Electronic item selection apparatus and method

摘要

A method and apparatus for selecting one of a multiplicity of preidentified items, such as candidates on an election ballot. Each item has an associated light emitting element which has an on/off status. The use of the lights is time multiplexed between status display and item selection tasks. For at least a first certain portion of each of a plurality of successive time cycles, the lights with an on status are energized. The lights which are energized are associated with previously selected items. They are energized to a level of illumination visible to the human eye in a normal ambient light environment. For a second portion of each time cycle, a multiplicity of the lights are energized in a prearranged time dependent algorithmic pattern. During this portion of the time cycle the lights are energized only to a level of illumination not normally visible to the human eye in a normal ambient light environment. Items are selected by positioning a light detection element sufficiently close to the item's associated light to receive the light emitted therefrom during at least one of the second portions of the time cycles. The identity of the item selected is determined by correlating the time when light is received by the light detection element with the prearranged time dependent pattern.