Electronic apparatus for an automobile

• US 5,517,345 A
• Filed: 10/12/1993
• Issued: 05/14/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Joaille, Jean-Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCAL, LESLIE C
• Application Number:
  US08/135,766
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 359/147, 359/146, 359/144, 359/142, 359/148, 455/151.1, 455/346, 455/151.2, 455/152.1, 368/223-224, 368/277-278, 340/825.69, 340/825.31, 340/825.72, 340/825.44
• US Class Current: 398/112
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/30 Parking meters registering or indicating waiting time of vehicles by means driven by the vehicle G07C5/02; coin-freed parking meters G07F17/24

Abstract

An electronic apparatus for installation in an automobile, such as a radio receiver, includes in a removable part thereof elements which are indispensable to the operation of the apparatus and also elements whereby the removable part can serve an independent function. If, for example, the indispensable elements include a key and a display screen, then simply by also including an audio element in the removable part a parking timer can be formed which alerts the holder of the key against overtime parking.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus for installation in a motor vehicle, said apparatus comprising a removable panel in which is accommodated circuit elements which implement an indispensable function of the apparatus, so that without said panel said apparatus is inoperative;

said circuit elements including touch keys and a display screen;

characterized in that said panel further accommodates an additional circuit element which, when said panel is removed from said apparatus, cooperates with said touch keys and said display screen to implement a further function other than said indispensable function of said apparatus.

2. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said apparatus is a radio receiver.

3. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said apparatus is an on-board clock.

4. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said additional circuit element comprises:

a programmable timer circuit, means for programing said timer circuit to measure a time interval selected by operation of said touch keys, and an audio element which is triggered by said timer circuit when said programmed time interval has expired.

5. An electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said timer circuit controls said display screen to display remaining time of said programmed time interval.