Abstract:
Embodiments of the present invention concern a virtual hunting apparatus that employs an imaging device mounted on top of the barrel of a simulated firearm such as a rifle or other toy. A cable can be used to connect the imaging device to the trigger of the simulated firearm. An imaging device can run a variety of applications and play videos. Pulling the trigger of the simulated firearm takes a picture of a target animal, records a video or plays a video of interest within the imaging device, without displacing a bullet or pellet to injure or kill the target animal.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/262,586 filed on Apr. 25, 2014, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/815,876, filed on Apr. 25, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the invention generally relate to simulated hunting and in particular to using a simulated firearm to provide a virtual hunting experience. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Game hunting is a popular recreational pastime in the United States and many other countries worldwide. But as animals (especially endangered animal species) become fewer, stricter regulations apply to killing an animal. In addition, some hunters prefer to seek out a target but not to kill it. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    According to some embodiments, a virtual hunting device includes an imaging device coupled to a firearm or to an imitation firearm. The imaging device displays images to simulate a hunting experience. The images may be captured using a camera integrated into the imaging device or the images may be previously stored images stored on a local memory. In some embodiments, additional features such as a cross-hair or a bull&#39;s eye may be superimposed on the images. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]    The following drawings form part of the present specification and are included to further demonstrate certain embodiments. Some embodiments may be better understood by reference to one or more of these drawings alone or in combination with the detailed description of specific embodiments presented. 
           [0006]      FIG. 1  depicts a first embodiment of an imaging device. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  depicts a second embodiment of an imaging device. 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary depiction of an image that may be displayed on a viewing screen. 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  depicts an imaging device coupled to a firearm. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    In some embodiments, the virtual hunting device includes components that simulate or imitate a firearm, such as a stock, barrel, trigger, etc. In other embodiments, the virtual hunting device incorporates an actual firearm. Thus, the firearm can be a fully functional firearm or an imitation firearm or toy firearm and may be made of metal, wood, plastic, or the like. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates an imaging device  100 , according to embodiments of the present invention. The imaging device  100  may be coupled to or integrated with a scope. The imaging device shown in  FIG. 1  includes a front lens  101 . The front lens  101  may be made from a camera phone lens such as a standard industry phone camera lens. The imaging device  100  also includes a processing module  102 , which processes light propagating through the front lens  101  to create an image. The processing module  102 , in some embodiments, includes a combination of multiple components, such as a CMOS or CCD sensor, a processor, and a memory. In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2 , a processing module  202  may be separate from an imaging sensor  210  (e.g., a CMOS sensor). Thus, the processing module  102  may use a CMOS sensor to create the image using light propagated through the front lens  101  and may store that image in the memory using the processor. Thus, if a user points the imaging device  100  at an animal, an image of that animal may be created via the front lens  101  and the processing module  102 . 
         [0012]    The imaging device  100  also includes a multi-use hook up portal  103 , which can be used to transfer data to or from an external device. For example, images stored in the memory may be transferred to an external device, such as tablet computers, Kindles, laptops, home computers, cell phones, etc., or images from those external devices may be uploaded to the memory of the imaging device  100 . Multi-use hook up portal  103  may use a variety of transmission protocols and physical interface formats. For example, the portal  103  may include, for example, a USB port or may support, for example, memory cards. Thus, data such as photos, videos, or movie clips can be transferred to the imaging device  100 . 
         [0013]    The images stored in the memory and/or processed by the processing module  102  are transferred and displayed on a viewing screen  104 . The viewing screen  104  may be any one of a number of screens, such as a touch screen, an LCD screen, an LED screen, an industry standard phone camera viewing screen, or the like. Thus, the captured image of an animal may be presented on the viewing screen  104 . In addition, in some embodiments, the viewing screen  104 , either alone or in combination with the processing module  102 , superimposes images or other indicia on the displayed images. For example, the processing module  102  may instruct the viewing screen  104  to apply a bull&#39;s eye to an image transmitted from the processing module  102 . In other embodiments, the processing module  102  automatically superimposes the bull&#39;s eye or other indicia on the captured image and stores the entire image in memory. In some embodiments, the processing module  102  provides a selection of indicia to add to the images. For example, the processing module  102  may provide a variety of bull&#39;s eye selections to a user via the viewing screen  104 . A user selects a particular indicia using user input means (e.g., icons on a touch screen or separate push buttons) incorporated into the viewing screen  104 . Icons representing these selections, such as a bull&#39;s eye selection or videos, may be seen on the viewing screen  104 . Thus, in response to a user selecting a particular bull&#39;s eye selection via the viewing screen  104 , the processing module adds (e.g., superimposes) the selected bull&#39;s eye onto an image, for example, the captured image of the animal. An exemplary image is shown in  FIG. 3 , in which a cross-hair  320  is superimposed on a captured image  322  of an animal. 
         [0014]    In some embodiments, the imaging device  100  is set up to capture an image or to display an image when the trigger of the firearm or imitation firearm is pulled. For example, when the trigger of the fake rifle or gun is pulled, a photo of the targeted animal is shot without discharging a bullet at the animal. Alternatively, the shooter can choose to watch a video or a movie clip that has been transferred to the imaging device  100 . For this purpose, in some embodiments the imaging device  100  has an insert connection  106 , which may be used to transfer a trigger signal to the processing module  102 . In other embodiments, the insert connection  106  is custom made to fit into a customized rifle. The insert connection completes circuit internally from the trigger (or from a separate detection circuit near the trigger) to the processing module  102  to take photos. In addition, or alternatively, the imaging device  100  may include an exterior trigger cable port  108 . The exterior trigger cable port  108  accepts a custom cable which clips on behind the trigger of a random fake rifle or gun at one end. The custom cable is plugged into the exterior trigger cable port  108  at the other end. As a result, pulling the trigger sends a signal through the trigger cable port  108  to the processing module  102 , which then captures an image and/or displays that image, another image, a video, or a movie clip using the viewing screen  104 . An exterior trigger cable port  108  is useful for fake rifles or guns (e.g., toy guns and rifles, soft air rifles, and BB guns) that are not custom made to accept the insert connection  106 . 
         [0015]    A battery holder  107  is provided to hold batteries that supply power to the processing module  102  to take photos or apply applications such as playing a video. As mentioned above, photos taken by the imaging device  100  may be transferred to any external device that can accept data from outside. 
         [0016]    As discussed above, embodiments of the invention may be used to hunt virtually. The virtual hunting apparatus can be used by a shooter to target an animal. By pulling the trigger of the fake rifle or gun, the shooter takes a photo of the animal or watches a video or a movie clip played by the imaging device  100 . Videos and movie clips can be transferred to the c imaging device  100  by the choice of the hunter. The hunter can also apply a bull&#39;s eye to the viewing screen  104  of the imaging device  100  and/or the photo taken by pushing an application button of the bull&#39;s eye selection. For example, the shooter virtually hunting an animal may wish to view a video of a real hunt of the animal upon pulling the trigger of the fake rifle or gun of the virtual hunting apparatus to experience a kill but without actually hurting the animal. Videos provided to the imaging device  100  may be a personal choice for a hunter who hunts virtually. Instead of playing a video, a video of a target animal may be taken by the imaging device  100  if it is desired by the hunter. 
         [0017]    Embodiments of this application may be used with imitation or toy devices, compact cameras such as a cell phone camera, and/or telescopic imitations or toy firearm scopes/sights integrated with a compact digital camera. In certain embodiments, a camera of the present invention can be used to photograph a target at the instant the target is fired upon. To configure the firearm for photography and simultaneous firing, the camera and/or scope/camera combination can be placed on the firearm in the same manner as a conventional scope. Photographs can be recorded, alternatively, in response to the sound of, or the recoil from, the firearm triggering device. An alternative embodiment eliminates the scoping component, but maintains all of the digital photography components, for example for use on smaller imitation firearms. 
         [0018]    As also discussed above, in some embodiments, the virtual hunting apparatus employs a camera or image recording device mounted on top or to the side of the firearm. The trigger of the firearm is operably connected to a camera and when initiated by a hunter, a real-time image is recorded. A processing module or photo sensor of the camera can be connected by a cable that links the trigger to the camera. Some embodiments of the present invention concern recording a photo of the target instead of firing a bullet or pellet. Alternatively, the camera may record a video or a short clip of a targeted animal, upon initiation of the trigger. A firearm of certain embodiments herein includes but is not limited to, a real gun, a toy gun such as a toy rifle, air gun, pellet gun, or an air soft gun, or other simulated guns known in the art. The camera can be a device similar to a compact, lightweight cell phone camera or digital camera or other image recording device such as used in an operating room on the end of a catheter to scope and record real-time images. In some embodiments, applications programmed into the camera can be used to enhance the virtual hunting experience such as including a variety of target selections having a bull&#39;s eye and means known in the art to apply the target to the images recorded by the device. In other embodiments, an imaging device is further provided with a variety of videos, such as a real animal being shot, and means for playing the videos. In yet other embodiments, the imaging device displays a movie clip that the hunter wishes to view and plays the movie clip upon actuation of the trigger of the fake rifle or gun. To further enhance the hunting simulation, the firearm or imitation firearm may be equipped with a speaker to emit a firing sound when the trigger is pulled and/or other hunting-related sounds. The firearm or imitation firearm may further include vibration components to mimic the kickback that normally occurs when firing a firearm in order to provide the hunter with a more satisfying hunting experience. The amount of kickback may vary to imitate various firearms and ammunitions. 
         [0019]    In yet other embodiments, an apparatus of the instant invention can be used to train a hunter or law enforcement officer where the apparatus can be used anywhere and remain safe yet an effective training tool.