EP0247747A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Generic equation solver interface for solving mathematical equations
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1987-05-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-05-07
Abstract
Abstract A user-to-calculating device interface for the solution of mathematical equations is set out in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The interface allows for the simple construction of equations which may be utilized or stored. Once an equation has been constructed, it may be solved. The preferred embodiment shows a device wherein equations may be solved utilizing an interface which utilizes a minimum number of key strokes. The user interface comprises a top-row-key interface, in which each menu key within a plurality of menu key are used to both store and to calculate a variable. It two labeled menu keys are pressed in succession, the machine calculates a result for the second. Otherwise, pressing a labeled menu key performs an assignment («=») operation and then stores a number and displays the number in a display line as a variable represented by the menu key pressed. Pressing an unlabeled menu key does nothing.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher M. Bunsen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F17/00; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/0482; G06F17/10; G06F17/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
Interface to a calculating device comprising: means allowing a user to enter a mathematical equation into the calculating device; display means for displaying a plurality of variables from the mathematical equation; a plurality of alphanumerical keys; a plurality of special keys; means for associating each displayed variable in the plurality of variables with a key from the plurality of special keys; means for assigning data to a variable in the plurality of variables when a key from the plurality of special keys is depressed after a sequence of keys from the plurality of alphanumerical keys is depressed; means for solving the mathematical equation for a first variable in the plurality of variables when a first key from the plurality of special keys which is associated with the first variable is depressed immediately after any key from the plurality of special keys is depressed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
Interface to a calculating device comprising: means allowing a user to enter a mathematical equation into the calculating device; display means for displaying a plurality of variables from the mathematical equation; a plurality of alphanumerical keys; a plurality of special keys; means for associating each displayed variable in the plurality of variables with a key from the plurality of special keys; means for assigning data to a variable in the plurality of variables when a key from the plurality of special keys is depressed after a sequence of keys from the plurality of alphanumerical keys is depressed; means for solving the mathematical equation for a first variable in the plurality of variables when a first key from the plurality of special keys which is associated with the first variable is depressed immediately after any key from the plurality of special keys is depressed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
An interface as in claim 1 wherein the display means includes a first line of display displaying the mathematical equation, and a second line of display displaying each variable from the plurality of variables.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
An interface as in claim 2 wherein the display means additional includes a third line of display displaying numbers assigned to each variable in the plurality of variables.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
An interface as in claim 3 wherein numbers displayed in the third line of display are displayed adjacent to variables in the second line of display to which the numbers are assigned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
An interface as in claim 1 wherein the display - means includes a scroll means for allowing a user to view a first set of variables from the plurality of variables separately from a second set of variables from the plurality of variables when the display means is not large enough to display all the variables from the plurality of variables simultaneously.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
A calculating device capable of solving for variables in an equation, comprising: equation scanner means for scanning the equation, and extracting variables from the equation; displaying means for displaying the extracted variables; keyboard input means having a plurality of special keys and a plurality of numeric keys; numerical entry means for entering numerical data into the calculating device using the numeric keys; a plurality of solver keys, each extracted variable having associated with it a solver key from the plurality of solver keys; and, assignment means for assigning information to a first extracted variable when a first solver key from the plurality of solver keys which is associated with the first extracted variable is depressed after a sequence of keys from the plurality of numerical keys is depressed;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
A calculating device capable of solving for variables in an equation, comprising: equation scanner means for scanning the equation, and extracting variables from the equation; displaying means for displaying the extracted variables; keyboard input means having a plurality of special keys and a plurality of numeric keys; numerical entry means for entering numerical data into the calculating device using the numeric keys; a plurality of solver keys, each extracted variable having associated with it a solver key from the plurality of solver keys; and, assignment means for assigning information to a first extracted variable when a first solver key from the plurality of solver keys which is associated with the first extracted variable is depressed after a sequence of keys from the plurality of numerical keys is depressed;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A calculating device as in claim 6 additionally comprising: solving means for providing a numerical solution for the equation in terms of the first extracted variable when the first solver key is depressed immediately after any solver key from the plurality of solver keys is depressed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a calculating device having a display and a keyboard, an improvement comprising: a plurality of solver keys on the keyboard; a plurality of memory locations within the calculating device; and, variable assignment means for allowing the association of a first solver key in the plurality of solver keys with any memory location in the plurality of memory locations wherein when the first solver key is associated with a memory location a user of the calculating device may store and may retrieve information in the memory location by operations on the keyboard which include depressing the first solver key.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a calculating device having a display and a keyboard, an improvement comprising: a plurality of solver keys on the keyboard; a plurality of memory locations within the calculating device; and, variable assignment means for allowing the association of a first solver key in the plurality of solver keys with any memory location in the plurality of memory locations wherein when the first solver key is associated with a memory location a user of the calculating device may store and may retrieve information in the memory location by operations on the keyboard which include depressing the first solver key.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
50 words
An improvement as in claim 8 wherein the display includes: labeling means for assigning a first label to the first solver key when that solver key is associated with any memory location from the plurality of memory locations; and, label display means for displaying the first label on the display.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a calculating device, having a display, a memory and a keyboard, an improvement comprising: a plurality of keys adjacent to the display; storage means for storing an equation having variables in the memory, each variable having a name; extracting means for extracting the variables from the equation; and display means for displaying labels containing the names of the variables, so that each name displayed is immediately adjacent to a key from the plurality of keys.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
In a calculating device, having a display, a memory and a keyboard, an improvement comprising: a plurality of keys adjacent to the display; storage means for storing an equation having variables in the memory, each variable having a name; extracting means for extracting the variables from the equation; and display means for displaying labels containing the names of the variables, so that each name displayed is immediately adjacent to a key from the plurality of keys.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
130 words
ll. A calculating device capable of solving for variables in a plurality of equations, comprising: equation scanner means for scanning equations, and extracting variables from the equations; displaying means for displaying the extracted variables; keyboard input means having a plurality of special keys and a plurality of numeric keys; numerical entry means for entering numerical data into the calculating device using the numeric keys; a plurality of solver keys, each extracted variable having associated with it a solver key from the plurality of solver keys; and, assignment means for assigning information to a first extracted variable when a first solver key from the plurality of solver keys which is associated with the first extracted variable is depressed after a sequence of keys from the plurality of numerical keys is depressed;
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
130 words
ll. A calculating device capable of solving for variables in a plurality of equations, comprising: equation scanner means for scanning equations, and extracting variables from the equations; displaying means for displaying the extracted variables; keyboard input means having a plurality of special keys and a plurality of numeric keys; numerical entry means for entering numerical data into the calculating device using the numeric keys; a plurality of solver keys, each extracted variable having associated with it a solver key from the plurality of solver keys; and, assignment means for assigning information to a first extracted variable when a first solver key from the plurality of solver keys which is associated with the first extracted variable is depressed after a sequence of keys from the plurality of numerical keys is depressed;
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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