The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 16, 1996
Filed:
May. 09, 1994
Applicant:
Inventors:
Sol M Cherrick, Chicago, IL (US);
Kevin J Gaughan, Arlington Heights, IL (US);
Assignee:
Zenith Electronics Corporation, Glenview, IL (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H04N / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
380-7 ; 380-6 ; 348-55 ;
Abstract
A television receiver is equipped with hardware/firmware so that it may be disabled by a remotely transmitted series of codes. In a preferred embodiment, the display of the receiver indicates that the receiver is operable, but has been disrupted, rather than being broken. The invention is particularly useful for commercial situations such as rentals or lodging facilities where payment is expected for use of the television.