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AssigneesLa Gard, Inc., Ciposa Microtechniques S.A.
InventorsLarry Cutter, Klaus W. Gartner, Dieter Butterweck, P. Vuilleumier, Jean-Luc Monnier, P-A Sermet
Estimating the term…
A programmable time lock includes a microprocessor, which senses the angular position of a key shaft via a sensor/encoder. The microprocessor includes ROM and RAM memory circuits, a timer, and a clock, and it can activate a stepper motor to control the position of a detent pin. The microprocessor is also connected to a display, which has fields for hours, minutes and seconds, as well as for the days of the week, for a cursor for each day, and for a low-power indicator. System time, as well as opening times for the lock may be set and changed simply by turning the key according to predefined routines. A method for operating the lock includes sets of steps for each of several routines: setting real time, setting opening times for each selected day of the week, and specialty routines including adding an intermediate opening time, cancelling the opening time for selected days, adjusting the system time, for example to change to or from daylight savings time, and verifying the version of the time lock in use. For all routines, the user first arms the lock by turning the key, and then selects a routine and enters the desired parameters by turning the key either continuously clockwise or counter-clockwise (to increment or decrement times or days) or by turning it back and forth to switch routines. In most routines, leaving the key stationary is used to signal acceptance of entered data.
A programmable time lock comprising:
A method of selecting a day of the week as the system day of a time lock which involves a display and a rotatable key, said method comprising:
A method of setting the system time of a time lock comprising a display and a rotatable key shaft, said method comprising:
A method of selecting one or more unlocking days and times of a time lock comprising a display, memory, and a rotatable key shaft, said method comprising:
A method of selecting a function from a plurality of functions of a time lock comprising a display and a rotatable key shaft, said method comprising:
A method of setting an additional unlocking time of a time lock comprising a display, memory, and a rotatable key shaft, said method comprising:
A method of cancelling unlocking days and times of a time lock comprising a display, memory, and a rotatable key shaft, said method comprising:
A method of adjusting a system time of a time lock comprising a display, memory, and a rotatable key shaft, said method comprising:
A method of verifying a time lock comprising a display and a rotatable key shaft, said method comprising:
A method of operating a programmable time lock comprising memory, a display, and a rotatable key shaft, using the key shaft as the sole input device, comprising the steps:
A method of selecting one or more options from a set of options on a display using a rotatable key shaft as the only input device, said method comprising:
A method of adjusting the value of a numerical value field of a display using a rotatable key shaft as the only input device, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.