Abstract: A method and apparatus for causing a remote controller to execute a sequence of instructions at a preprogrammed time. A remote controller includes a timer and may be used to turn on the various components of an electronic entertainment system including a recording device and to transmit a starting sequence which causes the recording device to record. After the selected duration of time expires the remote controller stops and recording device from recording and turns off the components of the system or causes other instructions to be performed.

Abstract: A reconfigurable remote control transmitter can be used with a plurality of remotely controlled products, each of which is normally controlled with one or more signals from an associated remote control transmitter. The reconfigurable transmitter has a plurality of input keys and operates either in a Learn mode in which it may store indications of signals generated by the remote control transmitter from one or more of the products or a Run mode in which it selectively transmits stored signals in response to one or more keyed inputs. During the Learn mode a selected sequence of operations to be performed by one or more of the products in response to a first selected key sequence may be stored and during the Run mode stored signals are transmitted in a predetermined order in response to the performance of the selected key sequence to cause the selected sequence of operations to be performed.

Abstract: A telephone ringer system is disclosed which uses an oscillator circuit to drive a piezoelectric transducer to produce the ring signal.

Abstract: A soil moisture sensing device employs a pair of indicator lamps to indicate whether the soil is too dry, too wet, or has the correct amount of moisture. The device need employ only one transistor or one Darlington transistor pair to control both indicators. Consequently, the device is more economical to manufacture than "prior art" soil moisture sensing devices that must use two or more transistors. In the invention, too dry soil is indicated by non-conduction of the transistor with neither indicator illuminated, adequately moist soil is indicated by partial conduction with one indicator illuminated, and too wet soil is indicated by full conduction with both indicators illuminated.