WO1999005609A1 - Method and device for converting a value from a datum unit into another unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for converting a value given in a datum unit into a value corresponding therewith in another unit by first converting the value in the datum unit into a value corresponding therewith in a standard unit and subsequently converting the calculated value in the standard unit into the value corresponding therewith in the other unit. Such a method is particularly suitable for calculations in fields where use is made of a generally accepted reference quantity. Prior to conversion the conversion factor of the datum unit and the other unit can herein be adjusted relative to the standard unit. The conversion factors can be adjusted automatically or transmitted in wireless manner before each calculation. The invention also relates to a device for performing this method.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR CONVERTING A VALUE FROM A DATUM UNIT INTO ANOTHER UNIT

The invention relates to a method for converting a value given in a datum unit into a value corresponding therewith in another unit. Such conversions are of increasing importance in practice with the increase in the number of international contacts, journeys abroad and the like. In the future such calculations will moreover increase sharply in number, in any case for some years, now that a large number of European countries have decided to do away with national currencies and replace them with a supranational currency, the so-called Euro. The invention therefore has for its object to provide an unambiguous method for performing these calculations, which can moreover be readily implemented in a suitably programmed calculator. According to the invention this is achieved by a calculation method wherein the value in the datum unit is first converted into a value corresponding therewith in a standard unit and the calculated value in the standard unit is subsequently converted into the value corresponding therewith in the other unit. By making use of a standard unit, for instance the Euro, to which both the datum unit and the other unit are related, the conversion method can be performed in the same manner in all the countries involved and, if desired, be implemented in calculators or computers.

Preferably applied variants of the conversion method according to the invention form the subject-matter of the dependent claims 2 to 4.

The invention further relates to a device for converting a value given in a datum unit into a value corresponding therewith in another unit, which is particularly, but not solely, suitable for performing the above described method. Such a converting device is provided according to the invention with means for inputting the value expressed in the datum unit, memory means for storing a conversion factor of the datum unit relative to at least one other unit, calculating means connected to the input means and the memory means for converting the input value on the basis of the stored conversion factor into the corresponding value in the at least one other unit, and means connected to the calculating means for displaying the calculated value in the other unit. With such a device, which can be embodied very compactly, for instance to the format of a credit card, amounts in the local currency can be converted in simple manner into amounts in a known, and particularly a person's own, currency, for instance during a stay abroad. In addition, amounts in a person's own national currency can be simply converted with such a device into an international standard currency such as the Euro, and vice versa. Preferred embodiments of the converting device according to the invention are described in the dependent claims 6 to 17.

The invention is now elucidated on the basis of an embodiment wherein a reference is made to the annexed drawing, wherein: fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the device according to the invention and a chip card for use in combination therewith, fig. 2 shows schematically the structure of the device of fig. 1, and fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the device which is suitable for direct communication with a cash dispenser.

A converting device 1 comprises a housing 12 accommodating the electronics 13 for converting values from the one unit to the other. These electronics 13 comprise a processing unit 15 and a memory 16 connected thereto. Device 1 further comprises input means 2 connected to these electronics 13 and formed by a number of numeric keys 5, operating keys 6, control keys 9, 10 and 11 for moving in a menu, so-called scrolling, and a key 8 for setting a conversion factor relative to a standard unit . Device 1 further has means 14 for displaying the results of the calculations. In the shown embodiment the display means 14 are adapted to simultaneously display a given value in the one unit, designated as the datum unit, and the value calculated therefrom in the other unit. Display means 14 are formed for this purpose by two display screens, for instance LCD screens 3, 4, placed adjacently of each other. The use of a single display screen with for instance two windows or display areas would of course also be possible instead of two displays .

During use of device 1 the datum unit and the other unit can be chosen using scroll keys 9 and 10 in tables which appear in windows 3, 4. Values can then be entered using numeric keys 5, whereupon arithmetic operations can be performed using operation keys 6. The results of these operations are herein shown simultaneously in the datum and other unit in windows 3, 4. Use is made of the key 8 to adjust the conversion factors of the different units. Device 1 is hereby switched to an updating mode in which the current value of each unit chosen with scroll keys 9, 10 relative to the standard unit, in practice the Euro, can be entered using the numeric keys and stored in memory 16. Using scroll key 11 it is also possible to change the active arithmetic function per display 3, 4. Scroll keys 9, 10 could also be used to show other values, for instance when the results of a calculation are shown on displays 3 , 4 in both units. For this purpose the device 1 would have to be programmed such that when one of the scroll keys 9, 10 is pressed a table would be retrieved from memory 16 in which corresponding values in the two relevant units are stored, wherein the value in the two units shown at that moment in displays 3, 4 would have to be taken as starting point. By pressing the upward or downward pointing part of one of the keys 9, 10 and starting from the shown value, increasing or, conversely, decreasing values in the two chosen units would then appear on the displays 3 , 4. When a value is entered in the one unit, it would thus be simple to search for the corresponding value in the other unit .

The updating of the conversion factor (s) in memory 16 could optionally also be performed automatically. To this end the device 1 could be provided with receiving means 17, which would have to be connected to electronics 13. The current value of the conversion factors could then be transmitted periodically, for instance from a determined central point, to each converting device 1 situated within the transmission range, in the same manner in which particular clocks are synchronized.

Updating could also take place by providing device 1 with receiving means 17 which are suitable for wireless reading of the content of an integrated circuit 18 arranged for instance on a chip card 19, such as the so- called "Chipknip" . By then holding chip card 19 in the vicinity of device 1, the current values of the conversion factors stored in the chip 18 on card 19 could then be read in simple manner into memory 16. Device 1 could be provided for this purpose with a receiving space 22, for instance a slot, into which chip card 19 could then be inserted for reading. The conversion factors could herein be loaded in already per se known manner into the chip 18 on card 19 in a central loading station, such as a cash dispenser 20. If device 1 could be embodied sufficiently small and thin, for instance to credit card format, it could also be inserted directly into a cash dispenser 20 for transfer of the updated conversion factors (fig. 3) . In addition to receiving means 17, device 1 could also be provided with transmitting means 21 integrated therewith. Not only could current values of conversion factors hereby be transferred from a central database into memory 16, but data could also be exported from memory 16 of device 1. These transmitting means 21 could be adapted just as the receiving means 17 for communication with an IC memory 18 on a chip card 19, or for direct communication with for instance a cash dispenser 20.

Not only could conversion factors and results of calculations performed by device 1 be exchanged in this manner, but other data could also be transmitted from a cash dispenser 20 to device 1, and vice versa. General messages from a bank to all its customers could thus be passed on in this manner, while addressed messages intended only for a specific client could also be read. The bank could not only issue its own messages in this way but could also transmit notices from third parties, such as advertising material. In addition, a user could also send messages via this route and optionally perform money transactions, wherein for instance could be envisaged a transfer to a personal account of a part of the balance present on the chip card or making a payment by direct transfer to the account of a creditor.

The above described method of communication via cash dispenser 20 does not otherwise have to be limited to converting devices of the above described type, but could also be used in combination with a simple balance reader for a chip card.

Claims

1. Method for converting a value given in a datum unit into a value corresponding therewith in another unit by first converting the value in the datum unit into a value corresponding therewith in a standard unit and subsequently converting the calculated value in the standard unit into the value corresponding therewith in the other unit .

2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that prior to conversion the conversion factor of the datum unit and the other unit is adjusted relative to the standard unit.

3. Method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the conversion factors are automatically adjusted before each calculation.

4. Method as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that the conversion factors for adjusting are transferred in wireless manner.

5. Device for converting a value given in a datum unit into a value corresponding therewith in another unit, provided with means for inputting the value expressed in the datum unit, memory means for storing a conversion factor of the datum unit relative to at least one other unit, calculating means connected to the input means and the memory means for converting the input value on the basis of the stored conversion factor into the corresponding value in the at least one other unit, and means connected to the calculating means for displaying the calculated value in the other unit.

6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the memory means are adapted to store a number of conversion factors associated with different units, and the input means are adapted to choose at least one of the units stored in the memory means .

7. Device as claimed in claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the display means are adapted to simultaneously display the value in the datum unit and the value corresponding therewith in the other unit .

8. Device as claimed in any of the claims 5-7, characterized in that the input means are connected to the memory means and adapted to adjust and transfer to the memory means a current value of the or each conversion factor.

9. Device as claimed in any of the claims 5-7, characterized in that the input means are adapted to cause successive values of the datum unit and/or the other unit to scroll over the display means.

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the input means can be operated in two directions in order to cause an increase or decrease in the displayed values .

11. Device as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the input means comprise at least one push key.

12. Device as claimed in claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the input means comprise at least one wheel button.

13. Device as claimed in any of the claims 5-12, characterized by receiving means connected to the memory means for receiving and transferring to the memory means a current value of the or each conversion factor.

14. Device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the receiving means are adapted for wireless reading of an IC memory.

15. Device as claimed in claim 14, characterized by a space arranged in the proximity of the receiving means for accepting a carrier with the IC memory.

16. Device as claimed in any of the claims 5-15, characterized by transmitting means connected to the memory means for retrieving from the memory means and transmitting data stored therein.

17. Device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the transmitting means are integrated with the receiving means .