Multimode electronic calipers having ratiometric mode and simplified user interface

Abstract

A multimode electronic measuring instrument is provided that includes a ratiometric mode of operation. During the ratiometric mode, a desired dimension is established as a stored reference dimension “Xref”. After the reference dimension is stored in memory, subsequent ratiometric measurement readouts will equal a current measurement distance “Xcurr” divided by the reference dimension Xref. A ratiometric measurement according to this invention indicates the relationship of a current dimension to another readily changed (reference) dimension. The ratiometric mode of operation can be implemented in combination with conventional function caliper functions to provide a multimode caliper having a simple and intuitive user interface. Setting the reference dimension and interpreting the ratiometric measurement display are particularly easy, to facilitate intuitive understanding and operation.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates generally to electronic calipers, micrometers, digital scales, and similar length and angle measuring devices. More particularly, it relates to electronic calipers and the like that can be operated using a simplified control method to provide either ratiometric measurements or measurements in terms of conventional distance or angle units. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Most electronic calipers, dividers, and the like that are currently in use provide measurements only in conventional length or angle units such as inches, millimeters, degrees or radians. Furthermore, devices that provide such measurements, particularly in the case of commercially available electronic calipers, have become near-commodities. That is, the user-controlled functions provided, the number and spacing of the buttons provided to activate the functions, and the dimensions of the electronic housing and the LCD display portion, and the like, have settled in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The ratiometric mode of operation described above is implemented, in various embodiments, to provide using a simple and intuitive user interface, simple and intuitive setting of the reference dimension, and a ratiometric measurement display that is simple and intuitive to understand.

Problems solved by technology

As such, manufacturers and users are reluctant to accept design variations which increase the functional complexity, increase the number of buttons or decrease their ergonomic spacing, increase the ergonomic dimensions of the electronic housing, or decrease the ergonomic visibility of LCD display elements, etc., even to a moderate extent.

Previously proposed methods for adding additional measurement functions to electronic calipers are generally not acceptable according to the aforementioned acceptance factors.

However, such buttons are not conventionally provided on electronic calipers, and their addition and use would necessarily violate the acceptance criteria outlined above, as would the alternatives suggested in the '136 Patent.

However, a scale switch is not conventionally provided on electronic calipers, nor is the ability to display the value of a scale currently in effect (without which, the current scale might easily be overlooked or mistaken), nor is it necessary to coordinate a calibration operation using a calibration switch with a scale setting operation using a scale switch.

Thus, the addition and use of any such elements would necessarily violate the acceptance criteria outlined above, as would the alternatives suggested in the '051 Patent.

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