Author: claimsbot

1. A vehicle comprising:
an engine case containing at least a portion of an engine;
a speed-changing transmission selectively driven by the engine, the speed changing transmission including a shift shaft and a dog; and
a shift control device arranged to perform shift control of the speed-changing transmission, the shift control device including a shift actuator and an actuation force transmission mechanism, the shift actuator being configured to be stroked by a predetermined amount to move the shift shaft and the dog into and out of engagement,
the actuation force transmission mechanism being disposed outside the engine case and being interposed between the shift actuator and the shift shaft, and the actuation force transmission mechanism including:
first and second coupling parts being sized and configured to be coupled together to provide movement relative to each other;
a biasing mechanism arranged to urge the first and second coupling parts toward a neutral position; and
a stopper mechanism arranged to stop the relative movement of the first and second coupling part when one of the first and second coupling parts is moved relatively from the neutral position against urging force of the biasing mechanism and contacts the stopper mechanism; wherein
the actuation force transmission mechanism is arranged to receive a rotational movement input from the shift actuator and output a rotational movement to the shift shaft.
2. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling parts are coupled so as to slide relative to each other.
3. The vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the biasing mechanism includes a compression spring.
4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first and second coupling parts are coupled for at least rotational movement relative to each other.
5. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the biasing mechanism includes a leaf spring having an elongated, rod shape.
6. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the actuation force transmission mechanism is disposed on the shift shaft.
7. The vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the actuation force transmission mechanism is disposed on a gear shaft of a speed reduction mechanism coupled to the shift actuator.
8. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the shift actuator is coupled to the shift shaft via a coupling mechanism arranged to transmit an actuation force of the shift actuator to the shift shaft, the actuation force transmission mechanism is held by the coupling mechanism.
9. The vehicle according to claim 8, wherein the transmission mechanism is provided in a case held by the coupling mechanism.
10. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the shift actuator is coupled to the shift shaft via a coupling mechanism arranged to transmit an actuation force of the shift actuator; the coupling mechanism being of adjustable length.
11. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second coupling parts is operatively connected to the shift shaft and the other of the first and second coupling parts is operatively connected to the shift actuator.
12. A vehicle comprising:
an engine case containing at least a portion of an engine;
a speed-changing transmission selectively driven by the engine, the speed changing transmission including a shift shaft and a dog; and
a shift control device arranged to perform shift control of the speed-changing transmission, the shift control device including a shift actuator and an actuation force transmission mechanism, the shift actuator being configured to be stroked by a predetermined amount to move the shift shaft and the dog into and out of engagement;
the actuation force transmission mechanism being disposed outside the engine case and being interposed between the shift actuator and the shift shaft, and the actuation force transmission mechanism including:
first and second coupling parts being sized and configured to be coupled together to provide movement relative to each other;
a biasing mechanism arranged to urge the first and second coupling parts toward a neutral position; and
a stopper mechanism arranged to stop the relative movement of the first and second coupling part when one of the first and second coupling parts is moved relatively from the neutral position against urging force of the biasing mechanism and contacts the stopper mechanism; wherein

the transmission mechanism is arranged such that, when a resistive force acts against the movement of the transmission mechanism, the first coupling part moves relative to the second coupling part against the urging force of the biasing mechanism until the first coupling part is stopped by the stopper mechanism, and wherein in response to a continuing resistive force, the first and second coupling parts move together upon the first coupling part being stopped by the stopper mechanism.
13. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the first and second coupling parts are coupled so as to slide relative to each other.
14. The vehicle according to claim 13, wherein the biasing mechanism includes a compression spring.
15. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the first and second coupling parts are coupled for at least rotational movement relative to each other.
16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the biasing mechanism includes a leaf spring having an elongated, rod shape.
17. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the actuation force transmission mechanism is disposed on the shift shaft.
18. The vehicle according to claim 17, wherein the actuation force transmission mechanism is disposed on a gear shaft of a speed reduction mechanism coupled to the shift actuator.
19. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the shift actuator is coupled to the shift shaft via a coupling mechanism arranged to transmit an actuation force of the shift actuator to the shift shaft, the actuation force transmission mechanism is held by the coupling mechanism.
20. The vehicle according to claim 19, wherein the transmission mechanism is provided in a case held by the coupling mechanism.
21. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the shift actuator is coupled to the shift shaft via a coupling mechanism arranged to transmit an actuation force of the shift actuator; the coupling mechanism being of adjustable length.
22. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein one of the first and second coupling parts is operatively connected to the shift shaft and the other of the first and second coupling parts is operatively connected to the shift actuator.
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 microfabricated pressure sensor comprising:
a polymer film providing a raised diaphragm, the raised diaphragm being disposed on a flexible polymer substrate, said diaphragm being configured to bend in response to an applied pressure difference;
a strain gauge of a conductive material coupled to a surface of the raised diaphragm and to at least one of the substrate and a piece rigidly connected to the substrate.
2. A microfabricated shear stress sensor comprising:
a polymer film providing a raised membrane, the raised membrane being disposed on a flexible polymer substrate;
a heated hot-wire element disposed on a surface of the membrane for sensing fluid stress.
3. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the surface of the raised diaphragm is exposed.
4. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the strain gauge comprises a nichrome film formed on the surface of the raised diaphragm.
5. The pressure sensor of claim 1, wherein the polymer film comprises Parylene.
6. The pressure sensor of claim 5, wherein the substrate comprises polyimide.
7. The pressure sensor of claim 1, further comprising:
a plurality of additional pressure sensors disposed in an array on a surface of the substrate, each of said plurality of pressure sensors comprising:
an additional polymer film providing an additional raised diaphragm, the additional raised diaphragm being disposed on the substrate; and
an additional strain gauge of a conductive material coupled to a surface of the additional raised diaphragm and to the substrate.
8. The pressure sensor of claim 7, wherein the array is two-dimensional.
9. The shear stress sensor of claim 2, wherein the surface of the raised membrane is exposed.
10. The shear stress sensor of claim 2, wherein the heated hot-wire element comprises a nickel thermoresistor formed on the surface of the raised membrane.
11. The shear stress sensor of claim 2, wherein the polymer film comprises Parylene.
12. The shear stress sensor of claim 11, wherein the substrate comprises polyimide.
13. The shear stress sensor of claim 2, further comprising:
a plurality of additional shear stress sensors disposed in an array on a surface of the substrate, each of said plurality of shear stress sensors comprising:
an additional polymer film providing an additional raised membrane, the additional raised membrane being disposed on the substrate; and
an additional heated hot-wire element disposed on a surface of the additional raised membrane.
14. The shear stress sensor of claim 13, wherein the array is two-dimensional.
15. A fluid flow sensing device comprising:
an array of sensor nodes disposed on a flexible polymer substrate, each of the sensor nodes comprising at least one microfabricated pressure sensor and at least one microfabricated shear stress sensor;
wherein each of the at least one microfabricated pressure sensor comprises a first polymer film providing a raised diaphragm, the raised diaphragm being disposed on the flexible polymer substrate, said raised diaphragm being configured to bend in response to an applied pressure difference, and a strain gauge of a conductive material coupled to a surface of the raised diaphragm and to at least one of the substrate and a piece rigidly connected to the substrate;
wherein each of the at least one microfabricated shear stress sensor comprises a second polymer film providing a raised membrane, the raised membrane being disposed on the flexible polymer substrate, and a heated hot-wire element disposed on a surface of the membrane for sensing fluid stress.
16. The fluid flow sensing device of claim 15, wherein the array is two-dimensional.
17. The fluid flow sensing device of claim 15, wherein the first polymer film and the second polymer film comprise Parylene.
18. The fluid flow sensing device of claim 17, wherein the flexible polymer substrate comprises polyimide.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of providing photographic products and services, comprising the steps of:
a) selling a photographic film product to a customer;
b) partially exposing the photographic film product;
c) returning the partially exposed photographic film product to a photofinisher; and
d) providing credit to the customer for the unexposed portion of the photographic film product.
2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the photographic film product is a roll of photographic film.
3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the photographic film product is a one-time use camera.
4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the credit is in the form of certificates for photographic products or services.
5. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the credit for photographic product or services are photofinishing services.
6. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the credit for photographic product or services are photofinishing services.
7. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the credit for photographic product or services are credits towards the purchase of film or one-time use cameras.
8. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the credit for photographic product or services are credits toward the purchase of photographic equipment.
9. The method claimed in claim 4, wherein the credit for photographic product or services are credits toward the purchase of photographic digitization services.
10. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein the photographic digitization services are storage on and access to digital images on the Internet.
11. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the photographic film product is an APS cartridge.
12. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the method is used at a special events where the customer purchases the photographic film product from a vendor at the event, uses the photographic film product at the event, and returns the photographic film product to the vendor when leaving the event.
13. The method claimed in a claim 12, wherein the credit arrives with delivery of processed images or other photographic services from the vendor.
14. The method claimed in claim 13, wherein the credit is limited to purchasing event related memorabilia, or event related images taken by a professional photographer.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

What is claimed is:

1. An end-of-life sensor apparatus for an electronic ballast having a direct current power supply including a direct current choke, the direct current power supply coupled to an inverter adapted to power a luminous lamp, the sensor comprising:
an end-of-life sensor coupled to the direct current choke, and adapted to detect an end-of-life lamp condition and generate an end-of-life signal; and
an inverter control circuit electrically adapted to receive the end-of life signal and coupled to the inverter, the inverter control circuit adapted to change the operation of the inverter when the end-of-life signal is received.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a restart inhibit circuit coupled to the inverter.
3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:
a start circuit coupled to the inverter, wherein the restart inhibit circuit is adapted to selectively inhibit operation of the start circuit.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, the end-of-life sensor comprising:
a peak detection circuit coupled to the direct current choke, the peak detection circuit adapted to detect changes in the voltage level across the direct current choke and generate peak pulses; and
a repetitive pulse monitoring circuit adapted to receive the peak pulses, detect an end-of-life lamp condition, and generate the end-of-life signal.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, the peak detection circuit comprising:
a change monitoring component adapted to detect a change from the normal state operating condition of the direct current choke; and
a peak pulse generator coupled to the change monitoring component, the peak pulse generator adapted to generate the peak pulses when the change component detects the change from the normal state operating condition.
6. The apparatus of claim 4, the repetitive pulse monitoring circuit comprising:
a charge storage element adapted to accumulate the pulses from the peak detection circuit to generate the end-of-life signal.
7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising:
a charge rate control element coupled to the charge storage element establishing a charge rate; and
a discharge rate control element coupled to the charge storage element establishing a discharge rate, wherein the charge rate during the peak pulses is faster than the discharge rate.
8. The apparatus of claim 1, the inverter control circuit comprising: a shutdown circuit coupled to the inverter and adapted to stop operation of the inverter.
9. The apparatus of claim 8, the inverter including a forward operating voltage during operation of the inverter, the shutdown circuit comprising:
a reverse voltage generator adapted to generate a reverse polarity voltage; and
a control switch adapted to receive the end-of life signal, the control switch adapted to selectively apply the reverse polarity voltage to the inverter to override the forward operating voltage when the end-of-life signal is received.
10. The apparatus of claim 9, the reverse voltage generator comprising:
a diode series connected to a capacitor, the diode and capacitor connected in parallel with a direct current choke winding.
11. The apparatus of claim 9, the control switch comprising:
an end-of-life signal monitor adapted to detect the end-of-life signal; and
a reverse voltage flow control coupled to the end-of-life signal monitor, the reverse voltage flow control adapted to block the reverse polarity voltage until the end-of life signal monitor detects the end-of-life signal.
12. The apparatus of claim 11, the end-of-life signal monitor comprising:
a Zener diode.
13. The apparatus of claim 11, the reverse voltage flow control comprising:
a thyristor.
14. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising:
a choke capacitor coupled to the direct current choke through a rectifier to establish a peak-detection voltage;.
the change monitoring component including a change capacitor connected in parallel with the choke capacitor through a resistance such that a change voltage across the change capacitor lags the peak-detection voltage across the choke capacitor.
15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising:
a peak detection switch electrically connected to the change capacitor, the peak detection switch adapted to pulse power flow to form the peak pulses for the repetitive pulse monitoring circuit when the difference between the voltages across the change and choke capacitors exceeds an established voltage threshold.
16. The apparatus of claim 3,
the start circuit including a voltage operated switch activated by an operating voltage; and
the restart inhibit circuit including a voltage discharge circuit adapted to remove the operating voltage from the voltage operated switch.
17. The apparatus of claim 16, the restart inhibit circuit further comprising:
a delay circuit adapted to delay operation of the restart inhibit circuit during an initial startup of the ballast.
18. A method for controlling a ballast including a direct current choke and an inverter adapted to power a luminous load, comprising:
detecting an end-of-life load condition on the direct current choke; and
reducing the power provided by the inverter.
19. The method of claim 18, the inverter operating with a first voltage, detecting comprising:
identifying an end-of-life condition as a change from normal state operation on the direct current choke;
generating a canceling voltage to the first voltage; and
canceling at least a portion of the first voltage with the canceling voltage when the end-of-life condition is identified.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:
prohibiting further operation of the inverter after canceling the first voltage.