Patent ID: 6295544
Filing Date: 2001-09-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A hand-held calculator for computing a safe dimensional specification of a wooden structural support, the wooden structural support to be made of a selected species of wood, comprising:a display unit;a processor coupled to the display unit;multiple keys coupled to the processor for manually inputting information to the processor, the keys including multiple dedicated keys for manually inputting option data, the option data including a selected functional use configuration of a wooden structural support and a desired dimensional aspect to be calculated for the wooden structural support, the dedicated keys thereby simplifying the input of the option data;a program stored in the calculator for execution on the processor to:(i) display on the display unit a series of prompts that guide a user to input by the keys the information and the option data, the series of prompts including a load prompt for guiding the user to input a maximum anticipated load to be supported by the wooden structural support, a wood species prompt for guiding the user to input a selected species of wood, and a known dimension prompt for guiding the user to input a predetermined dimensional parameter of the wooden structural support,(ii) calculate a safe dimensional specification corresponding to the desired dimensional aspect and based upon the selected functional use configuration, the maximum anticipated load, the selected species of wood, and the predetermined dimensional parameter, and(iii) display on the display unit the safe dimensional specification.