Test scoring system and method

• US 5,379,213 A
• Filed: 01/28/1992
• Issued: 01/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fleetwood Furniture Company
• Original Assignee: Fleetwood Furniture Company
• Inventors: Derks, Harry G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Envall, Jr., Roy N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Poinvil, Frantzy
• Application Number:
  US07/826,987
• Time in Patent Office: 1,071 Days
• Field of Search: 364/410, 364/411, 364/419, 364/429.01, 434/322, 434/332, 434/334, 434/336, 395/800, 395/227, 395/275, 395/325
• US Class Current: 434/350
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/025 adapted to a specific application
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/14 with provision for individual teacher-student communication
• 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

Abstract

A test scoring system and method of testing a plurality of individuals utilizes a hand-held answer recording unit for each individual including a user operable input device for receiving and storing user answers. A scoring processor is provided for receiving answer data from each answer recording unit and comparing the answers with an answer key in order to determine conforming answers. A data transfer unit is connected with the scoring processor to receive answer data from the answer recording unit and transfer the answer data transparently to the scoring processor. Each student is provided a hand-held answer recording unit, along with a test, which is typically in written format. The user scrolls through the answer locations in the hand-held answer recording unit and inputs in each location an answer to each question. When the test is completed, the answer recording unit is juxtaposed with the data transfer unit and the data transfer unit produces a single bit discharge signal that is transferred to the answer recording unit across a physically impervious boundary. The answer recording unit responds to the discharge signal by transferring in sequential order all of the answer data across the physically impervious boundary to the data transfer unit. The data transfer unit includes a decoding circuit that responds to only the leading edges of the answer data signal in order to accurately decode the signal and, thus, allow a faster rate of data transfer. The decoded answer data is transferred to the scoring processor.

Claims

1. A test scoring system comprising:

a hand-held answer recording unit having a user input device for receiving user answers and a storage device for storing said user answers;

a scoring processor for receiving answer data from said answer recording unit;

a data transfer unit connected with said scoring processor for providing a single bit discharge command signal to said answer recording unit, for receiving answer data from said answer recording unit and for transferring said answer data to said scoring processor;

wherein said answer recording unit includes a monitor circuit that is responsive to said discharge command signal to read-out answer data recorded in said memory locations as data words;

wherein each said answer recording unit and said data transfer unit includes a housing defined by a physically substantially imperforate wall; and

a non-symmetrical communication link between said answer recording unit and said data transfer unit including a pair of transducers, each transducer entirely within the respective housing of each of said answer recording unit and said data transfer unit, for transferring data words from said answer recording unit to said data transfer, unit, and single bit command signals from said data transfer unit to said answer recording unit between said transducers across said imperforate walls, whereby multiple bit data words can be transferred by said non-symmetrical communication link in response to a single bit discharge command signal.

2. The test scoring system in claim 1 wherein said data transfer unit includes means for generating said discharge command signal in response to a discharge request from said scoring processor.

3. The test scoring system in claim 1 wherein said data transfer unit includes means for providing a clearing command signal to said answer recording unit and wherein said answer recording unit is responsive to said clearing command signal to delete said answer data recorded therein.

4. The test scoring system in claim 3 wherein said data transfer unit includes means for generating said clearing command signal in response to a clearing request from said scoring processor.

5. The test scoring system in claim 4 wherein said data transfer unit includes means for generating said discharge command signal in response to a discharge request from said scoring processor.

6. The test scoring system in claim 1 wherein said discharge command signal is a continuous wave signal having a predetermined frequency for a first period of time.

7. A method of testing a plurality of individuals including the steps of:

providing to each individual a hand-held recording unit having a first housing defined by a first physically substantially impervious wall, a monitor circuit including a first transducer that is entirely within said first housing, a plurality of memory location, a user input device and logic circuitry to store an answer for one test question entered with said input device in each of said memory locations;

storing a unique identification code in at least one of said memory locations;

each individual entering with said input device a chosen answer for each test question in a particular memory location;

providing a scoring processor that is programmed to compare said answers with an answer key;

providing a data transfer unit connected with said scoring processor for transferring answers from each said hand-held recording unit to said scoring processor, said data transfer unit including a second housing defined by a second physically substantially impervious wall and a second transducer entirely within said second housing;

juxtaposing one said recording unit in which answers are entered in memory locations with said data transfer unit;

supplying a discharge signal from said second transducer to said first transducer of said recording unit juxtaposed with said data transfer unit;

retrieving with said monitor circuit substantially all of said answers and said unique identification code from said memory locations of said recording unit juxtaposed said data transfer unit in sequential order, in response to said discharge signal;

transferring said answers and said identification code retrieved from said memory locations from said first transducer to said second transducer and from said data transfer unit to said scoring processor; and

comparing said answers in said scoring processor with said answer key in order to determine conforming answers.

8. The method in claim 7 including determined whether answers transferred to said scoring processor are valid.

9. The method in claim 8 including selectively supplying a clearing signal to said recording unit juxtaposed said data transfer unit in order to erase said answers from said memory locations in response to determining that answers transferred to said scoring processor are valid.

10. The method in claim 7 including supplying another said discharge signal to said recording unit in response to determining that answers transferred to said scoring processor are not valid.

11. The method in claim 7 wherein said supplying said discharge signal includes generating a continuous wave signal for a predetermined period of time.

12. The method in claim 7 wherein said storing a unique identification code includes permanently storing a first unique code and storing a second unique identification code entered by the individual.

13. A test scoring system comprising:

a hand-held answer recording unit including a first housing defined by a first physically substantially impervious wall, input means for receiving user answers to questions, memory means for storing a plurality of said answers and a monitor circuit that is responsive to a discharge signal for reading said answers from said memory means, for producing an answer signal encoded with leading and trailing edges and for transferring said answer signal through said first substantially impervious wall, wherein said monitor circuit includes a first transducer entirely within said first housing for receiving said discharge signal from said data transfer unit and transferring said answer signal to said data transfer unit;

a scoring processor for receiving answer data from said recording unit;

a data transfer unit connected with said scoring processor and including a second housing defined by a second physically substantially impervious wall and a transfer circuit for providing a discharge signal, for receiving said answer signal from said recording unit through said second physically substantially impervious wall and for decoding said answer signal by responding to only said leading edges or only said trailing edges to produce answer data, said transfer circuit including a second transducer entirely within said second housing; and

wherein, with said first transducer aligned with said second transducer, said discharge signal and said answer signal can be transferred between said answer recording unit and said data transfer unit through said first and second physically substantially impervious walls.

14. The test scoring system in claim 13 wherein said first and second transducers are antennas in tuned resonant circuits.

15. The test scoring system in claim 14 wherein said first transducer is in a parallel tuned resonant circuit and said second transducer is in a series tuned resonant circuit for said providing said discharge signal and in a parallel tuned resonant circuit for said receiving said answers.

16. The test scoring system in claim 15 wherein said first transducer is connected with an output port of a microprocessor.

17. A test scoring system comprising:

a hand-held answer recording unit including a first housing defined by a first physically substantially impervious wall, input means for receiving user answers to questions, memory means for storing a plurality of said answer and a monitor circuit that is responsive to a discharge signal for reading said answers from said memory means, for producing an answer signal encoded with leading and trailing edges and for transferring said answer signal through said first substantially impervious wall, said monitor circuit including a first transducer entirely within said first housing;

a scoring processor for receiving answer data from said recording unit;

a data transfer unit connected with said scoring processor and including a second housing defined by a second physically substantially impervious wall and a transfer circuit for providing a discharge signal, for receiving said answer signal from said recording unit through said second physically substantially impervious wall and for decoding said answer signal by responding to only said leading edges or only said trailing edges to produce answer data, wherein said transfer circuit includes a second transducer entirely within said second housing for receiving said answers from said answer recording unit and transferring said discharge signal to said answer recording unit; and

wherein, with said first transducer aligned with said second transducer, said discharge signal and said answer signal can be transferred between said answer recording unit and said data transfer unit through said first and second physically substantially imperious walls.

18. The test scoring system in claim 17 wherein each said transducer is an antenna in a tuned resonant circuit.

19. A test scoring system comprising:

a hand-held answer recording unit having a first housing defined by a first physically substantially impervious wall, a user input device for receiving user answers, a storage device for storing said user answers and a monitor circuit that is responsive to a discharge signal for reading answer data recorded in a storage device;

a scoring processor for receiving answer data from said answer recording unit;

a data transfer unit connected with said scoring processor for providing said discharge signal to said answer recording unit, for receiving answer data from said answer recording unit and for transferring said answer data to said scoring processor, wherein said data transfer unit including a second housing defined by a second physically substantially impervious wall and a decoding circuit for decoding data words transferred from said answer recording unit, said decoding circuit responsive to only leading edges or only trailing edges to decode said data word; and

a non-symmetrical communication link between said answer recording unit and said data transfer unit including a pair of transducers, each transducers entirely within the respective housing of each of said answer recording unit, and said data transfer unit for transferring data words from said answer recording unit to said data transfer unit, wherein said communication link transfers only single bit command signals from said data transfer unit to said answer recording unit.

20. A test scoring system comprising:

a hand-held answer recording unit having a first housing defined by a first physically substantially impervious wall, a user input device for receiving user answers and a storage device for storing said user answers;

a scoring processor for receiving answer data from said answer recording unit;

a data transfer unit connected with said scoring processor for providing a discharge signal to said answer recording unit, for receiving answer from said answer recording unit and for transferring said answer data to said scoring processor, wherein said discharge signal is a continuous wave signal having a predetermined frequency for a first period of time and wherein said data transfer unit includes a second housing defined by a second substantially impervious wall;

wherein said answer recording unit includes a monitor circuit having a first transducer entirely within said first housing and is responsive to said discharge signal for transferring answer data recorded in said answer recording unit to said data transfer unit;

wherein said data transfer unit including a transfer circuit having a second transducer entirely within said second housing for providing a cleaning signal to said answer recording unit and wherein said answer recording unit is responsive to said clearing signal to delete said answer data recorded therein, wherein said clearing signal is a continuous wave signal having said predetermined frequency for a second period of time that is significantly different from said first period of time; and

a non-symmetrical communication link between said answer recording unit and said data transfer unit for transferring data words from said answer recording unit to said data transfer unit, wherein said communication link transfers only single bit command signals from said data transfer unit to said answer recording unit.

21. A test scoring system comprising:

a hand-held answer recording unit including a first housing defined by a first physically substantially impervious wall, a memory device having a plurality of memory locations, at least one function key for selecting one of said memory locations, at least one response key for selecting an answer, means for storing answer data selected by said response key in memory locations selected by said function key, a display device having a first character display for displaying a question number in said one of said memory locations and a second character display for displaying an answer in said one of said memory locations;

a scoring processor for receiving answer data from said answer recording unit;

a data transfer unit connected with said scoring processor for providing a discharge signal to said answer recording unit, for receiving answer data from said answer recording unit and for transferring said answer data to said scoring processor, said data transfer unit including a second housing defined by a second physically substantially impervious wall; and

wherein said answer recording unit includes a monitor circuit that is responsive to said discharge signal to read-out answer data recorded in said memory locations and transmit answer data read from said memory locations to said data transfer unit, wherein said monitor circuit includes a first transducer entirely within said first housing for receiving said discharge signal and transmitting said answer data and said data transfer unit includes a second transducer entirely within said second housing for receiving said answer data and for transmitting said discharge signal.

22. A test scoring system comprising:

a hand-held answer recording unit including a first housing defined by a first physically substantially impervious wall, a memory device having a plurality of memory locations, at least one function key for selecting one of said memory locations, at least one response key for selecting an answer, means for storing answer data selected by said response key in memory locations selected by said function key, a display device having a first character display for displaying a question number in said one of said memory locations and a second character display for displaying an answer in said one of said memory locations;

a scoring processor for receiving answer data from said answer recording unit;

a data transfer unit connected with said scoring processor for providing a discharge signal to said answer recording unit, for receiving answer data from said answer recording unit and for transferring said answer data to said scoring processor, wherein said data transfer unit includes a second housing defined by a second physically substantially impervious wall and a decoding circuit for said answer data transmitted by said answer recording unit, said decoding circuit responsive to only leading edges or only trailing edges to decode said transmitted answer data and including a second transducer entirely within said second housing; and

wherein said answer recording unit includes a monitor circuit that is responsive to said discharge signal to read-out answer data recorded in said memory locations and transmit answer data read from said memory locations to said data transfer unit, said monitor circuit including a first transducer entirely within said first housing.