As to an object-oriented programming, reuse of softwares is enhanced and running speed is improved. There are made up a data element list in which pointers to data storage areas of object A are arranged and a pointer element list in which pointers to pointer storage areas of object B are arranged. A combination of the data element list and the pointer element list makes it possible to directly refer to data of the object A from the object B.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an object-oriented programming apparatus for performing an object-oriented programming, an object-oriented programming supporting apparatus for supporting an object-oriented programming, a component builder apparatus for building components forming a part of an object, an object-oriented program storage medium for storing therein object-oriented programs, a program storage medium for use in an object-oriented programming, the program storage medium being adapted for storing therein a program to support an object-oriented programming, a component storage medium for storing therein components, and an object-between-network display method of visually displaying in the form of a network of objects, data integration due to data sharing, integration of control flows among objects, and the like, on a plurality of objects produced by object-oriented programming.
2. Description of the Related Art
Hitherto, when a program, which is incorporated into a computer so as to be operated, is described, a programming is performed in such a manner that a function name (command) and a variable are described in turn. In case of such a programming scheme, since there is a need to describe the programming with the commands in its entirety, it is necessary for a programmer to investigate the commands one by one through a manual, or to remember a lot of commands. However, those commands are different for each program language. Accordingly, even if a programmer remembers a lot of commands of a certain program language, when the programmer describes a program with another program language, there occurs such an inconvenience that the programmer has to do over again learning the commands of the program language. Further, formats of programs are also different for each program language. These matters make a description of the program difficult, and give such an impression that a development of programs is a special field which is deemed that it is difficult for a nonprofessional to enter thereinto. Recently, programs are increasingly large-scaled and complicated, and thus there is emphasized more and more a necessity that a development of programs is made easier, and also a necessity for contributing to a reuse of the once developed programs.
In such a technical background, recently, object-oriented programming has been widely adopted. An object is a named entity that combines a data structure with its associated operations. That is, the object comprises xe2x80x9cdataxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cits associated operationsxe2x80x9d. The term xe2x80x9cobject-orientedxe2x80x9d implies a concept that the xe2x80x9cdataxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cits associated operationsxe2x80x9d, that is, the object, is treated in the form of units. Also in such an object-oriented programming, there is a need to essentially build each individual software (object). After the individual objects are once built, however, a programming is completed in such a manner that a coupling relation of object-to-object is described such that a certain object calls another object. It is expected that this concept of object-oriented programming serves to significantly improve an operability of large-scaled and complicated software, the creation of such software, and the maintenance thereof.
In object-oriented programming, an operation in which a certain object calls another object uses concepts of messages and methods such that the calling object issues a message to the called party of the object, while the called party of the object receives the issued message and executes its associated methods (operations). Hitherto, data necessary for a process was provided in the form of arguments of the messages.
One of the objects of object-oriented programming resides in the point that software (object) once made up can be reused even if the system is altered. In order to implement this, there is a need to make up a relatively small and simple object.
In general, however, it is said that an object-oriented program is low in its execution rate because it takes a lot of time to recognize a corresponding relation between the received message and its associated method, and also it takes a lot of time to transfer data from an object, which issues the message, to an object which executes the method.
In order to improve the program execution rate, hitherto, there was adopted a technique in which operations in one object are increased to reduce opportunities of issuing messages directed to another object. In this case, however, the operations in one object become complicated, and the object is scaled up. This technique is contrary to the desire for reusable objects, and thus, it is one of the causes of prohibiting the possibility of promoting reuse of the software in object-oriented programming.
When the object-oriented programs are promoted, the serious problem is involved in handling of a large amount of software accumulated up to now, which is not based on an object-oriented concept. The object-oriented programming technology according to the earlier development has been associated with such a problem that the possibility of promoting reuse of the existing software is extremely low.
In view of the above-mentioned problem, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an object-oriented programming apparatus having a function of coupling a plurality of objects with one another so that information efficiently flows among the plurality of objects, an object-oriented program storage medium for storing therein a plurality of objects and object-coupling programs for coupling the plurality of objects with one another so that information efficiently flows among the plurality of objects, an object-oriented programming supporting apparatus which contributes to facilitation of an object-oriented programming for defining a coupling relation between objects, a program storage medium for use in an object-oriented programming, the program storage medium being adapted for storing therein a program to support an object-oriented programming, a component builder apparatus having a function of building a component which serves as an object in combination with an existing software so that the existing software can be dealt with as the object, a component storage medium for storing therein components as mentioned above, and an object-between-network display method of visually displaying in the form of a network of objects a data integration due to a data sharing, an integration of control flows among objects and the like, on a plurality of objects produced by the object-oriented programming, the object-between-network display method being suitable for performing an object-oriented programming for defining a coupling relation between objects.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first object-oriented programming apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented programming apparatus comprising:
instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object;
data element list generating means for generating a data element list, in which pointers to data storage areas for storing data are arranged, of an object;
pointer element list generating means for generating a pointer element list, in which pointers to pointer storage areas for storing pointers to data are arranged, of an object; and
data coupling means for permitting a transfer of data between a third object having the data element list and a fourth object having the pointer element list, by means of writing the pointers arranged in the data element list of the third object into the pointer storage areas indicated by the pointers arranged in the pointer element list of the fourth object.
In the first object-oriented programming apparatus, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a second object-oriented programming apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented programming apparatus comprising:
instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object; and
an input instruction tag table generating means for generating an input instruction tag table indicating an association of messages of another object with methods of self object, for each other object, on the output instruction bus portion of self object.
In the second object-oriented programming apparatus, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed, and
said input instruction tag table generating means generates the input instruction tag table and adds the input instruction tag table to the method elements including the pointer to another object associated with the input instruction tag table.
As one of ways that the input instruction tag table is added to the method element, it is acceptable that a pointer to the input instruction tag table is directly written to the method element.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a third object-oriented programming apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented programming apparatus comprising:
instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object; and
an output instruction tag table generating means for generating an output instruction tag table indicating an association of methods of another object with messages of self object, for each other object, on the output instruction bus portion of self object.
In the third object-oriented programming apparatus, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed, and
said output instruction tag table generating means generates the output instruction tag table and adds the output instruction tag table to the method elements including the pointer to another object associated with the output instruction tag table.
As one of ways that the output instruction tag table is added to the method element, it is acceptable that a pointer to the output instruction tag table is directly written to the method element.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a fourth object-oriented programming apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented programming apparatus comprising:
instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object; and
an input data tag table generating means for generating an input data tag table indicating an association of a data element list ID for identifying a data element list in which pointers to data storage areas for storing data are arranged with a pointer element list ID for identifying a pointer element list in which pointers to data storage areas for storing pointer to data are arranged, for each other object, on the output instruction bus portion of self object.
In the fourth object-oriented programming apparatus, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed, and
said input data tag table generating means generates the input data tag table and adds the input data tag table to the method elements including the pointer to another object associated with the input data tag table.
As one of ways that the input data tag table is added to the method element, it is acceptable that a pointer to the input data tag table is directly written to the method element.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a fifth object-oriented programming apparatus for interconnecting a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented programming apparatus comprising:
instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object; and
an output data tag table generating means for generating an output data tag table indicating an association of a pointer element list ID for identifying a pointer element list in which pointers to pointer storage areas for storing pointers to data are arranged with a data element list ID for identifying a data element list in which pointers to data storage areas for storing data are arranged, for each other object, on the output instruction bus portion of self object.
In the fifth object-oriented programming apparatus, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed, and
said output data tag table generating means generates the output data tag table and adds the output data tag table to the method elements including the pointer to another object associated with the output data tag table.
As one of ways that the output data tag table is added to the method element, it is acceptable that a pointer to the output data tag table is directly written to the method element.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first object-oriented program storage medium for storing
a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented program storage medium storing
an object coupling program comprising:
instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object;
data element list generating means for generating a data element list, in which pointers to data storage areas for storing data are arranged, of an object;
pointer element list generating means for generating a pointer element list, in which pointers to pointer storage areas for storing pointers to data are arranged, of an object; and
data coupling means for permitting a transfer of data between a third object having the data element list and a fourth object having the pointer element list, by means of writing the pointers arranged in the data element list of the third object into the pointer storage areas indicated by the pointers arranged in the pointer element list of the fourth object.
In the first object-oriented program storage medium, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed, and
the first object having the output instruction bus portion refers to, when issuing a message, a method element arranged in the method element list associated with the message, and calls the second object in which a pointer is stored in the method element, giving the method ID stored in the method element as an argument.
In this case, the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and executes the method identified by the method ID which is an argument of the received message.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a second object-oriented program storage medium for storing
a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented program storage medium storing
an object coupling program comprising:
instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object; and
an input instruction tag table generating means for generating an input instruction tag table indicating an association of messages of another object with methods of self object, for each other object, on the output instruction bus portion of self object.
In the second object-oriented program storage medium, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed, and
said input instruction tag table generating means generates the input instruction tag table and adds the input instruction tag table to the method elements including the pointer to another object associated with the input instruction tag table.
As one of ways that the input instruction tag table is added to the method element, it is acceptable that a pointer to the input instruction tag table is directly written to the method element.
It is acceptable that the first object having the method element to which the input instruction tag table is added calls, when calling the second object identified by the method element, the second object giving as arguments the method ID and the input instruction tag table which are stored in the method element.
As one of ways that the second object is called giving as arguments the input instruction tag table, it is acceptable that the second object is directly called giving as arguments a pointer to the input instruction tag table.
In this case, the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and executes the method identified by the method ID which is an argument of the received message.
It is acceptable that the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and refers to the input instruction tag table, which is an argument of the received message, to execute the method of the first object associated with the message of the second object.
It is preferable that the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and refers to the input instruction tag table, which is an argument of the received message, to add the method element related to the method of the first object associated with the message of the second object to the method element list of the second object associated with the message of the second object.
It is also preferable that the second object has means for producing a third object, receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and refers to the input instruction tag table, which is an argument of the received message, to add the method element related to the method of the first object associated with messages of the third object to the method element list of the third object associated with the message of the third object.
In this case, a timing of producing the third object by the second object is not restricted in the present invention, and it is acceptable that the third object is produced when the message is issued, alternatively, the third object is produced beforehand.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a third object-oriented program storage medium for storing
a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented program storage medium storing
an object coupling program comprising:
an instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object; and
an output instruction tag table generating means for generating an output instruction tag table indicating an association of methods of another object with messages of self object, for each other object, on the output instruction bus portion of self object.
In the third object-oriented program storage medium, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed, and
said output instruction tag table generating means generates the output instruction tag table and adds the output instruction tag table to the method elements including the pointer to another object associated with the output instruction tag table.
As one of ways that the output instruction tag table is added to the method element, it is acceptable that a pointer to the output instruction tag table is directly written to the method element.
It is acceptable that the first object having the method element to which the output instruction tag table is added calls, when calling the second object identified by the method element, the second object giving as arguments the method ID and the output instruction tag table which are stored in the method element.
As one of ways that the second object is called giving as arguments the output instruction tag table, it is acceptable that the second object is directly called giving as arguments a pointer to the output instruction tag table.
In this case, the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and executes the method identified by the method ID which is an argument of the received message.
It is acceptable that the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and refers to the output instruction tag table, which is an argument of the received message, to add the method element related to the method of the second object associated with the message of the first object to the method element list of the first object associated with the message of the first object.
It is preferable that the second object has means for producing a third object, receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and refers to the output instruction tag table, which is an argument of the received message, to add the method element related to the method of the third object associated with messages of the first object to the method element list of the first object associated with the message of the first object.
In this case, similar to the second object-oriented program storage medium, a timing of producing the third object by the second object is not restricted in the present invention, and it is acceptable that the third object is produced when the message is issued, alternatively, the third object is produced beforehand.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a fourth object-oriented program storage medium for storing
a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented program storage medium storing
an object coupling program comprising:
an instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object; and
an input data tag table generating means for generating an input data tag table indicating an association of a data element list ID for identifying a data element list in which pointers to data storage areas for storing data are arranged with a pointer element list ID for identifying a pointer element list in which pointers to data storage areas for storing pointer to data are arranged, for each other object, on the output instruction bus portion of self object.
In the fourth object-oriented program storage medium, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed, and
said input data tag table generating means generates the input data tag table and adds the input data tag table to the method elements including the pointer to another object associated with the input data tag table.
As one of ways that the input data tag table is added to the method element, it is acceptable that a pointer to the input data tag table is directly written to the method element.
It is acceptable that the first object having the method element to which the input data tag table is added calls, when calling the second object identified by the method element, the second object giving as arguments the method ID and the input data tag table which are stored in the method element.
As one of ways that the second object is called giving as arguments the input data tag table, it is acceptable that the second object is directly called giving as arguments a pointer to the input data tag table.
In this case, the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and executes the method identified by the method ID which is an argument of the received message.
It is acceptable that the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, refers to the input data tag table, which is an argument of the received message, to obtain the pointer element list ID of the first object, produces the pointer element list identified by the pointer element list ID, of the first object and in addition the data element list identified by the data element list ID associated with the pointer element list ID, of the second, and writes the pointers arranged in the data element list of the second object into the pointer storage areas indicated by the pointers arranged in the pointer element list of the first object.
It is preferable that the second object has means for producing a third object, receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, refers to the input data tag table, which is an argument of the received message, to obtain the pointer element list ID of the first object, produces the pointer element list identified by the pointer element list ID, of the first object and in addition the data element list identified by the data element list ID associated with the pointer element list ID, of the third, and writes the pointers arranged in the data element list of the third object into the pointer storage areas indicated by the pointers arranged in the pointer element list of the first object.
In this case, a timing of producing the third object by the second object is not restricted in the present invention, and it is acceptable that the third object is produced when the message is issued, alternatively, the third object is produced beforehand.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a fifth object-oriented program storage medium for storing
a plurality of objects each having data and operations, said object-oriented program storage medium storing
an object coupling program comprising:
an instruction coupling means for permitting a transfer of messages between a first object having an output instruction bus portion for performing a processing for an issue of messages directed to another object and a second object having an input instruction bus portion responsive to messages issued by another object and directed to self object for activating a method of self object associated with the received message, by means of providing such a correspondence that the message of the first object is associated with the method of the second object; and
an output data tag table generating means for generating an output data tag table indicating an association of a pointer element list ID for identifying a pointer element list in which pointers to pointer storage areas for storing pointers to data are arranged with a data element list ID for identifying a data element list in which pointers to data storage areas for storing data are arranged, for each other object, on the output instruction bus portion of self object.
In the fifth object-oriented program storage medium, it is preferable that said instruction coupling means generates a method element list in which arranged are method elements including a method ID for specifying a method of another object associated with a message of self object, and a pointer to another object in which the method specified by the method ID is executed, and
said output data tag table generating means generates the output data tag table and adds the output data tag table to the method elements including the pointer to another object associated with the output data tag table.
As one of ways that the output data tag table is added to the method element, it is acceptable that a pointer to the output data tag table is directly written to the method element.
It is acceptable that the first object having the method element to which the output data tag table is added calls, when calling the second object identified by the method element, the second object giving as arguments the method ID and the output data tag table which are stored in the method element.
As one of ways that the second object is called giving as arguments the output data tag table, it is acceptable that the second object is directly called giving as arguments a pointer to the output data tag table.
In this case, the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, and executes the method identified by the method ID which is an argument of the received message.
It is acceptable that the the second object receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, refers to the output data tag table, which is an argument of the received message, to obtain the data element list ID of the first object, produces the data element list identified by the data element list ID, of the first object and in addition the pointer element list identified by the pointer element list ID associated with the data element list ID, of the second, and writes the pointers arranged in the data element list of the first object into the pointer storage areas indicated by the pointers arranged in the pointer element list of the second object.
It is preferable that the second object has means for producing a third object, receives messages directed from the first object to the second object, refers to the output data tag table, which is an argument of the received message, to obtain the data element list ID of the first object, produces the data element list identified by the data element list ID, of the first object and in addition the pointer element list identified by the pointer element list ID associated with the data element list ID, of the third, and writes the pointers arranged in the data element list of the first object into the pointer storage areas indicated by the pointers arranged in the pointer element list of the third object.
In this case, a timing of producing the third object by the second object is not restricted in the present invention, and it is acceptable that the third object is produced when the message is issued, alternatively, the third object is produced beforehand.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided an object-between-network display method in which a plurality of objects produced by an object-oriented programming and wirings representative of flow of data and control among the plurality of objects are displayed on a display screen of an image display apparatus for displaying images based on electronic image information,
wherein displayed on the display screen is a first image in which a display area consisting of one measure obtained through partitioning the display screen into a plurality of measures, or a display area formed through coupling a plurality of adjacent measures together, comprises an object display domain for displaying a single object, and a wiring display domain for displaying wires for coupling a plurality of objects to one another, the object display domain and the wiring display domain are determined in such a manner that the wiring display domain is formed between the object display domain-to-object display domain of the adjacent two display areas, and
wherein on the display screen each of the plurality of objects is arranged on an associated object display domain of the display area, while the wires for coupling the plurality of objects thus arranged are displayed on the wiring display domains ranged across a plurality of display areas.
According to the object-between-network display method of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an arrangement in which objects are arranged in good order, and also to obtain a display easy for an observation avoiding an overlap of objects with wirings, since an area for displaying an object and an area for displaying a wiring are distinguished from each other.
In the object-between-network display method as mentioned above, it is preferable that a predetermined object of a plurality of objects constituting the first image is constituted of a subnetwork comprising a plurality of objects, which are of lower class in a hierarchical structure than the predetermined object, and wirings for connecting the later plurality of objects together, and
that when a second image, in which a subnetwork of said predetermined object is displayed instead of a display of said predetermined object in the first image, is displayed instead of the first image, the subnetwork on the first image is displayed in a more enlarged display area than that of said predetermined object, and display areas arranged upper and lower sides and right and left sides of the display area of the subnetwork are altered to display areas enlarged vertically and horizontally, respectively, and regarding display areas located at diagonal positions with respect to the display area of the subnetwork, the display areas are displayed with a same size as that of the first image.
An adoption of the above-mentioned display method makes it possible to readily confirm a connecting state of a subnetwork with the neighbor networks.
In the object-between-network display method as mentioned above, it is acceptable that a predetermined object of a plurality of objects constituting the first image is constituted of a subnetwork comprising a plurality of objects, which are of lower class in a hierarchical structure than the predetermined object, and wirings for connecting the later plurality of objects together, and
wherein when a second image, in which a subnetwork of said predetermined object is displayed instead of a display of said predetermined object in the first image, is displayed instead of the first image, the subnetwork on the first image is displayed in a more enlarged display area than that of said predetermined object, and display areas except the display areas of the subnetwork are deformed as compared with the associated display areas on the first image in such a manner that display areas located at a periphery of the second image, and position and size of sides contacting with the second image, are substantially the same ones as display areas located at a periphery of the first image, and position and size of sides contacting with the first image, respectively.
An adoption of the above-mentioned display method makes it possible to readily confirm a connecting state of a subnetwork with the neighbor networks. In addition, according to the above-mentioned display method, it is possible to confirm throughout a network displayed before a display of the subnetwork (a first image) in the state that the subnetwork is displayed.
In the object-between-network display method as mentioned above, it is preferable that when the first image is displayed, figures and sizes of the object display domains in the display areas are standardized in accordance with figures and sizes of the display areas.
This feature makes it possible to provide a display screen easier to see.
In the object-between-network display method as mentioned above, it is preferable that when the first image is displayed, first, the plurality of objects are displayed, and then it is displayed that the plurality of objects are interconnected with wirings in which a direction of flow of data or control is repeatedly displayed in units of predetermined segments.
An adoption of such a wiring makes it possible, even in the event that an object is out of a display screen, to readily determine as to which side of the wiring input or output exists at. It is acceptable that after the wiring, such a wire is replaced by the usual wire, for example, a wire in which arrows are given for only one edge or both edges of the wire.
In the object-between-network display method as mentioned above, it is preferable that when the first image is displayed, in wirings consisting of a central wire and edge wires extended along both sides of the central wire, each of the edge wire having a display aspect different from the central wire, there is provided such a display of wiring that of the intersecting wirings, with respect to wirings each representative of a same flow of data or control, the central wire-to-central wire are continued, and with respect to wirings each representative of a mutually different flow of data or control, the central wire of one of the wirings is divided into parts at a position contacting with or adjacent to the edge wires of another wiring.
An adoption of such a wiring makes it possible to readily determine as to whether the intersecting wires are interconnected or simply cross each other.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first object-oriented programming supporting apparatus for coupling a plurality of objects, each having data and operations, with one another in accordance with an instruction, said object-oriented programming supporting apparatus comprising:
display means for displaying objects each represented by a block representative of a main frame of an object, a data output terminal for transferring data of the object to another object, a data input terminal for receiving data from another object, a message terminal for issuing a message to make a request for processing to another object, and a method terminal for receiving a processing request from another object to execute a method, the object being represented by a hierarchical structure which permits one or a plurality of objects to exist in a single object, and in addition displays a wiring for coupling terminals of a plurality of objects;
object coupling means for constructing a coupling structure among a plurality of objects in accordance with an instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring;
hierarchical structure construction means for constructing a hierarchical structure of objects; and
a handler for instructing a wiring for coupling among objects to said object coupling means, and in addition for instructing a position of an object on the hierarchical structure to said hierarchical structure construction means,
wherein said hierarchical structure construction means has means for producing a duplicate object of a substantial object designated in accordance with an instruction from said handler, and for disposing the duplicate object at a hierarchy different from a hierarchy at which the substantial object is disposed, and
said object coupling means receives from said handler an instruction as to a wiring between the duplicate object and another object in the wiring of the hierarchical structure in which the duplicate object is disposed, and constructs a coupling structure in which the duplicate object and the associated substantial object are provided in the form of a united object.
The feature such that the duplicate object is built, and a coupling structure, in which the duplicate object and the associated substantial object are provided in the form of a united object, is constructed, makes it possible to arbitrarily dispose one object at desired plural hierarchies to conduct a wiring (an instruction of coupling), thereby making it easy to conduct a wiring among objects located at mutually different hierarchies and also making it possible to provide a display easy to see visually.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a second object-oriented programming supporting apparatus for coupling a plurality of objects, each having data and operations, with one another in accordance with an instruction, said object-oriented programming supporting apparatus comprising:
display means for displaying objects each represented by a block representative of a main frame of an object, a data output terminal for transferring data of the object to another object, a data input terminal for receiving data from another object, a message terminal for issuing a message to make a request for processing to another object, and a method terminal for receiving a processing request from another object to execute a method, the object being represented by a hierarchical structure which permits one or a plurality of objects to exist in a single object, and in addition displays a wiring for coupling terminals of a plurality of objects;
object coupling means for constructing a coupling structure among a plurality of objects in accordance with an instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring;
hierarchical structure construction means for constructing a hierarchical structure of objects; and
a handler for instructing a wiring for coupling among objects to said object coupling means, and in addition for instructing a position of an object on the hierarchical structure to said hierarchical structure construction means,
wherein said object coupling means releases a coupling structure of the object before a replacement with another object in accordance with an instruction from said handler, and causes the object after the replacement to succeed to the coupling structure of the object before the replacement with another object, and
said hierarchical structure construction means disposes the object after the replacement, instead of the object before the replacement, at a hierarchy at which the object before the replacement is disposed.
For a replacement of objects, usually, first, a wiring of an object before a replacement will be removed, and then a new wiring will be conducted for a new object by which the object before a replacement is replaced. On the contrary, according to the present invention, the wiring (a coupling relation) of the object before a replacement is maintained for the new object after a replacement. This feature makes it possible to save trouble for a wiring between the new object after a replacement and other object, thereby making it very easy to conduct a replacement of objects and as a result making the object-oriented programming easy.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a third object-oriented programming supporting apparatus for coupling a plurality of objects, each having data and operations, with one another in accordance with an instruction, said object-oriented programming supporting apparatus comprising:
display means for displaying objects each represented by a block representative of a main frame of an object, a data output terminal for transferring data of the object to another object, a data input terminal for receiving data from another object, a message terminal for issuing a message to make a request for processing to another object, and a method terminal for receiving a processing request from another object to execute a method, the object being represented by a hierarchical structure which permits one or a plurality of objects to exist in a single object, and in addition displays a wiring for coupling terminals of a plurality of objects;
object coupling means for constructing a coupling structure among a plurality of objects in accordance with an instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring;
hierarchical structure construction means for constructing a hierarchical structure of objects; and
a handler for instructing a wiring for coupling among objects to said object coupling means, and in addition for instructing a position of an object on the hierarchical structure to said hierarchical structure construction means,
wherein said hierarchical structure construction means is in response to an instruction from said handler such that a plurality of objects from among the objects disposed at a predetermined hierarchy are designated and the plurality of objects are rearranged on the lower-order hierarchy by one stage, and rearranges the plurality of objects on the lower-order hierarchy by one stage, and produces and arranges an object including the plurality of objects on the predetermined hierarchy in such a manner that a coupling structure among the plurality of objects and a coupling structure among the plurality of objects and objects other than the plurality of objects are maintained.
If it is permitted, as in the present invention described above, that a plurality of objects is rearranged in a different hierarchy while the wiring (coupling relation) is kept as it is, it is possible to rearrange a program while the program is made up. Further, since the part replaced by a hierarchy serves as one object, it is possible to reuse the object of interest as a program part.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a fourth object-oriented programming supporting apparatus for coupling a plurality of objects, each having data and operations, with one another in accordance with an instruction, said object-oriented programming supporting apparatus comprising:
display means for displaying objects each represented by a block representative of a main frame of an object, a data output terminal for transferring data of the object to another object, a data input terminal for receiving data from another object, a message terminal for issuing a message to make a request for processing to another object, and a method terminal for receiving a processing request from another object to execute a method, the object being represented by a hierarchical structure which permits one or a plurality of objects to exist in a single object, and in addition displays a wiring for coupling terminals of a plurality of objects;
object coupling means for constructing a coupling structure among a plurality of objects in accordance with an instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring;
hierarchical structure construction means for constructing a hierarchical structure of objects; and
a handler for instructing a wiring for coupling among objects to said object coupling means, and in addition for instructing a position of an object on the hierarchical structure to said hierarchical structure construction means,
wherein said display means has, in case of existence of a plurality of method terminals connected to one message terminal designated in accordance with an instruction through said handler, means for displaying a list indicative of an execution sequence of a plurality of methods associated with the plurality of method terminals, and
said object coupling means has means for reconstructing a coupling structure in which the execution sequence of the plurality of methods appearing at the list displayed on said display means are altered in accordance with an instruction by said handler.
According to the fourth object-oriented programming supporting apparatus, it is possible to readily and exactly know an execution sequence of a plurality of methods for one message, and also possible to readily alter the execution sequence.
As to the object-oriented programming supporting apparatuses, there exists a fifth object-oriented programming supporting apparatus. The fifth object-oriented programming supporting apparatus will be described later.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a first program storage medium for use in an object-oriented programming, the program storage medium being adapted for storing therein a program to support an object-oriented programming for coupling a plurality of objects, each having data and operations, with one another,
wherein each of said objects is represented by a block representative of a main frame of an object, a data output terminal for transferring data of the object to another object, a data input terminal for receiving data from another object, a message terminal for issuing a message to make a request for processing to another object, and a method terminal for receiving a processing request from another object to execute a method, the object being represented by a hierarchical structure which permits one or a plurality of objects to exist in a single object, and an instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring is given,
said program includes: object coupling means for constructing a coupling structure among a plurality of objects in accordance with the instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring; and hierarchical structure construction means for constructing a hierarchical structure of objects, and
said program storage medium stores such a program that said hierarchical structure construction means has means for producing a duplicate object of a substantial object designated in accordance with an instruction from said handler, and for disposing the duplicate object at a hierarchy different from a hierarchy at which the substantial object is disposed, and said object coupling means receives from said handler an instruction as to a wiring between the duplicate object and another object in the wiring of the hierarchical structure in which the duplicate object is disposed, and constructs a coupling structure in which the duplicate object and the associated substantial object are provided in the form of a united object.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a second program storage medium for use in an object-oriented programming, the program storage medium being adapted for storing therein a program to support an object-oriented programming for coupling a plurality of objects, each having data and operations, with one another,
wherein each of said objects is represented by a block representative of a main frame of an object, a data output terminal for transferring data of the object to another object, a data input terminal for receiving data from another object, a message terminal for issuing a message to make a request for processing to another object, and a method terminal for receiving a processing request from another object to execute a method, the object being represented by a hierarchical structure which permits one or a plurality of objects to exist in a single object, and an instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring is given,
said program includes: object coupling means for constructing a coupling structure among a plurality of objects in accordance with the instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring; and hierarchical structure construction means for constructing a hierarchical structure of objects, and
said program storage medium stores such a program that said object coupling means releases a coupling structure of the object before a replacement with another object in accordance with an instruction for the replacement of objects, and causes the object after the replacement to succeed to the coupling structure of the object before the replacement with another object, and said hierarchical structure construction means disposes the object after the replacement, instead of the object before the replacement, at a hierarchy at which the object before the replacement is disposed.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a third program storage medium for use in an object-oriented programming, the program storage medium being adapted for storing therein a program to support an object-oriented programming for coupling a plurality of objects, each having data and operations, with one another,
wherein each of said objects is represented by a block representative of a main frame of an object, a data output terminal for transferring data of the object to another object, a data input terminal for receiving data from another object, a message terminal for issuing a message to make a request for processing to another object, and a method terminal for receiving a processing request from another object to execute a method, the object being represented by a hierarchical structure which permits one or a plurality of objects to exist in a single object, and an instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring is given,
said program includes: object coupling means for constructing a coupling structure among a plurality of objects in accordance with the instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring; and hierarchical structure construction means for constructing a hierarchical structure of objects, and
said program storage medium stores such a program that said hierarchical structure construction means is in response to an instruction such that a plurality of objects from among the objects disposed at a predetermined hierarchy are designated and the plurality of objects are rearranged on the lower-order hierarchy by one stage, and rearranges the plurality of objects on the lower-order hierarchy by one stage, and produces and arranges an object including the plurality of objects on the predetermined hierarchy in such a manner that a coupling structure among the plurality of objects and a coupling structure among the plurality of objects and objects other than the plurality of objects are maintained.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, there is provided a fourth program storage medium for use in an object-oriented programming, the program storage medium being adapted for storing therein a program to support an object-oriented programming for coupling a plurality of objects, each having data and operations, with one another,
wherein each of said objects is represented by a block representative of a main frame of an object, a data output terminal for transferring data of the object to another object, a data input terminal for receiving data from another object, a message terminal for issuing a message to make a request for processing to another object, and a method terminal for receiving a processing request from another object to execute a method, the object being represented by a hierarchical structure which permits one or a plurality of objects to exist in a single object, and an instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring is given,
said program includes: object coupling means for constructing a coupling structure among a plurality of objects in accordance with the instruction for coupling terminals of the plurality of objects through a wiring; and hierarchical structure construction means for constructing a hierarchical structure of objects, and
said program storage medium stores such a program that said object coupling means has, in case of existence of a plurality of method terminals connected to one message terminal designated, means for making up a list indicative of an execution sequence of a plurality of methods associated with the plurality of method terminals, and means for reconstructing a coupling structure in which the execution sequence of the plurality of methods is altered in accordance with an alteration instruction of the execution sequence of the plurality of methods appearing at the list.
Of component storage mediums according to the present invention, there is provided a first component storage medium for storing a component which serves as one object in combination with a predetermined existing software, said component including a method of issuing an event of the predetermined existing software through a firing by a message issued in other object.
According to such a component, there is provided such a form that an existing software is xe2x80x9cincludedxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cinvolvedxe2x80x9d, and thus it possible to take in an existing software in the form of an object, regardless of a structure of the existing software, or without a modification of the existing software, thereby specially improving a reuse of the existing software.
In this case, it is preferable that said component further includes together with said method a message for informing other object of that said event is issued through executing said method.
This feature makes it possible to perform an operation on a linking basis by a coupling between the method and the message.
Of component storage mediums according to the present invention, there is provided a second component storage medium for storing a component which serves as one object in combination with a predetermined existing software, said component including a message for informing other object, upon receipt of occurrence of a predetermined event of the predetermined existing software, of that the predetermined event is generated.
According to such a component, there is provided such a form that an existing software is xe2x80x9cincludedxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9cinvolvedxe2x80x9d, and thus it possible to implement, independently of an advancement of the existing software itself, such an advanced function that when the event for the existing software occurs, a method of other object is executed through working together.
Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a component builder apparatus comprising:
a first handler for selectively indicating making of methods and messages;
a second handler for inputting an instruction of an issue of a desired event of a predetermined existing software; and
a component builder means for building a component which serves as one object in combination with said existing software, said component builder means serving, when making of a method is instructed by an operation of said first handler and a predetermined event of the existing software is issued by an operation of said second handler, to make on the component a method which fires with a message issued by another object and issues the event, and serving, when making of a message is instructed by an operation of said first handler and an issue of a predetermined event of the existing software is instructed by an operation of said second handler, in response to an occurrence of the event, to make on the component a message for informing other objects of the fact that the event occurred.
The use of the component builder apparatus mentioned above makes it possible to easily build on an interactive basis the components to be stored in the above-mentioned first and second component storage mediums, without a requirement of a deep knowledge as to a programming for operators or users.
To attain the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, of the object-oriented programming supporting apparatuses, there is provided a fifth object-oriented programming supporting apparatus comprising:
a component file for storing therein a component which serves as one object in combination with a predetermined existing software, said component including a method of issuing an event of the predetermined existing software through a firing by a message issued in other object, and a message for informing other object of that the event is issued through executing said method, and said component being stored in said component file with respect to one or more existing softwares;
a handler for inputting an instruction of an issue of the event as to the existing software;
an event log file for storing a list for the events as to one or more existing softwares, which are sequentially issued in accordance with an operation of said handler; and
a component coupling means for taking out sequentially the events from said event log file to combine a message of a component including the message for informing other object of that the same event as that taken out before is issued and a method of a component including the method of issuing the same event as that taken out now.
According to the fifth object-oriented programming supporting apparatus, a sequential indication of an issue of a plurality of events of one or more existing softwares in the sequence of an actual operation desired may couple the message and the method between objects xe2x80x9cinvolvingxe2x80x9d the existing softwares in the components. Thus, it is possible to implement an automatic operation of a plurality of events of the existing software.

OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING APPARATUS, OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING SUPPORTING APPARATUS, COMPONENT BUILDER APPARATUS, OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM, PROGRAM STORAGE MEDIUM FOR USE IN OBJECT-ORIENTED PROGRAMMING, COMPONENT STORAGE MEDIUM, AND OBJECT-BETWEEN-NETWORK DISPLAY METHOD


A tin or solder alloy film is formed by ejecting molten tin liquid or molten solder alloy liquid in a jet state onto a copper surface of an electronic component. The overflowing molten tin or molten solder alloy liquid is transported to a stirrer. Then, cuprate and the like mixed in the overflowing molten tin or molten solder alloy liquid are taken in to the organic fatty acid solution by fiercely stirring and mixing the molten tin or molten solder alloy liquid in contact with a solution at a temperature of 180 to 350° C. containing 1 to 80 weight % of organic fatty acid having 12 to 20 carbon number that circulates in the stirrer to purify the overflowing molten tin or molten solder alloy liquid. The mixed solution is introduced into a reservoir of the organic fatty acid solution, and the purified molten tin solution or molten solder alloy liquid separated according to the specific gravity difference in the reservoir of the organic fatty acid solution is returned from the bottom of the organic fatty acid solution reservoir to the reservoir of the molten tin or molten solder liquid by a pump for circulation use. By means of this, copper is prevented from accumulating in the molten tin or molten solder liquid, and thus it is possible to continuously perform a stable soldering process for a long term.

Recently, electronic devices are increasingly required to have high reliability and to be small and light. Electronic elements such as transistors, diodes, IC, resistors, and capacitors, electronic components such as connectors, and printed circuit boards are bonded with tin or solder to form an electronic circuit, which is widely used as a semiconductor device or an electronic device. In accordance with the reduction in size of these electronic elements, electronic components, and printed circuit boards, the solder bonding portion is getting minute and thus is required to have higher quality and reliability than ever. Particularly, extremely strict reliability is required in the quality of the minute solder bonding of printed circuit board and electronic elements.
For this reason, bonding strength is required also in the tin or solder alloy used for tin or solder bonding. Particularly, high reliability is required of a minute tin or solder bonding portion according to the miniaturization of pitch spacing and bonding area of the leads of electronic elements or electronic components.
On the other hand, recently, the prohibition or restriction of use of lead has been promoted due to problems of environmental pollution and harmful effects to the human body. Particularly, in the field of electronic components, so-called "lead-free solder alloy" containing no lead has been widely used in the soldering process. In particular, tin-silver-copper based solder alloy and solder alloy additionally added with antimony (Patent Document 1), solder alloy formed by adding nickel, germanium, and the like to tin-silver-copper based solder alloy (Patent Document 2) and the like have been proposed and put to practical use. In addition, various kinds of solder alloy have been proposed such as tin-zinc-nickel based solder alloy, and solder alloy additionally added with silver, copper, bismuth, and the like (Patent Document 3).
Generally, the method of bonding tin or solder alloy to a copper land surface or a copper and copper alloy lead surface of electronic components such as printed circuit boards, semiconductor packages, and electronic elements is as follows:
Tin or solder alloy is heated at a temperature equal to or higher than the melting point in a reservoir so that it is melted to get liquid. Then, the tin or solder liquid is supplied by a pump and jetted from a nozzle or a slit to the copper land or copper lead on the surface of a material such as a printed circuit board, electronic components or the like that is to be tin or solder bonded. The overflowing liquid is brought back to the original reservoir and is used in circulation.
However, at the time of soldering, flux or copper oxide film or the like on the surface of the copper land or the copper lead portion is mixed into the overflowing molten tin liquid or molten solder alloy liquid as impurities. This results in that the copper concentration or impurity concentration of the molten tin or the molten solder alloy liquid gets higher and higher with the passing of time. In addition, the solder composition changes, and not only the physical properties but also the chemical properties of the solder change.
Then, the solderability deteriorates particularly, and thus the solder forms with its greater volume than necessary so-called "excess volume" (horn, icicle) at the bonding portion. In a circuit having a small pitch spacing between leads, there are drawbacks such as that leaks easily occur through bridges formed toward adjacent leads. Besides, an outward phenomenon such as incomplete soldering occurs (Patent Document 4).
In addition, the elongation, which is one of the physical and mechanical characteristics of bonded solder, becomes smaller. Accordingly, after an electronic circuit is mounted on a semiconductor device or the like and repeatedly turned on and off, the solder bonding portion is fatigue-broken due to the heat cycle to easily cause conduction failure. It is widely known that this impairs the connection reliability of minute electronic devices.
Accordingly, after continuous soldering process, when the copper concentration exceeds a certain upper limit and the above-described solder characteristic deteriorates to cause an abnormal phenomenon (quality inferiority), it is common that the deteriorated solder is relatively frequently discarded and the renewed solder is used. That is, efficiency is extremely poor from the viewpoint of resources, workability, quality stability, and economy.
For this reason, particularly, as a method for improving efficiency by suppressing the increase of copper concentration at the time of the continuous process of the printed circuit board and the like, a method has been proposed and put to practical use in which a second solder which mainly contains an alloy excluding copper is supplied when molten solder liquid in a reservoir is lowered to a certain liquid level during the continuous process.
However, while this method can suppress the increase of copper to some extent, the increasing tendency with the passing of time does not change. Accordingly, the quality of solder bonding deteriorates with the passing of time. In addition, it is cumbersome to prepare and manage the second solder. Thus, despite a merit of extending the duration of use, the method is not quite sufficiently satisfactory (Patent Document 4).
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-50286 (Japanese Patent No. 3027441)
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-77366 (Japanese Patent No. 3296289)
Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-94688 (Japanese Patent No. 3299091)
Patent Document 4: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-237536 (Japanese Patent No. 32216709)

Soldering equipment and soldering method for electronic components


An apparatus and method for cleaning a surface, the apparatus comprising: a body defining a cavity, the body terminating in a distal end that is adapted, in use, to be in the vicinity of a surface to be cleaned such that the surface to be cleaned forms an end wall of a chamber including the cavity; at least one cleaning liquid inlet for flow of a cleaning liquid into the chamber; a divider located in or at the end of the cavity that divides the chamber into a first portion and a second portion, the second portion, in use, being in fluid communication with the surface to be cleaned; and an acoustic transducer associated with the first portion of the chamber to introduce acoustic energy into the chamber; wherein the divider is adapted to permit the passage of acoustic energy therethrough from the first portion of the chamber to the second portion of the chamber to thereby allow pressure fluctuations to be generated at the surface to be cleaned.

Many surfaces, including floors, walls, ceilings, vehicle surfaces and other panels, need to be cleaned periodically. Known surface cleaning apparatuses and methods often provide unsatisfactory cleaning performance and leave large quantities of cleaning liquid on the surface being cleaned and in the surrounding area. Known surface cleaning apparatuses and methods are also often inefficient, using large amounts of cleaning liquid and energy. Known surface cleaning apparatuses and methods are also often less effective than required at cleaning crevices, cracks and pores within otherwise flat surfaces.
Ultrasonic cleaning is used in some industries to clean objects. Objects to be cleaned by ultrasonic cleaning are generally placed in an ultrasonic bath filled with a cleaning liquid and exposed to ultrasound to effect cleaning. However, conventional ultrasonic cleaning apparatuses are not suitable for cleaning many types of surfaces, including floors, walls, ceilings, vehicle surfaces and other panels, and, in any case, often suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages.
The present invention provides a cleaning apparatus and a method of cleaning a surface that addresses the above-mentioned disadvantages.

Cleaning apparatus and method using an acoustic transducer


A method for recovering and reusing a scrap multilayer plastic sheet or film comprising at least a base material layer and laminated with an adhesive resin comprising at least one of an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, a styrene-isoprene copolymer, a styrene-butadiene copolymer, a styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer and an ethylene-acrylic acid ester-maleic anhydride copolymer. The method comprises heating the scrap multilayer sheet or film to a temperature lower than the softening point of the base material layer to make the interlaminar peeling strength of the adhesive resin lower than the strength at break of a layer having the lowest strength at break, except for the adhesive layer, and separating the multilayer scrap into at least two scrap layers and recovering at least one scrap layer in sheet or film form. The present invention provides effective reuse of scrap with almost no reduction in physical properties. Furthermore the cost of the production or molding of the sheet can be reduced. Still further, it is not necessary to add an additive, a white pigment and the like for preventing thermal deterioration. When polypropylene is used as a base material in the present method, it is not necessary to use low viscosity polypropylene as is conventionally required. That is, since high viscosity polypropylene can be used, vacuum molding becomes easy and furthermore a multilayer sheet or film having desirable physical properties can be produced very economically.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for recovering scraps of a multi-layer plastic sheet or film to be used as a wrapping material, for example More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for recovering scraps of a multi-layer sheet or film comprising different plastics for their effective reuse.
2. Background Information
With diversity of a manner of living, a wrapping material having a variety of functions has been desired in recent years. Thus a plastic material excellent in oxygen gas barrier properties and thermal resistance is desired to be developed in place of the conventional metallic can or glass bottle.
However, a single plastic material cannot meet the characteristics required. Thus a multi-layer sheet or film comprising different plastics or plastic films and metal films is increasingly used. For example, a multi-layer sheet or film comprising polyvinylidene chloride (hereinafter referred to as "PVDC"), an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (hereinafter referred to as "EVOH") or the like, which is excellent in oxygen barrier properties, and polypropylene (hereinafter referred to as "PP"), crystalline polyethylene terephthalate (hereinafter referred to as "crystalline PET") or the like, which is excellent in thermal resistance, is now widely used as a wrapping material for precooked food, particularly as a wrapping material for use in an electric range.
For production of such multi-layer sheets or films, a lamination method in which films are once produced and then laminated with an adhesive, for example, a coextrusion method in which a plurality of resins are extruded from different extruders and laminated by the use of a feed block or a multi-layer die, and a coextrusion lamination method which is a combination of the above lamination and coextrusion methods are well known.
The most important technical subject in use of the above multi-layer sheet or film is recovery of scraps produced at the time of production or fabrication thereof. In the case of a single plastic product, the reuse of the plastic can be usually achieved without a marked reduction in physical properties by carrying out its self-cycling. However, a serious problem is encountered in recovery of a multi-layer sheet or film as described above.
That is, in general, scraps produced at the time of production of a multi-layer sheet or film or at the time of its fabrication such as thermoforming are pulverized as such and recovered into a PP layer (a base material layer).
However, PVDC contained in the scraps or an adhesive resin is contained in the PP layer, causing a reduction in physical properties such as stiffness, impact strength and transparency.
Moreover, an oxygen gas barrier resin such as PVDC is generally high in heat sensitivity and particularly at a fabrication temperature of PP, is readily subject to thermal decomposition, causing problems such as discoloration and finally carbonization, and formation of black spots in the product.
When PVDC or an adhesive resin is contained in the PP layer (base material layer), for example, in the case of a multi-layer sheet or film having the construction: PP/adhesive resin/PVDC/adhesive resin/PP, PVDC or the adhesive resin is present in the surface layer, they cause problems such as corrosion of the inner surface of die and adhesion to the surface of a cooling metallic roll to be used in production of sheets and so on.
Therefore the following methods are employed in order to reuse in a stabilized manner scraps recovered (recovered starting material).
(1) Use of a special screw
Since PP, EVA, and PVDC having different extrusion characteristics are present together, a double fright type screw is used or a special plating is applied taking into a consideration a difference in melting initiation temperature.
(2) In order to prevent thermal deterioration of the recovered starting material, a thermal deterioration preventing additive is added.
(3) As PP to be used as the recovered layer, a low viscosity PP making an extrusion temperature not more than 210.degree. C. is used.
Even by these methods, however, the PP layer is decreased in mechanical properties such as stiffness and impact resistance because scraps contain low thermal resistant resins such as PVDC, EVA and an adhesive resin. Moreover, baking and discoloration inevitably occur. To make discoloration unmarked, it is necessary to add a large amount of an additive, e.g., a white pigment to the PP layer.
To overcome the problems due to the presence of PVDC or adhesive resin in the surface layer, it is necessary to provide another layer not containing scraps on the surface of the above layer. This makes the equipment very complicated.
Recovering scraps into the base material layer (PP layer) means introduction of expensive PVDC and adhesive resin into inexpensive PP layer. It is remarkably uneconomical.
The present inventors made extensive investigations to overcome the above prior art problems. As a result, it has been found that scraps can be reused without a reduction in physical properties and economically by separating them into at least two layers and recoverying each layer separated into the corresponding layer. Based on the findings, the present invention has been accomplished. That is, in accordance with the present invention, scraps are not pulverized for recovery and reuse thereof.

Method for recovering scraps of multi-layer plastic sheet or film


A system and method for monitoring performance of an HVAC unit by receiving outdoor temperature data from an outdoor temperature source and indoor temperature data from an indoor temperature source, tracking performance data of the HVAC unit based at least in part on the outdoor temperature data and the indoor temperature data, receiving power consumption data from the power measuring device, tracking the power consumption data based at least in part on the outdoor temperature data, determining whether there is a change in the performance data and the power consumption data, and generating a fault signal based at least in part on the change in the performance data and the power consumption data.

Generally, traditional, non-communicating HVAC systems are not capable of displaying faults that may occur in the units that make up the system. In order to display faults, accessory systems including a number of different sensors are retrofitted on the HVAC units that are capable of measuring the performance of the units. These accessory systems typically increase the costs and install time of the HVAC system due to the number of sensors.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a system and method to display faults without significantly increasing the cost and install time of the HVAC system.

System and method of monitoring performance of an HVAC unit


A hairbrush includes a control panel, an interior vibratory element for providing massage therapy and a plurality of LEDs carried by the brush head for providing light therapy at a preselected wavelength selected to be of benefit to the hair and/or scalp. In response to user control input mode selection, the light and massage multi-therapy hairbrush selectively provides phototherapy, massage therapy, and combined massage and phototherapies.

It is known that hair and/or the scalp may be subjected to different treatments to benefit the hair and/or scalp. The benefit of head massage, of course, has long been recognized. Phototherapy is an emerging treatment modality that is known or believed to desirably affect, among other hair and/or scalp characteristics, hair volume, texture, color, and quality; and that is known or believed to prevent hair loss, promote hair vitality and/or growth, and to promote cell growth or health among other hair and/or scalp benefits.
Handheld phototherapy devices heretofore, such as the Leimo Personal Hair Laser or the HairMax Laser Comb, have been limited to combs the comb fingers of which served as positioning elements to sequentially space the comb correctly to the scalp as it was moved through the hair to confront different parts of the scalp during a phototherapeutic treatment session. Any massage action provided by the heretofore known phototherapeutic combs was manually provided by so manipulating the comb as to cause the comb fingers to be moved into massaging scalp contact in a manner corresponding to the controlling movements manually imparted to the comb. To impart the requisite manual motions to provide phototherapy or manual massage, however, a degree of learning and skill was required which constricted their utility. Moreover, the heretofore known phototherapeutic combs have been comparatively expensive, on the order of hundreds if not thousands of dollars, which has restricted their utility to a comparatively few users.
There is thus a need for a light and massage multi-therapy hairbrush that is comparatively low in cost and easy to use in light and/or massage therapy modes.

Light and massage multi-therapy hairbrush


A rotary compressor comprises an outer casing, a rotary type compression mechanism accommodated in the outer casing in a sealed manner, and an electric motor for driving the rotary type compression mechanism. The rotary type compression mechanism is provided with a cylinder having an inner peripheral surface to which a discharge port is formed, and the inner peripheral surface of the cylinder has a portion formed of a valve sheet to which said discharge port is formed.

The present invention relates to rotary compressors assembled in refrigerating cycles of various types of refrigerating machines, refrigerators, air conditioners and the like, particularly for reducing noise and increasing a compression efficiency by improving rotary type compression mechanisms.
In general, a rotary compressor of this kind is assembled to a refrigerating cycle provided for various types of refrigerating machines, refrigerators, air conditioners and the like. In such rotary compressor, a rotary type compression mechanism to be driven by an electric motor is accommodated in a sealed casing and a refrigerant compressed by the rotary type compression mechanism is discharged from a discharge chamber into the refrigerating cycle through the sealed casing.
The rotary type compression mechanism of a conventional rotary compressor has a cylinder molded through a casting process and a refrigerant sucked from the suction port of the cylinder which is compressed in the cylinder. The refrigerant compressed in the cylinder is discharged into a main muffler chamber or a sub-muffler chamber through a discharge chamber formed to a main bearing side or a sub-bearing side. The main muffler chamber and the sub-muffler chamber are formed by a bearing cover covering the main bearing and the sub-bearing.
The refrigerant discharged into the sub-muffler chamber is introduced into the main muffler chamber through a communication hole and then introduced into the sealed chamber from the main muffler chamber.
Since the conventional rotary compressor has a discharge chamber formed on the main bearing side or the sub-bearing side, it is difficult for the discharge chamber to ensure a sufficient volume. Furthermore, since a discharge passage formed to the main bearing and the sub-bearing is arranged as the discharge chamber accommodating a discharge valve, it is difficult to define a chamber space having a substantial volume. In addition, in the conventional rotary compressor, since a cutout for a discharge port must be formed to an end surface of the inner periphery of the cylinder, it is difficult to reduce a top clearance because of the existence of the cutout, which causes a problem in the improvement of compression efficiency and reduction of noise.
On the other hand, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. SHO 62-20186 shows a prior art providing a rotary compressor which is molded through a casting process and has a discharge chamber formed in a cylinder. In the rotary compressor of this kind, a hole is defined in the cylinder in parallel with a cylinder bore by means of a drill or the like and is used as a discharge chamber, and a discharge valve called a curl valve is accommodated in the discharge chamber, which communicates with a cylinder bore through a discharge port.
In the conventional rotary compressor of the above structure, after the cylinder is molded by casting, a discharge port formed to the inner periphery of a cylinder bore is cut by a cutting tool so as to obtain a required inner peripheral shape of the cylinder bore.
In the conventional rotary compressor having a discharge port defined in the cylinder, after the cylinder is molded by casting, a hole is drilled to the cylinder in parallel with a cylinder bore as a discharge chamber and a curl valve is accommodated therein. In this case, however, it is difficult for the discharge chamber to be formed to have a large size, and the vicinity of the discharge port must be mechanically and physically strengthened because the cylinder is made by casting. Consequently, a sufficient wall thickness must be provided between a blade groove, and the discharge port by causing the discharge port (discharge hole) to be spaced apart from the blade groove, and also a certain degree of a volume must be secured to the discharge port. Thus, a problem arises in the improvement of a compression efficiency and the reduction of noise because it is difficult to reduce a top clearance and to increase the volume of the discharge chamber formed in the cylinder.
Furthermore, in a conventional rotary compressor having a discharge chamber formed by a hole drilled in the cylinder, there is provided a further problem of forming the discharge chamber to be covered in the height direction of the cylinder. In the conventional rotary compressor having a discharge chamber formed to a main bearing and a sub-bearing and a discharge valve disposed in the discharge chamber, it is difficult to assemble the discharge valve because a sufficient volume cannot be ensured to the discharge chamber, and it is also difficult to sufficiently reduce noise resulting from the operation of the rotary compressor because a refrigerant is discharged into a sealed casing without sufficiently damping the pressure pulsation of the refrigerant.
Further, in the conventional rotary compressor, since a suction port defined to the cylinder is machined to a circular shape, the suction port has a large width of opening in the rotational direction (rolling direction) of a roller piston, thus the start of compression effected by a roller piston being delayed, and there is a possibility that a compression efficiency is reduced accordingly.

Rotary compressor having a cylinder portion formed of a valve sheet


A user station for a bus system and a method for the wideband communication in a bus system are provided. The user station includes a communications-control unit for preparing or reading at least one message for/from at least one further user station of the bus system, in which an exclusive, collision-free access of a user station to a bus line of the bus system is ensured at least intermittently; the communications-control unit is designed to prepare channel-status information according to a time sequence for the transmission specified in the bus system for the user station so that the user station does not have to send the channel-state information in each message, and the channel-status information includes information for ascertaining the channel characteristic between the user station and the further user station of the bus system to which the message is to be sent.

The CAN bus system has come into widespread use for the communication between sensors and control units. For example, it is used in automobiles. In the CAN bus system, messages are transmitted using the CAN protocol as described in the CAN specification in ISO11898. Particularly automotive bus systems continuously evolve to higher bandwidths, lower latency times and stricter real-time capability. More recently, additional technologies such as CAN-FD, in which messages are transmitted in accordance with the specification "CAN with Flexible Data Rate, specification version 1.0" (source: http://www.semiconductors.bosch.de), were proposed for this purpose, etc. In such technologies the maximum data rate possible is increased beyond a value of 1 Mbit/s through the use of a higher synchronization in the area of the data fields.
In addition to primarily functional supplementations such as TTCAN, the expansion of the CAN standard with CAN-FD in the recent past was broadened in particular with regard to the possible (higher) data rate and the usable data packet size, while the original CAN characteristics, in particular in the form of the arbitration, were maintained. Furthermore, the signal representation in the data portion was essentially modified by a higher switching frequency of the signal statuses (high/low).
German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009 026961 A1 describes a method for transmitting data between user stations of a bus system. Here, an expansion of the existing CAN signal and the associated communications unit is described with regard to the utilization of high-frequency signals, which is impressed onto the bus line as a CAN data flow in arbitrary form, e.g., temporally in parallel or in embedded form. Proposed in this context in particular is a coordination of the signal, whether a synchronization signal, a trigger signal, with the CAN signal.
In order to further develop the CAN bus system to higher speeds beyond CAN-FD, there are concepts for the corresponding configuration and implementation of the physical layer. In a CAN-based communication, multiple recipients, which are generally connected to the line at different points of the communications bus, receive the transmitted information on a communications bus simultaneously for this purpose.
When a high-rate communication is employed, such as in the center frame portion of a CAN frame, i.e., between frame head and frame end, distortions are created in the received signal in the form of inter-symbol interference (ISI), for example.
For a robust reception, a recipient requires information about the channel status in the form of the current pulse response and about disturbance variables that are present. These variables are generally a function of the current transmitter/recipient pairing, which means, for example, that the pulse response on each receive path (different transmitters) must be known to a recipient in order to ensure that the message is able to be detected in a robust manner through the use of equalization, robust meaning sufficiently fault-free in this context. Given N users TN in the network, there are generally N*(N−1)/2 different pulse responses. This is due to the fact that each connection between two users TN normally has a different pulse response;
this pulse response is independent of a direction at a point in time, i.e., has the same form (reciprocity) for transmitter TN1->recipient TN2 and transmitter TN2->recipient TN1.
Generally, the required variables for the channel characterization, in particular the channel-pulse responses, are not initially known and available on the side of each recipient. Therefore, they must be newly estimated or adapted at regular intervals as a result of temperature effects, among other things. For the estimate, a user transmits, for example, a training sequence known to all sides, and the corresponding channel-pulse response is able to be estimated from its receive signal. This may take place at a plurality of receiving points simultaneously so that the emission of N (orthogonal) sequences is generally sufficient to characterize the entire network.
It is possible to accommodate the training sequence in the frame head of the CAN frame, for instance. However, in this case it is problematic that the emission of the training sequence requires approximately 5-25% of the temporal duration of a CAN frame. Accordingly, this reduces the net data rate of the system as a whole in comparison with the gross data rate inasmuch as the time used for emitting the training sequence is unable to be used for a data transmission. This becomes a particularly glaring problem in systems that have only a few users or user stations.

User station for a bus system and method for the wideband can communication