AU2004100486A4

AU2004100486A4 - Digital scale ruler

Info

Publication number: AU2004100486A4
Application number: AU2004100486A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Robert Barwick
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-21
Filing date: 2004-06-21
Publication date: 2004-07-08
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-21

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INNOVATION PATENT.

DIGITAL SCALE RULER The invention is described in the following statement For many years, geologist, surveyors and other people who use maps have relied on conventional scale rulers to read of distances and measurements from the maps. However, if these maps have been photo reduced or increased in size, the scale is never preserved. If the scale bar 10 on the map 7 indicated that the map was at 1:10,000 originally, after photo reducing the text still says 1:10,000 but the actual scale when measured with a conventional ruler may be for example 1:8,678.

The Digital Scale Ruler 1 has been designed to apply to these instances by having a movable digital slider 8 shown as the green arrow symbol on the plan view 11 of Fig 1 (DIGITAL SCALE RULER.PDF) which is positioned at the beginning of the scale bar on the map either photocopied or not, by operating keys on the data module 3. It is moveable to facilitate the placement of the Digital Scale Ruler 1 on the map 7. The other digital slider 9 shown as the red arrow is moved by operating keys on the data module 3. Once the sliders 8 9 are in position, the scale can be set using preset or operator defined scales stored in the data module 3. This would then display correct reference marks on the remaining length of the variable scale 5 component of the transparent Digital Scale Ruler 1.

The other side 6, (bottom) of the transparent Digital Scale Ruler 1 component can be set with any known scale, both metric and imperial 6, currently in use as well as historical scales such as rods and chains. The two sides of the Digital Scale Ruler is separated by a strip of solar panel 4 to provide power to the data module3 which drives the transparent Digital Scale Ruler 1 component as well as other functions provided by the data module 3. There is an internal light source 13 that illuminates the transparent Digital Scale Ruler 1 component (see the side view 12 of Fig 1 DIGITAL SCALE RULER.PDF) for poor light conditions as well as a back light facility in the data module 3.

This one device would replace several conventional rulers usually carried around by people who frequently read and interpret maps and provide the ability to read correctly, previously unreadable, photo reduced or enlarged maps.

The data module 3, in addition to software to produce scales on the transparent Digital Scale Ruler 1 component, also has software facilities to provide: 1. A world clock.

2. A digital compass.

3. A rotating display.

4. A temperature display.

Area, weight and length conversion tables.

6. Software to provide displays in many other languages.

7. Software to provide datum conversions similar to those found in GPS units.

The complete unit is water proof and shock proof. It has an internal battery to provide power should the solar panel 4 be inadequate due to poor light conditions. The data module 3 is removable to provide a standalone unit for datum conversions and other calculations prior to map reading.

Claims

1. The Digital Scale Ruler has a movable digital slider which is positioned at the beginning of the scale bar on the map either photocopied or not, by operating keys on the data module. It is moveable to facilitate the placement of the Digital Scale Ruler on the map. The other digital slider is moved by operating keys on the data module. Once the sliders are in position, the scale can be set using preset or operator defined scales stored in the data module. This would then display correct reference marks on the remaining length of the Digital Scale Ruler component. The other side, (bottom) of the Digital Scale Ruler component can be set with any known scale, both metric and imperial, currently in use as well as historical scales such as rods and chains. The two sides of the Digital Scale Ruler is separated by a strip of solar panel to provide power to the data module which drives the transparent Digital Scale Ruler component as well as other functions provided by the data module. There is an internal light source that illuminates the transparent Digital Scale Ruler component for poor light conditions as well as a back light facility in the data module. The complete unit is water proof and shock proof. It has an internal battery to provide power should the solar panel be inadequate due to poor light conditions. The data module is removable to provide a standalone unit for datum conversions and other calculations prior to map reading. The data module in addition to software to produce scales on the Digital Scale Ruler component, also has software facilities to provide a world clock; a digital compass; a rotating display; a temperature display; an area, weight and length conversion table function; software to provide displays in many other languages and software to provide datum conversions similar to those found in GPS units, as per drawings provided in Fig 1-4 of the attached DIGITAL SCALE RULER.PDF file ROBERT BARWICK IOTH JUNE 2004