Programmable appliance controller
First Claim
1. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
- A. switch means having a control input, a source input and a source output;
B. first means for coupling said source output to said device;
C. second means for coupling an energy source to said source input;
D. means for receiving a control signal at said control input, wherein the presence of said control signal at said control input enables the coupling of said energy source from said source input to said source output; and
E. means for generating said control signal comprising1. means for providing the current time of day,2. storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated, said storage means including a plurality of storage locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined time interval, and wherein each of said periods of time is comprised of at least one of said predetermined time intervals,3. means for entering into said storage means information defining anyone of said periods of time, said information including the requirement for only a start time and a stop time for each of said periods of time, and4. means, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Programmable apparatus for providing random on/off control of electrical devices such as appliances. Such control may be programmed for an entire week, with different programming for each day, and with programming control over small blocks of time, e.g. thirty minutes. Programming is secured by the use of a combination or lock and, in addition, the AC line cord of the electrical device, which receives or does not receive AC power depending upon the status of the program, is locked into the apparatus. During operation, the program in the apparatus may be interrogated and displayed; otherwise the time of day is displayed. The apparatus also includes a look-ahead feature, turning on an appliance, such as a television set, earlier than programmed in order to provide sufficient warm-up time.
81 Citations
46 Claims
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1. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
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A. switch means having a control input, a source input and a source output; B. first means for coupling said source output to said device; C. second means for coupling an energy source to said source input; D. means for receiving a control signal at said control input, wherein the presence of said control signal at said control input enables the coupling of said energy source from said source input to said source output; and E. means for generating said control signal comprising 1. means for providing the current time of day, 2. storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated, said storage means including a plurality of storage locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined time interval, and wherein each of said periods of time is comprised of at least one of said predetermined time intervals, 3. means for entering into said storage means information defining anyone of said periods of time, said information including the requirement for only a start time and a stop time for each of said periods of time, and 4. means, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
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A. means for generating a control signal; B. means for coupling said control signal for receipt by said device, wherein the presence of said control signal enables the operation of said device; and
whereinC. said means for generating comprises 1. means for providing the current time of day, 2. storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated, said storage means including a plurality of storage locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined time interval, and wherein each of said periods of time comprises at least one of said predetermined time intervals, 3. means for entering into said storage means information defining anyone of said periods of time, said information including the requirement for only a start time and a stop time for each of said periods of time, and 4. means, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal.
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27. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
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A. means for generating a control signal; B. means for coupling said control signal for receipt by said device, wherein the presence of said control signal enables the operation of said device; and
whereinC. said means for generating comprises 1. means for providing the current time of day, 2. storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated, 3. means for entering into said storage means information defining anyone of said periods of time, said information including the requirement for only a start time and a stop time for each of said periods of time, and 4. means, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal; and
whereinD. said storage means includes a plurality of locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined time interval, wherein the time between said start time and said stop time includes a plurality of said predetermined time intervals; and
wherein said apparatus further comprisesE. means, responsive to the entering into said storage means said start and stop times, for storing an indicia in each of said locations corresponding to said plurality of said predetermined time intervals between said start time and said stop time.
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28. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
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A. means for generating a control signal; B. means for coupling said control signal for receipt by said device, wherein the presence of said control signal enables the operation of said device; and
whereinC. said means for generating comprises 1. means for providing the current time of day, 2. storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated, said storage means including a plurality of storage locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined time interval, and wherein each of said periods of time comprises at least one of said predetermined time intervals, said information for each of said predetermined time intervals having either of two states, wherein a first said state indicates that said control signal is to be generated and wherein a second said state indicates that said control signal is not to be generated, and 3. means, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
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A. means for generating a control signal; B. means for coupling said control signal for receipt by said device, wherein the presence of said control signal enables the operation of said device;
whereinC. said means for generating comprises - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 35, 36, 37, 39)
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31. means for providing the current time of day,storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated,means, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal, wherein said device includes a connector plug for connection to an energy source, and wherein said apparatus further comprises
D. receptacle means for receiving said connector plug of said device; - and
E. means for securing said connector plug to said receptacle means so that said plug may not be removed, said means for securing comprising 1. cover plate for placement over said plug and said receptacle means, and 2. means for locking said cover plate in placement over said plug and said receptacle means.
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34. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
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A. means for generating a control signal; B. means for coupling said control signal for receipt by said device, wherein the presence of said control signal enables the operation of said device;
whereinC. said means for generating comprises 1. means for providing the current time of day, 2. storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated, and 3. means, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal; D. means for setting a combination for use in preventing unauthorized use of said apparatus; E. means for entering said combination each time said information in said storage means is to be changed; and F. means for disabling any change of said information in said storage means if said combination entered by said means for entering is not the same as said combination set by said means for setting.
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38. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
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A. means for generating a control signal; B. means for coupling said control signal for receipt by said device, wherein the presence of said control signal enables the operation of said device;
whereinC. said means for generating comprises 1. means for providing the current time of day, 2. storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated, and 3. means, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal; D. means for entering a signal indicating that one of said periods of time stored in said storage means be visually displayed; and E. means, responsive to said means for entering, for displaying said one of said periods of time stored in said storage means. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 43, 46)
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42. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
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A. means for generating a control signal; B. means for coupling said control signal for receipt by said device, wherein the presence of said control signal enables the operation of said device; and
whereinC. said means for generating comprises 1. means for providing the current time of day, 2. storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated, said storage means including a plurality of storage locations, each of said locations corresponding to a predetermined time interval, and wherein each of said periods of time comprises at least one of said predetermined time intervals, and 3. means, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal; D. means for placing said device either by a normal mode or a control mode, said normal mode enabling the operation of said device independent of said information stored in said storage means and said control mode enabling the operation of said device subject to said information stored in said storage means, and E. means for enabling the operation of said device under the control of said apparatus and subject to said information stored in said storage means after switching, in response to said means for placing, from said normal mode to said control mode.
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44. Controller apparatus for controlling the operation of a device, said apparatus comprising:
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A. switch means having a control input, a source input and a source output; B. first means for coupling said source output to said device; C. second means for coupling an energy source to said source input; D. means for receiving a control signal at said control input, wherein the presence of said control signal at said control input enables the coupling of said energy source from said source input to said source output; and E. means for generating said control signal comprising;
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45. means for providing the current time of day,storage means for storing information indicative of at least one period of time of a potential plurality of periods of time during which said control signal is to be generated, said storage means including a plurality of storage locations, said plurality of locations including a plurality of groups of locations, each of said groups of locations for storing said information indicative of different ones of said periods of time,means for entering into said storage means information defining anyone of said periods of time, said information including the requirement for only a start time and a stop time for each of said periods of time, andmeans, responsive to said current time of day and said information stored in said storage means, for enabling the generation of said control signal.
Specification