Apparatus for collecting data

An apparatus is provided for collecting data. The apparatus is particularly, but not exclusively, applicable for the diagnosing of eye disorders. The apparatus contains a rack (1) having a plurality of engagement positions and a plurality of counters (5) for the rack (1), each counter (5) being engageable in any one of the engagement positions. Each counter (5) contains a specific, unique, electrical attribute which enables a detector included within the apparatus to detect and therefore process the data relating to the value of the electrical attribute of each counter (5).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention relates to an apparatus for collecting data. It is 
particularly, but not exclusively, applicable for the diagnosing of eye 
disorders. 
2. Summary of the Prior Art 
A method for determining the ability of a person to distinguish between 
different colors is known wherein one or more racks each containing a 
plurality of colored counters is provided, each counter having a different 
color to each of the other counters such that when the counters are 
arranged linearly in their correct order the color of each counter except 
the first differs slightly and progressively from that of the preceding 
counter. It is the task of the subject of the test to arrange the counters 
in their correct order in the or each rack, relying only on the color of 
each counter. 
In the known method, each counter is numbered on the underside. The process 
of collecting and processing the data involves noting the order of the 
counters according to their numbers and then calculating the ability of 
the subject to distinguish colors based on these numbers according to 
known algorithms. The results of these computations are usually plotted on 
a circular graph for interpretation. 
The ability of the subject to distinguish between colors can be determined 
using four racks, each containing twenty-two counters. This involves 
eighty-five different colors, the last counter of each rack having the 
same color as the first counter of the next rack. 
The collection and processing of the data in this way is a time-consuming 
activity, typically taking about 21/2 hours. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention seeks to provide an apparatus for carrying out the 
collection of the data electrically. The data can then be easily and 
rapidly processed electronically. 
At its most general, the present invention proposes that the numbering of 
the counters in the known method described above is replaced by the 
assignment to each counter of a specific electrical attribute, such as 
resistance. Then, means are provided for measuring the electrical 
attributes of the counters when they are arrayed in a rack, and processing 
that measurement of counter information to derive an analysis of the 
arrangement of the colors of the counters. 
Accordingly, a first aspect of the present invention may provide an 
apparatus for collecting data comprising a rack having a plurality of 
engagement positions, a plurality of counters for the rack, each counter 
being engageable in any one of the engagement positions; 
wherein: 
each of the counters has a specific electrical attribute, the value of the 
electrical attribute of each counter differing from that of each of the 
other counters; and 
the apparatus further includes detection means for detecting the value of 
the electrical attribute of each counter when engaged in corresponding 
engagement positions and processing means for collecting and processing 
the data relating to the value of the electrical attribute of each 
counter. 
In the event that the apparatus is used for diagnosing eye conditions, each 
counter may have a colored portion, the color of the colored portion of 
each counter differing from the color of the colored portion of each of 
the other counters. The subject of the diagnostic test must arrange the 
counters in color order in the rack. There may be a plurality of racks 
with the counters having different colors. Then, either all the counters 
have a different value of the electrical attribute, or the counters within 
each rack have a different value, and there is also means for 
distinguishing each rack. 
The electrical attribute most conveniently used in the present invention is 
resistance. If resistance is the electrical attribute used, each 
engagement position preferably has a hole and the detecting means includes 
electrical contacts for contacting the portion of specified electrical 
resistance of each counter through the corresponding hole. In this case 
the detecting means includes means for measuring the electrical resistance 
of the portion of specified electrical resistance of each counter. 
The processing means processes the data relating to the value of the 
electrical attribute of each counter so that it may then determine the 
ability of the test subject to distinguish between colors. 
It should be noted that the present invention does not relate solely to an 
apparatus for collecting data as discussed above. In addition, a second 
aspect of the present invention provides an assembly of a plurality of 
counters and a rack for housing the plurality of counters, the rack having 
a base and a lid hinged together by hinges; wherein the internal walls of 
the rack are substantially equal to the height of the counters and there 
are a plurality of holes corresponding to the plurality of counters in the 
base for receiving its counters. 
In this aspect, the shaping of the rack holds the counters firmly in place, 
when the lid is closed on the base, so that the subject of the diagnostic 
test can arrange the counters in order, and the person giving the test can 
then close the rack and transport the rack without the risk of the 
counters changing position. 
In a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a set of 
counters, each counter having a circular upper and lower surface; 
wherein: 
that the lower surface provides an electrical attribute differing from the 
electrical attribute of each of the other counters. 
As previously mentioned in order to carry out the full diagnostic test, 
there may be a plurality of racks. Hence, a fourth aspect of the present 
invention may provided a system for collecting data comprising: 
a data collecting probe having a platform with a first recess, a cover with 
a second recess being hinged along one side to the platform by hinges, 
contact in the recess of the cover being connected to a processing means; 
and 
a plurality of racks selectively and interchangeably insertable into the 
data collecting probe such that any one of the plurality of racks is 
receivable in the first and second recesses, each of the racks containing 
a plurality of counters, the contacts being arranged to contact respective 
counters when the corresponding rack is received in the probe and the 
processing means is arranged to collect and process data relating to said 
counters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
The apparatus comprises a rack 1 in which colored counters 5 may be 
arranged and a data collection probe 20 into which the rack 1 is placed to 
determine the order of the counters 5. The rack 1 has a base 2 and a lid 3 
which are hinged together by hinges 4. The base has two side walls 7 which 
are stepped down from the edge to which the lid 3 is hinged to form a 
front wall 8. The front wall 8 is lower than the side walls 7 in order to 
facilitate the insertion into and removal from the rack of counters 5 
which have a height substantially equal to that of the internal surface of 
the side walls 7. Female catch members 6b,6a are attached to the front 
wall 9 of the lid 3 and male catch members 6b are attached to the front 
wall 8 of the base 2. The male and female catch members 6a, 6b can engage 
with each other to secure the rack in a closed condition. 
The counters 5 may be positioned in the rack over holes 11 formed in the 
floor 10 of the rack base 2. The lower surface 13 of each counter 5 may 
have a protrusion in the form of a locating ring, or each hole 11 may have 
a recess around its upper edge to ensure proper positioning of each 
counter 5 over a hole. There are the same number of counters 5 as there 
are holes 11. 
The lid 3 can only close over the base 2 with engagement of the catches 6 
when the counters 5 are properly positioned over the holes 11. Since the 
height of each counter 5 is substantially equal to the height of the 
inside surface of the side wall 7, and the lid 3 in its closed condition 
lies flush with the top surface 14 of the side wall 7, closure of the lid 
and engagement of the catches 6 holds the counters securely in their 
positions over the holes 11. The end counters 5a and 5b are fixed in the 
rack 1. 
Each counter 5 has a circular upper surface 12, most or all of which is 
colored. When the counters are arranged in their correct order, the color 
of each counter except the first differs slightly and progressively from 
that of the preceding counter. Each counter 5 also has a circular lower 
surface 13 coated with a material having a resistivity different from that 
of each of the materials coating the lower surface 13 of each of the other 
counters 5 in the rack. 
The subject of the test arranges the counters 5 in the rack 1 in the order 
in which he/she considers that the color progress in sequence from the 
fixed counter 5a to the fixed counter 5b. The lid 3 is then closed and the 
catches 6 engaged. The rack 1 is then turned upside down and inserted into 
a recess formed in the platform 22 of a data collection probe 20. The data 
collection probe 20 has a platform 22 with a recess for receiving a rack 
1. The platform 22 is hinged along one side to a cover 23 with hinges 24. 
A rod-shaped handle 27 is attached to the top surface of the cover 23 by 
stands 26. A recess is formed in the cover 23 to accommodate the part of 
the rack 1 which protrudes from the recess in the platform 22 when the 
cover is swung down over the rack 1. Pairs of electrical contacts 25 are 
arranged in the recess in the cover 23 such that when the cover 23 is 
swung down over the platform 22, each pair of contacts 25 protrudes 
through a hole 11 in the rack base 2 and forms an electrical contact with 
the lower surface 13 of a counter 5. The spacing between the tips of the 
contacts in each pair is equal for all pairs of contacts. There are as 
many pairs of electrical contacts 25 as there are holes 11. Wires 29 pass 
through the cover 23 and are bundled together into a lead 28, which leads 
to a processing means in the form of a computer 30 which analyses and 
processes the data collected by the probe 20. Voltage is applied to each 
pair of contacts 25 thought the wires 29 to determine the resistivity of 
the material coating the lower surface 13 of each counter 5. 
The computer 30 is then able to determine the order of the counters 5 in 
the rack 1 since the resistivity of the lower surface 13 of each counter 5 
uniquely identifies the color of that counter and therefore determines its 
correct position in the rack. The computer 30 can them process the data 
obtained by the probe 20 to determine the ability of the subject to 
distinguish colors. Preferably, four racks are provided, each having a 
different range of colors and the fixed counter 5a of each rack having a 
lower surface of different resistivity to enable the computer to identify 
which rack is which. 
Safeguards may be built into the computer program for processing the data 
obtained by the probe. For instance, the computer 30 can refuse to accept 
incomplete sets of data e.g. if one or more counters are missing from the 
rack, if one or more counters has been placed in the rack upside-down, if 
one or more counters is not properly in position over a hole 11. 
It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the 
aforementioned embodiment. Variations will be apparent to the person 
skilled in the art e.g. different electrical attribute such as voltage, 
inductance, capacitance etc. 
The present invention provides an apparatus for carrying out a collection 
of data electrically. It is particularly applicable for diagnosing brain 
conditions which result in eye disorders. The apparatus provides a simple 
way for the patient to be tested along with a quick provision of 
corresponding data. It is also possible due to special features of the 
rack and probe that once the test has been completed the rack can be 
closed thereby immobilising the counters and allowing the analysis to be 
done at a later date or after several other racks have been analysed. 
Several racks may be provided each containing counters covering a 
different range of colors per data collection probe. 
Although the diagnosis of eye disorders would be the most obvious 
application of the present invention, it would be possible with only a few 
modifications to provide an educational tool, or child's educational toy 
for such things as spellings.