JPH0418380B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to audio equipment such as a cassette tape recorder, and in particular, after the audio equipment is disabled, it cannot be started unless a predetermined password is set. The present invention relates to a device for inhibiting the operation of audio equipment.

Audio equipment such as cassette tape recorders have recently become more sophisticated and more expensive, but if such expensive audio equipment can only be used by specific people and cannot be used by others, it can be damaged or damaged due to mischief. Moreover, even if stolen, it cannot be used, so it can be avoided from being stolen. Conventionally, such expensive audio equipment has not been provided with a means to prohibit third parties from using it, so it has been impossible to prevent mischief and theft by third parties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an audio equipment operation prohibition device that allows only a specific person who knows a password to start the audio equipment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the device for inhibiting the operation of audio equipment according to the present invention is applied to a cassette tape recorder with an in-vehicle radio, and 12A to 12D are tape recorders. Reference numeral 12E indicates operation switches for selecting operation modes such as playback, stop, fast forward, rewind, etc. of the recorder section, and operations of the radio section, and 14A to 14E indicate preset channel selection switches for the radio section. A microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer) 16 outputs a control signal S in response to an operation switch to an operating section 18 consisting of a tape recorder operating section and a radio operating section, and brings the operating section 18 into a selected operating state. . DC power supply (car battery)
20 is directly connected to the microcomputer 16 and the operating section 18, and is also connected to the microcomputer 16 via a power-on switch 22, such as an automobile accessory switch.

The microcomputer 16 includes a monitoring means that monitors a preset prohibition condition and generates a prohibition command L when the prohibition condition is satisfied, and a password input from a password input means to be described later, which is a preset password. , and a prohibition canceling command generating means that generates a prohibition canceling command H in response to the canceling signal from the canceling signal generating means. The above prohibition condition is satisfied by the two operations of closing the prohibition preparation switch 24 provided between the input side of the microcomputer 16 and the ground and opening the power supply switch 22. This prohibition preparation switch 24 is used to prohibit operation at the user's request in addition to emergency situations such as theft. In addition, as described later, in the illustrated embodiment,
Wiring the device to the power source 20 and turning on the power switch 22
It has also come to be satisfied by the two operations of closing and closing.

In the illustrated embodiment, the password input means is also used as the preset tuning switches 14A to 14E, and when these tuning switches 14A to 14E are operated, the number "1" shown in the diagram is displayed.
It generates a signal representing ``5'', and these 5 tuning switches represent 5-digit numbers from ``1, 1, 1, 1, 1'' to ``5, 5, 5, 5, 5''. A PIN number can be generated.

The operation inhibiting device of the present invention further includes an operation inhibiting means for inhibiting and canceling the operation in response to the operation of the operation switch in response to the aforementioned inhibit command L and inhibit command H, respectively. This operation prohibition means consists of prohibition switches 26A to 26E provided between the microcomputer 16 and the operation switches 12A to 12E, respectively. These prohibition switches 26A to 26E are opened by a prohibition command L and closed by a prohibition release command H.

Next, the operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to the program set in the microcomputer 16 shown in FIG. When a cassette tape recorder (equipment) with an in-vehicle radio is installed in a car, first the equipment is connected to the power source 2.
Connected to 0. Power switch 22 is then closed to enable tape play or radio reception. These two consecutive operations by the user satisfy the prohibition condition, a prohibition command L is generated from the microcomputer 16, and the device does not operate even if the operation switches 12A to 12E are pressed to open the prohibition switches 26A to 26E. Here, if the user knows the password and enters the correct password set in advance by the channel selection switches 14A to 14E,
A prohibition release command H is generated from the microcomputer 16 to close the prohibition switches 26A to 26E, so that any one of the operation switches 12A to 12E can be closed to perform a desired operation. The above processing order is shown in blocks 1 to 6 and 13 in FIG. The selected desired action is shown in blocks 14 and 15.
When the process is completed in the order shown, turn the operation switch 12 again.
If any one of A to 12E is closed, the desired operation can be continued.

On the other hand, when the desired operation is completed, the operation switch 12
Prohibition preparation switch 2 without operating A to 12E
4 is closed and the power-on switch 22 is opened, these two consecutive operations by the user satisfy the prohibition conditions, and the microcomputer 16 generates the prohibition command L, so the prohibition switches 26A to 26E open and the operation is prohibited. (See blocks 6-10). Therefore, even if the power-on switch 22 is closed again, the device cannot be operated unless the password is entered (see blocks 11 and 4). Note that even after the prohibition preparation switch 24 is closed, the operation switches 12A to 12
By operating E, it can be brought into operation (see blocks 6, 7, 8, and 12).

In addition, after the operation is completed, the operation switches 12A to 1
If the power on switch 22 is opened without operating both 2E and the prohibition preparation switch 24. This operation by the user does not satisfy the prohibition conditions and the microcomputer 16 does not generate the prohibition command L, so if the power-on switch 22 is closed again, the user can operate only the operation switches 12A to 12E without entering the password. (see blocks 6, 7, 16, 17, 6).

Although the above embodiment shows the case where the present invention is applied to a car-mounted cassette tape recorder with a radio, the present invention can be applied to various other household audio equipment. In addition, prohibition switch 26
The location is not limited to the stage after the mode selection switch, but can be placed in various positions such as between the microcomputer 16 and the operating section 18, and there is no need to provide a prohibition switch. Even if the control signal S
It is also possible to prevent this from occurring and set it in a prohibited state. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the device power supply 20
Although the prohibition conditions include the connection to the power source and the closing of the power supply switch 22, only the operation of the prohibition preparation switch 24 and the opening of the power supply switch 22 may be prohibited conditions.

According to the present invention, as described above, the operation of the prohibition preparation switch and the release of the power supply switch are set as prohibition conditions, and when the prohibition conditions are satisfied, the operation of the audio equipment is disabled, and after that, the password is Since the audio equipment cannot be operated unless the number is entered, there is no possibility of mischief by third parties.
Furthermore, even if the audio device is stolen, the audio device cannot be used, so theft can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram for explaining the location of the device for inhibiting operation of audio equipment according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a program for a microcomputer used to operate the device of the present invention. 12A to 12E...operation switch, 14A to 14E...channel selection switch, 16...microcomputer, 18...operating unit, 20...power supply, 2
4...Prohibition preparation switch, 26A to 26E...
Prohibition switch.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In an audio device that is capable of operating in response to an operation switch on the condition that it is connected to a power source and turned on by a power-on switch, if the operation switch is turned on even though the above-mentioned conditions are satisfied. This is a device that forcibly prohibits the operation, and when the two conditions of closing the manually operable prohibition preparation switch and subsequently opening the power supply switch are satisfied, the operation by the operation switch is forcibly prohibited. operation prohibition means for placing the audio equipment in a prohibited state to prohibit the operation; a password input means for inputting a password; and a password input by the password input means is a predetermined password. and a prohibition cancellation command generation means that generates a prohibition cancellation command in response to the generation of the cancellation signal, and the operation prohibition means is configured such that the operation prohibition means generates a cancellation signal when the prohibition cancellation command is generated. A device for inhibiting operation of an audio device, characterized in that the inhibited state is maintained until the prohibited state is generated. 2. Claim 1, wherein the password input means is a radio tuning switch.
A device that prohibits the operation of audio equipment as described in 2.