Electrical and electronic appliance lock
First Claim
1. An electronic appliance lock comprising:
- a capture means for securing an appliance power plug;
a power means for drawing power from a suitable source of electricity;
a power switching means for controlling the flow of power from said suitable source of electricity to said appliance power plug, said power switching means controlled by a control signal;
an entry means for entering password data and input parameters;
a memory means for storing power control parameters, wherein said power control parameters indicate, according to predetermined power control criteria, whether said control signal is to be asserted; and
a processing means coupled to said entry means, said memory means, and said power switching means, for processing said input parameters received from said entry means and modifying said power control parameters only when said password data received from said entry means matches predetermined password criteria, said processing means also asserting said control signal according to said power control parameters and said predetermined power control criteria.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic appliance lock can be used on televisions and other appliances for which use control is sought. In one embodiment, the lock sits atop a television set or is manufactured integrally with the television. In another embodiment the lock is made to plug directly into an electrical socket. Input and output are done by either keys and a display on the lock itself, or by using a remote control device and using the television screen as a display. The lock is capable of limiting use of the controlled appliance to either a fixed number of hours per preset allotment period, as well as blocking use during specified periods of time. In some embodiments access to one or more channels is regulated.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An electronic appliance lock comprising:
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a capture means for securing an appliance power plug; a power means for drawing power from a suitable source of electricity; a power switching means for controlling the flow of power from said suitable source of electricity to said appliance power plug, said power switching means controlled by a control signal; an entry means for entering password data and input parameters; a memory means for storing power control parameters, wherein said power control parameters indicate, according to predetermined power control criteria, whether said control signal is to be asserted; and a processing means coupled to said entry means, said memory means, and said power switching means, for processing said input parameters received from said entry means and modifying said power control parameters only when said password data received from said entry means matches predetermined password criteria, said processing means also asserting said control signal according to said power control parameters and said predetermined power control criteria. - 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 television lock comprising:
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a power switching means; a memory means for storing variables, said variables comprising at least one password variable and at least one power control parameter; an input means for user entry of values for said stored variables; a display means for display of said stored variables; a clock means for tracking the passage of time; and a processing means for gathering data from said input means and said clock means, for supplying data to said display means for display, and for controlling the television display by controlling power flow to the television using said power switching means, thereby limiting use of the television, wherein said processing means alters said at least one power control parameter only when a password value of said values matches said at least one password variable. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification