GB2218251A - Teaching aids - Google Patents

Abstract

A flicker free high resolution colour monitor 1 is fed from a control unit 2, which also controls a slide projector 5 projecting onto a large screen 7. A remote hand-held control unit 4, through the control unit 2, calls up both computer generated pictures programmed on a floppy disc 8, on the high resolution monitor 1, and colour transparencies, from a slide magazine 6, displayed by rear projection system 3. The computer generated illustrations on the video monitor or detailed parts, whilst the pictures displayed on the screen 7 principally represent the wider view of the subject. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relating to Teaching Aids" This invention aims to provide improvements to aids for teaching the construction and operation of various types of equipment and for assisting in diagnosing the creation of faults within that equipment.

According to one aspect, this invention provides a teaching aid comprising a first screen linked to a graphics display generator, a second, video-display, screen with associated computerised control equipment, and a control unit which simultaneously controls changes to information projected on the two screens as generated by the display generator and the control equipment.

With such equipment it is possible to display an overall view on the first screen, whilst concentrating on a detail of part of the equipment under study on the second screen so that the student can refer back to the overall view whilst changes are being effected to the detail on the second screen. In a preferred arrangement the graphics display generator is a large screen rear projection system. The control unit can be arranged to control changing of slides in a slide projector which projects onto the screen.

Preferably the computerised control equipment includes a drive incorporating a prepared program determining material to be displayed on the second screen. Advantageously this program will incorporate control commands for causing dynamic movement of illustrations displayed on the second screen. The control unit can be arranged to operate directly (ideally as a remote control unit) onto the computerised control equipment and indirectly onto the graphic display generator through the computerised control equipment. The control unit may incorporate control buttons each of which enables signals to be transmitted to other parts or all of the display shown on either or both of the two screens. In this case the control unit can, with advantage, be provided with a removable overlay which fits around the buttons and carries labels defining operations determined upon pressing the buttons.Different overlays can be used for different operating programs incorporated in the computerised control equipment.

The invention further extends towards a method of displaying information for teaching purposes using a teaching aid as hereinbefore defined wherein a general subject or illustration is displayed on the first screen and static and/or varying information or illustration, related to at least a part of the display on the first screen, is displayed on the second screen. Ideally changes to details of the display on the second screen are effected whilst the display on the first screen remains static.

From a further aspect this invention provides a method of diagnosing faults within a system, utilising a display monitor and associated computerised control equipment, wherein illustrations and/or parameters of a part of the system are displayed upon the monitor and the control equipment is used to change parameters in that part of the system to simulate fault conditions or to attempt to remedy simulated fault conditions illustrated on the monitor, the control equipment responding to those changes to illustrate on the monitor the effect thereof on the whole system as applied to the part of the system displayed.

The invention may be performed in various ways and preferred embodiments thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 illustrate component parts of teaching aid equipment constructed and operated in accordance with the invention; and Figure 3 is an illustration of equipment which can be used for fault monitoring in accordance with the invention.

The teaching aid equipment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a flicker free high resolution colour monitor 1, graphics generator and control unit 2, computer coupled to a large screen rear projection system 3, under the direction of the lecturer, using a remotely operated hand-held control unit 4. System 3 comprises a projector 5 provided with a slide magazine 6 and projecting onto a large screen 7.

The system is designed to provide a fully integrated teaching aid with the individual lecture material being contained on a combination of a floppy disc 8 and colour transparencies in the slide magazine 6. Control over the lesson presentation rests with the remote hand-held control unit 4 which, through the graphic generator and control unit 2, calls up both the computer generated pictures on the high resolution monitor 1, and the colour transparencies displayed by the rear projection system 3.

The computer generated illustrations on the video monitor 1 are intended to explain the operation of the component or detailed parts which make up the subject, using a combination of dynamic movement and well chosen colour schemes, which together represent changes in conditions such as flow, rotation, displacement, volume, temperature, pressure etc. The pictures displayed by the rear projection system 3 principally represent the wider view of the subject through, for instance, photographs or illustrations, descriptive text, flow or circuit diagrams and charts. They provide the facility to display much more than could be accommodated on the monitor.More importantly, each picture reflects, under the control of the coupling computer 2, the effect that changes to the individual components have on the overall system, as these are being demonstrated on the monitor 1, using the remote hand-held control unit 4.

The remote hand-held control unit 4 provides total control of the whole system. With the aid of a series of push-button switches 9, carefully positioned to ensure ease of operation, the lesson material can be clearly and unhurriedly demonstrated using the multiscreen presentation. To rationalise the number of controls needed the function of a group of nine of the push-buttons 9 is predetermined within each demonstration program. An overlay card 10 is provided which identifies the function of each push-button.

The instructional material is divided into convenient sections to suit the course length, lesson periods etc., and is arranged on floppy disc and 35mm slides in such a manner that frequent changes during a lesson are avoided. The computer generated illustrations are intended to explain the operation of the component part which make up a system using a combination of dynamic movement, under the control of the instructor using the remote hand-held control unit1 and well chosen colour schemes representing changes in conditions such as temperature, pressure etc. The 35mm rear projected pictures comprising, for instance, circuit diagrams and photographs of the subject under discussion, respond under the control of the coupling computer to reflect the operation of a system resulting from changes taking place within its individual parts.

A fault diagnostic system is illustrated in Figure 3 and comprises a display monitor 11 controlled from a computerised control unit 12 which can be provided with programs defined on discs 13. A tracker ball unit 14 and/or a keyboard unit 15 is connected to the main control unit 12 to enable additional information to be entered into the control unit 12 to determine changes to the display illustrated on the monitor 11.

The program on the disc 13 incorporates details of parameters of parts of a system in which faults are to be diagnosed. These parameters can, for example, be information lists or illustrations of parts of the system, such as circuit diagrams.

Faults can be pre-programmed into the simulation, and the students are then invited to diagnose the cause of the fault by interrogating the system, through the monitor 11, thus gaining access to any indication or test point that would be available on the actual system.

These test points could give AC or DC voltages, signal waveforms, pressures, temperatures, quantities, flow rates etc. The actual readings at the test points are controlled by the simulation and reflect the system status.

When the equipment of Figure 3 is coupled to the teaching aid equipment of Figures 1 and 2, the students can, via the control unit 2 call-up for any applicable system diagram to be displayed on the rear projector screen 7. These diagrams will contain all information necessary to carry out normal maintenance and fault finding procedures, and they will detail all test points available to the student. Ancillary information, such as panel information, indicator readings, status of warning lights, position of switches and controls etc., can be displayed in the form of enhanced computer graphics on the monitor 11 or 1 or a stand alone large screen colour monitor 16.

The students can then modify the displayed system by selecting controls and switches using the tracker ball unit 14 or the keyboard 15. This will result in the display on the monitor changing to reflect the modifications introduced so that alterations to the displayed fault condition will occur. By this means the student can experiment to try to cure or alleviate the fault. Furthermore, the simulated display can be used as a diagnostic tool to suggest reasons for a fault occurring in actual equipment either by reproducing, in the simulation, the effects of the observed fault and working back to try to determine the fault itself, or by introducing into the simulation known faults and noting the effects thereof and comparing these with the observed effects of the fault in the actual equipment.

When the equipment of Figure 3 is used as a standalone unit, ancillary information will be available on the monitor 11. This information will be presented in the form of lists and tables rather than computer graphics. Diagrams that might otherwise be displayed on the projector screen of Figures 1 and 2 will be available to the student in the form of Maintenance manual diagrams.

Claims (15)

1. A teaching aid comprising a first screen linked to a graphics display generator, a second, videodisplay, screen with associated computerised control equipment, and a control unit which simultaneously controls changes to information projected on the two screens as generated by the display generator and the control equipment.

2. A teaching aid according to claim 1, wherein the graphic display generator is a large screen rear projection system.

3. A teaching aid according to claim 2, wherein the control unit controls changing of slides in a slide projector which projects onto the screen.

4. A teaching aid according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the computerised control equipment includes a drive incorporating a prepared programme determining material to be displayed on the second screen.

5. A teaching aid according to claim 4, wherein the programme incorporates control commands for causing dynamic movement of illustrations displayed on the second screen.

6. A teaching aid according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit operates directly onto the computerised control equipment and indirectly onto the graphics display generator through the computerised control equipment.

7. A teaching aid according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit is a remote control unit.

8. A teaching aid according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the control unit incorporates control buttons each of which enables signals to be transmitted to alter part or all of the display shown on either or both of the two screens.

9. A teaching aid according to claim 8, wherein the control unit is provided with a removable overlay which fits around the buttons and carries labels defining operations determined upon pressing the buttons.

10. A teaching aid substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A method of displaying information for teaching purposes using a teaching aid as defined in any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a general subject or illustration is displayed on the first screen and static and/or varying information or illustrations, related to at least a part of the display on the first screen, is displayed on the second screen.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein changes to details of the display on the second screen are effected whilst the display on the first screen remains static.

13. A method of diagnosing faults within a system, utilising a display monitor and associated computerised control equipment, wherein illustrations and/or parameters of a part of the system are displayed upon the monitor and the control equipment is used to change parameters in that part of the system to simulate fault conditions or to attempt to remedy simulated fault conditions illustrated on the monitor, the control equipment responding to those changes to illustrate on the monitor the effect thereof on the whole system as applied to the part of the system displayed.

14. A method according to claim 13, particulars of known faults are fed into computer and results displayed are compared with observed effects of an actual fault within the system under examination.

15. A method as claimed in claim 11 or claim 13 and substantially as herein described.