Abstract: By using an amine hydrochloride represented by the formula (1) as a catalyst, a polythiourethane resin which is suitably used for a transparent resin for optical use, can be obtained without using an organotin compound which has been conventionally used as a catalyst for polythiourethane resins and without being affected by the acidity of an additive: wherein R1, R2 and R3 independently represent a monovalent or higher valent linear aliphatic, branched aliphatic, cyclic aliphatic or aromatic organic residue which may have a hydroxyl group or an amino group; and R1, R2 and R3 may be arbitrarily bonded to each other to form a ring.

Abstract: The polymerization catalyst for a polythiourethane-based optical material of the present invention includes a sulfonate represented by the following general formula (1). Furthermore, in the formula, R1, R2, R3 and R4 each independently represent an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, R1, R2, R3 and R4 may be bonded to each other to form a ring. R5 represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, and X represents a nitrogen atom or a phosphorus atom.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus, comprising a first pair of sensor blocks each including a sensor unit and a detection unit, and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the detection unit, wherein when one of the first pair of sensor blocks operates in a first mode, the other operates in a second mode, the detection unit of the sensor block operating in the first mode detects an output of the sensor unit, the sensor unit of the sensor block operating in the second mode accumulates charges and terminates the charge accumulation operation in response to the detection operation, and the power supply unit shuts off power supply to the detection unit of the sensor block operating in the second mode for at least part of the period of time during the operation in the second mode.

Abstract: In a conventional image pickup apparatus, a plurality of reset methods for resetting a photodiode cannot be set. A row selection unit is provided with a first storage unit for storing an address of a read row, a second storage unit for storing an address of a shutter row, and further a third storage unit for storing an address of a row in which potential of photodiode is fixed.

Abstract: The polymerizable composition for an optical material of the present invention comprises a phenylene diisocyanate, at least one polythiol compound selected from the group consisting of 4-mercaptomethyl-1,8-dimercapto-3,6-dithiaoctane, 4,8-, 4,7- or 5,7-dimercaptomethyl-1,11-dimercapto-3,6,9-trithiaundecane, 2,5-bis(mercaptomethyl)-1,4-dithiane, bis(mercaptoethyl)sulfide, 1,1,3,3-tetrakis(mercaptomethylthio)propane, 4,6-bis(mercaptomethylthio)-1,3-dithiane, 2-(2,2-bis(mercaptomethylthio)ethyl)-1,3-dithietane, 1,1,2,2-tetrakis(mercaptomethylthio)ethane 3-mercaptomethyl-1,5-dimercapto-2,4-dithiapentane and tris(mercaptomethylthio)methane.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions containing at least one metal thietane compound represented by general formulas (110), (201) or (120), respectively, wherein said formulas are as follows: and wherein the identified moieties and n, p, q and r are defined.

Abstract: A focus detecting apparatus, comprising a first pair of sensor blocks each including a sensor unit and a detection unit, and a power supply unit configured to supply power to the detection unit, wherein when one of the first pair of sensor blocks operates in a first mode, the other operates in a second mode, the detection unit of the sensor block operating in the first mode detects an output of the sensor unit, the sensor unit of the sensor block operating in the second mode accumulates charges and terminates the charge accumulation operation in response to the detection operation, and the power supply unit shuts off power supply to the detection unit of the sensor block operating in the second mode for at least part of the period of time during the operation in the second mode.

Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a pair of sensor units each of which includes a photoelectric conversion unit, a signal holding unit and a transfer unit, and outputs a signal held by the signal holding unit, comprising a control unit including a detector unit, wherein when one of the pair of sensor units operates in a first mode, the other operates in a second mode, the detector unit detects that the output has reached a predetermined value after the one starting a signal transfer, the one ends the signal transfer in response to the detection and determines the held signal, the control unit generates a control signal after that, and the other in the second mode accumulates generated charges and starts a signal transfer in accordance with the control signal, then ends the signal transfer and determines the held signal.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus includes a pixel unit having a photoelectric conversion section and an amplifying device for amplifying a signal from the photoelectric conversion section and outputting the signal, a reading unit having a first mode in which a signal obtained by resetting an input section of the amplifying device is sampled a plurality of times via the amplifying device and a second mode in which a photoelectric conversion signal generated in the photoelectric conversion section is sampled a plurality of times via the amplifying device; a mixing unit for generating a first mixing signal by mixing the signals that are sampled in the first mode, outputting the first mixing signal, generating a second mixing signal by mixing the signals that are sampled in the second mode, and outputting the second mixing signal; and a difference processing unit for performing difference processing between the first mixing signal and the second mixing signal.

Abstract: A thietane compound represented by the following formula (30): in formula (30), A represents an OH group or an SH group.

Abstract: Polymerizable compositions containing at least one metal thietane compound represented by general formulas (110), (201) or (120), respectively, wherein said formulas are as follows: and wherein the identified moieties and n, p, q and r are defined.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition including a compound represented by following General Formula (1): (in Formula (1), M represents a metal atom; X1 and X2 each independently represents a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; R1 represents a divalent organic group; m represents an integer of 0 or 1 or greater; p represents an integer of 1 to n; n represents a valence of a metal atom M; and Y's each independently represents an inorganic or organic residue, where when n?p is 2 or greater, Y's may be bonded to each other to form a ring containing a metal atom M), a thiol compound and an episulfide compound.

Abstract: An imaging device comprising an imaging unit that outputs digital data of a pixel value indicating one of colors for each pixel and a conversion unit that outputs from ports I pieces of the digital data that has been input from the imaging unit in a first mode and output from part of the ports J (J<I) pieces of digital data obtained from the I pieces of the digital data of the same color that has been input from the imaging unit in a second mode is provided. When outputting digital data of pixels of a single row in the imaging unit in the both modes, the conversion unit outputs digital data of a first color from a first port and outputs digital data of a second color from a second port.

Abstract: Disclosed is a metal thietane compound represented by the following general formula (120), (wherein, in the above general formula (120), M is a member selected from the group consisting of Bi, Sb, Ti, Zr and Ta; X1 and X2 are each independently a sulfur atom or an oxygen atom; R1 is a divalent organic group; the bond between M and T shown by a dotted line and a solid line represents a single or double bond; m is an integer of 0 or 1 or more; n is the number of valence of M; and p is an integer of equal to or more than 1 and equal to or less than n, provided that when r is 1, q is 0 and Y is a monovalent inorganic or organic group; when r is 1 and n-p-q is 2 or more, a plurality of Ys contained are each independently selected from monovalent inorganic or organic groups; when r is 1 and n-p-q is 2 or more, a plurality of Ys may be bonded to each other to form a ring containing M; when r is 2, n-p-q is 1 or 2 and Y is a divalent group; when r is 2 and n-p-q is 2, two Ys may form a ring together with two Ms;

Abstract: An isocyanate has been widely used as a starting material for the production of a polyurethane material, a polyisocyanurate material or the like which is suitably applicable to the field of optical materials. Disclosed is a process for producing an isocyanate which includes a step for producing the isocyanate in the form of a hydrochloride with improved productivity. A process for producing a linear or cyclic aliphatic isocyanate comprising the step of reacting a linear or cyclic aliphatic amine with hydrogen chloride to yield a hydrochloride of the linear or cyclic aliphatic amine, the step being performed under a pressure higher by 0.01 MPa or more than the atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: The present invention provides is a method for producing 3-mercaptopropionic acid from 3-mercaptopropionamide or a salt thereof with the use of an amidase. The method enables the production of 3-mercaptopropionic acid on an industrial scale through an enzymatic reaction.

Abstract: In a conventional image pickup apparatus, a plurality of reset methods for resetting a photodiode cannot be set. A row selection unit is provided with a first storage unit for storing an address of a read row, a second storage unit for storing an address of a shutter row, and further a third storage unit for storing an address of a row in which potential of photodiode is fixed.

Abstract: An image sensing system is disclosed. The image sensing system includes a signal determination unit which recognizes a saturated region of an image obtained by photoelectric conversion where the signal level is saturated, and a desaturated region where the signal level is not saturated, and determines whether an inner region serving as a desaturated region surrounded by the saturated region exists.

Abstract: Disclosed is an internal mold release agent for the production of polythiourethane optical materials, which is obtained by mixing an acidic phosphate ester compound and at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Zn, Cu, Fe, Ga, Bi, Al and Zr. The internal mold release agent for the production of polythiourethane optical materials contains the metal in an amount of 0.01 to 20 weight %.

Abstract: A polymerizable composition for polythiourethane optical materials comprising a compound represented by the general formula (1), M(L)n??(1) wherein, in the formula, M is Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Zr or Bi; L is a dithiocarbamic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, a mono- or di-alkyl phosphoric acid ester group, a substituted acetylacetonato group or a halogen; and n is an integer of 1 to 5, one or two or more isocyanates selected from the group consisting of isocyanate compounds and isothiocyanate compounds, and one or two or more active hydrogen compounds each having a mercapto group. The compounds represented by the general formula (1) exhibit catalytic activity equal to or superior to that of organotin catalysts having been employed as catalysts for the production of polythiourethane optical materials from the past, and have high safety. Further, the thus obtained polythiourethane resins satisfactorily meet the property requirements for optical materials, in particular, excelling in weather resistance.