US 5,969,974 AGranted

Currency converter

AssigneeHeadwaters Research & Development, Inc.

InventorsRudy Anthony Vandenbelt, Troy Gene Anderson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A currency converter operable in program, convert and calculator modes enables operators in program mode to store multiple foreign exchange rates in a data table of pre-stored currencies, enables in convert mode to perform both multiple, single-currency conversions as well as cross-currency conversions, and enables in calculate mode to perform arithmetic and memory functions passing computations seamlessly between convert and calculator modes. The currency converter is compact enough to comfortably fit in pocket or purse, and is battery powered. The currency converter includes a dual currency display that provides intuitively transparent operation substantially free from data entry errors and that allows users to select, and to see, two relevant currencies, home and foreign, or foreign and foreign, at the same time. Relevant foreign exchange rates may be entered prior to travel, freeing the user from on-site use anxieties.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A currency converter selectably operable in program mode to store multiple foreign currency exchange rates, and in convert mode to perform single- and cross-currency conversions, comprising:

a multi-field reconfigurable display configurable in program display mode to define from currency icon and numeric fields and a local currency icon field, and configurable in convert display mode to define dual from currency icon and numeric fields and into currency icon and numeric fields;
a memory storing a programmable data table of exchange rates of multiple preselected countries;
input keys allowing operator from and into country input selections and numeric value selections;
and
a processor coupled to the multi-field reconfigurable display, to the memory, and to the operator input keys that is operable in program mode and in convert mode;
in said program mode, the processor (1) is operative to configure the multi-field reconfigurable display in said convert display mode, (2) is operative in response to operator numeric exchange rate information input to display said operator numeric exchange rate information in said from country numeric field and operative in response to operator from country information input to display said operator input from country information in said from country icon field and (3) is operative to program said data table in said memory in accord with the exchange rates of the countries input;
in said convert mode, the processor (1) is operative to configure the multi-field reconfigurable display in its program display mode, (2) is operative in response to operator from and into country information input to display the from country information in the from country icon field of the display, to display the into country information in the into country icon field of the display, (3) is operative in response to operator numeric value information input to display the number entered in the from country numeric field, which number represents the value of the goods or services to be converted, and (4) is operative to calculate and display the equivalent value of the number entered in the into country numeric field of the display.

4 more elements

A portable, battery-powered currency converter providing intuitive, substantially error-free, multiple single-currency conversions, comprising:

means for providing operator input designation of exchange rate, of amount and of country information;
a memory having a data table defining a plurality of predetermined foreign currencies;
means coupled to said memory and to said input means responsive to operator input of exchange rate information and of country information for programming, said data table defining a plurality of predetermined foreign currencies with the exchange rates of each of the countries input by the operator;
means coupled to said memory and to said input means responsive to operator input of a certain amount, of a certain currency in which the amount is specified, and of a certain currency in which the equivalent value of the certain amount is to be determined for calculating said equivalent value;
and
means coupled to the calculating means for displaying said certain amount input, an icon representative of the certain currency in which the amount is specified, said equivalent amount, and an icon representative of the certain currency in which the equivalent amount is specified, thereby providing intuitive, error-free, multiple, single-currency conversions.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.