Picture image outputting apparatus

A picture image outputting apparatus for outputting a picture image for display, said apparatus comprising:

• storage means for storing a playing time for enabling an output operation of a picture image and a locking time for disabling the output operation of a picture image;
• playing time timing means for timing the playing time;
• locking time timing means for timing the locking time;
• mode selecting means for selecting a playing time limiting mode for controlling the picture image outputting apparatus on a basis of the playing time and the locking time;
• and
• control means for starting timing of said playing time timing means after the playing time limiting mode has been selected and for starting timing of said locking time timing means when passage of the playing time is detected to disable the output operation of the picture image until the locking time has passed,
• wherein said picture image outputting apparatus is a picture image reproducer for reproducing picture image information stored in a prescribed storage medium to output the reproduced picture image information,
• wherein said picture image reproducer is a video deck for reproducing a videocassette tape to output a reproduced picture image signal, and
• said apparatus further comprising:
• calculation means for calculating remaining playing time of information beging playing in progress on a basis of a rotational speed of a tape reel of the video cassette tape when the passage of the playing time is detected;
• and
• comparison means for comparing the calculated remaining playing time with a reference time, wherein:
• said control means immediately starts the timing of said locking time timing means and disables the output operation of the picture image until the locking time has passed when the remaining playing time is larger than the reference time, and starts the timing of the said locking time timing means and disables the output operation of the picture image until the locking time has passed after the remaining playing time has passed when the remaining playing time is smaller than the reference time.