GB2100035A - Small-size electronic apparatus having a fortunetelling function - Google Patents

Abstract

A small-size electronic apparatus having a fortunetelling function includes a conversion section (44) for providing signals for driving symbol display elements corresponding to fortunetelling data. An arithmetic and logic circuit (42) obtains fortunetelling data for the date of operation according to biorhythm data (or possibly, astrological data), date-of-operation data supplied from time counting means (36, 38, 34) and data-of-birth data supplied from an input circuit (10). The fortunetelling data is transmitted through the conversion section (44) to a display drive circuit (46). The display drive circuit (48) drives symbol display elements corresponding in numbers to fortunetelling data according to signals from the display drive circuit (46). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Small-size electronic apparatus having a fortunetelling function This invention relates to small-size electron apparatus having a fortunetelling function and, more particularly, to a small-size electronic apparatus through which fortunetelling predictions can be easily recognized, and the fortunetelling function of which is a simple keying operation.

In the prior art small-size electronic computor incorporating a fortunetelling function, the operator's birth data and the data of operation are input. Predetermined calculations are executed on the basis of these data, the results of calculations being displayed as fortunetelling data in the form of corresponding numerical figures. The operator confirms the fortune of the day by judging the displayed numerical figures of the fortunetelling data by consulting a predetermined correlation table. The correlation table required for the judgement of the displayed fortunetelling data is provided separately. Also, considerably complicated keying operations, including the inputting of the date-of-operation data, are required.

An object of the invention is to provide a small-size electronic apparatus having a fortunetelling function, with which the predicted fortune can be easily recognized.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small-size electronic apparatus having a fortunetelling function, with which fortunetelling can be obtained with a simple keying operation.

The above and further objects have been attained with a small-size electronic apparatus according to the invention, which comprises input means for inputting fortunetelling data, including date-of-birth data; control means connected to the input means for providing control signal and data according to the input fortunetelling data; time counting means connected to the control means for providing at least the date-of-operation data; memory means connected to the control means for storing at least date data and date-of-birth data; calculating means connected to the control means and memory means for calculating the fortunetelling data of the day on the basis of the input date data and date-of-birth data and also specific formulas for fortunetelling; converting means connected to the calculating means for converting the fortunetelling data into data for displaying the fortunetelling data quantitatively; and display means connected to the converting means for displaying quantitatively the fortunetelling data on the basis of the display data.

Since according to the invention the fortunetelling data is quantitatively displayed, the result of fortunetelling can be quickly understood.

Further, according to the invention, the date-of-operation data is given from the time counting means. In other words, unlike the prior art apparatus, there is no need to input the date-of-operation data. Thus, the keying operation required for the fortunetelling is simplified.

By way of example and to make the description clearer, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the construction of one embodiment of the small-size electronic apparatus having a fortunetelling function according to the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view showing the construction of a display section shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a symbol data table for explaining the conversion operation of the symbol data conversion section shown in Figure 1; Figures 4A to 4C show flow charts for explaining the operation of the embodiment of Figure 1; and Figures 5A to 13D illustrate the keying operation and the way the display section of the same embodiment displays the results.

One embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiment concerns a fortunetelling function based on "biorhythms". Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically showing the small-size electronic calculator having a fortunetelling function embodying the invention.An input section 10 includes numeral keys 12 for inputting numeral figures "0" to "9" and a decimal point, function keys 14 for instructing the arithmetic operation and the like, a mode selection switch 16, a fortunetelling key 18, a congeniality key 20, a date-of-birth key 22, a yesterday key 24 for specifying the date before the date of fortunetelling, a tomorrow key 26 for specifying the data following the fortunetelling, a time key 28 for specifying the setting and display of time, a date key 30 for specifying the setting and display of state, and a reset key 32 which is operated when setting the time and date. The mode selection switch 16 has three mode positions "CAL", "SET" and "TM". In the "SET" mode, date data consisting of the present date and time instant are set by operating the numeral keys 12, time key 28, data key 20 and set key 32.

Furthermore, the operator's date of birth is set in the "SET' mode by operating the numeral keys 12, date key 30, and date-of-birth key 22. The preset date of birth can be cleared by making a new birthday setting. In the "TM" mode, the present time data is displayed. In the "CAL" mode, a function of fortunetelling for a single person and a function of matchmaking for two persons are provided, in addition to calculation functions such as arithmetical operations. Key operation signals produced from the input section 10 are fed to a control section 34. The control section 34 is constituted by, for example, a ROM (read only memory), in which various microprograms are stored and which controls various parts. A reference frequency signal provided from an oscillator 36 is frequency-divided by a frequency divider 38 to provide a one-second signal.The signal is then supplied to the control section 34.

A memory section 40 includes a time register to store time data (hour, minute and second data), a date register to store date data, a number-of-days register to store number-of-days data, a symbol register to store symbol data, and date-of-birth register to store the operator's date-of-birth data, as well as display and calculation registers. Addresses of each register are specified by an address specification signal from the control section 34. An arithmetic and logic section 42 executes arithmetic and logic operations based on code signals, such as data of a register specified and input data from the control section 34 according to an operation specification signal fed from the control section 34. The result of the operation is transferred to a given register in the memory section 40 where it is again stored.The arithmetic and logic section 42 also makes a predetermined judgement on the basis of the result of the operation, and the result of the judgement is supplied to the control section 34. The control section 34 performs a time-counting operation every time a one-second signal is supplied from the frequency divider 38 and supplies the time and date of operation data to the time and date registers in the memory section 40.

Further, when the fortunetelling key 18 or congeniality key 20 in the input section 10 is operated, the control section 34 calculates the number of days between the two specified dates and also executes control operation for calculating each biorhythm datum for physical condition (P), sentiment (S) and intelligence (I) respectively. The calculation of the number-of-days mentioned above is based on an well-known calculation formula (for example, that which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 77866/1975). Specifically, a date data representing March 1, 0 (or year 0, month 3, and day 1) taken as the initial date is previously stored in a memory section.When the number of days (N) from the initial date to a certain date (year a, month b, and day c) isto be found out, one of the following two equations are used depending on the value of b: N = [ 365.25 x a ] + [ 30.6 x (b -3) ] + cifb#3 ~ ....3 . . . . . (1) and N= [ 365.25x(a-1) ] + [ 30.6x(b+9) ] +cifb < 3 (2) In both equations (1) and (2), the fractions of the year's term are discarded and the day's term is rounded to an integer.

When the number of days between two specific dates, excluding the initial date, is required, the number of days from the initial data to each of the specific date must be calculated by applying the equations and then the smaller number obtained is subtracted from the other. The date data obtained by incrementing the date data obtained by the calculation "by +1" is stored in the number-of-days register. in the arithmetic and logic section 42, the number-of-days data is divided by 23, 28 and 33, which are the periods of individual biorhythms, to obtain the quotients as data P, S and I of the physical condition, sentiment and intelligence, respectively. These biorhythmic data are stored in a predetermined register in the memory section 40. If the quotients are 0, the biorhythmic data P, S and I are respectively made to be 23, 28 and 33.These biorhythmic data are transferred from the memory section 40 to a symbol data conversion section 44 according to a control signal from the control section 34. The symbol data conversion section 44 converts the biorhythmic data into symbol data corresponding to the "on" or flickering state of symbols concerning the fortunetelling or matchmaking. These symbol data are fed to the memory section 40 and stored in the symbol register thereof.

The data to be displayed, stored in the memory section 40, are fed to a display drive section 46. In a display section 48, display elements are selectively driven for a given display according to the output signal from the display drive section 46.

Figure 2 shows the construction of the individual display elements in the display section 48. More particularly, the display section 48 comprises numeral display elements for 8 digits 50, week display elements 52, health fortune display elements 54, gambling fortune display elements 56, business fortune display elements 58, love fortune display elements 60, a "BIRTH" mark display element 62 which is turned on when the date-of-birth key 22 is operated, and a matchmaking mark display member 64 which is "on" while there is a matchmaking display.

The symbol data conversion section 44 converts the input biorhythmic data for P, S and I into symbol data corresponding to the number of the "on" or flickering elements among the display elements 54, 60 and 58 respectively representing the health fortune, love fortune and business fortune in the display section 48.

Symbols that are formed by "on" and flickering display elements among the elements 54 to 60 have definite meanings for the health fortune, gambling fortune, business fortune and love fortune as shown in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Number of "on" lamps: 4 Luckiest Number of "on" lamps: 3 Lucky Number of "on" lamps: 2 Rather unlucky Number of "on" lamps: 1 Unlucky and in a slump Number of "on" lamps: 2 Lucky but unstable, Number of flickering requiring care lamps: 1 Number of "on" lamps: 1 Rather unlucky and unstable, Numberoffilckering requiring care lamps 1 Number of flickering Accidents are liable, so be lamps 2 careful The operation of the embodiment having the above construction will be described with reference to Figures 4A to 13D. The apparatus of the embodiment has a function of fortunetelling for one person on a specified day and a function of matchmaking for two persons on a specified day. The operation will first be described in conjunction with the function of fortunetelling.The operator may set his or her date of birth in the apparatus in advance. Once the data is preset it is no longer necessary to set it when he or she operates the apparatus for fortunetelling. For setting the date-of-birth data, the mode selection switch 16 in the input section 10 is set to the "SET" mode, and then the operator's birth date, for example "51-11-29" as shown in Figure 5A, is set by operating the numeral keys 12 and date key 30. In response to the keying operation, the control section 34 provides code signals to the arithmetic and logic section 42. In the arithmetic and logic section 42, predetermined arithmetic and logic operations are performed on the input code signals, and the resultant data are stored in the date-of-birth data in the display register in the memory section 40.At this time, the arithmetic and logic section 42 also calculates a-day-of-the-week data corresponding to the date-of-birth data, and supplies it to the display register for storage therein. The data thus stored in the display register are transferred to the display drive section 46 for displaying the date and the day of the week of birth on the display section 48. The date-of-birth key 22 is then operated, whereby the date-of-birth data stored in the display register is transferred to the date-of-birth register and is displayed together with the symbol "BIRTH", indicating that the data is the date-of-birth data, as shown in Figure 5A.

In this state, the mode selection switch 16 is switched to the "CAL" mode. The fortunetelling key 18 is then operated, whereby a symbol display of the operator's fortune on that day is obtained. Figure 4A shows a flow chart of an operation that is executed in response to the operation of the fortunetelling key 18. First, the number of days from the operator's date of birth until the specified day is calculated (step S1). Because, in this case, no key other than the fortunetelling key 18 is operated, the number of days from the operator's birth data, which is stored in the date-of-birth register in the memory section 40, until the date of operation, which is calculated by the time counting operation and stored in the date register, are calculated and incremented by "+1". The number-of-days data thus obtained is stored in the number-of-days register.

From this number-of-days data the biorhythmic data P, S and I are calculated in the manner described above (step S2). These biorhythmic data are transferred to the symbol data conversion section 44, and the symbol data thus obtained are stored in the symbol register (step S3). These symbol data are supplied together with the date data to the display drive section 46, and the current date and individual fortunetelling symbols are displayed on the display section 46 as shown in Figure 5B. The operator can thus promptly recognize the health fortune, gambling fortune, business fortune and love fortune of the day.

By operating keys as shown in Figure 6A (this stage can be omitted if the operator's date-of-birth has already been set) and then operating the numeral keys 12 and date key 30 for a desired date as shown in Figure 6B, the operator's fortune for the desired day can be obtained by operating the fortunetelling key 18 as shown in Figure 6B. For producing the fortune for a person other than the operator, his or her date of birth is first keyed in the "CAL" mode, as shown in Figure 7A. The fortunetelling key 18 is then operated as shown in Figure 7B, whereby his or her fortune of the day is displayed. Further, by keying in a desired date as shown in Figure 8D after keying the date of birth in the "CAL" mode, as shown in Figure 8A, his or her fortune for the desired day is displayed, as shown in Figure 8B.The operation in these cases is also executed through the steps S1 to S4 shown in Figure 4A. In these cases, the number of days is calculated on the basis of the date of birth keyed in before the operation of the fortunetelling key 18 and the desired date.

In order to obtain matchmaking information, keys are previously operated in "SET" mode, as shown in Figure 9A. When the operator's date-of-birth has already been set, this stage can be omitted. The date of birth of the person for whom the matchmaking is to be made in keyed in, in the "CAL" mode, as shown in Figure 9B. Next, the congeniality key 20 is operated as shown in Figure 9C. Figure 4B shows a flow chart of the operation executed in response to the operation of the congeniality key 20. First, the numbers of days with respect to the date of operation are calculated for the operator and the person for whom the matchmaking is to be made. These numbers are then incremented "'+1". These two number-of-days data are then stored in the number-of-days register (step S5).Two sets of biorhythmic data are then calculated on the basis of the two number-of-days data (step S6). Symbol data are then calculated from the two sets of biorhythmic data (step S7). Congenial symbol data are obtained from the two sets of symbol data in the symbol data conversion section 42. These congenial symbol data are stored in the symbol register (step S8).

According to the congenical symbol data, matchmaking symbols are displayed together with the current date on the display section 48 as shown in Figure 9C (step S9). The operator can thus read the matchmaking results with respect to the designated person of the day from the displayed matchmaking symbols.

Further, by operating keys as shown in Figures 1 0A and 1 OB (the stage shown in Figure 1 OA can be oimtted when the operator's date-of-birth has already been set) and then keying date as shown in Figure 10C, the matchmaking between the operator and the designated person on the desired day is displayed as shown in Figure 10C. For matchmaking between two persons other than the operator, the date of birth of one of the two persons is first keyed in the "CAL" mode as shown in Figure 11A. then, the "-" key is operated and the date of birth of the other person is keyed in as shown in Figure 11 B. The key 20 is then operated as shown in Figure 1 1C, whereby the matchmaking ofthe day is displayed as shown in Figure 1 1C.For obtaining matchmaking for a desired day, the desired date is keyed in as shown in Figure 12C after key operation as shown in Figures 12A and 12B, whereby matchmaking between the persons other than the operator for the desired date is displayed. Again, the operations of the cases described above is executed through the steps S5 to S9 shown in Figure 4B. In these cases, the numbers of days are calculated on the basis of the dates of birth and desired date keyed in.

Further, by operating the yesterday key 24 or tomorrow key 26 at the time of the display of the fortunetelling or matchmaking as described above, data for the previous or following day can be displayed.

Figure 4C shows a flow chart illustrating this case. As shown in steps S10 through S15, the number-of-days data stored in the number-of-days register is incremented by "+1" or "-1", and foretunetelling or matchmaking is executed with respect to the resultant data. For example, when the fortunetelling of the day is displayed as shown in Figure 13A, by operating the yesterday key 24 as shown in Figure 13B, the fortunetelling for yesterday is displayed as shown in Figure 13B. Also, by operating the tomorrow key 26 as shown in Figure 13C, the fortune for the following day is displayed, as shown in Figure 13C. By further operating the tomorrow key 26 as shown in Figure 13D, the fortunetelling for the following day is displayed as shown in Figure 13D.

The period during which data is displayed after operation of the fortunetelling key 18 or congeniality key 20 may be set to be several seconds, and the flickering of the display elements 54 to 60 during the period may increase the sense of expectation for the data that will appear, thus enhancing ones interest.

Furthermore, while in the above embodiment the calculation of data has been carried out on the basis of biorhythms, it is also possible to calculate on the basis of other data, such as astrology. In addition, while the above embodiment concerns a small-size electronic calculator, the invention is also applicable to other small-size electronic apparatus, such as electronic timepieces.

Various changes and modifications may naturally be made with departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. A small-size electronic apparatus having fortunetelling function comprising: input means for inputting fortunetelling data including date-of-birth data; control means connected to said input means for providing a control signal and data according to the input fortunetelling data; time counting means connected to said control means for providing at least date-of-operation data; memory means connected to said control means for storing at least date data and date-of-birth data; calculating means connected to said control means and also to said memory means for calculating fortunetelling data for the date data on the basis of the date data, date-of-birth data and given calculation formulas for fortunetelling; converting means connected to said calculating means for converting the fortunetelling data into data for displaying the fortunetelling data quantitatively; and display means connected to said converting means for displaying quantitatively the fortunetelling data on the basis of the display data.

2. A small-size electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said calculating means calculates fortunetelling data on the basis of date data, date-of-birth data, and biorhythmic data.

3. A small-size electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display means includes a display section having a plurality of display elements for displaying fortunetelling data; and a display drive section connected to said display section for generating signals to drive said display elements according to the display data from said converting means.

4. A small-size electronic apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said input means includes a key which designates the date previous to a date which is displayed on said display means.

5. A small-size electronic apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said calculating means converts data representing a date which is displayed into data representing the date previous to the displayed date, and calculates fortunetelling data for the date previous to the displayed date on the basis of the converted date data, date-of-birth data, and specific formulas for fortunetelling.

6. A small-size electronic apparatus according to the claim 1, wherein said input means includes a key which designates the date immediately following a date which is displayed on said display means.

7. A small-size electronic apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said calculating means converts data representing a date which is displayed into data representing the date immediately following the displayed date, and calculates fortunetelling data for the date immediately following the displayed date on the basis of the converted date data, date-of-birth data, and specific formulas for fortunetelling.

8. A small-size electronic apparatus having a fortunetelling function, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.