Device for prohibiting unauthorized use of electronic devices

• US 6,151,493 A
• Filed: 12/30/1997
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ryujin Fujinomaki
• Original Assignee: Miyake Co Ltd
• Inventors: Sasakura, Toyoki, Miyamoto, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US09/000,764
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 455/69, 455/66, 455/410, 455/421, 455/411, 455/456, 455/565, 455/575, 455/11.1, 455/134, 248/825.69, 248/825.72, 340/539, 340/568.6, 340/573.1, 340/568, 340/571, 340/572, 340/573, 340/686.6, 340/686.1, 340/573.4
• US Class Current: 455/421
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1418 Removal detected by failure in electrical connection between the appliance and a control centre, home control panel or a power supply
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0213 System disabling if a separation threshold is exceeded disabling electrical appliances in case of unplugging G08B13/1409
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

A use prohibition system which can disable a cellular phone or any other device if it separates more than a predetermined distance from the user, and at the same time give a warning to the user. It includes an identification signal transmission unit and a use prohibition mode canceling unit attached or mounted to the cellphone. Each unit has a transmitter and a receiver. The receiver of the canceling unit receives an ID code signal from the transmission unit and produces, based on the ID signal received, a use prohibition canceling signal. The canceling unit returns a confirmation signal to the transmission unit. If the two units separate more than a predetermined distance from each other, the levels of the ID signal and the confirmation signal received by the respective units drop below a predetermined value. Thus, the canceling unit stops producing the canceling signal to disable the cellphone, while the transmission unit sounds an alarm.

Claims

1. A device for prohibiting unauthorized use of an electronic device, the device comprising:

an identification code transmission unit comprising;

a first transmitter for transmitting an identification code signal at a constant level;

a first receiver for receiving a confirmation signal;

an alarm mechanism being activated when the confirmation signal received by said first receiver is below a predetermined value;

a use prohibition canceling unit comprising;

a second transmitter for transmitting the confirmation signal at a constant level;

a second receiver for receiving the identification code signal; and

said use prohibition canceling unit maintaining the electronic device in an operational state while the identification code signal received by said second receiver is at or above the predetermined value, and when the identification code signal is below the predetermined value, said use prohibition canceling unit at least partially disabling the electronic device.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a cellular phone.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said identification code transmission unit further comprises a first transmit-receive control timer for transmitting the identification code signal and receiving the confirmation code signal as intermittent signals and said use prohibition canceling unit further comprises a second transmit-receive control timer for transmitting the confirmation code signal and receiving the identification code signal as intermittent signals.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of the identification code signal and the confirmation signal comprises a binarized pseudo-irregular signal and a particular code signal.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the identification code signal and the confirmation signal comprises a binarized pseudo-irregular signal and a particular code signal.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said identification code transmission unit further comprises a first transmit-receive control timer for transmitting the identification code signal and receiving the confirmation code signal as intermittent signals and said use prohibition canceling unit farther comprises a second transmit-receive control timer for transmitting the confirmation code signal and receiving the identification code signal as intermittent signals.

7. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said identification code transmission unit and said use prohibition canceling unit each further comprise:

a timing signal generator for producing a timing signal based on the binarized pseudo-irregular signal; and

a signal presence determination unit for receiving the timing signal, judging within a predetermined time if the particular signal coincides with its own code, determining whether the particular signal is higher than the predetermined value, and determining whether said identification code transmission unit and said use prohibition canceling unit are more than a predetermined distance from each other.

8. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said identification code transmission unit further comprises a first transmit-receive control timer for transmitting the identification code signal and receiving the confirmation code signal as intermittent signals and said use prohibition canceling unit further comprises a second transmit-receive control timer for transmitting the confirmation code signal and receiving the identification code signal as intermittent signals.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification code signal and the confirmation signal comprise the same signal.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said use prohibition canceling unit transmits a use prohibition canceling signal to the electronic device to maintain the electronic device in the operational state while the identification code signal received by said second receiver is at or above the predetermined value, and when the identification code signal is below the predetermined value, said use prohibition canceling unit stops transmitting the use prohibition canceling signal to the electronic device to at least partially disable the electronic device.