Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Patent
1991-01-22
1993-04-20
Yusko, Donald J.
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
273138A, H04B 100
Patent
active
052046710
ABSTRACT:
An apparatus for selecting at random one item of N items on the average comprising counter and reset elements for counting repeatedly between zero and N, a number selected by the user, a circuit for activating and deactivating the counter, a comparator to determine if the counter stopped at a count of zero, an output to indicate an item has been selected when the count is zero or not selected if the count is not zero. Randomness is provided by having the counter cycle very often while varying the relatively longer duration between activation and deactivation of the count. The passive circuit components of the activating/deactivating circuit and those of the counter are selected for the sensitivity of their response to variations in temperature and other physical characteristics of the environment so that the response time of the circuitry varies. Additionally, the items themselves, which may be people, may vary in shape or the time they press a pushbutton, so that, for example, an ultrasonic beam broken by the item or person passing through it will add to the duration of the count and thus to the randomness of the selection.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3580581 (1971-03-01), Raven
patent: 3799553 (1974-03-01), Hurley
patent: 3834710 (1974-09-01), Sousan
patent: 3961169 (1976-06-01), Bishop et al.
patent: 4580226 (1986-04-01), Bennison
patent: 4811247 (1989-03-01), Malady et al.
patent: 4819818 (1989-04-01), Simkus et al.
Constant Richard E.
Dixon Harold M.
Magistre Dervis
Moser William R.
Yusko Donald J.
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