US5813865A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods and apparatus for teaching science and engineering
Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc
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Filing: 1993-06-23
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Granted: 1998-09-29
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Expires: 2013-06-23
Abstract
Abstract The apparatus for teaching science and engineering is an interactive multimedia computer system which is used to simulate the performance of scientific experiments on the computer screen. An experiment is a method for determining the value of one experimental parameter by measuring the value of another using an experimental configuration of devices and apparatus. The interactions of the devices and apparatus in the experimental configuration are governed by a relationship among the experimental parameters that define the configuration. The user of the teaching apparatus assembles a pictorial representation of the experimental configuration on the computer screen and interacts with the pictured experimental configuration to simulate the performance of an experiment. The pictured experimental configuration is governed by the same relationship among experimental parameters as the real configuration and thus, the results of the simulated experiment match the results of the experiment performed in the laboratory. Still images and short motion pictures relating to the subject matter of the experiment can be accessed by the user as an aid to his understanding of the subject matter.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J. Greenbowe
- 👤 Michelle A. McPhillen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:25
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09B; G09B23/00; G09B23/24; G09B19/00; G09B19/0069; G09B23/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/927
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for teaching science and engineering to a user, the apparatus comprising: a means for displaying imagery; a means for causing a plurality of objects to be pictured on the display means, the objects being apparatus, equipment, devices, materials, and supplies used in science and engineering; a means by which the user can assemble a plurality of the objects pictured on the display means into an operating pictorial representation of an operating experimental configuration, the experimental configuration being characterized by a relationship among a plurality of experimental parameters; a means by which the user can simulate the performance of an experiment using the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration, an experiment being a method of measuring one of the plurality of experimental parameters by means of the experimental configuration, the operation of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration being governed by the same relationship among the experimental parameters that characterizes the operation of the experimental configuration.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
An apparatus for teaching science and engineering to a user, the apparatus comprising: a means for displaying imagery; a means for causing a plurality of objects to be pictured on the display means, the objects being apparatus, equipment, devices, materials, and supplies used in science and engineering; a means by which the user can assemble a plurality of the objects pictured on the display means into an operating pictorial representation of an operating experimental configuration, the experimental configuration being characterized by a relationship among a plurality of experimental parameters; a means by which the user can simulate the performance of an experiment using the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration, an experiment being a method of measuring one of the plurality of experimental parameters by means of the experimental configuration, the operation of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration being governed by the same relationship among the experimental parameters that characterizes the operation of the experimental configuration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for changing the values of the experimental parameters each time an experiment is performed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a means for measuring the value of the same experimental parameter measured by the user during the experiment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: a means for determining the value of an experimental parameter using the characterizing relationship among the experimental parameters and measured and given values for all of the other experimental parameters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: a means for causing the value of an experimental parameter to be displayed on the display means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising: a means for showing plots of measured and calculated experimental parameters versus other experimental parameters and functions of other experimental parameters, the nature of the plots being specified by the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method for using the apparatus of claim 6 comprising the steps: requesting that data be plotted; specifying the data to be plotted and the nature of the plots; observing the requested data plots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a means for showing on the display means a phenomenon selected from a plurality of phenomena that occur during the performance of the experiment using the experimental configuration.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the phenomenon is selected from the following phenomena: (1) changes in the objects making up the experimental configuration including changes in size, shape, state, position, orientation, temperature, pressure, composition, and appearance; (2) changes in the relationships of the objects making up the experimental configuration; (3) the flow of energy within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (4) the propagation of waves within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (5) the flow of matter within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (6) the flow of atoms, molecules, ions, and electrons within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (7) the flow of other elementary particles not enumerated above within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (8) the occurrence of electric and magnetic fields; and (9) the occurrence of temperature, density, and pressure gradients.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method for using the apparatus of claim 8 comprising the steps: selecting a phenomenon for observation; observing the selected phenomenon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a means for guiding the user in the construction of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration and the simulated performance of the experiment.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method for using the apparatus of claim 11 comprising the steps: selecting an experiment to be performed; requesting guidance in the construction of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration and the simulated performance of the experiment; assembling the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration with the requested guidance; performing the experiment with the requested guidance.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a means for showing on the display means a motion picture selected from a plurality of motion pictures relating to the subject matter of the experiment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method for using the apparatus of claim 13 comprising the steps: selecting a motion picture for observation; observing the selected motion picture.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a means for testing the user on his knowledge of the subject matter relating to the experiment.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the testing means utilizes values of the experimental parameters, the apparatus further comprising: a means for selecting different values of the experimental parameters each time the user is tested.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method for using the apparatus of claim 15 comprising the steps: entering a request to be tested; being tested.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a means for storing data representing voice messages and sounds; a means for transforming the stored data into voice messages and sounds.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein sounds appropriate to the existence and interaction of objects in an experimental configuration are produced when the pictures of the objects in the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration exist and interact on the display means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a means by which the user can cause data necessary for the assembly of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration and the performance of an experiment to be displayed on the display means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for using the apparatus of claim 20 comprising the steps: selecting an experiment to be performed; requesting data necessary for the assembly of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration; assembling the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration using the requested data; performing the experiment.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method for using the apparatus of claim 20 comprising the steps: selecting an experiment to be performed; assembling the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration; requesting data necessary for performing the experiment; performing the experiment using the requested data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a means by which the user can change the operating speed of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration relative to the operating speed of the experimental configuration.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method for using the apparatus of claim 23 comprising the steps: selecting an experiment to be performed; assembling the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration; requesting that the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration operate either faster or slower than the experimental configuration; performing the experiment.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for using the apparatus of claim 1 comprising the steps: selecting an experiment to be performed; assembling the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration; performing the experiment.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for teaching science and engineering to a student, the method comprising the steps: providing a means for displaying imagery; causing a plurality of objects to be pictured on the display means, the objects being apparatus, equipment, devices, materials, and supplies used in science and engineering; enabling the student to assemble a plurality of the objects pictured on the display means into an operating pictorial representation of an operating experimental configuration, the experimental configuration being characterized by a relationship among a plurality of experimental parameters; enabling the student to simulate the performance of an experiment using the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration, an experiment being a method of measuring one of the plurality of experimental parameters by means of the experimental configuration, the operation of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration being governed by the same relationship among the experimental parameters that characterizes the operation of the experimental configuration.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for teaching science and engineering to a student, the method comprising the steps: providing a means for displaying imagery; causing a plurality of objects to be pictured on the display means, the objects being apparatus, equipment, devices, materials, and supplies used in science and engineering; enabling the student to assemble a plurality of the objects pictured on the display means into an operating pictorial representation of an operating experimental configuration, the experimental configuration being characterized by a relationship among a plurality of experimental parameters; enabling the student to simulate the performance of an experiment using the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration, an experiment being a method of measuring one of the plurality of experimental parameters by means of the experimental configuration, the operation of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration being governed by the same relationship among the experimental parameters that characterizes the operation of the experimental configuration.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step: changing the values of the experimental parameters each time an experiment is performed.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step: measuring the value of the same experimental parameter measured by the student during the experiment.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the step: determining the value of an experimental parameter using the characterizing relationship among the experimental parameters and measured and given values for all of the other experimental parameters.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising the step: causing the value of an experimental parameter to be displayed on the display means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising the step: showing plots of measured and calculated experimental parameters versus other experimental parameters and functions of other experimental parameters, the nature of the plots being specified by the student.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step: showing on the display means a phenomenon selected from a plurality of phenomena that occur during the performance of the experiment using the experimental configuration.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
157 words
The method of claim 32 wherein the phenomenon is selected from the following phenomena: (1) changes in the objects making up the experimental configuration including changes in size, shape, state, position, orientation, temperature, pressure, composition, and appearance; (2) changes in the relationships of the objects making up the experimental configuration; (3) the flow of energy within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (4) the propagation of waves within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (5) the flow of matter within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (6) the flow of atoms, molecules, ions, and electrons within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (7) the flow of other elementary particles not enumerated above within, into, and out of the objects in the experimental configuration; (8) the occurrence of electric and magnetic fields; and (9) the occurrence of temperature, density, and pressure gradients.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step: guiding the student in the construction of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration and the simulated performance of the experiment.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step: showing on the display means a motion picture selected from a plurality of motion pictures relating to the subject matter of the experiment.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step: testing the student on his knowledge of the subject matter relating to the experiment.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 36 wherein the testing step utilizes values of the experimental parameters, the method further comprising the step: selecting different values of the experimental parameters each time the student is tested.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 17 further comprising the step: producing sounds appropriate to the existence and interaction of objects in an experimental configuration when the pictures of the objects in the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration exist and interact on the display means.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step: enabling the student to cause data necessary for the assembly of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration and the performance of an experiment to be displayed on the display means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 26 further comprising the step: enabling the student to change the operating speed of the pictorial representation of the experimental configuration relative to the operating speed of the experimental configuration.
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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) | 2001-09-28 | 2002-03-30 | 2002-09-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-28 | 2006-03-30 | 2006-09-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-28 | 2010-03-30 | 2010-09-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |