JPH01184407A - Electronic scale - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate erroneous read of the scale and a misoperation at the time of a key input to an external computer by constituting the scale so that length to be measured can be brought to analog input to the scale itself, and also, it can be connected to the external computer. CONSTITUTION:A scale 2 provided with both a piezoelectric input part 2a and a liquid crystal display part 2b is provided on the end part in the longitudinal direction of an electronic scale body 1, and also, a key input part 3, a numerical value display part 4 and a solar battery are provided on the body of the scale 1. Also, an arithmetic processing use LSI 6 is integrated into the inside of the scale, and also, an interface part 7 for executing a connection to an external computer is provided. At the time of measurement, first of all, a scale graduation of a desired unit is displayed on the liquid crystal display part 2b by operating the key input part 3. Subsequently, the scale 2 is applied against an object to be measured, and a position on the scale of a start point and an end point of its length is pressed. In such a way, its pressed point is displayed on said display part 2b, and its length is detected by the piezoelectric input part 2a and inputted to the LSI 6. The LSI 6 displays a result of measurement on the numerical value display part 4.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Technical Field) This invention relates to an electronic scale, and more specifically, the length to be measured can be displayed numerically by piezoelectrically inputting the length to the scale in an analog manner, and furthermore, the length can be displayed numerically by an external computer. This invention relates to an electronic scale that can also be used as an input/output terminal device.

(Background Art) In recent years, as word processors and personal computers have become more sophisticated, graphic processing functions have become one of their important functions. For this reason, various image readers and data tablets have been developed as graphical human power devices.

However, among these graphic input devices, inexpensive general-use products are limited to the function of displaying or printing a reduced or enlarged figure, and do not require numerical input of the size of the figure or the coordinates of each point in the figure. I can't.

Therefore, in order to input data regarding the size of a figure etc. into an external computer such as a personal computer as a numerical value,
First, the size of the figure must be read and measured using a normal scale such as a VL line ruler, and then the measured value must be manually entered into an external computer.However, reading using a normal scale and its measured value If the input operation to an external computer is left to humans, there is a problem in that it is not possible to completely eliminate misreading of the scale or erroneous operation of the keys manually. Note that graphic input devices such as those used in CAD and the like are already in use as devices for numerically inputting data related to graphics, but these are expensive and cannot be easily used as general products.

In addition, something called an "electronic school" that integrates a thin calculator into a conventional school has been put into practical use, but this one leaves reading the school and inputting information to the calculator in the hands of humans. remains the same, and does not solve the above-mentioned problems.

Therefore, it has been desired to develop an electronic scale that allows numerical reading of the size of a figure to be easily, accurately and reliably performed using an inexpensive device.

(Purpose of the Invention) The present invention is intended to solve the problems associated with the prior art as described above, by making it possible to input the length to be measured into the scale itself in an analog manner, and to connect it to an external calculator. This is an inexpensive and easy-to-use system that eliminates human misreading of scales and manual operation of keys to external computers, and enables accurate and reliable numerical reading of figure thickness. The purpose is to provide electronic scales.

(Disclosure of the Invention) In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an electronic school having a scale having a piezoelectric input section and a liquid crystal display section, an arithmetic processing section, and an interface section that can be connected to an external computer. I will provide a.

The piezoelectric input section provided on the scale itself of the electronic scale of the present invention allows the length to be measured in an analog manner to be input by pressing the piezoelectric input section. With this, you can enter the value of the length to be measured into the electronic school simply by applying the school to the figure to be measured, and pressing the positions on the scale corresponding to the start and end points of the length with a pen, etc. Can be done. In this case, there is no need to visually read the school scale as in the past, so there is no misreading of the school or input error into an external computer.

In addition, in order to make it possible to visually read the piezoelectrically inputted length as a numerical value, the numerical value may be displayed on the liquid crystal display section of the school, or an electronic school installed separately from the scale may be used. The information may be displayed on the internal display window or on a predetermined display window of an external computer connected to the electronic school.

The liquid crystal display section provided on the scale itself of the electronic scale of the present invention can display various displays as necessary to make piezoelectric input operations for the length to be measured as described above easier and more reliable. This is how it was done.

For example, the school's liquid crystal display displays a scale in a desired unit, such as inches or centimeters. This allows the piezoelectric input of the length to be measured as described above to be performed while visually observing the length expressed in the desired unit.

It is also preferable that the pressed point appears as a reference point on the liquid crystal display section of the scale.

This makes it possible to confirm the positions on the scale of the starting and ending points of the measured length pressed with a pen or the like, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the piezoelectric input operation.

The scale that connects the piezoelectric input section and the liquid crystal display section as described above can be constructed by combining a piezoelectric element and a liquid crystal display element.

For example, a touch sensor, a light pen input sensor, or the like can be used as the piezoelectric element. More specifically, as an example of a touch sensor, two transparent conductive film electrodes each having a thin stripe pattern are arranged so that they have a predetermined gap and their electrode patterns are One example is one arranged so that they intersect at right angles.

Moreover, as the liquid crystal display element, one constructed using LCD, ECD, EL, etc. can be used.

The arithmetic processing section constituting the electronic scale of the present invention displays scale graduations in desired units on the liquid crystal display section of the scale as described above, stores the length input from the piezoelectric input section of the school, and displays the scale graduations in desired units. It has a control function for converting the value into a desired unit and displaying it on the liquid crystal display of the scale or other numerical display window in the room. The arithmetic processing section also has the function of controlling data transmission when the electronic scale of the present invention is used as an input/output terminal for an external needle X machine. Furthermore, it may have a simple arithmetic processing function similar to that of a conventional calculator.

Such an arithmetic processing section can be configured by an LSI chip or a packaged LSI.

The interface that allows the electronic scale of this invention to be connected to an external computer eliminates the need for key human power as an input operation to the external computer when inputting the length measured by the electronic scale to the external computer and calculating it. This allows input from an electronic scale. Thereby, it is possible to eliminate erroneous key operations caused by manual effort.

The electronic scale of this invention includes the above scales,
In addition to the arithmetic processing section and the interface section, a key power section and a power supply section can be provided as necessary.

For example, the key input section includes a base point key for moving the base point of the scale's liquid crystal display, a key for selecting the unit of the scale, a key for displaying piezoelectrically input data in a predetermined unit of several feet, and a key for displaying piezoelectrically input data in a predetermined unit. A clear key for clearing the input data, various function keys for performing predetermined operations on input data, and further,
In addition to the piezoelectric input from the scale, numeric keys or the like may be provided to enable manual input of data.

In addition, there are no particular restrictions on the power source, and various types may be used as long as they allow the electronic scale to perform the above-mentioned functions such as measurement, calculation, and storage, and do not impair the portability of the electronic scale. For example, an amorphous Si solar cell, a Si solar cell, a -0dS solar cell, a button battery, etc. are used as appropriate.

Next, the present invention will be specifically described based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1(a) is a plan view showing an electronic scale which is an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1(b) is a cross-sectional view thereof (the first
(a) A-AIi plane view).

The electronic scale (1) shown in FIGS. 1(a) and (b) is equipped with a piezoelectric input section (2a) and a liquid crystal display section (2b) at the longitudinal end of the elongated electronic scale body. It has a scale (2), and on the upper side of the main body of the electronic scale (1) there is a key manual section (3) consisting of a base point key, a clear key, various function keys, numerical keys, etc., and a scale (2).
) Numerical display section (4) provided separately from the liquid crystal display section
, a solar cell (5) is arranged to supply power to the electronic scale (1) to perform its various functions. Furthermore, an LSI (6) functioning as an arithmetic processing section is incorporated inside the main body of the electronic scale (1). Here, the liquid crystal display section (2b) of the scale (2) can display scale graduations in desired units and the base point of any press point on the scale (2). . Furthermore, an interface section (7) is provided at the end of the main body of the electronic scale (1) opposite to the scale (2), allowing connection between an external computer and the electronic scale (1).

The length of a predetermined object is measured using the illustrated electronic scale (1) as follows.

That is, first, by operating a predetermined key of the key manual section (3), the scale graduation of the desired unit is displayed on the liquid crystal display section (2b) of the scale (2). Apply the scale (2) and press the starting and ending points of the length on the scale (2) with a pen or the like. As a result, the pressing point is displayed as a reference point on the liquid crystal display section (2b) of the scale (2), and its length is detected on the piezoelectric input section (2a), and the LSI in the electronic scale (1) is detected.
(6) will be input and stored.

In this case, the numerical display section (4) also includes a key manual section (3).
) by operating the specified function keys.
The piezoelectrically input length can be displayed as a numerical value in a desired unit. By such an operation, the length of the object can be easily and accurately read as a numerical value without visually checking the scale graduation.

If the measurement operation is not to be canceled, a predetermined clear key of the key manual section (3) may be operated, and if the measurement operation is to be repeated, the same measurement operation may be performed after operating the clear key.

Based on the length obtained in this way, an external calculator calculates y
When performing i-calculation, the electronic scale (1) is connected to an external computer via the interface section (7) so that the length data obtained by the electronic scale (1) is transmitted and input to the external computer. Make it. This makes it unnecessary to manually apply keys to the external needle na.

In addition, this electronic school (1) can input measurement data obtained from the pond as necessary, and based on that, the electronic school (2)
) can be displayed as the length in desired units,
In this case, the data input method is as follows:
) may be used for input, or may be transmitted and input from an external computer via the interface section (7).

(Effect of the invention) According to the electronic school of the present invention, by using a scale having both a piezoelectric input section and a liquid crystal display section, it is possible to input the length to be measured into the school itself in an analog manner. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate artificial misreading of the scale markings.

In addition, the electronic scale of the present invention has an interface section that enables connection with an external computer, and functions as an input/output terminal device for the external computer, so that the measured length can be input to the external computer. When performing arithmetic processing using keys, the input operation can be performed without using manual key power, and it is possible to eliminate human erroneous operations associated with manual key power.

Moreover, such an electronic scale can be constructed as an inexpensive and easy-to-use device.

Therefore, by using the electronic scale of the present invention, numerical reading of the size of figures, etc. can be easily, accurately and reliably performed.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1(a) and FIG. 1(b) are a plan view and a sectional view, respectively, of an embodiment of the electronic scale of the present invention. (1) Electronic scale (2) Scale (2a) Piezoelectric input section (2b) Liquid crystal display section (3) Key power section (6) LSI (7) Interface section

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A scale having a piezoelectric input section and a liquid crystal display section,
An electronic scale that has an arithmetic processing section and an interface section that can be connected to an external computer. (2) The electronic scale according to claim (1), wherein the liquid crystal display section displays scale graduations. (3) The electronic scale according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the liquid crystal display section displays a reference point.