CN1099069C - Display limited time use system - Google Patents

Abstract

An image display system, comprising: the image display circuit is used for displaying the image signal on a screen to form an image picture, and the timer is used for generating a time signal containing the current time; the control circuit is used for controlling the service time of the image display circuit; and the screen display circuit is electrically connected between the control circuit and the image display circuit and used for displaying a preset use limiting picture on the screen through the image display circuit when the control circuit monitors that a preset condition related to the use time of the image display circuit occurs, so that the image display circuit can not continuously and normally display the image signal on the screen.

Description

Display limited time use system

The invention relates to an image display system, in particular to an image display system capable of controlling the use time.

Existing personal computers generally lack a time-limited design. As long as the personal computer is turned on and the image screen is displayed on the monitor, the user can continue to use the personal computer without being interrupted. But it has some disadvantages: (1) office users often stare at the fluorescent screen for a long time unconsciously, so the eyes are easily tired, and the use for many years may cause considerable damage to the user's vision. (2) Parents often buy personal computers for their underage children, hoping to provide an environment for their children to learn how to use computers. But on the other hand, parents also hope to limit the time their children use the computer to prevent them from being overly addicted to the computer network or computer games, especially to avoid getting up and using the computer secretly after going to bed at night.

Some application software currently on the market, such as: Ergo Sentry (www.magnitude.com), ErgoBreak for Office (www.vanity.net), etc., have provided some functions related to usage time. For example, when the user has been using the computer for a period of time, the software will automatically remind the user of the time of continuous use and suggest the user to take a break. However, the above-mentioned software is not mandatory, so they cannot be used to limit the use time of the computer. In addition, since the software and hardware structures of personal computers are very complicated, even if the above-mentioned application software has the function of limiting the use time of the computer, it may not be able to be effectively implemented. Users can often use some simple software and hardware techniques to Break through this limitation.

Therefore, the main purpose of the present invention is to provide a technology that can utilize the control circuit in the display to control the computer usage time to solve the above problems. The user can use the input circuit on the display to set the conditions for restricting use. When the conditions are met, the display will limit the output of the image screen to realize the function of restricting the use of the computer. The packaging of the display is not easy to be opened by ordinary people, so this kind of control is not easy to be easily broken through.

The object of the present invention is achieved by providing an image display system, which includes: a screen for displaying image frames; an image display circuit for displaying image signals on the screen to form image frames; The timer is used to generate a time signal containing the current time; and a control circuit is used to control the use time of the image display circuit according to the time signal; When a time-related preset situation occurs, the control circuit controls the image display circuit so that the image display circuit cannot continue to normally display the image signal on the screen.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an external view of the image display system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image display system in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is the content of the data table in FIG. 2 .

FIG. 4 is a processing procedure adopted when the display control program of FIG. 2 is in display mode.

FIG. 5 is a processing procedure employed when the display control program of FIG. 2 is in an input mode.

Referring to FIG. 1 , FIG. 1 is an external view of an image display system 10 of the present invention. The image display system 10 includes: a screen 12 for displaying image images; four input keys 14 for inputting signals; a mode key 16 for changing the operating mode of the system 10; and an on/off key 18 for turning on Or turn off the system 10. System 10 includes two modes of operation: display mode and input mode. These two modes can be changed with mode key 16. In the display mode, the four input keys 14 are used to control the brightness or contrast of the screen 12 . In the input mode, the four input keys 14 can be used to set conditions for restricting use, or to input passwords for changing settings or canceling settings.

Referring to FIG. 2 , FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the image display system 10 in FIG. 1 . The image display system 10 includes: a screen 12 for displaying image frames; an image display circuit 20 for displaying image signals input by the image port 22 on the screen 12 to form image frames; a screen display circuit 24 for communicating with The image display circuit 20 is electrically connected, and is used to display a preset restricted use screen on the screen 12 through the image display circuit 20 so that the image display circuit 20 cannot continue to normally display the image signal input by the image port 22 on the screen 12; The timer 26 is used to generate a time signal containing the current time; a battery 28 is electrically connected to the timer 26, and is used to make the timer 26 continue to run when the image display system 10 is turned off; a control circuit 30 , used to control the use time of the image display circuit 20 according to the time signal generated by the timer 26; and an input circuit 32, electrically connected to the control circuit 30, used to generate an input signal according to the user's input. The input circuit 32 includes the mode key 16 and four input keys 14 shown in FIG. 1 , and the input signals generated by these keys will be transmitted to the control circuit 30 . The control circuit 30 includes a memory 34 for storing a display control program 38 and a data table 42 containing certain usage-restricted data and passwords; and a processor 36 for executing the display control program 38 .

Referring to FIG. 3 , FIG. 3 is the content of the data table 42 in FIG. 2 . There is a monitoring sign 48 in the data table 42, a setting password 44 for changing the monitoring sign 48, relevant data 50, 52, 54, 56 of the restricted usage status of the three image display systems 10, and a password for changing the restricted usage status. Change password 46 of status data. Restricted use condition 1 is the usage time limit of the image display system 10. The data 50 sets the system 10 to be used between 16:00 and 18:00, and the data 52 sets the system 10 to be used between 20:00 to 18:00. It can be used between 22:30, and it is not allowed to be used outside the set usage period. Restricted use status 2 is the single use time limit of the image display system 10. The data 54 sets the single use time of the system 10 to 60 minutes. If the single use time exceeds 60 minutes, it is not allowed to use. Restricted use status 3 is the cumulative use time limit of the image display system 10. The data 56 sets the cumulative use time of the system 10 to 120 minutes. If the cumulative use time exceeds 120 minutes, it is not allowed to use.

The system 10 includes two modes of operation: a display mode and an input mode, which can be switched using the mode key 16 shown in FIG. 1 . The display control program 38 has different operation modes in these two modes, which will be introduced in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 .

Referring to Fig. 4, Fig. 4 is shown as the processing procedure 60 used by the display control program 38 in the display mode in Fig. 2, and it comprises the following steps: whether step 61 monitoring sign 48 is 1, if otherwise continue to check; Step 62 according to Fig. 3 The data 50, 52, 54, 56 of the three restrictions shown to monitor

Test whether any of the three restricted usage conditions has occurred, if not, skip to step

61; Step 63 drives the screen display circuit 24 to display a limited use picture on the screen 12, so that the video

The image display circuit 20 cannot continue to normally display the image signal input by the image port 22 on the screen

On screen 12; Step 64 monitors whether sign 48 is 1, if otherwise jumps to step 66; Step 65 monitors whether any one in the above-mentioned three restricted usage situations still exists, if so then jumps

To step 63; Step 66 controls the screen display circuit 24 to no longer display the limited use picture on the screen 12 so that the video

The image display circuit 20 can normally display the image signal input by the image port 22 on the screen 12

on; then skip to step 61.

The monitoring sign 48 is used to indicate whether the display control program 38 will monitor the above-mentioned three restricted usage situations, and it can be changed with the setting password 44 when the input mode is entered. When the monitoring flag 48 is 1, the display control program 38 will continuously monitor the above-mentioned three restricted usage conditions and process according to the monitoring results. If the monitoring flag 48 is 0, the display control program 38 will stop monitoring.

When any limited use situation occurs, the display control program 38 starts to drive the screen display circuit 24 to display a limited use picture on the screen 12 so that the image display circuit 20 cannot continue to normally display the image signal input by the image port 22 on the screen. 12, this situation will continue until the restricted use condition disappears, or until the monitoring flag 48 is set to 0.

When any limited use situation occurs, the user can use the mode key 16 shown in Figure 1 to change the system 10 into the input mode, and input the setting password 44 to set the monitoring flag 48 to 0, or to change the input mode. The password 46 is used to change the relevant data 50, 52, 54, 56 of the above-mentioned three limited use conditions to eliminate the encountered limited use conditions.

Referring to Fig. 5, Fig. 5 shows that Fig. 2 shows the processing procedure 70 used when the control program 38 is in the input mode, and it comprises the following steps: step 71 displays an input screen and requires the user to input a password; step 72 checks whether the password has been input , if otherwise continue to check; step 73 checks whether the input password is the setting password 44, if otherwise jumps to step 75; step 74 changes the monitoring sign 48 and displays the change result, jumps to step 71; step 75 checks whether the input password is a change password 46, if otherwise, jump to step 77; step 76 displays and changes the relevant data 50, 52, 54, 56 of the above-mentioned three restricted usage conditions,

And skip to step 71; step 77 shows that the input password is wrong, skip to step 71.

In step 74 , the monitoring flag 48 will be changed to a different setting, such as from 0 to 1 or from 1 to 0. After the user completes the changing procedure, he can press the mode key 16 shown in FIG. 1 to switch the system 10 into the display mode. At this time, the display control program 38 returns to the processing procedure 60 shown in FIG. 4 to continue execution.

As mentioned above, the purpose of the "restricted use screen" is to prevent the user from knowing the current output information of the computer from the monitor screen, so the display area of the "restricted use screen" should preferably cover the size of the monitor screen. Some or even all. At the same time, the following points should be considered: (1) It is better to use a dark color as the background color of the "restricted use screen" to reduce the loss of the monitor screen; (2) the "restricted use screen" must state in words that "the monitor is under restricted use In order to allow the user to distinguish that the current monitor cannot display normal image signals due to limited use, rather than due to failure; (3) In order to prevent the display time of the "restricted use screen" from being displayed for too long and damage the fluorescent substance on the surface of the display screen , so when the "restricted use screen" is continuously displayed for more than a period of time, the "restricted use screen" will flash intermittently or change its display position on the fluorescent screen intermittently.

On the other hand, in order to avoid the sudden default situation in step 62, causing the user to fail to store the temporarily stored file data in the memory to the hard disk in advance, thus losing the temporarily stored file data under the "restricted use screen"; The control program 38 can pre-drive the on-screen display circuit 24 (OSD) to display a "warning screen" a preset time (such as: three minutes) before the step 63 displays the "limited use screen" to warn the user that the display is about to stop display, please save the file first. This "warning screen" only needs to blink to cover a small portion of the screen to allow the user to notice the warning message, but still function normally.

On the other hand, if the design of "eye protection function" is to be realized on the display, then the display control program 38 can define the preset conditions 62 and 65 as: after the display is used continuously for one hour, the screen display circuit will produce a "limited use screen" "Three minutes, and " limited use picture " just can end automatically after three minutes, and timer 26 is reset to zero with cumulative use time limit, restarts cumulative timing, and display returns to normal display. But, because there is battery 28 to supply timer 26 power supplies in the system, so even if display power is cut off and starts again immediately, timer still counts time three minutes, makes display unable to show normal picture in these three minutes.

Therefore, if the above-mentioned "warning screen" and "eye protection function" are considered at the same time, the possible implementation process of the display control program is: when the monitor is used continuously for fifty-seven minutes, the screen display circuit will flash and display the "warning screen", and When the monitor is used continuously for one hour, the screen display circuit will generate a "restricted use screen" for three minutes, and when the "restricted use screen" lasts for three minutes, it will automatically end and the monitor will return to normal display. Periodically interrupting the user's use of the display in this way can achieve the effect of protecting the user's eyesight.

Claims (8)

1. An image display system comprising: a screen for displaying video images; An image display circuit for displaying image signals on the screen to form an image frame; a timer for generating a time signal containing the current time; and a control circuit, used to control the usage time of the image display circuit according to the time signal; Wherein when the control circuit detects that a preset condition related to the usage time of the image display circuit occurs, the control circuit will control the image display circuit so that the image display circuit cannot continue to normally display the image signal on the screen . 2. The image display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit further comprises a battery electrically connected to the timer for enabling the timer to continue running when the image display system is turned off. 3. The image display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preset condition can be one of the following three situations: (a) the video display circuit is used outside a preset video usage period, (b) The continuous use time of the image display circuit exceeds a preset continuous use time, or (c) The cumulative usage time of the image display circuit exceeds a preset cumulative usage time. 4. The image display system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control circuit comprises: a memory for storing an output control program and relevant data of the preset condition; a processor for executing the output control program; Wherein, when the output control program detects that the preset condition occurs according to the relevant data of the preset condition, the output control program will control the image display circuit so that the image display circuit cannot continue to display the image signal normally on the screen . 5. The image display system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a screen display circuit, which is electrically connected between the control circuit and the image display circuit, and the screen display circuit can display on the screen through the image display circuit A preset limit to use the screen so that the image display circuit cannot continue to display the image signal normally on the screen; wherein when the control circuit detects that the preset situation occurs, the control circuit will control the screen display circuit to display The limited use of the frame prevents the image display circuit from displaying the image signal normally on the screen. 6. The image display system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the control circuit comprises: a memory for storing an output control program and relevant data of the preset condition; a processor for executing the output control program; Wherein, when the output control program detects that the preset condition occurs according to the relevant data of the preset condition, the output control program will control the screen display circuit to display the limited-use picture so that the image display circuit cannot continue to display on the screen The video signal is displayed normally. 7. The image display system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control circuit further comprises an input circuit, which is used to generate an input signal according to a user's input; a password for changing settings is also stored in the memory, when the output control When the program detects the password from the input signal generated by the input circuit, the output control program will control the screen display circuit to display a preset change screen so that the user can use the input circuit to change the password or Data related to this default state. 8. The image display system as claimed in claim 6, the control circuit further comprising an input circuit for generating an input signal according to a user's input, and a password for unsetting is also stored in the memory, when the output control When the program detects the unset password from the input signal generated by the input circuit, the output control program will control the screen display circuit to normally display the image signal on the screen and stop the correlation according to the preset condition. data to monitor the preset condition.

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