcex) (xcexxe2x80x2xe2x88x92xcex)xe2x80x83xe2x80x83(16)
Here, the partial ∂k/∂xcex is calculated numerically from (1) using tabulated dielectric constant data for the materials forming the SPR device. Note that in general, it is negative.
At the same time the wavevector kL being launched is given by Eqn (6) or (7), depending on what kind of coupler we are using.
For the grating case, we launch at wavevector                                                                         k                L                            =                              xe2x80x83                                                                                (                                          2                                                                    π                        /                                                  λ                          xe2x80x2                                                                                )                                                      sin                                                        xe2x80x83                                                      θ                                +                                  (                                      2                                        π                                                              xe2x80x83                                                                                m                      /                      a                                                        )                                                                                =                              xe2x80x83                                                                            k                  sp                                +                                  2                                    π                                                        xe2x80x83                                                      sin                                                        xe2x80x83                                                                          θ                                                              [                                                                        1                          /                                                      λ                            xe2x80x2                                                                          -                                                  1                          /                          λ                                                                    ]                                                                                ≅                                  xe2x80x83                                                                                k                    sp                                    -                                      2                                        π                                                              xe2x80x83                                                            sin                                                              xe2x80x83                                                                                θ                                                                    [                                                                              (                                                                                λ                                xe2x80x2                                                            -                              λ                                                        )                                                    /                                                      λ                            xe2x80x2                                                                          ]                                                                                ,                                                          (        17        )
whereas for the prism case                                                                         k                L                            =                              xe2x80x83                                                                                (                                          2                                            π                                                                    xe2x80x83                                                                                n                        /                                                  λ                          xe2x80x2                                                                                )                                                      sin                                                        xe2x80x83                                                      θ                                =                                                                            [                                              λ                        /                                                  λ                          xe2x80x2                                                                    ]                                                                                k                      sp                                                        =                                                            [                                              λ                        /                                                  (                                                      λ                            +                            Δλ                                                    )                                                                    ]                                                                                k                      sp                                                                                ≅                                  xe2x80x83                                                                                [                                                                  (                                                  λ                          -                          Δλ                                                )                                            /                      λ                                        ]                                                                          k                    sp                                                              =                                                k                  sp                                -                                                      [                                          Δλ                      /                      λ                                        ]                                                                          k                    sp                                                                                (        18        )
To reach the half intensity point by tuning xcex, we require that the mismatch between the launch wavevector kL and the modified plasmon wavevector kspxe2x80x2 be exactly xcex94kxc2xd=ki:
xe2x80x83kLxe2x88x92ksp=xc2x1kixe2x80x83xe2x80x83(19)
Combining (16) and (17), Eqn 19 becomes, for the grating case,
xe2x88x922xcfx80sin xcex8[(xcexxe2x80x2xe2x88x92xcex)/xcex2]xe2x88x92(∂k/∂xcex)(xcexxe2x80x2xe2x88x92xcex)=xc2x1kixe2x80x83xe2x80x83(19)
or                                           Δ                                      xe2x80x83                                                  λ                              1                /                2                                              ≡                                    λ              xe2x80x2                        -            λ                          =                  -                                    ±                              k                i                                                                    2                                π                                                  xe2x80x83                                                sin                                                  xe2x80x83                                                                  θ                  /                                      λ                    2                                                              +                                                ∂                  k                                /                                  ∂                  λ                                                                                (        20        )
For the prism case, Eqns (16) and (18) lead in a similar fashion to
xe2x88x92ksp[(xcexxe2x80x2xe2x88x92xcex)/xcexxe2x88x92(∂k/∂xcex)(xcexxe2x80x2xe2x88x92xcex)=xc2x1ki
or                                           Δ                                      xe2x80x83                                                  λ                              1                /                2                                              ≡                                    λ              xe2x80x2                        -            λ                          =                  -                                    ±                              k                i                                                                                k                  sp                                /                λ                            +                                                ∂                  k                                /                                  ∂                  λ                                                                                (        21        )
Note that the HWHM in xcex given by (20) and (21) for grating and prism coupling respectively give quite different results. In general, the width will be wider for prism coupling, since the two terms in the denominator have opposite signs, for example the first term is positive and the second term is negative, and similar magnitudes, tending to reduce the denominator and hence increase the quotient.
Note also that the FWHM resonance widths are double the HWHM values of (20) and (21):
xcex94xcexFWHM=2 xcex94xcexxc2xd
Waveguide sensors consist of one or more layers of dielectric materials coated with a thin film of material of higher index of refraction. The waveguide sensor responds to: changes in the refractive index nC of the cover medium C; adsorption of molecules out of a gaseous or liquid phase cover, to form a surface layer of thickness dr and refraction index nF. and, if used as dispersing element (Propagation angle in the waveguide depends on the wavelength), it can record the absorption spectrum of molecules on the surface. The sensitivity can be expressed as the change in the effective index of refraction N (of a guided mode TE or TM) in cases 1-3. In the case of absorption measurements (and using the guide as a dispersive element) the sensitivity is determined by the minimum detectable absorption.
This type of sensor can operate in a gas or a liquid environment, as long as its performance is not degraded. Temperature range is selected by the application and should be controlled to better than 0.1xc2x0 C. for maximum sensitivity measurements. Substrates include sapphire, ITO, fused silica, glass (Pyrex, Quartz,), plastic, Teflon, metal, and semiconductor materials (Silicon). Waveguide films include SiO2, SiO2xe2x80x94TiO2, TiO2, Si3N4, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, tantalum pentoxide, niobium pentoxide, GaAs, GaAlAs, GaAsP, GaInAs, and polymers (polystyrene). Waveguide film thickness is usually in the range of 100-200 nm. Example ranges of indexes of refraction include from 1.4-2.1. Chemoselective coatings can be placed on the waveguide film surface. Light coupling into the waveguide can be achieved by using surface relief gratings or prisms.
A way to measure the changes in the effective index is by the change in the angle at which the mode exits from the waveguide. This can be done by an array detector, which at the same time can measure the intensity at each wavelength. In that case the time of measurement is typically 100-200 xcexcsec.
Associated system components usually include gratings (to match the Dangle dispersion curve of the waveguide), mirrors, lenses, polarizers, white light sources, and array detectors.
Multiple assays and analytes are possible as long as the waveguide can be spotted with different chemistries, the incoming light is split into multiple collimated light beams, there is no mixing of the light beams inside the guide, and the detection can be done simultaneously for all assays/analytes.
Possible applications are analytical chemistry, humidity and gas sensing, PH measurement, bio- and immuno-sensor applications, molecular recognition in biology, signaling transduction between and within cells, affinity of biotinylated molecules (bovine serum albumin) to Avidin or strept-Avidin, antigen-antibody interactions (immunobinding of rabbit/goat anti-h-IgG antibody to the human immunoglobulin h-IgG antigen) etc. The grating coupled waveguide sensor can measure the number, size and shape of living cells growing on its surface, in real time and non-invasively. Applications include toxicology and cancer research, pharmacologyxe2x80x94drug determination. A waveguide supported lipid bilayer is the closest to real cell membrane simulation, and can be used for drug screening as well as blood-brain barriers. Waveguides can be used to analyze properties of bilayer lipid membranes (BLM) and other thin films, to measure protein-BLM interaction, and the thickness, density, anisotropy, and the reaction of thin films to perturbations in time. Other applications include using long DNA molecules as a surface coat to measure hybridization and protein binding, molecular self-assembly, nanoscience, and analysis of association and dissociation kinetics.
Grating couplers are used for efficient coupling of light into or out of a waveguide that consists of one or more layers of dielectric materials. At the same time they can be used for measuring the effective index of refraction N of all possible TE and TM modes. The primary sensor effect is a change xcex94N in the effective refractive index N of the guided modes induced by the adsorption or binding of molecules from a sample on the waveguide surface. From xcex94N it is possible to calculate the refractive index, thickness and surface coverage of the adsorbed or bound adlayers. Provided that thin monomode waveguide film F with a large difference nF-nS between the refractive indexes of film F and substrate S are used, integrated optics guarantees high sensor sensitivities (sub-monomolecular adsorbed layer). xcex94N is measured only in the grating region which is where the sample should be placed. With optimal grating design a coupling efficiency of the order of 45-90% can be achieved.
A grating coupler can operate in a gas or a liquid environment, as long as its perfomance is not degraded. Temperature range is selected by the application and should be controlled to better than 0.1xc2x0 C. for maximum sensitivity measurements. Substrates include sapphire, ITO, fused silica, glass (Pyrex, Quartz,), plastic, teflon, metal, and semiconductor materials (Silicon). Waveguide films include Sio2, SiO2xe2x80x94TiO2, TiO2, Si3N4, lithium niobate, lithium tantalate, tantalum pentoxide, niobium pentoxide, GaAs, GaAIAs, GaAsP, GalnAs, and polymers (polystyrene). Waveguide film thickness can be in the range of 100-200 nm and indexes of refraction can be in the range of 1.4-2.1. Gratings can be made by embossing, ion-implantation and photoresist techniques, on the substrate or in the waveguide film. Typical numbers are 1200-2400 lines/mm, 2xc3x9716 mm in size and 1:1 aspect ratio (20 nm features). Chemoselective coatings can be placed on the waveguide film surface.
For incoupling gratings mechanical angle scanning measurement time is typically 2-3 sec. If an array of sources is used in conjunction with a lens this time is shortened. For an outcoupling grating and a position sensitive detector (no moving parts), it is typically 100-200 xcexcsec.
Associated system components usually include optics, mirrors, lenses, polarizers, light sources, light source arrays, laser sources, single or position sensitive detectors, rotation stages, and stepper motors
Multiple assays and analytes are possible as long as the waveguide can be spotted with different chemistries, the incoming light is split into multiple collimated light beams, there is no mixing of the light beams inside the guide, and the detection can be done simultaneously for all assays or analytes.
Applications include analytical chemistry, humidity and gas sensing, PH measurement, bio- and immuno-sensor applications, molecular recognition in biology, signaling transduction between and within cells, affinity of biotinylated molecules (bovine serum albumin) to Avidin or strept-Avidin), antigen-antibody interactions (immunobinding of rabbit/goat anti-h-IgG antibody to the human immunoglobulin h-IgG antigen) etc.
Analysis systems utilizing these types of optical resonance devices (SPR and waveguides) typically include an illumination system having the capability to project light at various frequencies or angles onto the resonance device and a detection system for detecting the corresponding resonance peaks.
The illumination systems are typically composed of a light source, a means for causing the light source to impinge on the sensor at different angles or at different frequencies, and optics to facilitate imaging the source onto the sensor. The choice of light source is based on the wavelength region required and the etendue (solid angle X photon flux) of the optical system. There are a large variety of broadband or monochromatic sources to choose from, such as: incandescent, LED""s, super luminescent diodes, lasers (fixed and tunable, diode, solid state, gas), gas discharge lamps (line and continuum), with or without filters. Wavelength scanning is usually accomplished by coupling the source with filter wheels, scanning monochrometers or acousto-optical tunable filters, or in the case of a laser source by using a tunable diode laser. Angle scanning is usually accomplished by mechanically positioning the source at a series of angles with relationship to the sensor. In addition the source must be oriented and focused so that it optimally projects onto the sensor.
Light rays from the illumination system are reflected from the sensor with their angle of reflection equal to their angle of incidence. Thus the rays will typically span a small range of angles in the perpendicular plane. The detector is typically positioned to optimally receive the rays coming from the sensor. Other important detector considerations are resolution, pixel size, number of pixels, the algorithms that will be used for analyzing the resonance wavelengths or angles, and the chemistry occurring on the detector.
In resonance measurement, a peak or a dip is obtained over a sometime sloped baseline. When the measurement is performed on another sample at a different concentration, this peak or dip will shift depending on the change in refractive index corresponding to concentration difference between the two samples. The concentration can then be predicted using a calibration model relating the peak or dip shift to concentration.
This invention is directed toward an analysis system, comprising an illumination and detection system, which utilizes a surface plasmon device or a waveguide as a sensor.
The invention is further directed toward an illumination system utilizing an array of light sources to facilitate angle or wavelength scanning.
The invention is further directed toward a means for providing independent axial and rotational positioning of the array of light sources.
The invention is further directed toward utilizing a diffraction grating or a diffractive optical element as a pre-dispersive or post-dispersive element in the analysis system allowing the use of low cost, broad band light sources.
The invention is further directed toward an anamorphic optical design that allows the analysis system to generate and detect resonances, from a one dimensional array of sites on the same substrate, simultaneously.
The invention further comprises a method for predicting concentrations using a calibration model relating the resonance peak shift to concentration.


A database retrieval system having a natural language interface is provided. A database developer creates a knowledge base containing a structural description and semantic description of an application database from which data is to be retrieved. A database independent, canonical internal meaning representation of a natural language query is produced. An expert system accesses structural and semantic description information in the knowledge base and, in accordance with predefined rules, identifies database elements from said information that are necessary to satisfy the query represented by the internal meaning representation. A database query is generated among the database elements, enabling the retrieval and aggregation of data from the database to satisfy the natural language query. A debugging facility derives an external meaning representation from the internal meaning representation. The external meaning representation is database-independent, canonical, and easily understandable to the database developer. The external meaning representation enables the database developer to comprehend the internal meaning representation and verify that a natural language query is properly interpreted by the system to effect the accurate retrieval and aggregation of data from the database. The external meaning representation comprises entities and constraints relating to the entities, without reference to factual or linguistic relationships between entities that would prevent the external meaning representation from being easily understood.

The present invention relates to a database retrieval system, and more particularly to such a system having a natural language interface.
Business managers and staff require information to run their companies. Data processing departments of companies have been attempting to meet this information need since the early 1950's. The record keeping of most organizations is now computerized, and an abundance of data of all kinds, often describing transactions in minute detail, resides on the central computers of these organizations. In theory, all this data is available for review by employees of such companies. In practice, however, users of such information have faced serious obstacles in retrieving the information they need.
A frequent response to a user s request for data from a database is that the data is not stored in a way that enables it to be used to meet a user's need. Additionally, the complexity of current database systems requires a trained specialist to figure out how the data requested by a user can be retrieved from the database. This specialist must interpret the user's request or "query", determine exactly what it is the user is looking for, and figure out how to get that information from the database. Then, once the data is retrieved, it must be formatted into a report that the user can use and understand.
In recent years, a type of database known as a "relational database" has come into widespread use within the business community. An "entity-relationship" model is often used when mapping a real world system to a relational database management system. The entity-relationship model characterizes all elements of a system as either an entity (e.g., a person, place, or thing) or a relationship between entities. Both constructs are represented by the same structure, referred to as a "table".
A table is a collection of data organized into rows and columns, and represents a unit of a relational database. In an order-entry system, for example, entities will include parts and orders. Such information may be represented in two different tables. The relationship of which parts are requested by an order may be represented by a third table.
Thus, in applying the entity-relationship model, the entities of a system are identified and tables are constructed to represent entities. Then, relationships between the entities are identified and the current tables are extended (or new tables created) to represent these relationships. Finally, the attributes of each entity are identified and the tables are extended to include such attributes. Those skilled in the art are well familiar with the application of the entity-relationship model to relational database management systems.
In recent years, there have been proposals for providing a natural language interface to relational databases. An English language interface, for example, would enable unskilled users of a database to query the database for desired information, and receive such information without the need to rely on a trained specialist to interpret the query, access the database, generate a report, and communicate the report to the end user. Thus, a natural language interface would save enormous time and money for companies using relational databases, and would enable users with little or no computer experience to use a sophisticated database system by merely inputting (e.g., via a keyboard) a natural language (e.g., English) question.
An example of a natural language interface proposed in the past can be found in the article entitled Natural Language Interfaces: Benefits. Requirements, State of the Art and Applications, by John L. Manferdelli, A.I. East, October, 1987. This article describes a system in which an English sentence is converted into a grammatical structure ("parsed"), much like a sentence diagram. The diagrammed sentence is then translated into a "representation language" that is a hybrid of a semantic network and first order predicate logic. The representation represents time dependent facts, quantified statements, tense information and general sets, and is based on concepts contained in the original English sentence.
The representation language provided by the prior art system referenced above is complex, and not easily understandable even to a skilled user of the system. Thus, it is difficult for such a system to be implemented as a general purpose interface for any application database that might be desired. Customization of the interface to specific application databases was difficult and time consuming, and no means were provided for enabling a skilled user to easily comprehend the representation language produced by the natural language interface for a given query. Without such means, the building and testing of an interface for a particular application is extremely difficult and costly.
Various other articles have been published concerning software that is currently available to enable a natural language, such as English, to be translated into a representation language that can be used by a computer system to respond to a natural language query. For example, a program known as "McELI" is available for this purpose and discussed in Inside Computer Understanding, Schank and Riesbeck, Erlbaum Press, 1981. Another program known as "LIFER" is described in the article LIFER: A Natural Language Interface Facility, by Gary G. Hendrix, SIGART Newsletter. Issue 61, 1977, pp. 25-26. Each of these programs will translate a natural language into another formal syntax, such as a representation language. However, to date the representation language syntaxes have been complicated and difficult to understand. Therefore, no means have been available to enable anyone but the most sophisticated computer programmers to utilize such languages in providing a natural language interface capability to desired applications, such as the retrieval of information from a database.
A particular problem in providing a natural language interface for a database resides in enabling the system to locate data responsive to a natural language query regardless of the words used in the original query. A primary objection of end users of most prior art database retrieval systems is that they have to learn the names of the database elements, i.e., if the term "salary" is used in the database, the end user would have to use the same term in order to retrieve salary information, and could not use synonyms such as "wage", "earns", "makes", or "pay". This problem is referred to as the "synonym problem".
Some products have attempted to solve this problem by having the system programmers define all of the synonyms that can be thought of for each database element, and to program these synonyms into the system. Such a requirement makes the setup procedure of a natural language interface extremely cumbersome, and often impractical.
Another problem with providing a natural language interface for database retrieval stems from the fact that the end user does not know where desired information resides in the database. For example, some information would have to be retrieved from detail-level columns in the database, whereas other data would have to come from summary-level columns. The choice of which column(s) to use must be made by the system, since the end user is unable to specify the data location. This problem is referred to as the "data location problem".
The assignee of the present application has marketed a product in the past which attempted to resolve the data location and synonym problems. That product included a built-in database expert system containing rules to resolve a many-to-one relationship between words/phrases and concepts, and also to resolve one-to-many relationships between concepts represented in a natural language query and database columns. For example, words such as sales, sell, bought, purchases, and revenues contained in a query would be mapped to a concept known as "sales". Then, the concept "sales" would be mapped to the various columns of a specific database containing sales information. The specific product involved was a turnkey wholesale distribution application that provided a natural language interface to a specific database. The natural language interface was custom designed for the specific database, and was not database independent. The system did not provide means to enable a skilled user thereof to tailor the interface for any other database. The representation language provided by the natural language interface was not easily understandable to a skilled user. Thus, it will be appreciated that the prior system was not a general purpose database retrieval system.
It would be advantageous to provide a truly general purpose natural language interface for database retrieval, allowing skilled users (who are not experts in artificial intelligence computer theory and application) to easily custom tailor the interface to a specific application database. Such a system should solve both the data location problem and the synonym problem inherent in prior art natural language interfaces.
It would be further advantageous for such a system to generate a representation language, or "meaning representation" that is easily understandable, database independent, and canonical (i.e., two different queries having the same meaning must have the same final meaning representation, and two queries having different meanings must have different final meaning representations). Such a meaning representation should capture, at a conceptual level, the information requirement expressed in the natural language query.
It would be further advantageous to provide such a system in which a skilled user or "developer" builds a knowledge base, pertaining specifically to an application database, that enables the system to efficiently and economically retrieve and report data that is a proper response to a natural language query entered by an unskilled user. Such a system should interpret the query, use the knowledge captured in its database expert system to locate the relevant data tables and columns from a database, and then transparently generate the most efficient code (e.g., structured query language--"SQL") to produce a report instantly. No knowledge of SQL, database field names, or other technical jargon should be required of the end user.
The present invention provides such a database retrieval system and method for retrieving data from a database.

Database retrieval system having a natural language interface