Apparatus and method for user control of appliances

Abstract

Apparatus and a method of controlling operation of a wide variety of appliances so the appliance can only be used by an authorized individual, and then only under certain specified conditions. The apparatus and method provide safe use of the appliance since presumably the person authorized to use the appliance is trained in its use, and where circumstances warrant, knows how to use the appliance safely. It is a particular advantage of the invention to prevent unsafe use of the appliance, even by an authorized user.

1 . An apparatus for limiting usage of an associated appliance to an authorized user, comprising: 
 a regulating means configured to regulate operation of the associated appliance;    at least one authorizing unit associated with an authorized user, said authorizing unit configured to transmit a signal representative of a unique message;    wherein said regulating means is further configured to receive said signal;    wherein said regulating means is further configured to calculate a differential strength of said signal to identify a spatial relationship of said at least one authorizing unit relative to said regulating means; and    wherein said regulating means is further configured to enable the associated appliance only in response to said unique message corresponding to a predetermined message and said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within a predetermined spatial relationship to said associated appliance.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  where said regulating means is further configured to active the associated appliance for a predetermined period of time in response to said unique message corresponding to said predetermined message and said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within said predetermined spatial relationship.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said regulating means is further configured to disable the associated appliance responsive to receipt of a predetermined disabling command transmission.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said regulating means is further configured to disable the associated appliance responsive to a calculated differential signal strength of a subsequent signal from said at least one authorizing unit establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit outside to said predetermined spatial relationship.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said regulating means is further configured to periodically emit a signal representative of a unique interrogation message; and 
 wherein said at least one authorizing unit is configured to receive said signal representative of said unique interrogation message and to emit said signal representative of said unique message responsive to a received unique interrogation message corresponding to a predetermined interrogation message.    
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said associated appliance is a firearm; and 
 wherein said regulating means is operatively coupled to said firearm to inhibit discharge of said firearm in a first state, and to permit discharge of said firearm in a second state responsive to said unique message corresponding to a predetermined message and said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within said predetermined spatial relationship.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said firearm includes a barrel having a muzzle defining a discharge axis and a discharge direction; and 
 wherein said predetermined spatial relationship includes a limited spatial volume disposed about said discharge axis for a predetermined distance opposite said discharge direction from said firearm muzzle.    
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said regulating means further includes a first antenna having a first signal detection region and a second antenna having a second signal detection region; and 
 wherein an intersection of said first and second signal detection regions defines said predetermined spatial relationship, and said regulating means being configured to calculate said differential signal strength utilizing a signal received at said first antenna and a signal received at said second antenna.    
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said second antenna is a directionally sensitive antenna configured with a gain of at least 3 dB in the horizontal plane.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further including a third antenna, said third antenna a directionally sensitive antenna having a third signal detection region which is pointed in a different direction than said second signal detection region.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  in which said third antenna has a range of coverage in the horizontal plane narrower than that of said second antenna.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said regulating means is configured to disable the associated appliance even though an appropriate response signal directed to the interrogation means is received by from the second antenna, if another appropriate response signal directed to said regulating means is received by said third antenna.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said regulating means is configured to enable the associated appliance when an appropriate response signal is no longer received by said third antenna but an appropriate response signal continues to be received by said second antenna.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including recording means recording usage information associated with activation of the associated appliance.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said regulating means is configured to enable access to said recorded usage information responsive to receipt of a predetermined interrogation code transmission.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said associated appliance is a computerized device; and 
 wherein said regulating means is operatively coupled to said computerized device to secure said computerized device in a first state, and to permit usage of said computerized device in a second state responsive to said unique message corresponding to a predetermined message and said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within said predetermined spatial relationship.    
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said computerized device includes a display having a viewing axis; and 
 wherein said predetermined spatial relationship includes a limited spatial volume disposed about said viewing axis.    
   
   
       18 . A method for limiting usage of an appliance to at least one authorized user, comprising: 
 regulating activation of the appliance from a deactivated state with an electronic control unit having first and second signal receivers;    emitting a signal representative of a unique message from an at least one authorizing unit;    receiving said signal at said first and second signal receivers;    calculating a differential strength of said signal received at said first and second signal receivers;    identifying a spatial relationship between said at least one authorizing unit emitting said signal and said electronic control unit; and    responsive to said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within a predetermined limited spatial volume relative to said electronic unit, and to said unique message corresponding to a predetermined message, activating the appliance for a predetermined interval.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further including periodically repeating said steps of emitting, receiving, identifying, and activating.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 18  further including the step of deactivating the appliance responsive to said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit external to a predetermined limited spatial volume relative to said electronic unit.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 18  further including the step of deactivating the appliance responsive to said unique message not corresponding to a predetermined message.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 18  further including the step of recording usage information associated with an authorizing unit upon activation of the appliance, said usage information including at least an identification of said authorizing unit and a time of activation of the appliance.  
   
   
       23 . Apparatus for use with an appliance to enable usage of the appliance by at least one authorized user, comprising: 
 an interrogation means and an authorizing means, one of which is associated with the appliance to be used and the other of which with a person authorized to use the appliance, the interrogation means providing an interrogation signal to the authorizing means, the authorizing means providing a response signal in reply to the interrogation signal, and the interrogation means enabling the appliance for use by the person only if the response signal is an appropriate response and if the response signal is directed to the interrogation means from within a predetermined spatial region;    said interrogation means including a first antenna by which the interrogation signal is transmitted and a second antenna through which the response signal is received; and,    a third antenna aligned in a different direction than said second antenna, the authorizing means disabling operation of the appliance for so long as a response signal is received from said third antenna.