月: 2023年7月

What Is a Platform?

Platforms are the standard environment within a computer.

It is necessary to provide, customize, and operate systems and software. Some major, well-known platforms that are installed to run computer software are Windows and macOS, to name a few.

One such platform that has recently become famous for its ability to handle more data and handle complex programs with ease is the cloud.

Uses of Platforms

In today’s world where we can do many things using networks, we often use platforms without even knowing it.

For example, it is used for online shopping mediums such as Rakuten and Amazon, which are platforms that provide a place for companies to open stores and buy and sell products. This is useful because customer information and other data obtained in this process can be handled within platforms.

Principle of Platforms

Since platforms are the foundation for running software, data handling and program operation are performed on the appropriate Platforms for each device. In the case of a computer, the platform is Windows, etc. In the case of a game, the game device itself functions as a platform. By establishing respective platforms, it becomes possible to operate complex programs.

Platforms are also important in the cloud, which is used to process information over the internet, and processing capacity varies greatly depending on the specifications of the platform.

Since the cloud is an internet-based platform, it can be easily shared, which is one of its advantages, and it is being increasingly adopted by companies for easy centralized management.

What Is Concept Design?

Concept design, as the name implies, serves as the basis for creating a design.

When selling something or expressing something, it is important to convey the most important concept that you want to convey. In today’s society, graphic technology has advanced to the point where it is easier to catch people’s attention by expressing a sense of the world through designs such as pictures and videos than through words.

Uses of Concept Designs

Concept design has a wide range of uses because it is necessary to establish a message and isn’t an object like a machine.

For example, familiar examples include product commercials and websites. The product or brand to be advertised has a clear target audience, so concept design begins with the development of a message that will resonate with each generation and characteristic, and then designing around that message.

Principles of Concept Designs

A concept is a basic unifying framework.

Without a clear concept, commercials, websites, and other content can end up with a chic and calm image for a product aimed at children, a colorful and energetic image for a product aimed at adults, and so on. This can result in a mismatched message that does not resonate with the target audience.

Identify the message you want to convey, the target audience, and what kind of image you want to project. Then, look for points that align with the image (color, touch of the picture, etc.) and incorporate them into the design. The finished product is called the concept design.

Concept design is also important in the field of animation, which has become a hot topic in recent years, for world-building and expressing that world.

What Is NVRAM?

NVRAM is a non-volatile memory that retains its stored contents even when the power is turned off, and is a semiconductor memory that can be freely read and written.

It stands for non-volatile random access memory and is read as NVRAM. However, NVRAM is not a memory chip that will never lose data; it is a consumable product that can continue to retain data with its built-in battery. Therefore, when the battery runs out, it will no longer be usable. The built-in battery is usually contained in the plastic package of the device and is difficult to replace.

Uses of NVRAM

NVRAM is non-volatile memory, a general term for flash memory and other devices that can be read and written in the same way as RAMs. It is used in a variety of places, such as computer monitors, printers, and devices that need to store settings, such as automobiles and smart cards.

For example, RTCs on computer motherboards are battery-backed NVRAMs that use CMOS batteries to store the date and time.

Principles of NVRAMs

NVRAMs are non-volatile RAMs, which are SRAMs with battery-powered backup to enable data retention when the power is turned off. Since it is essentially an SRAM, data can be written to it faster than to an EERPOM or flash memory.

However, it requires a battery, and the battery must eventually be replaced. Therefore, if the battery runs out, all data will be lost.

Macintosh used to use PRAMs, but since the introduction of Intel CPUs, NVRAMs are used to store Macintosh configuration information, such as the startup disk, display resolution, speaker volume, and user-set date and time information. The configuration information is stored in NVRAM.

The MAC address of the SPARCstation’s Ethernet is also stored in NVRAMs, not ROM. There is a problem with the Mac address changing when the battery runs out.

What Is a Card Edge Connector?

A card edge connector is an end of a printed circuit board that has a contact point with the socket side so that it can be inserted into the card edge connector’s socket side.

The edge connect socket itself is called a slot, and since card edge connectors and slots have a convex-concave relationship, card edge connectors are used in pairs with their matching slots.

The structure is a plastic box with several pins on one or both sides, which are pressed into the slot by a spring.

Uses of Card Edge Connectors

Card edge connectors are available in a variety of sizes along with the slot side.

The advantage is that the cost can be kept low and shared since multiple card edge connectors can be installed by replacing one slot on the installation side. Because of its high durability, it is often used in home-use equipment.

The most familiar example is the cassette cartridge of a video game console. By having the same card edge connectors on the cartridges, it is possible to use multiple cassettes in a single game device.

Principle of Card Edge Connectors

Card edge connectors are a type of connector that is very simple in construction.

There are many types of card edge connectors, each with its own structure and components. The basic structure is the same, consisting of a contact with many pins, a housing that holds the contact in place, and a shell that serves as the overall box.

The contact part is lined with many pins that conduct electricity, and when the card edge connectors are pressed against the slot side, electricity flows from these pins, acting as the contactor.

On the other hand, the housing or shell is usually made of an insulating material because it is positioned as the body part in which the contacts are incorporated. This allows for safe use without the risk of electrical leakage, even in general equipment that is often touched with bare hands. The structure of card edge connectors can be more complex depending on the application and type of connector.

What Is a Double-Balanced Mixer?

Double-balanced mixers are a type of passive mixer circuit.

A mixer circuit is generally a circuit that outputs the multiplied value of two different frequency signals, with the sum and difference frequencies of the two signals as its output signal components. Double-balanced mixers are also called DBMs, from the English acronym, or double-balanced modulators. Double-balanced mixers have a two-input, one-output configuration for the mixer circuit and consist of two transformers and four diodes.

Applications of Double-Balanced Mixers

Double-balanced mixers are often used in modulation circuits for wireless communications as mixer circuits. In recent years, wireless communications, including smartphones, have become increasingly popular, and modulation by mixer circuits plays an important role in wireless communications.

The mixer circuit consists of only a diode and a transformer and can be operated with a relatively simple mechanism. By changing the direction of inputs and outputs, it can be used as either the receiving side or the transmitting side of a modulation/demodulation circuit.

Principle of Double-Balanced Mixers

Double-balanced mixers are mixer circuits, generally used as multipliers, that consist of two inputs and one output, and output the sum and difference of the frequencies of the two input signals.

If the frequencies of the two input signals are f1 and f2, respectively, the output signal frequencies are f1+f2 and f1-f2 (when f1>f2). When using double-balanced mixers as a modulation circuit, if f1 is the carrier wave and f2 is the low-frequency signal, an amplitude modulation signal in which f2 is superimposed on f1 can be output.

The mechanism by which the two sum and difference frequencies are output is as follows: When two frequencies f1 and f2 are used and α = 2πf1 and β = 2πf2, multiplication of the two single frequencies yields the following equation.

sinα×sinβ=1/2{cos(α-β)-cos(α+β)}

Here, α-β=2π(f1-f2) and α+β=2π(f1+f2), indicating that the frequency components are divided into a sum and a difference. Therefore, when the two AC signals are input and multiplied by the mixer circuit, the sum and difference of the input frequencies are output.

What Is a Demultiplexer?

Demultiplexers are ICs used to control signals in a circuit.

Demultiplexers are sometimes abbreviated as DEMUX and operate in the reverse order of a multiplexer (MUX). Sometimes a multiplexer and demultiplexer are used as a set within a single device, in which case they are referred to as a multiplexer as a whole.

Demultiplexers have one input signal and multiple output signals. A demultiplexer operates by switching a signal received as an input signal to one of several outputs. A multiplexer, on the other hand, has multiple input signals and a single output signal, and switches between multiple input signals to output a single output signal.

Uses of Demultiplexers

Demultiplexers are sometimes used in combination with multiplexers. A multiplexer can switch multiple input signals to a single output signal and multiplex information.

Multiplexers are used on the transmitter side and demultiplexers are used on the receiver side to multiplex and send information. Demultiplexers multiplex the information and demultiplex it back to the original multiple lines. Demultiplexers are often used in telecommunication products such as voice signal transmission, communication systems, and telephone networks.

Principle of Demultiplexers

Demultiplexers have one input signal and multiple output signals. It operates by switching the signal received as an input signal to one of the multiple outputs.

Multiplexers used in digital circuits can be implemented in a circuit using a combinational circuit of logic elements. A combinational circuit is a logic circuit in which the output signal for a given input signal is uniquely determined once the input signal is determined. Digital multiplexers can also be formed by combining AND, OR, and NOT circuits.

A combinational circuit similar to demultiplexers is a decoder. A decoder is a logic circuit that converts binary numbers to decimal numbers. A decoder has n inputs and n control inputs and selects one of n outputs to the power of 2 by decoding a binary value based on the n inputs.

Therefore, the decoder can be used as a demultiplexer. Decoders are used for bit detection and data encoding, whereas demultiplexers can distribute and switch data.

What Is Vinylon?

Vinylon is a synthetic fiber made by acetalizing polyvinyl alcohol.

Vinylon was the first synthetic fiber developed in Japan and has a history of more than 70 years. It is also the second synthetic fiber developed in the world, following nylon, which was developed for the first time in the world.

Characteristics of Vinylon

Vinylon is characterized by its high fiber strength and resistance to friction, as well as its excellent moisture absorbency. Since most synthetic fibers do not have high moisture absorbency, vinylon stands out in this respect. It also has excellent weather and chemical resistance, and is used in many areas of industry and industry. Vinylon is composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, so it does not produce toxic substances such as dioxin or ammonia when burned.

However, while vinylon has excellent chemical resistance, it is also difficult to dye, making it difficult to use as a fiber for clothing. Although it has a texture similar to cotton, its lack of suppleness (stiffness) is also a disadvantage. It also has disadvantages such as color change when exposed to heat in a damp state, making it unsuitable for use in places where heat is applied or where appearance is a concern.

Uses of Vinylon

Vinylon is used in a variety of situations because of its long history and ease of stable production.

It is a highly durable fiber that is resistant to water, making it suitable for repeated use, and it is often used in familiar applications such as ropes and fish nets.

It is also used for reinforcing concrete because of its excellent chemical resistance and strong resistance to alkali. Because of its resistance to wind and rain, it is sometimes used in applications requiring weather resistance, such as civil engineering and construction and agricultural cold gauzes.

Until a decade ago, vinylon was also used for clothing due to its high moisture absorbency and cotton-like texture, but its use has been declining due to discoloration when ironing.

Currently, vinylon is used for clothes such as work clothes for long hours of sweating, raincoats, and some school uniforms.

Manufacturing Process of Vinylon

Vinylon is a synthetic fiber made by artificially polymerizing chemical substances.

First, vinylon acetate is synthesized from ethylene made from petroleum and natural gas. After polymerization of this vinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, the source of vinylon, is created through a saponification step using sodium hydroxide.

Polyvinyl alcohol has many hydrophilic hydroxy groups (-OH groups) in its molecules, making it easily soluble in water and difficult to use as a fiber.

From here, vinylon fiber is made by using polyvinyl alcohol as the raw material for spinning and acetalizing it with formaldehyde. The spinning process can be divided into dry and wet spinning. In the dry method, the raw material is dissolved in a solvent that evaporates when heated, and the solvent is pressed out of the mouth in a heated atmosphere to evaporate and form fibers. In the wet process, the material is dissolved in a solvent and extruded in a solution called a coagulation bath, where it is chemically reacted and the solvent is removed to form fibers.

By reducing the ratio of hydroxy groups (-OH groups) in this way, a synthetic fiber is produced that is insoluble in water and has moderate moisture absorption.

Other Vinylon

Ordinary vinylon is not degraded by water, but there is an unusual fiber in vinylon called water-soluble vinylon, which has the characteristic of being soluble in water. This fiber contains more hydroxy groups (-OH groups).

What Is a Switchhook?

Switchhooks, also called hook switches, are switches that are turned on and off by hanging an object on a hook.

They are mainly used for the switch located on the part of a landline telephone where the handset is placed. The name comes from the fact that the handset was hung on the hook of the main unit. The action of pressing the switchhook and speaking immediately during a call is called hooking, and is sometimes used to switch between on hold and talking, etc.

In recent years, cordless and mobile phones have become popular, eliminating the need to hook the handset on anything and reducing the number of products in use.

Usage of Switchhooks

Mainly used in fixed-line telephones. For public telephones and landline telephones used in offices and homes that have a corded handset, switchhooks are used because the call can be disconnected by placing the handset on the hook.

In recent years, cordless phones, such as cell phones and smartphones, have become widespread. Since cordless calls are switched on and off using buttons and other means, switchhooks are not used. As a result, the number of products in use is decreasing.

Principle of Switchhooks

Switchhooks have two states: on-hook when the telephone receiver is placed on the telephone, and off-hook when the receiver is lifted.

In the on-hook state, the switchhook is depressed by the handset and the contacts are released. In the off-hook state, the switchhook is released and the contacts are electrically connected.

The operating principle of the switchhook is that the weight of the handset presses the hook button, causing the button to rotate around its axis, which in turn rotates the internal switch lever and connects the contacts.

There is no electrical control of the switch. When a person hangs up, the motion of placing the handset down is used as an input, and electrical continuity is established by mechanical action. When a person picks up the receiver to make a call, the mechanical action is used as input to ensure electrical non-conduction of the switch.

What Is a Quantitative Feeding Device?

A quantitative feeding device is a device that is capable of continuously feeding a set amount of material.

The material can be a powder or a liquid, and the cut-out part, which cuts out a fixed amount, can be a single-shaft type or a screw type.

The simple structure makes maintenance work such as cleaning and inspection easy.

Uses of Quantitative Feeding Devices

Because they can continuously feed a fixed amount of material, quantitative feeding devices are used in fields such as raw material feeding, quantitative feeding in production and processing lines, and R&D devices in universities and research institutes.

They are also used in the production of food and medicine, fuel, and waste disposal. For example, food and pharmaceutical plants supply raw material powders during the manufacturing process. Fuel facilities supply a certain amount of auxiliary fuel, and incineration facilities supply chemicals and slurry.

Since there are multiple feed ports for a single storage silo, it is important to select the appropriate quantitative feeding device for the application.

Principle of Quantitative Feeding Devices

A quantitative feeding device consists of a silo for storing raw materials, a feeding panel for measuring the feeding volume, and a chute for feeding raw materials.

The flow of material until it is fed is as follows: material is stored in the silo at the center, agitated to make the density uniform to prevent errors in the feed rate, and discharged to the feed port after a certain feed rate has been met.