Programmable automatic power-off system for a digital terminal

• US 4,665,536 A
• Filed: 03/10/1986
• Issued: 05/12/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Burroughs Incorporated (Terreno Realty Corp.)
• Inventors: Kim, Dongsung R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heyman, John S.
• Application Number:
  US06/837,991
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 377/16, 235/377, 364/707
• US Class Current: 713/321
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands

Abstract

A programmable unit for attachment to a work-station whereby power to the work-station will be shut off after a pre-set time-period, unless work-station activity occurs before the outset of the time-period, when the pre-set time-period will initiate again.

Claims

1. An apparatus for effectuating power turn-off to a work station terminal after a programmatically preset time period, comprising in combination:

(a) means for receiving coded timing data from said terminal and providing data and control signals to a timing means;

(b) said timing means for clocking off said coded timing data and generating a time-out signal when the time period represented by said coded timing data has run out;

(c) power control means for controlling the supply of power to said terminal, said power controlling means including;

(c1) means to turn off power to said terminal upon receiving said time-out signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for receiving includes:

(a) decoding means for translating output data from said terminal into a coded time parameter;

(b) control logic means for generating control signals for said timing means;

(c) said coded time parameter being operator-generated from said work station terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said timing means includes:

(a) internal clock means for generating clock signals for measuring the passage of time; and

clocking a register means and counter means;

(b) said register means for holding said coded time parameter;

(c) said counter means for counting clocks until the count indicates the time period set in said register means, and including;

(c1) means to generate a time-out signal for transmittal to a gating means;

(d) gating means for generating a power-off signal to said power control means.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said control logic means includes:

(a) means to enable said counter means to count said clock signals from said internal clock means;

(b) means to enable said register means to receive said coded time parameter.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said gating means includes:

(a) means for enabling or disabling said time out signal to/from being transferred to said power control means.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said gating means includes:

(a) an AND gate having first and second inputs, and including;

(a1) a power-off output line to said power control means

(a2) said first input for receiving an enable/disable signal from a timer enable flip-flop;

(a3) said second input for receiving said time-out signal; and

(b) said timer enable flip-flop for temporarily disabling said gating means during start-up of power-on.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 which includes:

(a) means to inhibit said gating means from generating a power-off signal during the initial turn on of power to the said terminal.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means to inhibit includes:

(a) a timer enable flag flip-flop, connected to said control logic means, and operating to prevent activation of said AND gate during initial turn-on of power to the said apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said power control means includes:

(a) manual activation means for controlling the on-off condition of power to said terminal and to said power turn-off apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 which includes:

(a) means to cancel-out a set time-out period which has been running.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 which includes:

(a) means to sense any sending/receiving activity by said terminal;

(b) means, responsive to said sensing means, for re-initiating a new time-out period.

12. An apparatus for automatic power turn-off of a work station terminal comprising:

(a) a digital terminal having keyboard means for transmitting instructions and data to said apparatus;

(b) register means, responsive to said keyboard means, for setting a coded number representing a selected time period;

(c) counter means, connected to said register means, for providing a time-out signal to a gating means;

(d) power control relay means connected to supply power to said digital terminal and connected to receive a control signal from said gating means;

(e) control logic means for controlling said register means and said counter means;

(f) gating means for providing a power-off signal to said power control relay means, said gating means including;

(f1) inhibiting signal input means to prevent said power-off signal from activation.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 which includes:

(a) flag flip-flop means, responsive to said control logic means to temporarily inhibit said gating means during initial power turn-on.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said power control relay means includes:

(a) manual operating means for manual control of the power on/power off condition to said work station terminal and said apparatus.