Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system including a database, two or more data access objects, and a proxy object. In some such embodiments, each data access object has exclusive access privileges to a subset of data within the database. Further each object includes one or more of a read method that provides access to data and a write method that causes data to be stored. In such embodiments, the proxy object accesses data via data access object methods and includes a valuate method, the execution of which causes data to be passed from a data access object to the proxy object.

Abstract: A self-correcting conveyor facility has a conveyor belt for transporting flat objects, in particular mail items. The self-conveying correcting conveyor facility has an elastic conveyor belt for transporting flat objects, in particular mail items. The conveyor belt rests on a correction roller, which is supported in a rotatable manner in a roller support. The roller support is supported in a fixed support in such a manner that it can be rotated about a support rotation axis. The fixed support is arranged in such a manner that an angle results between the support rotation axis and the belt axis of the conveyor belt. Displacement of the conveyor belt causes rotation of the correction roller. This rotation stretches the conveyor belt. The rotation produces a restoring force, which displaces the conveyor belt back.

Abstract: In an apparatus that ascertains a concentration of a component in a gas mixture, the apparatus includes: a gas measurement chamber, in which the concentration of the component is adjustable against an influence of an interface, acting across a diffusion barrier, with the concentration in the gas mixture, whereby the influence of the interface is compensated for by a controllable current of ions of the component by way of a solid electrolyte, which is charged with a controllable pumping voltage, serves as a pumping mechanism, and is located between the gas measurement chamber and the gas mixture, so that a parameter that characterizes a current constitutes a measurement for the concentration in the gas mixture, whereby the solid electrolyte is at least periodically charged with a specified constant pumping voltage as a function of at least one state parameter of the gas mixture.

Abstract: A sensor element for determining the oxygen concentration in an exhaust gas has a conductor track applied to a solid electrolyte, which includes an electrode provided in a measuring area of the sensor element and an electrode lead connected to the electrode and situated in the lead area of the sensor element. In a transition area between the measuring area and the lead area, the conductor track has a narrowing. Furthermore, the electrode includes a first electrode section and a second electrode section, the first electrode section being connected to the electrode lead in a transition area between the measuring area and the lead area, and the first and second electrode sections being electrically connected to one another only on their sides facing away from the lead area.

Abstract: A gas sensor for detecting at least one physical magnitude of a gas, in particular of exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine, is proposed, which includes a sensor element having an electrochemical cell. The electrochemical cell includes a first solid electrolyte member on which a first electrode and a second electrode are applied. The first and the second electrode are electrically connected by means of the first solid electrolyte member. The first electrode is in contact with the gas. The area of the first electrode is smaller than the area of the second electrode.

Abstract: A gas sensor is described for detecting a physical property of a measuring gas, including detecting the oxygen concentration in the measuring gas. The gas sensor includes a sensor element having a diffusion barrier, which is arranged between a first solid electrolyte layer and a second solid electrolyte layer. The diffusion barrier has a necked-down portion, i.e., a concave profile, between the first and the second solid electrolyte layer. Accordingly, a first area, which the diffusion barrier occupies in a plane which lies between the side of the first solid electrolyte layer (facing the diffusion barrier) and the side of the second solid electrolyte layer (facing the diffusion barrier), is smaller than a second area on which the diffusion barrier covers the first or the second solid electrolyte.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus, including systems and computer program products, for a service architecture design that provides enterprise services having human capital management functionality at the level of an enterprise application. The design includes a set of service operations, process components, and optionally deployment units. Suitable business objects are also described.

Abstract: A snapshot of data to be changed is stored prior to the change being made. A time when the data is changed is also stored. When a read of the data by a process is initiated, it is determined whether the data was changed within a security period. If the data was changed within the security period, the snapshot of data is provided to the process.

Abstract: A process to evaluate selected data is started. An earliest effective date of changed selected data is determined, and data generated by prior run processes occurring after the earliest effective data is recalculated. In one embodiment, a coarse exclusive lock may be used to ensure only one evaluation is processed until completed. A fine exclusive lock may be used on a record which is the subject of a currently running evaluation process. In a further embodiment, a coarse lock is used on the data, and no lock is required for other evaluation processes. In yet a further embodiment, a snapshot of data prior to change is used during a predetermined security period.

Abstract: Some embodiments provide a system including a database, two or more data access objects, and a proxy object. In some such embodiments, each data access object has exclusive access privileges to a subset of data within the database. Further each object includes one or more of a read method that provides access to data and a write method that causes data to be stored. In such embodiments, the proxy object accesses data via data access object methods and includes a valuate method, the execution of which causes data to be passed from a data access object to the proxy object.

Abstract: A coarse evaluation lock on data is provided to ensure only one evaluation is run on selected data until completed. A fine exclusive lock on selected data is provided to ensure only one user may change such selected data. The locks may be selectively used during evaluations and while users are changing data.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide for receiving an update command for a recorded data object, wherein the recorded data object includes a lock object, further wherein the lock object includes an identifier of a source of the lock object and a lock object validity indicator. Some such embodiments further include requesting the source of the lock object invalidate the lock object if the lock object indicates the lock object is valid, receiving an invalidation of the lock object, and performing the update to the record data object.

Abstract: A procedure to calculate the Lambda value with a wideband Lambda sensor of an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is thereby characterized, in that from the measured pumping electricity and the sensitivities of the wideband Lambda sensor as well as the gas concentration ratios, in the lean operation an oxygen concentration and in the rich operation an oxygen deficit are determined and from these respectively a conclusion is drawn about the Lambda value using the Pischinger Formula.

Abstract: A sensor element which is used for determining a property of a measuring gas, e.g., for determining the concentration of a gas component in the measuring gas, has at least one electrode applied to one solid electrolyte, the electrode being in contact with the measuring gas via a diffusion path in which a diffusion barrier is situated. A means is provided in the region of the side of the diffusion barrier facing away from the electrode, the means reducing the diffusion cross section in the region of the side of the diffusion barrier facing away from the electrode.

Abstract: A passive, high-temperature-resistant resistor element for measuring temperature is provided, the resistor element having an essentially interior insulating layer and two exterior conducting layers of a ceramic composite structure; the conducting layers being connected to one another at the tip of the resistor element; and the ceramic composite structure including trisilicon tetranitride, a metal silicide, and yttrium oxide or trisilicon tetranitride, a metal silicide, and a matrix phase of SixOyCzNw, where x signifies 1–2, y signifies 0–2, and w signifies 0–2. A combination element of this resistor element and a sheathed type glow plug, for example, is also provided.

Abstract: A heating device for a sensor element of a gas sensor, in particular for use in exhaust gas analysis of internal combustion engines, has a heating element, which has an electrical resistor layer. The heating element is electrically insulated from at least one solid electrolyte layer by a layer containing barium and/or strontium and/or calcium. For this purpose, the heating element is embedded in a first insulator, which is adjoined by a second insulator. The first insulator has a higher barium and/or strontium and/or calcium content (expressed in weight percentage) than the second insulator.

Abstract: A gas sensor is used for detecting a physical property of a measuring gas, preferably for determining the oxygen concentration of an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine. The gas sensor includes a layered sensor element which has a measuring gas space, in which an electrode on a solid electrolyte is situated. The sensor element includes a first diffusion barrier and a second diffusion barrier and a cavity, situated between the first and the second diffusion barriers, the measuring gas space being connected to the measuring gas outside the sensor element via the first diffusion barrier, the cavity, and the second diffusion barrier.

Abstract: A method for operating a broadband lambda sensor for determining the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine operated with a fuel-air mixture is provided. In this method, a pump voltage (UP) is applied to the pump cell of the sensor, this voltage-being set dependent on a Nernst voltage (UN) tapped at the Nernst cell, and, dependent on the oxygen content of the exhaust gas, driving a cathodic or anodic pump current IP via the pump cell.

Abstract: A sensor for determining a concentration of gas components in gas mixtures having a first measuring electrode (mixed potential electrode) which has little or no catalytic effect on the establishment of an equilibrium in the gas mixture and a second measuring electrode (equilibrium electrode) which catalyzes the establishment of an equilibrium in the gas mixture as well as a solid electrolyte that is conductive for oxygen ions arranged between the two measuring electrodes, with the two measuring electrodes being exposed to the gas mixture. At least the first measuring electrode (16) is a cermet electrode, where at least one metal oxide component of the cermet electrode is capable of reversible incorporation of oxygen.

Abstract: A green cicer bean harvesting method and apparatus are disclosed. A harvesting combine (100) comprises a threshing apparatus (130) including a rotatable cylindrical drum (132) with an apertured outer wall (134), a main beater (140) and a plurality of satellite beaters (144, 146, 148), and a conveyor system (120, 122, 124) for transporting de-podded beans to a hopper (111), and a pod net conveyor (126) that filters the beans entering the hopper. A return chute (128) returns podded beans from the pod net conveyor to the drum. The apertures in the drum increase in size from smaller apertures at the front of the drum to larger apertures at the rear of the drum. The combine, drum, and beater operating parameters and dimensions are selected to enable effective mechanical harvesting of green cicer beans.