Abstract: An edge detection method includes preparing a transparent substrate which includes a first main face having a first main region and a first peripheral region and a second main face having a second main region and a second peripheral region, the first peripheral region having an inclination angle of ?a1 and the second peripheral region having an inclination angle of ?a2, causing measuring light to enter the first peripheral region from a direction perpendicular to the first main region, detecting a non-emitting region where the measuring light is not emitted from the second peripheral region, and detecting an edge of the transparent substrate on the basis of the non-emitting region, wherein if a refractive index of the transparent substrate is n, the inclination angles ?a1 and ?a2satisfy the following expression: n×sin(?a1+?a2?arcsin(sin ?a1/n))?1.

Abstract: Provided are methods and initial structures for fabricating corrosion resistant steels that incorporate an aluminum rich corrosion resistant surface layer. The initial structures utilize layering and/or patterning for reducing the effective diffusion length Deff to a value well below the total thickness of the aluminum alloy protective layer X1 by providing vertical and/or lateral laminated structures that provide ready sources of Fe atoms during subsequent heat treatment processes.

Abstract: An apparatus calculates a coefficient b that reflects a road slope condition of each section based on an altitude difference of both ends of each section stored in a memory, and identifies a carbon dioxide discharge amount that changes in proportion to the distance of each section by multiplying a distance D of each section by the coefficient b and another coefficient Ec. Further, the apparatus identifies a discharge amount that changes in proportion to a travel time of each section by multiplying a travel time T of each section and yet another coefficient a, and identifies a discharge amount based on an index that changes in proportion to the number of stops in each section by multiplying an index AEE by the coefficient Ec and still yet another coefficient c for performing a carbon-conscious routing between a start place and a destination.

Abstract: A driving characteristics detector includes: a driving information obtaining element for obtaining driving information, which relates to a driving condition of a vehicle; and a driving characteristics determining element for determining driving characteristics of a driver of the vehicle based on the driving information. The driving information includes vehicle speed relating information, which relates to at least one of a vehicle speed, acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. A driving unit section is defined as a section from the vehicle starts to go until the vehicle stops. The driving characteristics determining element determines the driving characteristics based on the vehicle speed relating information in each driving unit section.

Abstract: The present invention provides [1] a water dispersion for ink-jet printing containing chain-like particles each containing anionic organic pigment particles and a cationic polymer, wherein the ratio of organic pigment primary particles forming the chain-like particles to all the pigment primary particles contained in the water dispersion is 10% by number or more; [2] a water-based ink for ink-jet printing containing the water dispersion; [3] a method for producing a water dispersion for ink-jet printing as described above in [1]; and [4] a water-based ink for ink-jet printing containing a water dispersion produced through the method. The water dispersion and water-based ink for ink-jet printing of the present invention realize excellent optical density.

Abstract: The present invention relates to (1) a water-based ink for ink-jet printing having excellent storage stability and anti-curling property which includes particles of a crosslinked water-insoluble polymer containing a colorant wherein a content of water in the ink is 60% by weight or less, and the crosslinked polymer contains an anionic group neutralized with a base in an amount of from 0.5 mmol or more per 1 g of the crosslinked polymer; (2) a process for producing the water-based ink; and (3) a method of reducing curling of a print wherein the print is obtained by printing characters or images thereon with the water-based ink using an ink-jet printer.

Abstract: Provided are methods and initial structures for fabricating corrosion resistant steels that incorporate an aluminum rich corrosion resistant surface layer. The initial structures utilize layering and/or patterning for reducing the effective diffusion length Deff to a value well below the total thickness of the aluminum alloy protective layer X1 by providing vertical and/or lateral laminated structures that provide ready sources of Fe atoms during subsequent heat treatment processes.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of polymer particles of a water-insoluble vinyl polymer containing a hydrophobic dye, wherein the water-insoluble vinyl polymer is prepared by polymerizing a monomer composition comprising an alicyclic (meth)acrylate, a salt-forming group-containing monomer, and a monomer copolymerizable with the alicyclic (meth)acrylate and the salt-forming group-containing monomer; and an ink comprising the aqueous dispersion. The aqueous dispersion is excellent in, for instance, storage stability, and the ink is excellent in, for instance, printing reliability, solvent resistance, water resistance and character quality.

Abstract: An edge detection method includes preparing a transparent substrate which includes a first main face having a first main region and a first peripheral region and a second main face having a second main region and a second peripheral region, the first peripheral region having an inclination angle of ?a1 and the second peripheral region having an inclination angle of ?a2, causing measuring light to enter the first peripheral region from a direction perpendicular to the first main region, detecting a non-emitting region where the measuring light is not emitted from the second peripheral region, and detecting an edge of the transparent substrate on the basis of the non-emitting region, wherein if a refractive index of the transparent substrate is n, the inclination angles ?a1 and ?a2 satisfy the following expression: n×sin(?a1+?a2?arcsin(sin ?a1/n))?1

Abstract: An apparatus and related method are provided for a manufacturing process including heating of a processed part. A resistance heating assembly applies an electrical current to a work part comprising a sheet of high-tensile steel having a heat-resistant plating to improve formability. A heating control system regulates the electrical current to the work part in order to control the temperature of the work part. A temperature detector detects a temperature of the work part and generates feedback to the heating control system in order to regulate the electrical current. An electrical resistance detector measures an electrical resistance within the work part and generates feedback to the heating control system in order to regulate the electrical current.

Abstract: A method and related apparatus are disclosed for heating and stamping a processed part. A sheet of high-tensile steel is provided as a work part. The sheet is plated with a high-temperature-resistant material to improve formability. The temperature-resistant material can include oxidized aluminum or a high-temperature-resistant alloy of aluminum and/or zinc and/or steel. An electrical current is applied to the work part to provide heating to the work part through resistance heating. The plated sheet can be stamped while heating to form a stamped work part. The work part is quenched through cooling to increase metallurgical strength.

Abstract: An apparatus calculates a coefficient b that reflects a road slope condition of each section based on an altitude difference of both ends of each section stored in a memory, and identifies a carbon dioxide discharge amount that changes in proportion to the distance of each section by multiplying a distance D of each section by the coefficient b and another coefficient Ec. Further, the apparatus identifies a discharge amount that changes in proportion to a travel time of each section by multiplying a travel time T of each section and yet another coefficient a, and identifies a discharge amount based on an index that changes in proportion to the number of stops in each section by multiplying an index AEE by the coefficient Ec and still yet another coefficient c for performing a carbon-conscious routing between a start place and a destination.

Abstract: Two joining members different in high temperature deformation resistance are disposed in an abutted manner. The rotational direction of a probe of a joining member is set to coincide with a rotational direction rotating from the joining member having lower high temperature deformation resistance toward the joining member having higher high temperature deformation resistance. Then, the rotating probe is inserted into the abutting portion of the joining members. The probe is advanced along the abutting portion with the probe inserted in the abutting portion to perform friction stir joining. As a result, a butt joint having high joining strength can be obtained.

Abstract: In a friction agitation joining method, two plate-shaped joining members different in thickness, or first and second joining members, are abutted against each other with a level difference formed at upper surface sides thereof. A rotating probe of a joining tool is inserted into the butted portion of the first and second joining members from upper surface sides thereof. Joining-direction front sides of the first and second joining members with respect to the probe inserted position are pressed by first and second front pressing rollers, respectively, from the upper surface sides thereof. Furthermore, joining-direction lower sides of the first and the second joining members with respect to a probe inserted position from the upper surface sides are pressed by first and second lower pressing rollers, respectively, from the upper surface sides thereof. In this state, the butted portion is joined by the friction agitation joining method.

Abstract: A joined structure has high strength, which is used for manufacturing a joint made from different metal materials. In the joined structure in which the different metal materials are joined, a reaction product layer to be generated on the joined interface is set to have a thickness of 0.5 &mgr;m or less. Moreover, the reaction product layer is allowed to intermittently exist on the joined interface. Furthermore, the reaction product layer contains a base material crystal consisting of base material atoms of 90 atom % or more on the joined interface.

Abstract: In the friction agitation joining method according to the present invention, two plate-shaped joining members different in thickness, or a first joining member (1) and a second joining member (2), are butted against each other with a level difference formed at upper surface sides thereof. A rotating probe (42) of the joining tool (40) is inserted into the butted portion (3) of said first and second joining members (1,2) from the upper surface sides thereof. Joining-direction front sides of the first joining member (1) and the second joining member (2) with respect to the probe inserted position is pressed by a first front pressing roller (11) and a second front pressing roller (11), respectively, from the upper surface sides thereof.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of polymer particles of a water-insoluble vinyl polymer containing a hydrophobic dye, wherein the water-insoluble vinyl polymer is prepared by polymerizing a monomer composition comprising an alicyclic (meth)acrylate, a salt-forming group-containing monomer, and a monomer copolymerizable with the alicyclic (meth)acrylate and the salt-forming group-containing monomer; and an ink comprising the aqueous dispersion. The aqueous dispersion is excellent in, for instance, storage stability, and the ink is excellent in, for instance, printing reliability, solvent resistance, water resistance and character quality.

Abstract: A friction stir welding method conducts contact welding on two welding target members having different high temperature deformation resistances by using a welding tool having a rotatable welding head, contacting the two welding target members having different high temperature deformation resistances against each other so as to generate a difference in height between the two welding target members on a surface side in a thickness direction, arranging the rotating head in a state in which the head is embedded into a contact section of the two welding target members or a neighborhood of the contact section from the surface side, and relatively moving the welding head to the two welding target members along the contact section in this state, is provided.

Abstract: Sn—Zn alloy is plated on at least one of a first metallic member and a second metallic member, Sn—Ag alloy is used as a solder, the first metallic member and the second metallic member are connected by the solder, and a connection structure of metallic members is therefore produced. Heat degradation of plating and the contact corrosion between solder and plating can thereby be prevented, solderability can be improved, and qualities such as corrosion resistance and connecting strength at the connection structure can be improved.

Abstract: A joined structure has high strength, which is used for manufacturing a joint made from different metal materials. In the joined structure in which the different metal materials are joined, a reaction product layer to be generated on the joined interface is set to have a thickness of 0.5 &mgr;m or less. Moreover, the reaction product layer is allowed to intermittently exist on the joined interface. Furthermore, the reaction product layer contains a base material crystal consisting of base material atoms of 90 atom % or more on the joined interface.