Mechanical computer with repositionable components
OwnerPaul Garrett Boswellinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A mechanical computing system configured to serve as an aid in learning fundamental aspects of coding. The mechanical computing system including a substrate having a flow path between an upstream portion and a downstream portion, and a plurality of repositionable programming members pivotably coupled to the substrate and configured to guide and interact with units dispensed along the flow path from the upstream portion to the downstream portion, wherein a first programming member is configured to pivot relative to the substrate upon interaction with a unit traversing along the flow path, and wherein a second programming member positioned upstream of the first programming member is configured to pivot relative to the substrate based on feedback from the first programming member.
Claims20
A mechanical computing system comprising:
- a substrate having an upstream portion and a downstream portion;
- an incremental unit dispenser configured to incrementally dispense a plurality of units along a flow path of the substrate from the upstream portion to the downstream portion;
- a plurality of repositionable members operably coupled to the substrate and configured to guide and interact with the plurality of units along the flow path, wherein a first repositionable member is configured to pivot relative to the substrate upon interaction with at least one unit of the a plurality of units, and a second repositionable member positioned upstream of the first repositionable member is configured to pivot relative to the substrate based on the pivoting of the first repositionable member.
A game configured to serve as an aid in learning fundamental aspects of coding, the game comprising:
- a board having a flow path between an upstream portion and a downstream portion;
- and
- a plurality of repositionable programming members pivotable coupled to the board and configured to guide and interact with marbles dispensed along the flow path from the upstream portion to the downstream portion, wherein a first programming member is configured to pivot relative to the board upon interaction with a marble traversing along the flow path, and wherein a second programming member positioned upstream of the first programming member is configured to pivot relative to the board based on feedback from the first programming member.
A method of operating a mechanical computing system comprising:
- providing a substrate having an upstream portion and a downstream portion;
- positioning at least a first repositionable member and a second repositionable member on the substrate, wherein the second repositionable member is positioned upstream of the first repositionable member;
- and
- incrementally dispensing a plurality of units along a flow path of the substrate from the upstream portion to the downstream portion, wherein the first repositionable member is configured to pivot relative to the substrate upon interaction with at least one unit of the a plurality of units, and the second repositionable member is configured to pivot relative to the substrate based on the pivoting of the first repositionable member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.