Author: claimsbot

1. A method of manufacturing a microlens substrate, the microlens substrate being provided with a plurality of microlenses, the method comprising the steps of:
preparing a substrate with concave portions having two major surfaces, each of the plurality of concave portions having a shape corresponding to that of each of the plurality of microlenses being formed on one of the two major surfaces of the substrate with concave portions;
preparing a base material substrate mainly formed of a resin material, the base material substrate having two major surfaces; and
pressure-joining the substrate with concave portions to the base material substrate in a heating state,
wherein in the pressure-joining step, the substrate with concave portions is joined to the base material substrate so that the plurality of concave portions are filled with the resin material of the base material substrate which has been melted by the heat.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the absolute value of the difference between an index of refraction of the constituent material of the substrate with concave portions and an index of refraction of the resin material is 0.10 or more.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure-joining step is carried out under reduced pressure.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:
prior to the pressure-joining step, subjecting the one major surface of the substrate with concave portions on which the plurality of concave portions are formed to surface treatment for improving adhesion to the resin material.
5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the case where the thickness of the base material substrate prior to the pressure-joining step is defined as T1 (mm) and the thickness from a flat portion of the substrate with concave portions at which the base material substrate is joined to the substrate with concave portions to one major surface of the base material substrate at which the base material substrate is not joined to the substrate with concave portions is defined as T2 (mm), then T1 and T2 satisfy the relation: 0.5\u2266T2T1\u22660.95.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resin material is a thermoplastic resin material.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressure-joining step is carried out at a temperature higher than a glass transformation point of the resin material.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the glass transformation point of the resin material is 100\xb0 C. or higher.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base material substrate is formed of a thermosetting resin material in a state where all monomers constituting the thermosetting resin material have not reacted so that the thermosetting resin material is not completely hardened.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base material substrate contains a solvent for dissolving the monomers constituting the thermosetting resin material, and the amount of the solvent contained in the base material substrate is in the range of 1 to 30%.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein in the pressure-joining step the solvent is removed.
12. A microlens substrate manufactured using the method defined by claim 1.
13. An opposed substrate for a liquid crystal panel comprising the microlens substrate defined by claim 12.
14. A liquid crystal panel comprising the opposed substrate for a liquid crystal panel defined by claim 13.
15. A liquid crystal panel, comprising:
a liquid crystal driving substrate provided with a large number of pixel electrodes;
the opposed substrate for a liquid crystal panel defined by claim 13, the opposed substrate for a liquid crystal panel being joined to the liquid crystal driving substrate so as to form a gap between the liquid crystal driving substrate and the opposed substrate for a liquid crystal panel; and
liquid crystal filled in the gap.
16. The liquid crystal panel as claimed in claim 15, where in the liquid crystal driving substrate is a TFT substrate which includes the large number of pixel electrodes disposed in a matrix form, and a large number of thin film transistors respectively connected to the large number of pixel electrodes.
17. A projection type display apparatus, comprising a plurality of light valves respectively provided with the liquid crystal panel defined by claim 14, wherein an image is projected using at least one of the plurality of light valves.

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

1. A fluid switching device for a valve having at least three ports, the device comprising:
a flap pivotable between a first blocking position of a first port and a second blocking position of a second port;
an actuating member of the flap capable of moving the flap from one to the other of the blocking positions; and
an interface part capable of interacting with the actuating member, the device being configured so that this interaction selectively moves the flap by the actuating member and selectively holds the flap in position,
wherein the actuating member moving the flap via a guide path provided in the interface part.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the flap and the interface part are separate parts rigidly coupled together.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the actuating member and the interface part comprise complementary surfaces so that contact between these complementary surfaces holds the interface part in position upon movement of the actuating member.
4. The device according to claim 3, wherein said mating surfaces are circular arcs of substantially the same radius.
5. The device according to claim 3, wherein the guide path is formed by a blind groove provided in the interface part.
6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the groove extends along a rectilinear axis intersecting an axis of rotation of the flap.
7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the complementary surface of a surface of the actuating member is defined in the interface part by two portions of the periphery of the interface part, each of the two portions being arranged on one side of the groove.
8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the actuating member comprises a part mobile in rotation, a part for maintaining the interface part and a part for guiding the interface part, said holding part and said guiding part being integral with the part mobile in rotation.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the guiding part rests in the groove when the flap is in an intermediate position in which the first and the second ports are open.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the guiding part exerts a thrust on the interface part for moving the flap when said guiding part moves along the groove from the position corresponding to the intermediate position of the flap, due to a rotation of the mobile part.
11. The device according to claim 8, wherein the holding part comprises a recess providing clearance for receiving a portion of the interface part when the flap is in the intermediate position wherein the first and the second ports are open.
12. The device according to claim 5, wherein the complementary surface of a surface of the interface part is defined in the actuating member by a portion of the outer periphery of the holding part.
13. An engine control valve, comprising a switching device according to claim 1.
14. The engine control valve according to claim 13, further comprising one input port and two output ports, the flap being pivotable to move from a blocking position of one output port to a blocking position of the other output port.
15. The engine control valve according to claim 13, further comprising two input ports and one output port, the flap being pivotable to move from a blocking position of one input port to a blocking position of the other input port.

1. An engine wash system with a collector for collecting wash liquid from an engine washing operation, the collector comprising
a collection pan with a base angled toward a centerline and first and second panels rotatably connecting to first and second sides of the collection pan;
a plurality of wheels connecting to the base;
a first support connecting on a lower end to the collection pan and extending vertically upward from the collection pan;
a first funnel connecting to the first support; and
a first hose connecting the first funnel to the collection pan.
2. The engine wash system of claim 1, and further comprising:
a second support connecting on a lower end to the collection pan and extending vertically upward from the collection pan;
a second funnel connecting to the second support; and
a second hose connecting the second funnel to the collection pan.
3. The engine wash system of claim 2, wherein the first support is connected at a front end and near the first side of the collection pan.
4. The engine wash system of claim 3, wherein the second support is connected at a front end and near the second side of the collection pan.
5. The engine wash system of claim 1, wherein the first support, the first funnel and the first hose can disconnect from the collection pan and can be placed inside the collection pan.
6. The engine wash system of claim 2, wherein the first support, the first funnel, the first hose, the second support, the second funnel and the second hose can disconnect from the collection pan, be placed inside the collection pan and the first and second sides can rotate to cover the collection pan with the first support, the first funnel, the first hose, the second support, the second funnel and the second hose inside.
7. The engine wash system of claim 1, wherein the collection pan further comprises:
one or more wheel locks for preventing movement of the collection pan.
8. The engine wash system of claim 1, wherein the collector further comprises:
a tow bar.
9. The engine wash system of claim 1, wherein the first support and the second support each comprise:
a first adjustable support extending vertically from the collection pan;
a second adjustable support extending horizontally from the first adjustable support and connecting to the first funnel; and
a third rotatable support which allows the funnel to rotate.
10. The engine wash system of claim 1, and further comprising:
a mobile cart for moving the collection pan.
11. The engine wash system of claim 1, and further comprising
a manifold for securing to the engine to wash the first engine;
12. The engine wash system of claim 11, wherein the manifold comprises:
a internal engine contour segment shaped to correspond with at least a portion of the engine case at the inlet to stabilize the manifold in a radial direction;
a wash delivery segment connected to the internal engine contour segment, the wash delivery segment comprising a pipe shaped to follow the engine case curvature in an axial direction with a first end portion to hook around an outside of the engine case at the inlet, a second end portion to sit inside the engine case;
an inlet on the wash delivery segment to receive wash fluid;
a nozzle on the second end portion of the wash delivery portion directed to spray into the compressor inlet of the engine when the first end is hooked around the outside of the engine; and
a guide extending from the pipe and shaped to align the manifold with respect to the engine so that the nozzle sprays into the engine aft of the inlet particle separator.
13. The engine wash system of claim 1, and further comprising:
a strap to connect to the first end of the wash delivery segment and to an external engine component.
14. The engine wash system of claim 12, and further comprising:
a wash unit to deliver the wash fluid to the manifold inlet and to receive the wash effluent from the collector.
15. The engine wash system of claim 14, wherein the wash unit treats the wash effluent for reuse.
16. A collector for collecting wash effluent from an engine, the collector comprising:
a collection pan with a base angled toward a centerline, ribs and extendable sides;
a first vertically extending collection apparatus connectable to the collection pan; and
a second vertically extending collection apparatus connectable to the collection pan.
17. The collector of claim 16, wherein
the first vertically extending collection apparatus comprises:
a first support connecting on a lower end to the collection pan and extending vertically upward from the collection pan,
a first funnel connecting to the first support, and
a first hose connecting the first funnel to the collection pan; and

the second vertically extending collection apparatus comprises:
a second support connecting on a lower end to the collection pan and extending vertically upward from the collection pan,
a second funnel connecting to the second support, and
a second hose connecting the second funnel to the collection pan.
18. The collector of claim 16, wherein the first vertically extending collection apparatus and the second vertically extending collection apparatus can disconnect from the collection pan, be placed inside the collection pan and the first and second panel can rotate to cover the first vertically extending collection apparatus and second vertically extending collection apparatus inside.
19. A method for collecting wash effluent from an engine washing operation, the method comprising:
providing a collector with a collection pan with rotatable panels connected to first and second sides of the pan and first and second funnels detachably connected to the collection pan;
placing the collector relative to an aircraft so that the collection pan and panels are located beneath engine case outlets and the first and second funnels are located beneath engine exhaust outlets; and
collecting wash effluent draining from the engine in the collector.
20. The method of claim 16, and further comprising:
transferring the wash effluent from the collector to a wash unit for treatment.

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

1. A price-monitoring-server-implemented method for dynamically scheduling travel-product price checks, the method comprising:
obtaining, by the price-monitoring server, a request to monitor future prices associated with a travel ticket that was purchased at a purchase price at a previous date andor time, said previously-purchased travel ticket entitling a purchaser to obtain a travel product at a future date andor time;
determining, by the price-monitoring server, an original plurality of price-volatility factors associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket;
modifying, by the price-monitoring server, a base price-check interval according to each of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to determine a travel-ticket-specific price-check interval;
performing, by the price-monitoring server, at least one price check to determine a current price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket after said travel-ticket-specific price-check interval has passed;
periodically re-evaluating, by the price-monitoring server, at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to obtain a plurality of updated price-volatility factors;
periodically determining, by the price-monitoring server, an updated price-check interval based at least in part on said plurality of updated price-volatility factors and an un-updated subset of said original plurality of price-volatility factors; and
periodically scheduling, by the price-monitoring server, a subsequent price check to occur after said updated price-check interval has passed.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein periodically re-evaluating at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:
periodically determining a price difference between at least one recently obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket and said purchase price andor at least one previously obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket; and
evaluating said price difference to determine a recent-price-volatility factor.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein periodically determining said updated price-check interval comprises, during at least one update period:
shortening said updated price-check interval according to said recent-price-volatility factor when recent price-volatility is determined to be high.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:
determining a historical price range associated with travel tickets that are identical or comparable to said previously-purchased travel ticket; and
ranking said purchase price according to said historical price range to determine a comparative-price factor.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein modifying said base price-check interval according to said comparative-price factor comprises:
lengthening said base price-check interval when said purchase price is low compared to said historical price range; and
shortening said base price-check interval when said purchase price is high compared to said historical price range.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:
determining a class of service associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket; and
evaluating said class of service to determine a class-of-service factor corresponding to an interval modifier for modifying said base price-check interval.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:
determining a date andor time period between a current date andor time and said previous-purchase date andor time; and
evaluating said date andor time period to determine a booking-recency factor.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein modifying said base price-check interval according to said booking-recency factor comprises:
shortening said base price-check interval when said previously-purchased travel ticket was recently booked.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises:
determining a date andor time period between a current date andor time and said future-travel date andor time; and
evaluating said date andor time period to determine a travel-imminence factor corresponding to an interval modifier for modifying said base price-check interval.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining said original plurality of price-volatility factors comprises evaluating said future-travel date andor time to determine a travel-date-andor-time factor corresponding to an interval modifier for modifying said base price-check interval.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein said previously-purchased travel ticket comprises:
a flight ticket; and
wherein said travel product comprises an airline flight.
12. A computing apparatus for dynamically scheduling travel-product price checks, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the apparatus to:
obtain a request to monitor future prices associated with a travel ticket that was purchased at a purchase price at a previous date andor time, said previously-purchased travel ticket entitling a purchaser to obtain a travel product at a future date andor time;
determine an original plurality of price-volatility factors associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket;
modify a base price-check interval according to each of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to determine a travel-ticket-specific price-check interval;
perform at least one price check to determine a current price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket after said travel-ticket-specific price-check interval has passed;
periodically re-evaluate at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to obtain a plurality of updated price-volatility factors;
periodically determine an updated price-check interval based at least in part on said plurality of updated price-volatility factors and an un-updated subset of said original plurality of price-volatility factors; and
periodically schedule a subsequent price check to occur after said updated price-check interval has passed.
13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instructions that configure the apparatus to periodically re-evaluate at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors further comprise instructions configuring the apparatus to:
periodically determine a price difference between at least one recently obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket and said purchase price andor at least one previously obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket; and
evaluate said price difference to determine a recent-price-volatility factor.
14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein periodically determining said updated price-check interval comprises, during at least one update period:
shorten said updated price-check interval according to said recent-price-volatility factor when recent price-volatility is determined to be high.
15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the instructions that configure the apparatus to determine said original plurality of price-volatility factors further comprise instructions configuring the apparatus to:
determine a historical price range associated with travel tickets that are identical or comparable to said previously-purchased travel ticket; and
rank said purchase price according to said historical price range to determine a comparative-price factor.
16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein modifying said base price-check interval according to said comparative-price factor comprises:
lengthen said base price-check interval when said purchase price is low compared to said historical price range; and
shorten said base price-check interval when said purchase price is high compared to said historical price range.
17. A non-transient computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to:
obtain a request to monitor future prices associated with a travel ticket that was purchased at a purchase price at a previous date andor time, said previously-purchased travel ticket entitling a purchaser to obtain a travel product at a future date andor time;
determine an original plurality of price-volatility factors associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket;
modify a base price-check interval according to each of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to determine a travel-ticket-specific price-check interval;
perform at least one price check to determine a current price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket after said travel-ticket-specific price-check interval has passed;
periodically re-evaluate at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors to obtain a plurality of updated price-volatility factors;
periodically determine an updated price-check interval based at least in part on said plurality of updated price-volatility factors and an un-updated subset of said original plurality of price-volatility factors; and
periodically schedule a subsequent price check to occur after said updated price-check interval has passed.
18. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions that configure the processor to periodically re-evaluate at least some of said original plurality of price-volatility factors further comprise instructions configuring the processor to:
periodically determine a price difference between at least one recently obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket and said purchase price andor at least one previously obtained price associated with said previously-purchased travel ticket; and
evaluate said price difference to determine a recent-price-volatility factor.
19. The storage medium of claim 18, wherein periodically determining said updated price-check interval comprises, during at least one update period:
shorten said updated price-check interval according to said recent-price-volatility factor when recent price-volatility is determined to be high.
20. The storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions that configure the processor to determine said original plurality of price-volatility factors further comprise instructions configuring the processor to:
determine a historical price range associated with travel tickets that are identical or comparable to said previously-purchased travel ticket; and
rank said purchase price according to said historical price range to determine a comparative-price factor.
21. The storage medium of claim 20, wherein modifying said base price-check interval according to said comparative-price factor comprises:
lengthen said base price-check interval when said purchase price is low compared to said historical price range; and
shorten said base price-check interval when said purchase price is high compared to said historical price range.