Apparatus and method for automatically storing first use date of an electronic device

A method for storing information concerning the first use date of an electronic device having a clock data generator, a memory and a controller, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining whether or not a specific command is input to the controller;
• (b) if it is determined in step (a) that the specific command is input to the controller, determining whether or not date information is stored in a memory area for storing the information concerning the first use date of the electronic device;
• and
• (c) if it is determined in step (b) that the date information is not stored in the memory area, storing the date information generated from the clock data generator in the memory area.

A method for storing information concerning the first use date of an electronic device comprising a clock data generator, a memory and a controller, comprising the steps of:

• (a) determining whether or not a first specific command is input to the controller;
• (b) if it is determined in step (a) that the first specific command is input to the controller, storing date information generated from the clock data generator in a memory area for storing information concerning the manufacture date of the electronic device;
• (c) determining whether or not a second specific command is input to the controller;
• (d) if it is determined in step (c) that the second specific command is input, determining whether date information is stored in the memory area for storing the manufacture date and a memory area for storing the first use date;
• and
• (e) if it is determined in step (d) that date information is stored in the manufacture date storing area but date information is not stored in the first use date storing area, storing date information generated from the clock data generator in the first use date storing area.

An apparatus for storing information concerning the first use date of an electronic device, having a main power supply portion and an auxiliary power supply portion, comprising:

• a clock data generator, which receives power from the auxiliary power supply portion, for generating time information;
• a memory for storing the time information, said memory comprising a manufacturing date portion and a first use date portion;
• and
• a controller comprising:
• first means for determining whether or not there is a connection of the main power supply portion to a source of power for operating the electronic device and whether or not there is a specific key input after connection of power to the main power supply portion,
• second means for determining whether or not the time information stored in the manufacturing date portion of memory equals an initially set value, if there is a connection of power to the main power supply portion or the specific key input,
• third means for determining whether or not the time information stored in the first use date portion of memory equals an initially set value, and
• fourth means responsive to at least one of said second means and said third means for automatically storing in said manufacturing date portion and said first use date portion, the time information generated from the clock data generator.