Control lockout for an electronic apparatus

Abstract

An electronic system including a user interface for transmitting an operational parameter control signal in response to manual manipulation of the user interface. A processor is coupled to the user interface and adjusts an operational parameter of the electronic system in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal. An actuatable device is actuated by a user. In response to the user actuation. the actuatable device prevents the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic system comprising:
 a user interface configured to transmit an operational parameter control signal in response to manual manipulation of the user interface, the user interface including a plurality of pushbuttons, the user interface being configured:
 to be disabled by depressing the pushbuttons in a first predetermined sequence; and 
 to be enabled, when in the disabled state. by depressing the pushbuttons in a second predetermined sequence. the second predetermined sequence being different than the first predetermined sequence: 
   a processor coupled to the user interface and configured to adjust an operational parameter of the electronic system in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal; and   an actuatable device configured to:
 be actuated by a user; and 
 in response to the user actuation, prevent the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the manual manipulation of the user interface includes depressing one of the pushbuttons. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the actuatable device comprises a remote controller. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the remote controller includes a pushbutton. the remote controller being configured to, in response to the user actuation, transmit an air-borne signal to the processor to thereby prevent the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a body having a front surface and a back surface, the user interface being disposed on the front surface, the actuatable device being disposed on the back surface. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface, when in the disabled state, is configured to be enabled by actuation of the actuatable device. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to be disabled by depressing the pushbuttons in a first predetermined sequence within a first predetermined time period, the user interface pushbuttons each being configured to perform a respective operational function other than enabling or disabling the user interface. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface is configured to be enabled, when in the disabled state, by depressing the pushbuttons in a second predetermined sequence within a second predetermined time period, the user interface pushbuttons each being configured to perform a respective operational function other than enabling or disabling the user interface. 
     
     
         9 . An electronic system comprising:
 an electronic apparatus including:
 a user interface configured to transmit an operational parameter control signal in response to manual manipulation of the user interface, the user interface including a plurality of pushbuttons, the user interface being configured to be:
 disabled by depressing the pushbuttons of the user interface in a predetermined sequence; and 
 enabled, when in the disabled state, by depressing the pushbuttons in the predetermined sequence; 
 
 a processor coupled to the user interface and configured to adjust an operational parameter of the electronic apparatus in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal; and 
   a remote controller including a user-actuatable pushbutton, the remote controller being configured to:
 in response to a first actuation of the pushbutton of the remote controller, transmit a first air-borne signal to the electronic apparatus to inhibit the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic apparatus; and 
 in response to a second actuation of the pushbutton of the remote controller after the first actuation, transmit a second air-borne signal to the electronic apparatus to enable the processor to adjust the operational parameter of the electronic apparatus in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the manual manipulation of the user interface includes depressing one the pushbuttons of the user interface. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 . wherein the electronic apparatus includes a body having a front surface and a back surface, the user interface being disposed on the front surface, a user-actuatable device being disposed on the back surface. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 . wherein the user-actuatable device is configured to:
 be actuated by a user;   in response to a first user actuation, prevent the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic apparatus; and   in response to a second user action after the first actuation, allow the processor to adjust the operational parameter of the electronic apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the user interface, when in the disabled state. is configured to be enabled by actuation of the pushbutton of the remote controller. 
     
     
         14 . An electronic system comprising an electronic apparatus including:
 a user interface configured to transmit an operational parameter control signal in response to manual manipulation of the user interface, the user interface including a plurality of pushbuttons, the user interface being configured to be:
 disabled by depressing the pushbuttons of the user interface in a predetermined sequence. wherein a remainder of the electronic apparatus other than the user interface is not disabled by the depressing of the pushbuttons of the user interface in the predetermined sequence; and 
 enabled, when in the disabled state, by depressing the pushbuttons in the predetermined sequence; and 
   a processor coupled to the user interface and configured to adjust an operational parameter of the electronic apparatus in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the manual manipulation of the user interface includes depressing one the pushbuttons of the user interface. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic apparatus includes a body having a front surface and a back surface, the user interface being disposed on the front surface, a user-actuatable device being disposed on the back surface. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the user-actuatable device is configured to:
 be actuated by a user; 
 in response to a first user actuation, prevent the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic apparatus; and 
 in response to a second user action after the first actuation, allow the processor to adjust the operational parameter of the electronic apparatus. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a remote controller including a user-actuatable pushbutton, the remote controller being configured to respond to a first actuation of the pushbutton by transmitting a first air-borne signal to the electronic apparatus to inhibit the processor from adjusting the operational parameter of the electronic apparatus. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the remote controller is configured to respond to a second actuation of the pushbutton after the first actuation by transmitting a second air-borne signal to the electronic apparatus to enable the processor to adjust the operational parameter of the electronic apparatus in response to receiving the operational parameter control signal. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the user interface, when in the disabled state, is configured to be enabled by actuation of the pushbutton of the remote controller.