KR20030071345A - Timer having Alarm Function - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A timer having an alarm function is provided to generate alarm signals if the user uses the PC over the preset time. CONSTITUTION: The device comprises an input terminal, an output consent, a display, a time setter(10), an output consent sensor(13), an output current sensor(14), and an alarm sound generator(15). The input terminal connects to an external power supply. The output consent, connected to the input terminal, supplies the electric power for a PC. The display displays a usable time span and a current time. The time setter(10) sets or modifies the usable time span or the current time. The output consent sensor(13) senses whether a PC power plug is detached from the output consent. The output current sensor(14) senses the current flowing between the output consent and the input terminal. The alarm sound generator(15) generates the alarm sound if the set usable time has passed and the current between the output consent and the input terminal is sensed by the sensor(14).

Description

Timer with Alarm Function

The present invention relates to a timer having a function of causing an alarm to sound when a set computer usable time has elapsed.

As computers spread rapidly, children or students use computers excessively for a long time, causing various social problems such as eye diseases, headaches, learning disabilities, and sleep disorders.

The present invention provides a timer having a function of causing an alarm to sound when the computer is used after a preset usable time in order to solve the problem of using the computer for a long time.

1 is an external schematic diagram of the present invention.

2 is an internal configuration diagram of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

1: Input terminal 2: Timer

3: output outlet 4: display window

5: Select button 6: Current time adjustment button

7: time adjustment button 8: forced use button

9: key

First, the configuration of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

The present invention provides an input terminal (1) for applying an external power source, and an external power source input through the input terminal (1) is output through the timer (2) of the present invention and an output outlet (3) for use as a power source of a computer. The timer 2 is again composed of a display window 4 displaying the available time zone and the current time, and a start / end time selection button 5 for selecting whether to set a start time and an end time of the available time zone. ), A time adjustment button (6), a start / end time selection button (5), or a current time adjustment button (6) for selecting whether to adjust the current time, to adjust the time for increasing / decreasing the corresponding time ( 7), a forced use button (8) for selecting when the computer is to be used at a time other than the available time zone displayed on the display window (4), enabling to adjust the available time zone and the current time, and to the output outlet (3). Connected It is possible to stop the alarm that is sounded when the plug is unplugged, and consists of a key 9 configured to work with the forced use button 8 when the computer is to be used at a time other than the available time zone.

Now, the operation of the present invention according to this configuration will be described.

First, in order to set a time zone in which the computer can be used, the start / end time selection button 5 is continuously pressed while the key 9 is inserted so that the cursor is positioned in the hour / minute area of the start / end time. When the cursor is located at the hour and minute position to be adjusted, the time adjustment button 7 is used to set the desired hour and minute.

Next, in order to adjust the current time, press and hold the current time adjustment button 6 while pressing the key 9 to move the cursor to the hour and minute position, and then use the time adjustment button 7 to set the current time. To match.

If you set the available time zone and the current time, if the user (for example, students, children) to use the computer beyond the available time zone, the alarm is triggered by an alarm (not shown) installed inside the timer (2), If the user turns off the computer or receives the key 9 from the parent and does not insert the key, the alarm continues to sound.

In particular, while using a real computer, it may be necessary to use the computer in a time zone other than the available time zone. In this case, by pressing the force button 8 with the key 9 inserted, the force mode is used. When switched to, the timer 2 allows the computer to continue to be used without causing an alarm to sound while the key 9 is inserted.

In addition, when the user uses the computer by unplugging the plug from the output outlet (3) where the plug for powering the computer is inserted while the key (9) is not inserted for unauthorized use, If the computer is powered directly without powering the computer via the device of the present invention) or if the plug is unplugged from the output outlet 3 by itself, an alarm will sound as soon as it is removed.

Now, an internal configuration of the timer of the present invention for implementing the above-described operation will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

When the desired operation mode and time are inputted by the time setting / adjustment button 10 (corresponding to the reference numerals 5 to 7 of FIG. 1), the CPU 11 processes the liquid crystal display device 12 (see FIG. 1). The current time and available time zone are indicated in the symbol 4).

The output outlet monitoring sensor 13 checks whether the plug is unplugged and sends the result to the central processing unit 11. The output current monitoring sensor 14 also sends to the central processing unit 11 whether the user is using a computer. If the output outlet monitoring sensor 13 recognizes that the output outlet is missing, the central processing unit 11 generates an alarm in the speaker 15.

In addition, the output current monitoring sensor 14 transmits the information from the output current monitoring sensor 14 to the computer, and if the central processing unit 11 is using the computer and is not in the available time zone, the key 9 and the force button 8 are pressed. If the key 9 is not checked and the forced use button 8 is not pressed, an alarm will sound.

In addition, although not shown in FIG. 2, the user intentionally or unknowingly cuts off the power supply of the input terminal 1 for the timer 2 of the present invention so that the alarm does not sound and the power supply is directly removed by unplugging the output outlet 3. If you do not have a built-in backup battery, the alarm will not sound. Therefore, if the built-in battery is placed in the timer 2 of the present invention in preparation for such a case, an alarm will sound even in this case.

Now, the key 16 (corresponding to reference numeral 9 in FIG. 1) will be described.

The central processing unit 11 checks whether it is the correct key 16, and if it is the correct key, it is possible to set the operation mode, modify the time, set the forced use, etc., but if it is not the correct key 16, the operation is not executed.

In general, there are two types of mechanical and electronic keys. The mechanical type uses a tooth or magnet to rotate the key if it is a correct tooth arrangement or a magnetic polarity arrangement. To be. However, this mechanical key has a disadvantage of being relatively easy to duplicate. Therefore, it is preferable to use an electronic key.

However, even in an electronic key, if a key stores arbitrary data, and this key is inserted into the main body, a method of checking whether the data is delivered to the main body and checking whether it is a correct key can be used. There is a disadvantage that can be easily known through the probe. Therefore, it is preferable that the electronic key be able to easily find out the encryption data of the key from the outside.

For this purpose, the microprocessor 20 is embedded in the electronic key 16 as shown in FIG. 2 and the electronic key 16 is detected when the electronic key 16 is inserted into the central processing unit 11. Instructs the microprocessor 20 to send the password, and the electronic key 16 sends the password stored in the memory of the electronic key 16 to the central processing unit 11 through the output port 21, and the central processing unit 11 ) Can be used to read the password and recognize that the correct key is inserted.

In this method, since the password appears at the output port 21 only at the moment the password is transmitted to the central processing unit 11, it is difficult to know the password from the outside, and because it is difficult to know which part of the memory is the password, the password is easily Difficult to know

Next, a description will be given of a method of detecting the disconnection (unplugging) of the computer plug from the output outlet 3.

First, when the mechanical plug is inserted, the force pushed by the resin body or the conductor tip of the plug may push the elastic contact built into the outlet of the timer 2 of the present invention to detect that the plug is inserted. When the sensor is installed in an outlet to block the propagation path of the infrared sensor when the plug body or the conductor tip is inserted, it can be detected that the plug is inserted into the output outlet 3. Next, we will look at how to detect whether you are using a computer.

When using a computer, at least a few hundred amperes of current flow through it. The detection of whether or not a computer is used is the detection of this current. In other words, if a sensor that senses current is placed on the wire between the input terminal (1) and the output outlet (3), if the current sensed by this sensor is large enough to determine that the computer is in use, do. One example of such a current sensing sensor is to use a conventional current sensing sensor that uses a coil wound core to install one strand of the conductor so that a voltage is induced in the coil when current flows in the conductor.

Next, in the case of a computer system, there are plugs for the main body, the monitor, the printer, and the scanner, which will be described with reference to which plug is connected to the output outlet 3.

The minimum unit for using a computer is to use the main body and the monitor, and if the main body plug is inserted into the output outlet 3 of the present invention, the alarm ringing is stopped quickly when the computer is used after the available time period. In some cases, the computer may be powered off via the main unit's power switch without going through an appropriate procedure for shutting down the computer (system shutdown procedure) .This may cause a problem such as breaking a running program or damaging the hard disk. can do.

However, in order to use a computer, the image of the monitor must be viewed in the end, so when the power plug of the monitor is connected to the output outlet 3 of the present invention, when the alarm sounds, select the computer system shutdown selection menu and turn off the monitor. With the computer stopped, the computer goes through a shutdown procedure that safely turns off the computer.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the principles and concepts of the present invention. For example, the timer of the present invention can be used not only for a computer but also for various electric devices such as television and audio.

If the above configuration, the alarm will sound when the available time elapses, which can solve various problems caused by using the computer for a long time.

Claims (8)

An input terminal to which an external power source is connected, An output outlet connected to the input terminal and supplying power to an electric device; A display device for displaying a usable time zone and a current time of the electric device; A time setting / adjusting device for setting and adjusting the available time zone and the current time; An output outlet monitoring sensor for detecting that the power plug of the computer is disconnected from the output outlet; An output current monitoring sensor configured to detect a current flowing between the input terminal and the output outlet; And a speech device for sounding an alarm when the available time period has passed and the output current monitoring sensor determines that the electric device is in use. The timer according to claim 1, further comprising a key for enabling the time setting / adjusting device to operate. 3. The timer according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a key for enabling forced use of the electrical device. 4. The timer according to claim 3, further comprising a forced use button for selecting the forced use. 3. The timer according to claim 2, wherein the key is an electronic key having a microprocessor and a storage device therein. 4. The timer according to claim 3, wherein the key is an electronic key having a microprocessor and a storage device therein. The timer having an alarm function according to claim 1, wherein said output outlet monitoring sensor is an elastic contact type which is operated by a pushing force of a part of a plug inserted into an outlet. The timer having an alarm function according to claim 1, wherein the output outlet monitoring sensor is electronically sensed as a part of a plug inserted into an outlet blocks a path of radio waves.