Abstract: Provided is a friction stir spot welded joint having high cross tensile strength even in the case where a steel sheet having a soft surface layer is used as a material to be welded. An annular groove is formed on an upper surface of an upper sheet out of overlapping steel sheets, and a shape and hardness of a welded portion are appropriately controlled simultaneously.

Abstract: An operator number setting control unit 45 sets the number of contracted operators for a commissioned call center service in response to a request of a user. A log-in time collecting control unit 42 calculates the log-in time of the operator. A log-in time computing unit 43 adds respective log-in times for each user. A billed service charge computing device 44 calculates an amount of charge billed in accordance with the total sum of log-in time added for each user. A charge is calculated and billed as such for the amount of use of commissioned call center services in accordance with the usage pattern of users, thereby promoting the commissioning of call center services and making it possible to operate a call center system without a huge amount of capital investment.

Abstract: A multi-call-center operations system is provided with a collective operator management device for determining an increase or a decrease in the number of operators in charge of outbound service at each of call centers and for transferring the resulting determination to an associated call center, and collectively manages at one location the number of operators in charge of outbound service at a plurality of call centers. The human resource of a call center and the facility resource dependent also on the number of operators are effectively used. Databases are also efficiently maintained and toll charges for calls to customers are minimized, thereby minimizing the overall cost of operating the call center.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a decoder capable of improving accuracy of error correction. A demodulating section 11 demodulates received data Y and creates soft decision data. An error correction processing section 14 performs an error correction processing in accordance with a predetermined algorithm determined with the transmission side beforehand to create a bit sequence of data. A CRC section 15 performs a CRC test. A soft decision data correction section 13 is controlled in such a manner that in the event that no error is decided, the bit sequence of data is output in form of decoding data D, and in the event that an error is decided, a data correction control circuit 16 corrects soft decision data of lowest reliability from a memory 12 to soft decision data 6, 0 of higher reliability.

Abstract: A multi-call-center operations system is provided with a collective operator management device for determining an increase or a decrease in the number of operators in charge of outbound service at each of call centers and for transferring the resulting determination to an associated call center, and collectively manages at one location the number of operators in charge of outbound service at a plurality of call centers. The human resource of a call center and the facility resource dependent also on the number of operators are effectively used. Databases are also efficiently maintained and toll charges for calls to customers are minimized, thereby minimizing the overall cost of operating the call center.

Abstract: A multi-call-center operations system is provided with a collective operator management device for determining an increase or a decrease in the number of operators in charge of outbound service at each of call centers and for transferring the resulting determination to an associated call center, and collectively manages at one location the number of operators in charge of outbound service at a plurality of call centers. The human resource of a call center and the facility resource dependent also on the number of operators are effectively used. Databases are also efficiently maintained and toll charges for calls to customers are minimized, thereby minimizing the overall cost of operating the call center.

Abstract: In a preliminary molding step 1, a metallic powder mixture 7 obtained by blending an iron-based metal powder 7a with graphite 7b such that the graphite is present in an amount of preferably not less than 0.1% by weight, more preferably not less than 0.3% by weight, is compacted into a preform 8 having a density of not less than 7.3 g/cm3. In a provisional sintering step 2, the preform 8 is provisionally sintered at a predetermined temperature to form a metallic powder-molded body 9 having a structure in which the graphite remains along a grain boundary of the metal powder. In a re-compaction step 3, the metallic powder-molded body 9 is re-compacted into a re-compacted body 10. In a re-sintering step 4, the re-compacted body 10 is re-sintered to obtain a sintered body 11. In a heat treatment step 5, the sintered body 11 is heat-treated to obtain a heat-treated sintered body 11.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for high-density iron-based powder compacts is disclosed. The temperature of the die is adjusted at ordinary temperature or at a predetermined temperature by preheating. A lubricant for die lubrication prepared by mixing at least two different lubricants having melting points higher than a predetermined temperature of the compaction pressure is sprayed at the upper part of the die and is introduced into the die and adhered by electrification to the surface of the die. The resulting die is filled with an iron-based mixed powder including a lubricant and molding is performed at ordinary temperature or at a temperature raised by heating.

Abstract: Longitudinal and shear ultrasonic waves are generated inside a material by irradiating a laser beam onto a first surface, e.g., incident surface, of the material. An ultrasonic longitudinal wave and a mode converted wave reflected by a second surface, e.g., a bottom surface, of the material are detected, and times of flight of the ultrasonic longitudinal wave and the mode converted wave are measured. A thickness of the material is measured based on the times of flight and a correlation, obtained in advance, between longitudinal and shear wave velocities of the material and temperature of the material.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cold-rolled steel sheet and an alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet in which tensile strength is effectively increased by press forming and heat treatment while maintaining excellent deep drawability in press forming. Specifically, a steel composition contains less than 0.01% of C, 0.005 to 1.0% of Si, 0.01 to 1.0% of Mn, 0.005 to 0.050% of Nb, 0.005 to 0.030% of Al, 0.005 to 0.040% of N 0.0005 to 0.0015% of B, 0.05% or less of P, and 0.

Abstract: The testing results, etc. of surface flaws such as cracks formed in or just below a surface of a body to be detected are displayed using colors within different color regions in the color space when displaying, on the basis of a preset threshold value, the test signal ranging in magnitude from zero to the threshold value and the test signal falling in magnitude beyond the threshold value while changing the color and/or the depth of color little by little within each of the color regions according to the magnitude of the test signal. This enables small flaw signals, etc. to be displayed without exception, thereby preventing small flaws, etc. from being overlooked.

Abstract: A soft-magnetic material is installed on the opposite side of the magnetism sensing face of magnetism sensing devices. This soft-magnetic material is larger than the magnetism sensing face. Then the detection coverage per sensor is enlarged, and the number of sensors and signal processing circuits are reduced across the width of the strip.

Abstract: The present invention provides a steel sheet having a chemical composition comprising 0.15% or less C, 2.0% or less Si, 3.0% or less Mn, P, S, Al and N in adjusted amounts, from 0.5 to 3.0% Cu, or one or more of Cr, Mo and W in a total amount of 2.0% or less, and having a composite structure comprising ferrite and martensite having an area ratio of 2% or more. The steel sheet is in the form of a high-strength hot-rolled steel sheet, a high-strength cold-rolled steel sheet, or a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet. There is thus available a steel sheet excellent in press-formability and in strain age hardening property as represented by a &Dgr;TS of 80 MPa or more.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cold-rolled steel sheet and an alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet in which tensile strength is effectively increased by press forming and heat treatment while maintaining excellent deep drawability in press forming. Specifically, a steel composition contains less than 0.01% of C, 0.005 to 1.0% of Si, 0.01 to 1.0% of Mn, 0.005 to 0.050% of Nb, 0.005 to 0.030% of Al, 0.005 to 0.040% of N, 0.0005 to 0.0015% of B, 0.05% or less of P, and 0.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cold-rolled steel sheet and an alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet in which tensile strength is effectively increased by press forming and heat treatment while maintaining excellent deep drawability in press forming. Specifically, a steel composition contains less than 0.01% of C, 0.005 to 1.0% of Si, 0.01 to 1.0% of Mn, 0.005 to 0.050% of Nb, 0.005 to 0.030% of Al, 0.005 to 0.040% of N, 0.0005 to 0.0015% of B, 0.05% or less of P, and 0.

Abstract: Longitudinal and shear ultrasonic waves are generated inside a material by irradiating a laser beam onto a first surface, e.g., incident surface, of the material. An ultrasonic longitudinal wave and a mode converted wave reflected by a second surface, e.g., a bottom surface, of the material are detected, and times of flight of the ultrasonic longitudinal wave and the mode converted wave are measured. A thickness of the material is measured based on the times of flight and a correlation, obtained in advance, between longitudinal and shear wave velocities of the material and temperature of the material.

Abstract: A method for making an enameled steel sheet includes the steps of spraying a slurry to form a slurry layer onto a surface of a substrate and firing the slurry layer. In this method, the slurry has a static surface tension of 50 dyne/cm or less and an apparent viscosity of 500 mPa·s that is measured with a model E viscometer at a rotation of 100 rpm. Alternatively, the method includes a step of spraying a slurry for forming an enamel layer onto a surface of a substrate, wherein the substrate is vibrated when the slurry is applied or when the slurry applied is still fluid.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cold-rolled steel sheet and an alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet in which tensile strength is effectively increased by press forming and heat treatment while maintaining excellent deep drawability in press forming. Specifically, a steel composition contains less than 0.01% of C, 0.005 to 1.0% of Si, 0.01 to 1.0% of Mn, 0.005 to 0.050% of Nb, 0.005 to 0.030% of Al, 0.005 to 0.040% of N, 0.0005 to 0.0015% of B, 0.05% or less of P, and 0.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a cold-rolled steel sheet and an alloyed hot-dip galvanized steel sheet in which tensile strength is effectively increased by press forming and heat treatment while maintaining excellent deep drawability in press forming. Specifically, a steel composition contains less than 0.01% of C, 0.005 to 1.0% of Si, 0.01 to 1.0% of Mn, 0.005 to 0.050% of Nb, 0.005 to 0.030% of Al, 0.005 to 0.040% of N, 0.0005 to 0.0015% of B, 0.05% or less of P, and 0.

Abstract: A ferritic stainless steel sheet for use in automobile fuel tanks and fuel pipes having smooth surface and resistance to organic acid is provided. The sheet contains, by mass, not more than about 0.1% C, not more than about 1.0 Si, not more than about 1.5% Mn, not more than about 0.06% P, not more than about 0.03% S, about 11% to about 23% Cr, not more than about 2.0% Ni, about 0.5% to about 3.0% Mo, not more than about 1.0% Al, not more than about 0.04% N, at least one of not more than about 0.8% Nb and not more than about 1.0% Ti, and the balance being Fe and unavoidable impurities, satisfying the relationship: 18≦Nb/(C+N)+2Ti/(C+N)≦60, wherein C, N, Nb, and Ti in the relationship represent the C, N, Nb, and Ti contents by mass percent, respectively. A process for making the same is also provided.