I usually search the patents belonging to various companies (like sony, apple, samsung, microsoft...) to know at first hand the technological innovations.
Recently, I decided to do a patent search of Casio and I found what may be the next Casio calculator with touchscreen technology.
Firstly i found the patent
US20090307587 (3 Jun 2009) which apparently seems to be a reformulation of the Casio ClassPad (never launched).
The position of the keyboard has been changed in draft.
I think this model will not be released, because they recently launched the new
Classpad 330 Plus with the same keyboard position.
After that, I found something quite interesting, what might be the revolutionary new future model of casio, in US Patent
US20110016165 (12 Jul 2010).
Below is a draft, possibly a prototype:
Apparently, the FKEYS were reduced to 4 (instead of 6 in models like fx9860, prizm...) and SHIFT/ALPHA keys were removed.
In this patent is also contemplated another possible novelty, a communication control unit that can communicate with web server (maybe a casio alternative to nSpire wifi functions, who knows?).
There is also reference the multitouch technology, which is unheard of for a calculator:
This technology can innovate and simplify the form of input in a graphic calculator
EXEMPLE: changing the order of members of an account, can easily be made:
But the innovations do not stop there, maybe this calculator will adapt a method of text selection similar to android:
You think you've seen everything? You are mistaken!
I found yet another patent, with the draft of this mysterious new model and with some more interesting information (patent
US20100231597).
This mysterious model possibly also have a pen and a function of HANDWRITTEN MATHEMATICAL FORMULA RECOGNITION. No it isnt a new classpad (i think), the proportions of the screen are similar to the fx9860/prizm, maybe a new model/serie or a prizm refresh in future?
Here is the patent referent to this formula recognition (
US20120162107 from 8 Dez 2011)
I really liked this supposed future calculator, who knows, maybe a year from now or two is not launched?
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During this search, I found a function that can be implemented in the future that will not please many users, contemplated in the patent
US7840621, a Anti Cheating feature.
With this function will be possible for exemple block acess to e-activities and programs, choose block duration time, etc...using a SD card.
After Texas Instruments taking the first steps in combating cheating in tests (with a led in Nspire), Casio will follow the same way?
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Would like to remind that patents are used to safeguard the rights of an invention, and it is not mandatory that this invention is placed on the market for example.