Response system with improved computational methods and apparatus

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said number of switches depressed are displayed to an observer.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said second number is determined by counting the number of switches, in a classroom response system comprising a plurality of student responders each having two or more exclusively operable switches, corresponding to a preselected choice which have been depressed, each responder being interrogated in sequence and 100 pulses gated to said first counter for each depressed switch corresponding to the preselected choice and said first number being determined by counting the total number of said switches which have been depressed.

Claim 5

Apparatus for computing the percent of a first number which a second number equals where said first number is the total number of switches depressed in a student response system where a plurality of responders each have at least two switches only one of which may be depressed at one time and said second number corresponds to the number of said depressed switches corresponding to a predetermined switch selector, comprising: a. a storage counter; b. sequencer means having as an input all of said student responder switch outputs and sequentially presenting said inputs as an incrementing input to said storage counter; c. first counter means preset to zero; d. pulse input means supplying a quantity of pulses equal to one hundred times said second number said pulses being incrementing inputs to said first counter means; e. comparator means having as a first input the contents of said storage counter, as a second input the output of said first counter means, and having an output when both inputs are equal, said output being a reset to zero command to said first counter means; and f. second counter means having as an incrementing input the output of said comparator means, whereby on the completion of the pulse train supplied by said pulse input means said second counter means will have stored in it the percent of said first number which said second number equals.

Claim 6

Apparatus for computing the percent of a first number which a second number equals where said first number is the total number of switches depressed in a student response system where a plurality of responders each have at least two switches only one of which may be depressed at one time and said second number corresponds to the number of said depressed switches corresponding to a predetermined switch selector, comprising: a. a storage counter; b. sequencer means having as an input all of said student responder switch outputs and sequentially presenting said inputs as an incrementing input to said storage counter; c. first counter means preset to zero; d. pulse input means supplying a quantity of pulses equal to one hundred times said second number said pulses being incrementing inputs to said first counter means; e. comparator means having as a first input the contents of said storage counter, as a second input the output of said first counter means, and having an output when both inputs are equal, said output being a reset to zero command to said first counter means; and f. second counter means having as an incrementing input the output of said comparator means, whereby on the completion of the pulse train supplied by said pulse input means said second counter means will have stored in it the percent of said first number which said second number equals.

Claim 7

The apparatus described in claim 4 wherein said pulse input means comprises a second output of said sequencer means ANDed with a signal indicative of said preselected switch position and a pulse train containing one hundred pulses for each sequential output of said sequencer.

Claim 8

The apparatus described in claim 5 wherein the indication of said preselected switch position and of the one of two or more student responder switches which have been depressed is accomplished by assigning to each possible switch position a portion of the total output time of each output of said sequencer.

Claim 9

In a system comprising a plurality of responders, each having two or more switches, and each having an output when any of said switches have been depressed, said output being indicative of the one of said switches which has been depressed, apparatus for determining the total number of switches which have been depressed and the percentage of said switches which correspond to a predetermined switch selection comprising: a. sequencer means having as an input all of said responder outputs and having an output sequentially presenting each of said inputs; b. first display means responsive to said sequencer output to display the total number of switches which have been depressed; c. selector means to preselect the one of said switches for which a percentage is to be determined; d. pulse train means responsive to said selector means and said sequencer means having as an output of 100 pulses occuring when the output of said sequencer means corresponds to the switch selected by said slector means; e. counter means having as an input the output of said pulse train means; f. comparator means having as one input the value in said counter means and as another input the value in said first display means and having an output only when both inputs are equal said output being a reset command for said counter; and g. second display means responsive to the output from said comparator means to display the percentage of the total number of switches corresponding to the predetermined selection.

Claim 10

In a system comprising a plurality of responders, each having two or more switches, and each having an output when any of said switches have been depressed, said output being indicative of the one of said switches which has been depressed, apparatus for determining the total number of switches which have been depressed and the percentage of said switches which correspond to a predetermined switch selection comprising: a. sequencer means having as an input all of said responder outputs and having an output sequentially presenting each of said inputs; b. first display means responsive to said sequencer output to display the total number of switches which have been depressed; c. selector means to preselect the one of said switches for which a percentage is to be determined; d. pulse train means responsive to said selector means and said sequencer means having as an output of 100 pulses occuring when the output of said sequencer means corresponds to the switch selected by said slector means; e. counter means having as an input the output of said pulse train means; f. comparator means having as one input the value in said counter means and as another input the value in said first display means and having an output only when both inputs are equal said output being a reset command for said counter; and g. second display means responsive to the output from said comparator means to display the percentage of the total number of switches corresponding to the predetermined selection.

Claim 11

Apparatus to coMpute the numerical value of a selected percentage of a given number representative of the maximum possible total score in a test which includes a plurality of questions and for determining which students in a class have fallen below said computed numerical value, comprising in combination: a. a first counter wherein said given number is stored and an amount equal to the maximum possible score for a given question of said test is added to said given number as each question is asked; b. a second counter connected to said first counter; c. a first comparator having as a first input the number zero and as a second input the output of said second counter and having an output when both of said inputs are equal; d. switch means to initiate the computation; e. means to load the number stored in said first counter into said second counter in response to operation of said switch means and to the output of said first comparator; f. a third counter having as an incrementing input the output of said comparator; g. percentage selection means; h. a second comparator having as a first input the output of said percentage selection means and as a second input the output of said third counter and having an output when both inputs are equal; i. a fourth counter; j. means to supply a train of pulses to said second and fourth counters, said pulse train being a decrementing input to said second counter and an incrementing input to said fourth counter, said pulse supply means being responsive to the output of said switch means and said second comparator, whereby said switch means will initiate said pulse train and the output of said second comparator will stop said pulse train, thereby resulting in a count in said fourth counter equal to 100 times the percentage selected on percentage selection means; k. a first shift register containing serially all of said scores for which determination is to be made; l. a second shift register of a size capable of holding one of said scores; m. a third comparator having as a first input the output of said fourth counter less the two least significant digits, as a second input and output of said second shift register and having an output when said first input is less than said second input; n. control means sequentially shifting said student scores from said first shift register to said second shift register, initiated by the output of said second comparator and having an output indicative of the score contained in said second shift register; and o. a plurality of latching means equal in number to the number of student scores and responsive to said third comparator and said control means output whereby a latched condition on any of said latches will indicate that the corresponding student score is below the selected percentage.

Claim 12

Apparatus to coMpute the numerical value of a selected percentage of a given number representative of the maximum possible total score in a test which includes a plurality of questions and for determining which students in a class have fallen below said computed numerical value, comprising in combination: a. a first counter wherein said given number is stored and an amount equal to the maximum possible score for a given question of said test is added to said given number as each question is asked; b. a second counter connected to said first counter; c. a first comparator having as a first input the number zero and as a second input the output of said second counter and having an output when both of said inputs are equal; d. switch means to initiate the computation; e. means to load the number stored in said first counter into said second counter in response to operation of said switch means and to the output of said first comparator; f. a third counter having as an incrementing input the output of said comparator; g. percentage selection means; h. a second comparator having as a first input the output of said percentage selection means and as a second input the output of said third counter and having an output when both inputs are equal; i. a fourth counter; j. means to supply a train of pulses to said second and fourth counters, said pulse train being a decrementing input to said second counter and an incrementing input to said fourth counter, said pulse supply means being responsive to the output of said switch means and said second comparator, whereby said switch means will initiate said pulse train and the output of said second comparator will stop said pulse train, thereby resulting in a count in said fourth counter equal to 100 times the percentage selected on percentage selection means; k. a first shift register containing serially all of said scores for which determination is to be made; l. a second shift register of a size capable of holding one of said scores; m. a third comparator having as a first input the output of said fourth counter less the two least significant digits, as a second input and output of said second shift register and having an output when said first input is less than said second input; n. control means sequentially shifting said student scores from said first shift register to said second shift register, initiated by the output of said second comparator and having an output indicative of the score contained in said second shift register; and o. a plurality of latching means equal in number to the number of student scores and responsive to said third comparator and said control means output whereby a latched condition on any of said latches will indicate that the corresponding student score is below the selected percentage.

Claim 13

The invention according to claim 8 wherein the outputs of said latches are inputs to visual indicators.