GB2419414A

GB2419414A - Ruler

Info

Publication number: GB2419414A
Application number: GB0423618A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Erik Juel Jacobsen; Martin Strandberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-23
Filing date: 2004-10-23
Publication date: 2006-04-26
Also published as: GB0423618D0

Abstract

The present invention comprises a ruler with a display unit for displaying a range of scales and ratios generated electronically by an integral battery or solar powered computing means, said scales and ratios being manually selectable from a pre-programmed range, all set to operate accurately within a wide range of temperatures and designed for ruggedness and ease of use in cramped and low-light conditions.

Description

Intelligent ruler Rulers with scales marked upon them are well known in

the art and are in extremely widespread use in practically every industry and home. These enable the user to measure lengths in given units and to convert readings from one scale to another with varying degrees of approximation, depending on the arrangement employed.

Typically rulers are marked in standard units such as imperial and metric scales, etc. Specialist applications are also available for such purposes as navigation with the most commonly used map scales scribed upon the ruler, such as 1:250,000, to enable the user to read off a distance directly on a suitable chart.

One of the difficulties of this approach is that a plethora of rulers with different scales is required to handle an assortment of standard tasks. This has been addressed in the art by having, for example, triangular rulers with a range of scribed scales, etc. This is often a problem when using maps in confined areas, such as in the cockpits of aircraft, when simplicity of use and robustness are essential. Another problem is that of the accuracy of the scales scored into the material of which the ruler is made, typically brass (for nautical and other applications requiring non-magnetic apparatus), gun- metal or plastics, etc. Obviously it is more expensive to make rules out of metals simply because they will retain a scribed scale better. Rulers made of metal typically expand with heat and thus introduce an element of uncertainty as to the validity of readings. The readings displayed by the present invention may be adjusted to compensate for the temperature.

The present invention seeks to obviate these difficulties in that it provides a ruler characterised in that it features a computing means built into the ruler which is connected to a display unit, said unit being switchable to display any of a range of scales and ratios provided for by the computing means.

According to the invention therefore, there is provided a ruler comprising a display unit and a computing means to display a range of scales and ratios generated by said computing means. - 1

An advantage of this approach is that the software can be configured to provide the scales needed for particular series of tasks so that the user does not need to scroll through a lengthy menu or set of menus. Another advantage is that it is easily possible to switch between imperial, metric and other units. The computing means s and display may be powered by battery or solar panel or other means.

A second feature of the present invention is for example when wishing to transfer a given value, say, from a set of drawings, it can be arranged for the display unit to illuminate said value, so facilitating transfer of a reading to other drawings whilst 0 reducing the risk of misreading the display. This is especially relevant when teaching children mathematics and geometry. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the display unit can be illuminated for ease of use in low-light environments, such as cockpits of aircraft at night or in poorly lit school rooms without electricity. The ruler is extremely rugged and can operate satisfactorily within a wide temperature range The invention will now be described for illustration purposes only by reference to the accompanying annotated drawings. The invention provides a plastics bodied ruler (1) with an integral liquid crystal or other ruler display unit (2) connected to a battery or solar-powered computing means (3). In use, the computing means (3) has three areas of application, value input areas (B) and (C), a scale input area (D) comprising a scale toggle selector and a unit toggle selector and the ruler display unit (2).

In its simplest mode, the user can use the scale (4) and unit (5) toggle selectors to select the scale and units to be displayed on the display unit (2) from a range of the most common scales and units pre-programmed into the computing means (3). The 2s units and scales so selected are displayed on adjacent display units (6) and (7).

A secondary feature of the intelligent ruler is that a value can be set using the value selector buttons (8) in value entry area (C) combined with scroll buttons (9) which can add to or subtract from the value entered, said value then being displayed on the value display screen (10) and repeated as an illuminated or shaded area of the ruler display unit (2). The ruler display (2) fills dynamically when a selected value is increased or decreased.

In another embodiment of the present invention, designed to provide absolute downloadable readings of measurements taken, the ruler is provided additionally with - 2 proprietary magneto-resistive sensors arranged longitudinally and a magnetic slide arrangement, and signal processing software. The invention may include an integral plug for downloading readings to a remote computing means to determine the linear position of the slide with a high degree of accuracy and within a very wide operating range. - 3

Claims

Claims 1. A ruler comprising a display unit and a computing means to

display a range of scales and ratios generated by said computing means.
2. A ruler according to Claim [further comprising an integral battery or other power source.
3. A ruler according to either of the foregoing claims wherein the ratios and lo scales are set manually from a pre-programmed range.
4. A ruler according to any preceding claim further including an illumination means.

IS
5. A ruler according to any preceding claim provided with a sensor arranged longitudinally, a ruler and a magnetic slide arrangement allied to signal processing software.
6. A ruler according to Claim 5wherein the signal processing software includes an integral plug for downloading readings and a remote computing means.
7. A ruler substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings. - 4