An osteosynthesis device includes a bone screw and a correcting rod which is positioned and axially fixed in a fork head of the bone screw. To this end, the fork head includes means which prevent the longitudinal displacement of the correcting rod. In addition, the screw shank of the bone screw is mounted in the fork head such that it is able to move in relation to same and in the area in which it receives the screw shank said fork head is configured as a hollow cone.

The invention concerns an osteosynthesis device with a bone screw that has a screw shank head designed as a fork head, where the fork head has a groove running crosswise to the screw axis, and with a corrective rod, in which case the forked head is provided with a means for fixing the corrective rod, and the forked head has an axial opening and a spherical or partly spherical head of the screw shank is moveably inserted into the opening, in which case the opening becomes narrower in its region facing the screw shank and the narrowest cross section of the taper is larger than the diameter of the head of the screw shank.
A large number of osteosynthesis devices are known (DE-Gbm 90 04 240, DE-Gbm 91 04 027, EP-A-346 521, DE-A 39 42 429, EP-A-443 894, EP-A-348 272, EP-A-465 158, EP-A-528 706, EP-A-443 892, DE-A 39 16 198, DE-C 41 10 002, DE 43 16 542 C1). Various bone screws with forked heads are known from these publications, into which a corrective rod can be inserted and fixed. A nonslip anchoring of the corrective rod on the bone screw is thus basically obtained. Only a nonslip and nontwisting fixation of the corrective rod on the bone screw assures an optimal transfer of the tractional and compressive forces on the individual bones to be corrected and fixed as well as the transfer of torque and bending moments.
A good fixation is generally obtained by screwing a fixation screw into the forked bead so that it presses on the inserted corrective rod. However, it has turned out that a bending of the forked head due to the high forces and moments that occur is not precluded, such that the fixation of the corrective rod can loosen. In addition, such a clamping fixation does not offer sufficient security against a twisting of the corrective rod around its own axis.
A bone screw is known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,466,237, 5,474,555, 5,360,431 and 5,624,442. The bone screw has a forked head and a screw shank, where the head of the screw shank is supported swivellably in the forked head. An optimal orientation of the forked heads and thus the corrective rod can be obtained in this manner. This is achieved in that the screw shank had a partially spherical head that lies in a sort of ball socket that is provided in the forked head. The ball socket forms a spherical bearing for the head of the screw shank. It turned out, however, that particular care must be taken in the fixing and fastening of the screw shank on the forked head due to the multipart design of the bone screw. If loosening occurs here the goal of stabilizing and fixing the bone is not achieved. Under the circumstances, an immediate operation is necessary.
The invention has as its basis the problem of further developing an osteosynthesis device of the above type so that loosening in the region of fixation of the screw shank on the forked head can be excluded.
This problem is solved according to the invention by designing the narrowing in the form of a truncated hollow cone.
In the osteosynthesis device designed according to the invention the forked head is not, as in the prior art, designed with a ball socket for accommodating the partially spherical head of the screw shank, but has a truncated hollow cone in the accommodation region of the head of the screw shank, in which the head of the screw shank is not merely lying (as is the case in the prior art) but is held clamped so that when the osteosynthesis device is tightened, the head of the screw shank is clamped in this truncated hollow cone profile so that it is fixed by the clamping. On the one hand, the manufacture of such a truncated hollow cone section is considerably simpler than the manufacture of a ball socket, which in any case has to be matched precisely to the diameter of the head of the screw shank. Even minute deviations here result in an unstable support of the screw head. On the other hand, an additional advantage is provided in that, by tightening the means fixing the corrective rod, the screw shank head is pressed into the truncated hollow cone-like narrowing so that it is deformed at least in the bearing region. In the prior art, the partial spherical head is merely pressed on the ball socket, whereby only a frictional closure is obtained. In the design according to the invention a positive locking is achieved besides the frictional closure.
It is provided in a further development that the hollow cone has a cone angle of 2-15xc2x0, in particular, 8xc2x0. A self-locking of the pressed-in screw shank head is achieved with such a cone angle so that even if the means fixing the corrective rod on the forked head is released and the corrective rod removed, the forked head is still securely fixed on the screw shank head.
It is provided in a further refinement that the center of the head of the screw shank lies inside the narrowing. This assures on the one hand that the head of the screw shank is held and pressed in the region of its maximum periphery so that the maximum moments are applied in the region of the pressing due to the maximum lever arm.
One embodiment provides that the opening, on its open end facing the screw shank, broadens by steps. Due to this stepped broadening, a greater clearance is obtained at the screw shank end of the forked head, by which the pivoting angle for the screw shank is enlarged.
To increase the stability of the forked head it is provided that the forked head has an accumulation of material in the region of the hollow cone-like opening. Due to the accumulation of material, plastic deformations of the forked head need hardly or at all be feared and failure due to cracks or the like is excluded. In particular, the accumulation of material is achieved by a great wall thickness. The wall thickness corresponds essentially to the wall thickness of the forked head in the region of the thread for the cap nut.


Information is retrieved from the registry by creating a registry interface database containing information regarding registry data and uniquely identifying every registry entry for a registry interface. Source header files are generated using information about a program module, such as an application, contained in the registry interface database. The source header files are compiled with the application to generate the application's executable file. During run-time of the application, the registry interface is called by the application to retrieve registry data. If available, the registry interface retrieves the registry data and forwards this information to the application. In the event that the registry data is not available, the registry interface retrieves a default value in place of the registry data and forwards that default data to the application. A policy may be implemented by checking a policy area of the registry for the registry data and invoking the policy.

Software applications utilize many resources of a computer system to aid them in performing their functions. These resources can include libraries and routines that assist the operation of an application by performing functions that the application would otherwise have to perform itself. Other resources include an operating system, which can control the application's interaction with the computer system, and a registry. The registry is a central repository for a computer system. An application can store and retrieve information in the registry for access during the next session of the application.
The information maintained by the registry can become difficult to manage as a result of an increase in the number of program modules, such as application programs, which use the resources of a computer system. For example, registry information has grown in size and complexity in response to an increased use of computer resources by multiple program modules of the computer system. Representative examples of problems arising from the use of prior registry-implemented storage systems are described below to illustrate the need for an improved mechanism for accessing and retrieving registry information.
One registry problem is the fragmentation of registry information. For example, information about use of a registry is typically contained within the application's source code. Managing registry information on a high level has been difficult because moving data in the registry often required a direct change of this source code. Additionally, finding registry information in the source code by a developer has been difficult because this information is located in each instance that the application requests registry data.
Another registry problem is the universal implementation of registry features. For example, sometimes a registry feature should be implemented across all registry calls. If a system administrator inserts an environment variable into a registry value, it is expected that an end value will properly interpret the environment variable. Today, however, this requires that all registry calls add an additional check and a new code section. Because this modification can represent a major code change when thousands of registry calls are involved, only certain registry calls typically include this feature.
A third registry problem is the efficient implementation of administrator policy. Administrators typically use scripts to impose policy settings on users. If an administrator desires to impose policy settings on a permanent basis, then the entire user registry is locked down to read-only permissions. When the entire registry is locked down, however, a user's individual settings do not persist from session to session.
And yet another registry problem is the administration of an increased data set by the registry. Because registry data is written to the registry at during an application's setup, the registry is typically filled with many values that never change. If some of the keys for those values are deleted, however, the application cannot run on the computer system. Because tracking key and value usage is difficult, some values may become obsolete or unnecessary, and are no longer needed over time. This results in the creation of registry "bloat." A determination of the values written by a set-up program or the values changed by a user is also difficult in the absence of an effective administration system for the registry.
And still another registry problem is the inefficient use of registry information by an application. Because registry information is typically scattered throughout the source code of an application, constant string data, such as registry key names, are often duplicated. One section of code can duplicate a significant number of characters when referencing a key name for a registry value. For thousands of registry entries, the performance of an application can be reduced by such duplicate code sections.
In view of the problems with prior registry operations, there is a need in the art for an improved mechanism for managing the registry. This improved registry management system would reduce fragmentation and support the consistent universal implementation of features and Administrator policy settings. This improved registry management system also would reduce registry bloat, while increasing the performance of an application that accesses the registry.

System and method for retrieving registry data


The present invention provides a new readily accessible source of adult somatic stem cells from the gastrointestinal tract in general and oral mucosa in particular, methods for isolating pluripotent stem cells from oral mucosa, cells derived therefrom and uses thereof.

Regenerative medicine is aimed to regenerate the architecture and function of tissues and organs totally or partially lost due to disease, trauma and ageing (Vats et al., Lancet 366:562-602, 2005). Stem cells are considered crucial building blocks for any regenerative strategy. The challenge and motivation are to find the ways for recruiting and/or delivering to the injured site pluripotent stem cells populations capable of regenerating nonfunctional or lost tissues and organs. The restricted location of tissues resident stem cells and the relative low number of circulating stem cells pose serious doubts whether in vivo recruitment of endogenous stem cells may be a realistic clinical prospect.
There are currently three possible strategies for regenerative stem cell-based therapies: a) stimulation of resident stem cells of the affected tissue. Resident stem cells (SC) have been identified in numerous tissues including in those that are most frequently affected by disease as cardiac, neural, pancreatic, and kidney tissues; b) recruitment of circulating bone marrow-derived multipotent stem cells to the site of damage. These have been identified and found to increase in number following acute damage; c) transplantation of ex-vivo expanded stem cells. In this respect, the challenge is to generate a pluripotent population of stem cells that can be expanded ex-vivo without losing its potency and can be safely transplanted with no adverse reactions.
Three major optional sources for stem cells are currently being investigated i) Embryonic stem cells (ECS); ii) Fetal stem cells (FSC); and iii) Adult (somatic) stem cells (ASC) either autologous or allogeneic.
ESC lines are pluripotent and virtually immortal (Thomson et al., Science 282:1145-1147, 1998), but are still far from clinical applications because of their tendency to undergo transformation when implanted in vivo, their antigenicity (Bradley et al., Nat Rev Immunol 2:859-871, 2002; Drucker et al., Trends in Biotechnology. 22:136-141, 2004), the requirement for a mouse feeder layer for their maintenance and expansion and ethical issues.
Theoretically, FSC could be ideal for therapy as on the one hand they might be sufficiently differentiated not to undergo transformation following implantation and on the other hand they still retain sufficient pluripotent properties. Because of ethical reasons only FSC derived from the umbilical cord are currently utilized. However, similarly to allogeneic ASC, umbilical FSC are considered allogeneic transplantations and therefore their use requires antigenic matching, immunosuppressive therapy and can result in rejection or graft versus host disease (Brunstein et al., Vox Sanguinis 91:195-205, 2006).
Thus, an autologous pluripotent stem cells population derived from the adult is considered the ideal population for tissue and organ regeneration. Bone marrow and to very limited extent, peripheral blood, adipose tissue, skin and muscle are the major sources for autologous adult stem cells. A serious drawback of these sources is that aging and disease substantially lower the functionality and possibly the availability of adult stem cells in the bone marrow and other tissues (Janzen et al., Nature 28; 443 (7110):421-26, 2006; Rando T A. Nature 441:1080-1086, 2006; Sethe et al., Aging Res Rev 5:91-116, 2006. Rao and Mattson, 122:713-734, 2001). Another considerable drawback of bone marrow-derived pluripotent stem cells is their rarity and cumbersome isolation procedures (Reyes M et al., Blood 96:2615-2625, 2001; D'Ippolito G et al., Rejuvenation Research 9:10-18, 2006).
Aging and associated diseases decrease tissue response to stress. This has been in part attributed to reduction in the tissue specific stem cells functionality as reflected by reduced self-renewal, homing and engraftment abilities (Janzen et al., Nature 28; 443 (7110):421-26, 2006).
Although the reasons for these changes are still debated, they are considered inherent to aging and/or imposed by epigenetic factors such as changes in stem cells niche.
US 2005/0032207 discloses a method for isolating, culturing and differentiating intestinal stem cells for therapeutic uses. According to this application undifferentiated somatic intestinal stem cells are isolated from intestinal epithelium of a tissue which can comprise portion of the: stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, cecum, colon, e.g. ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum, anal canal, and/or appendix.
Oral Mucosa
Oral Mucosa is the mucosal lining the oral cavity (FIG. 1). It is a complex tissue consisting of cell populations and the extracellular matrix which houses the cells and provides a substrate for cell attachment. Oral mucosa consists of an epithelial tissue of ectodermal origin and the lamina propria which is a connective tissue of ectomesenchymal origin (FIG. 2). The epithelial part comes into contact with the oral cavity and functions as a barrier that is continuously renewed by a unipotent stem cell population located on the basement membrane, a structure which connects the epithelial and ectomesenchymal parts together. The lamina propria supports the epithelial tissue and is attached to the underlying structures of the oral cavity which are protected by the oral mucosa. Clinical observations indicate that full thickness incisional and excisional surgical wounds in the oral mucosa heal substantially faster than wounds in other connective tissues (Cate RA. Repair and Regeneration of Oral Tissues in Ten Cate's Oral Histology sixth edition 2003; Stephens et al., J Dent Res. 75 (6):1358-1364, 1996) and that similarly to early fetal mammalian tissues and a number of adult tissues in low vertebrates, wounds in the oral mucosa heal by regeneration and not by scar formation (Hallock G G., Plastic Reconstructive Surgery 75:785-788, 1985).
It has been disclosed that stem cells suitable for use in therapy may be obtained from various sources. Laino et al. (J. Cell. Physiol. 206, 693-701, 2005) discloses an approachable human adult stem cell source derived from dental pulp (i.e., the cell mass within the tooth), particularly suitable for hard-tissue engineering. U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,907 discloses and claims a culture of isolated human dental pulp stem cells. US Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0252151 discloses methods for harvesting stem cells from dental pulp.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,015,037 discloses the isolation of multipotent adult progenitor cells derived from bone marrow, characterization and uses thereof. In particular the multipotent adult progenitor cells co-express CD 49c and CD 90 and have a doubling time of about 36 hours.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,078,230 discloses pluripotent stem cells generated from adipose tissue-derived stromal cells and uses thereof. In particular, the invention includes isolated adipose tissue derived stromal cells that have been induced to express at least one phenotypic characteristic of a neuronal, astroglial, hematopoietic progenitor, or hepatic cells.
PCT publication WO 2004/009758 discloses a method for isolating embryonic-like stem cells from adult sources using the germ stem cell markers expressed in primordial stem cells but not in differentiated somatic cell types.
PCT publication WO 2003/089631 discloses a method for propagating stem cells and/or progenitor cells which may be used with isolated adult human tissue optionally obtainable from the olfactory lamina propria. PCT publication WO 2007/020611 discloses adult human neural stem cells from the olfactory lamina propria.
Thus, there is still an unmet need in the art to identify a readily accessible source of stem cells in mammals, capable of generating an autologous pluripotent population of stem cells that can be expanded in vitro without losing its pluripotency and can be safely retransplanted into the affected donor to achieve tissue and organ regeneration effectively.

Culture of pluripotent autologous stem cells from oral mucosa


Disclosed is a process of making an superabsorbent composite material which contains a hydraulically-needled fibrous web and superabsorbent materials. The method includes the steps of providing a nonwoven fibrous web; hydraulically needling the nonwoven web to enhance its liquid distribution properties; and introducing dry superabsorbent materials into intimate bonding contact with at least one surface of the hydraulically needled fibrous web. Also disclosed is the superabsorbent nonwoven composite material made by the described process. The hydraulically needled fibrous web component of the material may contain pulp fibers, synthetic fibers, natural fibers, bicomponent fibers, continuous filaments or mixtures thereof. The superabsorbent composite material has a saturation capacity greater than about 500 percent and a wicking rate greater than about 12 centimeters per 15 minutes. The superabsorbent composite material may be used as a liquid management material in an absorbent product or absorbent structure.

Superabsorbent materials are known to be useful in products intended to absorb liquids. These materials are most often found in powder or particulate form and have in the past been incorporated into laminates and/or nonwoven fibrous webs so they would be in a form that is easy to handle in high speed manufacturing processes. These laminates and/or webs are also useful for keeping the powder/particulates fixed in the absorbent structure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,686,024, issued Aug. 22, 1972, to Nankee, et al., describes a water absorbent coated article which contains a fibrous support such as, for example, a fabric or a paper backing and a water insoluble polymer. According to the patent, the coated article is made by impressing the water insoluble polymer upon the substrate while the polymer is in the form of a gel substantially swollen with water. U.S. Pat. No. 4,096,312, issued Jun. 20, 1978, to Holst, et al., describes a hydrophilic support web which has been coated with modified cellulose ether. According to the patent, a hydrophilic web such as a tissue or paper web is wetted with water and then coated with crushed or powdered modified cellulose ether and then dried. The U.S. Pat. No. 4,260,443, issued Apr. 7, 1981, to Lindsay, et al., discloses a laminate of tissue-like materials which are Separated by a layer of liquid absorbing material. According to the patent, a dry liquid absorbing material is applied to a first sheet. A second water permeable sheet is superposed on the first sheet. Water is applied to portions of the second sheet to moisten the liquid absorbing material and cause it to serve as an adhesive which bonds the first and second sheets together.
Latex binders, thermoplastic adhesive resins and thermoplastic adhesive films are also disclosed as useful for attaching absorbent materials to a substrate. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,392,908, issued Jul. 12, 1983, to Dehnel, discloses a process for making absorbent articles by attaching water soluble particles to a substrate using a thermoplastic adhesive resin. U.S. Pat. No. 4,600,462, issued Jul. 15, 1986, to Watt, discloses an absorbent web which is made by bonding a nonwoven web with an adhesive material, curing the adhesive material, and then coating the treated web with a solution of a water soluble hydrophilic material and drying the web. U.S. Pat. No. 4,675,209, issued Jun. 23, 1987, to Pedigrew, discloses an absorbent composite in which a melt adhesive film is used to affix absorbent particles to a substrate.
Also disclosed are absorbent composites which are made by depositing dried absorbent particles on to a moistened paper or tissue layer or wet laid fibrous web. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,851,069, issued Jul. 25, 1989, to Packard, et al., discloses a laminate of tissues enclosing an intermediate layer of absorbent particles. According to the patent, the absorbent particles are applied to the moistened surface of one of the tissue layers. A second tissue layer is superposed on the first tissue/particle layer and the assembly is then bonded together using heat and pressure. European Patent Publication 0359615-A1, published Mar. 21, 1990, describes a superabsorbent composite structure which is made by depositing dry solid superabsorbents directly on a wet laid web of cellulosic fibers prior to drying the wet laid web.
Although these references describe various absorbent structures, they still fail to address problems associated with distributing liquid throughout a structure containing superabsorbent materials to make efficient use of all the superabsorbent materials. When superabsorbent materials are added to nonwoven webs or incorporated into laminates, they generally appear to reduce the liquid distribution properties of those webs or laminates. Thus, there is still a need for an improved absorbent structure which combines desirable liquid absorption/retention properties with desirable liquid distribution properties.

Process for making a hydraulically needled superabsorbent composite material and article thereof


Disclosed is an improved light-emitting diode, which can be a PLCC or SMD type light-emitting diode. The light-emitting diode includes a package body, at least one pair of conductive terminals, and an optic lens. The package body has an end surface, a circumferential surface extending from the end surface, and a receptacle for accommodating a light-emitting chip. The pair of conductive terminals is fixed to the package body. The optic lens covers the end surface of the package body and is even expanded to cover the circumferential surface of the package body. In this way, effects of improved bonding strength, improved optic advantages, being easy to adjust to a desired angle with the optic lens, and alleviation of troubles caused by overflow of adhesive can be realized.

Light-emitting diodes of PLCC or SMD type suffer the following disadvantages.
With reference to FIG. 1 of the attached drawings, which shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional light-emitting diode, the conventional light-emitting diode, generally designated at 1, comprises a package body 11, a pair of conductive terminals 12 that is fixed to the package body, and an optic lens 13 formed on the package body. The package body 11 has an end surface 14, a circumferential surface 112 extending from the end surface 14, and a receptacle 111 receiving therein a light-emitting chip 15. As shown in the drawing, the optic lens 13 of the conventional light-emitting diode is only bonded to a central portion of the end surface 14 and therefore, the optic lens 13 and the package body 11 do not show sufficient bonding strength therebetween. Further, since the optic lens 13 is only bonded to the central portion of the end surface 14, the optic lens 13 is apparently of a diameter that is smaller than that of the package body 11, and this leads to poor optic performance of the conventional light-emitting diode 1. Further, since the optic lens 13 is only of a small diameter, it would be difficult to make angle adjustment through the optic lens 13. In addition, in coupling the optic lens 13 of the conventional light-emitting diode to the package body 11, in case that the diameter of the optic lens 13 is inadvertently made slightly enlarged, it often cause undesired overflow of bonding adhesive between the optic lens 13 and the package body 11. The excessive bonding adhesive may flow along the circumferential surface 112 of the package body 11 to stain the conductive terminals 12. Staining of adhesive on the conductive terminals 12 may cause troubles in application of tin, leading to poor performance of SMT (Surface Mount Technology) operation.
Thus, the present invention aims to provide an improved light-emitting diode that overcomes the above discussed drawbacks of the known light-emitting diodes.


An optical element drive device includes a movable section and a fixed section. The movable section includes a first magnetic field generator for generating a first magnetic field and is drivable in a motion direction. The fixed section includes a sensor unit. The sensor unit carries out a detection based on the first magnetic field and a bias magnetic field different from the first magnetic field.

The present invention relates to an optical element drive device favorably used for, for example, camera module of mobile phones.
As shown in Patent Document 1, conventionally known is an optical element drive device with a position detection part for detecting a position of a lens holder in a motion direction. In the optical element drive device of Patent Document 1, the position detection part is formed from a magnetic detection device disposed on a base member and a sensor magnet disposed on the lens holder. The magnetic detection device detects a position of the sensor magnet, and a relative position of the lens holder to the base member can be detected based on the detection signal.
In the optical element drive device of Patent Document 1, however, the detection accuracy of the position of the sensor magnet by the magnetic detection device may decrease due to change in external environment (e.g., temperature change), and the relative position of the lens holder may not be detected accurately.
Patent Document 1: JP2016017977 (A)


Novel curable siloxane polymers having integral ultra-violet light absorbers are disclosed which are useful in preparing a variety of commercial silicone products requiring excellent resistance to loss of UV protection due to external forces.

Protection against ultra-violet (UV) radiation, such as from the sun, has become an important issue in the preparation of personal, household and automotive products in recent years. Depletion of atmospheric ozone has led to an increase in the amount of atmospheric UV radiation, and concurrently has resulted in the need to filter out such harmful rays.
Silicone polishes are commonly used to improve the appearance of, as well as to protect, household products, luggage, marine and automobile vinyl and the like. While silicone polishes are generally considered excellent by those skilled in the art, they suffer from the shortcoming that when they are prepared by conventional mechanical methods, the ultraviolet light absorbing agents contained therein are considered to be fugitive materials, from the standpoint of various external conditions such as weathering, abrasion, heating and the like.
Silicones with fugitive UV agents can also be utilized in emulsion form for use as a treating agent for fabrics, upholstery, carpeting, draperies and the like. Treatment with such silicone emulsions imparts water and dirt repellency to the fabric as well as UV resistance.
It is further known that fugitive UV agents can be added to silicones for use in cosmetic applications such as make up, sun tanning lotions and hair products. Lamb et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,377 teaches the use of UV absorber additives in a hair care composition comprising hydrophobic cationic emulsions of highly branched and/or crosslinked polydimethylsiloxane.
In each of the foregoing applications, while the protection against UV radiation lasts for a finite period of time, due to weathering, abrasion and heating etc. the protection is lost much sooner than desired. Accordingly, attempts have been made in the art to provide a UV absorbent silicone polymer which has improved resistance to weathering.
Forrestier et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,089,250, teach a benzotriazole-containing diorganopolysiloxane cosmetic, prepared by a hydrosilation process comprising (i) preparing a benzotriazole derivative by reacting an alkenyl halide with a benzotriazole compound, and then (ii) reacting the benzotriazole derivative with a silicone hydride.
Hill et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,554,369, teach the preparation of organosilicon compounds which are useful as sunscreens and which are prepared by reacting an epoxy containing siloxane with the appropriate acid or acid chloride.
Special mention is made of Thimineur et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,969 which discloses emulsion polymerized silicone emulsions having siloxane bonded UV absorbers. The patentees teach dispersing the siloxane in water with an emulsifier, adding the UV agent during emulsion polymerization of the siloxane to chemically bond the UV agent to the resulting emulsion polymerized polydiorganosiloxane.
It has now been discovered that a novel UV containing curable silanol-terminated siloxane polymer can be produced, and that such compounds have excellent retention of UV resistant properties under conditions of weathering.

Method of preparing curable siloxane polymers containing integral UV absorbers


A feed network includes three radio frequency (RF) devices constructed in a suspended-substrate stripline configuration that provides a five-port microwave device having a sum port and four feed ports. The three RF devices include at least one coupled-line quadrature hybrid and at least one Marchand balun. Each of the at least one coupled-line quadrature hybrid has only a single transmission line section providing two outputs with approximately equal amplitude power and a phase difference of 90°. Each of the at least one Marchand balun includes two offset-coupled transmission line sections separated by a gap and two outputs on opposite sides of the gap. The two outputs have approximately equal amplitude power and a phase difference of 180°. The three RF devices are electrically arranged relative to the sum port and the four feed ports such that the feed ports have equal amplitude power and a progressive 90° phase shift.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates generally to transmission line circuitry, and more particularly to feed networks for antennas.
Various types of feed networks are used to feed radio frequency (RF) energy between one or more antennas and associated processing systems, such as transmitters, receivers, and/or transceivers. For example, a feed network may convert RF waves received by an antenna into RF electrical signals and deliver the RF electrical signals to the processing system, and/or vice versa. Known feed networks may include one or more various components for controlling the amplitude and phase of RF power at the antenna(s), and may include RF devices such as baluns, hybrid couplers, delay lines, phase shifters, and/or the like.
Known feed networks are not without disadvantages. For example, a plurality of antennas are often grouped together in an array. Each antenna typically includes a dedicated feed network that serves that particular antenna. Accordingly, the antenna array typically includes a plurality of antenna and feed network pairs. But, there may be a limited amount of space for containing the antenna and feed network pairs, which may limit the minimum spacing between antennas in an array. For example, the length, width, and/or a similar dimension (e.g., a diameter and/or the like) of at least some known feed networks may limit the minimum spacing between antennas in an array. Electronically-steerable antenna arrays exhibit grating lobes in at least some angular regions for antenna element spacings greater than one-half of a wavelength at the frequency of operation. Thus, the minimum spacing between antenna elements can determine the maximum operating frequency of an antenna array.
Another disadvantage of at least some known feed networks is bandwidth. Specifically, the operational frequency band of at least some known feed networks may be too narrow to enable the associated antenna to communicate with one or more devices.
Another disadvantage of at least some known feed networks is fabrication cost. Specifically, at least some known feed networks require manual assembly, lumped-element RF devices, and/or a high layer count (e.g., greater than four) printed circuit(s) with single or multiple lamination cycles.

Feed network comprised of marchand baluns and coupled line quadrature hybrids


A process for pretreating a spent caustic stream prior to oxidation includes countercurrent multi-stage elevated temperature solvent extraction of dissolved organic material from the spent caustic using a solvent to yield a spent caustic raffinate containing only residual amounts of organic solute. The raffinate is steam distilled to remove the residual organic solutes, yielding a pretreated spent caustic stream substantially free of organic material. The pretreated spent caustic is suitable for use in a Kraft paper process or for oxidation prior to recycle or disposal. Solvent extract from the extractor is regenerated in a solvent regenerator having an overhead stream for purging light ends, a bottom stream for purging heavy ends, and a heart-cut side stream for recycling solvent to the extractor. Alternatively, solvent may be taken as a cut from an existing plant process stream, once passed through the multi-stage solvent extraction unit, and then returned to the processing unit of the plant from which it was taken.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for treatment of a spent caustic stream and in particular to treatment of the spent caustic stream for removal of organic contaminants prior to its oxidation, disposal or reuse.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the petroleum and petrochemical industries it is common to scrub gas mixtures that contain acid gas components, such as carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) and hydrogen sulfide (H.sub.2 S), to remove these components from such gas mixtures before it is used for further processing purposes or otherwise disposed of as by venting to the atmosphere. An aqueous sodium hydroxide solution--i.e., a caustic solution--is commonly used for scrubbing of such gas mixtures. By reaction with the caustic solution, i.e. NaOH, acid gas components such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are converted into sodium sulfide (Na.sub.2 S), sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), sodium carbonate (Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO.sub.3) which carry into the sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution. Wherein the gas mixture to be scrubbed also contains hydrocarbon components (particularly C.sub.4, C.sub.5 and higher molecular weight hydrocarbon) a portion of these hydrocarbon components also pass as such into the aqueous sodium hydroxide stream, each to the limit of its mutual solubility in solution.
One type of petrochemical operation wherein an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution is almost invariably used for gas scrubbing is in an ethylene production unit. In an ethylene production unit a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon feed, such as ethane, propane, or higher molecular weight hydrocarbon mixtures such as naphtha, atmospheric and/or vacuum gas oils, and the like, is heated at high temperatures in the presence of steam to crack the saturated hydrocarbon molecules down to lower molecular weight unsaturated hydrocarbons such as ethylene predominately, followed by propylene, and then various quantities of C.sub.4, C.sub.5 and C.sub.6 mono- and diolefinic hydrocarbons, with a lesser quantity of C.sub.7 and higher weight saturate and unsaturated aliphatic, alicyclic and aromatic hydrocarbon. During steam cracking any sulfur containing compounds present in the hydrocarbon feed stream are converted into hydrogen sulfide and/or organically bound sulfur compounds and also a content of carbon dioxide is generated by the water-gas shift reaction. The resultant gas mixture from steam cracking is then quenched to a lower temperature of from about 35.degree. to 40.degree. C. whereupon the major portion of its water and C.sub.7 -plus hydrocarbon content is condensed and separated from said gas mixture. After quenching, the remaining constituents of the gas mixture are conditioned by various steps of gas compression and refrigerative cooling to prepare it for cryogenic distillation whereby its ethylene, propylene and butenes contents will ultimately be recovered in essentially pure form for ultimate use as monomers in the production of various polymers, such as polyethylene, ethylene copolymers, polypropylene and the like.
One step required to properly condition the gas mixture prior to its cryogenic distillation is to scrub the cracked gas essentially free of any acid gas components, such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide. This is accomplished at some interstage location of a multi-stage gas compression system and, on occasion post-compression, wherein the cracked gas stream is at a pressure from about 10 to about 20 atmospheres (atm) by contacting the compressed gas stream with an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution by countercurrent contact in a gas-liquid contact vessel often referred to as an "absorber" or "scrubber."
The aqueous sodium hydroxide solution after such gas scrubbing contact is referred to as a "spent caustic solution" and contains, in addition to sodium hydroxide, the sodium sulfide, sodium hydrosulfide, sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate that results from the removal of acid gas compounds from the so scrubbed gas stream and also a significant content of dissolved mono- and di-olefinic hydrocarbons as well as carbonyls, styrenics and other organic contaminants. In this condition, the spent caustic solution presents various problems with respect to either its environmental disposal or to its reconditioning for subsequent uses. For example, polymers tend to form in the spent caustic solution as long as the solution contains dissolved polymer precursors at an elevated temperature. Aldol condensation of dissolved oxygenated hydrocarbons (carbonyls, such as aldehydes and ketones) produces polymeric products that are commonly referred to as a "red oil," which is and remains partially soluble in a spent caustic solution that issues from the caustic scrubbing tower. Certain highly unsaturated hydrocarbons in the cracked gas, such as acetylenes and dienes (diolefinic hydrocarbons), that pass into the spent caustic solution in the scrubbing tower may polymerize to various degrees, even to the point of a molecular weight which renders certain polymeric species insoluble in the spent caustic solution such that they precipitate out of solution and may be removed in a deoiling drum. In any event, the spent caustic solution removed from the gas scrubbing tower, even following a deoiling drum treatment, contains in dissolved form a content of such condensation and addition types of polymer and polymeric species which may later precipitate from the spent caustic solution as foulants on equipment surfaces when subsequently exposed to the spent caustic solution. From a disposal standpoint, sodium sulfide, sodium hydrosulfide contaminants as well as the dissolved hydrocarbon and other organic contaminants impart to the spent caustic solution too high a chemical oxygen demand (COD) and/or biological oxygen demand (BOD) to allow for its environmentally acceptable disposal. Further, the alkaline value of the spent caustic stream is not useable for other purposes due to the presence therein of these contaminant components. From either perspective, the constituents of the spent caustic solution that are other than sodium hydroxide and water are contaminants which either render it unusable or disposable absent any other further treatment.
Accordingly, spent caustic solutions are commonly subjected to some kind of oxidation process to oxidize its sulfide salts content to at least thiosulfates, and preferably to their highest oxidation state--sulfate compounds. Such oxidation processes include wet air oxidation (WAO) processes wherein an oxygen containing gas, such as air, dispersed in solution in the form of fine bubbles is contacted with spent caustic at an elevated temperature in a contacting column for a relatively long period of time. In this context, the dissolved hydrocarbon polymer and precursor polymeric contaminants in the spent caustic solution cause even yet other major problems, particularly when originating from an ethylene production unit. Specifically, equipment surfaces within a WAO process that are exposed to direct contact with a spent caustic solution undergoing WAO treatment, and other line transfer and valve surfaces exposed to said solution, over time tend to become clogged and fouled with polymeric material which necessitate periodic shutdown and cleanup of the WAO unit. Therefore, it is desirable to first free the spent caustic from dissolved polymers and polymer precursors if polymer formation and fouling of a WAO unit is to be avoided.
Proposals have been set forth in the art for methods of pretreating the spent caustic, prior to its oxidizing treatment, that are intended to reduce this fouling problem. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,104 proposes to contact at ambient temperature spent caustic with gasoline in a mixing drum and then separate the spent caustic from the gasoline in a deoiling drum, after which the spent caustic from which 70-100% of dispersed oil has been purported to be removed, is oxidized with an air/ozone mixture. Even so, in practice a spent caustic pretreated by this mixing drum-deoiling drum technique has still been found to present a fouling problem to the equipment surfaces of post-treatment units. U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,576 by DeRoeck et al. proposes a somewhat more elaborate method for contacting a spent caustic stream with a recirculating stream of pyrolysis gasoline in order to remove prepolymer and polymeric hydrocarbons from the spent caustic prior to its treatment in a WAO unit. DeRoeck Patent '576 proposes to reduce polymeric fouling of the operating surfaces of a wet air oxidizer ("WAO") unit by first intimately contacting the spent caustic solution for a prolonged contact time with a recirculating volume of a pyrolysis gasoline as solvent to remove polymerizable hydrocarbon, particularly partial polymers, from the spent caustic. As described, the solvent is recirculated to the contacting vessel containing spent caustic at a rate of from 0.5 up to 10 times the volume rate of spent caustic under conditions that provide for a contact residence time of 10 to 20 minutes. Further, as the solvent is recirculated there is continuously both removed a take-off cut of solvent for solvent recovery and added a makeup quantity of fresh solvent, both in similar volumes, such that the volume ratio of fresh make-up solvent to spent caustic is about 1 to 100. Intimate contact of solvent with spent caustic is accomplished by the agitation created by the forced recycle of solvent using jet mixers or spray nozzles or by a mechanical stir. The vessel for contact may be subdivided, or a series of contact vessels may be utilized, to provide for multiple mixing stages or even a series of static mixers.
Even though the procedure described by DeRoeck '576 is the state of the art pretreatment for spent caustic, and achieves a significantly better removal of prepolymer and polymer organics from a spent caustic than does a simple mixing drum-deoiling drum treatment as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,104; and therefore the DeRoeck '576 procedures extends the operating time before polymer fouling shutdown-cleanup is needed by a subsequent WAO unit; it has been found in practice that polymer fouling still presents a substantial problem with a spent caustic pretreated by the DeRoeck '576 procedure.
There is needed a still better, more efficient method for the treatment of a spent caustic stream to eliminate from it those contaminants which are objectionable from a standpoint of either its proper disposal or subsequent treatment to further condition the spent caustic for reuse, other uses or to render it safely disposable.


In a card connector (1) in which a card-shaped connection object (200) is loaded with movement thereof in a first direction and is unloaded with operation of a button (90) in the first direction, an inhibiting mechanism (63) inhibits movement of the button at a first position in the first direction only when the connection object is not loaded in the connector. The first position is determined between a second and a third position in the first direction.

The present invention relates to a connector for connecting a card-shaped connection object (hereinafter referred to as "card connector") and, in particular, to a card connector for allowing a PC card or the like to be inserted or loaded thereinto and released or unloaded therefrom.
A conventional card connector allows a card-shaped connection object, such as a PC card, to be loaded and unloaded in a first and a second direction. The card connector comprises a frame for receiving the connection object and an eject mechanism coupled to the frame and used for unloading the connection object. The eject mechanism comprises a button movable in the first and the second directions. The button is operated by an operator or operators to move in the first direction for causing the connection object be unloaded from the connector. When the connection object is loaded into the connector, the button is moved in the second direction.
In the conventional card connector, however, the button is projected to some degree and is further operable in either of the state wherein the connection object is loaded and the state wherein the connection object is not loaded. As a result, there has been a problem that a user may touch and operate the button in error.

Card connector which can prevent erroneous operation of an eject button

Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Ltd.


The present invention relates to a method of producing an animal food product with a core and a shell at least partially covering the core, in which the core starting material includes meat and/or meat-like components, water, oil and/or fat, vitamins, minerals, salts, antioxidising agents, dyes and/or preservatives, vegetable fibres, and other ingredients. The shell starting material includes vegetable and/or animal protein, cereal, starch and/or dextrin, blood plasma, water, cereal derivative and/or sugar or sugar derivative, and vitamins, minerals, salts, antioxidising agents, dyes and/or preservatives. The method includes the steps of: either producing core particles by mixing the core materials, baking the mixture thus obtained, conditioning, cutting into small pieces and conditioning again, or producing core particles by mixing the core materials, cold forming the mixture thus obtained and cutting it into small pieces, and then mixing the core particles with the components of the shell in a coating pan, baking or deep-frying and finally conditioning.

Animal food products with a dual texture of this kind are well-known in the art. WO 02/052951 A1, for example, describes a co-extruded, dual-component animal food product with an outer component containing at least 60% cereal, and an inner cream-textured component that has water-soluble components in an aqueous phase, which form a stable emulsion with a lipid-free hydrocarbon phase.
WO 00/74496 A1 describes a pack of animal food product consisting of an outer dry shell and an inner moist core, the core and the shell being separated from one another by a moisture-resistant barrier layer.
FR 2265287 A discloses an animal food product comprising a filling which is completely surrounded by a cereal-containing expanded extrudate. The filling contains meat, sugar, vegetable materials and an effective amount of a mycostatic agent. The filling material has a moisture content of 15-40 percent by weight and a water activity (aw) of 0.70-0.90.
Animal food products with a dual texture, namely a soft and moist core and a dry and allegedly crispy shell are thus known from the state of the art. It has, however, been found that none of the animal food products known so far does in fact provide a clear and lasting delimitation between the soft core and the harder shell. On the contrary, in the known animal food products, the transition between the soft core and the hard shell is more or less fluid; especially after a lengthy storage time, the texture of the two components becomes so similar that it is hardly possible to perceive a difference between the core and the shell. This is presumably due to a diffusion of the moisture from the core into the shell. The disappearance of the difference between the core and the shell also has a particular influence on the microbiological safety of the animal food product (especially when it has a high moisture content) and the oxidative stability of any fat components that might be contained in the material of the core.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,058 A discloses a method of producing an animal food composition which likewise possesses a soft core and a harder shell. That animal food composition is produced by first of all extruding the components of the shell through an annular die in the form of a continuous cavity. The components of the core are then extruded into a portion of the extruded shell after a certain time has passed, which must be sufficient for the shell to become solid enough to withstand the pressure of the core components injected.
EP 1063897 B1 discloses a pet or animal food product with a dual texture and a method of producing same. That pet or animal food product has a shell component which completely encloses an inner component. The production method is that of co-extrusion.
For the production of the animal food products described, the extrusion and in particular the co-extrusion of components in an extruder device for a wide variety of materials may, however, involve problems. For continuous and reliable production, it is necessary to set a particular viscosity of the materials to be extruded, such as by means of a particular choice of temperature, so that the materials can be fed through the extruder. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the extrusion dies used do not become clogged, as can easily happen in particular when semi-solid materials are to be extruded which may optionally still contain some pieces of solid material.
It is the object of the present invention to provide a method of producing an animal food product with a core and a shell at least partially covering the core, with which the disadvantages of the prior art can be overcome. In particular, it is intended to provide a method which dispenses with the extrusion of components of the animal food product and makes it possible to produce the animal food product in an extremely simple manner. The animal food product should preserve a distinct difference in texture between the shell and the core over a long period, especially including when the packaging of the animal food product has been opened; it should guarantee microbiological safety even in the case of a high moisture content on the part of the core material and should exhibit oxidative stability for a core material with a high proportion of fat. The difference in texture between the core and the shell should be distinctly perceptible to the user.

Method of producing an animal food product with a core and shell


A pressure of a laser gas in an enclosure (7) is detected by a gas pressure sensor (12), and a pressure comparison circuit (13) determines whether the thus-detected pressure is normal or anomalous. An electric current output from an inverter (10) that drives a blower (5) to cause a laser gas to flow back, is detected by a current detection circuit (9). A current comparison circuit (11) determines whether or not the output current is normal or anomalous. A result of a pressure comparison circuit (13) and a result of the current comparison circuit (11) are sent to an AND circuit (15) and performed AND processing. A result of the AND circuit (15), a result of the current detection circuit (9), and a result of the gas pressure sensor (12) are sent to a comparison operation section (17) in a controller (14). A determination is made as to whether or not the blower is anomalous. When the blower is determined to be anomalous, a signal is output to an oscillator and a machine control section (18), to thus stop the oscillator and the machine. Thereby, an anomaly in the blower (5) can be detected regardless of fluctuations in the pressure of the laser gas.

In general, a gas laser oscillator has a pair of electrodes disposed in a hermetically-sealed enclosure, and a laser gas sealed in the enclosure is forcefully circulated by a blower. The laser gas is excited by electric discharge caused by the pair of electrodes. After having been caused to resonate between a partial reflection mirror and a total reflection mirror, the thus-excited laser is radiated outside. The radiated laser is fed to a machining head through a plurality of mirrors, to thereby machine a workpiece on a machining table.
Such a blower that circulates the laser gas in the laser oscillator is handled as a kind of expendable article. When the blower stops for some reason during laser oscillation, circulation of a gas laser is interrupted, which impairs optical components or electrodes in the enclosure. Further, when the laser oscillator is used for laser machining, the stoppage of the blower results in impairment of optical components and electrodes in the laser oscillator, so that machining is continued while the quality of the laser beam remains anomalous. Thus, machining failures arise over a wide area, thereby inducing great influence. In general maintenance of a related-art blower, deterioration of a blower is determined from the estimated life of the blower predicted from operating time of the laser oscillator through periodic checks.
A method for determining an anomaly in a blower is described in JP-A-1-106487 wherein there is detected an anomaly from a relationship between an electric current of a blower coasting after stoppage of a laser oscillator and a coasting time; and a method is described in JP-A-2003-110172 for detecting an anomaly by comparing an electric current output, from an inverter section which supplies power to a blower, with a predetermined value.
Drawbacks of the related-art determination of deterioration of a blower, which is performed by estimating the life of the blower, include enforced early replacement of a blower in view of preventing maintenance and the inability to detect deterioration without periodic checks. The related-art method for detecting an anomaly described in JP-A-1-106487 can detect an anomaly only during a period of stoppage of the blower, and encounters difficulty in preventing occurrence of anomalous stoppage of the blower during the operation of the oscillator or the machine. In contrast, the related-art for detecting an anomaly in a blower described in JP-A-2003-110172 enables to prevent anomalous stoppage of a blower during machining operation. However, a current value of the blower is usually changed by the pressure of a laser gas in an enclosure as well as by deterioration of the blower. Hence, the method has a drawback of determining changes in the pressure of a laser gas as deterioration of the blower.

Gas laser oscillator and gas laser beam machine


A polarization converter for unpolarized light. The polarization converter comprises a prism, a wedge, a set of lens arrays, a first reflecting plane, and a second reflecting plane. The wedge comprises a tilt plane. The tilt plane is coated with multi-layer polarization dichronic thin film. The set of lens arrays comprises a light distributor and a light integrator. The tilt plane of the wedge is glued on the first reflecting plane. A second reflecting plane is the unglued plane of the wedge. When a light beam is incident towards the incident plane, the first reflecting plane splits and polarizes the light beam into a first type polarized and a second type polarized lights. Through the multi-layer polarization dichronic thin film, about 99% of the first type polarized light is reflected, and about 99% of the second type polarized light is transmitted and incident on the second reflecting plane. By adjusting the critical angle between the second reflecting plane and the air, almost all the second type polarized light is reflected. The second type polarized light is then traveling through a half-wave plate and converted to a first type polarized light. A good uniformity and a high efficiency are obtained on the projection screen by the disposition of a light distributor lens array in front of the incident plane and a light integrator lens array on the emerging plane of the prism.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a polarization converter for an unpolarized light, and more particularly to a polarizing beam splitter (BSP) used in a liquid crystal display system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional polarizing plate in a liquid crystal projection system, energy loss is caused during light absorption. To develop a high efficient polarizing device is therefore a topic studied intensively in industry.
In FIG. 1, an improved conventional polarizing system is shown. A light source 10 is reflected and collimated as a light beam 14 by a parabolic mirror 12. The light beam 14 is incident on a PSB 16 with an angle of 45.degree.. After the PSB 16, the parallel light beam 14 is split into a parallel (P-) polarized light 14a and a senkrecht (S-) polarized light 14b. The P-polarized travels forward in the same direction as the incident light beam 14. The S-polarized light 14b travels with a right angle of the light beam 14. The S-polarized light 14b is further incident and reflected by a reflecting mirror 18 with an angle of 45.degree.. The S-polarized light 14b travels further and is incident on a half wave plate 20. After the half wave plate 20, the S-polarized light is then converted into a P-polarized light 14c which travels parallel to the P-polarized light 14a. In the above system, the light is polarized and split. However, as shown in the figure, the cross section of the light beam is multiplied, and it is more difficult for light distributing and converging.
A technique which modifies the above PBS into an array is disclosed in "SID 97 DIGEST, pp.993-996, 1997" by Itol et al. The structure of the optical layout can be referred to FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b. In FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, a light source 20 is reflected as a collimated light beam 24 by a parabolic reflector 22. While traveling through a first lens array 26, that is, a light distributor lens array, and a second lens array 28, that is, a light integrator lens array, the collimated light beam 24 is converged on a prism in the PBS 30. After the prism, the collimated light beam 24 is split into a P-polarized light P1 traveling straight forward and a S-polarized light S1 deflected with a right of about 90.degree.. The S-polarized light S1 is reflected by a reflecting mirror, and then travels parallel to the P-polarized light P1. Through a half-wave plate, the P-polarized P1 is converted as an S-polarized light S2. The S-polarized lights S1 and S2 are converged by a light condenser lens 32. The converged light is then projected on a liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) 34. By the lens arrays and the PBS 30 in a form of an array, a light source is split and polarized. The dimension of reflecting and polarizing mirrors are compact. The cross section of the resultant light is consequently reduced to achieve light distributing and polarizing. However, the fabrication is difficult, the fabrication cost is high, and the efficiency is degraded by the array combination.
An equivalent Wollaston prism with a small size and low cost is disclosed in US Pat. No. 5,448,407. Two prisms are assembled to polarize and split an incident light. In FIG. 3, an equivalent Wollaston prism comprises a first prism 62 and a second prism 64. The first prism 62 has an incident plane 622, a polarizing splitting plate 624, and an emerging plane 626. The second prism 64 has a boundary plane 644 and a reflecting plane 626. A beam of incident light L1 enters the equivalent Wollaston prism 62 through the incident plane 622, having its optical axis directed towards the polarizing splitting plate 624. The incident light L1 is split into one perpendicular P-polarized light LP emerging through the emerging mirror 626, and an S-polarized light LS traveling further and reflected by the boundary plane 644 with a right angle. The S-polarized light LS is then emerging through the emerging mirror 626 in a same direction of the P-polarized light LP. The incident light is thus split and polarized. In the equivalent Wollaston prism, the first prism 62 has functions of splitting, polarizing, and reflecting light, while the second prism 64 has the only function of reflecting light. The resultant emerging light comprises two light beams with different polarization. To obtain a resultant light comprises two light beams, other equipment or apparatus is required.

Polarization converter for unpolarized light

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A vibratory exercise apparatus capable of providing sufficient vertical movement force is provided that adopts a structure of a bobbin coil connected with a vibration plate employed in a magnetic gap of a magnetic circuit using a permanent magnet that can generate a strong magnetic force, thereby providing sufficient vertical movement force to the vibration plate for vibratory exercise.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibratory exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to a vibratory exercise apparatus which adopts the structure of employing a bobbin coil connected with a vibration plate in a magnetic gap of a magnetic circuit using a double permanent magnet that can generate a strong magnetic force, to thereby provide a sufficient vertical movement force.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, high-calorie foods are recently affluent. Thus, if people have not worried about becoming fat, they are apt to catch a disease called obesity. It is well known that obesity has a relation with adult disorders such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. In the field of orthopedic surgery, doctors are interested in obesity since it is known that obesity is involved with bone arthritis.
Excessive overweight is a burden to movement of a joint, and accordingly causes the joint to be damaged. A variety of treatments have been developed and are currently available in order to cure obesity.
The best cure for obesity is a controlled meal and proper exercise. It has been known that it is desirable to reduce body fat through diet by taking proper nutrients and calories, aerobic exercise that burns fat in the blood, and muscle strengthening exercise.
In the case that a person tries to reduce his or her weight abruptly within a short period of time, health may get worse due to various types of side effects such as constipation, diarrhea, low blood pressure, dehydration, liver function trouble, lowering of immune activities, heart arrhythmia, and protein imbalance.
Thus, in order to cure obesity safely while avoiding a yo—yo phenomenon, it is necessary to take a general and persistent treatment through diet, exercise and medicinal therapy. Aerobic exercise, such as a walking, jogging, swimming, and badminton play, is good to reduce fat.
Here, abdominal obesity is considered to exist in the case that a man's girth is over 90 cm, that is, 35 inches, and a woman's girth is over 80 cm, that is 31 inches. Most adults over forty suffering from abdominal obesity had a normal weight or a low weight at a growing period but gain weight in adult times. Although a normal weight is maintained, abdominal obesity has a physical feature in which fat is accumulated in the abdomen.
In particular, abdominal fatness has a tendency of abruptly increasing obesity in children due to a recent high calorie food life culture, and processing of long-time business affairs and playing games using computers. In this case, adults can cure obesity at their will through a controlled meal and proper exercise, but it is difficult to apply the adult's obesity cure method to kids to solve kid's fatness. That is, an exercise instrument capable of effectively making an exercise while avoiding an excessive exercise, is being highly needed.
In particular, in the case of serious obesity, walking or jogging may have a bad effect upon the joints of the knee. Accordingly, people who suffer from serious obesity have tendencies of avoiding walking or jogging. As a result, people who suffer from serious obesity use an abdominal vibration belt as a low impact exercise as well as an aerobic exercise, or use a running machine that operates at a low speed.
A vertical movement vibrator has been proposed a whole body exercise instrument that helps a user to perform aerobic exercise and does not give a burden to the articulation of a ligament, a tendon, etc., A vibrator using a rotating motor is known as a conventional vertical movement instrument. Such a rotating type vertical movement instrument applies vibration only to the abdominal region according to establishment of a proper frequency, to thereby make a user conveniently perform an aerobic exercise. Therefore, the vertical movement instrument is medically used to provide aerobic exercise to patients suffering from serious obesity or abdominal obesity.
However, the conventional vertical movement instrument includes an eccentric weight provided on a rotational shaft of a rotating motor, and vibrates a support plate up and down while rotating. Accordingly, partial wear of bearings becomes severe due to eccentricity, causing structural problems that deteriorate durability is and produce a great deal of noise.
Also, the rotating-type vertical movement instrument produces a weak intensity vibration, for example, under a low frequency of 20 Hz or less, to thus provide little vibration effect. Also, the rotating-type vertical movement instrument produces vibration left and right, or does not perform an accurate vertical movement but a deviated vertical movement, to accordingly give a burden to an articulation of the human body.
Further, the rotating-type vertical movement instrument uses a rotating motor, and thus has difficulty in accurately controlling the number of vibrations and providing a sufficient vibration force with respect to a vibration plate.
Meanwhile, a conventional vibrator for generating vibration corresponding to an audio signal using a magnetic circuit of a speaker employing a permanent magnet has been proposed. The conventional vibrator is appropriate for making a user feel vibration stereophonically through a user's hand or body in correspondence to an audio signal. However, the conventional vibrator lacks a magnetic force for driving a vibration plate for aerobic exercise. Therefore, the conventional vibrator is not appropriate for a vibration plate driving mechanism for aerobic exercise since the magnetic force of a direct-current (DC) magnetic field using a permanent magnet has a limited magnitude of 5000 Gauss at a maximum.
To solve the above problems, a vibrator using an electric magnet instead of a permanent magnet was proposed, but the production cost of the vibrator increases due to manufacturing of an electric magnet.
Also, an increase in power consumption for driving an electric magnet gives users an economical burden. Further, since large electric power is needed to obtain a sufficient force with the use of the electric magnet, high temperature heat is generated. Accordingly, a separate complicated facility is needed to radiate the high temperature heat.
Also, an increase in a power consumption for driving an electric magnet causes to give users an economical burden. Further, since a large electric power is needed to obtain a sufficient force by use of the electric magnet, high temperature heat is generated. Accordingly, a separate complicated facility is needed to radiate the high temperature heat, to accordingly lower productivity.


A glass-ceramic is provided having a thermal expansion coefficient in a range of 3-6 ppm/° C., a dielectric constant that is less than 5 and a Quality factor Q of at least 400. The glass-ceramic consists essentially of SiO2 in a range of 45-58 wt %, Al2O3 in a range of 10-18 wt % and MgO in a range of 10-25 wt %. A method of making the glass-ceramic is also provided. Further, an electronic package is also provided, including a base member and a glass-ceramic substrate bonded to the base member.

Known multi-layered ceramic circuit boards are typically fabricated by forming layered stacks of ceramic dielectric tape, which are typically known as green tapes or green sheets. The green tapes typically comprise a ceramic material powder and/or glass powder that is mixed with suitable organic binders or resins, solvents, plasticizers and surfactants and formed into a tape. The process for making high density multi-layer circuit boards typically involves forming a plurality of pre-fabricated green tape layers having via holes punched therein, applying or printing circuit patterns on the layers using a conductive ink, i.e., a mixture of a conductive metal powder and a non-metallic powder including a glass and/or a ceramic in a solvent/binder mixture, filling the vias with the conductive ink so that the various circuit layers can be connected to one another through the thickness of the circuit board, and laminating the green tape layers together by pressing the layers into a stack. The stacked layers are then fired at a temperature exceeding 700° C. to burn off organic materials and to densify the green tape material to form a sintered glass and/or ceramic.
The sintered glass and/or ceramic circuit boards are typically quite fragile, however, and in order to impart additional mechanical strength to the laminated board, the circuit boards are often attached to one or both sides of a suitable support substrate, or core material. In addition, it may be desired to mount active, heat generating devices such as integrated circuits onto a high thermal conductivity member made of a metal or certain ceramics (e.g., AlN, SiC, etc.). In such situations, the glass and/or ceramic substrates are typically joined to the support structure via a solder-type bonding procedure, which is performed at low temperatures that are much less than the sintering temperature of the glass and/or ceramic substrate. Hereinafter, applications involving sintered substrates that are subsequently joined to a support core or other member are referred to as non-co-fired applications.
It is also possible to join a green laminated structure with a support member or other component as the green laminate is sintered. That is, the green laminated structure is first adhered to a support member and the structure is then fired to a temperature that is sufficient to (1) remove the organic materials from the green tapes and the conductive inks, (2) sinter or densify the particles of the green tape composition and the metal particles of the conductive inks to form a sintered multi-layer ceramic and/or glass body, and (3) sufficiently adhere the sintered multi-layer body to the support substrate. Hereinafter, applications involving green laminated structures that are fired with a support core are referred to as co-firing applications.
In both co-fired and non-co-fired cases, once bonding and densification have occurred, it is important that the sintered multi-layer body and the cooperating support structure have reasonably compatible thermal expansion characteristics, preferably closely matched thermal expansion coefficients. In most cases, however, the thermal expansion coefficient (hereinafter TEC) of the glass and/or ceramic laminate material does not closely match that of the support substrate or core on which the laminates are provided.
This thermal expansion mismatch problem is an important issue with low temperature co-fired ceramics (herein after LTCC) that are known in ceramic packaging applications, where a green laminated structure is sintered at a relatively low temperature after first being adhered to the metal support core. For example, densification of the green laminated structures during sintering can produce a large degree of volume shrinkage in the ceramic and/or glass material, for example, up to about 35-55 percent by volume. If the green laminated body is effectively bonded to an already dense support substrate or core (i.e., a core that does not itself shrink during the sintering process), the green laminated body will be constrained from sintering in the plane of the support substrate/core, which itself does not typically experience densification shrinkage when subjected to the typical sintering temperatures. This can create stresses that can be accentuated by the different expansion behaviors of the glass and/or ceramic substrate and the support member, both during the bonding process and in subsequent use in a thermally active environment.
The difference between the TEC of the material of the multi-layer substrate and that of the support substrate or core can, indeed, lead to substantial problems. For example, significant stresses can develop, particularly at the bonding interface, that lead to warping or other mechanical damage, such as non-adherence to the support substrate and misalignment between vias that are provided in the multi-layered body and the corresponding electrical feed-throughs provided on the support substrate or core. In severe cases, it is possible that the multi-layer substrate will even separate from the support, thus rendering the device unacceptable for use.
For example, most conventional, commercially available LTCC tapes have a TEC on the order of 6 to 8 ppm/° C. This often does not closely match the TEC of commonly used metal support cores, including laminated Copper-Molybdenum-Copper support cores and KOVAR® support cores. For example, a typical laminated Cu/Mo/Cu (13/74/13) support core has a TEC from room temperature to 300° C. (hereinafter αRT-300) of about 5.3 ppm/° C. and, when plated with Ni, the laminated Cu/Mo/Cu (13/74/13) support core has an αRT-300 of about 5.75 ppm/° C. For KOVAR®, the αRT-300 is about 5 ppm/° C.
It is also important that the TEC of the sintered multi-layer glass and/or ceramic substrate closely matches that of the structure to which it is bonded in non-co-firing applications, as well as in stand-alone substrate applications, where the multi-layer glass and/or ceramic substrate is bonded to, or installed in connection with, another member or device, as mentioned above. That is, is desirable to prevent thermal and mechanical stresses from arising when the final structure is used in the intended applications, which typically include temperature cycling environments.
For the reasons explained above, it would be desirable to provide a material for a multi-layer substrate that has a TEC that closely matches, or that can otherwise be easily tailored to match, that of the intended support core or base member to which the multi-layer substrate is to be joined or otherwise installed.
Most ceramic and glass materials that have a suitable TEC, however, do not also have a suitably low dielectric constant (K) and low loss tangent (or high Q factor), which makes these ceramic materials less desirable for high frequency electronic applications. Along those lines, most ceramic and glass materials having a suitably low dielectric constant and high Q factor do not have a suitable TEC, and in particular, the TEC often cannot be tailored to achieve a closer match to that of the base structure to which the multi-layer substrate is to be bonded.
It would be more desirable, therefore, to provide a multi-layer substrate material that has a desirable TEC along with desirable electrical properties, such as a very low dielectric constant (K) and a high Q factor, that is, 1/loss tangent.
In addition, it would also be desirable to provide a material for a multi-layer substrate that is sufficiently densified at relatively low sintering temperatures, e.g., at temperatures less than 950° C., and that can be suitably provided with, and co-fired with, relatively low melting-point, low resistance metals, such as Ag, Cu and such alloys, especially for LTCC-type applications. Most ceramic and some glass or glass-based materials, however, require significant heat-treatment at temperatures exceeding 950° C. in order to achieve sufficient densification and the desired electrical characteristics. When higher processing temperatures are involved, however, metals having a higher melting-point need to be used, especially for electronic applications that involve high frequencies (i.e., up to 60 GHz).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Low loss glass-ceramic materials, method of making same and electronic packages including same


A camera is provided with an imaging element, and detects a timing of blinking of light which blinks periodically at a reference timing, based on a timing of variation in luminance of an image obtained by the imaging element, wherein the image is taken by the imaging element under a condition that the light blinks periodically at the reference timing. Further, the timing of exposure of the imaging element is adjusted based on the detected timing of the blinking light, thereby synchronizing shooting operations of plural cameras with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention related to cameras having a synchronous shooting function, and a recording medium having a program recorded thereon, the program being used in the cameras to control the shooting operation, and to a method of controlling the shooting operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the past, a moving-image shooting and reproducing method was known, which used plural cameras to shoot the same object using different camera angles to obtain plural moving images and reproduced the plural moving images in synchronization. This method is used among athletes (for example, golfers) to check their golf-club swinging forms. The golfer shoots plural flat images (two-dimensional images) using the different shooting angles and reproduces plural flat images in synchronization, whereby the golfer can see the reproduced moving image of his/her swinging motion in three dimensions. Observing the reproduced moving image, the golfer can check his/her swinging motion of the same moment in three dimensions and can sterically evaluate the motion of every moment.
To observe and evaluate object's motion of the same moment, it is required that the frames of the plural moving images to be reproduced are shot at a completely-matched time and the frames to be reproduced in synchronization are those shot simultaneously. In a camera system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-344800, all the cameras or the cameras excepting one camera are provided with a single light detecting means specified in detecting an optical signal and said means prepared separately from an imaging unit (photoelectric conversion device) in a light receiving unit. Further, the cameras are provided with signal controlling means for initializing the timings of frame synchronizing signals in response to detection of the optical signal, and the shooting operations of all the cameras are synchronized with each other, taking the generation of the optical signal as a cue.

Imaging apparatus having a synchronous shooting function


The present invention is directed to method of disinfecting a contact lens with an ophthalmically safe disinfecting aqueous solution comprising about 2.0 to about 8.0 ppm of a bis(biguanide) having the following formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 and R.sup.4 are independently selected from the group consisting of branched or unbranched alkyl having 4-12 carbon atoms, ether or thioether radical having 4-12 carbon atoms, or cycloalkyl or cycloalkyl-alky radical having 5-12 carbon atoms; R.sup.2 and R.sup.3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl having 1-12 carbon atoms, alkoxyalkyl having 1-12 carbon atoms, or cycloalkyl or cycloalkyl-alkyl having 5-12, carbon atoms; R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and alkyl radical having 1-6 carbon atoms, and A in the above formula is selected from the group consisting of a divalent alkyl, alkyloxyalkyl, or alkylsufide radical each having 4-12 carbon atoms. The invention is also directed to a method of cleaning and/or disinfecting a contact lens within a minimum soaking period that is not more than about 75 minutes.

Generally, contact lenses in wide use fall into two categories: (1) hard lenses formed from materials prepared by polymerization of acrylic esters, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and the newer rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses formed from silicone acrylates and fluorosilicone methacrylates and (2) gel, hydrogel or soft type lenses made of polymerized hydrophilic or hydrophobic monomers, such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA). The hard acrylic type contact lenses are characterized by low water vapor diffusion constants, resistance to the effects of light, oxygen and hydrolysis and absorb only minor amounts of aqueous fluids. Because of the durability of hard contact lenses, coupled with their tendency not to absorb appreciable amounts of water, the selection of suitable disinfecting agents, cleaning agents or other lens care compounds is relatively non-critical.
However, unlike hard lenses, soft type contact lenses and certain of the newer rigid gas permeable contact lenses have a tendency to bind and concentrate significantly more fluids, environmental pollutants, water impurities, as well as antimicrobial agents and other active ingredients commonly found in lens care solutions. In most instances, the low levels of the ingredients in lens care solutions do not lead to eye tissue irritation when used properly. Nevertheless, because of the inherent binding action of protein deposits to soft lens materials, some disinfecting agents and preservatives tend to build up on lens surfaces and may become concentrated to potentially hazardous levels, such that when released could cause corneal inflammation and other eye tissue irritation.
Previous efforts to alleviate the problem of binding and concentrating disinfectants and preservatives onto contact lens surfaces, and reducing the potential for eye tissue irritation have not been totally satisfactory. For example, in spite of low toxicity levels, not all disinfectants are compatible for use with all types of contact lenses. Although they are effective antibacterial agents, their use can result in a loss of lens hydrophilic properties, cause solution instability or may even lack compatibility with certain types of hard lenses, e.g., high silicon content.
Other antibacterial agents were found to be more compatible with contact lenses and exhibit less binding on lens surfaces. In one case, it was found that chlorhexidine, a biguanide, binds to soft lens material seven times less than benzalkonium chloride, but the presence of proteinaceous oily tear-film deposits can double the amount of chlorhexidine absorbed over that of clean lenses. U.S. Pat. No. 4,354,952 discloses very dilute disinfecting and cleaning solutions containing chlorhexidine or its salts in combination with certain amphoteric and non-ionic surfactants. These solutions were found to reduce the amount of binding of chlorhexidine on hydrophilic soft contact lenses. Notwithstanding the reduction in binding achieved by this invention, the use of chlorhexidine did result in certain tradeoffs. The antimicrobial activity of the chlorhexidine may be diminished when used with certain amphoteric surfactants. Furthermore, it was reported that if not used in proper ratio, the surfactant and disinfectant will precipitate unless a non-ionic type surfactant is also employed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,548 discloses a contact lens disinfectant and preservative containing dilute aqueous solutions of a polymer; namely, polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride (DMDAAC) having molecular weights ranging from about 10,000 to 1,000,000. Amounts of DMDAAC homopolymer as low as 0.00001 percent by weight may be employed when an enhancer, such as thimerosal, sorbic acid or phenylmercuric salt is used therewith. Although lens binding and concomitant eye tissue irritation with DMDAAC were reduced, it was found in some users to be above desirable clinical levels.
British patent 1,432,345 discloses contact lens disinfecting compositions containing a polymeric biguanide and a mixed phosphate buffer. The products embraced by this patent have not found acceptance by the consumer. Corneal staining is an indication of clinical acceptability and compositions as disclosed by this patent have staining values of 17% or more present, far above that which is desirable clinically.
Other efforts to reduce or eliminate soft lens binding have led to the use of anti-binding or detoxifying agents, like polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). For the most part, however, these polymers alone were found to be ineffective in reducing lens binding and eye tissue irritation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,758,595 to Ogunbiyi et al. disclosed that a contact-lens solution containing a polyguanide biguanide (PAPB) has enhanced efficacy when combined with a borate buffer. Such solutions are compatible with both hard and soft type lenses, and are adaptable for use with virtually any of the commonly known disinfecting techniques, including "cold" soaking under ambient temperature conditions, as well as with high temperature disinfecting methods. These disinfecting and preservative solutions are especially noteworthy for their broad spectrum of bactericidal and fungicidal activity at low concentrations coupled with very low toxicity when used with soft type contact lenses. Ogunbiyi et al. stated that biguanide polymers in the higher molecular weight ranges usually demonstrate lower toxicity levels than corresponding lower molecular weight materials.
Compositions containing PAPB and borate, or other non-phosphate buffers, have been commercialized in various products, but at levels of about 1.0 ppm or less. It is generally desirable to provide the lowest level of a bactericide possible, while maintaining the desirable level of disinfection efficacy, in order to provide a generous margin for safety and comfort.
Commercially sold contact-lens solutions containing PAPB require a regimen for the use of the product that requires a minimum of four hours soaking time. Obviously, such a soaking requirement is consistent with overnight disinfection and soaking of contact-lens, as is customarily done on a daily basis by contact-lens wearers. However, a contact-lens wearer may have occasion to remove his or her contact lenses for a shorter period of time, for example, while swimming, reading or any other activity where eyeglasses may be preferable for a particular task. Some people may wear eyeglasses for part of the day, for example, during certain work activities and may wear contact lenses for part of the day, for example, during certain social occasions. Removal of lenses at unscheduled times during the day may also occur through the need to remove environmental debris from the lens or may occur thru accidental lens removal, e.g., on occasion by blinking. In such cases, when a contact lens is installed in the eye a plurality of times during a single day, a four-hour soak may be neither practical nor convenient. In the absence of a product that provides more rapid disinfection, reinsertion of lenses that are not properly disinfected may occur. A disinfecting solution that reduces the minimum period of soaking substantially below four hours would, therefore, be desirable.
One would expect that a solution or method requiring a relatively shorter soak time for disinfecting a lens would generally require a more efficacious or stronger disinfectant than a solution or method requiring a relatively longer soak time for disinfection.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,411,597 and 5,411,598 to Tsao et al. disclose a contact-lens solution that is designed to disinfect a lens in a relatively short period of time. Such a solution comprises a high concentration of an alkylene glycol and an alkanol. A disadvantage of such a solution is that it is too toxic for contact with the human eye and, accordingly, must be rinsed from the contact lens before inserting the contact lens in the eye.
The stronger the bactericidal effect of a solution, however, the more likely that it may exhibit toxic effects or adversely affect comfort. In fact, many efficacious bactericides used in other contexts, such as mouthwashes, cosmetics, or the like, while being sufficiently safe for use in such products, would be too toxic for ophthalmic use, involving use in the eye. This is particular the case with soft lenses, as indicated above, because of their tendency to bind chemicals.
It would be desirable to obtain a contact-lens solution that could disinfect lenses in less time, whereby the minimum soaking time is reduced, but that would not require rinsing to remove the disinfecting solution. Some of the most popular products for disinfecting lenses are multi-purpose solutions that-can be used to clean, disinfect and wet the lenses, followed by direct "insertion" (placment on the eye) without rinsing. Obviously, the ability to use a single solution for contact lens care is an advantage. Such a solution, however, must be particularly gentle to the eye, since, as indicated above, some of the solution will be on the lens when inserted and will come into contact with the eye.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved solutions or methods for disinfecting contact lenses that can simultaneously provide both (1) a high level of antibacterial activity, such that the minimum soak period can be substantially reduced, and (2) a low order of toxicity to eye tissue, such that the solution can be used to treat contact lenses without rinsing, despite any tendency of disinfectants to bind onto lens surfaces. While challenging to develop, it would be especially desirable to obtain a method of disinfecting lenses with a multi-purpose solution for soft contact lenses, which would allow direct placement of the contact lens on an eye following brief soaking and/or rewetting with the multi-purpose solution.

Method for providing rapid disinfection of contact lenses


A photographing lens includes first, second and third lens elements arranged in a sequence from an object side. The first lens element is a positive meniscus with a positive power, and has a convex surface convex to the object side. One of surfaces of the first lens element is aspherical. The second lens element is a positive meniscus with a positive power. The third lens element is a negative meniscus with a negative power, and has a concave surface oriented to the object side. The first, second and third lens elements satisfy conditions of:0.49<|F2/F3|<1.0, and0.5<F23/F<4                where F is a lens system composite focal length;        F2 is a focal length of the second lens element;        F3 is a focal length of the third lens element; and        F23 is a composite focal length of the second and third lens elements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a photographing lens having three lens elements, and more particularly, a photographing lens having three lens elements, suitable for low-cost cameras such as a compact camera and photo film package, and also capable of having a comparatively great angle of view.
2. Description Related to the Prior Art
A lens-fitted photo film unit is known as a product pre-loaded with unexposed photo film, and usable for taking a photograph immediately after purchase. Examples of lens-fitted photo film units include a high-sensitivity type loaded with ISO 1600 photo film, and clear lens-aperture type provided with a photographing lens with an aperture of f/6.2. Also, portable electronic devices for photographing an image have been recently used more and more widely, such as a digital camera, camera-equipped cellular telephone and the like. As scenes to be photographed have become varied considerably, demand for the photographing lens having a great angle of view and a large diameter has been increased for suitability to various kinds of images which changes in the region to be photographed.
One typical example of the photographing lens having a great angle of view and large diameter is a triplet type, which is a single-focus lens including three lens elements being positive, negative and positive in a sequence from an object side to an image side (image surface side). JP-A 7-035972 discloses an example of the triplet type, in which two positive lens elements are formed from high refractive index material of low dispersion. The one negative lens element at the center is formed from low refractive index material of high dispersion. This combination is for the purpose of compensating for curvature of the field in the performance of the photographing lens as optical system. However, there is a shortcoming in that the main use of the high refractive index material is likely to raise the manufacturing cost.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,461 (corresponding to JP-A 8-201686) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,347 (corresponding to JP-A 9-133860) disclose the photographing lens with a reduced cost owing to the use of material with a relatively low refractive index. In the embodiments Nos. 1–6 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,461 (corresponding to JP-A 8-201686), the photographing lens has an aperture of f/4 as a highly clear aperture lens, but has a shortcoming in a limit in the angle of view as small as 70° or less. In the embodiments Nos. 7–11 of this patent, the photographing lens has the angle of view as great as 72°, but has a shortcoming in a small amount of light, namely the lens aperture as small as f/4.5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,347 (corresponding to JP-A 9-133860) discloses the photographing lens in which a lens element is formed from material with a lower refractive index than that according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,461. However, the photographing lens according to this has shortcomings in smallness in the angle of view, and a small amount of light, namely the lens aperture as small as f/4.5 (See the fifth embodiment of the document).
There are other three-element lenses different from triplet types, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,072 (corresponding to JP-A 2002-350720). JP-A 8-220430 discloses the photographing lens having the lens elements which are negative, positive and positive in a sequence from the object side. However, a problem of this disclosure lies in considerable distortion as great as 15.9%. JP-A 2003-149545 discloses the photographing lens having the lens elements which are negative, positive and negative in a sequence from the object side, and has f/2.8 as a sufficiently clear aperture lens. However, a problem of this disclosure lies in an upper limit of the angle of view as small as 65°.
There is no known techniques of the photographing lens in which the greatness in the angle of view is obtainable at the same time as a low cost and a sufficiently clear lens aperture.

Photographing lens having three lens element