Author: claimsbot

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a determination unit configured to, if a first variable drawing object, which is included in print data including a processing target fixed drawing object, overlaps the processing target fixed drawing object, determine whether a quality of a print product produced by printing a second variable drawing object, which is generated by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object, by using a digital printing machine is within an allowable range when compared with a quality of a print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by an offset printing machine; and
an object generation unit configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range, generate the second variable drawing object by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object,
wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a degree of overlap between the first variable drawing object and the fixed drawing object.
2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a density of a color of the fixed drawing object.
3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an overlap determination unit configured to determine whether any variable drawing object that overlaps the fixed drawing object exists based on a region of the processing target fixed drawing object included in the print data and a region of a plurality of variable drawing objects included in the print data,
wherein the determination unit is configured to, if it is determined by the overlap determination unit that a variable drawing object that overlaps the fixed drawing object exists, determine whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine.
4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the determination unit is configured to, if it is determined by the overlap determination unit that a variable drawing object that overlaps the fixed drawing object exists and if a drawing region of the variable drawing object that overlaps the fixed drawing object differs record by record, determine whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine.
5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an unfilling unit configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is not within the allowable range, execute unfilling of a part of the fixed drawing object in a shape of a circumscribed rectangle region of the first variable drawing object that overlaps the fixed drawing object.
6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the unfilling unit is configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is not within the allowable range and if a user has input an instruction for executing unfilling via a user interface, execute unfilling of a part of the fixed drawing object in the shape of the circumscribed rectangle region of the first variable drawing object that overlaps the fixed drawing object.
7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an unfilling unit configured to, if a drawing region of the first variable drawing object that overlaps the fixed drawing object does not differ record by record, execute unfilling in a drawing region of the fixed drawing object.
8. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a determination unit configured to, if a first variable drawing object, which is included in print data including a processing target fixed drawing object, overlaps the processing target fixed drawing object, determine whether a quality of a print product produced by printing a second variable drawing object, which is generated by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object, by using a digital printing machine is within an allowable range when compared with a quality of a print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by an offset printing machine;
an object generation unit configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range, generate the second variable drawing object by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object; and
an addition unit configured, if the second variable drawing object has been generated by the object generation unit, to add data indicating that the second variable drawing object has been already generated to the print data,
wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a degree of overlap between the first variable drawing object and the fixed drawing object.
9. An information processing apparatus comprising:
a determination unit configured to, if a first variable drawing object, which is included in print data including a processing target fixed drawing object, overlaps the processing target fixed drawing object, determine whether a quality of a print product produced by printing a second variable drawing object, which is generated by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object, by using a digital printing machine is within an allowable range when compared with a quality of a print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by an offset printing machine; and
an association unit configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range, associate the fixed drawing object with data for generating the second variable drawing object by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object,
wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a degree of overlap between the first variable drawing object and the fixed drawing object.
10. A method executed by an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:
determining, if a first variable drawing object, which is included in print data including a processing target fixed drawing object, overlaps the processing target fixed drawing object, whether a quality of a print product produced by printing a second variable drawing object, which is generated by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object, by using a digital printing machine is within an allowable range when compared with a quality of a print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by an offset printing machine; and
generating, if it is determined that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range, the second variable drawing object by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object,
wherein the determining step determines whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a degree of overlap between the first variable drawing object and the fixed drawing object.
11. A method executed by an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:
determining, if a first variable drawing object, which is included in print data including a processing target fixed drawing object, overlaps the processing target fixed drawing object, whether a quality of a print product produced by printing a second variable drawing object, which is generated by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object, by using a digital printing machine is within an allowable range when compared with a quality of a print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by an offset printing machine;
generating, if it is determined that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range, the second variable drawing object by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object; and
adding, if the second variable drawing object has been generated, data indicating that the second variable drawing object has been already generated to the print data,
wherein the determining step determines whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a degree of overlap between the first variable drawing object and the fixed drawing object.
12. A method executed by an information processing apparatus, the method comprising:
determining, if a first variable drawing object, which is included in print data including a processing target fixed drawing object, overlaps the processing target fixed drawing object, whether a quality of a print product produced by printing a second variable drawing object, which is generated by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object, by using a digital printing machine is within an allowable range when compared with a quality of a print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by an offset printing machine; and
associating, if it is determined that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range, the fixed drawing object with data for generating the second variable drawing object by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object,
wherein the determining step determines whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a degree of overlap between the first variable drawing object and the fixed drawing object.
13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to function as an information processing apparatus comprising:
a determination unit configured to, if a first variable drawing object, which is included in print data including a processing target fixed drawing object, overlaps the processing target fixed drawing object, determine whether a quality of a print product produced by printing a second variable drawing object, which is generated by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object, by using a digital printing machine is within an allowable range when compared with a quality of a print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by an offset printing machine; and
an object generation unit configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range, generate the second variable drawing object by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object,
wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a degree of overlap between the first variable drawing object and the fixed drawing object.
14. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to function as an information processing apparatus comprising:
a determination unit configured to, if a first variable drawing object, which is included in print data including a processing target fixed drawing object, overlaps the processing target fixed drawing object, determine whether a quality of a print product produced by printing a second variable drawing object, which is generated by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object, by using a digital printing machine is within an allowable range when compared with a quality of a print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by an offset printing machine;
an object generation unit configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range, generate the second variable drawing object by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object; and
an addition unit configured to, if the second variable drawing object has been generated by the object generation unit, add data indicating that the second variable drawing object has been already generated to the print data,
wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a degree of overlap between the first variable drawing object and the fixed drawing object.
15. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to function as an information processing apparatus comprising:
a determination unit configured to, if a first variable drawing object, which is included in print data including a processing target fixed drawing object, overlaps the processing target fixed drawing object, determine whether a quality of a print product produced by printing a second variable drawing object, which is generated by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object, by using a digital printing machine is within an allowable range when compared with a quality of a print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by an offset printing machine; and
an association unit configured to, if it is determined by the determination unit that the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range, associate the fixed drawing object with data for generating the second variable drawing object by combining the fixed drawing object and the first variable drawing object,
wherein the determination unit is configured to determine whether the quality of the print product produced by printing the second variable drawing object by using the digital printing machine is within the allowable range when compared with the quality of the print product achieved when the fixed drawing object is printed by the offset printing machine based on a degree of overlap between the first variable drawing object and the fixed drawing object.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A method of recording patient vital sign data, comprising the steps of:
providing a monitor and recorder system, the monitor and recorder system including a monitor unit, having at least one sensing device, and a memory module;
facilitating the arrangement of the at least one sensing device in operative relationship with a patient;
during operation of the monitor and recorder system, automatically determining, via an interlock system, whether the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information received by the monitor unit via the at least one sensing device;
if, in the determining step, it is determined that the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information received by the monitor unit via the at least one sensing device, receiving vital sign information from the patient via the monitor unit and recording data representative of at least some of the vital sign information on the memory module; and
if, in the determining step, it is determined that the memory module is not prepared to accept vital sign information received by the monitor unit via the at least one sensing device, automatically preventing the monitor unit from receiving vital sign information via the at least one sensing device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitor and recorder system is a bedside monitor and recorder device, wherein the method further comprises the step of positioning the monitor and recorder system adjacent the patient, and wherein if the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information, the method further comprises the step of displaying, on the monitor unit, a graphical representation of the vital sign information as it is gathered from the patient.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of automatically determining whether the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information includes automatically determining whether the memory module is properly installed in the monitor recorder device.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of automatically determining whether the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information includes determining whether memory space in the memory module is available to receive vital sign data.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of determining whether memory space is available includes determining whether a predetermined amount of memory space is available.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of automatically determining whether the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information includes determining whether input, representative of authorization from a user to record new data in the memory module, has been received by the bedside monitor and recorder device.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein if it is determined that the memory module is not prepared to accept vital sign information, the method further comprises the step of providing an indication, to a user, that the monitor and recorder system is inoperable.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein if it is determined that the memory module is not prepared to accept vital sign information, then the method further comprises the steps of:
receiving input, from the user, instructing the monitor unit to gather vital sign data; and
gathering vital sign information from the patient via the monitor unit without recording data representative of the vital sign information on the memory module.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a monitor and recorder system includes providing a modular monitor unit having a plurality of module interfaces for connecting monitor modules to the monitor unit.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of providing a monitor and recorder system includes providing at least one monitor module, having a sensing device connected thereto, for connection to the monitor unit via one of the plurality of module interfaces.
11. A method of monitoring patient vital sign data, comprising the steps of:
providing a monitor unit having at least one sensing device;
facilitating the arrangement of the at least one sensing device in operative relationship with a patient;
during operation of the monitor unit, automatically determining via an interlock system whether an operable patient data recorder is communicatively connected to the monitor unit;
if, in the determining step, it is determined that an operable patient data recorder is communicatively connected to the monitor unit, receiving vital sign data from the patient at the monitor unit via the at least one sensing device and transmitting data representative of at least some of the vital sign data to the patient data recorder for recordation therein; and
if, in the determining step, it is determined that an operable patient data recorder is not communicatively connected to the monitor unit, automatically preventing the monitor unit from receiving vital sign data via the at least one sensing device.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of automatically determining whether an operable patient data recorder is communicatively connected to the monitor unit includes automatically determining whether a patient data recorder includes a memory module that is prepared to accept vital sign data gathered by the monitor unit.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein the monitor unit is a bedside monitor unit, and wherein if the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign data, the method further comprises the step of displaying, on the monitor unit, a graphical representation of the vital sign information as it is gathered from the patient.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of automatically determining whether the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information includes automatically determining whether the memory module is properly installed in the monitor recorder device.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of automatically determining whether the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information includes determining whether memory space in the memory module is available to receive vital sign data.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining whether memory space is available includes determining whether a predetermined amount of memory space is available.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the step of automatically determining whether the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information includes determining whether input, representative of authorization from a user to record new data in the memory module, has been received by the bedside monitor and recorder device.
18. The method of claim 12, wherein if it is determined that the memory module is not prepared to accept vital sign information, the method further comprises the step of providing an indication, to a user, that the monitor and recorder system is inoperable.
19. The method of claim 12, wherein if it is determined that the memory module is not prepared to accept vital sign information, then the method further comprises the steps of:
receiving input, from the user, instructing the monitor unit to gather vital sign data; and
gathering vital sign information from the patient via the monitor unit without recording data representative of the vital sign information on the memory module.
20. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of automatically determining whether an operable patient data recorder is communicatively connected to the monitor unit includes attempting to establish wireless communication between the monitor unit and an operable patient data recorder.
21. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of automatically determining whether an operable patient data recorder is communicatively connected to the monitor unit includes attempting to establish non-wireless communication between the monitor unit and an operable patient data recorder.
22. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing a monitor unit includes providing a modular monitor unit having a plurality of module interfaces for connecting monitor modules to the monitor unit.
23. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of providing a monitor unit includes providing at least one monitor module, having a sensing device connected thereto, for connection to the monitor unit via one of the plurality of module interfaces.
24. A method of recording patient vital sign data, comprising the steps of:
providing a monitor and recorder system, the monitor and recorder system including a monitor unit, having at least one sensing device, and a memory module;
facilitating the arrangement of the at least one sensing device in operative relationship with a patient;
during operation of the monitor and recorder system, automatically determining, via an interlock system, whether the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information received by the monitor unit via the at least one sensing device;
if, in the determining step, it is determined that the memory module is prepared to accept vital sign information received by the monitor unit via the at least one sensing device:
receiving vital sign information from the patient via the monitor unit,
displaying, on the monitor unit, a graphical representation of the vital sign information as it is gathered from the patient, and
recording data representative of at least some of the vital sign information on the memory module; and

if, in the determining step, it is determined that the memory module is not prepared to accept vital sign information received by the monitor unit via the at least one sensing device, automatically preventing the monitor unit from displaying, on the monitor unit, a graphical representation of the vital sign information as it is gathered from the patient.
25. The method of claim 24, wherein the monitor and recorder system is a bedside monitor and recorder device, and wherein the method further comprises the step of positioning the monitor and recorder system adjacent the patient.

1. An endoscope comprising:
light emitting devices arranged in its distal end portion; and
at least one elongated heat-radiating member, one end of the member being arranged in the vicinity of the light emitting devices, the other end being arranged in a predetermined position adjacent to the proximal end of the insertion unit.
2. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the heat-radiating member has a uniform cross section.
3. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein the length of the heat-radiating member is set in consideration of the material and cross section thereof.
4. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein
the insertion unit is flexible and includes a bending portion, and
the heat-radiating member includes a bundle member formed by tying wires in a bundle, each wire having a diameter of 0.1 mm or smaller.
5. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein
the bundle member extends from the vicinity of the light emitting devices in the direction toward the proximal end of the endoscope, and
the bundle member is divided into segments in at least the bending portion.
6. The endoscope according to claim 1, wherein
the insertion unit is rigid, and
the heat-radiating member is a rod member.
7. The endoscope according to claim 4, wherein each wire is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity.
8. The endoscope according to claim 6, wherein the rod member is made of a material having a high thermal conductivity.
9. An endoscope specifically comprising:
a distal-end adapter including light emitting devices constituting an illumination optical system, a substrate for the light emitting devices, a support member for supporting the substrate, a first heat-conducting member through which heat generated by the light emitting devices is conducted, and an objective optical system constituting an observation optical system, the light emitting devices being arranged in one surface of the distal-end adapter, the substrate having a first electric connecting unit for the light emitting devices which is arranged in the other surface of the distal-end adapter; and
an insertion unit having a distal end portion from which the distal-end adapter is detachable, the distal end portion including an image pickup device constituting the observation optical system, a second electric connecting unit which is electrically connected to the first electric connecting unit in the substrate, a second heat-conducting member through which the heat transferred through the first heat-conducting member is further conducted, and a heat-radiating member for radiating the heat conducted through the second heat-conducting member from the distal end portion in the direction toward the proximal end of the endoscope.
10. The endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the objective optical system of the distal-end adapter is a direct view type.
11. The endoscope according to claim 9, wherein the objective optical system of the distal-end adapter is a side view type.
12. The endoscope according to claim 9, further comprising:
electric-connection guiding means, arranged at the distal-end adapter and the distal end portion of the insertion unit, for electrically connecting the first and second electric connecting units in a predetermined relation.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. A method for preparing an article of aluminum base metal alloyed with an alloying element, comprising the steps of
providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound of the aluminum base metal;
providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of an alloying element; thereafter
mixing the base-metal precursor compound and the alloying-element precursor compound to form a precursor compound mixture; thereafter
chemically reducing the precursor compound mixture to a metallic alloy, without melting the metallic alloy; and thereafter
consolidating the metallic alloy to produce a consolidated metallic article, without melting the metallic alloy and without melting the consolidated metallic article.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound in a finely divided solid form, and
wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound in a finely divided solid form.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound in a gaseous form, and
wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound includes the step of
providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound in a gaseous form.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound includes the step of
providing a chemically reducible base-metal precursor compound selected from the group consisting of a base-metal oxide and a base-metal halide.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound includes the step of
providing the alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element,
wherein the alloying element is thermophysically melt incompatible with the aluminum base metal.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element includes the step of
providing a chemically reducible alloying-element oxide.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of chemically reducing includes the step of
chemically reducing the precursor compound mixture by solid-phase reduction.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of chemically reducing includes the step of
chemically reducing the precursor compound mixture by fused salt electrolysis.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of chemically reducing includes the step of
chemically reducing the precursor compound mixture by vapor-phase reduction.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of chemically reducing includes the step of
chemically reducing the precursor compound mixture by contact with a liquid selected from the group consisting of a liquid alkali metal and a liquid alkaline earth metal.
11. A method for preparing an article made of aluminum base metal alloyed with an alloying element, comprising the steps of
providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic base-metal precursor compound of the aluminum base metal;
providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of an alloying element that is thermophysically melt incompatible with the aluminum base metal; thereafter
mixing the base-metal precursor compound and the alloying-element precursor compound to form a precursor compound mixture; thereafter
chemically reducing the precursor compound mixture to produce a metallic alloy, without melting the metallic alloy; and thereafter
consolidating the metallic alloy to produce a consolidated metallic article, without melting the metallic alloy and without melting the consolidated metallic article.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element, wherein the alloying element exhibits a miscibility gap with an aluminum base metal in the liquid phase.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element, wherein the alloying element forms a phase when melted with an aluminum base metal in the liquid phase having a higher melting point than the aluminum base metal.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element, wherein the alloying element exhibits a eutectic, a eutectoid, a peritectic, or a peritectoid with the aluminum base metal.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element, wherein the alloying element is nitrogen, oxygen, or phosphorus.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element, wherein the alloying element has a vapor pressure of greater than about 10 times a vapor pressure of the aluminum base metal in a melt of the aluminum base metal, both measured at a melt temperature.
17. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element, wherein the alloying element has a melting point different from that of the aluminum base metal by more than about 200 C.
18. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element, wherein the alloying element has a density difference with the aluminum base metal of greater than about 0.5 gram per cubic centimeter.
19. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element includes the step of
providing the chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound of the alloying element, wherein the alloying element chemically reacts with the aluminum base metal by a liquid-phase reaction to form a chemical phase including the aluminum base metal and the alloying element.
20. The method of claim 11, including an additional step, after the step of mixing and before the step of chemically reducing, of
compacting the precursor compound mixture.
21. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of chemically reducing includes the step of
chemically reducing the precursor compound mixture to produce the metallic alloy in the form of a sponge.
22. The method of claim 11, including an additional step, prior to the step of mixing, of
providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element compatible precursor compound of an alloying element that is not thermophysically melt incompatible with the aluminum base metal, and
wherein the step of mixing includes the step of
mixing the base-metal precursor compound, the alloying-element precursor compound, and the alloying-element compatible precursor compound to form a precursor compound mixture.
23. The method of claim 11, including an additional step, after the step of providing a chemically reducible nonmetallic alloying-element precursor compound, of
introducing an other additive constituent.