Programmable calculator having keys for performing angular measurement unit conversion

Claim 1

An electronic calculator comprising: keyboard input means including a plurality of keys for entering information into the calculator; first memory means, including a plurality of storage registers into which information may be written and from which information may be read; second memory means for storing routines to be executed by the calculator in performing selected functions; processing means, coupled to said keyboard input means and first and second memory means, for executing selected ones of the routines stored in the second memory means to perform certain functions employing information from one or both of the keyboard input means and first memory means; and output display means, coupled to said processing means, for providing a visual output indication of the results of functions performed by the calculator; said keyboard input means including first control means for specifying a first angular measurement conversion function and further including second control means for specifying a second angular measurement conversion function; said output display means being operative for displaying the contents of a plurality of the storage registers of said first memory means; said processing means including logic means responsive to actuation of said first control means, following entry from the keyboard input means of three data items representing an angular measurement expressed, respectively, in degrees, minutes, and seconds, for converting that angular measurement so expressed to the equivalent angular measurement expressed in decimal degrees, for storing the resultant angular measurement expressed in decimal degrees in a specified one of the storage registers of said first memory means, and for causing that resultant angular measurement to be visually displayed on said output display means; said logic means being further responsive to actuation of said second control means, following entry from the keyboard input means of a data item representing an angular measurement expressed in decimal degrees, for converting that angular measurement so expressed to the equivalent angular measurement expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds, for storing the resultant angular measurement expressed in degrees, minutes, and seconds in a specified three of the storage registers, respectively, of said first memory means, and for causing that resultant angular measurement to be visually displayed on said output display means.