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Patent US3656243A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3656243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Response system with improved computational methods and apparatus
Assignee: Link Flight Simulation Corp
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Filing: 1970-08-10
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Granted: 1972-04-18
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Expires: 1990-08-10
Abstract
Abstract An improved classroom response system of the type wherein a number of students are provided with individual responders each having a plurality of switches selectively operable to indicate the student''s choice of response to a question or other stimulus. The invention is directed to novel methods and apparatus for performing arithmetic operations and displays which make available to the instructor information helpful in conducting the class and otherwise simplify instructional tasks. Included are means for automatically indicating which of several responses is ''''correct'''' by determining the response to which the highest weight has been assigned by the instructor. Also disclosed are novel means to calculate each individual student''s cumulative score and to indicate automatically the students whose scores fall below a preselected acceptable percentage of the maximum possible score. Displays of the total number of students responding to a given question, and the percent of the class which has responded with any of the possible choices are provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard M Segal
- 👤 David Friedman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:53
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B7/00; G09B7/06; G09B7/07; G09B7/073
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
In testing apparatus comprising a plurality of student responders, each containing two or more switches operable one at a time, each switch corresponding to a particular one of two or more possible responses, said responders connected to a central instructor''s station wherein a weight is assigned to each possible response and wherein student responses are stored, a method of keeping a cumulative record of each student''s score as successive responses are made and scored comprising: a. assigning to each student an equal number of bits in a first serial shift register used as a memory in which to store said student scores; and b. repeating successively for a number of times equal to the number of students the following steps: 1. shifting one of said students bits into a second shift register; 2. gating said bits to a first counter; 3. adding to said counter the student''s score for the question being scored; 4. gating said bits to said second shift register; and 5. shifting said bits to said first shift register.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
In testing apparatus comprising a plurality of student responders, each containing two or more switches operable one at a time, each switch corresponding to a particular one of two or more possible responses, said responders connected to a central instructor''s station wherein a weight is assigned to each possible response and wherein student responses are stored, a method of keeping a cumulative record of each student''s score as successive responses are made and scored comprising: a. assigning to each student an equal number of bits in a first serial shift register used as a memory in which to store said student scores; and b. repeating successively for a number of times equal to the number of students the following steps: 1. shifting one of said students bits into a second shift register; 2. gating said bits to a first counter; 3. adding to said counter the student''s score for the question being scored; 4. gating said bits to said second shift register; and 5. shifting said bits to said first shift register.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
7 words
gating said bits to a first counter;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
7 words
gating said bits to a first counter;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method according to claim 1 wherein the student''s score is added by steps comprising: a. loading the complement said score into a second counter, said counter capable of counting to a maximum score value which any answer may have; b. providing a train of pulses to saiD second counter and to said first counter; and c. disabling said pulse train when said second counter reaches its maximum value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
gate said bits to said first counter; activate said pulse generating means for a time sufficient to allow a number of pulses equal to the responder score to enter said first counter, said score dependent upon said switch selection and assigned weight;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
gate said bits to said first counter; activate said pulse generating means for a time sufficient to allow a number of pulses equal to the responder score to enter said first counter, said score dependent upon said switch selection and assigned weight;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a teaching machine comprising a plurality of student responders connected to a central control unit, each responder having two or more exclusively operable switches and having an output indicative of which of said switches has been depressed, each of said switches corresponding to one of two or more possible answers, each of said answers having been assigned a weight, said weight being stored in said control unit, apparatus to score and store cumulative scores for each of said responders comprising: a. a first serial shift register having a number of bits equal to the number of responders times the number of bits needed to store scores for one responder; b. a second serial shift register having a number of bits equal to the number of bits needed to store scores for one responder; c. a first counter having the same number of bits as said second shift register; d. bidirectional gating connecting said second shift register and said first counter; e. pulse generating means as an incrementing input to said first counter; and f. control means to sequentially:
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
In a teaching machine comprising a plurality of student responders connected to a central control unit, each responder having two or more exclusively operable switches and having an output indicative of which of said switches has been depressed, each of said switches corresponding to one of two or more possible answers, each of said answers having been assigned a weight, said weight being stored in said control unit, apparatus to score and store cumulative scores for each of said responders comprising: a. a first serial shift register having a number of bits equal to the number of responders times the number of bits needed to store scores for one responder; b. a second serial shift register having a number of bits equal to the number of bits needed to store scores for one responder; c. a first counter having the same number of bits as said second shift register; d. bidirectional gating connecting said second shift register and said first counter; e. pulse generating means as an incrementing input to said first counter; and f. control means to sequentially:
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
adding to said counter the student''s score for the question being scored;
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
adding to said counter the student''s score for the question being scored;
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
9 words
gating said bits to said second shift register; and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
9 words
gating said bits to said second shift register; and
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
9 words
gate said bits back to said shift register; and
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
9 words
gate said bits back to said shift register; and
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
168 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said pulse generating means comprises: a. score decoding means to compare said switch selection with said assigned weight and output the proper score for the responder being scored; b. complementing means having as an input said responder score from said decoding means and as an output the complement of said score; c. second counter means having as a presetting input the output of said complementing means and having an output when the value in said counter equals a predetermined maximum said maximum equal to the highest possible score on any one question; d. clock means providing a pulse train to said second counter; and e. gating means having as a first input said clock means and as a second input said second counter output and having an output to said first counter, said output present only when said second input is not present thus allowing a number of pulses equal to the proper score to be added to said first counter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
shift said bits back to said first shift register thus sequentially adding to each stored score the proper score for the question being scored.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
shift said bits back to said first shift register thus sequentially adding to each stored score the proper score for the question being scored.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
8 words
shifting said bits to said first shift register.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
8 words
shifting said bits to said first shift register.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-04-18 | 1975-10-18 | 1976-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-04-18 | 1979-10-18 | 1980-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-04-18 | 1983-10-18 | 1984-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |