Device and method for detection of the shots on a target from a distance

A device and method for detection of the shots on a target comprising a closed video circuit with the camera positioned adjacent the target so as to receive light influenced by a projectile about to hit the target. The monitor of the video circuit is positioned adjacent to the shooter and provides indication of the shooter's shot on the monitor.

The present invention relates to an improvement in a system of detecting 
the shots existing on a target from a distance, the target which may be a 
target disc for shooting with pistols, rifles, bow and arrow and the like. 
In Italian patent application No. 3304 A/76, here a part of the present 
invention, the target was placed upon a sensitive support on which the 
arrival position of the projectile was located by means of coordinates 
which divided the support by sensitized areas. 
It is evident, however, that the system could only be used in cases in 
which the bullets had a low momentum so that the energy set free by the 
impact was not so great as to damage the detecting device itself; in fact, 
by using projectiles with high momentum the detecting device would be 
destroyed within a very short time. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of detection 
and a detecting system which--even of the same concept as that of the 
introductory mentioned type, may be used without damage thereto, also in 
those cases, in which projectiles of high energy are shot, such as for 
example high caliber bullets, arrows, etc. 
With this, a system of coordinates is still used, which are, however, 
associated without a massive target without discontinuities. The target, 
to which small cards with numbered zones for the scoring are fixed, is 
sufficiently strong to resist various successive shots. 
Instead of small mobile areas providing for the sensitive part, a 
videocamera is used, which is connected to a closed circuit television, 
the monitor of which is placed near the shooter. 
The videocamera instead of registering the image of the impact point of the 
projectile, registers the reflex product by the bullet when crossing the 
light rays which are positioned in front of the target and parallel 
thereto. 
In this way, even in the hypothetical, but practically not too rare, case 
of shots which are located one over the other in the same spot, successive 
registrations are obtained in such a manner as if each single shot had 
arrived alone and distinctly on the target. A convenient system for 
storing and transmitting the registered data permits the reading and the 
visualization of the single shot as well as of all the shots by the 
shooter, by means of a monitor placed near the firing line. 
The device which the present invention relates to works substantially in 
the following way: the system of coordinates placed over the target 
utilizes the same principle as that which provides an image in TV picture 
tubes; the area is scanned by lines and within each line, by points, thus 
obtaining perpendicular Cartesian coordinates. 
With the proper lighting conditions, the bullet upon crossing a light ray, 
by means of reflection of the luminous rays, creates an intensely 
contrasting image on the tube of the videocamera and as the area involved 
with this image is explored by the scanning ray, a signal is obtained with 
a white level which is superior to that of all other observed parts. This 
signal is registered by a suitable threshold circuit, which is sensitive 
to the fact that a signal has been produced which is clearly distinct from 
all others of the background. The release of the threshold circuit is used 
to fix or ascertain the elapsed time between the beginning of the scanning 
of the frame and the release, within a storage device. In formation of the 
frames following the one in which the examined event occurred, it is 
sufficient to insert a white level signal within the time indicated by the 
storage in order to obtain a permanent indication of the projectile impact 
point. 
Clearing may be accomplished simply by setting the storage circuit to zero 
during the elapsed time between the beginning of the frame and the tracing 
of the shot. 
In order to increase the sensitivity of the registration; convenient 
lighting procedures in the zone in front of the target are to be used, so 
that the traversal of the projectile are to be used so that the passing of 
the projectile will generate a sufficiently distinct flash.

A target 1 is disposed behind a parallel path of light rays 2 coming from a 
luminous source 3. A projectile 4 on crossing a portion of the light ray 
path 2 reflects rays 5 toward videocamera 6, which are "read" by the 
videocamera 6. The signals of the camera 6 are elaborated in the following 
by a synchronous generator 7, a threshold circuit 8 and a storage circuit 
9 connected to each other as indicated, and having an outlet feeding into 
a TV monitor 10. 
In this manner, an indication registering on the target is elaborated and 
transmitted from a distance near the shooter. 
While we have disclosed one embodiment of the invention it is to be 
understood that this embodiment is given by example only and not in a 
limiting sense.