Electronic on/off timer apparatus and method incorporating predetermined time delay intervals

Claim 1

An electronic ON/OFF timer apparatus adapted to be intercoupled in between an electrical power source and an external device, to control the ON/OFF operation of the external device, said apparatus comprising: timer means for monitoring time; means for selecting an approximate time at which said electrical power is to be applied to or uncoupled from said external device; memory means for storing a predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals, each of said time delay intervals having a digital code representing a sequence number; means for successively reading said sequence numbers and for applying said independent, randomly varying plurality of time delay intervals represented by said sequence numbers to thereby cause said timer means to delay said application of electrical power to or uncoupling of said electrical power from said external device for varying lengths of time in accordance with said plurality of predetermined, randomly varying time delay intervals.

Claim 7

A method for controlling the ON and OFF application of electrical power to an electrically powered external device to cause said external device to turn ON and OFF at a plurality of times within a single twenty-four hour time period which vary from selected approximate ON and OFF times by random numbers of minutes, said method comprising: providing a plurality of predetermined, randomly varying time delay intervals each having an associated digital code; providing a timer responsive to said predetermined, varying time delay intervals and electrically intercoupled in between an electrical power source and an external, electrically powered device, said timer being operable to monitor time and an approximate ON or OFF time selected by a user; during a twenty-four hour time period, once said approximate ON time is detected, causing said ON and OFF operation of said timer to be delayed in accordance with a first one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals to thereby cause said timer to couple electrical power to said external device at a first actual time; and during said twenty-four hour time period, once said approximate OFF time is detected, causing said OFF operation of said timer to be delayed in accordance with a second one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals to thereby cause said timer to un-couple electrical power to said external device in accordance with a second actual time; said method thus providing a plurality of randomly varying time delays within a single twenty-four hour time period.

Claim 8

A method for controlling the ON and OFF application of electrical power to an electrically powered external device to cause said external device to turn ON and OFF at a plurality of times within a single twenty-four hour time period which vary from selected approximate ON and OFF times by random numbers of minutes, said method comprising: providing a plurality of predetermined, randomly varying time delay intervals each having an associated digital code; providing a timer responsive to said predetermined, varying time delay intervals and electrically intercoupled in between an electrical power source and an external, electrically powered device, said timer being operable to monitor time and an approximate ON or OFF time selected by a user; during a twenty-four hour time period, once said approximate ON time is detected, causing said ON and OFF operation of said timer to be delayed in accordance with a first one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals to thereby cause said timer to couple electrical power to said external device at a first actual time; and during said twenty-four hour time period, once said approximate OFF time is detected, causing said OFF operation of said timer to be delayed in accordance with a second one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals to thereby cause said timer to un-couple electrical power to said external device in accordance with a second actual time; said method thus providing a plurality of randomly varying time delays within a single twenty-four hour time period.

Claim 10

A method for controlling the application of electrical power via a timer apparatus intercoupled between an electrical power source and an electrically powered external device to cause said timer apparatus to turn ON and OFF said device in accordance with predetermined, randomly varying time delay intervals, said method comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals, each of said intervals being assigned an identification number in successive fashion and being accessible any number of times within any subinterval of time within a single 24 hour period; providing a countdown timer operable to delay said ON and OFF action of said timer in accordance with said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals during a single twenty-four hour time period; selecting an approximate on time during said twenty-four time period at which power is to be applied to said external device; setting said countdown timer in accordance with a first identification number in accordance with said first one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals to delay the time at which said power is applied to said external device in accordance with said first time delay interval; causing said countdown timer to countdown in accordance with said fist predetermined time delay interval; causing said timer apparatus to couple or un-couple electrical power to said external device when said countdown timer times out; setting said countdown timer in accordance with a second identification number corresponding to a second, successive one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals within said twenty-four hour time period; causing said countdown timer to countdown in accordance with said second delay time period associated with said second one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals; and causing said timer apparatus to un-couple power to said external device when said countdown timer times out.

Claim 11

A method for controlling the application of electrical power via a timer apparatus intercoupled between an electrical power source and an electrically powered external device to cause said timer apparatus to turn ON and OFF said device in accordance with predetermined, randomly varying time delay intervals, said method comprising the steps of: providing a predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals, each of said intervals being assigned an identification number in successive fashion and being accessible any number of times within any subinterval of time within a single 24 hour period; providing a countdown timer operable to delay said ON and OFF action of said timer in accordance with said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals during a single twenty-four hour time period; selecting an approximate on time during said twenty-four time period at which power is to be applied to said external device; setting said countdown timer in accordance with a first identification number in accordance with said first one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals to delay the time at which said power is applied to said external device in accordance with said first time delay interval; causing said countdown timer to countdown in accordance with said fist predetermined time delay interval; causing said timer apparatus to couple or un-couple electrical power to said external device when said countdown timer times out; setting said countdown timer in accordance with a second identification number corresponding to a second, successive one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals within said twenty-four hour time period; causing said countdown timer to countdown in accordance with said second delay time period associated with said second one of said predetermined plurality of randomly varying time delay intervals; and causing said timer apparatus to un-couple power to said external device when said countdown timer times out.