US3829987A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Teaching machine
Assignee: REMOTE CONTROLS CORP
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Filing: 1971-12-09
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Granted: 1974-08-20
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Expires: 1991-12-09
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus permitting the presentation of audio-visual material, including questions, to a student and capable of responding in an appropriate manner to an answer selected by the student. A video message or lesson segment is displayed to the student, and, after a preset time delay, an indication is provided that he should select an answer to a question included in the lesson segment. The student selects his answers, for example by positioning a magnetic stylus adjacent one of a plurality of magnetic reed switches. In a lesson mode of operation, if the student has selected the right answer, an appropriate indication is given and the video display advances to the next lesson segment to repeat the cycle, but if the student has selected a wrong answer, an audio message segment is provided to the student emphasizing material from which the correct answer can be found. The student is then given another opportunity to answer the question. If he then selects the correct answer, the video display advances to the next lesson segment as before. If, however, he selects another wrong answer, no change is made, and after the preset time delay, he is instructed to select another answer. In a test mode of operation, there is no audio output, and the video display advances after every answer selected by the student. Variations on these features can be provided. A cabinet is included having a display screen onto the front of which the video display is projected so that it is visible to the student without having to pass through the screen.
Inventors
- 👤 J Matysek
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:04
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B7/00; G09B7/06; G09B7/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
580 words
Apparatus for presenting audio-visual material including questions to a student and resonding to an answer selected by the student, said apparatus comprising: video display means for providing a segment of video message material; audio display means for providing a segment of audio message material; a first plurality of answer selection means; correct answer indicating means for indicating one of the answer selection means; answering means for enabling a student to select one of a plurality of answers, each answer corresponding to a unique one of the answer selection means; enabling signal means for providing an enabling signal; disabling means connected to the enabling signal means and responsive to selection by a student of an answer at the answering means for disabling the enabling signal means to inhibit the enabling signal for a preset time following selection by a student of an answer at the answering means; video advance means for advancing the video display means to provide a new segment of video-display material; audio advance means for advancing the audio display means to provide a new segment of audio display material; right answer signaling means responsive to the simultaneous presence of an enabling signal from the enabling signal means and selection by a student of an answer corresponding with the answer selection means selected by the correct answer indication means for generating a right answer signal; wrong answer signaling means responsive to the simultaneous presence of an enabling signal from the enabling signal means and selection by a student of an answer corresponding with an answer selection means other than the answer selection means selected by the correct answer indication means for generating a wrong answer signal; first control means coupled to the right answer signaling means, the video advance means and the audio advance means; said first control means responsive to generation of a right answer signal for activating the video advance means to advance the video display means; said first control means responsive to generation of a right answer signal immediately subsequent to a previous right answer signal for activating the audio advance means, to advance the audio display means; second control means coupled to the wrong answer signaling means and the audio advance means; said second control means responsive to generation of a wrong answer signal immediately subsequent to a previous right answer signal for activating the audio advance means to advance the audio display means; audio output means; third control means coupling the audio display means to the audio output means and responsive to actuation of the second control means for applying the segment of audio message material from the audio display means as an audible output signal from the audio output means; and manual switch means coupled to the first control means, the second control means and the audio advance means; said manual switch means capable of assuming a first position in which, in response to generation of a right answer signal immediately subsequent to a previous right answer signal the first control means activates the audio advance means and in which, in response to generation of a wrong answer signal immediately subsequent to a previous right answer signal, the second control means activates the audio advance means; the manual switch means capable of assuming a second position in which the first and second control means are inhibited from activating the audio advance means and in which, in response to generation of a wrong answer signal, the second control means activates the video advance means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
580 words
Apparatus for presenting audio-visual material including questions to a student and resonding to an answer selected by the student, said apparatus comprising: video display means for providing a segment of video message material; audio display means for providing a segment of audio message material; a first plurality of answer selection means; correct answer indicating means for indicating one of the answer selection means; answering means for enabling a student to select one of a plurality of answers, each answer corresponding to a unique one of the answer selection means; enabling signal means for providing an enabling signal; disabling means connected to the enabling signal means and responsive to selection by a student of an answer at the answering means for disabling the enabling signal means to inhibit the enabling signal for a preset time following selection by a student of an answer at the answering means; video advance means for advancing the video display means to provide a new segment of video-display material; audio advance means for advancing the audio display means to provide a new segment of audio display material; right answer signaling means responsive to the simultaneous presence of an enabling signal from the enabling signal means and selection by a student of an answer corresponding with the answer selection means selected by the correct answer indication means for generating a right answer signal; wrong answer signaling means responsive to the simultaneous presence of an enabling signal from the enabling signal means and selection by a student of an answer corresponding with an answer selection means other than the answer selection means selected by the correct answer indication means for generating a wrong answer signal; first control means coupled to the right answer signaling means, the video advance means and the audio advance means; said first control means responsive to generation of a right answer signal for activating the video advance means to advance the video display means; said first control means responsive to generation of a right answer signal immediately subsequent to a previous right answer signal for activating the audio advance means, to advance the audio display means; second control means coupled to the wrong answer signaling means and the audio advance means; said second control means responsive to generation of a wrong answer signal immediately subsequent to a previous right answer signal for activating the audio advance means to advance the audio display means; audio output means; third control means coupling the audio display means to the audio output means and responsive to actuation of the second control means for applying the segment of audio message material from the audio display means as an audible output signal from the audio output means; and manual switch means coupled to the first control means, the second control means and the audio advance means; said manual switch means capable of assuming a first position in which, in response to generation of a right answer signal immediately subsequent to a previous right answer signal the first control means activates the audio advance means and in which, in response to generation of a wrong answer signal immediately subsequent to a previous right answer signal, the second control means activates the audio advance means; the manual switch means capable of assuming a second position in which the first and second control means are inhibited from activating the audio advance means and in which, in response to generation of a wrong answer signal, the second control means activates the video advance means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the first plurality of answer selection means comprises a first plurality of photodetectors and in which the correct answer indication means comprises a light source and means for directing light from the light source onto a selected one of the first plurality of photodetectors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the answering means comprises a first plurality of magnetically actuated switches and a magnet capable of placement adjacent a selected one of the magnetically actuated switches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the video display means comprises a plurality of filmed video display material segments, a viewing screen, and projection means for projecting images of the filmed video display material segments onto the viewing screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the correct answer indication means comprises a light source, means on at least some of the filmed video display material segments defining a first plurality of code positions, and means for controlling passage of light through the code positions and in which the first plurality of answer selection means comprises a first plurality of photodetectors, each photodetector mounted to receive light from the light source after passage through a uniquely associated one of the code positions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the plurality of filmed video display material segments comprise a plurality of slides and in which the projection means comprises a slide projector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the plurality of filmed video display material segments comprise a film strip and in which the projection means comprises a film strip projector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which the plurality of filmed video display material segments comprise a movie film and in which the projection means comprises a movie projector.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
A teaching machine as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: right answer indicator means for providing a right answer indication in response to the simultaneous presence of an enabling signal from the enabling signal means and selection by a student of an answer corresponding with the answer selection means selected by the correct answer indication means; and wrong answer indicator means for providing a wrong answer indication in response to the simultaneous presence of an enabling signal from the enabling signal means and selection by a student of an answer corresponding with an answer selection means other than the answer selection means selected by the correct answer indication means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 further comprising means connected to the right answer indicator means and to the wrong answer indicator means for generating an uncorrected answer indication in response to each wrong answer indication subsequent to the first wrong answer indication following generation of a right answer indication and until generation of another right answer indication.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
101 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising audio signal generating means for generating a first audio signal in response to the simultaneous presence of a timing signal from the first timing means and selection by a student of an answer corresponding with the answer selection means selected by the correct answer indication means and a second audio signal in response to the simultaneous presence of a timing signal from the first timing means and selection by a student of an answer corresponding with an answer selection means other than the answer selection means selected by the correct answer indication means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising timing means for timing the interval between initiation of the enabling signal by the enabling sIgnal means and selection of an answer by a student.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 22 further comprising: a support frame having a front and a back; an opaque viewing screen having a front surface and a back surface, the viewing screen mounted within the support frame with the viewing screen front surface facing the support frame front; a support shelf within the support frame for supporting the video display means to project a video image of video message material segments onto the viewing screen front surface with the video image viewable from the support frame front; and means for mounting the audio display means, the answer selection means, the correct answer indicating means, the answering means, the enabling means, the disabling means, the video advance means, the audio advancing means, the right answer signaling means, the wrong answer signaling means, the first control means, the second control means, the audio output means, the third control means, and the manual switch means within the support frame.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 further comprising enclosure means for enclosing the support frame, the enclosure means including an openable panel over at least a portion of the support frame front for opening of the portion to permit viewing of the viewing screen front surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which the video display means comprises a plurality of filmed video display material segments, and projection means for projecting images of the filmed video display material segments onto the viewing screen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
84 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the correct answer indicating means comprises a light source, means on at least some of the filmed video display material segments defining a first plurality of code positions, and means for controlling passage of light through the code positions, and in which said first plurality of answer selection means comprises a first plurality of photodetectors, each photodetector mounted to receive light from the light source after passage through an uniquely associated one of the code positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the plurality of filmed video display material segments comprise a plurality of slides and in which the projection means comprises a slide projector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the plurality of filmed video display material segments comprise a film strip and in which the projection means comprises a film strip projector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 in which the plurality of filmed video display material segments comprise a movie film and in which the projection means comprises a movie projector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
55 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which the video display means comprises a book mounted on the viewing screen and having a plurality of pages of video message material segments, and in which the video advance means includes actuation means responsive to activation by the first control means for turning pages of the book.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 in which the control means includes timing means for measuring the time required for a student to select an answer at the answering means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the answering means comprises a first plurality of switches.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-19 | 1978-02-18 | 1978-08-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-19 | 1982-02-18 | 1982-08-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-19 | 1986-02-18 | 1986-08-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |