Smart scale ruler
View Patent ↗Smart Scale Ruler is an electronic architect's scale having a triangular shaped ruler body. The Smart Scale Ruler has a changeable electronic display for displaying a custom or the desired scale of any unit of length, for a document or plan. A set of depressible buttons function as the inputs for the value of the reference point a user wishes to base the custom scale off of, as well as different settings for the device, in order to display the correct scale on the electronic display.
1. An electronic smart ruler comprising:
an elongated main body including:
an elongated front panel including;
an elongated front top side edge; and
an elongated front bottom side edge spaced and parallel to said
elongated front top side edge;
an elongated slider groove including:
a plurality of electronic contacts thereon along a substantial length thereof; and
wherein said elongated slider groove extends along a substantial length of said elongated front panel; and
indicia thereon adapted to delineate a plurality of spaced reference points;
an elongated back panel including;
an elongated back upper side edge; and
an elongated back lower side edge spaced and parallel to said elongated back upper side edge;
wherein said elongated back upper side edge is connected to said
elongated front top side edge of said elongated front panel; and
an elongated base panel including;
an elongated base forward side edge; and
an elongated base rear side edge spaced and parallel to said elongated base forward side edge;
wherein said elongated base forward side edge is connected to said elongated front bottom side edge of said elongated front panel; and
wherein said elongated base rear side edge is connected to said elongated back lower side edge of said elongated back panel;
wherein said elongated front panel, said elongated back panel, and said elongated base panel form a triangular volume having a hollow interior space;
a slider member including;
electronic contacts thereon adapted to contact said plurality of electronic contacts of said elongated slider groove, such that its position with respect to said elongated slider groove can be determined electronically;
indicia thereon adapted to visually delineate a slider reference point; and
wherein said slider member is adapted to slide within said elongated slider groove of said elongated front panel;
an electronic visual display;
wherein said electronic visual display is attached to said elongated front panel and is adapted to display information generated by electronic processing components;
at least one electronic processing component;
wherein said at least one electronic processing component is located within said interior space of said elongated main body and is electronically connected to said plurality of electronic contacts of said elongated slider groove and to said electronic contacts of said slider member;
wherein said at least one electronic processing component is adapted to calculate numeric values based on the position of said slider member within said elongated slider groove and display values upon said electronic visual display; and
wherein said at least one electronic processing component is adapted to generate custom scales and display them along the length of said electronic visual display; and
a power source;
wherein said power source is electronically connected to said plurality of electronic contacts of said elongated slider groove, to said at least one electronic processing component, and to said electronic visual display for providing electrical power thereto.
2. The electronic smart ruler of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of control buttons attached to said elongated front panel and electronically connected to said at least one electronic processing component; and wherein each of said plurality of control buttons is adapted to command said at least one electronic processing component to calculate a particular numeric value based upon the position of said slider member within said elongated slider groove.
3. The electronic smart ruler of claim 2 , wherein two of said plurality of control buttons are adapted to provide imperial units.
4. The electronic smart ruler of claim 2 , wherein three of said plurality of control buttons are adapted to provide metric units.
5. The electronic smart ruler of claim 2 , wherein ten of said plurality of control buttons are adapted to provide the numeric values of 0 through 9 respectively.
6. The electronic smart ruler of claim 3 , wherein said imperial units provide values in feet.
7. The electronic smart ruler of claim 3 , wherein said imperial units provide values in inches.
8. The electronic smart ruler of claim 4 , wherein said metric units provide values in meters.
9. The electronic smart ruler of claim 4 , wherein said metric units provide values in centimeters.
10. The electronic smart ruler of claim 4 , wherein said metric units provide values in millimeters.
11. The electronic smart ruler of claim 2 , wherein six of said plurality of control buttons are adapted to command differing functions chosen from a list of functions consisting of switching, setting, clearing/zeroing, adding, subtracting, and entering.
12. The electronic smart ruler of claim 1 , wherein said power source is formed as a USB cable adapted to releasably connect with an external power supply.
13. The electronic smart ruler of claim 1 , wherein said electronic visual display is formed as an electrophoretic display.
14. The electronic smart ruler of claim 1 , wherein said electronic visual display is formed as a light emitting diode display.