US3579870A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Test administering apparatus
Assignee: PSYCHLOGICAL CORP
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Filing: 1969-08-27
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Granted: 1971-05-25
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Expires: 1989-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A test administering apparatus has a plurality of tape playback units individually controllable by an examiner at a console to provide verbal instructions for, and to time a respective test, and the outputs of the playback units are selectively fed, as by station selector switches at the console, to any of a plurality of headphones or earpieces to be utilized by individual examinees and/or to selected loudspeakers in examination rooms occupied by groups of examinees. An alert signal is provided from each operating playback unit to the examiner near the end of the allotted time for the respective test and the end of such allotted time is also signalled to the examiner as well as to each examinee taking the test.
Inventors
- 👤 George K Bennett
- 👤 Richard G Buchanan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:39
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00; G09B5/08; G09B5/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
In a test administering apparatus, the combination of a plurality of individually operable tape playback units each adapted to reproduce signals magnetically recorded on a respective tape while moving the latter at a standardized speed, said signals recorded on each said tape representing at least verbal instructions for a respective test, verbal start and stop signals which are spaced apart along the tape by a distance corresponding, at said standard speed, to a predetermined time allotted for said respective test, a cue signal located along the tape to be reproduced upon the reproduction of said verbal stop signal and an alert tone signal located to be reproduced in advance of said cue signal, each of said playback units including head means to reproduce said recorded signals from the respective tape, a control station adjacent said playback units and a plurality of testing stations, station selecting means at said control station operable to selectively direct the reproduced verbal instructions and verbal start and stop signals from any of said playback units to any of said testing stations, transducer means at each of said testing stations to convert to audible form the reproduced verbal instructions and verbal start and stop signals, means at said control station to initiate the operation of each of said playback units, means to provide an alert tone audible by an examiner at said control station in response to the reproduction of said alert tone signal by any of said playback units, means responsive to the reproduction of said cue signal by each of said playback units to halt the operation of the respective playback unit, and means at said control Station to signal to an examiner thereat that the operation of a playback unit has been halted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
In a test administering apparatus, the combination of a plurality of individually operable tape playback units each adapted to reproduce signals magnetically recorded on a respective tape while moving the latter at a standardized speed, said signals recorded on each said tape representing at least verbal instructions for a respective test, verbal start and stop signals which are spaced apart along the tape by a distance corresponding, at said standard speed, to a predetermined time allotted for said respective test, a cue signal located along the tape to be reproduced upon the reproduction of said verbal stop signal and an alert tone signal located to be reproduced in advance of said cue signal, each of said playback units including head means to reproduce said recorded signals from the respective tape, a control station adjacent said playback units and a plurality of testing stations, station selecting means at said control station operable to selectively direct the reproduced verbal instructions and verbal start and stop signals from any of said playback units to any of said testing stations, transducer means at each of said testing stations to convert to audible form the reproduced verbal instructions and verbal start and stop signals, means at said control station to initiate the operation of each of said playback units, means to provide an alert tone audible by an examiner at said control station in response to the reproduction of said alert tone signal by any of said playback units, means responsive to the reproduction of said cue signal by each of said playback units to halt the operation of the respective playback unit, and means at said control Station to signal to an examiner thereat that the operation of a playback unit has been halted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A test administering apparatus according to claim 1, in which said head means of each playback unit includes first and second heads scanning first and second tracks of the respective tape, said verbal instruction and start and stop signals are recorded in said first track, and said alert tone signal and cue signal are recorded in said second track.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A test administering apparatus according to claim 2, in which said alert tone signal and cue signal are uniform frequency signals of respectively different frequencies, and in which filter means are provided to separate said alert tone and cue signals in the output from said second head.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
A test administering apparatus according to claim 3, in which said means to initiate the operation of each playback unit includes an element causing said operation upon the imposition of a voltage thereto of at least a predetermined value, and said means to halt the operation of the respective playback unit is effective to pull down the voltage on said element below said predetermined value in response to the occurrence of a pulse of said cue signal frequency for at least a predetermined period.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
A test administering apparatus according to claim 4, in which said means to halt the operation of the respective playback unit is a semiconductor controlled rectifier having its gate connected to receive said pulse of cue signal frequency and, when thus fired, being effective to pull down said voltage by reason of the conductive path established from the anode to the cathode of said rectifier.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A test administering apparatus according to claim 5, in which a capacitor is connected with said cathode to permit the voltage to be pulled down below said value only when said capacitor is discharged at the time of firing of said controlled rectifier, and in which means are provided to temporarily charge said capacitor at the time of initiation of operation of said respective playback unit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
A test administering apparatus according to claim 6, in which said tape is in the form of an endless loop and is returned substantially to its initial position upon the halt of the operation of the respective playback unit, and said means provided to temporarily charge said capacitor ensure that the initiation of operation of the playback unit will not be disturbed by the simultaneous reproduction of the terminal portion of said cue signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
61 words
A test administering apparatus according to claim 1, in which said transducer means at said testing stations are for utilization by individual examinees, and there are further provided a plurality of loudspeakers selectively connectable to said playback units by way of said control station to reproduce said verbal instructions and start and stop signals in audible form for groups of examinees.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
164 words
A magnetic tape loop for use in administering a test, said tape having first and second record tracks, said first track having recorded therein along successive lengths signals corresponding to verbal instructions for performance of the respective test, and signals corresponding to verbal start and stop orders, respectively, said lengths of the first track along which said verbal start and stop order signals are recorded being spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the time allotted for the respective test at a predetermined playback speed of the tape, said second track having recorded therein a constant frequency cue signal along a length of the tape which immediately follows said length in which the signals corresponding to said verbal stop order are recorded, and said second track further having recorded therein an alert tone signal of a constant frequency different from that of said cue signal and which is located along a length of the tape in advance of said length containing the cue signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
A magnetic tape loop for use in administering a test, said tape having first and second record tracks, said first track having recorded therein along successive lengths signals corresponding to verbal instructions for performance of the respective test, and signals corresponding to verbal start and stop orders, respectively, said lengths of the first track along which said verbal start and stop order signals are recorded being spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the time allotted for the respective test at a predetermined playback speed of the tape, said second track having recorded therein a constant frequency cue signal along a length of the tape which immediately follows said length in which the signals corresponding to said verbal stop order are recorded, and said second track further having recorded therein an alert tone signal of a constant frequency different from that of said cue signal and which is located along a length of the tape in advance of said length containing the cue signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A magnetic tape loop according to claim 9, in which said constant frequency of the cue signal is about 1000 c./s., and said constant frequency of the alert tone signal is about 400 c./s.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-24 | 1974-11-23 | 1975-05-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-24 | 1978-11-23 | 1979-05-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-24 | 1982-11-23 | 1983-05-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |