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AssigneeHoshidenki-Seizo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsShin Ojima, Kazuhiko Ohgami, Kazutaka Watanabe, Tohru Yoshimura, Masaya Katou, Nozomu Matsuoka
Estimating the term…
A writing instrument internally houses a miniature electronic calculator which includes a key input section comprising a single key which is subjected to a rotational or translational movement to select one of a plurality of switches. When the key is depressed against a bias applied thereto while in a position in which it has selected one of the switches, the selected switch is controlled thereby to input an associated information into an arithmetic unit of the calculator. The instrument case or key is marked with indicia which designate the key positions for the convenience of selecting input informations. The key input section comprises an insulating substrate on which an array of a plurality of stationary contacts are formed along the direction of movement of the key, a flexible insulating film disposed in opposing relationship with the stationary contacts, and a movable contact deposited on the side of film which faces the stationary contacts so as to extend in the direction of movement of the key. The depression of the key causes a localized portion of the movable contact to bear against one of the stationary contacts, thus forming a switch.
A writing instrument provided with a miniature electronic calculator, comprising:
A writing instrument provided with a miniature electronic calculator, comprising an elongated case having a writing member mounted at one end thereof, an arithmetic circuit housed in said case, said arithmetic circuit comprising means for performing an arithmetic calculation in response to electrical input signals coupled thereto and for generating electrical output signals representing the results of said calculation, electrical display means carried by said case and responsive to said output signals for providing a visible indication of said results, and a key input structure supported by said case for producing said electrical input signals, said key input structure comprising a manually manipulable key mounted for movement in two mutually transverse directions, operator means coupled to said key for movement therewith, said operator means being moved along a first predetermined path when said key is moved in one of said directions and being moved along a second path transverse to said first path when said key is moved in the other of said directions, electrical switching means comprising a plurality of switches disposed in spaced relation to one another in an array distributed parallel to said first predetermined path whereby movement of said key in said one of said directions is operative to move said operator means to a position adjacent any selected one of the switches in said array, resilient means for applying an elastic force to said operator means acting thereon away from said switching means in said other of said directions for maintaining said operator means in spaced relation to each of said switches when said operator means is being moved in said one of said directions, said key means being responsive to a manual force applied thereto in said other of said directions to overcome the force of said resilient means to cause said operator means to engage a selected one of the switches in said array thereby to provide an electrical input signal to said arithmetic unit, and indicia means carried by said key input structure and positionally coordinated with the possible positions of said operator means as it is moved along said first predetermined path for indicating the information which is supplied to said arithmetic unit when said operator means is caused to engage different selected ones of the switches in said array.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.