Author: claimsbot

1. A bicycle control device comprising:
a base member including a handlebar mounting structure defining a handlebar receiving area with a central handlebar mounting axis;
a shift control unit mounted to the base member; and
an operating lever pivotally mounted relative to the base member to pivot from a rest position towards the handlebar receiving area about a non-shift operating pivot axis that is angled relative to the handlebar receiving area such that the operating lever moves along a non-shift operating path defining a non-shift operating plane that avoids intersection with a handlebar in a lateral direction with respect to the handlebar receiving area.
2. The bicycle control device according to claim 1, wherein
the operating lever is operatively coupled to the shift control unit to operate the shift control unit when the operating lever is pivoted about a shift operating axis along a shift operating path.
3. The bicycle control device according to claim 2, further comprising
a brake lever pivotally mounted relative to the base member about a brake lever pivot axis,
the non-shift operating path of the operating lever being angled with respect to a reference plane that is perpendicular to the brake lever pivot axis and that contains the central handlebar mounting axis.
4. The bicycle control device according to claim 3, wherein
the non-shift operating path of the operating lever lies along a plane that forms an angle that is less than forty-five degrees as measured from the reference plane to the operating lever.
5. The bicycle control device according to claim 3, wherein
the operating lever is movably mounted to move along the non-shift operating path independent from the brake lever.
6. The bicycle control device according to claim 5, wherein,
the shift control unit includes a wire takeup member.
7. The bicycle control device according to claim 6, wherein
the operating lever is configured and arranged relative to the wire takeup member such that the operating lever performs a wire releasing operation of the wire takeup member.
8. The bicycle control device according to claim 3, wherein
the non-shift operating path of the operating lever is arranged such that the operating lever is located on a first lateral side of the reference plane of the base member when the operating lever is moved from the rest position towards the handlebar receiving area along the non-shift operating path of the operating lever, and
the shift operating path of the operating lever is arranged such that the operating lever is located on a second lateral side of the reference plane of the base member that is opposite the first lateral side when the operating lever is moved from the rest position along the shift operating path of the operating lever.
9. A bicycle control device comprising:
a base member including a handlebar mounting structure defining a handlebar receiving area with a central handlebar mounting axis;
a shift control unit mounted to the base member;
an operating lever pivotally mounted relative to the base member to pivot from a rest position towards the handlebar receiving area about a non-shift operating pivot axis that is angled relative to the handlebar receiving area such that the operating lever moves along a non-shift operating path from the rest position to an operated position and back to the rest position, and such that the operating lever avoids interference with a handlebar in a lateral direction with respect to the handlebar receiving area as the operating lever moves along the non-shift operating path from the rest position to the operated position; and
a brake lever pivotally mounted relative to the base member about a brake lever pivot axis,
the non-shift operating path of the operating lever being angled with respect to a reference plane that is perpendicular to the brake lever pivot axis and that contains the central handlebar mounting axis.
10. The bicycle control device according to claim 9, wherein
the operating lever is operatively coupled to the shift control unit to operate the shift control unit when the operating lever is pivoted about a shift operating axis along a shift operating path,
the non-shift operating path of the operating lever is arranged such that the operating lever is located on a first lateral side of the reference plane of the base member when the operating lever is moved from the rest position towards the handlebar receiving area along the non-shift operating path of the operating lever, and
the shift operating path of the operating lever is arranged such that the operating lever is located on a second lateral side of the reference plane of the base member that is opposite the first lateral side when the operating lever is moved from the rest position along the shift operating path of the operating lever.
11. The bicycle control device according to claim 9, wherein
the non-shift operating pivot axis of the operating lever and the brake lever pivot axis of the brake lever are non-parallel.
12. A bicycle control device comprising:
a base member including a handlebar mounting structure defining a handlebar receiving area with a central handlebar mounting axis;
a shift control unit mounted to the base member; and
an operating lever pivotally mounted relative to the base member to pivot from a rest position towards the handlebar receiving area about a first pivot axis that is angled relative to the handlebar receiving area such that the operating lever pivots about the first pivot axis to move along a first operating path from the rest position to an operated position and back to the rest position, the first operating path of the operating lever defining a first plane that is perpendicular to the first pivot axis,
the first pivot axis of the operating lever being arranged such that upon pivoting the operating lever about the first pivot axis, the operating lever moves in a direction primarily toward the handlebar receiving area of the handlebar mounting structure but laterally avoids intersection with the handlebar receiving area as the operating lever moves along the first operating path from the rest position to the operated position.
13. The bicycle control device according to claim 12, wherein
the operating lever is operatively coupled to the shift control unit to operate the shift control unit when the operating lever is pivoted about a second pivot axis along a second operating path that is non-coincident with the first operating path.
14. The bicycle control device according to claim 13, further comprising
a brake lever pivotally mounted relative to the base member about a brake lever pivot axis that is non-parallel to the first pivot axis,
the first operating path of the operating lever being angled with respect to a reference plane that is perpendicular to the brake lever pivot axis and that contains the central handlebar mounting axis.
15. The bicycle control device according to claim 14, wherein
the first operating path of the operating lever lies along a plane that forms an angle that is less than forty-five degrees as measured from the reference plane to the operating lever.
16. The bicycle control device according to claim 14, wherein
the operating lever is movably mounted to move along the first operating path independent from the brake lever.
17. The bicycle control device according to claim 16, wherein
the shift control unit includes a wire takeup member.
18. The bicycle control device according to claim 17, wherein
the operating lever is configured and arranged relative to the wire takeup member such that the operating lever performs a wire releasing operation of the time takeup member.
19. The bicycle control device according to claim 14, wherein
the first operating path of the operating lever is arranged such that the operating lever is located on a first lateral side of the reference plane of the base member when the operating lever is moved from the rest position towards the handlebar receiving area along the first operating path of the operating lever, and
the second operating path of the operating lever is arranged such that the operating lever is located on a second lateral side of the reference plane of the base member that is opposite the first lateral side when the operating lever is moved from the rest position along the second operating path of the operating lever.

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 reaction promoting device for providing, in a container having a reaction part holding a reaction solution, the reaction solution with a predetermined thermal cycle thereby promoting a thermal cycle reaction such as PCR(polymerase chain reaction), LCR (ligase chain reaction), or the like comprising:
a thermal cycle heater which is disposed to face a reaction part of the container and provides the thermal cycle by controlling the temperatures of the reaction solution held in the container, within a predetermined thermal cycle time, to a high-temperature-side target temperature, a medium-temperature-target temperature, and a low-temperature-side target temperature; and
a temperature controller part that controls the temperatures of the thermal cycle so as to offset the high-temperature-side thereof, from the high-temperature-side target temperature, by not less than a predetermined temperature difference, and so as to offset the low-temperature-side thereof, from the low-temperature-side target temperature, by not less than a predetermined temperature difference.
2. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the device is so controlled that the temperature offset is equal to or greater than a temperature difference defined by the equation below:
Y=5,000X3\u2212900X2+50X+2.8 \u2003\u2003(a)

where X=Depth (mm) of the reaction solution\xd7thickness (mm) of a container heat transfer surface, wherein the container heat transfer surface is a film portion sandwiched between a surface of a container flat part in contact with a solid heat source and the reaction solution.
3. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the thermal cycle heater comprises
a high temperature part, a medium temperature part, and low temperature part; and
a drive part which provides a predetermined thermal cycle to the reaction solution held in the reaction part by displacing a relative position of the thermal cycle heater with respect to the container, wherein
the drive part controls a period of time during which the container faces the heater by coordinating the period of time with the predetermined thermal cycle time.
4. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein
the high temperature part, medium temperature part, and low temperature part are disposed in a circumferential direction;
the drive part drives the container or the heater so that the relative position of the container with respect to the heater is displaced in a rotational circumferential direction.
5. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 4, wherein
the drive part intermittently causes a relative displacement of the thermal cycle heater and the reaction container while they are in contact with each other, thereby causing the reaction solution held in the container to reside for a predetermined time in the thermal heater’s high temperature part, medium temperature part, and low temperature part, respectively.
6. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 5, wherein
the control part adjusts a speed with which a specific part on the container moves until the specific part faces the low temperature part of the thermal cycle heater, a speed with which the specific part moves from the low temperature part to the medium temperature part, and a speed with which the specific part exits from the medium temperature part, thereby holding a thermal history applied to the specific part constant at least in regard to the low and medium temperatures.
7. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 4, wherein
the drive part continuously causes a relative displacement of the thermal cycle heater and the reaction container while they are in contact with each other.
8. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein
the high temperature part, medium temperature part, and low temperature part are disposed along a linear direction, and
the drive part drives the container or the heater so that the relative position of the container with respect to the heater is displaced in a linear direction.
9. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein
the control part drives, when displacing the thermal cycle heater from the reaction container, to separate the cycle heater from the reaction container and displace them while separated, and thereafter to bring the cycle heater into contact with the reaction container.
10. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the device further comprises an optical detector apparatus for reading out how well the reaction has progressed; and
the container has at least part thereof formed of a light shielding material or is tinted to shield light for preventing an optical interference of a plurality of the reaction solutions.
11. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 10, wherein
the container uses an optically transparent pressing member as a member to press the container; and an optical measurement is made through the transparent pressing member.
12. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the device has an apparatus that presses the container flat plate on its front and back faces;
at least one side of the pressing apparatus structure is a solid heat source;
at least one side of the reaction part of the flat part is a 10-400 \u03bcm thick film heat transfer surface; and
the solid heat source is allowed to face the film heat transfer surface and is brought into contact therewith by the pressing apparatus, thereby heating the reaction solution and a rise in an internal pressure of the reaction part causes the film heat transfer surface to expand, thereby securing a stable contact of the container with the heat source.
13. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the container is a reaction container that has a flat plate part wherein a concave part is formed into the flat plate part thereof; a reaction solution, which is an aqueous solution, is placed in the concave part; thereafter the concave part is sealed, thereby sealing off the reaction solution; and a solid heat source set at a temperature corresponding to the temperature needed for the reaction is brought into contact with the flat plate part thereby performing nucleic acid amplification reaction, a thermal reaction; and wherein
at least one circumferential lip is formed on an upper end face of the concave part; and both the circumferential lip part and the lower face of the seal member are made hydrophobic, thereby allowing the nucleic acid amplification reaction to be stably performed.
14. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the container further comprises
a liquid inlet aperture with an open end for introducing a reaction solution under pressure into a reaction part, which aperture is connected to the reaction part via a liquid transport groove-shaped aperture in the container; and
a mechanism that allows introducing the reaction solution through the open end of the liquid inlet aperture, then transporting the reaction solution to the aperture for reaction through the liquid transport groove-shaped aperture, thereafter sealing the open end with a seal stopper, and
pressing to permit a reaction to occur while the seal stopper is held under pressure so as not to cause the seal stopper to come loose during the reaction.
15. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 14, wherein
the seal stopper comprises an air groove extending from the middle part of the seal stopper toward the lower part thereof.
16. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 14, wherein
the container comprises
an air vent groove-shaped aperture connected to the reaction part;
a seal liquid aperture filled with a seal liquid for allowing the seal liquid to flow; and
a groove-shaped aperture that connects the seal liquid aperture to the air vent groove-shaped aperture and the liquid inlet aperture, and wherein
after transport of the reaction solution from the liquid inlet aperture to an aperture for reaction, the seal liquid is transported from the aperture filled with the seal liquid, thereby introducing the seal liquid into both the groove-shaped aperture on the liquid inlet aperture side of the aperture for reaction and the groove-shaped aperture on the air vent side groove-shaped aperture.
17. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 16, wherein the seal liquid is composed of a high viscosity grease-like liquid including silicone grease, or a UV curable resin, or a thermoset resin.
18. The reaction promoting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein
the device, in which a part holding a reaction solution in a flat part is flow channel-shaped, is for performing a flow type nucleic acid amplification reaction that runs amplification reaction while the reaction solution is allowed to flow, further comprising
a liquid transport controller for controlling the rate at which the reaction solution is transported.

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:
a displaying part;
a light source generating light;
a display driving part displaying an image on the displaying part by controlling an intensity of the light generated by the light source on the basis of one of a plurality of image signals;
a light shutting part passing or blocking the light generated by the light source; and
a controlling part controlling the light shutting part to block the light generated by the light source while the image signal which has been displayed on the displaying part is being changed into another one of the plurality of image signals.
2. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light shutting part comprises:
a light shutting plate disposed to rotate across a path of the light and passing or blocking the light generated by the light source, and
a motor rotating the light shutting plate according to the control of the controlling part.
3. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlling part controls the display driving part so that the image is not displayed on the displaying part while the image signal is being changed.
4. The image processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controlling part controls the light shutting part to adjust the degree of blocking the light generated by the light source according to the state of the image signal which is being changed.
5. The image processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the controlling part estimates the degree of a transitional phenomenon which corresponds to the state of the image signal being changed and controls the light shutting part to adjust the degree of blocking the light according to the estimated degree of the transitional phenomenon estimated.
6. An image processing method of an image processing apparatus having a displaying part, a light source generating light and a display driving part displaying an image on the displaying part by controlling intensity of the light generated by the light source on the basis of one of a plurality of image signals, the image processing method comprising:
blocking the light generated by the light source when there is a user’s order that the image signal which is being displayed is changed into another one of the plurality of image signals;
changing the image signal after the light generated by the light source is shut; and
passing the light generated by the light source if the image signal is recognized to have been changed.
7. The image processing method according to claim 6 further comprising controlling the display driving part so that the image is not displayed on the displaying part while the image signal is being changed.
8. The image processing method according to claim 6 further comprising adjusting the degree of blocking the light generated by the light source according to the state of the image signal which is being changed.
9. The image processing method according to claim 8, further comprising estimating the degree of a transitional phenomenon which corresponds to the state of the image signal being changed; and
wherein the adjusting the degree of blocking is based on the estimated degree of the transitional phenonmenon.

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 surveillance system for monitoring an aircraft while in route to a destination, the system comprising:
a. a plurality of sensors mounted on the aircraft and adapted for generating data in response to conditions occurring on the aircraft, the data being generated on a near real-time basis in relation to conditions on the aircraft;
b. a remote receiving station, the remote receiving station being remote from the aircraft;
c. a wireless transmitter onboard the aircraft vehicle for transmitting data to the remote receiving station;
d. an onboard IP network, supported on the aircraft, the onboard IP network being in communication with the plurality of sensors to convey data received from the plurality of sensors;
wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is a portable wireless panic button device, the portable wireless panic button device being supported for movement in common with a person aboard the aircraft, the portable wireless panic button device being manually operable by a person aboard the aircraft to generate panic button data, the panic button data corresponding to one of a plurality of event conditions potentially existing aboard the aircraft, the panic button data identifying at the remote receiving station one of the plurality of event conditions, the wireless panic button device being in wireless communication with the IP network to provide the panic button data to the IP network, the IP network, being in communication with the wireless transmitter to provide the panic button data to the wireless transmitter; and the wireless transmitter being operable to transmit the panic button data to the remote receiving station.
2. The system of claim 1 and further comprising:
wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one camera supported on the aircraft, the at least one camera being operable to provide visual image data of at least one monitored area onboard the aircraft;
an onboard server supported on the aircraft, the onboard server being in communication with the IP network for receiving data, the onboard server being configured to store data;
an onboard processor supported on the aircraft, the onboard processor being in communication with at least one of the following:
the IP network, the at least one camera, and the onboard server;
the onboard processor being configured to receive data generated by at least one of the following:
the IP network, the at least one camera, and the onboard server,
the onboard processor being operable to process data to provide processed data, the processed data including processed visual image data, the onboard processor being in communication with the IP network to provide to the IP network processed data;
the transmitted data including processed visual image data, the processed image data being received by the remote receiving station, when received by the remote receiving station the processed visual image data corresponding on a near real-time basis with the visual image data.
3. A surveillance system for monitoring an aircraft while in route to a destination, the surveillance system comprising:
a. a plurality of sensors mounted on the aircraft and adapted for generating data in response to conditions occurring on the aircraft, the data being generated on a near real-time basis in relation to conditions on the aircraft;
b. a remote receiving station, the remote receiving station being remote from the aircraft;
c. a wireless transmitter onboard the aircraft for transmitting data to the remote receiving station;
d. an onboard IP network supported on the aircraft, the onboard IP network being in communication with the plurality of sensors to convey data received from the plurality of sensors;
wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is a portable wireless panic button device, the portable wireless panic button device being supported for movement in common with a person aboard the aircraft, the portable wireless panic button device being manually operable by a person aboard the aircraft to generate panic button data, the panic button data corresponding to one of a plurality of event conditions potentially existing aboard the aircraft, the panic button data identifying at the remote receiving station one of the plurality of event conditions, the wireless panic button device being in wireless communication with the IP network to provide the panic button data to the IP network, the IP network being in communication with the wireless transmitter to provide the panic button data to the wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter being operable to transmit the panic button data to the remote receiving station;
wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one camera supported on the aircraft, the at least one camera being operable to provide visual image data of at least one monitored area onboard the aircraft;
e. an onboard server supported on the aircraft, the onboard server being in communication with the IP network for receiving data, the onboard server being configured to store data;
f. an onboard processor supported on the aircraft, the onboard processor being in communication with at least one of the following: the IP network, the at least one camera and the onboard server;
the onboard processor being configured to receive data generated by at least one of the following: the IP network, the at least one camera and the onboard server; the onboard processor being operable to process data to provide processed data, the processed data including processed visual image data, the onboard processor being in communication with the IP network to provide to the IP network processed data; and the transmitted data including processed visual image data; the processed image data being received by the remote receiving station, when received by the remote receiving station the processed visual image data corresponding on a near real-time basis with the visual image data.