US3591790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer device with interchangeable parameter scaling
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-05-07
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Granted: 1971-07-06
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Expires: 1988-05-07
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed herein a portable electronic computer device of simplified construction and low cost useful to solve a wide range of engineering and other mathematical problems. The device includes an operational amplifier connected as a summer and related input circuitry including input potentiometers, and reciprocal and scale-expanding or multiplier switches together with a series of removable interchangeable parameter scale cards designed to provide proper scaling and interrelationship for a plurality of dependent and independent variables in a wide range of problems.
Inventors
- 👤 John H Couture
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 02:29
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06G; G06G7/00; G06G7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
An electronic computing device for processing a plurality of different mathematical problem-variables to solve a large variety of different problems comprising: first signal generating means to generate a first group of electrical signals representing desired values of the independent problem variables in an equation to be solved; means for combining said first group of signals to produce an electrical analog representing the solution to the equation; second signal generating means to generate a further electrical signal representing trial values of the solution; means for comparing said electrical analog signal with said further electrical signal to provide an indication when the two signals are equal; and a set of separate and interchangeable parameter scaling means cooperating with said first and second generating means to provide identification for different variables, predetermined interrelationships between variables, and input and output scales associated with each of said variables for each member of said set of scaling means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
152 words
An electronic computing device for processing a plurality of different mathematical problem-variables to solve a large variety of different problems comprising: first signal generating means to generate a first group of electrical signals representing desired values of the independent problem variables in an equation to be solved; means for combining said first group of signals to produce an electrical analog representing the solution to the equation; second signal generating means to generate a further electrical signal representing trial values of the solution; means for comparing said electrical analog signal with said further electrical signal to provide an indication when the two signals are equal; and a set of separate and interchangeable parameter scaling means cooperating with said first and second generating means to provide identification for different variables, predetermined interrelationships between variables, and input and output scales associated with each of said variables for each member of said set of scaling means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second generating means include a plurality of voltage sources, and a potentiometer associated with each voltage source; a separate voltage source and potentiometer being provided each of the independent problem-variables, and for the dependent problem-variable constituting the trial solution to the equation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 1 where each of said interchangeable parameter scaling means provides a dial scale for each of said problem-variable potentiometers; different members of said set providing dial scales with different variable identification and scale calibration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said interchangeable parameter scaling means comprises a card Constructed of durable material, and including a plurality of problem-variable identifications and potentiometer dial scales contained thereon; means for mounting said card in removable relationship with shafts of said problem-variable potentiometers; pointer means associated with each of said potentiometer shafts and so positioned that when a removable scale card is in operable relationship with said potentiometers, each of said dial scales cooperates with the pointer means on one of said potentiometer shafts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said first and second generating means includes manual adjustment means and wherein each member of said set of scaling means includes a plurality of scales of indicia thereon bearing predetermined relationships to each other and so positioned with respect to each other as to establish said desired relationships; each of said scales of indicia cooperating with one of said manual adjusting means to provide a scale therefor permitting said manual adjusting means to be set at the desired values.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 5 wherein said scales of indicia include numerical designations in logarithmically spaced relationship.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 6 where at least one of said scales begins at an integral power of 10 and where at least one of the remaining scales begins at some nonintegral power of 10.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 6 where at least one of said scales corresponding to a preselected dependent variable includes indicia and numerical designations covering more than one numerical decade; and wherein said computing means includes means for adjusting said second generating means to accommodate said multiple decade scale in relationship to the other single decade scales.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 1 including a plurality of input circuits; one of said input circuits nominally corresponding to said second generating means; the remainder of said input circuits nominally corresponding to said first generating means; said input circuits each including a battery, a problem value setting potentiometer, and coupling means to produce a predetermined voltage less than said battery voltage across said problem-value setting potentiometer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 9 wherein said coupling means for said one input circuit is a fixed resistor, and said coupling means for the remainder of said coupling circuits are each variable resistors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 9 wherein the batteries in said input circuits are so connected that the voltage across said problem-variable setting potentiometer in said first input circuit is of opposite polarity to the voltage appearing across all of the remaining problem-variable setting potentiometers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 10 wherein at least one of said input circuits corresponding to said first generating means includes means to invert the polarity of the voltage across the associated problem-variable setting potentiometer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
110 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 1 wherein each member of said set of parameter scaling means comprises a card formed of durable material; a plurality of scales of indicia on said card, each of said scales being adapted to cooperate with one of said signal generating means; one or more of said scales nominally constituting dependent variable scales and remainder of said scales nominally constituting independent variable scales; each of said scales including numerical designations spaced on said scale in accordance with a predetermined functional relationship; and further indicia associated with each of said scales identifying each member of the group of variables represented by said card.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 13 wherein the numerical designations on each of said scales are functionally interrelated in a predetermined manner to provide conversion and constant parameter interrelationships between dependent and independent variables.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 14 wherein said first and second generating means comprise separate voltage sources and associated potentiometers for each problem-variable; wherein said scales on said card are positioned to cooperate with shafts extending from said potentiometers to provide dial scales for said potentiometers; and including pointer means associated with said potentiometer shaft and said dial scales to establish desired values for said problem variables; the interrelationship between problem variables being achieved by rotation of the indicia and numerical designations on said scales relative to each other so that a given potentiometer numerical setting will produce a potentiometer output voltage corresponding to the numerical setting multiplied by the desired conversion factor or constant.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 15 wherein said card includes a plurality of openings so positioned relative to each other and said potentiometer shafts to permit said card to be positioned with said potentiometer shafts removably protruding through said openings.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said comparing means comprises an operational amplifier having resistive feedback; a meter connected to the output of said amplifier; and a first summing resistor connected to said second generating means; and wherein said means for combining said first group of signals comprises a group of input summing resistors connecting said first signal generating means to said operational amplifier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 17 including input circuits constituting said first and second generating means, each of said input circuits including a voltage source and a potentiometer connected to said voltage source for producing a signal representing the desired value of one of the problem-variables; and means connecting each of said potentiometers to one of the input summing resistors for said amplifier.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electronic computing device as defined in claim 18 further including scale multiplier means comprising an additional input summing resistor for said amplifier and means connected to said additional summing resistor to provide a fixed voltage input; the value of said voltage being an integral multiple of the full-scale voltage ordinarily provided by said problem variable potentiometers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-05 | 1975-01-04 | 1975-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-05 | 1979-01-04 | 1979-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-05 | 1983-01-04 | 1983-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |