DATA ACQUISITION DEVICE

• US 3,794,982 A
• Filed: 04/17/1972
• Issued: 02/26/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James B. Mccormick, Radoslav T. Mijanovich, Shunjiro Ohba
• Original Assignee: James B. Mccormick, Radoslav T. Mijanovich, Shunjiro Ohba
• Inventors: McCormick, James B., Mijanovich, Radoslav T., Ohba, Shunjiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Springborn, Harvey E.
• Application Number:
  US05/244,825
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5 35/9R,9B,48R,48A,48B,75 353/25-27
• US Class Current: 235/435
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/28 for medicine
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/06 of the multiple-choice answer-type, i.e. where a given question is provided with a series of answers and a choice has to be made from the answers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records

Abstract

A data acquisition device for recording information supplied by an operator in response to a plurality of questions visually presented to the operator in a predetermined sequence has a slide projector and mirror system for visually displaying a sequence of slides on a screen readily observable by the operator. Each slide bears an image frame having a question, multiple-choice answers, and an identification code photographically recorded thereon. The operator selects and actuates a switch corresponding to the desired answer and the device automatically records information corresponding to the answer on a punch card at the location or column on the card associated with the particular frame being projected. Digital logic is utilized to compare the identification code with the card column to synchronize the visual display with the punch card recording of the answers, as well as to provide safety features which render the operation of the device relatively foolproof.

Claims

1. A data acquisition system for recording on a punch card detachable from said system desired answer information supplied by an operator in response to a predetermined set of plurality of questions visually presented to the operator in a predetermined sequence by said system whereby one or more sets of said answer information may be recorded on said punch card, said card adapted for storing data corresponding to said information in the form of a predetermined coded array of holes punched In said card at a location uniquely associated with the particular question being presented, said system comprising:

a plurality of slides corresponding to said plurality of questions, each slide bearing a picture frame having photographically recorded thereon one of said questions, a group of multiple-choice answers, and an identification code signifying the set of questions to which the particular question belongs and its relative position therein;

a viewing screen;

a slide projector adapted to sequentially project each of said frames in a manner such that said questions and multiple-choice answers are displayed on said screen;

a plurality of switches respectively associated with said displayed group of multiple-choice answers for permitting the operator to answer the displayed question by closing the associated switch to thereby enter the answer information into the system;

a digital logic register responsive to the contact closure of said switches for developing and retaining a digital signal representative of said information;

a card punch assembly having at least one punch tool responsive to said digital signal for punching said holes in said card, said assembly also having a card carriage operable to position said card at a plurality of predetermined locations relative to said punch tool with each said location being uniquely associated with one of said displayed questions;

photoelectric detecting means responsive to the projection of said identification code for developing a frame sequence signal representative of the relative position of said frame in said sequence;

position sensing means for developing a card position signal representative of the position of said card relative to said punch tool;

comparing means coupled to said detecting means and said position sensing means for developing a sequence error signal when said frame sequence signal does not correspond to said card position signal; and

, means resPonsive to said sequence error signal for inhibiting the operation of said projector and said card punch assembly.

2. A system according to claim 1, in which said photoelectric detecting means comprises a Plurality of photoresistors positioned adjacent said viewing screen.

3. A system according to claim 2, which further comprises means for sensing improper slide projection by developIng a projection error signal whenever all said photoresistors are in the same operating state.

4. A system according to claim 3, in which said inhibiting means is also responsive to said projection error signal for inhibiting the projector and card punch assembly.

5. A system according to claim 1, in which said card position sensing means comprises a stationary yoke member having a light-emitting portion and a light-detecting portion, and a plate mounted in a fixed relation with said card carriage and adapted to move 4hrough saId yoke between said light-emitting and light-detecting portions, said plate having a coded array of holes therein corresponding to said predetermined card locations, for causing said light-detecting portion to develop a card position signal representative of the position of said card relative to said card punch tool.

6. A system according to claim 1, which said photoelectric detecting means is also responsive to the projection oF said identification code for developing a frame set signal representative of the set of frames to which the projected frame belongs, comparing means for developing a set error signal when the frame set signal of the projected frame does not correspond to the frame Set signal of the immediately prior projected frame, and said inhibiting means is also responsive to said set error signal for inhibiting the operation of sai:

projector and said card punch assembly.

7. A system according to claim 6, in which said photoelectric detecting means comPrises a plurality of photoresistors positioned adjacent said viewing screen.

8. A system according to claim 7, Which further comprises means for sensing improper slide projection by developing a projection error signal whenever all said photoresistors are in the same operating state.

9. A system according to claim 1, which further comprises a keyboard data entry system coupled to said card punch for permitting the operator to enter additional information into the data acquisition system.

10. A system according to claim 1, which further comprises means for selectively displaying a visual indication Of said punch card locations and the position of the displayed question in the sequence.

11. A data acquisition system for recording information selected by an operator in response to a plurality of communications visually presented to the operator in a predetermined sequence by said system, comprising:

means for visually displaying said communications in said sequence;

input means adapted to permit said operator to enter said information into said system in response to each said displayed communication;

a register responsive tO said input means for developing and retaining a digital signal representative of said information;

a recording medium detachable from said device for storing data corresponding to said information said recording medium comprising a card adapted for storing said data in the form of a predetermined coded array of holes punched therein;

means including a recording transducer responsive to said digital signal for recording said data on said recording medium, said recording means operable to position said recording medium at a plurality of predetermined locations relative to said recording transducer with each of said locations uniquely associated with one of said communications, said recording means comprising a card punch assembly having at least one punch tool responsive to said digital signal for punching said holes in said card;

card position sensing means coupled to said said recording means for developing a card position signal representative of the particular location of the card relative to the punch tool; and

means for synchronizing said recoding means with said visual displaying means, thereby causing the system to record the data on the recording medium at a location uniquely associated with the particular communication in the sequence being displayed by the system.

12. A system according to claim 11, which further comprises communication identification means coupled to said displaying means for developing a communication identification signal representative of the particular communication being displayed.

13. A system according to claim 12, which further comprises comparing means coupled to said card position sensing means and said communication identification means for developing an error signal when said card position signal does not correspond to said communication identification signal.

14. A system according to claim 13, which further comprises inhibiting means responsive to said error signal for preventing the operation of said displaying means to display the next communication and said card punch assembly to punch additional holes.

15. A data acquisition system for recording on a recording medium detachable from said system desired data corresponding to information supplied by an operator in response to a plurality of communications visually presented to the operator in a predetermined sequence by said system, comprising:

means for visually displaying said communications in said sequence, including a set of photographic slides each bearing a picture frame having one of said communications in said sequence photographically recorded thereon, a screen, and a slide projector for sequentiallY Projecting said frames on said screen;

input means adapted to permit said operator to enter said information into said system in response to each said displayed communication;

a register responsive to said input means for developing and retaining a digital signal respresentative of said inforMation;

means including a recording transducer responsive to said digital signal for recording said data on said recording medium, said recording means operable to position said recording medium at a plurality of predetermined locations relative to said recording transducer with each of said locations uniquely associated with one of said communications;

means for synchronizing said recording means with said visual dIsplaying means, thereby causing the system to record the data on the recording medium at a location uniquely associated with the particular communication in the sequence being displayed by the system;

means for determining that a slide is being improperly projected and developing in response thereto an inhibiting signal; and

means reeponsive to said inhibiting signal for preventing further operation of the system.

16. A data acquisition system for recording on a recording medium detachable from said system desired data corresponding to information supplied by an operator in response to a plurality of commu0ications visually presented to the operator in a predetermined sequence by said system, comprising:

means for visually dislaying said communications in said sequence;

input means adapted to permit said operator to enter said information into said system in response to each said displayed communication;

a register responsive to said input means for developing and retaining a digital signal representative of said information;

means including a recording transducer responsive to said digital signal for recording said data on said recording medium, said recording means operable to position said recording medium at a plurality of predetermined locations relative to said recording transducer with each of said locations uniquely associated with one of sAid communications;

means for synchronizing said recording means with said visual displaying means, thereby causing the system to record the data on the recording medium at a location uniquely associated with the particular communication in the sequence being displayed by the system; and

means for selectively displayinG A visual indication of said recording medium locations and the position of the displayed communication in said sequence.