Automated instructional apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Automated instructional apparatus for teaching a student by manipulation of at least one operating control to operate equipment including a plurality of equipment points normally maintained at predetermined conditions and for teaching a student to operate a tester of the equipment capable of indicating the point conditions, said apparatus comprising in combination:
- equipment simulation means for simulating said equipment including test points for simulating said equipment points;
control simulation means for simulating said operating control;
control detection means for sensing the position of the control simulation means and for generating digital control condition signals representing the position of the control simulation means;
control storage means for storing the control condition signals;
test point storage means for storing digital test point condition signals representing a simulated condition at each of said test points;
tester simulation means for simulating said tester and for indicating the simulated conditions at the test points in response to a tester indicating signal;
selector means for selecting at least one of the test points for indication by the tester simulation means;
instruction means for presenting instructions to the student; and
data processing means for enabling the instruction means to present a first instruction requesting the student to move the control simulation means to a first position, for scanning the control storage means to detect the actual position to which the student moves the control simulation means, for comparing the first position to the actual position, for enabling the instruction means to present an instruction informing the student about the results of the comparing, and for transmitting to the tester simulation means a tester simulating signal derived from the digital test point condition signals corresponding to the one test point selected by the selection means, whereby the tester and equipment are realistically simulated and the errors in the student'"'"'s movement of the control simulation means can be detected and communicated to the student, so that the student is readily taught to operate an actual piece of equipment and a tester.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure describes a computer-aided instructional system for teaching a student to trouble-shoot a piece of equipment, such as a radio receiver, with a tester, such as a volt-ohm meter (VOM). In order to achieve this result, the receiver and VOM are simulated by non-operating components which are controlled by the computer to respond as if they were fully operative and functioning devices. A computer-operated display presents instructions to the student and monitors the student'"'"'s responsive use of the simulated receiver and VOM. Additional instructions are selected for display depending on the nature of the student'"'"'s responses. In this way, the student learns to analyze the equipment by proper use of the tester.
62 Citations
22 Claims
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1. Automated instructional apparatus for teaching a student by manipulation of at least one operating control to operate equipment including a plurality of equipment points normally maintained at predetermined conditions and for teaching a student to operate a tester of the equipment capable of indicating the point conditions, said apparatus comprising in combination:
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equipment simulation means for simulating said equipment including test points for simulating said equipment points; control simulation means for simulating said operating control; control detection means for sensing the position of the control simulation means and for generating digital control condition signals representing the position of the control simulation means; control storage means for storing the control condition signals; test point storage means for storing digital test point condition signals representing a simulated condition at each of said test points; tester simulation means for simulating said tester and for indicating the simulated conditions at the test points in response to a tester indicating signal; selector means for selecting at least one of the test points for indication by the tester simulation means; instruction means for presenting instructions to the student; and data processing means for enabling the instruction means to present a first instruction requesting the student to move the control simulation means to a first position, for scanning the control storage means to detect the actual position to which the student moves the control simulation means, for comparing the first position to the actual position, for enabling the instruction means to present an instruction informing the student about the results of the comparing, and for transmitting to the tester simulation means a tester simulating signal derived from the digital test point condition signals corresponding to the one test point selected by the selection means, whereby the tester and equipment are realistically simulated and the errors in the student'"'"'s movement of the control simulation means can be detected and communicated to the student, so that the student is readily taught to operate an actual piece of equipment and a tester. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An automated method of instructing a student to manipulate at least one operating control in order to learn the use of a piece of equipment having a plurality of points normally maintained at predetermined conditions and the use of a tester for the equipment, said method comprising the steps of:
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simulating the equipment, points, operating control and tester; storing digital test point condition signals having values representing a simulated condition at each of the points; requesting the student to move the simulated operating control to a first position; comparing the first position with the position to which the student moves the operating control; informing the student about the results of the comparison; selecting at least one of the points for indication by the simulated tester; and indicating on the simulated tester the condition of the one point, whereby the student learns to operate the tester and equipment by manipulating the simulated operating control. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Automated instructional apparatus for teaching a student to evaluate equipment having a plurality of points normally maintained at predetermined conditions by means of a device capable of sensing the conditions of the points and a tester capable of indicating the point conditions sensed by the detector, said apparatus comprising in combination:
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equipment simulation means for simulating said equipment including test points for simulating said equipment points; test point storage means for storing digital test point condition signals representing a simulated condition at each of said test points; tester simulation means for simulating said tester and for indicating the simulated conditions at the test points; a detector adapted to communicate with the test points; detection storage means for storing a different digital test point identification signal for each test point communicated with by the detector; display means for presenting a graphic illustration of the equipment, including the test points; and data processing means for sequentially scanning the detection storage means to determine the test point communicated with by the detector, generating a tester indicating signal corresponding to the digital test point condition signal representing the test point communicated with by the detector, transmitting the tester indicating signal to the tester simulation means, and enabling the display means to indicate on the graphic illustration the test point communicated with by the detector, whereby the indicating means indicates the simulated condition at the test point communicated with by the detector so that the tester simulation means responds to the equipment simulation means in the same manner as an actual tester would respond to an actual piece of equipment and whereby the student is graphically informed of the relationship between the equipment and the test point communicated with by the detector. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. Automated instructional apparatus for teaching a student to operate equipment including a plurality of equipment points normally maintained at predetermined conditions and a tester of the equipment capable of indicating the point conditions, including a detector for sensing the condition of the equipment points, said apparatus comprising in combination:
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equipment simulation means for simulating said equipment including test points for simulating said equipment points; detector simulation means movable by the student for communicating with the test points and for selecting at least one of the test points for indication; means for generating a different test point identification signal for each test point communicated with by the detector simulation means; control storage means for storing the digital test point identification signals; test point storage means for storing digital test point condition signals representing a simulated condition at each of said test points; tester simulation means for simulating said tester and for indicating the simulated conditions at the test point selected by the detector simulation means in response to a tester indicating signal; instruction means for presenting instructions to the student; and data processing means for enabling the instruction means to present a first instruction requesting the student to move the detector simulation means to a first test point, for scanning the control storage means to determine the actual test point communicated with by the detector simulation means, for comparing the first test point to the actual test point, for enabling the instruction means to present an instruction informing the student about the results of the comparing, and for transmitting to the tester simulation means a tester indicating signal corresponding to the digital test point condition signal representing the test point communicated with by the detector simulation means, whereby the tester and equipment are realistically simulated and the errors in the student'"'"'s movement of the detector simulation means to the proper test point can be detected and communicated to the student, so that the student is readily taught to operate an actual piece of equipment and a tester.
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22. Automated instructional apparatus for teaching a student by manipulation of at least one continuous operating control to operate equipment including a plurality of equipment points normally maintained at predetermined conditions and for teaching a student to operate a tester of the equipment capable of indicating the point conditions, said apparatus comprising in combination:
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equipment simulation means for simulating said equipment including test points for simulating said equipment points; control simulation means for simulating said continuous operating control and for generating an analog voltage which varies continuously as the position of the control simulation means is changed; control detection means including an analog-to-digital converter for converting the analog voltage to a digital control condition signal representing the position of the control simulation means; control storage means for storing the control condition signal; test point storage means for storing digital test point condition signals representing a simulated condition at each of said test points; tester simulation means for simulating said tester and for indicating the simulated conditions at the test points in response to a tester indicating signal; selector means for selecting at least one of the tester points for indication by the tester simulation means; instruction means for presenting instructions to the student; and data processing means for enabling the instruction means to present a first instruction requesting the student to move the control simulation means to a first position, for scanning the control storage means to detect the actual position to which the student moves the control simulation means, for comparing the first position to the actual position, for enabling the instruction means to present an instruction informing the student about the results of the comparing, and for transmitting to the tester simulation means a tester simulating signal derived from the digital test point condition signals corresponding to the one test point selected by the selection means, whereby the tester and equipment are realistically simulated and the errors in the student'"'"'s movement of the control simulation means can be detected and communicated to the student, so that the student is readily taught to operate an actual piece of equipment and a tester.
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Specification