Patent US3921310A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3921310A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Interconnected response recording and display consoles
Assignee: TCI ACQUISITION CORP
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Filing: 1974-08-21
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Granted: 1975-11-25
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Expires: 1994-08-21
Abstract
Abstract A group of interconnected consoles each having a plurality of keys in the form of a keyboard and an indicator lamp associated with each key position for the selective anonymous transmitting and receiving of keyboard responses between the members of a group adaptable to a variety of group communication situations including testing, training, education and evaluation. Each keyboard and the associated indicator lamps are shielded from the view of anyone other than the operator of the console by both the physical placement of the consoles and a console observation shield. Each group member may depress one or more keys to record his response to printed instructions adjacent each key; elect to transmit lamp illuminating signals representing each depressed key to an associated lamp on each of the other consoles, thus transmitting evidence of his keyboard responses to all the other group members; and receive lamp illuminating signals representing depressed keys from a transmitting console, thus receiving evidence of the keyboard responses of another group member. The group members receiving lamp illuminating signals observe a lamp illuminate for each key position corresponding to a depressed key on the transmitting keyboard but cannot associate the appearance of an illuminated lamp with a group member. Thus, each group member choosing to transmit evidence of his keyboard responses has assurance of anonymity.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph Smeda
- 👤 Marvin I Mindell
- 👤 William T Daly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:53
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for the selective transmitting and receiving of responses between a plurality of console operators comprising: a plurality of response recording and response displayconsoles; electrical interconnection means operably coupling the consoles; each of the consoles including a plurality of electrical switches each having a plurality of stable states including a response recording state and a non-response recording state; each of the consoles including a plurality of response indicating lamps; each lamp operably associated through electrical circuitry with a corresponding one of the switches on the same console and also operably associated through the interconnection means with a corresponding one of the lamps on each of the other consoles; each of the consoles including a console operator actuable display selection switch adapted to interrupt the electrical association between the lamps on the same console and the corresponding lamps on each of the other consoles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
144 words
An apparatus for the selective transmitting and receiving of responses between a plurality of console operators comprising: a plurality of response recording and response displayconsoles; electrical interconnection means operably coupling the consoles; each of the consoles including a plurality of electrical switches each having a plurality of stable states including a response recording state and a non-response recording state; each of the consoles including a plurality of response indicating lamps; each lamp operably associated through electrical circuitry with a corresponding one of the switches on the same console and also operably associated through the interconnection means with a corresponding one of the lamps on each of the other consoles; each of the consoles including a console operator actuable display selection switch adapted to interrupt the electrical association between the lamps on the same console and the corresponding lamps on each of the other consoles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which each switch further includes; a key actuated bi-state electrical switch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising: means operably coupling the switches to the response indicating lamps whereby actuation of a switch to the response recording state causes the corresponding response indicating lamp to enter the response indicating state.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3 wherein; the response indicating lamps are located within corresponding ones of the response recording switches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which the display selection switch includes; a group display mode for transmitting response indicating signals from a console to the corresponding response indicating lamps on each of the remaining consoles through the interconnection means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which the interconnection means includes; parallel electrical coupling means interconnecting the switches on at least one console with the corresponding switches on at least one of the other consoles through the corresponding display selection switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 in which; the response recording means are so located as to form an ordered array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 7 in which; the response recording means ordered array further includes rows and columns of response recording means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 in which; the response indicating display means are so located as to form an ordered array.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9 in which; the response indicating display means ordered array further includes rows and columns of response indicating display means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 6 further comprising; latching means operably coupled to each response recording means for latching each response recording means into the response recording state.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 11 further comprising; unlatching means operably coupled to the latching means of each response recording means to unlatch a response recording means from the response recording state.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising; a replaceable template for each Console formed from sheet material having a plurality of apertures corresponding to the response recording means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 13 in which; the template has a portion adjacent to at least one aperture with printed matter whereby the operator of a console may perceive functions relating to the use of the response recording means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 14 in which; the printed matter is a bi-value question whereby the console operator may respond to the bi-value question by actuating the response recording means adjacent to the bi-value question.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 14 in which; the printed matter adjacent to selected apertures in a row of response recording means relates to a multi-value question whereby the console operator may respond to the multi-value question by actuating at least one of the response recording means in the row of response recording means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 14 in which; the printed matter adjacent to selected apertures in a column of response recording means relates to a multi-value question whereby the console operator may respond to the multivalue question by actuating at least one of the response recording means in the column of response recording means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising; a replaceable template for each console formed from sheet material having a plurality of apertures so located as to correspond in position with each response indicating lamps.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 18 in which; printed matter is located on the template adjacent selected apertures whereby the operator of a console may perceive the significance of selected response indicating display means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein; the response indicating lamps are located within corresponding ones of the switches.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising; observation shield means associated with the consoles.
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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) | 1978-11-24 | 1979-05-26 | 1979-11-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-24 | 1983-05-26 | 1983-11-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-24 | 1987-05-26 | 1987-11-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |