Method for converting units of measurement

• US 20030101204A1
• Filed: 03/24/2001
• Published: 05/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Todd E. Watson
• Original Assignee: Todd E. Watson
• Inventors: Watson, Todd E.
• Application Number:
  US09/816,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20030101204A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 708/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0258 for unit conversion

Abstract

A method for performing unit conversions. The method employs a calculating device comprised of an alphanumeric keypad and a display device. Required inputs include a numeric value, or an expression that can be evaluated as a numeric value, representing the quantity of the unit string to be converted from, an undesired unit string and a desired unit string. Each unit string can consist of a single unit or a plurality of units joined by arithmetic symbols. Units are entered by typing the full spelling of the unit name or the spelling of an alias name on an alphanumeric keypad. The method segregates the unit string into its component parts, specifically, unit names, positive and negative exponents, multiplication and division. Each numerator and denominator undesired unit is respectively converted to a numerator and denominator desired unit. All derived units which can not be converted are replaced with their equated unit string comprised of two or more other units which may be base units or other derived units. The conversion process continues until all numerator and denominator units are converted, or until there are no more derived units to substitute other units for. If all units are successfully converted, the conversion factors used in the conversion process are multiplied together and multiplied by the numeric input value. The result is then displayed.

Claims

1. In a calculating device comprised of memory, an alphanumeric keypad and display means, a method for converting units comprising:

(a) storing in memory a first expression comprised of a single numeric value or plurality of numeric values joined by arithmetic symbols, such that said first expression equates to a single numeric value;

(b) storing in memory a first unit part comprised of a single unit or a plurality of units joined by arithmetic symbols;

entering said first unit part by spelling full names of said units or alias names of said units using the alphanumeric keypad;

(c) storing in memory a second unit part comprised of a single unit or a plurality of units joined by arithmetic symbols;

entering said second unit part by spelling full names of said units or alias names of said units using the alphanumeric keypad;

(d) reading from memory or storage device conversion factors or conversion equations from a conversion table;

(e) segregating said first unit part and said second unit part into individual elements;

(f) converting said first unit part into said second unit part by converting each numerator unit occurring in said first unit part into each, numerator unit occurring in said second unit part and converting each denominator unit occurring in said first unit part into each denominator unit occurring in said second unit part;

(g) replacing any derived unit comprising said first unit part or said second unit part with the derived unit'"'"'s multi-unit equivalent, said multi-unit equivalent being comprised of other derived units or base units, subsequent reinitiation of conversion process using said multi-unit equivalent in place of said derived unit.

2. The method in claim 1 wherein the conversion of said first unit part into said second unit part continues until either said numerator and denominator units comprising said first unit part have been converted into said numerator and denominator units comprising said second unit part or until each derived unit comprising said first unit part and said second unit part has been replaced with base units such that no derived units comprising said first unit part or said second unit part remain and said conversion of numerator and denominator base units comprising said first unit part and said second unit part is unsuccessful.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each version of a multi-definition unit comprising said first unit part or said second unit part is displayed for the User'"'"'s selection of the desired version of said multi-definition unit.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each said element is comprised of either a unit name, a symbol indicating placement of said unit in numerator or denominator, or a numeric expression representing an exponential value.