Timer apparatus and computer

• US 6,507,910 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2001
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kotani, Seigo
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso, Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US09/864,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20020044647A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168, 713/169, 713/176, 713/182, 713/183, 713/184
• US Class Current: 713/182
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/14 Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/725 operating on a secure reference time value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/87 by means of encapsulation, e.g. for integrated circuits

Abstract

A timer apparatus having a power source, a timer unit for outputting time information to which a time is set via a setting terminal, and a control unit in which a program for permitting set of a time in the timer unit only once is written from the outside via a write terminal and which controls the timer unit. After the program is written to the control unit via the write terminal, the write terminal is disconnected, and the power source, timer unit and control unit are molded integrally. A low-cost timer apparatus in which a time cannot be changed incorrectly can be realized without mounting a processor for performing a complicated process.

Claims

1. A timer apparatus, comprising:

a power source;

a time setting terminal;

a timer unit, that outputs a time information based on a time set by the time setting terminal;

a control unit that controls the timer unit based on a program and permits the timer unit to be set only once; and

a write terminal that writes the program to the control unit, wherein the time setting terminal, the timer unit, the control unit and the write terminal are integrally packed in a package, and after the program is written to the control unit via the write terminal, the write terminal is disconnected, and the power source and package are molded integrally.

2. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises:

a predictor that predicts a term of validity based on a state of the power source at a time when the power source is connected to the timer apparatus or a time is set in the timer unit;

a calculator that calculates a residual term based on the term of validity predicted by the predicting means at an arbitrary time thereafter; and

an output circuit that outputs the residual term calculated by the calculator.

3. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

an authenticator that, when a password is input, judges whether the password is the same as an initial password, and when the authenticator judges that both the passwords are the same, the timer unit outputs the time information.

4. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a password generator that generates an interior password; and

a discriminator that, when an input password is input, judges whether the input password is the same as the interior password, and when the discriminator judges that both the passwords are the same, the timer unit outputs the time information.

5. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an encryptor that encrypts time information output by the timer unit and outputs the encrypted time information.

6. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control unit includes:

a voltage detector that detects a voltage of the power source;

a comparator that compares the voltage with a predetermined value; and

an alertor that, when the voltage is less than the predetermined value, generates a warning signal.

7. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the write terminal is disconnected by at least one of being cut and removed, being melted, and being severed from the package.

8. A timer apparatus, comprising:

a power source;

a time setting terminal;

a timer unit, that outputs a time information based on a time set by the time setting terminal;

a control unit that controls the timer unit based on a program; and

a write terminal that writes the program to the control unit, wherein the setting terminal, the timer unit, the control unit, the write terminal and the circuit are integrally packed in a package, and after the program is written to the control unit via the write terminal, the write terminal is disconnected, and the power source and package are molded integrally.

9. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the control unit comprises:

a predictor that predicts a term of validity based on a state of the power source at a time when the power source is connected to the timer apparatus or a time is set in the timer unit;

a calculator that calculates a residual term based on the term of validity predicted by the predicting means at an arbitrary time thereafter; and

an output circuit that outputs the residual term calculated by the calculator.

10. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

an authenticator that, when a password is input, judges whether the password is the same as an initial password, and when the authenticator judges that both the passwords are the same, the timer unit outputs the time information.

11. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising:

a password generator that generates an interior password; and

a discriminator that, when an input password is input, judges whether the input password is the same as the interior password, and when the discriminator judges that both the passwords are the same, the timer unit outputs the time information.

12. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 8, further comprising an encryptor that encrypts time information output by the timer unit and outputs the encrypted time information.

13. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the control unit includes:

a voltage detector that detects a voltage of the power source;

a comparator that compares the voltage with a predetermined value; and

an alertor that, when the voltage is less than the predetermined value, generates a warning signal.

14. The timer apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the write terminal is disconnected by at least one of being cut and removed, being melted, and being severed from the package.

15. A computer having a timer apparatus, the computer comprising:

a power source;

a time setting terminal;

a timer unit, that outputs a time information based on a time set by the time setting terminal;

a control unit that controls the timer unit based on a program and permits the timer unit to be set only once; and

a write terminal that writes the program to the control unit, wherein the time setting terminal, the timer unit, the control unit and the write terminal are integrally packed in a package, and after the program is written to the control unit via the write terminal, the write terminal is disconnected, and the power source and package are molded integrally.

16. The computer as set forth in claim 15, wherein the control unit comprises:

a predictor that predicts a term of validity based on a state of the power source at a time when the power source is connected to the timer apparatus or a time is set in the timer unit;

a calculator that calculates a residual term based on the term of validity predicted by the predicting means at an arbitrary time thereafter; and

an output circuit that outputs the residual term calculated by the calculator.

17. The computer as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:

an authenticator that, when a password is input, judges whether the password is the same as an initial password, and when the authenticator judges that both the passwords are the same, the timer unit outputs the time information.

18. The computer as set forth in claim 15, further comprising:

a password generator that generates an interior password; and

a discriminator that, when an input password is input, judges whether the input password is the same as the interior password, and when the discriminator judges that both the passwords are the same, the timer unit outputs the time information.

19. The computer as set forth in claim 15, further comprising an encryptor that encrypts time information output by the timer unit and outputs the encrypted time information.

20. The computer as set forth in claim 15, wherein the control unit includes:

a voltage detector that detects a voltage of the power source;

a comparator that compares the voltage with a predetermined value; and

an alertor that, when the voltage is less than the predetermined value, generates a warning signal.

21. The computer as set forth in claim 15, wherein the write terminal is disconnected by at least one of being cut and removed, being melted, and being severed from the package.

22. A computer having a timer apparatus, the timer apparatus comprising:

a power source;

a time setting terminal;

a timer unit, that outputs a time information based on a time set by the time setting terminal;

a control unit that controls the timer unit based on a program; and

a write terminal that writes the program to the control unit, wherein the setting terminal, the timer unit, the control unit, the write terminal and the circuit are integrally packed in a package, and after the program is written to the control unit via the write terminal, the write terminal is disconnected, and the power source and package are molded integrally.

23. The computer as set forth in claim 22, where in the computer comprises:

a predictor that predicts a term of validity based on a state of the power source at a time when the power source is connected to the timer apparatus or a time is set in the timer unit;

a calculator that calculates a residual term based on the term of validity predicted by the predicting means at an arbitrary time thereafter; and

an output circuit that outputs the residual term calculated by the calculator.

24. The computer as set forth in claim 22, further comprising:

an authenticator that, when a password is input, judges whether the password is the same as an initial password, and when the authenticator judges that both the passwords are the same, the timer unit outputs the time information.

25. The computer as set forth in claim 22, further comprising:

a password generator that generates an interior password; and

a discriminator that, when an input password is input, judges whether the input password is the same as the interior password, and when the discriminator judges that both the passwords are the same, the timer unit outputs the time information.

26. The computer as set forth in claim 22, further comprising an encryptor that encrypts time information output by the timer unit and outputs the encrypted time information.

27. The computer as set forth in claim 22, wherein the control unit includes:

a voltage detector that detects a voltage of the power source;

a comparator that compares the voltage with a predetermined value; and

an alertor that, when the voltage is less than the predetermined value, generates a warning signal.

28. The computer as set forth in claim 22, wherein the write terminal is disconnected by at least one of being cut and removed, being melted, and being severed from the package.

29. A method of manufacturing a timer apparatus, comprising:

writing a time information into a timer unit, where the timer unit, a control unit and a write terminal are integrally packed in a package;

disconnecting the write terminal; and

integrally molding a power source and the package.

30. The method of manufacturing a timer apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein the control unit comprises:

predicting a term of validity based on a state of the power source at a time when the power source is connected to the timer apparatus or a time is written into the timer unit;

calculating a residual term based on the term of validity predicted at an arbitrary time thereafter; and

outputting the residual term calculated by the calculator.

31. The method of manufacturing a timer apparatus as set forth in claim 29, further comprising:

when a password is input, judging whether the password is the same as an initial password, and when both the passwords are the judged to be the same, allowing the writing of the time information.

32. The method of manufacturing a timer apparatus as set forth in claim 29, further comprising:

generating an interior password; and

when an input password is input, judging whether the input password is the same as the interior password, and when the passwords are judged to be the same, allowing the writing of the time information.

33. The method of manufacturing a timer apparatus as set forth in claim 29, further comprising:

detecting a voltage of the power source;

comparing the voltage with a predetermined value; and

generating a warning signal, when the voltage is less than the predetermined value.

34. The method of manufacturing a timer apparatus as set forth in claim 29, wherein the write terminal is disconnected by at least one of being cut and removed, being melted, and being severed from the package.