Abstract: Disclosed is a friction-stir joining method for joining a first member, having a base metal covered with a substance different from the base metal, with a second member with the second member placed on the first member by moving a joining tool along a joining line having thereon a joining start point and a joining finish point. The method includes steps of: inserting the joining tool into the second member at the joining start point; moving the joining tool a predetermined distance along the joining line in a direction opposite the joining finish point; causing the joining tool to turn back at a turning-back point spaced the predetermined distance from the joining start point; moving the joining tool along the joining line to the joining finish point past the joining start point; and pulling the joining tool out from the second member at the joining finish point.

Abstract: Disclosed is a friction-stir joining method for joining a first member, having a base metal covered with a substance different from the base metal, with a second member with the second member placed on the first member by moving a joining tool along a joining line having thereon a joining start point and a joining finish point. The method includes steps of inserting the joining tool into the second member at the joining start point; moving the joining tool a predetermined distance along the joining line in a direction opposite the joining finish point; causing the joining tool to turn back at a turning-back point spaced the predetermined distance from the joining start point; moving the joining tool along the joining line to the joining finish point past the joining start point; and pulling the joining tool out from the second member at the joining finish point.

Abstract: It is possible to provide a novel CCD camera capable of being connected to a PC, an HDD, or the like compatible with a host SATA by using a simple configuration. A SATA' camera system (10) includes a camera module (12) and a SATA camera interface (27) and can be directly connected to a computer (72) or a hard disc drive (74) compatible with SATA. The SATA camera interface (27) has at least an FPGA (28), an image memory (76), and a PATA-SATA converter (58). The FPGA performs conversion of a video signal when writing/reading a digital video signal from the camera module into/from the image memory (76). The PATA-SATA convert (58) converts the parallel type video signal into a serial type video signal which can be transmitted to the computer (72) or the hard disc drive (74) compatible with the SATA.