Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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The invention relates to an interactive check list
especially to a hand held interactive check list.
Check lists are used for multitudinous purposes from the
trivial to those of world importance but simple devices,
other than pencil and paper, are not in common use.
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Computerised systemsS dependent on software, are available
l for sophisticated check lists which, at least usually~
!~ require tasks to be performed in a particular order.
More trivial systems are frequently games systems, usually
} 10 require choice of input for a single item or question~
~ Check lists of a sort occur in various devices for other
J purposes. For example, US Patent No. 1,131,129 to Avram is
directed to a work efficiency machine which does not
facilitate hand operated entry of data and does not lock out
any input channels. US Patent No. 3,253,129 to Doeing is -
directed to a market research machine to record the choices
of answer to multiple choice questionsl In this it has
similarities to some of ~he games systems already referred -
to above. US Patent Nos. 3,286,918 and 3, 468,477 are
directed to voting machines. It is an electro mechanical
device in which the user chooses to press a button
associated with one or more of the items offered to him on a
check list. He is not expected to choose all of them.
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Where check lists are importance for safety or other
reasons, for example in aeroplane pilots' pre-flight checks,
it is often normal to have two people do the check, one of
them reading out the items and the other performing the
~¦ required checks. Housewives still make shopping lists with
pencil and paper, recreational vehlcle owners still oten
forget to turn oEf the bottled gas or disconnect the water
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before driving away, stock is still checked from a printed - -
list, etc. `
There has been a nePd for a simple, inexpensive check list.
Accordingly the invention provides an interactive check li5~ ~ ~
co~prising; a list of items to be checked, a lamp associated -~ -
with each item9 means to connect all the lamps ~o a source
of electric power to bring them all into a first condition
indicative of items to be checked, a single independent,
manually operable signal key associated with each item and
with the respective lamp, a switch for each key to change
the state of the respective lamp in response to a signal ~ ;
from the key from the first condition to a second condition
and maintain it in the second condition indicating that the
respective item has been checked. Preferably including ~-~
reset means to return the lamps to the first condition ls
included ` --
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The lamps are preferably light emitting diodes and the first
condition of the light emitting diodes may be either unlit r, ~,
or lit. When the first condition is lit each swltch may ---~
comprise a NOR la~ch and each signal key may be actuable to -~
pass a pulse to the respective latch. When the first ~ -^
condition is unlit each switch may comprise an OR latch and - -
each signal key may be actuable to pass a pulse to the
respective latch.
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Means may be included to count the number of times the light
emit~ing diodes change to the second condition and display
means for the number counted by the counting means. In this
case manually operable access means, for example, a switch~ -~
may be provided between the display means and the counter
means to cause display o~ said number on said diplay means.
The access switch is key operated so that, ~or example, a~-
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supervisor, who retains the key, ~ay check on the number of
times an operator has perEormed the check list. This is
thought to particularly useful in the case of operators who
carry out their tasks out of immediate range of supervision -
Truck drivers, for example, should perform various checks on
their truck perhaps as often as every time they drive away.
While the fact that they have checked through the check list
a number of times and that this number has been counted is
no guarantee that they have physically perfor~ed the checks,
it is an indication. If the appropriate number of checks -~
have not been counted it is a more positive indication that
the checks have not been made.
In the case of various machinery, especially vehicles, the
check list may include a switch actuable to complete an
independent circuit, such as an ignition circuit, when all
the light emitting diodes change to the second condition.
In this case, the reset can be operated by the independent
breaking of the independent circuit. Thus, if an ignition
circult is arranged in this way~ switching off the engine
will automatically reset the check list. In some
circumstances this might be inconvenient where stops are for
short rests or for gas. To mitigate this inconvenience a
delay may be built in to delay the reset for any chosen ~;~
period. ~ --
In another case the check list might be used as part of a
supermarket trolley, in which case the list may be very
comprehensive and items may be selected by the housewife
from the comprehensive list in accordance with her shopping
list. The selected items may be displayed on a check list
attached to ~he shopping trolley in conjunction with store
information as to which is the relevant shopping alsle.
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A check list according to the invention may be r~quired for
domestic use, in which case it may be required for different
uses, such as a shopping list, a recreational vehicle check
list, a list of daily chores, a homework subject list, etc.
The actual items on each list will not necessarily be the
same for each user. Therefore it is of convenience to
provide a hand held check list device without the check list
at all but with a mounting for such a list, with a mounting
for a list and a sample list or with means for customising a
list. A customised list maybe a set of cards some of which
will be printed with standard checkable items and isome of
which will be blank for the user to complete. For example, -~
for a shopping check list, bread might be a standard item
but smoked oysters might be an item for which only a blank
card would be provided. The mounting means are conveniently
such that individual cards may be mounted adjacent the ~ -
respective keys and lamps.
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Embodiments of the invention wilL now be described by way of
example with reference to the drawings, in whichj- ~ -
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Figure 1 is a flow diagram illustrating embodiments of the
invention;
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Flgure 2 is a circuit diagram of one embodiment of the ~
invention; ~ ~;
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Figure 3 is an add-on circuit diagram for that of Figure 2
illustrating another embodiment of the invention;
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Figure 4 illustrates schematicaLly the front panel of one
embodiment of a hand held embodlment of the invention; and ~ -
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Figure 5 illustrates a side view of the e~bodiment of
Figure 4.
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Figure 1 is a simple flow diagram showing a list 30 of items
~ n"', a key bank 40 of signal keys l-n, a latch bank 50
of latching switches 1' nl, and a lamp bank 60 oflamps 1"-
n". The lamps are usually light emitting diodes (referred
to herein as LEDs). An on/off switch 100 is provided for a
source of electric power which, as devices according to the
invention are usually small enough to be hand held~ is
conveniently a 9volt battery. A reset switch 20 is also
provided.
Figure 1 also shows an optional counter/recorder 70 for
counting the number of run-throughs of the list 30 using
each of keys 1 -n of key bank 40 to change the condition of
each of lamps l"-n" of lamp bank 60. An optional display 80
for displaying the result of the count from counter 70 is
also shown.
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The list 30, key bank 40 and lamp bank 60 are arranged so
that items of the list are visible to a user and each item
is visibly associated with a corresponding one of the keys
I and lamps. Thus a user will see item 1"' associated with
¦ 20 key 1 and lamp 1" and he will see item n"' associated with
I key n and lamp n". The on/off switch 100 and ~he reset 20
are also normally available ~o the user.
I The latch bank 50, the counter 70, if present, and other
additional circuitry need not be visible to the user and may
be enclosed within a housing 102 for the check list (see
~ Figures 4 and 5), although a display window for the result
I of the count must be visible either directly or on opening
I it or unlocking it.
¦ Figure 2 shows a circuit diagram for a slmple embodiment of
¦ 30 the invention without the optional counter 70 and display 80
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therefor. In this case there are 12 signal keys 1 - 12 and
12 corresponding LEDs 1" ~ 12" although it is to be
unders~ood that these numbers are only exemplary. For check
lists for normal domestic use the number of i~ems with
associated keys, switching latches and LEDs may often
usefully be in the range of from 10 to 25. In technical
terms there is no reason why the lower llmit of this range
can not be 2. Circuits for lists of items greater than 25
~ can also be provided within the scope of the invention.
: 10 The positive terminal of a 9v battery 104 is connected to
terminals VDD and Vss of cascaded banks 52 of NOR latches
1'-12' and to on/of switch 100. The on/off switch 100 is
connected through banked JK flip-flops 93 to the reset 20
and hence to common enable inputs E for each bank 52 of NOR
latches 1'-12'and to set inputs S of the NOR latches. Flip-
flops 93 may suitably be a dual JK master/slave flip-flop,
e.g. CMOS CD4027. Each of signal keys 1-12, which may be a
push button, is arranged to pass a pulse to rese~ inputs R
of NOR latches 1'-12'. The outputs Q of NOR latches 1'-12'
are passed to LEDs 1"-12" respectively.
Initially, before any of keys 1-12 are pressed, ouEputs Q
are all high and LEDs 1"-12" are all lit~ When any one of
keys 1-12 is pressed a pulse is passed so that the S input
B goes high and output Q goes ~ to extiguish the respective
LED until reset through reset 20.
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The NOR latches are shown in integra~ed circuits each
i~ comprising four latches. These may suitably ~e CMOS CD 4043
latches.
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Figure 3 shows a circuit diagram for the optional counting
of run-throughs oE a check list according to the invention.
The changed condltion outputs9 e.gO from lit to unlit, from
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LEDs 1"-12" are compared by using them as inputs to banks
95 of OR gates 97, 97' and 97" and 98, 98', and 98". Triple
input OR gates are suitable, for example CMOS CD 4075
gates.
The final output indicating that a run-through of the check
list has been made is passed to counter 70, which may
suitably be a banked counter such as CMOS CD4518 and to
decoder/driver 84 which may sui~ably be CMOS CD4511.
Successive counts from counter 70 pass to a further OR gate
for comparison with output from decoder/driver 84 for
updating of the output of decoder 84. This further OR gate
may be the last gate 98" in the second bank 95. The outputs
of counter 70 from the for single digit counts are passed to
a decoder 82, suitably CMOS CD 4511 and hence to a display
window 83. The outputs of counter 70 for single digits xlO
are passed to the decoder 84 and hence to display winclow 85.
The display in windows 83, 85 may be automatic or may be
accessed though switch 87 which, itself may only be accessed
through a separate key.
The whole device may be assembled in a housing for hand held
operatlon as shown in Figures 4 and 5. As in the circuit
diagram~, the number of items in the list, and the
associated signal keys and LEDs is shown as 12. It is
emphasised again that this number is only exemplary,
although since the specific NOR gates referred to are banked
in banks of four, multiples of four may, in some cases be
convenient.
A list 30 of items 1"'- 12"' may be an integraL list or a
series of independent cards. In the case of cards each
card will have written on it a legend of ~he item to be
checked. Some blank cards may be included, on which the
user may write a CUStObl legend. In the case of a list the
items will be listed at separate and distinct intervals.
There may again be some blank intervals for which the user
may specify.
A housing 102, containing the circuitry and which may be of
moulded plastic, e.g vinyl plastic, may include means for
mounting the list 30, either as separate cards or as a
single list, centrally on a front face of the housing, each
item 1"'- 12"' being below another. The list may be headed
with a title 0"'. To one side of the list 30, as
illustrated on the left, is a column 40 of push buttong
signal keys 1-12, each key being horizontally aligned with a
corresponding item and being adjacent or substantially
adjacent to it. To the other side of the list 30 i5 a
column of LEDs 1"-12", each LED being horizon~ally aligned
with a corresponding item and key and adjacent or
substantially adjacent the corresponding item.
The arrangement described is one o~ many possible and it is
noted that a single column comprising touch sensitive keys
coincident with LEDs is possible. Moreover, a single column
comprising an integral list 30, touch sensitive keys and
LEDs is also possible~
At the bottomj left of the front face of the housing 102 is
an on/off button 100. At the bottom, right is a reset
button 20. At the centre, bottom is shown display windows
83, 85 to display the result of any count of the run-
throughs of the check list. These windows may automaticaly
display the count or it may only be accessible though a
switch 87 which, itself, may only be accesible through a
separate key 104.
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The use of such a key 104 is of value when it is desired to
check whether a user who should perform a certain check a
certain number of times, has in fact, done so. An example
of such a case is that of a truck driver who is supposed to
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carry out certain vehicle checks every so often. If he
does not physically note the checks by pressing keys on his
check list, his supervisor will note that that required
number of checks do not appear to have been ~ade.
The reset 20 may also be made to be key operated. Sometimes
it is necessary for checks to be made at speclfic locations.
If a key to the reset 20 is resident at such locations the
device will not be operative until it is taken to the
location so that the key may be used.
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0Other features may be added for convenience. For example, an
automatic switch-off may be incorporated to avoid drain of
the battery after a certain time limit. Thus, should the
user forget to switch off the device after use. The time
limit for automa~ic switch off will necessarily be long for
check lists which are checked over a long period and will be
shorter for check lists which are checked through quickly.
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Should the device be required for use in more than one field
by a single user, then extra lists, or sets of cards, may be
aquired by the user and substituted at will.
~c 20 The device is believed to be useful in any field requiring
the checking of lists. It May be useul to salesmen,
recreational vehicle owners~ housewives, fleetowners,
! manufacturers, speakers, mechanics, maintenance personneL,
farmers, millwrights, security personnel, business plersons,
stock-keepers, students, office personnel~ bakers, doctors,
3 pilots, and many others.
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