×

Home entertainment equipment control apparatus

  • US 5,051,837 A
  • Filed: 06/06/1990
  • Issued: 09/24/1991
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1990
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. Apparatus for recording and controlling the use of home entertainment equipment, comprising a housing means with a locking door for enclosing and restricting access to a compartment within said housing means, the compartment containing programming and power control components, the programming components comprising buttons for inputting operation time parameters, the buttons comprising a first button for setting a mode that allows for either time duration, or time duration and time period, to be controlled, a second button for inputting time parameters, and a third button for setting the time parameters into play, and the power control component comprising an override switch for circumventing any control functions of the apparatus, and a multi-purpose display for indicating programmed parameters, cumulative operation time for recording total time of appliance use since last set, individual operation time durations, and allowed operation time periods, the display, the control buttons and the override switch all being connected to operation control circuitry within the housing, comprising a power supply with battery backup, the power supply being connected to a power switch which is accessible from an external surface of the housing, the power supply also connected to the override switch within the enclosed compartment, and also connected to a switch controlled by a solenoid, which in turn is connected to and controlled by a microprocessor via electrical signals from a RAM/IO chip, the RAM/IO chip and microprocessor both being connected to a display interface as well, thereby transmitting electrical signals that are converted by the display interface into legible matter appearing on the multi-purpose display.

View all claims
  • 2 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×