Author: claimsbot

1. A method of reducing CO2 to CO, the method comprising:
(a) contacting CO2 with a catalyst, in the presence of H2, wherein the catalyst has plasmonic photocatalytic reductive activity when exposed to radiation having a wavelength between about 380 nm and about 780 nm; and
(b) exposing the catalyst, CO2, and H2 to non-coherent radiation having a wavelength between about 380 nm and about 780 nm such that the catalyst undergoes surface plasmon resonance, wherein the surface plasmon resonance increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO without surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
2. The method of claim 1, comprising, in step (b), exposing the catalyst, CO2, and H2 to solar radiation.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the catalyst comprises a metallic element have an average particle size no greater than 100 nm in combination with a semiconductor material.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the metallic element is selected from the group consisting of calcium, copper, europium, gold, lithium, magnesium, palladium, platinum, potassium, silver, sodium, rubidium, and yttrium, and combinations thereof; and wherein the semiconductor material is selected from the group consisting of oxides of titanium, aluminum, iron, silicon, zinc, and cerium, and combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein the metallic element comprises copper, silver, platinum, or gold, and the semiconductor material comprises titania or ceria.
6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO by a factor of at least 1.8 as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO in the absence of surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO by a factor of at least 3 as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO in the absence of surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
8. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO by a factor of at least 4 as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO in the absence of surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO by a factor of at least 5 as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO in the absence of surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
10. A method of reducing CO, to CO, the method comprising:
(a) contacting CO2 with a catalyst, in the presence of H2, wherein the catalyst has plasmonic photocatalytic reductive activity when exposed to non-coherent radiation having a wavelength between about 380 nm and about 780 nm; and
(b) exposing the catalyst, CO2, and H2 to solar radiation such that the catalyst undergoes surface plasmon resonance, wherein the surface plasmon resonance increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO without surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein upon exposing the catalyst, CO2, and H2 to solar radiation, the catalyst achieves a light efficiency of at least about 2%.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein upon exposing the catalyst, CO2, and H2 to solar radiation, the catalyst achieves a solar light efficiency of at least about 3%.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein upon exposing the catalyst, CO2, and H2 to solar radiation, the catalyst achieves a solar light efficiency of at least about 4%.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein the catalyst comprises a metallic element have an average particle size no greater than 100 nm in combination with a semiconductor material.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the metallic element is selected from the group consisting calcium, copper, europium, gold, lithium, magnesium, palladium, platinum, potassium, silver, sodium, rubidium, and yttrium, and combinations thereof; and wherein the semiconductor material is selected from the group consisting of oxides of titanium, aluminum, iron, silicon, zinc, and cerium, and combinations thereof.
16. The method of claim 14, wherein the metallic element comprises copper, silver, platinum, or gold, and the semiconductor material comprises titania or ceria.
17. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO by a factor of at least 1.8 as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO in the absence of surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
18. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO by a factor of at least 3 as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO in the absence of surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
19. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO by a factor of at least 4 as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO in the absence of surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
20. The method according to any one of claims 10 to 16, wherein the surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst increases the rate of CO2 reduction to CO by a factor of at least 5 as compared to the rate of CO2 reduction to CO in the absence of surface plasmon resonance in the catalyst.
21. The method of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the method is conducted at a temperature of from about 100\xb0 C. to about 400\xb0 C., wherein H, is present in a greater concentration than CO2, and the H2 and CO2 are present at a pressure of from atmospheric to about 2000 psi.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston and a spark plug, comprising:
when transitioning between spark ignition combustion and autoignition combustion, creating a first mixture of air and fuel, adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that said first mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, the autoignition temperature, and performing a spark from the spark plug so that at least a portion of said first mixture combusts to raise a remaining portion of said first mixture to said autoignition temperature; wherein said spark for said first mixture is performed after top dead center of piston position.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, during said transition, performing an injection during a compression stroke so that a second stratified mixture of air and fuel is formed; and performing a spark from the spark plug so that the second mixture combusts.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first mixture is created by performing a first injection during an intake stroke so that a lean homogeneous air and fuel region is created, performing a second injection during a compression stroke so that a less lean homogeneous air and fuel region is created substantially near the spark plug.
4. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston, an in-cylinder fuel injector, and a spark plug comprising:
during a first mode, performing an injection before a compression stroke to create a first substantially homogenous mixture of fuel and air; and performing a spark from a spark plug so that the first mixture combusts;
during a second mode, performing an injection during a compression stroke to create a second mixture of stratified air and fuel; and performing a spark from the spark plug so that the second mixture combusts;
during a third mode, creating a third air and fuel mixture by performing a first injection during an intake stroke so that a lean homogeneous air and fuel region is created and performing a second injection during a compression stroke so that a less lean homogeneous air and fuel region is created substantially near the spark plug; adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that said third mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, the autoignition temperature; and performing a spark from the spark plug after top dead center of piston position so that the third mixture combusts; and
during a fourth mode, adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that a fourth mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber attains an autoignition temperature and combusts without requiring a spark from the spark plug.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first mode is used during a period of higher engine load than said fourth mode.
6. The method of claim 4, wherein the first mode is used during an engine warm up period.
7. The method of claim 4, wherein the second mode is used for at least one cycle during a transition between the first mode and the fourth mode.
8. The method of claim 4, wherein the third mode is used for at least one cycle during a transition between the first mode and the fourth mode.
9. The method of claim 4, wherein the second mode is used for at least one cycle and then the third mode is used for at least one cycle during a transition from the first mode to the fourth mode.
10. The method of claim 4, wherein the third mode is used for at least one cycle and then the second mode is used for at least one cycle during a transition from the fourth mode to the first mode.
11. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston, an in-cylinder fuel injector, and a spark plug comprising:
during a first transition between operating modes, creating a first mixture of air and fuel by performing a first injection during an intake stroke so that a lean homogeneous air and fuel region is created, performing a second injection during a compression stroke so that a less lean homogeneous air and fuel region is created substantially near the spark plug, and adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that said first mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, the autoignition temperature; and performing a spark from the spark plug after top dead center of piston position so that at least a portion of said first mixture combusts by autoignition; and
during a second transition between operating modes, performing an injection during a compression stroke so that a second stratified mixture of air and fuel is formed; and performing a spark from the spark plug so that the second mixture combusts.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first transition mode is utilized for at least one cycle when transitioning from a spark ignition mode to a compression ignition mode.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the second transition mode is utilized for at least one cycle when transitioning from a spark ignition mode to a compression ignition mode.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the first transition mode is utilized for at least one cycle when transitioning from a compression ignition mode to a spark ignition mode.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the second transition mode is utilized for at least one cycle when transitioning from a compression ignition mode to a spark ignition mode.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the first transition mode is utilized for at least one cycle and later the second transition mode is utilized for at least one cycle when transitioning from a compression ignition mode to a spark ignition mode.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the second transition mode is utilized for at least one cycle and later the first transition mode is utilized for at least one cycle, when transitioning from a spark ignition mode to a compression ignition mode.
18. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston and a spark plug, comprising:
when transitioning between spark ignition combustion and autoignition combustion, creating a first mixture of air and fuel, adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that said first mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, the autoignition temperature, and performing a spark from the spark plug so that at least a portion of said first mixture combusts to raise a remaining portion of said first mixture to said autoignition temperature; and
during said transition, performing an injection during a compression stroke so that a second stratified mixture of air and fuel is formed and performing a spark from the spark plug so that the second mixture combusts.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said spark for said first mixture is performed after top dead center of piston position.
20. A method of operating an internal combustion engine having a combustion chamber with a piston and a spark plug, comprising:
when transitioning between spark ignition combustion and autoignition combustion, creating a first mixture of air and fuel, adjusting an operating condition of the engine so that said first mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber approaches, but does not achieve, the autoignition temperature, and performing a spark from the spark plug so that at least a portion of said first mixture combusts to raise a remaining portion of said first mixture to said autoignition temperature;
wherein said first mixture is created by performing a first injection during an intake stroke so that a lean homogeneous air and fuel region is created and performing a second injection during a compression stroke so that a less lean homogeneous air and fuel region is created substantially near the spark plug.

1. A measurement device comprising:
a measurement means that performs measurement on a particular component contained in a sample;
a display section capable of displaying measurement data obtained by the measurement means;
a clock function section;
an event time setting means capable of setting a time of an event related to the measurement; and
an elapsed time display processing means that starts measurement of an elapsed time from the time of the event to a current time when the time of the event is set by the event time setting means and causes the display section to display the elapsed time.
2. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the elapsed time is displayed on a standby screen of the display section.
3. The measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification means capable of performing a notifying operation in a manner that is different from the displaying of the data by the display section,
wherein the notification means performs the notifying operation when a first predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time of the event.
4. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the displaying of the elapsed time is stopped when a second predetermined period of time has elapsed from the time of the event.
5. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein:
the elapsed time display processing means calculates the elapsed time based on the time of the event and the current time clocked by the clock function section; and
the displaying of the elapsed time is stopped when the time clocked by the clock function section is changed within a period during which the elapsed time is displayed.
6. The measurement device according to claim 1, further comprising a storage means in which the measurement data obtained by the measurement means is to be stored,
wherein, when the measurement data is obtained from the measurement performed before elapse of a third predetermined period of time from the time of the event, reference data indicating to that effect is stored in the storage means as attached to the measurement data.
7. The measurement device according to claim 6, further comprising a terminal section capable of reading the measurement data obtained by the measurement means and the reference data out of the storage means and outputting the measurement data and the reference data to an external device.
8. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein, when a predetermined operation is performed, the event time setting means regards the time when the operation is performed as the time of the event.
9. The measurement device according to claim 8, further comprising an operation switch,
wherein the predetermined operation is an operation to turn on the operation switch.
10. The measurement device according to claim 8, wherein:
the measurement means includes a sensor mount portion to which a sensor capable of retaining the sample is to be mounted, and a detection switch for detecting the mounting of the sensor to the sensor mount portion; and
the predetermined operation is an operation to mount the sensor to the sensor mount portion to cause the detection switch to detect the mounting of the sensor.
11. The measurement device according to claim 8, wherein, when the predetermined operation is performed a plurality of times, the time when the operation is performed last is regarded as the time of the event, and data having been regarded as the time of the event earlier than that time is invalidated.
12. The measurement device according to claim 1, which is provided with an edit function capable of changing at least one of a value representing the time of the event and a value representing the elapsed time by a predetermined operation.
13. The measurement device according to claim 1, which includes a case having a size allowing the case to be held with one hand, the display section being attached to the case so as to be viewable from outside,
wherein the case accommodates therein devices forming the measurement means, the clock function section, the event time setting means and the elapsed time display processing means, and entirety of the measurement device is designed as a portable measurement device.
14. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement means, the event time setting means and the elapsed time display processing means comprise a CPU and a storage means attached to the CPU.
15. The measurement device according to claim 1, wherein the measurement means is capable of measuring a blood glucose level, and the event is a meal.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A system for graphically displaying data objects on a computer display device, comprising:
providing a dynamic display area represented by a dynamic time strip, said dynamic time strip including one or more indications of time along the length of the dynamic time strip;
populating the dynamic time strip with one or more graphically represented data objects, wherein each of the data objects used to populate the dynamic time strip has at least one associated time falling within an overall time period represented by the dynamic time strip, and is positioned within the dynamic time strip relative to the at least one associated time,
updating the dynamic time strip to reflect a passage of time by automatically scrolling the dynamic time strip forward in time as time passes and automatically updating the population and position of the data objects within the time strip to correspond to the overall time period represented by the dynamic time strip; and
providing a user interface for interacting with the dynamic time strip and one or more data objects by user selection of an area on the dynamic time strip not currently including a graphically represented data object.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the dynamic time strip automatically generates an alert for data objects requiring user action at a specific time.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the alert is a pop-up window for displaying information associated with data objects requiring user action at a specific time.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the alert further includes an audible alert for alerting the user to data objects requiring user action at a specific time.
5. The system of claim 1,wherein the dynamic time strip is curved.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein the curved dynamic time strip forms a closed curve.
7. The system of claim 6 wherein the closed curve of the dynamic time strip forms a circle, with one or more indications of time disposed along the length of the circular dynamic time strip.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein the graphically represented data objects used to populate the circular dynamic time strip are represented by shaded segments corresponding to predetermined object types, and covering periods of time along the length of the circular time strip corresponding to a predetermined time and duration for each data object.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the dynamic time strip is persistent such that it remains visible from within whatever application is currently active on the computer display device.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface for interacting with the dynamic time strip includes a capability to open a user selectable database of data objects.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface for interacting with the dynamic time strip includes a capability to add data objects to the dynamic time strip, said added data objects including at least one associated time.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface for interacting with the dynamic time strip includes a capability to delete data objects from the dynamic time strip.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the graphically represented data object represent information including any of: pre-scheduled events, sent and received email messages, and electronic files having at least one associated time.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one pop-up window for displaying data represented by any one or more graphically represented data objects is displayed by user selection of the graphical representation of those data objects.
15. The system of claim 1 wherein user selection of any one or more graphically represented data objects serves to open each selected data object in an application associated with each selected data object.
16. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one time associated with any graphically represented data object is adjustable via the user interface.
17. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one time associated with any graphically represented data object is automatically adjusted by dragging the graphically represented data object to a new position along the length of the dynamic time strip.
18. The system of claim 1 wherein the overall time period represented by the dynamic time strip is scrollable via a user interface.
19. The system of claim 17 wherein the population of data objects within the dynamic time strip is automatically updated as the dynamic time strip is scrolled.
20. The system of claim 1 wherein the dynamic time strip is semi-transparent.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein an amount of transparency of the dynamic time strip changes in direct relation to the motion of a computer pointing device with respect to the semi-transparent dynamic time strip.
22. A physical computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions stored thereon for dynamically displaying time-dependant data objects on a computer display device, said computer executable instructions comprising:
retrieving one or more temporally sorted data objects from at least one electronic database, each data object providing a graphical representation of time dependant information having at least one associated time;
dynamically displaying the data objects within a persistent dynamic time strip on a computer display device, wherein only those data objects having any times falling within a total time period currently represented by the persistent dynamic time strip are displayed;
said persistent dynamic time strip remaining visible on the computer display device from within whatever application is currently active on the computer display device;
updating the persistent dynamic time strip to reflect the passage of time by automatically scrolling the dynamic time strip forward in time as time passes;
providing a user interface for interacting with the persistent dynamic time strip and the data objects displayed therein; and
wherein the user interface includes a capability for moving a position of the persistent dynamic time strip to any desired location within the computer display device.
23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein updating the persistent dynamic time strip to reflect the passage of time further comprises updating the dynamically displayed the data objects within the persistent dynamic time strip such that only those data objects having any times falling within the total time period currently represented by the dynamic time strip are displayed.
24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the persistent dynamic time strip automatically generates a user alert for data objects requiring user action at a specific time, said user alert including a pop-up window for displaying information associated with data objects requiring user action at a specific time.
25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the alert further includes an audible alert.
26. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the persistent dynamic time strip is curved, said curve being closed.
27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26 wherein the closed curve of the persistent dynamic time strip forms a circle, and wherein the graphically represented data objects used to populate the circular persistent dynamic time strip are represented as segments of the circular persistent dynamic time strip.
28. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the user interface further includes a capability to add data objects to the persistent dynamic time strip.
29. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the user interface further includes a capability to delete data objects from the persistent dynamic time strip.
30. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein at least one pop-up window for displaying data represented by any one or more data objects is displayed by user selection of those data objects.
31. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein user selection of any one or more data objects serves to open each selected data object in an application associated with each selected data object.
32. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the total time period currently represented by the persistent dynamic time strip is adjustable via the user interface.
33. The computer-readable medium of claim 22 wherein the persistent dynamic time strip is semi-transparent, and wherein the amount of transparency changes in direct relation to the motion of a computer pointing device relative to the persistent dynamic time strip.
34. A computer-implemented process for automatically displaying time-dependant information on a computer display device, comprising:
retrieving one or more temporally sorted data objects from at least one electronic database of data objects, wherein the data objects represent time dependant information having at least one associated time;
displaying graphical representations of the temporally sorted data objects within a dynamic time strip, said dynamic time strip representing a user adjustable time period, and including one or more indications of time along the length of the dynamic time strip;
updating the dynamic time strip and the included indications of time to reflect the passage of time by scrolling the dynamic time strip forward in time as time passes;
providing a user interface for interacting with the dynamic time strip and one or more data objects;
said user interface including a capability for opening one or more selected data objects within corresponding applications associated with each data object upon user selection of those data objects; and
wherein the dynamic time strip remains visible on the computer display device from within whatever application is currently active on the computer display device.
35. The computer-implemented process of claim 34 wherein the user interface further includes a capability for opening and displaying the contents of the at least one database of data objects by user selection of a portion of the dynamic time strip not including a graphical representation of the sequentially sorted data objects.
36. The computer-implemented process of claim 34 wherein the dynamic time strip is semi-transparent, and wherein the amount of transparency changes relative to the motion of a computer pointing device relative to the position of dynamic time strip.
37. The computer-implemented process of claim 34 further comprising automatically generating a pop-up window alert for displaying information associated with data objects requiring user action at a specific time.
38. The computer-implemented process of claim 34 wherein the dynamic time strip is curved into a circular area within the computer display device.
39. The computer-implemented process of claim 38 wherein one or more of the graphical representations of data objects displayed within the dynamic time strip are represented as individual segments within the circular area of the dynamic time strip.
40. The computer-implemented process of claim 39 wherein individual segments corresponding to the graphical representations of data objects within the circular area of the dynamic time strip are any of color coded, shaded, and represented by a picture, depending upon a type of event associated with each data object.
41. The computer-implemented process of claim 34 wherein the user interface further includes a capability for moving a position of the dynamic time strip within the computer display device.