Abstract: The formability of coiled and annealed (O-temper) magnesium alloy sheet material in high temperature forming operations is sometimes adversely affected by small amounts of cold work introduced into the fine grained material during handling of the coil and unwinding it to obtain blank workpieces for hot stamping, hot blow forming, or the like. When necessary, the formability of the sheet material with regions of hard worked microstructure may be improved by predetermining a recovery heat treatment using small portions of the material in formability tests. The recovery heat treatment, determined for the specific coiled stock, may then be applied to the material of the coil as it is used in making vehicle body panels or the like.

Abstract: Magnesium and other metal alloy sheet materials are deformed at hot forming temperatures into vehicle body panels and other articles. Many such hot forming operations are improved in speed and product quality by predetermining a static recrystallization temperature of the sheet material. As the sheet material is being heated to its hot forming temperature, deformation is commenced below the static recrystallization temperature. As heating and deformation are continued, dynamic recrystallization of the workpiece occurs and deformation may proceed faster and to a greater extent.

Abstract: An apparatus for plastically deforming a work piece in the form of a sheet, comprising at least two cylindrical guide rolls rotatable in a first direction, each of said cylindrical guide rolls having an outer circumference; a bendable strip having a portion of at least one surface in communication with a portion of the outer circumference of each of the at least two guide rollers, said bendable strip being capable of motion around the at least two guide rollers in the first direction and exerting a force upon a work piece, a first cylindrical feeding roll rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, said first cylindrical feeding roll having an outer circumference, a plastic deformation passage having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the first surface being defined by a portion of the bendable strip, and at least a portion of the second surface being defined by the outer circumference of the first cylindrical feeding roll, wherein one or both of the bendable stri

Abstract: A method and system for determining a number of samples used in rendering a Bezier curve, defined by first, second, third and fourth sequential Bezier control points. The method and system determines: a visual significance of a curve by measuring a characteristic of the curve, a curvature estimation factor of the curve based on a length of the curve and a distance between first and last control points of the curve, and the number of samples for a predetermined accuracy depending on the visual significance of the curve and the curvature estimation factor.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for charging for network analysis. Initially, network traffic information is collected utilizing a plurality of agents. Next, the network traffic information is collected utilizing a plurality of host controllers coupled to the agents. The network traffic information may then be reported to a user utilizing a plurality of zone controllers coupled to the host controllers. In use, a reoccurring fee associated with the reporting may be determined based on a number of the agents, the host controllers, and/or the zone controllers.

Abstract: A wheel barrier assembly is disclosed for creating a physical barrier between a wheel hub, a wheel and a plurality of lugs securing the wheel to the wheel hub. The wheel barrier assembly may include a plate extending between the wheel hub and the wheel to insulate the wheel from the wheel hub. The wheel barrier assembly may also include a plurality of collets extending through the wheel and secured to the plate to insulate the wheel from the lugs.

Abstract: An energy converter employing plasmons. In a specific embodiment, a receiver receives a first type of energy or signal and provides one or more plasmons in response thereto. A detector is coupled to the receiver. The detector converts the one or more plasmons into a second type of energy or signal. In a more specific embodiment, the first type of energy or signal includes incident electromagnetic energy, such as visible, infrared, or ultraviolet radiation. The second type of energy or signal includes an electrical signal. The receiver includes a conductor grating that is coupled to a dielectric material. Examples of the detector includes a pn-junction and an interfacial bandgap junction. The receiver and the detector are coupled so that the one or more plasmons form a plasma wave as they travel from the receiver to the detector.

Abstract: An apparatus for plastically deforming a work piece in the form of a sheet, comprising at least two cylindrical guide rolls rotatable in a first direction, each of said cylindrical guide rolls having an outer circumference; a bendable strip having a portion of at least one surface in communication with a portion of the outer circumference of each of the at least two guide rollers, said bendable strip being capable of motion around the at least two guide rollers in the first direction and exerting a force upon a work piece, a first cylindrical feeding roll rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, said first cylindrical feeding roll having an outer circumference, a plastic deformation passage having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the first surface being defined by a portion of the bendable strip, and at least a portion of the second surface being defined by the outer circumference of the first cylindrical feeding roll, wherein one or both of the bendable stri

Abstract: An apparatus for plastically deforming a work piece. The apparatus comprises at least two cylindrical guide rolls rotatable in a first direction, a bendable strip having a portion of at least one surface in communication with a portion of an outer circumference of each of the at least two cylindrical guide rolls, a first cylindrical feeding roll rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a plastic deformation passage having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the first surface being defined by a portion of the bendable strip, and at least a portion of the second surface being defined by the outer circumference of the first cylindrical feeding roll. One or both of the bendable strip and the cylindrical feeding roll, when in motion, propel the work piece through the plastic deformation passage wherein the work piece is plastically deformed.

Abstract: A contained resonant cavity. The contained resonant cavity includes a first surface and a second surface that are partially transmissive and partially reflective, One or more reflective sidewall, are positioned between the first surface and the second surface. In a specific embodiment, the first surface and the second surface are substantially parallel and represent input and output surfaces, respectively, of the contained resonant cavity. The one or more sidewalls are approximately perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface and include a first sidewall having a first substantially reflective planar surface that faces a second substantially reflective planar surface of the second sidewall. A third sidewall and a fourth sidewall have fourth and fifth substantially reflective Lacing sidewalls, respectively.

Abstract: An entertainment system and method including controllable components dispersed among a plurality of locations and each having attributes associated therewith, a plurality of interconnections between the controllable components, a plurality of user interface devices, and a controller that generates graphical user interfaces for the user interface devices for controlling the plurality of controllable components. The graphical user interfaces include commands for operating the controllable components that vary among the graphical user interfaces based on the locations of the user interface devices, and the controllable component attributes, locations and interconnections. The controller also automatically creates schematic diagrams, lists, views and test plans for the controlled components and/or the interconnections therebetween based upon the identification of the controlled components, and their attributes, locations and interconnections, to the controller.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a method and apparatus for preventing software piracy. A license enforcement server may be integrated with an operating system running on a network-critical machine. As such, other computational devices connected to the network may obtain permission to perform licensed activities. These computational devices may have an instruction set for communicating with the license enforcement server. Further, the license enforcement server may communicate with a licensing organization. The license enforcement server may utilize a namespace tree to organize licenses and uniquely identify licensed activities. In this manner, a universal license enforcement system may be achieved in which disabling of the license enforcement mechanisms would adversely effect a network.

Abstract: A magnesium, manganese and copper-containing aluminum alloy sheet material suitable for use in high elongation forming processes is produced according to an improved thermomechanical process. The sheet material is produced by continuous casting with an as-cast gage of 5 to 35 millimeters and immediately hot rolling with a final strip exit temperature between 200° C. and 350° C. and then coiling. The hot rolled coil is annealed at 450–560° C. to homogenize the microstructure. After cooling to ambient temperature, the coil is cold rolled to desired sheet thickness with a net gage reduction of 50–90 %. After suitable recrystallization of the cold worked microstructure the sheet is ready for hot, high elongation forming.

Abstract: A contained resonant cavity. The contained resonant cavity includes a first surface and a second surface that are partially transmissive and partially reflective. One or more reflective sidewalls are positioned between the first surface and the second surface. In a specific embodiment, the first surface and the second surface are substantially parallel and represent input and output surfaces, respectively, of the contained resonant cavity. The one or more sidewalls are approximately perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface and include a first sidewall having a first substantially reflective planar surface that faces a second substantially reflective planar surface of the second sidewall. A fourth sidewall and a fifth sidewall have fourth and fifth substantially reflective facing sidewalls, respectively.

Abstract: An apparatus for plastically deforming a work piece in the form of a sheet, comprising at least two cylindrical guide rolls rotatable in a first direction, each of said cylindrical guide rolls having an outer circumference; a bendable strip having a portion of at least one surface in communication with a portion of the outer circumference of each of the at least two guide rollers, said bendable strip being capable of motion around the at least two guide rollers in the first direction and exerting a force upon a work piece, a first cylindrical feeding roll rotatable in a second direction opposite to the first direction, said first cylindrical feeding roll having an outer circumference, a plastic deformation passage having a first surface and a second surface, at least a portion of the first surface being defined by a portion of the bendable strip, and at least a portion of the second surface being defined by the outer circumference of the first cylindrical feeding roll, wherein one or both of the bendable stri

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making relatively low cost sheet material of magnesium- and manganese-containing aluminum alloy for high elongation forming of articles of complex configuration. The alloy is continuously cast with an as-cast gage of 6-30 mm and immediately hot rolled with final strip exit temperature between 200 C. and 350 C., and net rolled gage reduction of 30-80% to 3-12 mm, and coiled. The hot rolled coil is annealed at 470-560° C. to homogenize the microstructure. After cooling to ambient, the coil is cold rolled to desired sheet thickness, but with a net gage reduction of 50-90%. After suitable recrystallization of the cold worked microstructure the sheet is ready for hot, high elongation forming.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for analyzing a network utilizing an agent/host controller interface. Initially, an agent is sent an interval setting from a host controller. Such agent is adapted to transmit network traffic information based on the interval setting. Such network traffic information is then received from the agent in accordance with the interval setting.

Abstract: A magnesium, manganese and copper-containing aluminum alloy sheet material suitable for use in high elongation forming processes is produced according to an improved thermomechanical process. The sheet material is produced by continuous casting with an as-cast gage of 5 to 35 millimeters and immediately hot rolling with a final strip exit temperature between 200° C. and 350° C. and then coiling. The hot rolled coil is annealed at 450-560° C. to homogenize the microstructure. After cooling to ambient temperature, the coil is cold rolled to desired sheet thickness with a net gage reduction of 50-90%. After suitable recrystallization of the cold worked microstructure the sheet is ready for hot, high elongation forming.

Abstract: A method for reducing the part-to-part cycle time of quick plastic forming and superplastic forming of a metallic sheet alloy into an automotive sheet metal component by locally modifying a die surface to control friction which militates against undesirable necking and thinning.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for making relatively low cost sheet material of magnesium- and manganese-containing aluminum alloy for high elongation forming of articles of complex configuration. The alloy is continuously cast with an as-cast gage of 6-30 mm and immediately hot rolled with final strip exit temperature between 200 C and 350 C, and net rolled gage reduction of 30-80% to 3-12 mm, and coiled. The hot rolled coil is annealed at 470-560° C. to homogenize the microstructure. After cooling to ambient, the coil is cold rolled to desired sheet thickness, but with a net gage reduction of 50-90%. After suitable recrystallization of the cold worked microstructure the sheet is ready for hot, high elongation forming.