GB2434481A

GB2434481A - Electronic teaching machine for matching cards, e.g. words and pictures.

Info

Publication number: GB2434481A
Application number: GB0601248A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter James Sexton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-21
Filing date: 2006-01-21
Publication date: 2007-07-25
Also published as: GB0601248D0

Abstract

An electronic teaching machine is provided wherein subjects printed on a pair of cards (a, d) must be matched. The cards are each provided with a plurality of, preferably 12, images or words for matching. The user selects the card to be matched by means of rotary switches (e) and a push button (e). Different pairs of cards may be used and optical switches (b) are used to determine the cards being used. LEDs (f) may be provided to indicate the subject to be matched and to provide an indication of correctness and a score may be kept. The user selects an answer printed in a panel by means of rotary switches which guide a spot of light to the chosen panel. A data recorder provides a complete record of a users successful responses and a count of his total number of attempts.

Description

I

M12 (MATCH 12) ELECTRONIC TEACHiNG MACHINE A teaching machine which enables a pupil to match up to twelve pairs of items. For example, twelve words may be matched to twelve pictures.

FIG. 1 shows the layout of the machine.

(a) Arrangements of printed blocks to produce binaiy coded signals (b) Array of forty eight opto switches (c) opto active programme slot (d) top section of programme page (e) rotaly switches (Rt) and push button switch (Sw) to select answers (f) Indicator leds Ind.L to show a pupil which word is to be considered.

(g) Yellow leds on the pictures to make selections (Centre of each three) (h) green leds to show correct selections (Right of each three) (1) red leds to show incorrect selections (Left of each three) (j) Encoder to convert selections to binary codes.

(k) Logic Board circuit to process pupils' responses (1) Data Recorder FIG 2 A programme page contains up to twelve pairs of examples, for matching. Twelve pictures are shown. There are words for matching to ten of the pictures.

(there could be 12 words) At the bottom of the programme page is a set of squares.' There are twelve columns of four. Each column provides a binary code from 1 to 12 by means of blacked out squares.

Top square blacked number 1 Next = number 2 Next = number 4 Next = number 8 However, for use in a machine, the arrangement is shuffled to prevent a pupil reading the codes. When the programme page is located in its slot, the code blocks are hidden from view.

When a programme page is inserted into the slot ( c) it rests between the set of forty eight optical switches (b) (i.e. emitters and sensors facing each other) The blacked out squares result in electronic binary coded signals, which track to a comparator. FIG3

Suppose the first word (angry) is active. The blacked out squares which cover the top three detectors of the first column result in a signal, (number 7) to the primary inputs of a comparator microchip. FIG 3 If the rotary switches are set at A:c (FIG I and FIG 7a) and the switch is pressed, the code, (number 7) is entered to the secondary inputs of the comparator microchip.

The matched pair of inputs result in a high output from the comparator.

If the first word (angry) is active and any other picture is selected, this is not a matched pair, so there is no signal from the comparator chip.

Essential features of the machine are Coded programmes.

Twelve sets (of 4) optical switches for the words.

Two rotary switches and a push button to give coded signals from 1 to 12 for the pictures.

An upper circuit to control and guide the pupil as he selects matching pictures.

Yellow, green and red leds of the upper circuit to direct a pupil's actions.

Circuits to amplif' the opto signals and send them to a comparator chip.

A comparator microchip which evaluates a pupil's responses.

Circuits and displays to record a pupil's performance.

THE DATA RECORDER FIG 4 This is a set of four counters, each with LED displays and indicators which respond to the activity of the pupil.

The displays ai;-KP = button pressed COUNT = count of examples CORRECT = pairs matched at fiit by WHOLE if all ten are correct.

Every time a button is pressed, the KP count is activated.

For each example there is a COUNT.

Every time a pupil is correct with his first by, there is a count for CORRECT'.

If his performance for the set of examples is 100% there is a count for WHOLE SET' The machine guides a pupil through an exercise by means of yellow, green and Red leds.

(FIG I FIG 7) and provides an assessment of his performance.

PROVISIONS OF THE CIRCUIT. (MAIN BOARD, LB) FIG. 5 The circuit has a sequencer (Seq. system) which activates the twelve examples of the programme, one by one. Each lime a pupil makes a correct choice the sequencer switches to the next example.

The circuit has; An opto-amplifler OA, which amplifies and inverts the signals from the IR detectors then sends them to a comparator.

The circuit has; An encoder that coverts the incoming signals I to 12, from the top circuit board, into binaiy codes for sending to a comparator.

The circuit has; A comparator chip (COMP) which compares the two sets of inputs. (e.g. a picture The circuit has; Four timers which feed the Data Recorder. (DA.R) C =KP D = COUNT E = CORRECT F = WHOLE' CORRECT The circuit has; A logic system( LSyst) that triggers the timers in accordance with a pupil's selections.

The circuit switches the green and red leds FIG 1 and FIG 7 on and off according to the pupil's responses.

THE UPPER CIRCUIT FIG 6

The upper circuit (ENCODERS AND INDICATORS) Shows, by a yellow led, which picture is activated ready for comparison with a word.

The code for that example is sent to the comparator ( COMP) via an amplifier circuit. (OA) THE SELECTION CIRCUIT FIG 5 and FIG 6 and FIG 7 By means of an encoder microchip, the selection circuit sends a code to the comparator, in accordance with a pupil's choice. It also triggers the KP timer C' every time a button is pressed. FIG 5 FIG7 A pupil selects a picture by means of two rotaly switches. One on the left has positionsa: b: c: d andoneonthe right haspositions A:B:C Combinations of these positions direct a spot of light underneath the programme page, to whichever picture is selected. For example, in FIG 1 and FIG 7 (A)(c) switches on the yellow led above the picture of angry men. Number 7 The circuit is made up of IC 4081 microchips.

*(The output of an IC 4081 gate goes HIGH only if both inputs are high.) FIG 7 shows the system.

(FIG Ii is the complete circuit) CIRCUIT DETAILS. (Technical) FIG 6 ENC. SEQ (encodes in sequence) Pins of the IDC socket are the sequence inputs from the main board (LB) which activate the opto detectors, one column of four, at a time. These inputs also switch on the yellow leds (YL) ( see also FIG 7) to indicate which word is to be considered by the pupil.

The detectors (DET) result in an output to the Logic Board (LB) from the IDC connector, representing binary code numbers 1,2,4,8 FIG 5 and FIG 6 SELECTION BOARD FIG 7 Selecting a picture and pressing the switch, activates the encoder chip that sends a binary signal to the comparator.

When the button is pressed a red led located above the picture, is switched on. If the answer is correct, this red led is instantly switched off, but if the answer is wrong it stays on All the red leds for incorrect selections remain on until the answer is found. If the selection is correct the green led above the picture comes on and stays on to the end of the programme.

FIG 7b The output from the selected number 1 gate goes to one input of an IC 4081 gate, for a red led (RL) and also, to one input of a gate for a green led (GL).

If the pupil's selection is correct both gate outputs trigger high by pulses from TR.G and TR.R, The green led comes on because its thyristor (Thy) is triggered.

Although the thyristor for the red led is also triggered, the led does not come on because its thyristor ground connection R.gr is made low by the comparator output.

If the pupil's selection is wrong Tr.G does not go high, but the red led RL comes on because its ground R.gr remains connected. If the pupil continues to make incorrect choices his errors are indicated by the red leds which all stay on. When he eventually selects the correct picture the green led for that picture comes on and all the red leds are switched off by deactivation of their thyristors to ground'.

At the end of a programme all the green leds are on.

THE COMPARATOR OUTPUT.

FIG. 5 and FIG 6 One yellow led Y.L. of the sequence is switched on to indicate which of the twelve words is active. Only one word at a time produces a signal, but all the coded outputs from them are linked to four common tracks which go to an opto amplifier system (OA.) This also inverts the signals by means of IC 4049 The output of OA goes to the primary inputs of a comparator (COMP.) (IC 4063) When a selection is made and the button is pressed to enter it, there is an output from the encoder to the secondary inputs of the comparator.

If both codes match, there is a high output from the comparator. This also prevents the reds leds from showing ACTIVATION OF THE DATA RECORDER.FIG. 8 FOR KP' Whenever a pupil presses a button, the timer KP.T sends a signal ( C) to the Data Recorder (DA.R) to count his total number of responses to a programme.

FOR CORRECT' KP.T also triggers the clock of IC 4022 (Z) to make its number 1 output HIGH.

This high output tracks to an input of gate (D) IC 4081.

The comparator output goes to an input of an 1C408 1 microchip gate (V).

The other gate input of (V) is from the KPT timer which is triggered evely time a switch is pressed.

If both inputs to this gate are high, on the pupil's first attempt, there is a high output from (D) to timer (COR.T) which signals CORRECT' to the Data Recorder.

FOR COUNT' If the pupil's selection is wrong, there is no output from the comparator, (COMP), but KP.T clocks IC 4022(Z) to output number 2, where it is latched' When the pupil finally selects the correct answer, the resulting high output from the 14081 gate (V) goes to (D) and (CT.T) Gate (D) remains inactive because IC 4022(Z) has been clocked to its number 2 output. (So only one input of gate (D) is high.) Timer CT.T logs one COUNT' on the Data Recorder.

FOR WHOLE' At the start of a programme, (of, say, 12) examples a Flip-flop FF is SET by a pulse from a timer in the Data Recorder unit.

If the pupil's performance is 100%, the IC 4022 (Z) is never clocked to its number 2, (which would make FF output low by resetting that chip) So, FF is still high at the end. This output pairs with the E.S. (end of sequence) pulse at IC 4081 (F) which triggers timer WH.T to give a count for WHOLE' on the Data Recorder.

HOW THE SEQUENCER (SEQ) IS CLOCKED.

FIG. 9 The sequencer system IC 4022(i) 1C401 1(u) and IC 4022(iii) is clocked by the minus Q output of timer CT.T at the completion of each example.

With CT.T ready, for a pupil to select an answer, the sequencer clock input is held high by minus Q. When the pupil presses the switch for a correct answer the timer is triggered, so minus Q goes low, then returns high at the end of the timed period, to clock the sequence to the next example.

DATA BOARD IDC SOCKET (PIN OUT) FIG. 10 shows the IDC cable links between the Data Recorder (DA.R) and the Logic Board (L.B.) PIN 16 PIN 15 PIN 14 PIN 13 PIN 12 PIN II PIN 10 PIN 9 P05 0ff GL COUNT COR-KP WHOLE 4071 IN NIEG

RECT

PIN 1 PIN 2 PIN 3 PIN 4 PIN 5 PIN 6 PIN 7 PIN 8 P05 RESET COUNT COR-KI' WHOLE RESETS NEG 4022 Seq RECT Reference to the table, above, shows the pin-out of the IDC connections between the Data Recorder (DA.R) and the Logic Board (L.B.)

RESETTING

FIG 8 and F1G9 At the start of each programme there are two integrated circuits that are reset.

The sequencer (SEQ) is reset from IDC SOCKET pin 2 which is pulsed by a timer system located in the Data Recorder (DA.R) FF is SET from IDC socket, pin 7, at the start of each programme.

IC.4022(Z) This is reset when the machine is switched on, by a pulse from the Data Recorder timer system. IDC SOCKET pin2 also Gate (Y) of IC 4081. resets IC 4022(Z) at the end of each example as follows.

Refer to FIG 9 When KP.T is triggered its minus Q output to (Y) goes LOW.

When CT.T is triggered (shortly afterwards) its Q output to (Y) is HIGH.

The KP.T pulse is slightly shorter, so its minus Q output returns HIGH just before CT.T returns LOW. So, for a brief time, the two high inputs to (Y) result in a high pulse, via (R) to reset 4022 (Z) SEQUENCE LENGTh.

FIG. 9 (continued) A programme of twelve examples ends with a signal (ES) from the sequencer (SEQ) to a gate of 1401 (X).

A programme of fewer than twelve examples is shortened by the code 2: 4: 8 on the programme page, immediately following the last example.

When that code is activated, the signals go to gate (W) ofIC.4081.

This gate combination can go HIGH only by means of the 2 4: 8 code During the course of a programme, combinations of 2: 4 8 go to (W) but never all together.

IC.4071 (X) signals an end of a sequence when either of its inputs goes high.

LOCATION OF THE COMPONENTS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD.( LB.) SEE FIG 12 ________ FIG 5 Seq. system IC.4022 (i) F 10 IC.4011(ii) K10 IC. 4022(iii) p io Encoder system G25,G26,G27 (OA) opto amplifier, B15 to G15 inverter IC.4049 D 18 (COMP) Comparator IC 4063 0 19 ENCODER G25 to Q25 Timer (C) KP.T Vii Timer (D) CORRECT V 16 Timer (E) COUNT V 12 Timer (F) WHOLE V 18 FIGS Timer (C) KP.T Vii Timer (D) CORRECT COR.T V 16 Timer (E) COUNT CT.T V 12 Timer (F) WHOLE WH.T V 18 (COMP) Comparator IC 4063 0 19 IC.4022(Z) Q13 FF Q17 Gate4O8l(D) M14 _________ Gate 4081 (F) L 14 HG 9 Timer (C) KP.T V 11 Timer (E) COUNT CT.T V 12 IC.4022(Z) Q 13 FF Q17 IC.44071 (R) K17 (SEQ) IC.4022 (i) F 10 IC.4011(ii) K10 IC. 4022(iii) P 10 IC.4081 (W) Code 2; 4; 8 L 20 IC.4081(Y) L13 IC.4071(X) M17 _________ IC.4081 (V) L19 FIG 10 16 x pin 1DC outlet to the Data Board W 23

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A teaching machine which enables a pupil to match pairs of subjects printed on cards. (for example word cards for matching with pictures) be means of optical switches which are emitter and sensor pairs, there being a group of 48 switches arranged in twelve columns of four which are covered by the bottom half of a programme card that has an identical arrangement of squares, and is inserted between the emitters and sensors so that the centre of each square is above a sensor: selected squares of the programme card are blacked out and the optical switches are enabled one column offour, at a time, to produce a sequence of twelve binary codes of numbers from one to twelve, and: the pupils activity is with two rotary switches and a push button for him to select a picture and enter the signal from that picture to produce a binary code from number one to number twelve: then the binary signal from the programme card is electronically compared with the binary signalfrom the selededpicture
2. A teaching machine, as claimed in claim 1, with a slot to enclose a set of 48 optical switches as described in claim 1, which are covered by the lower part of a programme card inserted into the slot, then as the programme runs, binary coded signals are sent in sequence to the primary inputs of a comparator microchip and the signals from pictures selected by the pupil, track to the secondary inputs of the comparator: a HIGH output from the comparator = YES if the codes match or a LOW output = NO if the codes do not match.

3. A teaching machine as claimed in claims 1 and 2 in which an arrangement of two selector switches and a set of microchips, technically described as AND' gates, control a set of twelve led indicators, in groups of three, which are positioned underneath a programme page of twelve printed panels each one of which contains a picture, or answer: then, by means of the selector system the pupil switches on the yellow led for the panel of his choice and presses the enter' button so that the binary code for his selection tracks to a comparator microchip for comparison: and if he is correct, an indirect signal from the comparator triggers a thyristor which switches on the green led in the selected panel, but if he is not correct the red led is likewise activated further errors switch on more red leds in other selected panels until the answer is found, then the common track of the red led thyristors, which links to ground,' is deactivated, so all the red leds go off and the green led for that example stays on: and at the completion of the programme, all the green leds are on.

4. A teaching machine, as claimed in claims 1 and 2 in which on a pupil's first attempt a microchip provides a high pulse to one input of a logic gate (type 4081): the other input to this gate is from the comparator, so if both inputs are high, a timer is triggered which gives a count of CORRECT' on the Data Recorder, but if the pupil'sfirst selection is not correct his later selections do not provide a pulse to the 4081 logic gate.

5. A teaching machine as claimed in all previous claims, such that when a pupil makes a correct choice the sequencer switches the programme to the next example, but if his selection is wrong he tries other answers until he reaches the correct one so the sequencer can then proceed.

6. A teaching machine, as claimed in all previous claims, which counts every attempt a pupil makes to match a pair of items: since, every time he presses a switch, a timer is activated which logs a count on the Data Recorder to give the total number of attempts taken for completion of the programme.

7. A teaching machine, as claimed in all previous claims, which counts whenever a pupil gains 100% success for a programme thus:-At the start of a programme, a microchip (flip-flop) is SET to remain on a high output, which goes to an input of a logic gate (IC 4081) but this gate gives a high output only when both its inputs are high, so, when the other input is pulsed high at the end of a programme the resulting high pulse from the logic gate triggers a counter in the Data Recorder for 100% CORRECT, but if a pupil makes an error during the course of the programme, a microchip RESETS the above mentioned flip-flop' to result in a low output from it consequently at the end of a programme the logic gate of IC 4081 does not go high.

8. A teaching machine, as claimed in all previous claims, that can be designed to match any number of pairs of items by extension of the same principles, but a programme can be shorter than twelve examples by means of a pair of logic gates (type 4081) which give a high output to end the programme, when code tracks 2: 4: 8 to the gate inputs are high, the codes being initiated on the programme card.

9. A teaching machine substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.