Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06G—ANALOGUE COMPUTERS
  • G06G1/00—Hand manipulated computing devices
  • G06G1/0005—Hand manipulated computing devices characterised by a specific application
  • G06G1/0073—Hand manipulated computing devices characterised by a specific application for commerce, bank or invoicing
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
  • G06C—DIGITAL COMPUTERS IN WHICH ALL THE COMPUTATION IS EFFECTED MECHANICALLY
  • G06C1/00—Computing aids in which the computing members form at least part of the displayed result and are manipulated directly by hand, e.g. abacuses or pocket adding devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an exchange or conversion table intended in particular, but not exclusively, for the conversion of one currency into another according to a fixed exchange or conversion rate.
• a first object of the invention is to alleviate these drawbacks and to make available to the public a simple, instant and inexpensive means of conversion.
• the present invention aims to establish a one-to-one correspondence between a value expressed in one currency and the same value expressed in another currency, a single box or zone corresponding to these two values.
• the exchange table or optical converter is characterized in that it comprises a support subdivided into a determined number of zones in each of which is printed a pair of figures, representing a price in a first currency which is seen under a specific inclination and the same price expressed in a second currency which is seen under another inclination.
• the density of information is increased and the search for specific information is immediate insofar as it is possible to point directly to a figure indicating a price in one or the other of the currencies.
• the conversion does not require the entry of a value on a keyboard whose dimensions are generally reduced, so that the typing is often wrong.
• reading the table according to the invention requires the use of only one hand.
• Such optical systems with "changing images” have already been used in the past, in particular to produce an approximate relief effect, either by printing the two images each on one side of an embossing with triangular section so that in a first inclination , we see only the first image, the second being masked whereas, in the second tilt, we see that the second image, the brain recomposing an image in imitation relief when the support is not tilted.
• the present invention can be implemented with either of these means.
• the two images appear, under their respective viewing angles, in different colors depending on the length of the optical paths and the refractive indices.
• the two sets of numbers can be printed in different colors.
• the values expressed in "francs” can be golden while those expressed in "euros” can be printed in blue. It therefore suffices to tilt the support by a determined angle and to choose the zone corresponding to the price in old currency, then to modify the inclination to immediately obtain the price in new currency or vice versa.
• the two images to be observed at a determined inclination are two line images of digits, the lines of the two digits being alternated at the same pitch. 4
• the exchange table or optical converter is characterized in that it comprises the elements of at least a third image.
• the third image is, for example, a third table of numbers.
• inclinations By varying the inclinations, it is possible to obtain the same value expressed in several currencies. Thus, from a value expressed in euros, it is possible to establish up to ten correspondences with local currencies.
• the boxes or areas in which the two digits are superimposed are preferably of a different color from that of the background to allow them to be clearly identified.
• the background preferably has a large symbol or designation for the currency unit corresponding to the viewing angle so that it can be clearly seen when reading the selected area .
• the invention is implemented with rectangular supports, for example in the “credit card” format, that is to say panels bearing only two figures, visible from a distance, the size of which can be 40 ⁇ 60 centimeters in order to achieve a double display at the point of sale (POS), the movement of the observer modifying the angle of observation and thus the display of the price.
• POS point of sale
• the currency corresponding to an inclination is identified by a title indicating the nature of the currency which simultaneously becomes apparent. 5
• Figure 1 a view of a change table or optical converter according to the invention
• Figure 2 a view of the same table after pivoting
• the mark FF for French francs appears in zone B of the card 1.
• the values in French francs are carried in the table printed below zone B in an order appropriate.
• the numbers consist of lines that are parallel to a longitudinal side of the card.
• Figure 3 is a diagram showing a possibility of producing a card according to the invention.
• the relief of the support consists of prismatic bands 2 and 3.
• the digit or figures of the values in francs F are printed on the sides 2 while the figures representing a value in euros are printed on the sides 3 After tilting in one direction or the other, the figures appear continuously and are perfectly legible.
• Another possibility is to print the alternate parallel strips F and E on a flat support and to have, above this plane, rows of prismatic lenses, which produces the same effect.
• the figures were included in boxes A.
• the necessary figures are printed in pairs, in a table, without delimitation of boxes and each pair of figures is surrounded by two ellipses or ovals, F and E, whose main axes are crossed and in the colors are different. This avoids any risk of confusion between the value expressed in one or the other currency.
• a change table according to the invention is preferably applied to a rectangular flat support of credit card or postcard format. But it can also be applied to a ruler or to a cylindrical pen-type support with a diameter of 1.5 cm. at least. It can be taken anywhere, in a pocket, bag or wallet. Of course such a table can be drawn up for all the currencies which will be converted into euros. 7 according to a rate which is fixed definitively and, for example D. Mark or the Italian lira.
• each line is formed by an isosceles trapezoid this face whose face 2 is inclined at an angle of about 60 ° relative to the horizontal, being followed by a face 3 horizontal or more generally parallel to the flat support 1, a third face 4 being inclined at an angle of 120 ° relative to the horizontal.
• face 3 can also be made up of lines reconstituting a table of figures. But it can also bear any other inscription.
• Each area of the table is made up of lines which, preferably, are covered with a transparent plastic layer 6 of substantially semi-circular section forming a magnifying glass. Images are printed in alternating lines.
• FIG. 6 which represents an element of the converter in vertical section, it can be seen that each of the faces 2 and 4 is subdivided into two half faces respectively 21 and 22 and 41 and 42 inclined angularly with respect to each other. It is thus possible to determine five tables which can be seen under different inclinations, the brain recomposing for a given inclination the corresponding image.
• the number of facets can be multiplied provided that the print fineness is sufficient and corresponds to the separating power of the eye.
• the lined structures can be printed flat, the lenses realizing the separation of the different images.
• the "optical converter" according to the invention does not require the use of batteries which can constitute a danger to the environment.
• the numbers are superimposed (actually 8 nested) but visible individually.
• the zones or boxes can be circular so as to represent coins which can display the two values. Thus, one currency is superimposed on another according to the exchange rate.
• the table itself can have the circular shape of a coin.
• the table can have more than two images. Under these conditions, it is possible to use it with fluctuating exchange rates. For example, the exchange rate between the EURO and the US dollar varies within certain limits.
• a first image is constituted by a table of a first currency, for example the EURO.
• the second, third, fourth, nth images are tables each of which includes the correspondences for a variable exchange rate, for example for a euro-dollar correspondence, the second image can be the conversion when the EUR is worth 1.10 dollar, the second when it is worth 1.20 dollars and the third 1.5 dollars.
• Each table is identified by the symbol of the monetary unit concerned placed in the center, occupying a relatively large area with a color different from the background, and, for the second images, by adding the exchange rate closest to the current rate.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Accounting & Taxation (AREA)
• Finance (AREA)
• Mathematical Physics (AREA)
• Computing Systems (AREA)
• Credit Cards Or The Like (AREA)
• Lenses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=26234190

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (1)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 1998
  • 1998-07-10 FR FR9808876A patent/FR2776082B3/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1999
  • 1999-03-10 WO PCT/FR1999/000528 patent/WO1999046656A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-03-10 EP EP99908999A patent/EP0981787A1/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events