Apparatus and method for user control of appliances
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for limiting usage of an associated appliance to an authorized user, comprising:
- a regulating means configured to regulate operation of the associated appliance;
at least one authorizing unit associated with an authorized user, said authorizing unit configured to transmit a signal representative of a unique message;
wherein said regulating means is further configured to receive said signal;
wherein said regulating means is further configured to calculate a differential strength of said signal to identify a spatial relationship of said at least one authorizing unit relative to said regulating means; and
wherein said regulating means is further configured to enable the associated appliance only in response to said unique message corresponding to a predetermined message and said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within a predetermined spatial relationship to said associated appliance.
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Abstract
Apparatus and a method of controlling operation of a wide variety of appliances so the appliance can only be used by an authorized individual, and then only under certain specified conditions. The apparatus and method provide safe use of the appliance since presumably the person authorized to use the appliance is trained in its use, and where circumstances warrant, knows how to use the appliance safely. It is a particular advantage of the invention to prevent unsafe use of the appliance, even by an authorized user.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for limiting usage of an associated appliance to an authorized user, comprising:
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a regulating means configured to regulate operation of the associated appliance;
at least one authorizing unit associated with an authorized user, said authorizing unit configured to transmit a signal representative of a unique message;
wherein said regulating means is further configured to receive said signal;
wherein said regulating means is further configured to calculate a differential strength of said signal to identify a spatial relationship of said at least one authorizing unit relative to said regulating means; and
wherein said regulating means is further configured to enable the associated appliance only in response to said unique message corresponding to a predetermined message and said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within a predetermined spatial relationship to said associated appliance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for limiting usage of an appliance to at least one authorized user, comprising:
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regulating activation of the appliance from a deactivated state with an electronic control unit having first and second signal receivers;
emitting a signal representative of a unique message from an at least one authorizing unit;
receiving said signal at said first and second signal receivers;
calculating a differential strength of said signal received at said first and second signal receivers;
identifying a spatial relationship between said at least one authorizing unit emitting said signal and said electronic control unit; and
responsive to said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within a predetermined limited spatial volume relative to said electronic unit, and to said unique message corresponding to a predetermined message, activating the appliance for a predetermined interval. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for use with an appliance to enable usage of the appliance by at least one authorized user, comprising:
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an interrogation means and an authorizing means, one of which is associated with the appliance to be used and the other of which with a person authorized to use the appliance, the interrogation means providing an interrogation signal to the authorizing means, the authorizing means providing a response signal in reply to the interrogation signal, and the interrogation means enabling the appliance for use by the person only if the response signal is an appropriate response and if the response signal is directed to the interrogation means from within a predetermined spatial region;
said interrogation means including a first antenna by which the interrogation signal is transmitted and a second antenna through which the response signal is received; and
,a third antenna aligned in a different direction than said second antenna, the authorizing means disabling operation of the appliance for so long as a response signal is received from said third antenna.
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Specification