Patent US3722111A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3722111A
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Examination paper test score system
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-06-18
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-06-18
Abstract
Abstract The Examination Paper Test Score System provides for registry of a multiple column test answer sheet containing multiple-choice answer blocks with a light permeable predetermined pattern representing answer response positions. A test bed transports the registered master answer-aperture plate and test sheet past a scan line of photo detector devices which register the student''s score as the number of light transmissive areas contained in each row and each row consisting of a plurality of blocks from adjacent columns is read by scanning at a sensor row as the aligned sheets pass thereacross. The apertures in the test sheet and the master answer-aperture plate are related to provide a constant transmission aperture area with a substantial misalignment tolerance.
Inventors
- 👤 M Georges
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 17:42
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B3/00; G09B3/06; G09B3/08; G06; G06K; G06K17/00; G06K17/0032
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
401 words
In photo-transmissive electronic machine scoring of multiplechoice type examination papers, the combination comprising: a light transmissive type test answer response sheet and an aperture device having a. a test answer response sheet having thereon in regular row and column array a plurality of rows of multiple-choice answer response blocks and at least one column of said multiple-choice answer response blocks, each said answer response block comprising of an opaque rectangle containing therein a plurality of spaced and aligned rectangular light transmissive areas which can be rendered opaque by A mark applied by a student; and b. an aperture device to be used with the test answer response sheet during scoring comprised of an opaque surface with a pattern of rectangular light transmissive areas that are adapted to register and cooperate with correspondingly located said light transmissive areas of said test answer response sheet; with each rectangular light transmissive area of said test answer response sheet and each rectangular light transmissive area of said aperture device being defined at their design center positions when used together in the scoring machine such that each rectangular light transmissive area of the said test answer response sheet having a width greater than the width of the correspondingly located rectangular light transmissive area of the said aperture device in one coordinate dimension by an amount of overlap on each side that is substantially equal to or greater than the expected maximum possible overall misalignment from the said design center position during actual use and a width less than the width of the correspondingly located rectangular light transmissive area of the said aperture device in the orthogonal coordinate dimension by an amount of overlap on each side that is substantially equal to or greater than the expected maximum possible overall misalignment from the said design center position during actual use to provide relatively large and constant area resultant apertures that are substantially without size or positional alignment errors due to manufacturing tolerance accumulation and assembly misalignment and permits closer adjacent apertures spacing by minimizing light energy interference to each photo-detector from adjacent aperture positions; and means including light energy source means and photo-detector means for reading the test score from said test answer response sheet in response to light energy transmitted from said light energy source means through said resultant apertures of the aligned said test answer response sheet and said aperture device to said photo-detector means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
401 words
In photo-transmissive electronic machine scoring of multiplechoice type examination papers, the combination comprising: a light transmissive type test answer response sheet and an aperture device having a. a test answer response sheet having thereon in regular row and column array a plurality of rows of multiple-choice answer response blocks and at least one column of said multiple-choice answer response blocks, each said answer response block comprising of an opaque rectangle containing therein a plurality of spaced and aligned rectangular light transmissive areas which can be rendered opaque by A mark applied by a student; and b. an aperture device to be used with the test answer response sheet during scoring comprised of an opaque surface with a pattern of rectangular light transmissive areas that are adapted to register and cooperate with correspondingly located said light transmissive areas of said test answer response sheet; with each rectangular light transmissive area of said test answer response sheet and each rectangular light transmissive area of said aperture device being defined at their design center positions when used together in the scoring machine such that each rectangular light transmissive area of the said test answer response sheet having a width greater than the width of the correspondingly located rectangular light transmissive area of the said aperture device in one coordinate dimension by an amount of overlap on each side that is substantially equal to or greater than the expected maximum possible overall misalignment from the said design center position during actual use and a width less than the width of the correspondingly located rectangular light transmissive area of the said aperture device in the orthogonal coordinate dimension by an amount of overlap on each side that is substantially equal to or greater than the expected maximum possible overall misalignment from the said design center position during actual use to provide relatively large and constant area resultant apertures that are substantially without size or positional alignment errors due to manufacturing tolerance accumulation and assembly misalignment and permits closer adjacent apertures spacing by minimizing light energy interference to each photo-detector from adjacent aperture positions; and means including light energy source means and photo-detector means for reading the test score from said test answer response sheet in response to light energy transmitted from said light energy source means through said resultant apertures of the aligned said test answer response sheet and said aperture device to said photo-detector means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
166 words
A test answer response sheet reading system according to claim 1 and including: a. means for bringing said test answer response sheet into registry with said aperture device to form a registered assembly; b. a row of photo-detection devices positioned respectively according to the row spacing of said light transmissive areas of said test answer response sheet; c. means for providing relative motion between said registered assembly and said row of photo-detection devices so as to move the said registered assembly of answer response aperture rows successively past said row of photo-detection devices; d. means for keeping said test answer response sheet substantially in contact with the surface of said aperture device in the vicinity of said row of photo-detection devices; e. means for programming correct answers into the test scoring machine. f. electronic circuitry including said photo-detector devices for reading each said answer response aperture row during said relative motion and registering and totalizing said readings; and g. means for indicating a total test score.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
A System according to claim 2 and including provision for minimizing unwanted light energy from adjacent answer response positions from entering into each photo-detector device comprising: a. means for masking the window area of each said photo-detector device so as to restrict the direction of light energy entering into each photo-detector device; and b. means for maintaining the outer surface of said photo-detector masking in close proximity to the adjacent surface of said aperture device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said means for masking the window area of each said photo-detector device forms masking apertures with straight leading and trailing edges to narrow the window area of each said photo-detector device and cooperate with the corresponding leading and trailing edges of the test answer response sheet to reduce light energy interference to said photo-detector devices from adjacent aperture positions during said relative motion and thus permit closer spacing of said aperture positions in the direction of motion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A system according to claim 2 in which the means for keeping said test answer response sheet substantially in contact with the surface of the aperture device in the vicinity of the said photo-detection devices as said registered assembly moves past the photo-detection devices comprises: a. vertical positioned rods having a surface of low coefficient of friction that rests on the surface of said answer response sheet, said rods acting as weights that press said answer response sheet against said aperture device; b. means for holding said rods horizontally stationery but vertically movable in a sliding up and down movement; and c. means for moving said vertical rods on and off said test answer sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
152 words
A system according to claim 2 in which said photo-detectors are resettable latching photo-detectors which are reset to the off-state while in darkness below light energy threshold and while still in darkness below light energy threshold are electrically conditioned for each to subsequently trigger to the on-state when each individual said resettable latching photo-detector independently reaches light energy threshold without regard to special alignment, timing or occurrence sequence as sufficient light energy reaches each individual said resettable latching photo-detectors through said resultant apertures of the said registered assembly of said test answer response sheet and said aperture device during the said relative motion of said registered assembly past said row of photo-detection devices thereby detecting and temporarily storing the reading of each said answer response aperture row until the said photo-detectors which have been rendered conductive are again reset to the off-state during the scanning of each said test answer response sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
69 words
A system according to claim 6 and including: a. means for producing an electronic control pulse signal that is generated after each row of said test answer response sheet is sensed and prior to sensing of the next approaching said row; and b. means controlled by said generated pulse signal for accumulating the reading registered from each said row of said test answer response sheet and resetting said photo-detectors.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said means for programming correct answers into the test scoring machine is a clear or translucent sheet marked with opaque areas corresponding to incorrect answer response positions on said answer response sheet and adapted to be used with said test answer response sheet and said aperture device during the test scoring machine operation to register and cooperate with said resultant apertures of said test answer response sheet and said aperture device to retard light energy transmission at said incorrect answer response positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 1 in which said aperture device is an opaque plate with holes providing said pattern of light transmissive areas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 9 in which said holes of said opaque plate are approximately square in shape.
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) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |