Abstract: The present invention provides an electromagnet device including: an electromagnet block having a spool around which a coil is wound and an iron core inserted in a central hole of the spool; a yoke connected to an end portion of the iron core via a permanent magnet; a movable iron piece pivotably supported on a pivoting shaft center located at an end face edge portion of the yoke, the movable iron piece is adapted to pivot on a basis of magnetization and demagnetization of the electromagnet block, and a protrusion having a linear edge portion which extends in parallel to the pivoting shaft center and the protrusion protrudes from at least either the movable iron piece or the iron core, the protrusion protrudes in a facing direction in which the movable iron piece and the iron core face each other.

Abstract: A navigation device which stores a captured image of an area ahead of user in a moving direction after turning at an intersection and displays the captured image before turning at the intersection, includes: a first storage unit (HDD recording/playback unit 14) storing a map; a display unit (display unit 18); and a control unit (control unit 10) displaying the map on the display unit, and the navigation device further includes a second storage unit (HDD recording/playback unit 14) storing a captured image of an area to be entered after a turn is made at an intersection, and the control unit displays the captured image stored in the second storage unit on the display unit before a mobile body reaches the intersection.

Abstract: An acidic lactic acid bacteria beverage having a favorable flavor and an improved survival rate for bifidobacteria. The acidic lactic acid bacteria beverage of the present invention includes bifidobacteria and inulin, wherein the inulin is not fermented by the bifidobacteria. The inulin content is preferably within a range from 1 to 10% by mass, and the pH of the acidic lactic acid bacteria beverage is preferably within a range from 4.1 to 4.8.

Abstract: An acidic lactic acid bacteria beverage having a favorable flavor and an improved survival rate for bifidobacteria. The acidic lactic acid bacteria beverage of the present invention includes bifidobacteria and inulin, wherein the inulin is not fermented by the bifidobacteria. The inulin content is preferably within a range from 1 to 10% by mass, and the pH of the acidic lactic acid bacteria beverage is preferably within a range from 4.1 to 4.8.

Abstract: A navigation device which stores a captured image of an area ahead of user in a moving direction after turning at an intersection and displays the captured image before turning at the intersection, includes: a first storage unit (HDD recording/playback unit 14) storing a map; a display unit (display unit 18); and a control unit (control unit 10) displaying the map on the display unit, and the navigation device further includes a second storage unit (HDD recording/playback unit 14) storing a captured image of an area to be entered after a turn is made at an intersection, and the control unit displays the captured image stored in the second storage unit on the display unit before a mobile body reaches the intersection.

Abstract: An imaging lens includes, in order from an object side, a first lens with a positive refractive power having a biconvex shape; an aperture stop having a predetermined aperture diameter; a second lens with a positive refractive power having a concave surface on the object side, at least one of the object-side surface and an image-plane-side surface of the second lens being aspherical; and a third lens with a negative refractive power having a concave surface on the object side and an aspherical surface with an inflection point in an effective-diameter area on the image-plane side, whereby aberrations can be effectively corrected, the total length of the lens system can be reduced to reduce the overall size, in particular the thickness, and a shutter can be readily accommodated.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit having a positive refractive power. The first, second, and third lens units are arranged in that order from an object side to an image plane side of the zoom lens. The first lens unit includes a first lens having a negative refractive power, the second lens unit includes a second lens having a positive refractive power and a third lens having a negative refractive power, and the third lens unit includes a fourth lens having a positive refractive power. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit is fixed, and the second lens unit and the third lens unit are moved.

Abstract: An imaging lens includes, in order from an object side, a first lens with a positive refractive power having a biconvex shape; an aperture stop having a predetermined aperture diameter; a second lens with a positive refractive power having a concave surface on the object side, at least one of the object-side surface and an image-plane-side surface of the second lens being aspherical; and a third lens with a negative refractive power having a concave surface on the object side and an aspherical surface with an inflection point in an effective-diameter area on the image-plane side, whereby aberrations can be effectively corrected, the total length of the lens system can be reduced to reduce the overall size, in particular the thickness, and a shutter can be readily accommodated.

Abstract: A boot for an MT connector used for installing a multicore optical fiber tape unit into the MT connector. The boot has a taper part that converts an array pitch in a plurality of optical fiber cores bundled in the optical fiber tape unit.

Abstract: An imaging lens includes, in sequence from the object side to the image plane side: a first lens with a convex object side surface and having a positive overall index of refraction; an aperture stop having a predetermined diameter; a second lens with a convex object side surface and having an overall positive index of refraction; and a third lens with a concave object side surface and an overall negative index of refraction. At least one surface of the first lens is formed as an aspherical surface. Both surfaces of the third lens are formed as aspherical surfaces, with the image side surface having an inflection point at which the curvature of the surface changes within the effective diameter range. The imaging lens provides superior optical characteristics and is compact and suited for use in mobile cameras installed in portable telephones, PDAs, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention includes, from an object side to an image-plane side: an aperture stop with a predetermined diameter, a first lens with a positive refractive power having a convex surface on the object side, a second lens with a positive refractive power having a concave surface on the object side, and a third lens with a negative refractive power having a convex surface on the object side. The second and third lenses have aspherical surfaces on their object-side and image-plane-side surfaces. The third lens is formed with an inflection point where the curvature orientation changes within the effective diameter range of the aspherical surface on the image-plane side. An appropriate back focus is maintained while the total length of the lens system is reduced.

Abstract: A zoom lens includes a first lens unit having a negative refractive power, a second lens unit having a positive refractive power, and a third lens unit having a positive refractive power. The first, second, and third lens units are arranged in that order from an object side to an image plane side of the zoom lens. The first lens unit includes a first lens having a negative refractive power, the second lens unit includes a second lens having a positive refractive power and a third lens having a negative refractive power, and the third lens unit includes a fourth lens having a positive refractive power. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens unit is fixed, and the second lens unit and the third lens unit are moved.

Abstract: The present invention includes, from an object side to an image-plane side: an aperture stop with a predetermined diameter, a first lens with a positive refractive power having a convex surface on the object side, a second lens with a positive refractive power having a concave surface on the object side, and a third lens with a negative refractive power having a convex surface on the object side. The second and third lenses have aspherical surfaces on their object-side and image-plane-side surfaces. The third lens is formed with an inflection point where the curvature orientation changes within the effective diameter range of the aspherical surface on the image-plane side. An appropriate back focus is maintained while the total length of the lens system is reduced.

Abstract: An imaging lens includes, in sequence from the object side to the image plane side: a first lens with a convex object side surface and having a positive overall index of refraction; an aperture stop having a predetermined diameter; a second lens with a convex object side surface and having an overall positive index of refraction; and a third lens with a concave object side surface and an overall negative index of refraction. At least one surface of the first lens is formed as an aspherical surface. Both surfaces of the third lens are formed as aspherical surfaces, with the image side surface having an inflection point at which the curvature of the surface changes within the effective diameter range. The imaging lens provides superior optical characteristics and is compact and suited for use in mobile cameras installed in portable telephones, PDAs, and the like.

Abstract: A cash drawer device includes a command receiving and outputting circuit for receiving a plurality of open commands and outputs the open commands, and a simultaneous open inhibiting circuit for inhibiting the command receiving and outputting circuit from simultaneously outputting more than one of the open commands when more than one of the open commands are simultaneously received by the command receiving and outputting circuit. A first simultaneous open inhibiting circuits includes an exclusive OR gate. A second simultaneous open inhibiting circuit includes first and second D flip-flops. The cash drawer device may further include a concurrent open inhibiting circuit having a timer responsive to one of the open commands for inhibiting the command receiving and outputting circuit from outputting another of the open commands for a predetermined interval. Thus, power consumption of driving a plurality of drawers can be suppressed. The invention also includes a method of controlling cash drawers.

Abstract: Weight data of articles for sale is stored and a total weight is calculated every order. Measured weight of the prepared articles in a package is compared with the calculated total weight. If the measured weight substantially disagrees with the calculated total weight, error information is provided to the operator to correctly package the articles. Comparison may be effected every order number. An addition flag may be further stored with weight data every article to indicate that the article is a target of weight measuring. A non-addition key indicating that the corresponding article is not packaged may be further provided. When the non-addition key is depressed, the weight of the corresponding article is not included in the total weight. The total weight may be printed on the receipt, so that the operator can compare the printed total weight with the measured weight. The total weight may be printed with bar codes. A balance has a bar code reader for comparison.

Abstract: It includes first and command receiving and outputting circuit for receiving a plurality of open commands and outputs the open commands; and a simultaneous open inhibiting circuit for inhibiting the command receiving and outputting means from simultaneously outputting more than one of the open commands when more than one of the open commands are simultaneously received by the command receiving and outputting circuit. The first simultaneous open inhibiting circuits comprises an exclusive OR gate. The second simultaneous open inhibiting circuit comprises first and second D flip-flops. It may further comprise a concurrent open inhibiting circuit including a timer responsive to one of the open commands for inhibiting the command receiving and outputting circuit from outputting another of the open commands for a predetermined interval. The corresponding method is also disclosed. Thus, simultaneous power consumption of driving a plurality of drawers can be suppressed.

Abstract: A granular to fine-granular dry mix powder (an artificial kidney perfusion component A of uniform composition) for use in the preparation of an artificial kidney perfusion fluid for bicarbonate dialysis and a method of producing the same.A granular to fine-granular Composition A comprising granules each comprised of a plurality of NaCl grains carrying KCl, CaCl.sub.2, MgCl.sub.2 and sodium acetate adhered to the surface of each grain.NaCl, KCl CaCl.sub.2, MgCl.sub.2 and sodium acetate are mixed in the presence of not less than 10 weight parts of water based on 100 weight parts of sodium acetate and the resultant mixture is heated at not less than 50.degree. C. to bring the sodium acetate into a transiently molten state and mixing acetic acid with the same mixture.

Abstract: In an optical fiber array structure, a ferrule is provided around an optical fiber array. The ferrule has an outer configuration defined by combination of, preferably, two circles. Thus, eye glass-shaped outer configuration is obtained for the ferrule. The adapter has an aperture for receiving the ferrule, and the aperture has an inner configuration which is complementary with the outer configuration of the ferrule.

Abstract: A method of producing an elliptic core type polarization-maintaining optical fiber comprises the steps of providing a glass rod comprising a cladding glass layer around the periphery of a core glass layer, the cladding glass layer having a softening point higher than the softening point of the core glass layer, removing two side surface portions of the glass rod by machining along the axial direction of the glass rod to form a machined rod noncircular in cross section, outside depositing fine silica glass particles on the periphery of the machined rod, followed by sintering to provide a support glass layer having a softening point higher than the softening point of the cladding glass layer, and drawing the thus obtained glass rod body as an optical fiber preform. Since the portion for constituting the core of the optical fiber is formed by machining, the core is permitted to have a high ellipticity.