Abstract: An imaging device has a zoom lens system having a plurality of lens units and forming an optical image of an object so as to continuously optically zoom by varying distances between the lens unit; and an image sensor converting the optical image formed by the zoom lens system to an electric signal. The zoom lens system has from an object side: a first lens unit being overall negative and including a reflecting surface that bends a luminous flux substantially 90 degrees; and a second lens unit disposed with a variable air distance from the first lens unit, and having a negative optical power.

Abstract: A simply constituted steam engine efficiently obtains mechanical energy not only from a heat source of a high temperature but also from the exhaust heat of an internal combustion engine and various kinds of heat sources of a low-temperature state such as the solar heat. In the engine, a rotor (5) having a folded jet pipe (51) is rotatably supported in a sealed container (1) filled with a liquid. A heating portion (9) is inserted in a center cylinder (50) at the center of the rotor, and a fluid of a high temperature is passed therethrough to vaporize the liquid sucked through the suction pipe (52) of the rotor (5). A mixture of steam and liquid is jetted from the jet pipe (51) due to the pressure of the steam that is vaporized to rotate the rotor (5). A check valve (53) for jetting and a check valve (54) for suction are disposed at the ends of the jet pipe (51) and the suction pipe (52).

Abstract: In a lens unit including a plurality of lens groups, the first, most object-side lens group includes a prism that changes the optical axis. In this lens unit, during zooming, while the first lens group is kept stationary, an image-sensing device is moved along the optical axis.

Abstract: A proportional solenoid 5 comprising: an electromagnetic coil 9; a fixed yoke 10 provided immovably inside the electromagnetic coil 9 and having a convex portion 13 formed at an edge portion of an end surface of the fixed yoke; and a movable yoke 20 that is disposed inside the electromagnetic coil 9, has a tip portion thereof inserted into the convex portion 13 of the fixed yoke 10, and is provided movably relative to the fixed yoke 10, the proportional solenoid 5 enabling the position adjustment of the movable yoke 20 by controlling an electric current applied to the electromagnetic coil 9, wherein a protruding portion 21 that protrudes at the side of the fixed yoke 10 is formed at an edge portion of the surface of the movable yoke 20 on the side of the fixed yoke 10, and an inner surface 21b of this protruding portion 21 is tapered such that the inner surface is located further outside as the inner surface approaches the fixed yoke 10.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes, in order from an object side: a first lens group having a negative optical power, a second lens group having a negative optical power, and, a third lens group having a positive optical power. The position of the first lens group is fixed during zooming, and the third lens group includes three single lenses including, in order from the object side, a third-first lens being a single lens having a positive optical power, a third-second lens being a single lens having a negative optical power and a third-third lens being a single lens having a positive optical power. The zoom lens system satisfies the following conditional expression: 0.35<L3/f3<1.5 where L3 represents the axial air gap distance between the third-second lens and the third-third lens and f3 represents the focal length of the third lens group.

Abstract: A zoom lens system includes, in order from an object side: a first lens group having negative power, a second lens group having negative power, a third lens group having positive power, and, a fourth lens group having positive power. The position of the first lens group is fixed during zooming, and the third lens group includes three single lenses including, in order from the object side, a third-first single lens having positive power, a third-second single lens having negative power and a third-third single lens having negative power. The zoom lens system satisfies the following conditional expression: 0.4<L3/fw<1.2 where L3 represents the axial air gap distance between the third-second lens and the third-third lens and fw represents the focal length of the entire system of the zoom lens system at a wide angle end position.

Abstract: An image-taking lens unit has an image-taking lens system that forms an optical image of an object and an image sensor that receives the optical image in a rectangular image-sensing region and converts the optical image into an electrical signal. The image-taking lens system includes a reflective optical element that bends the optical path. Of the lens elements constituting the image-taking lens system, the most image-side lens element called the last lens element is molded of resin, and is given a non-circular outer shape fulfilling a prescribed condition.

Abstract: In a system for providing an illegal use research service for image data, the image data received from a terminal apparatus is registered as a research subject, a research condition for research whether or not the image data being registered is illegally used by a Web site on the network is set, image data that are identical or similar to the image data being the research subject from a web site on the network are searched for based on a feature amount and the research condition, and a search result is informed as a research report to the research client using said terminal apparatus.

Abstract: A variable magnification optical system includes lens units that focus a ray of light from an object side on an image sensor, in which the lens unit located at a first position from the object side toward the image side includes an optical path changing element for changing an optical path. The variable magnification optical system performs magnification variation by changing gaps between the lens units, and satisfies predetermined conditional formulae.

Abstract: A variable-magnification optical system has, from the object side to the image side, at least a first lens group having a positive optical power, a second lens group having a negative optical power, and a third lens group having a positive optical power. The first lens group includes an optical prism that changes the optical path, and a prescribed conditional formula is fulfilled.

Abstract: A sleep state of a subject is estimated from respiration signals that are readily detected without restraining the subject. From a voltage waveform based on respiratory movement of a person, positive peak values and the (time) interval between adjacent peaks are calculated. Also obtained is the area of a region that is enclosed by the voltage waveform and a time axis between peaks, and the average value and dispersion value of the obtained inter-peak areas are calculated. The calculated values are used to set a preliminary sleep state value for a given period, and sleep state values over plural periods are factored in to estimate a sleep state at a given time point.

Abstract: A torque converter comprises a pump having a pump shell and impellers; a turbine having a turbine shell and runners; a stator arranged between the pump and the turbine and is supported by the housing; and an operation fluid filled in the pump and in the turbine. Transmission torque limit means is arranged between the stator and the housing to so limit the transmission of torque transmitted to the stator as will not to increase in excess of a predetermined value.

Abstract: On-demand image delivery server delivering designated image data based on a request from a client terminal with one or a plurality of retrieval items as a retrieval condition inputted from the client terminal, made up by a retrieval function portion, which retrieves one or a plurality of image resource databases, and a retrieval result displaying function portion, which displays on the screen of the client terminal for confirmation of contents of image data subject to delivery, simplified image data of the image data matching a retrieval condition and/or data regarding attached contents-related information.

Abstract: There is provided a zoom lens which includes, in an order from an object side, a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power, and in which, during power variation from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group increases, a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases, and a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group decreases, and the zoom lens includes at least one cemented-triplet lens block having negative refractive power, in the fourth lens group.

Abstract: A method produces a 3,4-dihydro-1,2,3-oxathiazin-4-one-2,2-dioxide compound of following formula (2): wherein R1 and R2 are the same as or different from each other and are each hydrogen atom or an organic group inert to the reaction; and R3 is hydrogen atom or an organic group inert to the reaction, or a salt thereof, by subjecting a beta-ketoamide-N-sulfonic acid of following Formula (1): wherein R1, R2 and R3 are as defined above; and X is hydrogen atom, or a salt thereof, to cyclization in the presence of an acid anhydride with or without further subjecting the cyclized product to hydrolysis, in which the cyclization is continuously carried out using a continuous flow reactor.

Abstract: In the transfer and entry of one-touch dial data or speed dial data from a facsimile apparatus 1 to a facsimile apparatus 10, the respective sizes of one-touch dial memory and speed dial memory in the facsimile apparatus 10 are detected. The one-touch dial data are transferred and entered in the facsimile apparatus 10 (P1). The speed dial data are transferred and entered in the facsimile apparatus 10 (P2). Any remaining speed dial data are entered in the one-touch memory (P3). This reduces or eliminates overflow of the one-touch dial data or speed dial data.

Abstract: There is provided a zoom lens including, in an order from an object side: a first lens group having positive refractive power; a second lens group having negative refractive power; a third lens group having positive refractive power; and a fourth lens group having positive refractive power. During zooming from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end, the first lens group, the third lens group, and the fourth lens group move toward an object side such that a distance between the first lens group and the second lens group increases, a distance between the second lens group and the third lens group decreases, and a distance between the third lens group and the fourth lens group decreases, and the zoom lens satisfies the following conditional formulae (1) and (2): 1.8<f3/fw<5, and ??(1) ?2.5<2×D3/f2<?1.5.

Abstract: To improve the efficiency of primary editing of a video tape, a shot mark as a mark at the time of primary editing is determined. With a video tape of a digital VTR format, the shot mark may be recorded onto a user's bit on a time code track. Even at the time of editing, this shot mark may be appended. At the time of primary editing, a predetermined range specified with reference to the position of the shot mark is defined as a portion to be used, thereby preparing a master tape.

Abstract: There is provided a zoom lens, including, in an order from an object side to an image side, a first lens group having a negative refractive power; a second lens group having a positive refractive power; a third lens group having a negative refractive power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refractive power. During power variation from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, each group is moved in an optical axis direction, and a following conditional expression (1) is satisfied: ?5<f4/f1<?2.6, where: ??(1) f1 is a focal length of the first lens group; and f4 is a focal length of the fourth lens group.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a low cost load sensor while securing compact dimensions, high reliability and quality, and also to provide a manufacturing method of the load sensor.