Teaching system
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a teaching system and more particularly is directed to a teaching apparatus which is formed as a portable type as a whole and with which, after a pupil has finished his lesson according to the teaching program of the apparatus, can be used as a tape recorder independently. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     A prior art teaching apparatus has been suggested which includes a control table which is operated by a teacher and a number of tape recorders which are operated by pupils, are both fixedly arranged in a room and hence cannot readily be moved. 
     Further, according to the prior art teaching arrangements, the number of tape recorders which can be used for a system and which can be used by the pupil is determined, it is not possible to increase or decrease the number of tape recorders as the number of pupils increase or decrease. Thus, when the number of pupils is greater than the number of tape recorders, a problem is created by the fact that some of the pupils cannot use a tape recorder, while when the number of pupils is less than the number of tape recorders, some tape recorders are not used practically, which is inefficient. 
     In addition, in the teaching apparatus of the prior art, since the tape recorders which are operated by pupils are fixed in a room and are not formed to be recorded on and/or reproduced from individually, if the pupil wished to learn the content of the tape at other places, he is required to use another tape recorder. This is very inconvenient. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a teaching apparatus in which a control table which may be operated by a teacher and a tape recorder which may be operated by a pupil are both arranged to be portable. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a learning apparatus in which a control table, which may be operated by a teacher, is formed with terminals for a relatively small number of tape recorders and arranged as a unit, and a plurality of such control tables or units are made to be connectible and all of them can be controlled at one place to thereby correspond to the increase or decrease of the number of pupils. 
     It is a further object of the invention to provide a teaching apparatus in which a plurality of tape recorders, which may be operated by pupils, are made disconnectible from a control table which may be operated by a teacher and when the tape recorders are connected to the control table, they are controlled by operating the control table, but when the tape recorders are disconnected from the control table, they can operate individually as an ordinary tape recorder. 
     It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a teaching apparatus in which the supply of learning signals, sound signals and control signals for tape recorders (switching signals for circuits) are achieved by a common line, and the number of lines for connecting a control table to the respective tape recorders. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description taken in conjunction with the attached drawing. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The single FIGURE of the drawing is a diagrammatic connection diagram showing a preferred embodiment of the teaching apparatus according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the drawing, a plurality of portable control tables 1A are shown which may be operated by a teacher. A plurality of portable tape recorders 2a, . . . 2n are also included which may be operated by pupils and which are connectible to the control tables 1A, respectively. Each control table 1A is supplied with DC voltage from a voltage source (not shown) through a common adaptor 3, lines 4c and terminal devices 4A, respectively. Each of the control tables 1A is connected with a tape recorder 5, a microphone 6 and ear phone 7 for the teacher, respectively, although in the illustrated embodiment the upper control table 1A is only connected with the tape recorder 5, microphone 6 and ear phone 7. 
     The tape recorder 5, microphone 6 and ear phone 7 for the teacher may be detachably connected to a control table 1A through, for example, plug-jack devices or the like, or may be fixed to the control tables 1A. 
     Each of the control tables 1A has a terminal device 8A which includes, for example, five terminals 8a, 8b, . . . 8e, for being connectible to another one, so that one of the control tables 1A is connected to the other one by lines 8f for two table connection at the corresponding terminals. However, it is also possible that a number of control tables which are similarly constructed as 1A, may be connected with one another. 
     Each of the control tables 1A has provided a plurality of terminal devices 9a to 9n which include terminals 9 a-1 , 9 a-2 , 9 a-3 , 9 a-4 , 9 a-5 , to 9 n-1 , 9 n-2 , 9 n-3 , 9 n-4 , 9 n-5 . The terminals 9 a-1 , to 9 a-5  to 9 n-1 , 9 n-5  are connected to terminals 11 a-1 , 11 a-2 , 11 a-3  11 a-4 , 11 a-5  to 11 n-1 , 11 n-5  (not shown) of terminal devices 11 a  to 11 n  of the tape recorders 2a to 2n through lines 10a to 10n, respectively. 
     Since all the control tables 1A (in the FIGURE two control tables 1A are shown) are the same in construction, the upper control table 1A will be now described in detail, by way of example. 
     The control table 1A has accommodated therein a power source such, for example, as a battery 12 which is connected through a power switch 13, diodes 14, 15 for blocking reverse current and then through respective diodes 6a to 6n to the terminals 9 a-1  to 9 n-1  of the terminal devices 9a to 9n, respectively. Further, the battery 12 is connected to an amplifier 17 for a microphone input signal and to a monitor amplifier 18. A hot side terminal 4a of the external power source terminal device 4A is connected to the battery 12 through a power source switch 19, a fuse 20, the diodes 15, 14 and the power switch 13. 
     In the control table 1A, there are also provided first, second and third switch groups, respectively. The first switch group consists of switches 21a to 21n and 22a to 22n which are ganged with one another and correspond to the terminal devices 9a to 9n. The first switch group are provided for monitoring the mutual conversation between the teacher and learners or learners&#39; learning states. The switches 21a to 21n include three fixed contacts 21 a-1 , 21 a-2 , 21 a-3  to 21 n-1 , 21 n-2 , 21 n-3  and movable contacts 21 a-4  to 21 n-4 , respectively. The first fixed contacts 21 a-1  to 21 n-1  are for the mutual conversation and connected to the terminals 9 a-2  to 9 n-2  of the terminal devices 9a to 9n through diodes 23a to 23n for stopping the rotation of respective motors provided in the tape recorders 2a to 2n, respectively. The second fixed contact points 21 a-2  to 21 n-2  are commonly connected to the output terminal of the amplifier 17 through resistors 26a to 26n for avoiding mutual interference among the tape recorders 2a to 2n, a common resistor 25 for avoiding mutual interference between the two control tables 1A when they are connected, and through a common capacitor 24, to the terminals 9 a-3  to 9 n-3  of the terminal devices 9a to 9n through resistors 27a to 27n, and to the terminal 8a of the terminal device 8A for two table connection, respectively. 
     Further, the second contact points 21 a-2  to 21 n-2  and third contact points 21 a-3  to 21 n-3  are connected together to the power source through the resistors 26a to 26n, 25 and a resistor 27A for supplying DC bias. The terminal 8a of the terminal device 8A is connected to a ground side contact 4b of the power source terminal device 4A through a switch 29, which is normally closed but opened when a plug of cord side is inserted, and through a dummy resistor 28. While, the movable contacts 21 a-4  to 21 n-4  of the switches 21a to 21n are commonly connected and normally grounded through a switch 30, the movable contact 30-1 of which is normally in contact with its first contact 30-2 as shown in the FIGURE. The movable contact 30-1 of the switch 30 is connected with the movable contacts 21 a-4  to 21 n-4 , as above mentioned, the first fixed contact 30-2 thereof is grounded and the second fixed contact 30-3 thereof is opened. The switch 30 is actuated by a relay 31 such that its movable contact 30-1 normally contacts with the first fixed contact 30-2 as shown in the FIGURE, but contacts with the opened fixed contact 30-3 when the relay 31 is energized. 
     The second switches 22a to 22n of the first switch group which are ganged with the first switches 21a to 21n include three fixed contacts 22 a-1 , 22 a-2 , 22 a-3  to 22 n-1 , 22 n-2 , 22 n-3  and movable contacts 22 a-4  to 22 n-4 , respectively. The first and third fixed contacts 22 a-1  to 22 n-1  and 22 a-3  to 22 n-3  are connected together to the terminal 8c of the terminal device 8A and to the output terminal of the monitor amplifier 18 through a variable resistor 32. The second fixed contacts 22 a-2  to 22 n-2  are all made to be opened contacts. The movable contacts 22 a-4  to 22 n-4  are connected to the terminal 9 a-5  to 9 n-5  of the terminal devices 9a to 9n, respectively. The terminals 9 a-4  to 9 n-4  of the terminal devices 9a to 9n are all ground contacts, that is, they are connected together to the ground terminal 4b of the terminal device 4A. 
     The second switch group, which include switches 33 and 34, are provided in the control table 1A for calling all pupils and for recording a program signal. The first switch 33 comprises three fixed contacts 33-1, 33-2, 33-3, and a movable contact 33-4. The movable contact 33-4 is connected to the terminal 8b of the terminal device 8A, to the ground terminal 4b of the power source terminal device 4A, and to the terminals 9 a-4  to 9 n-4  of the terminal devices 9a to 9n. The first and third fixed contacts 33-1 and 33-3 are connected together to the terminal 8d of the terminal device 8A and a ground side terminal 31b of the relay 31 which is supplied with the power source at its input terminal 31a. The second switch 34, which is ganged with the first switch 33, comprises three fixed contacts 34-1, 34-2, 34-3 and a movable contact 34-4. The movable contact 34-4 is connected to the terminal 8b of the terminal device 8A, to the ground terminal 4b of the power source terminal device 4A, and to the terminals 9 a-4  to 9 n-4  of the terminal devices 9a to 9n, as in the case of the movable contact 33-4 of the first switch 33. The first fixed contact 34-1 of the switch 34 is connected to the terminals 9 a-2  to 9 n-2  of the terminal devices 9a to 9n through diodes 35a to 35n, respectively, and to the terminal 8e of the terminal device 8A. The second and third contacts 34-2 an 34-3 of the second switch 34 are both made to be opened contacts, respectively. 
     The amplifier 17 is provied with a negative feedback circuit consisting of a capacitor 36 and a resistor 37 and also with a negative feedback circuit consisting of a capacitor 38 and a resistor 39 for avoiding level increase upon calling all the pupils between the movable contact 30-1 of the switch 30 and the amplifier 17. 
     The terminals 9 a-1  to 9 n-1  of the terminal devices 9a to 9n serve to supply electric power to the tape recorders 2a to 2n and are connected to the connection point between the fuse 20 and the diode 15 through diodes 6a to 6n for blocking a brush-noise caused by motors provided in the tape recorders 2a to 2n, respectively. 
     The tape recorders 2a to 2n which may be connected to the control tables 1A, respectively, will be described in detail. In this case, since each of the tape recorders 2a to 2n is substantially the same in construction, the tape recorder 2a will be now described, by way of example. 
     In the tape recorder 2a, there is arranged a microphone 50 for recording, a speaker 51 for reproducing, a recording and/or reproducing magnetic head 52 for training, a recording and/or reproducing magnetic head 53 for information to be learned, an ear phone 54, first to fourth amplifiers 55 to 58, third and fourth switch groups, respectively. Further, the terminal device 11a, which includes the terminals 11 a-1 , 11 a-2 , 11 a-3 , 11 a-4  and 11 a-5  in correspondence with the terminals 9 a-1 , 9 a-2 , 9 a-3 , 9 a-4  and 9 a-5  of the terminal device 9a provided in the control table 1A, is provided in the tape recorder 2a. 
     The third switch group of a pupil section includes four ganged switches 59, 60, 61 and 62 which consist of three fixed contacts 59-1 to 59-3, 60-1 to 60-3, 61-1 to 61-3 and 62-1 to 62-3 and movable contacts 5914, 60-4, 61-4 and 62-4, respectively. When the movable contacts 59-4 to 62-4 are contacted with the first fixed contacts 59-1 to 62-1, respectively, the tape recorder 2a is put in an ordinary recording mode; when the movable contacts 59-4 to 62-4 are contacted with the second fixed contacts 59-2 to 62-2 as shown in the FIGURE, the tape recorder 2a is made in a reproducing mode; and when the movable contacts 59-4 to 62-4 are contacted with the third fixed contacts 59-3 to 62-3, the tape recorder 2a is made in an LL-recording mode (language laboratory recording mode). 
     The fourth switch group of a pupil section includes two ganged switches 63 and 64 which consist of movable contacts 63-1 and 64-1 and two fixed contacts 63-2 to 63-3 and 64-2 to 64-3, respectively. The switches 63 and 64 are actuated by a relay 65. The movable contacts 63-1 and 64-1 normally contact with the first fixed contacts 63-2 and 64-2, as shown in the FIGURE, but with the second fixed contacts 63-3 and 64-3, respectively when the relay 65 is energized. The first and third fixed contacts 59-1 and 59-3 of the switch 59 are connected together to the output terminal of the microphone 50. The second fixed contact 59-2 of the switch 59 is connected to the head 52, to the first and third fixed contacts 60-1 and 60-3 of the switch 60 and to the first fixed contact 61-1 of the switch 61, respectively. The movable contact 59-4 of the switch 59 is connected to the input terminal of the amplifier 55 for amplifying the output signal of the microphone 50. The output terminal of the amplifier 55 is connected to the movable contact 63-1 of the switch 63. The first fixed contact 63-2 of the switch 63 and the second fixed contact 64-3 of the switch 64 are connected together to the input terminal of the second amplifier 56 and the second fixed contact 62-2 of the switch 62 through a variable resistor 66. The output terminal of the amplifier 56 is connected to the movable contact 60-4 of the switch 60 and to the first and third fixed contacts 62-1 and 62-3 of the switch 62 through a variable resistor 67 for avoiding crosstalk. The second fixed contact 60-2 of the switch 60 is connected to the input terminal of the speaker 51. The movable contact 61-4 of the switch 61 is connected to the head 53 and its second and third fixed contacts 61-2 and 61-3 are connected together to the input terminal of the third amplifier 57. The output terminal of the amplifier 57 is connected to the second fixed contact 63-3 of the switch 63 and also through a movable resistor 68 to the movable contact 62-4 of the switch 62 and to the input terminal of the amplifier 58 for the phone 54. The output terminal of the amplifier 58 is connected to the ear phone 54 and to the terminal 11 a-5  of the terminal device 11a. The terminal 11 a-5  is connected through one of the wires 10a  to the terminal 9 a-5  of the terminal device 9a provided in the control table 1A and therethrough to the movable contact 22 a-4  of the switch 22a provided in the control table 1A. The terminal 11 a-3  of the terminal device 11a is connected through another one of the wires 10a to the terminal 9 a-3  of the control table 1A, to the ground through the relay 65 and to the movable contact 64-1 of the switch 64 through a capacitor 69 for blocking DC current. 
     A description will now be given of the power source of the tape recorder 2a. The terminal 11 a-1  of the terminal device 11a is connected to the terminal 9 a-1  of the terminal device 9a of the control table 1A through one of the wires 10a, so that the terminal 11 a-1  is supplied with the electric power from the control table 1A. The terminal 11 a-1  is grounded through a switch 70 for a motor 71 driving the tape recorder, the motor 71 and a switching transistor 72 of PNP-type. The base electrode of the transistor 72 is supplied with a bias through resistors 73, 74 and 75. The terminal 11 a-2  of the terminal device 11a is connected to the connection point between the resistors 73 and 74 for bias application and to the terminal 9 a-2  of the terminal device 9a provided in the control table 1A. The terminal 11 a-4  of the terminal device 11a is grounded and connected to the terminal 9 a-4  of the terminal device 9a through one of the wires 10a. 
     In the tape recorder 2a, there is provided a battery 76 one terminal of which is connected to the terminal 11 a-1  through a diode 77 and the other terminal of which is grounded. An input terminal device 78 is provided in the tape recorder 2a for being supplied with the commercial electric power. A transformer 79 is connected to the input terminal device 78 at its primary winding and at its secondary winding to the ground and to the terminal 11 a-1  through a rectifier 80. The terminal 11 a-1  is connected to a terminal 81 for supplying electric power to the amplifiers 55 to 58. That is, the terminal 81 is connected to the power supply terminals (not shown) of the amplifiers 55 to 58. 
     From the above description the tape recorder 2a, it may be apparent that each of the tape recorders 2a to 2n can be used independently, if it is disconnected from the control table 1A. 
     The operation of one of the control tables 1A and the tape recorder 2a to 2n connected thereto will be now described. 
     At first, the movable conacts 21 a-4  and 22 a-4  of the switches 21a and 22a in the control table 1A are connected to their first fixed contacts 21 a-1  and 22 a-1 , respectively. At this time, the base electrode of the switching transistor 72 in each of the tape recorders 2a to 2n is grounded through the resistor 74, the diode 23a, the switch 21a and the switch 30, which is held in the illustrated position, to be made nonconductive. Thus, the motor 71 in each tape recorder is stopped in rotation. At this time, since the second fixed contact 21 a-2  of the switch 21a is disconnected from ground, the relay 65 in each of the tape recorders 2a to 2n is supplied with DC voltage from the control table 1A. Thus, the movable contacts 63-1 and 64-1 of the switches 63 and 64 in each of the tape recorders 2a to 2n are switched to be contacted with their second fixed contacts 63-3 and 64-3, respectively. 
     In this case, if the third switches 59 to 62 in each of the tape recorders 2a to 2n are in the reproducing mode, the signal from the microphone 6 for the teacher is applied to the speaker 51 in each tape recorder, while if the switches 59 to 63 are in the LL-recording mode, the signal from the microphone 6 is applied to the ear phone 54 in each tape recorder to make it possible for individual conversation between the teacher and the pupils. In this case, if the third switch group 59 to 63 of each tape recorder is switched by the pupil in the ordinary recording or LL-recording mode, the signal from the microphone 50 for the pupil in each tape recorder is applied to the ear phone 7 for the teacher through the amplifiers 55, 58 the switch 22a and the monitor amplifier 18, so that conversation between the teacher and the pupils is possible. 
     Next, the movable contacts 21 a-4  and 22 a-4  of the switches 21a and 22a in the control table 1A are contacted with the third fixed contacts 21 a-3  and 22 a-3 , respectively. At this time, since the second and third fixed contacts 21 a-2  and 21 a-3  of the switch 21a are connected commonly and grounded through the switch 30, the switching transistor 72 in each tape recorder is kept conductive and the relay 65 is kept in a deenergized state. At this time, the output terminal of the amplifier 58 for the ear phone 54 in each tape recorder is connected to the ear phone 7 for the teacher through the switch 22a and monitor amplifier 18. Thus, the tape recorders corresponding to the first switches can be monitored in its using condition (training condition) by the teacher. 
     Next, a description will be given of the case where the switches 33 and 34 are switched so that their movable contacts 33-4 and 34-4 are contacted with their first fixed contacts 33-1 and 34-1, respectively. 
     In such a case, since the movable contact 33-4 of the switch 33, which is grounded, contacts the first fixed contacts 33-1, the relay 31 is energized to change the switch 30 such that its movable contact 30-1 is in contact with its opened contact 30-3. Thus, the movable contacts 21 a-4  to 21 n-4  of the switches 21a to 21n are disconnected from the ground. 
     The relay 65 in each of the tape recorders 2a to 2n is thus energized to switch the fourth switches 63 and 64 so that the signal from the microphone 6 for the teacher can be applied to the speaker 51 or ear phone 54 is each of the tape recorders 2a to 2n. At this time, the movable contact 34-4 of the switch 34, which is grounded, is in contact with its first fixed contact 34-1, so that the base electrodes of the transistors 72 in the tape recorders 2a to 2n are grounded through the diodes 35a to 35n and the switch 34 to stop the rotation of the motors 71. In this state, the teacher can carry out a conversation with the pupils. 
     When the movable contacts 33-4 and 34-4 of the second switches 33 and 34 are switched to be contacted with their third fixed contacts 33-3 and 34-3, since the first and third fixed contacts 33-1 and 33-3 are connected in common, the relay 31 is also energized to switch the switch 30, as in the case of the movable contact 33-4 being contacted with the fixed contact 33-1, to disconnect the movable contacts 21 a-4  to 21 n-4  of the switches 21a to 21n from the ground. Thus, the relays 65 of the tape recorder 2a to 2n are energized to switch the switches 63 and 64. While, since the third fixed contact 34-3 of the switch 34 is opened, the switching transistors 72 of the tape recorders 2a to 2n are not made nonconductive. Accordingly, the motors 71 in the tape recorders 2a to 2n can be rotated. 
     At this condtion, if the tape recorders 2a to 2n are made in the ordinary recording mode and a signal to be learned is applied thereto from the tape recorder 5, the signal can be recorded through the magnetic heads 52 and 53 of the tape recorders 2a to 2n, respectively. In this case, the signal is applied to the ear phone 54 of the tape recorders 2a to 2n and the signal from the microphones 50 are applied through the amplifiers 55 and 58 to the ear phone 54 thereof, so that the pupils can monitor the signal to be learned and also they can perform pronouncing or conversation training while hearing the signal to be learned. 
     The above description is given on the single control table 1A and the tape recorders 2a to 2n which are connectible to the single control table 1A, mainly, but other control tables 1A, to each of which one or more of the tape recorders 2a to 2n can be connectible, can be connected to the single control table 1A by connecting their terminals 8a to 8e of the terminal devices 8A, correspondingly, through the wires 8f. In this case, each of the control tables 1A can perform the operation described above. 
     With the teaching system according to the present invention, if pupils are relatively few, it is sufficient that only one control table be used and the required number of tape recorders are connected to the single control table. If pupils increase beyond the number of tape recorders which could be connectible to the single control table, one or more of the control tables are connected with one another and the required number of tape recorders are connected to the control tables respecitvely to make it possible for all the pupils to learn the lesson and so on through the tape recorders connected to the control tables from one teacher who operates one of the control tables only, because the operation achieved by one of the control tables is common to the other control tables. From the same reason, a plurality of teachers, if necessary, can operate the control tables to transmit their intention to the pupils. 
     Also, if some of the switches of the one control table are operated, all of the pupils can be called on at the same time. 
     Further, with the present invention, since the transmitting of the signal to be learned and sounds and the transmitting of the control signal to the tape recorder are carried out through the common wire, the number of wires connecting the control signal with the tape recorders can be reduced to a minimum. 
     In the drawing, reference numeral 82 indicates an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic piano which is connected to the same terminal as that of the microphone 6 for the teacher for substantially the same purpose as the microphone 6, and 83 is an electronic musical instrument such as an electronic piano which is connected to the same terminal as the microphone 50 for the pupil, for substantially the same purpose as the microphone 50. 
     Although the foregoing is given as a single embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent that many variations and modifications could be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.