Electronic calipers having scaling, nominal-value look-up, and geometric-calculation functions

The present invention relates to electronic calipers. More particularly, the present invention relates to electronic calipers having multiple function modes, each mode allowing the user to perform a basic mathematical or geometric calculation, such as scaling the measurement by a chosen value, providing a nominal value corresponding to the physical measurement, and/or utilizing physical measurements in geometric formulas to determine other calculable values. An improved set of calipers or dividers having a pair of measurement jaws for measuring the distance between points, a display, and a calculation module which performs calculations or retrieves values for any one or more of the following functions: scaling, nominal values, basic geometry, and complex geometry. The scaling function is performed in one of two ways: numerical input or a calculated scaling factor. The nominal values function displays the nominal value which corresponds to the measured value of any preprogrammed table of values. Common tables would include tables of drill sizes, wire gauge, sheet metal gauge, screw size, font size, paper weight, hole size, etc. The basic geometry function calculates geometric values based on one or more measured inputs. For example, the user can measure the opposite and adjacent legs of a triangle and the caliper will calculate and display the angle. With the complex geometry function, the user can input measured inputs and obtain exact or approximate values for more complicated formulas such as area, moments of inertia, approximate area under a curve. For embodiments where the user is prompted for information on a pictorial display, a larger display is used to allow for the pictorial image.