US5830064A
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US
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Apparatus and method for distinguishing events which collectively exceed chance expectations and thereby controlling an output
Assignee: STEVE HAMER
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Filing: 1996-07-19
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Granted: 1998-11-03
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Expires: 2016-07-19
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus of generating values and detecting whether the values fall outside chance probabilities. In one embodiment, a random-noise source provides a signal that is amplified, conditioned, and sampled to provide a series of random numbers. In one embodiment, conditioning includes inverting some of the values according to a pseudo-random sequence mask in order to remove certain first-order bias. Another aspect of this invention is to perform a statistical analysis of the values generated, and to control an output based in whether or not a chance expectation has been exceeded, or by the probability of a certain result obtained. Yet another aspect is to control a toy, game, appliance, or computer display based on whether or not a chance expectation has been exceeded by a measured sequence of values.
Inventors
- 👤 G. Johnston Bradish
- 👤 York H. Dobyns
- 👤 Brenda J. Dunne
- 👤 Robert G. Jahn
- 👤 Roger D. Nelson
- 👤 John E. Haaland
- 👤 Steven M. Hamer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 11:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F7/00; G06F7/58; A63F13/10; A; A63; A63F; A63F13/00; A63F13/45; A63F13/60; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 47
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A random event generator device (100) comprising: a noise-signal source (110) that provides a noise signal; a sampler (116) coupled to the noise-signal source (110), wherein the sampler (116) outputs a series of digital data values (117) depending on a value determined from the noise signal; a selective invertor (118) coupled to the sampler (116) that inverts some, but not all, of the series of digital data values (117) to produce a selectively inverted series of digital data values (119); and a driver coupled to the selective invertor (118) and operable to provide a signal having values representative of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A random event generator device (100) comprising: a noise-signal source (110) that provides a noise signal; a sampler (116) coupled to the noise-signal source (110), wherein the sampler (116) outputs a series of digital data values (117) depending on a value determined from the noise signal; a selective invertor (118) coupled to the sampler (116) that inverts some, but not all, of the series of digital data values (117) to produce a selectively inverted series of digital data values (119); and a driver coupled to the selective invertor (118) and operable to provide a signal having values representative of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The random event generator device according to claim 1, wherein the selective invertor (118) inverts some, but not all, of the series of digital data values (117) according to a pseudo-random sequence mask.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The random event generator device according to claim 1, wherein the selective invertor (118) inverts substantially every other one of the series of digital data values (117).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
107 words
The random event generator device according to claim 1, further comprising: a toy shell (601); an actuator element (610, 620); a motor (602, 604) coupled to the toy shell (601) and to the actuator element (610,620); a variance accumulator coupled to the selective invertor (118) that accumulates a predetermined number of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) into a sample result; and a motor controller (630), operatively coupled to the motor and to the random-event generator, that controls the motor to move the actuator element based on the series of values generated by random-event generator driver or on the sample result, or on both.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The random event generator device according to claim 4, wherein the motor controller controls the motor to move the actuator element based on the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The random event generator device according to claim 4, wherein the selective invertor (118) inverts some of the series of digital data values (117) according to a pseudo-random sequence mask.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The random event generator device according to claim 4, wherein the selective invertor (118) inverts substantially every other one of the series of digital data values (117).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The random event generator device according to claim 4, further comprising: wherein the motor controller controls the motor to move the actuator element based on the sample result.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The random event generator device according to claim 4, wherein the variance accumulator subtracts an expected mean value from the sample result.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
72 words
The random event generator device according to claim 1, further comprising: a source of sequences of numbers, the source providing a sequence of numbers based on the selectively inverted series of digital data values; a variance accumulator coupled to the source that accumulates a predetermined number of the sequence of numbers into a sample result; and a detector which detects whether a probability of the sample result exceeds a specified chance probability.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The random event generator device according to claim 10, further comprising: a computer program programmed to teach a concept of probability or statistics based on the sample result.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
The random event generator device according to claim 1, wherein the noise signal is based on a stochastic process; and further comprising: a variance accumulator coupled to the value source, the variance accumulator providing a sample-result value having a deviation representative of a deviation related to the sequence of values.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The random event generator device according to claim 12, wherein the noise signal is a sequence of random digital data values (117 or 119).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The random event generator device according to claim 13, wherein the selective invertor (118) inverts some of the sequence of values (717) according to a pseudo-random sequence mask.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The random event generator device according to claim 13, wherein the selective invertor (118) inverts substantially every other one of the sequence of values (717).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
144 words
A random event generator device comprising: a noise-signal source (110) that provides a noise signal; a sampler (116) coupled to the noise-signal source (110), wherein the sampler (116) outputs a series of digital data values (117) depending on a value determined from the noise signal: a selective invertor (118) coupled to the sampler (116) that inverts some, but not all, of the series of digital data values (117) to produce a selectively inverted series of digital data values (119); a driver coupled to the selective invertor (118) and operable to provide a signal having values representative of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) a variance accumulator coupled to the driver that accumulates a predetermined number of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) into a sample result; and storage coupled to the variance accumulator that stores the sample result.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
144 words
A random event generator device comprising: a noise-signal source (110) that provides a noise signal; a sampler (116) coupled to the noise-signal source (110), wherein the sampler (116) outputs a series of digital data values (117) depending on a value determined from the noise signal: a selective invertor (118) coupled to the sampler (116) that inverts some, but not all, of the series of digital data values (117) to produce a selectively inverted series of digital data values (119); a driver coupled to the selective invertor (118) and operable to provide a signal having values representative of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) a variance accumulator coupled to the driver that accumulates a predetermined number of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) into a sample result; and storage coupled to the variance accumulator that stores the sample result.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The random event generator device according to claim 16, wherein the variance accumulator subtracts an expected mean value from the sample result.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
135 words
A random event generator device comprising: a noise-signal source (110), that provides a noise signal; a sampler (116) coupled to the noise-signal source (110) wherein the sampler (116) outputs a series of digital data values (117) depending on a value determined from the noise signal: a selective invertor (118) coupled to the sampler (116) that inverts some, but not all, of the series of digital data values (117) to produce a selectively inverted series of digital data values (119); a driver coupled to the selective invertor (118) and operable to provide a signal having values representative of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) a microprocessor, the microprocessor providing a pseudo-random sequence mask to the selective invertor (118) in order to remove a first-order bias from the series of digital data values (117).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
135 words
A random event generator device comprising: a noise-signal source (110), that provides a noise signal; a sampler (116) coupled to the noise-signal source (110) wherein the sampler (116) outputs a series of digital data values (117) depending on a value determined from the noise signal: a selective invertor (118) coupled to the sampler (116) that inverts some, but not all, of the series of digital data values (117) to produce a selectively inverted series of digital data values (119); a driver coupled to the selective invertor (118) and operable to provide a signal having values representative of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) a microprocessor, the microprocessor providing a pseudo-random sequence mask to the selective invertor (118) in order to remove a first-order bias from the series of digital data values (117).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The random event generator device according to claim 18, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to provide a variance accumulator coupled to the driver that accumulates a predetermined number of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) into a sample result, and to store the sample result.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The random event generator device according to claim 19, wherein the variance accumulator subtracts a predetermined value from the sample result.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The random event generator device according to claim 19, wherein the microprocessor controls a control signal based on a magnitude of a deviation of the sample result from an expected mean.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
The random event generator device according to claim 21, further comprising: a video display; and a computer game program that controls an image on the video display based on the control signal.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The random event generator device according to claim 19, wherein power required to operate the random event generator device is extracted from one or more signals provided from an attached computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
The random event generator device according to claim 1, further comprising: a video display; and a computer program, operatively coupled to the video display and to the driver, that controls a display of video-game information on the video display based on the series of values generated by the driver.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
68 words
The random event generator device according to claim 24, further comprising: a selective invertor (118) coupled to the random-event generator that inverts some of the series of digital data values (117) to produce an selectively inverted series of digital data values (119); and wherein the computer program controls the display of video-game information on the video display based on the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
30 words
The random event generator device according to claim 25, wherein the selective invertor (118) inverts some of the series of digital data values (117) according to a pseudo-random sequence mask.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The random event generator device according to claim 25, wherein the selective invertor (118) inverts substantially every other one of the series of digital data values (117).
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
The random event generator device according to claim 25, further comprising: a variance accumulator coupled to the selective invertor (118) that accumulates a predetermined number of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) into a sample result; and wherein the computer program controls the display of video-game information on the video display based on the sample result.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The random event generator device according to claim 25, wherein the variance accumulator subtracts an expected mean value from the sample result.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
40 words
The random event generator device according to claim 25, further comprising a microprocessor, the microprocessor providing a pseudo-random sequence mask to the selective invertor (118) in order to remove a first-order bias from the series of digital data values (117).
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
48 words
The random event generator device according to claim 30, wherein the microprocessor is programmed to provide a variance accumulator coupled to the driver that accumulates a predetermined number of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (119) into a sample result, and to perform a statistical analysis.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for controlling a result based on a chance expectation of a statistic of a series of digital data values that include a random component (117 or 119), the method comprising the steps of: providing a source (110) of the series of digital data values that include a random component (117); selectively inverting some, but not all, of the series of digital data values (117) to produce an selectively inverted series of digital data values (1 17); and accumulating a predetermined number of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (117) into a sample result value; and controlling the result based on the sample result value.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for controlling a result based on a chance expectation of a statistic of a series of digital data values that include a random component (117 or 119), the method comprising the steps of: providing a source (110) of the series of digital data values that include a random component (117); selectively inverting some, but not all, of the series of digital data values (117) to produce an selectively inverted series of digital data values (1 17); and accumulating a predetermined number of the selectively inverted series of digital data values (117) into a sample result value; and controlling the result based on the sample result value.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 32, wherein the result controlled comprises a temperature of a gaseous, liquid or solid material.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 32, wherein the result controlled comprises an air movement.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 32, further comprising the step of: providing light having a color and intensity; wherein the result controlled comprises a light intensity or color.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 32, wherein the result controlled comprises an audio sound content or intensity.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 32, wherein the result controlled comprises an image on a computer display.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 32, wherein the result controlled comprises a computer-controlled indication of an emotional or volitional state of one or more persons.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 38, wherein the result controlled comprises a computer-controlled indication of an emotional or volitional state of one or more persons and purports to provide a sample of public opinion.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method according to claim 32, wherein the result controlled comprises a computer-controlled indication of a conscious or physiological state of one or more persons.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 32, wherein the result controlled comprises a control of a channel selection on a television.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 32, wherein the result controlled comprises volume control of an audio output on a television, compact disk player, radio, or stereo.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 32, wherein the result controlled comprises a content or a brightness of a computer-generated image.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-02 | 2002-05-04 | 2002-11-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-02 | 2006-05-04 | 2006-11-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-02 | 2010-05-04 | 2010-11-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |