Training simulator with novel malfunction insertion

Claim 1

In a trainer which includes a trainee station having trainer controls and instruments, a computer for receiving information from said trainer controls which are under the control of the trainee and for transmitting to said instruments the results of the changed control and trainee conditions, and an instructor station by means of which an instructor can transmit to said computer initial and changed trainer conditions; apparatus for automatically inserting into said trainer a simulated malfunction; said apparatus comprising a. means for storing information representing a plurality of trainer conditions under which said trainer should indicate any of a plurality of malfunctions; b. means for continually deteRmining the operating conditions of said trainer and for generating information representative of said operating conditions; c. a comparator for receiving the information generated by said determining means and for receiving information stored in said means for storing, said comparator generating an output signal when a coincidence in received information is detected; d. means for directing said output signal to the appropriate instruments in said trainer to indicate the appropriate malfunction; e. means operable by an instructor to selectively enable and disable said automatic malfunction insertion; f. said means to direct said output signal comprising a cyclic counter having a number of bits equal to the total number of said plurality of malfunctions and an equal plurality of AND gates having an associated output of said comparator and a corresponding one of said counter bits as inputs; and g. said means operable by said instructor comprising a switch operable by said instructor, said switch being operably coupled to said counter to cause it to cycle while said switch is depressed; h. said AND gates also having a disabling input coupled to said switch to prevent outputs from said gates while said counter is cycling.