Academic quiz controller

Claim 2

An academic quiz controller apparatus for developing a time-ordered list of a plurality of responses, said apparatus comprising: a signal line; a plurality of response means, each of said response means developing a signal in response to a manual input and delivering said signal to the signal line; a signal processing means for receiving said signals from said signal line and developing the time-ordered list by repetitively determining if one of said plurality of response means developed a signal during a predetermined time period; a display means operatively connected to said signal processing means for displaying said time-ordered list.

Claim 3

The quiz controller apparatus of claim 1 further including a control means operatively connected to said signal processing means to provide control of said signal processing means.

Claim 4

The quiz controller apparatus of claim 1 wherein: said signal processing means includes timer means for timing said predetermined time period.

Claim 5

The quiz controller apparatus of claim 2 wherein said signal processing means includes two timers controlled by said control means and displayable by said display means.

Claim 6

The quiz controller of claim 1 wherein contestants may compete individually or may compete in teams.

Claim 7

The quiz controller of claim 5 wherein the team size is variable from 2 to 8 contestants per team.

Claim 8

The quiz controller of claim 5 wherein the team size is greater than 8 contestants per team.

Claim 9

The quiz controller of claim 1 wherein said signal processing means comprises a microprocessor.

Claim 10

The quiz controller of claim 1 further including a memory means operatively connected to said signal processing means, said signal processing means storing the time-ordered list in said memory means.

Claim 11

The quiz controller of claim 1 wherein said signal processing means causes the time-ordered list to be displayed on said display means one entry at a time.

Claim 12

The quiz controller of claim 1 wherein the number of contestants is variable.

Claim 13

An academic quiz controller apparatus for developing a time-ordered list of a plurality of contestant responses, said contestant responses being in response to a question asked by a moderator, said quiz controller comprising: a plurality of contestant pushbuttons manually operated by said contestants for indicating a desire to answer said questions, each of said contestant pushbuttons developing an electronic signal in response to being operated; at least one player interface operatively connected to said contestant pushbuttons, said player interface receiving said contestant pushbutton signals in parallel and developing a serial electronic signal in response thereto; and a main unit operatively connected to said player interface, said main unit receiving said serial signal and determining therefrom a time-ordered list of contestant responses, said main unit further including a visual display for displaying said time-ordered list of visual display for displaying said time-ordered list.

Claim 14

An academic quiz controller apparatus for developing a time-ordered list of a plurality of contestant responses, said contestant responses being in response to a question asked by a moderator, said quiz controller comprising: a plurality of contestant pushbuttons manually operated by said contestants for indicating a desire to answer said questions, each of said contestant pushbuttons developing an electronic signal in response to being operated; at least one player interface operatively connected to said contestant pushbuttons, said player interface receiving said contestant pushbutton signals in parallel and developing a serial electronic signal in response thereto; and a main unit operatively connected to said player interface, said main unit receiving said serial signal and determining therefrom a time-ordered list of contestant responses, said main unit further including a visual display for displaying said time-ordered list of visual display for displaying said time-ordered list.

Claim 15

The academic quiz controller of claim 12 including memory means for storing said time-ordered list, said memory means being operatively connected to said main unit.

Claim 16

The academic quiz controller of claim 12 wherein said visual display displays said time-ordered list one entry at a time.

Claim 17

The academic quiz controller of claim 12 wherein said plurality of contestants may compete against each other individually or in teams.

Claim 18

The academic quiz controller of claim 15 wherein said teams may comprise 2 to 8 contestants each.

Claim 19

The academic quiz controller of claim 16 wherein said teams may comprise more than 8 contestants each.

Claim 20

The academic quiz controller of claim 12 further including manual input controls operatively connected to said main unit whereby said moderator may control the operation of said main unit.

Claim 21

The academic quiz controller of claim 18 wherein said main unit includes a timer for timing responses to said question, controlled by said manual input controls.

Claim 22

The academic quiz controller of claim 19 wherein the main unit includes two timers selectably by said manual input controls and which are displayed by said display.

Claim 23

The academic quiz controller of claim 18 wherein said manual input controls may clear the system.

Claim 26

A method according to claim 22 wherein said signal line comprises one or more latching parallel to serial shift registers under the control of said control unit, wherein said step of said control unit receiving said signal comprises latching said signal line after said predetermined time and serially shifting said signal line into said control unit.

Claim 27

A method according to claim 23 wherein said control unit includes an incrementing number counter, wherein said step of determining the response unit comprises incrementing said counter each time said signal line is shifted, wherein said number is said counter when said signal is received in said control unit corresponds to the response unit that generated said signal.