Abstract: The present invention provides a metal wire rod composed of iridium or an iridium alloy, wherein the number of crystal grains on any cross-section in a longitudinal direction is 2 to 20 per 0.25 mm2, and the Vickers hardness at any part is 200 Hv or more and less than 400 Hv. The iridium wire rod is a material which is produced by a ?-PD method, and has low residual stress and which has a small change in the number of crystal grains and hardness even when heated to a temperature equal to or higher than a recrystallization temperature (1200° C. to 1500° C.). The metal wire rod of the present invention is excellent in oxidative consumption resistance under a high-temperature atmosphere, and mechanical properties.

Abstract: In a melt molding method of germanium, the germanium which is brought into a molten state is sealed in molding dies in an inert gas atmosphere. The molding dies are temperature-controlled from the outside. While gradually cooling the molding dies at a portion or a plurality of portions thereof up to the whole, the germanium is gradually solidified from a side of the portion or sides of the plurality of portions up to the whole. An external ambient temperature of the molding dies is controlled to decrease gradually while ensuring a temperature below a germanium melting point temperature but higher than an inner temperature of the molding die which is cooled. After solidification of the germanium is completed, cooling of the molding dies is continued, and the external ambient temperature is decreased to mold the germanium.

Abstract: The present invention is a heat-resistant Ni-base alloy including a Ni—Ir—Al—W alloy having essential additive elements of Ir, Al, and W added to Ni, wherein the heat-resistant Ni-base alloy includes Ir: 5.0 to 50.0 mass %, Al: 1.0 to 8.0 mass %, and W: 5.0 to 20.0 mass %, the balance being Ni, and a ?? phase having an L12 structure disperses in a matrix as an essential strengthening phase. The heat-resistant material including the Ni-base alloy may contain one or more additive elements selected from B: 0.001 to 0.1 mass %, Co: 5.0 to 20.0 mass %, Cr: 1.0 to 25.0 mass %, Ta: 1.0 to 10.0 mass %, Nb: 1.0 to 5.0 mass %, Ti: 1.0 to 5.0 mass %, V: 1.0 to 5.0 mass %, and Mo: 1.0 to 5.0 mass %, or 0.001 to 0.5 mass % of C.

Abstract: In a melt molding method of germanium, the germanium which is brought into a molten state is sealed in molding dies in an inert gas atmosphere. The molding dies are temperature-controlled from the outside. While gradually cooling the molding dies at a portion or a plurality of portions thereof up to the whole, the germanium is gradually solidified from a side of the portion or sides of the plurality of portions up to the whole. An external ambient temperature of the molding dies is controlled to decrease gradually while ensuring a temperature below a germanium melting point temperature but higher than an inner temperature of the molding die which is cooled. After solidification of the germanium is completed, cooling of the molding dies is continued, and the external ambient temperature is decreased to mold the germanium.

Abstract: A clad electrode for a spark plug used as an center electrode and a ground electrode of a spark plug composed of a precious metal tip arranged at the leading end of a spark plug and a base material to which the precious metal tip is joined, wherein a junction interface between the precious metal tip and the base material is substantially planar, and a 5 ?m to 100 ?m-thick diffusion layer is formed in the joined part of the clad electrode. This clad electrode is manufactured with placing the joining face of a substantially columnar precious metal tip in abutting contact with a surface of the base material, preliminarily joining the precious metal tip to the surface of the base material with resistance welding, punching out a part in which the base material and the precious metal tip are integrated with each other, and diffusion-joining the base material and the precious metal tip with heat treatment.

Abstract: The present invention is a metallic wire rod comprising iridium or an iridium-containing alloy and, the wire rod has in the cross section thereof biaxial crystal orientation of 50% or more of abundance proportion of textures in which crystallographic orientation has preferred orientation to <100> direction. In the present invention, crystal orientation in the outer periphery from semicircle of the cross section which is the periphery of the wire rod is important, and in this zone, abundance proportion of textures in which crystallographic orientation has preferred orientation to <100> direction is preferably not less than 50%.

Abstract: A material for a plug electrode having not only excellent oxidation wear resistance but also excellent spark wear, and also having adequately-considered discharge properties in use is provided. The present invention relates to a material for a plug electrode, comprising 5% by mass or more and 30% by mass or less of Cu, 0.1% by mass or more and 15% by mass or less of Ir, with the balance being Pt. Alloying by combining two metals of Cu and Ir can reduce discharge voltages and improve durability against spark wear. With addition of only one of them, the effect of improving spark wear properties is poor and the effect of reducing discharge voltages cannot be expected.

Abstract: Probe pins related to the present invention are formed from a material which consists essentially of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of platinum, iridium, ruthenium, osmium, palladium and rhodium. A material obtained by adding one or more elements selected from the group consisting of tungsten, nickel and cobalt to this metal may also be used.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material for a precious metal tip of a spark plug, which has more excellent durability, particularly oxidation wear resistance than a conventional one. The precious metal alloy for the spark plug according to the present invention contains 0.2 to 6.0 wt. % Cr as an essential component, further at least any one of Fe or Ni, and the balance being Ir. Here, the amount of Fe and Ni to be added is preferably 2.0 to 12.0 wt. % in total. According to the present invention, the surface may be oxidized to form an oxide layer made from a Cr—Fe oxide, a Cr—Ni oxide or a Cr—Fe—Ni oxide. The oxide layer is formed by a diffusion treatment by heating the precious metal alloy at 300 to 900° C. in an oxidative atmosphere, and preferably has a thickness of 5 to 100 ?m.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a material for a precious metal tip of a spark plug, which has more excellent durability, particularly oxidation wear resistance than a conventional one. The precious metal alloy for the spark plug according to the present invention contains 0.2 to 6.0 wt. % Cr as an essential component, further at least any one of Fe or Ni, and the balance being Ir. Here, the amount of Fe and Ni to be added is preferably 2.0 to 12.0 wt. % in total. According to the present invention, the surface may be oxidized to form an oxide layer made from a Cr—Fe oxide, a Cr—Ni oxide or a Cr—Fe—Ni oxide. The oxide layer is formed by a diffusion treatment by heating the precious metal alloy at 300 to 900° C. in an oxidative atmosphere, and preferably has a thickness of 5 to 100 ?m.

Abstract: An adapter is provided which can be used to adapt a television receiver for a variety of purposes by connecting the television receiver to a computer. A cartridge comprises a memory storing a program and data, and a high speed processor capable of generating a video signal and an audio signal in such signal formats that the television receiver receives the video and audio signals, and displays an image and outputs a sound corresponding to the signals. The cartridge is installed into the adapter to which the video signal and the audio signal are input from the high speed processor. The adapter outputs the video and audio signals as input from the high speed processor to the television receiver.

Abstract: Probe pins related to the present invention are formed from a material which consists essentially of one or more elements selected from the group consisting of platinum, iridium, ruthenium, osmium, palladium and rhodium. A material obtained by adding one or more elements selected from the group consisting of tungsten, nickel and cobalt to this metal may also be used.

Abstract: An RF transmitter for being attached to microphone includes a first connecting plug and a second connecting plug which are inserted into a microphone jack and an AV connector of a karaoke device with built-in microphone, respectively. The first connecting plug receives an electric power for driving a microphone of the karaoke device, and the second connecting plug receives an audio signal from the microphone. The power supplied to the first connecting plug is applied to an oscillating circuit provided on a transmitter, and in turn, the oscillating circuit is driven to modulate the audio signal inputted from the second connecting plug at a predetermined frequency. An FM-modulated audio signal is amplified, and then transmitted to an FM receiver from an antenna.

Abstract: A karaoke device with built-in microphone includes a main body microphone, and converts an audio signal from the microphone into audio data by an A/D converter, and writes the audio data into a ring buffer by mixing with the data already stored in the ring buffer. If an echo mode is set, a delay time constant (CD) corresponding to the echo mode is determined, and on the basis thereof, a size of the ring buffer is set. The data is read from the ring buffer, and is inputted in a sound channel. If a voice effect mode is set, a reproduction frequency constant (CF) corresponding to the voice effect mode is determined, and based thereon, an inclement value of a read pointer of the ring buffer is determined, and then, the data is read from an address indicated by the read pointer. When the read pointer reaches the delay time constant, the relevant constant is subtracted from the read pointer value.

Abstract: A karaoke device with built-in microphone includes a main body microphone, and converts an audio signal from the microphone into audio data by an A/D converter, and writes the audio data into a ring buffer by mixing with the data already stored in the ring buffer. If an echo mode is set, a delay time constant (CD) corresponding to the echo mode is determined, and on the basis thereof, a size of the ring buffer is set. The data is read from the ring buffer, and is inputted in a sound channel. If a voice effect mode is set, a reproduction frequency constant (CF) corresponding to the voice effect mode is determined, and based thereon, an inclement value of a read pointer of the ring buffer is determined, and then, the data is read from an address indicated by the read pointer. When the read pointer reaches the delay time constant, the relevant constant is subtracted from the read pointer value.

Abstract: A karaoke device with built-in microphone includes a main body microphone, and converts an audio signal from the microphone into audio data by an A/D converter, and writes the audio data into a ring buffer by mixing with the data already stored in the ring buffer. If an echo mode is set, a delay time constant (CD) corresponding to the echo mode is determined, and on the basis thereof, a size of the ring buffer is set. The data is read from the ring buffer, and is inputted in a sound channel. If a voice effect mode is set, a reproduction frequency constant (CF) corresponding to the voice effect mode is determined, and based thereon, an inclement value of a read pointer of the ring buffer is determined, and then, the data is read from an address indicated by the read pointer. When the read pointer reaches the delay time constant, the relevant constant is subtracted from the read pointer value.

Abstract: An RF transmitter for being attached to microphone includes a first connecting plug and a second connecting plug which are inserted into a microphone jack and an AV connector of a karaoke device with built-in microphone, respectively. The first connecting plug receives an electric power for driving a microphone of the karaoke device, and the second connecting plug receives an audio signal from the microphone. The power supplied to the first connecting plug is applied to an oscillating circuit provided on a transmitter, and in turn, the oscillating circuit is driven to modulate the audio signal inputted from the second connecting plug at a predetermined frequency. An FM-modulated audio signal is amplified, and then transmitted to an FM receiver from an antenna.

Abstract: A karaoke device with built-in microphone includes a main body microphone, and converts an audio signal from the microphone into audio data by an A/D converter, and writes the audio data into a ring buffer by mixing with the data already stored in the ring buffer. If an echo mode is set, a delay time constant (CD) corresponding to the echo mode is determined, and on the basis thereof, a size of the ring buffer is set. The data is read from the ring buffer, and is inputted in a sound channel. If a voice effect mode is set, a reproduction frequency constant (CF) corresponding to the voice effect mode is determined, and based thereon, an inclement value of a read pointer of the ring buffer is determined, and then, the data is read from an address indicated by the read pointer. When the read pointer reaches the delay time constant, the relevant constant is subtracted from the read pointer value.

Abstract: This is invention provides an information processing system for a disk-like storage medium such as flexible magnetic disks or a DVD-RAMs. The disk-like storage medium stores a first data including at least image data, and a second data for deciding legitimacy of the image data, while a case containing the disk-like storage medium comprises a non-volatile storage device for storing a third data having a predetermined relationship with the second data and storing a fourth data for identifying a location in the disk-like storage medium at which the second data is stored. Whne a predetermined relationship between the second and third data is confirmed, the disk-like storage medium is allowed to be used.

Abstract: A pipe coupling is constructed such that: a pressing member is supported by an inner collar and presses an inserted pipe body in a state in which the pressing member contacts an inclined surface of an outer collar; the inclined surface of the outer collar causes the pressing member to be moved in a radial direction thereof when the pressing member moves toward a deep portion within the pipe coupling, and restricts the movement of the pressing member in the radial direction when the pressing member moves in a direction of an exit; the inner collar is urged toward the exit by an elastic member; and the outer collar is relatively movably coupled to a housing of the pipe coupling. In the case of any type of rigid pipe body, the pipe coupling can be freely and easily connected to and removed from the same.