Electronic calculator having function keys with programmable labels

Claim 2

A data processing apparatus comprising; a data processing unit for receiving data inputs and providing data outputs indicative of the data inputs and/or computations from such data inputs; a keyboard including a plurality of individual keys operably associated with said data processing unit for providing data inputs thereto in response to actuation of individual keys; at least one key of said keyboard having a definable function subject to recharacterization to any one of a plurality of functions; means operably associated with said data processing unit to define a specific function to said at least one definable-function key; said data processing unit including means responsive to said function-defining means to assign a function label to said at least one definable-function key; display means operably associated with said data processing unit on which the data inputs from the actuation of individual keys and/or computations resulting from such data inputs visually appear, said display means being associated with said at least one key for visually indicating key label symbols defining the function attributable to said key; and graphic means operably associated with said function label-assigning means for providing a visual symbol on said display means as a label for said at least one key indicative of the function assigned thereto.

Claim 3

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 1, wherein said keyboard includes a plurality of keys having respective definable functions subject to recharacterization to any one of a plurality of functions; and said function-defining means being effective to define respective specific functions to each of said plurality of definable-function keys, said function label-assigning means being effective to assign respective function labels to each of said plurality of definable-function keys, and said graphic means being effective to provide visual symbols on said display means as respective labels indicative of the functions assigned to each of said definable-function keys.

Claim 4

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 2, wherein said function-defining means is a mode-define key on said keyboard separate from said definable-function keys and operable upon actuation to enable data inputs from keys other than the definable-function keys to define the functions attributable to each said definable-function key.

Claim 5

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 3, wherein said keyboard further includes a plurality of application mode keys for selective operation in performing a designated group of key-function data inputs, each said application mode key upon actuation enabling each of said plurality of definable-function keys to be individually assigned a function label in a tree structure such that each of said plurality of definable-function keys may have a different function attributable thereto for each of the plurality of application mode keys in response to the actuation thereof in the performance or respective groups of functions assignable to the plurality of definable-function keys.

Claim 6

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of definable-function keys is arranged on said keyboard in the same localized area thereon in proximity to said display means.

Claim 7

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 2, wherein each of the keys of said keyboard has plural at least first and second separate functions assignable thereto; and at least one additional function-assigning key being included on said keyboard, said one additional function-assigning key have first and second status positions and being alternatively positioned in one of the first and second positions upon actuation to assign a first set of functions to the remainder of the keys on said keyboard separate from said definable-function keys and actuatable to its second status position to assign a second set of functions different from said first set of functions to said remaining keys.

Claim 8

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 2, further including replaceable memory means operably associated with said data processing unit and responsive to said function-defining means to assign a function label to each of said definable-function keys reflecting the character of the data stored therein.

Claim 9

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 2, wherein said keyboard further includes program key means for selective actuation by an operator in defining an operator program, said function-defining means being responsive to the selective actuation by said operator of said program key means to assign respective function labels to each of said plurality of definable-function keys tailored to the use of such definable-function keys in carrying out the operator-defined program.

Claim 10

A data processing apparatus comprising: a data processing unit for receiving data inputs and providing data outputs indicative of the data inputs and/or computations from such data inputs; a keyboard including a plurality of individual keys operably associated with said data processing unit for providing data inputs thereto in response to actuation of individual keys; at least one key of said keyboard having a definable function subject to recharacterization to any one of a plurality of functions; means operably associated with said data processing unit to define a specific function to said at least one definable-function key; said data processing unit including means responsive to said function-defining means to assign a function label to said at least one definable-function key; display means operably associated with said data processing unit on which the data inputs from the actuation of individual keys and/or computations resulting from such data inputs visually appear, said display means including a dedicated display portion associated with said at least one key for visually indicating key label symbols defining the function attributable to said key; and graphic means operably associated with said function label-assigning means for providing a visual symbol on said dedicated display portion as a label for said at least one key indicative of the function assigned thereto.

Claim 11

A data processing apparatus comprising: a data processing unit for receiving data inputs and providing data outputs indicative of the data inputs and/or computations from such data inputs; a keyboard including a plurality of individual keys operably associated with said data processing unit for providing data inputs thereto in response to actuation of individual keys; at least one key of said keyboard having a definable function subject to recharacterization to any one of a plurality of functions; means operably associated with said data processing unit to define a specific function to said at least one definable-function key; said data processing unit including means responsive to said function-defining means to assign a function label to said at least one definable-function key; display means operably associated with said data processing unit on which the data inputs from the actuation of individual keys and/or computations resulting from such data inputs visually appear, said display means including a dedicated display portion associated with said at least one key for visually indicating key label symbols defining the function attributable to said key; and graphic means operably associated with said function label-assigning means for providing a visual symbol on said dedicated display portion as a label for said at least one key indicative of the function assigned thereto.

Claim 12

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 9, wherein said keyboard includes a plurality of keys having respective definable functions subject to recharacterization to any one of a plurality of functions; said dedicated display portion of said display means having a plurality of separate dedicated display windows respectively corresponding to each of said plurality of definable-function keys for visually indicating the respective key label symbols defining the function attributable to each of said definable-function keys; said function-defining means being effective to define respective specific functions to each of said plurality of definable-function keys, said function label-assigning means being effective to assign respective function labels to each of said plurality of definable-function keys, and said graphic means being effective to provide a visual symbol on each of said plurality of dedicated display windows of said dedicated display portion as respective labels indicative of the functions assigned to each of said definable-function keys.

Claim 13

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 10, wherein said function-defining means is a mode-define key on said keyboard separate from said definable-function keys and operable upon actuation to enable data inputs from keys other than the definable-function keys to define the functions attributable to each said definable-function key.

Claim 14

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 11 wherein said keyboard further includes a plurality of application mode keys for selective operation in performing a designated group of key-function data inputs, each said application mode key upon actuation enabling each of said plurality of definable-function keys to be individually assigned a function lable in a tree structure such that each of said plurality of definable-function keys may have a different function attributable thereto for each of the plurality of application mode keys in response to the actuation thereof in the performance of respective groups of functions assignable to the plurality of definable-function keys.

Claim 15

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 10, wherein each of said plurality of definable-function keys is arranged on said keyboard in the same localized area thereon in proximity to said display means, each of said plurality of definable-function keys being disposed in registration with the corresponding dedicated display window in said dedicated display portion of said display means.

Claim 16

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 10, wherein each of the keys of said keyboard has plural at least first and second separate functions assignable thereto; and at least one additional function-assigning key being included on said keyboard, said one additional function-assigning key having first and second status positions and being alternatively positioned in one of the first and second status positions upon actuation to assign a first set of functions to the remainder of the keys on said keyboard separate from said definable-function keys and actuatable to its second status position to assign a second set of functions different from said first set of functions to said remaining keys.

Claim 17

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 10, further including replaceable memory means operably associated with said data processing unit and responsive to said function-defining means to assign a function label to each of said definable-function keys reflecting the character of the data stored therein.

Claim 18

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 10, wherein said keyboard further includes program key means for selective actuation by an operator in defining an operator program, said function-defining means being responsive to the selective actuation by said operator of said program key means to assign respective function labels to each of said plurality of definable-function keys tailored to the use of such definable-function keys in carrying out the operator-defined program.

Claim 19

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 10, further including a housing in which said data processing unit is disposed, said keyboard being arranged on said housing below said display means; said display means being disposed on said housing to position the dedicated display portion thereof as the lower portion of said display means in juxtaposition with said plurality of definable-function keys therebelow, with each of said definable-function keys being positioned in vertically registering alignment with the corresponding dedicated display window of said dedicated display portion relating thereto.

Claim 20

A data processing apparatus as set forth in Claim 17, wherein said apparatus is a hand-held electronic calculator.