Message display calculator

• US 5,604,688 A
• Filed: 01/23/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tomar Enterprises, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Tomar Enterprises, Inc.
• Inventors: Waldinger, Richard A., Chu, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Tan V.
• Application Number:
  US08/376,233
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 364/710.01, 364/710.1, 364/705.06, 364/419.19, 364/708.1
• US Class Current: 708/160
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems

Abstract

A pocket calculator includes a casing having on its front face numeric and function keys and a numeric first liquid crystal display (LCD) and a message second LCD. Housed in the casing is a calculator network module housing and a first battery connected through a key operated switch contained in the network to energize the network and actuate the first LCD. An inverter IC integrated circuit and second battery are housed in the casing and actuate the second LCD, the battery being connected to the inverter input through a transistor switch rendered conductive in response to the energization of the calculator network. Alternatively, a message third LCD provided in which the message is devisualized upon the application of a voltage thereto with the energization of the computer. The second and third LCDs may be a single common unit with the faces of a section of a common LCD being coated with light polarizing layers which are optically mutually perpendicular.

Claims

1. A multiple display calculator device comprising:

a calculator including a casing having a front face, a plurality of numeric and function keys located on said front face, a numeric first LCD located on said front face, a calculator network responsive to the actuation of said keys and having an output actuating said first LCD, and voltage means for energizing said calculator network;

a second LCD located on said front face for selectively passing light therethrough; and

a predetermined message positioned behind the second LCD such that the message is visible when light is selectively passed through the second LCD.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said front face is rectangular and said key group and LCDs are longitudinally spaced.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said casing is articulated to form first and second longitudinally spaced sections, said keys being located on said first section and said first and second LCDs being located on said second section.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said second LCD actuating means includes an inverter network having an output electrically connected to said second LCD.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said second LCD actuating means further includes a battery and a switch responsive to the energization of said calculator network connected between said battery and said inverter network.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said switch includes a switching transistor responsive to the energization of said calculator network.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein said calculator network energizing means includes a battery and said calculator network includes a switch connecting said network to said battery and responsive to the actuation of one of said function keys.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said second LCD is orientated to pass light to visualize the predetermined message in the absence of a voltage applied to the second LCD, and orientated to prevent light from passing such that the predetermined message is devisualized when a voltage is applied to said second LCD.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said second LCD is orientated to pass light to visualize the predetermined message when said calculator network is de-energized, and orientated to prevent light from passing such that the predetermined message is devisualized when said calculator network is energized.