GB2207263A

GB2207263A - A currency conversion calculator

Info

Publication number: GB2207263A
Application number: GB08813815A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tomonori Yoshizaki; Tatsuhiko Niboshi; Hisao Itaya; Tetsuji Deguchi; Yoshihisa Ogawa
Original assignee: Gunze Ltd
Current assignee: Gunze Ltd
Priority date: 1987-06-12
Filing date: 1988-06-10
Publication date: 1989-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 2008-06-10
Also published as: GB2207263B; GB8813815D0

Abstract

A currency conversion calculator comprises; keys 1, 2 for selecting currencies, keys 6 for inputting an amount of money of a selected currency, a key 3 for preliminarily setting one or more different currency rates in conjunction with keys 6, memory 14b for storing the currency rate(s) set, a CPU 14 for the conversion calculation, and a plurality of display units 5 of which at least one displays the amount of money converted into the different currency by said CPU. <IMAGE>

Description

A CURRENCY CONVERSION CALCULATOR The present invention relates to a calculator for calculating amount of money in different currency.

It is troublesome for a foreign traveller to estimate or calculate an amount of money in the different currency rate. For example, when a traveller wants to buy an article whose price is expressed in a currency which is not familiar to the traveller, he wishes to judge whether or not the price of the article is reasonable by converting the price into the amount expressed in the currency rate which is familiar to him.

It is noted that the term "currency conversion~' used hereinafter means to convert an amount of money expressed in one currency into a different amount of money expressed in a different currency.

In order to perform the currency conversion between different currency, in the prior art an electronic calculator has been used in such a manner as described hereinafter. For example, assuming that the price of an article is 5 U. S. dollars and the US currency rate to Japanese yen is 144.35 yen per US dollar, the Japanese traveller calculates 5 x 144.33 = 721.75 yen using the electronic calculator. In case of using the electronic calculator, the operator must remember the currency rate, In addition he must operate various keys of the calculator to enter the price expressed in the US dollar and the currency rate. Therefore the operation of the electronic calculator for the currency conversion is much complicated and troublesome. In addition, the operator may erroneously operate a divisional key in place of multiplication key.

Another prior art of the currency conversion is to incorporate a specific function of calculation of the currency conversion in an electronic calculator. In this arrangement, there must be provided a key for switching between the calculator mode and currency conversion mode.

In addition, in order to decrease the number of keys, a number of keys for the calculation mode are used as the currency conversion mode. In this arrangement, the key operation becomes complicated.

Accordingly, an essential object of the present invention is to provide a currency conversion calculator in which the key operation is simple and various kinds of the currency conversion value can be obtained.

In order to accomplish the object of the present invention, there is provided a currency conversion calculator for converting into different currency which comprises; currency selecting keys for selecting kind of the currency, input keys for inputting amount of money of the currency, currency rate setting keys for preliminarily setting one or more different currency rates of one or more currencies using at least said currency selecting keys and input keys, memory for storing the currency rate set by said currency setting keys, and CPU for calculating the amount of money of the currency which is different from the currency of the input amount of money input by said input keys at the time of currency conversion, and a plurality of display units in which at least one of the display units displays the amount of money converted into the different currency by said CPU.

In the currency conversion calculator according to the present invention, various currency rates such as between Japanese yen and U. S. dollars or Korean won and U.S. dollars can be set by the rate setting keys. When currency conversion is necessary, the operator enters the amount of the money to be converted by the input keys, then the converted amount of money is displayed at the display unit. Since there is not provided any function keys such as +, -, x,4the currency conversion can be made with a very simple operation.

Also, the amount of money of one currency to be converted and the converted amount of money of the different currency can be simultaneously displayed by the display units, the operator can easily knows the necessary data.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a currency conversion calculator according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the calculator shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side view of the calculator shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is a front view of the calculator shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines A-A shown in Fig. 1 with the thickness of the calculator enlarged, Figs. 6(A) and 6 (B) are respectively plan views of a display portion of the calculator shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is a plan view showing an example of conductive patterns of a touch panel used in the calculator shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is a plan view showing another example of conductive patterns of a touch panel used in the calculator shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 9 is a block diagram of an example of a control circuit of the calculator according to the present invention.

Before the description proceeds, it is noted that like parts are designated by like reference numerals throughout the attached drawings.

Referring to Fig. 1 showing a top plan view of the currency conversion calculator 10. The currency conversion calculator 10 is similar to a handy type electronic calculator, having a generally rectangular shape with a small thickness so that an operator of the calculator 10 can easily handle laying the calculator 10 in the operator's hand.

Referring to Fig. 1, there are manually operably provided three currency selection keys la, lb and lc (generally indicated by 1) of dollar ($), yen (Y) and Korean won (x) on the top surface of the calculator 10 for initially setting various currency conversion conditions such as a currency rate. Similarly, three currency selection keys 2a, 2b and 2c (generally indicated by 2) are provided for selecting any one of the currencies of U. S. dollar, yen and Korean won when the operator wants to convert one currency to other currency. In order to make clear the difference of both keys 1 and 2, the currency selection keys 1 are colored in red and the currency selection keys 2 are colored in blue.The keys lc and 2c may be used as the other currency such as Pound or Mark as desired. A currency rate setting key 3 for setting any one of the currencies is disposed at the head portion of the calculator 10. 4 denotes a power switch key which is turned on when the key 4 is pushed one time and turned off when the key 4 is pushed again.

Three display units 5 are disposed between the currency selection keys 1 and the currency selection keys 2 in such a manner that the display unit 5a corresponds to the respective dollar keys la and 2a, the display unit Sb to yen keys lb and 2b and the display unit 5c to Korean won keys lc and 2c. Each of the display units 5 has eight digit numeric display elements for displaying the currency rate at the time of inputting the currency rate and for displaying the amount of money at the time of currency conversion calculation. In the embodiment shown, in order to display the two digits in the two decimal places, an underline is printed on the surface of each of the two least significant display elements of the display units 5a to 5c.In addition, there may be printed Chinese characters such as ffi(ten thousand) + (thousand), i3 (hundred), t (ten) at the lower portion of each display elements. Input numeric keys 0 to 9 generally shown at 6 are disposed below the display units 5 on the surface of the calculator 10. An entry key E is indicated by 6a and decimal key is indicated by 6b. The entry key 6b is operated when input of the numeric data for setting the currency rate is completed. As shown in Fig. 1, there is not provided function keys for four rules of the arithmetic operation such as +, -, x and ., in the calculator according to the present invention, the structure of the calculator is simple and the currency conversion operation can be easily performed.

A solar battery 7 is disposed between the keys 3 and 4 on the surface of the calculator 10 so that the data of the currency rate inputted in the calculator can be stored for a back up operation in association with a secondary battery installed in the calculator and a super condenser of about 0.05 Farads. By using the solar battery 7 and capacitor, it is possible to omit any battery and it is convenient whenever the calculator can be used by only charging the solar battery by the solar light.

Referring to Figs. 3 to 5, the body of the calculator 10 is made of plastic resin material and is shaped in a generally flat case without lid. In the case body of the calculator 10, an intermediate plate 11 made of a transparent plastic resin is disposed between a bottom wall 10a and a surface panel 12 so as to provide pockets P1 and P2 each having a gap of about 0.5 mm and the area corresponding to the region of the display units 5a through 5c for the pocket P1 and the region of the numeric keys 6 for the pocket P2.

The pockets Pn and P2 are separated by a rib lla projected from the generally central portion of the intermediate plate 11 toward the bottom wall 10a. The pockets P1 and P2 are respectively provided for removably inserting one or more sheets (not shown and referred to as drawing sheet hereinafter) on which necessary characters and/or drawings are depicted. In place of the drawing sheet, a hard interchangeable card may be inserted in the pockets. In order to insert the drawing sheet in the pocket P1, an elongated slit S1 communicating with the pocket P1 is opened on the top side 10b of the calculator 10.A cut portion Z is formed at the central portion of the top of the upper edge of the bottom wall 10a so as to facilitate insertion and removal of the drawing sheet. In order to insert the drawing sheet in the pocket P2, another elongated slit S2 communicating with the pocket P2 is opened on one side 10c of the calculator 10. In order to prevent undesired removal of the drawing sheet from the pockets P1 or P2, the respective surfaces of the intermediate plate 11 and the bottom wall 10a facing to the pockets P1 and P2 may be rough so that the drawing sheet can be held by the projections of the rough face. By the arrangement mentioned above, even if the drawing sheet is slightly thinner than 0.5mm, the drawing sheet can be held in the pocket P1 or P2.

The pockets P1 and P2 may be formed in one pocket with the slit S1 formed on the upper wall 10c as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. In this case, the slit S2 may be closed if it is possible to keep the drawing sheet in the pocket P2.

The surface panel 12 is made of aluminum -coating flat plate with window 12a for the input keys 6 opened.

Also windows corresponding to the display units 5, solar battery 7 and keys 1 to 4 are opened in the surface panel 12.

A transparent touch panel 13 is disposed between the surface panel 12 and the intermediate plate 11. The touch panel 13 is composed of a pair of electrically insu- lating sheets 13a and 13b having electrically conducting patterns formed by electrically conductive transparent film areas opposed but separated each other to provide membrane switches corresponding to the respective keys 1 to 6 including numeric keys "0" to "9", entry key 6a and decimal point key 6b as shown in Fig. 1.In the touch panel 13, the conducting patterns for each of the keys are normally separated by a suitable gap and electrically opened, but once a portion of the outer panel 13a corresponding to any one of the keys such as numeric key "l" is depressed by a finger of the operator , the conducting patterns of the numeric key "1" are contacted, thereby producing a signal showing that the numeric key "1" has been depressed. There may be printed the symbol or name of the respective keys 1 to 6 on the surface of the touch panel 13 with circles 50 for indicating the suitable area to be depressed.However, the name or symbol of the respective keys may be depicted on the drawing sheet and/or the interchangeable card, which is inserted in the pocket P1 or P2 in place of printing the symbols and name on the surface of the touch panel 13. The respective keys 1 to 6 may be replaced by conventional push button switches or the like such as key board switches or flat type key board switches.

The symbols $, v and X of the currency selection keys 1 and 2 may be printed directly on one of the surfaces of the touch panel 13. However, since the touch panel 13 is transparent, the drawing sheet 51 as shown in Fig. 6(A) wherein the symbols $, Y and X surrounded by arrow marks 52 are depicted may be inserted in the pocket P1 so that the operator can visually see and distinguish the respective keys 1 to 4. By using the drawing sheet mentioned above, the calculator 10 may be available in various country by only writing the symbols of the currency to be used on the drawing sheet 51. For example, when the calculator 10 is used in the east Europe countries, the symbol $ of the U. S.

dollar is changed by the symbol of U.S.S.R. rubles. In place of printing the symbols on the drawing sheet 51, it may be possible to stick one or more removable stickers printed with the necessary symbol to the drawing sheet 51.

Since the bottom wall iOa is also transparent, there may be displayed on the opposite side of the drawing sheet various information such as operation of the calculator, example of conversation for shopping in various countries, advertisement and commercial messages so that when the drawing sheet is inserted in the pockets P1 and P2, the operator can read the information from the reverse side of the calculator 10.

Therefore, the panel of the calculator forms a notice board.

A microprocessor 14 is installed in the interior of the calculator 10 for performing calculation of the currency conversion. The microprocessor 14 is made of LSI (large scale integrated circuit) and performs the currency conversion mentioned later.

In one example, the size of the currency conversion calculator 10 is 155 mm long, 85 mm wide and 4,8 mm thick which are those of a pass port. The calculator 10 is as small as possible but it should be considered that when the size of the calculator is too small, the key operation by the operator's finger is difficult, therefore, the size mentioned above is selected. Considering the size of the operator's finger, so far as the input keys 6 concerns, the distance between the centers of two adjacent keys should be selected more than 12 mm. In one preferred embodiment, the distance between the centers of two adjacent keys of the input keys 6 were 15 mm and the diameter of the circle 50 was 10 mm.In connection with the currency selecting keys 1, the currency setting keys 2, the currency rate setting key 3 and power switch 4, the distance between the centers of the two adjacent keys in a longitudinal direction shown by an arrow mark K was 15 mm and the shape surrounded by lines 54 or 55 for indicating the available areas of the keys 1 to 4 was selected so as to inscribe to an elongated rectangular shape of 8mm x 12mm.

The body of the calculator 10 may not be limited to a specific size, there may be exemplified that the longitudinal size is 140 to 180 mm, width is 70 to 90 mm and thickness is 3 to 7 mm. Although there is no limit of the distance of the keys, there may be exemplified 10 to 30 mm as the distance between the centers of the two adjacent keys. It is noted that in connection with the keys 1 to 4, the distance is measured in the longitudinal direction and in connection with the keys 6, the distance is measured in both longitudinal and lateral directions. The size of the respective keys may be selected as desired, however, there may be exemplified such sizes that inscribe to an elongated rectangular shape of 5 to 20 mm in the longitudinal direction (K) and 5 to 25 mm in the lateral direction as the size of the keys.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 showing an example of the conduction patterns formed on the surfaces of the insulating sheets 13a and 13b of the touch panel 13, four conduction patterns R01 to R04 of square shape and four conduction patterns R11 to R14 of square shape are formed on the surface of the insulating sheet 13a corresponding to the keys la to lc, 2a to 2c, 3 and 4. Also four elongated conduction patterns R21 to R24 are formed on the surface of the insulating sheet 13a so as to extend in parallel in the lateral direction corresponding to the lines of the input keys 6.On the other hand, an elongated conduction patterns C1 and C5 extending in the longitudinal direction K are formed on the surface of the insulation sheet 13b of the touch panel 13 corresponding to the respective square patterns R01 to R11 and three elongated conduction patterns C2 to C4 extending in the longitudinal direction K are also formed on the surface of the insulation sheet 13b corresponding to the rows of the input keys 6.By the arrangement of the conduction patterns mentioned above, when the insulation sheets 13a and 13b are opposed separated with a gap, the patterns R01 to R04 oppose to the pattern Cl and the patterns Ril to R14 to the pattern C5 and the patterns R21 to R24 oppose the patterns C2 to C4 with a suitable gap so that there are formed a plurality of membrane switches or flat type keys.

The respective conducting patterns are connected by connecting patterns Q as mentioned below.

R01 - R11 - R21 = R1 R02 - R12 - R22 = R2 R03 - R13 - R23 = R3 R04 - R14 - R24 = R4 It is noted that the conduction patterns R01 to R24 in Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively depicted as those seen from front for facilitating to understand the positional relationships of the patterns on the sheets 13a and 13b.

The table 1 shows ON and OFF operations of the respective conduction patterns ROl to R24 and C1 to C5.

Table 1 R1 R2 R3 R4 C1 X(1c) +(lib) $(lc) R(3) C2 1 4 7 0 C3 2 5 8 C4 3 6 9 E C5 X(2c) #(2b) $(2a) ON(4) From the table 1, it can be seen that when the key Y(lb) is depressed, the patterns R2 and C1 contact each other to produce a signal representing that the key Y is depressed.

Referring to Fig. 9 showing the control circuit of the currency conversion calculator, the microprocessor 14 receives the signals from the keys la to lc, 2a to 2c, 3 and 4, The microprocessor 14 is provided with a ROM (read only memory) for storing control programs for calculating the currency conversion based on the equation amount of money in one currency x currency rate = amount of money in other (or different) currency, and a RAM for storing various data such as every currency rates and input data of amount of money to be converted. A capacitor C of about 0.05 r F is connected to the solar battery 7 through a diode D so that the calculator is operable under low illuminaance for several hours using the charge in the capacitor which is charged by the solar battery 7.Also various data stored in the RAM can be backed up for several weeks.

The examples of the operation of the currency conversion calculator is explained hereinafter with the example of conversion for the U.S. dollars, which is the standard currency, Japanese Yen and Korean won.

when the power key 4 is depressed, the power is supplied to the various parts of the calculator, which starts operation. The display units 5a, Sb and Sc display 0 respectively as shown.

(bbbbb0.00), (bbbbb0.00) and (bbbbbO.00) wherein b shows a blank.

Subsequently, the currency rate setting key 3 is depressed to make the conversion calculator in a rate set mode to enable setting of the currency rate of one of the currencies.

Subsequently, one of the currency selection keys la to lc is selected. In this case, since the U. S. dollar is selected as the standard currency, the currency selection key la is depressed. Then the display of the display unit 5a is cleared off (in this case the content of the display is unchanged).

Then the numeric key (1) is depressed for entering U. S. 1 $ followed by operation of the entry key 6a. At this time the display units 5a, 5b and Sc display 1.00),( 0.00) and ( o.oo).

It is noted that in the example, the decimal points are displayed so that two decimal places are shown.

Subsequently, in order to enter the Japanese currency rate, the key Ib is depressed followed by operation of the numeric keys 144.35 yen with the entry key E. Then ( 1. on), ( 144.35) and ( 0.00) are displayed.

Subsequently, in order to enter the Korean won rate 822.34, the key lc is depressed and 822.34 are entered by the numeric keys 6 followed by the entry key 6a. Then 1.00), ( 144.35) and ( 822.34) are displayed. By the operation mentioned above the respective currency rates are entered. It is noted that the turn of setting the Japanese currency rate and Korean currency rate may be reversed. In this case, even if the power key 4 is turned off, the respective currency rates are stored in the RAM.

In order to convert 12000 Korean won into Japanese yen, the key 2c of the currency selection keys 2 for the Korean won is depressed after the power key 4 is turned on.

Then the display on the display units 5a to 5c is cleared off, then display is 0.00), ( 0.00) and ( 0.00). Then in order to enter 12.000 Korean won, the numeric keys "1" "2" "0" "0" "0" are depressed, the display unit 5c displays the respective numeric characters every time corresponding numeric key is depressed in such a manner as "1", "12", "120", "1200" and "12000", as a result the display unit 5c displays 12.000. At the same time the display units 5a and 5b display the amounts of money converted into the U.S.

dollar and Japanese yen as shown below.

0.00) ( 0.00) ( 0.00) 0.00) ( 0.17) ( 1.00) ( 0.01) ( 2.10) ( 12.00) ( 0.14) ( 21.06) ( 120.00) ( 1.45) ( 210.64) ( 1200.00) ( 14.59) ( 2106.42) ( 12000.00) When converting the amount of money from U.S.

dollar to Japanese yen, the currency selecting key 2a for the U.S. dollar is depressed, the display units are cleared off and then desired amount of U.S. dollars are entered by depressing the numeric keys, whereby the display unit 5b displays the amount of money in Japanese yen which is converted from the U.S. dollars.

When it is necessary to change the Japanese currency rate from 144.35 yen to 143.00 yen, the currency rate setting key 3 is depressed, whereby the display units 5a to 5c display as below.

1.00), ( 144.35) and ( 822.34) Subsequently the key lb for the Japanese currency rate is depressed, the content of the display of the Japanese rate in the display unit 5b is cleared off, whereby the display units 5a to 5c display as below.

1.00), ( 0.00) and ( 822.34) Subsequently 143 are entered by the numeric keys with the operation of entry key E, resulting in the following display.

( l.OQ), ( 143.00) and ( 822.34) In this condition the currency conversion using the Japanese currency rate of 143 yen can be performed by the operation mentioned already.

In order to change the Korean won rate, the key lc is depressed and the Korean won rate is entered by the numeric keys and entry key.

Change of the U.S. dollar and/or Korean currency rates can be made in a similar manner as mentioned above.

Although there is used the capacitor for back up of the RAM, a non volatile RAM may be used for omitting the capacitor. Also it is possible to use a conventional battery such as button cell.

Claims

1. A currency conversion calculator for converting into different currency which comprises; a currency selecting key means for selecting kind of the currency, input key means for inputting amount of money of the currency, currency rate setting means for preliminarily setting one or more different currency rates of one or more currencies using at least said currency selecting key means and input key means, memory means for storing the currency rate set by said currency setting means, means for calculating the amount of money of the currency which is different from the currency of the input amount of money input by said input key means at the time of currency conversion, and display means having a plurality of display units in which at least one of the display units displays the amount of money converted into the different currency by said calculating means.

2. The currency conversion calculator according to claim 1, wherein said display means has three display'units for displaying independently the input amount of money of the currency and the converted amount of money of two different currencies.

3. The currency conversion calculator according to claim 1, wherein said currency selecting key means comprises first currency selecting keys for setting the currency rate and second currency selecting keys for the currency conversion, said first and second keys being disposed corresponding to said three display means.

4. The currency conversion calculator according to claim 1, wherein said input key means comprises numeric keys of O to 9, a decimal point key and an entry key.

5. The currency conversion calculator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the key positions of said currency selecting key means are formed by a transparent touch panel which comprises a plurality of transparent electrodes which form membrane switches.

The currency conversion calculator according to claim 5, wherein said calculator has at least one pocket corresponding to the touch panel for removably receiving an interchangeable card so that the indication of a part or all of the keys can be indicated by said interchangeable card.

7. The currency conversion calculator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said said key portions are made of a keyboard or a flat keyboard.

8. The currency conversion calculator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a part of or all of the indication of the keys are made by detachable sticker sheets.

9. The currency conversion calculator according to claim 1, wherein said calculator comprises a notice board.

10. The currency conversion calculator according to any one of claims 5, 6 and 9, the notice in the notice board is made by an interchangeable card.

11. The currency conversion calculator according to any one of the claims 1 to 9, wherein the notice in the notice board is made by a detachable sticker sheet.

12. The currency conversion calculator according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, wherein the size of the respective keys is such that the respective edges inscribe with a rectangular shape of 5 to 20 mm in the longitudinal direction and 5 to 25 mm in the lateral direction with a distance between the centers of two adjacent keys to be 10 to 30 mm.

13. The currency conversion calculator according to claim 1, wherein the calculator is 140 to 180 mm long, 70 to 90 mm wide and 3 to 7 mm thick.

14. The currency conversion calculator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of the keys is indicated by a symbol representing the currency.

15. The currency conversion calculator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the symbols corresponding to at least two display units are those representing Japanese yen and U.S. dollar.

16. The currency conversion calculator according to claim 6, wherein the opposite face of the pocket is transparent for making the reversed surface of the interchangeable card as the notice board.

37. A currency conversion calculator constructed substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.