US 4,379,336 A · Modular calculator with separable keyboard and display modules · patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

A modular calculator system using interchangeable input modules and output modules provides several different calculators using the same output display components to avoid expensive duplication of parts. The input module contains the calculator keyboard and program-control circuits which establish predetermined calculator functional capabilities, such as basic arithmetic or scientific functions. The output module houses and drives a printer and visual display components. Data from the input module is communicated serially over a single line to the output module so that a single reliable and inexpensive electrical connection may be used. An overlapping flange mechanical coupling physically connects the modules to form a combined unitary calculator housing.

Claims28

Dependent claims

A modular calculator, comprising:

a. an input module including an input module housing, a keyboard having data keys and function keys mounted on said input module housing, input module electrical circuits contained in said input module housing and connected to said data keys and to said function keys for receiving data corresponding to operation of said data keys, for processing the received data according to operation of said function keys and for organizing the processed data into electrical signals for serial transmission, said input module electrical circuits including an output terminal on which electrical signals corresponding to the processed data are provided;
b. an output module including an output module housing, a display device mounted on said output module housing, output module electrical circuits contained in said output module housing and including an input terminal for receiving said processed data electrical signals by serial transmission from said output terminal and for further processing said signals for data presentation on said display device;
c. releasable mechanical connecting means for connecting said input module housing to said output module housing to form a uniform calculator housing;
and
d. electrical connector means for electrically connecting said output terminal of said input module with said input terminal of said output module;
whereby said modules cooperate to provide a calculator whose keyboard and calculator function control components are housed in said input module and whose display components are housed in said output module, said electrical connector means comprising an elongated wire which enables said calculator to operate when said input and output module are physically separated.

3 more elements

A modular calculator, comprising:

a. an input module including an input module housing, a keyboard having data keys and function keys mounted on said input module housing, input module electrical circuits contained in said input module housing and connected to said data keys and to said function keys for receiving data corresponding to operation of said data keys, for processing the received data according to operation of said function keys and for organizing the processed data into electrical signals for serial transmission, said input module electrical circuits including an output terminal on which electrical signals corresponding to the processed data are provided;
b. an output module including an output module housing, a display device mounted on said output module housing, output module electrical circuits contained in said output module housing and including an input terminal for receiving said processed data electrical signals by serial transmission from said output terminal and for further processing said signals for data presentation on said display device;
c. releasable mechanical connecting means for connecting said input module housing to said output module housing to form a uniform calculator housing;
and
d. electrical connector means for electrically connecting said output terminal of said input module with said input terminal of said output module;
whereby said modules cooperate to provide a calculator whose keyboard and calculator function control components are housed in said input module and whose display components are housed in said output module, said input module electrical circuits including an input module microprocessor and said output module electrical circuits including an output module microprocessor, wherein said serial transmitted electrical signals are transmitted from said input module microprocessor and received by said output module microprocessor.

3 more elements

A modular calculator, comprising:

a. an input module including an input module housing, a keyboard having data keys and function keys mounted on said input module housing;
input module electrical circuits contained in said input module housing and connected to said data keys and to said function keys for receiving data corresponding to operation of said data keys, for processing the received data according to opertion of said function keys and for organizing the processed data into electrical signals for serial transmission, said input module electrical circuits including an output terminal on which electrical signals corresponding to the processed data are provided;
b. an output module including an output module housing, a display device mounted on said output module housing, output module electrical circuits contained in said output module housing and including an input terminal for receiving said processed data electrical signals by serial transmission from said output terminal and for further processing said signals for data presentation on said display device;
c. releasable mechanical connecting means for connecting said input module housing to said output module housing to form a uniform calculator housing;
and
d. electrical connector means for electrically connecting said output terminal of said input module with said input terminal of said output module;
whereby said modules cooperate to provide a calculator whose keyboard and calculator function control components are housed in said input module and whose display components are housed in said output module, the surfaces of said housings adjacent said mutually facing surfaces being positioned to extend flush from one housing to the other so that when the housings are connected together a single unitary structure is provided.

4 more elements

A modular calculator, comprising:

a. an input module including an input module housing, a keyboard having data keys and function keys mounted on said input module housing, input module electrical circuits contained in said input module housing and connected to said data keys and to said function keys for receiving data corresponding to operation of said data keys, for processing the received data according to operation of said function keys and for organizing the processed data into electrical signals for serial transmission, said input module electrical circuits including an output terminal on which electrical signals corresponding to the processed data are provided;
b. an output module including an output module housing, a display device mounted on said output module housing, output module electrical circuits contained in said output module housing and including an input terminal for receiving said processed data electrical signals by serial transmission from said output terminal and for further processing said signals for data presentation on said display device;
c. releasable mechanical connecting means for connecting said input module housing to said output module housing to form a uniform calculator housing;
and
d. electrical connector means for electrically connecting said output terminal of said input module with said input terminal of said output module;
whereby said modules cooperate to provide a calculator whose keyboard and calculator function control components are housed in said input module and whose display components are housed in said output module,
e. said input and output module housings having mutually facing surfaces, said releasable mechanical connecting means comprising mutually cooperating interlocking formations on said surfaces, and said interlocking formations comprising first and second mutually interlocking flanges.

4 more elements

A modular calculator, comprising:

a. an input module including an input module housing, a keyboard having data keys and function keys mounted on said input module housing, input module electrical circuits contained in said input module housing and connected to said data keys and to said function keys for receiving data corresponding to operation of said data keys, for processing the received data according to operation of said function keys and for organizing the processed data into electrical signals for serial transmission, said input module electrical circuits including an output terminal on which electrical signals corresponding to the processed data are provided;
b. an output module including an output module housing, a display device mounted on said output module housing, output module electrical circuits contained in said output module housing and including an input terminal for receiving said processed data electrical signals by serial transmission from said output terminal and for further processing said signals for data presentation on said display device;
c. releasable mechanical connecting means for connecting said input module housing to said output module housing to form a uniform calculator housing;
and
d. electrical connector means for electrically connecting said output terminal of said input module with said input terminal of said output module;
whereby said modules cooperate to provide a calculator whose keyboard and calculator function control components are housed in said input module and whose display components are housed in said output module, said input module electrical output terminal comprising an output module interface female connector, said output module electrical input terminal comprising an input module interface female connector and said electrical connector means comprising a cable having male terminal elements at each end electrically connecting said female connectors.

3 more elements

A modular calculator comprising:

a. an input module having a input module housing, a keyboard including data keys, function keys and operating mode switches mounted on said input module housing, input module electrical circuits contained in said input module housing and connected to said data keys and to said function keys for receiving data corresponding to operation of said data keys, for processing the received data according to operation of said function keys and for organizing the processed data into electrical signals, said electrical circuits comprising an 8048 type microcomputer, a key and switch matrix electrically connected to receive stroke signals from said microcomputer and to delivery key closure response signals to said microcomputer in response to use of said keys, a 8332 microprogram storing read only memory electrically connected to provide control instructions to said microcomputer, an address latch electrically connected to said microcomputer, a random acess memory electrically connected to provide external data storage and retrieval for said microcomputer, and output terminals electrically connected to said microcomputer on which electrical signals corresponding to the processed data are provided;
b. an output module having a output module housing, a fluorescent tube display and a dot-matrix printer mounted on said output module housing, output module electrical circuits contained in said output module housing and including input terminals connected to said output device microcomputer for receiving said processed data electrical signals by serial transmission from said output terminals and for further processing said signals for data presentation on said display and printer, said output module electrical circuits comprising an 8048 type microcomputer, a decoder chip, 0 digit driver, and a segment driver, said decoder and drivers being electrically connected to each other and to said fluorescent tube display and microcomputer so as to provide display of output in data response to signals from said microcomputer;
means electrically connecting said microcomputer with said printer for driving said printer in response to signals generated by said microcomputer;
c. releasable mechanical connection means connecting said input module housing to said output module for housing to form a unitary calculator housing;
and
d. cable means electrically connecting said output terminals to said input terminals to provide serial output data communication between said input module microcomputer and said output module microcomputer.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.