Home entertainment equipment control apparatus
First Claim
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.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Home entertainment equipment control apparatus for limiting user access and limiting operation time. In various embodiments, the apparatus may limit the allowed operation time for one user or several specified users. In a more sophisticated embodiment, the apparatus is programmable to control the time periods during which home entertainment equipment may be used, as well as the total time for which the equipment may be used and time period durations of use by specified individual users.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
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.
- 2. Apparatus for recording and controlling the use of home entertainment equipment, comprising a housing means having a hinged door with locking means that encloses and restricts access to a compartment within the housing means containing programming components and power control components, and an appliance plug receptacle, the compartment having an opening for receiving an appliance electrical cord, the apparatus further comprising a first cumulative time monitoring means and display means that monitors and displays total amount of time that a controlled appliance has been operating since a last time the cumulative time display was set and a second resettable time monitoring and display means connected to an operation control means by electrical circuitry such that when the control means acitvates power to the controlled appliance, the resettable time display means automatically resets from a previous elapsed time display and begins monitoring and displaying current elapsed operation time.
- 15. Apparatus for recording and controlling the use of home entertainment equipment, comprising a housing means having a locking door that encloses and restricts access to a compartment within the housing means containing power control components and an appliance plug receptacle, the power control components consisting of a manual override switch, the compartment also having an opening for receiving an appliance electrical cord, the apparatus further comprising additional power control means accessible from an external surface of the housing means, time monitoring means and display means, one display indicating cumulative operating time for recording total time of appliance use since last set.
- 18. Television appliance use monitoring apparatus, comprising a box, a first resettable timer mounted within the box and having a face visible on an outside of the box for recording total time of appliance use since last set, a connector in the box for receiving a power cord from a television appliance, a second power cord extending from the box, and a plug connected to the second power cord for connecting the second power cord to a wall outlet, and conductors within the box connected to the timer and to the connector for operating the timer when power is drawn on the television appliance cord and a second timer mounted within the box for automatically resetting and monitoring current elapsed time operation.
Specification