US3823637A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmed audio-visual teaching aid
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-19
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Granted: 1974-07-16
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Expires: 1993-01-19
Abstract
Abstract An audio-visual educational apparatus consisting of a master transmitting station and a number of receiving stations operated by students. In a typical embodiment for teaching music the visual portion of the lesson material, consisting of musical notation, is carried on a film strip provided with appropriately spaced programming clear spots through which light is transmitted onto photocells in the apparatus at the master station. The receiving stations have piano keyboards wherein the keys operate switches which are connected in respective counter circuits for scoring students'' responses as to correct time, note and rhythm. The audio lesson material is provided by a magnetic tape player, which also programs the film strip projector and which furnishes audio instructions. An audible beat is provided as an aid to playing on time. The counter circuits are electrically interlocked with the photocells to provide scoring in accordance with proper actuation of the piano key switches. Provision is made for responses to questions of the multiple-choice type. The counters are provided with print-out mechanisms operating in unison with the projector motor. The system may be employed with the lesson material and the programming information transmitted by television.
Inventors
- 👤 K Scott
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:08
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B7/00; G09B7/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
328 words
An educational system comprising a master station and at least one remote student station, a screen at the master station, means to provide a longitudinally unidirectionally moving display of visual lesson material comprising musical notation on a continuous musical staff, including programming Spots at transversely differing locations corresponding to the transversely differing locations of musical notations on the continuous musical staff, means to transmit said visual material to the student station and to present it for viewing, register means at the student station, student-actuated means at the student station, said student-actuated means including notationselecting switch means for selectively identifying the viewed musical notations, photo-sensitive means adjacent said screen aligned longitudinally with the notation-associated programming spots and positioned to receive said programming spots as the display of lesson material moves on said screen, circuit means operatively interconnecting said photo-sensitive means, studentactuated means and register means, and means to operate said register means responsive to operation of said student-actuated notation-selecting switch means only when a predetermined programming spot corresponding to a correct notation identification is received by said photo-sensitive means, and wherein said student-actuated means includes a plurality of switch devices, each switch device being associated with a specific respective notation-associated programming spot on said screen, relay means operatively connected to said register means, and means to operate said relay means when the switch device associated with a particular spot is actuated simultaneously with the reception of said last-named spot by said photo-sensitive means, wherein said photo-sensitive means comprises respective photo cells, each being located to receive on of said programming spots, each being operatively connected to said relay means through the switch devices, and wherein the switch devices include respective impedances and circuit means to connect each impedance in series with said relay means responsive to the actuation of its associated switch device, the impedances being of sufficient magnitude to prevent operation of said relay means if more than one impedance is connected in series with said relay means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
328 words
An educational system comprising a master station and at least one remote student station, a screen at the master station, means to provide a longitudinally unidirectionally moving display of visual lesson material comprising musical notation on a continuous musical staff, including programming Spots at transversely differing locations corresponding to the transversely differing locations of musical notations on the continuous musical staff, means to transmit said visual material to the student station and to present it for viewing, register means at the student station, student-actuated means at the student station, said student-actuated means including notationselecting switch means for selectively identifying the viewed musical notations, photo-sensitive means adjacent said screen aligned longitudinally with the notation-associated programming spots and positioned to receive said programming spots as the display of lesson material moves on said screen, circuit means operatively interconnecting said photo-sensitive means, studentactuated means and register means, and means to operate said register means responsive to operation of said student-actuated notation-selecting switch means only when a predetermined programming spot corresponding to a correct notation identification is received by said photo-sensitive means, and wherein said student-actuated means includes a plurality of switch devices, each switch device being associated with a specific respective notation-associated programming spot on said screen, relay means operatively connected to said register means, and means to operate said relay means when the switch device associated with a particular spot is actuated simultaneously with the reception of said last-named spot by said photo-sensitive means, wherein said photo-sensitive means comprises respective photo cells, each being located to receive on of said programming spots, each being operatively connected to said relay means through the switch devices, and wherein the switch devices include respective impedances and circuit means to connect each impedance in series with said relay means responsive to the actuation of its associated switch device, the impedances being of sufficient magnitude to prevent operation of said relay means if more than one impedance is connected in series with said relay means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The educational system of claim 1, and means to provide an audible beat at the student station concurrently with the movement of the visual musical notation lesson material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The educational system of claim 1, and wherein said register means comprises a plurality of registers, each representing a particular feature of the student''s response, and means simultaneously operating one or more of said registers in accordance with the timing of the operation of said student-actuated means when said predetermined spot is received by said photo-sensitive means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The educational system of claim 3, and means simultaneously operating two of said registers when operation of said student-actuated means notation selecting switch is maintained for a predetermined period of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The educational system of claim 1 and means to provide a further operation of said register means if a correctly actuated switch device is held actuated for a predetermined period of time corresponding to a musical time value shown by the associated musical notation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The educational system of claim 1 and means to provide only a partial operation of said register means if a correctly actuated switch device is actuated slightly late with respect to the presentation of an associated musical notation element of lesson material at the student station.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The educational system of claim 1, and means to transmit audio material to the student station simultaneously with the display of visual musical notation lesson material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The educational system of claim 7, and wherein at least the visual musical notation lesson material is furnished by a source of video signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The educational system of claim 8, and wherein the source of video signals is a television broadcast station.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The educational system of claim 8, and wherein the source of video signals is a video tape player.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
32 words
The educational system of claim 7, and wherein the means to transmit audiO material includes means to control the movement of the display of visual musical notation lesson material and programming spots.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The educational system of claim 11, and wherein the means to provide said unidirectional moving musical notation display comprises a projector containing a film strip carrying the visual lesson material and programming spots, said projector being operatively positioned to project the visual lesson material and programming spots onto the screen and having driving motor means to unidirectionally move said film strip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
76 words
The educational system of claim 12, and wherein the means to transmit audio material comprises a magnetic tape sound reproducing apparatus and circuit means connecting the output of said reproducing apparatus to the student station, the reproducing apparatus being provided with magnetic tape having an audio channel and a control channel, relay means controlled by said control channel, said relay means having contacts, and an energizing circuit connected to said driving motor means through said contacts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The educational system of claim 13, and wherein said film strip includes a still frame carrying visual lesson material of the multiple-choice type.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
The educational system of claim 1, and means to provide an audible beat at the student station concurrently with the movement of the visual musical notation lesson material, and wherein said register means comprises a plurality of registers, and means simultaneously operating two of said registers when the operation of said student-actuated means substantially coincides with said audible beat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The educational system of claim 6, and means to provide an audible beat at the student station concurrently with the movement of the musical notation.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The educational system of claim 16, and wherein said register means comprises a plurality of registers respectively representing the scores for rhythm, note and time, and means simultaneously operating the rhythm and note registers when the operation of the switch device associated with a musical note whose programming spot is received by said photo-sensitive means substantially coincides with said audible beat.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The educational system of claim 17, and means operating the time register when the switch device associated with said musical note is operated for a time period corresponding to the indicated playing length of the musical note.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The educational system of claim 17, and wherein the musical notation includes a rest interval, and means operating the note register if no switch device is operated by the student during the rest interval.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The educational system of claim 19, and means preventing operation of any of the registers if a switch device is operated during the rest interval.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The educational system of claim 17, and wherein the musical notation includes tied notes, and means operating said note register to provide a score equal to the value of the tied notes if the corresponding switch device is maintained operated during the presentation of the tied notes.
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) | 1977-07-15 | 1978-01-14 | 1978-07-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-15 | 1982-01-14 | 1982-07-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-15 | 1986-01-14 | 1986-07-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |