Retriggerable sleep timer with user-prompting mode operation
US5153580A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 16, 1990 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 16, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04N21/47
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A sleep timer function for consumer electronics equipment automatically turns off the equipment after a predetermined time interval. During the final two minutes of the sleep time interval, the sleep timer circuitry gradually decreases the volume or provides a visual indication that automatic turn off is imminent. The reception of any modulated infrared (IR) signal, transmitted from any source, during the timer period is interpreted by the sleep timer function controller as an indication that the use is still awake. In response, the controller resets the count of the sleep timer to the maximum period, thus deferring the automatic turn off of the equipment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.