Patent Publication Number: US-2023160661-A1

Title: Long distance shooting tool for target identification, communication, and ballistic data

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/273,231, filed Oct. 29, 2021, and entitled “LONG DISTANCE SHOOTING TOOL FOR TARGET IDENTIFICATION, COMMUNICATION, AND BALLISTIC DATA,” the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     The present invention described herein was made in the performance of official duties by employees of the Department of the Navy and may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the United States Government for any governmental purpose without payment of any royalties thereon. This invention (Navy Case 200512US02) is assigned to the United States Government and is available for licensing for commercial purposes. Licensing and technical inquiries may be directed to the Technology Transfer Office, Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane, email: Cran_CTO@navy.mil. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to firearm weapon systems and, more particularly, to a long distance shooting tool for providing target identification, communication, and ballistic data. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Three of the most important pieces of data for long distance shooting, hunting, competition, or law enforcement/military are target identification, communication, and ballistic data. Current methods for target identification include spotting targets visually and communicating with teammates via some other method such as signaling, radio communication, auditory communication, or other methods. These methods are not always optimal since the time between visually spotting each target, determining a shooting order, and proceeding enables the targets to move position. Additionally, communicating with teammates may reveal a shooter&#39;s position if visual or auditory methods are used such as hand signals, radio noise, or alert noise, as examples. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a tool for providing long distance shooters with the ability to coordinate with others in the field to designate an order of shooting and to provide information on how to adjust their firearm for the best advantage based on distance, location, and range. The tool may be implemented by including an application on a smart phone, as one example, making it light weight, space efficient and portable for use in the field. The communication ability allows for tracking shooting partners as well as on-the-spot coordination. Range markings, yard lines, and topographic data are also provided that allow the shooter to make decisions based on real time data. Accordingly, the present invention provides shooters with more accurate information and better coordination with a tool that is also portable, easy to use, and flexible enough to use in high-pressure environments. 
     In a particular aspect, the present disclosure provides a long distance shooting tool comprising: a first user device for assisting a user performing long distance shooting with a firearm, wherein the first user device is communicatively coupled to one or more second user devices for receiving data from the second user devices concerning target information; the first user device including: a location module configured to receive geographic location information and determine the geographic location of the first user device; a display module configured to access map data and overlay at least the target information on the accessed map data for display to the user; and a ballistics module configured to calculate ballistics information for the firearm being used by the user and to communicate the ballistics information to the display module for selective access by user via the display module. 
     In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions, which when executed by a processing device, implement a long distance shooting method comprising: receiving data at a first user device for assisting a user performing long distance shooting with a weapon system from one or more second user devices, the data concerning at least target information; receiving a geographic location information and determining the geographic location of the first user device based on the received geographic information; accessing map data and overlaying at least the target information on the accessed map data based on, in part, the geographic location information for display to the user via a display in the first user device; and calculating ballistics information for the weapon system being used by the user and to displaying the ballistics information for selective access by the user via the display. 
     Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as presently perceived. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The detailed description of the drawings particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates an exemplary system diagram  100  of a long distance shooting tool or system that provides target identification, communication, and ballistic data to a shooter according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    illustrates an exemplary block diagram of functions of the shooting tool according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an example of an overhead map displayed by the shooting tool to a user include distances in Mil/MOA from a current position of the user according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    illustrates an example of an overhead map displayed by the shooting tool to a user include distances in Mil/MOA from a current position of the user according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  5    shows a view of a Dope/Density altitude card showing collected data throughout an entire ballistic curve according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6 A  illustrates a flow/state diagram of a methodology for implementing a shooter tool/application, such as those disclosed in  FIGS.  1 - 5    according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  6 B  illustrates an exemplary flow chart of the operation of the disclosed shooting application according to aspects of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The embodiments of the invention described herein are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to precise forms disclosed. Rather, the embodiments selected for description have been chosen to enable one skilled in the art to practice the invention. 
     The present disclosure provides for a tool and associated methodology to assist a shooter by providing data target identification, communication, and ballistic data to the shooter via a mobile or portable device according to aspects of the present disclosure. The aggregation of such data into a portable device such as a smart phone that can be used for this purpose is not available for users at this time. Use of a portable device such as a smart phone provides lightweight, space efficient, and portable solution that is easily adaptable for use in the field. The communication ability further allows for tracking friendly forces as well as on-the-spot coordination. Additionally, provision of range markings, yard lines, and topographic data allow a shooter to make decisions based on real time data. 
       FIG.  1    illustrates an exemplary system diagram  100  of a long distance shooting tool or system that provides target identification, communication, and ballistic data to a shooter according to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown, the system may include a first user equipment  102  that is associated with a shooter using the system. As will be explained in further detail below, the first user equipment  102  provides the shooter with, among other things, visual information concerning target identification, target ranges, mapping, location, ballistic data, etc. that may be displayed on the equipment  102 . In some aspects, the user equipment  102  may be implemented with a smart phone or other mobile device, and more specifically through an application running on a smart phone in some examples. The equipment  102  is communicatively coupled with a terrestrial network  104 , such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) or a wireless wide area network (WWAN) as example, or some other suitable communication network. The equipment  102  may also be communicatively coupled to a satellite network (illustrated by satellite  106  as an example) for location services (e.g., global positioning system (GPS)), as well as for data communication in some aspects. 
     The system diagram  100  further illustrates one or more additional support devices (e.g.,  108  and  110 ) that are communicatively coupled to the shooter device  102  for providing targeting information (as well as other communication messages/information) to the shooter device  102 , as well as other information such as location information of the other users, from the other users of the system  100 . Each of the one or more support devices  108 ,  110  may be coupled to the satellite network (e.g.,  106 ) for GPS location services, as well as to the network  104  for providing, among other things, targeting information. Alternatively or in addition to, each of the support devices may be coupled using peer-to-peer (P2P) communications (or equivalents) as illustrated by signals  112 . Each of the support devices  108  and  110  may communicate directly with the shooter device  102  using P2P, or may communicate via relaying or concatenation through another support device as exemplified by signaling  114  (i.e., signaling from support device  110  to shooter device  102  via support device  108 ). Of further note, the devices  102 ,  108 , and  110  may be equipped with encryption capabilities/algorithms in order to encrypt data being transmitted there between. 
       FIG.  2    illustrates an exemplary block diagram of modules for a shooter application  200 , which may be executed or run by the shooter device  102  (also termed “a first user device”), as an example. The application  200  includes a location/positioning module  202 , which is used to determine the location of the shooter device in geographic space and also to determine positioning of targets and range distances to be displayed to the shooter, which may be based on targeting information received from the one or more support devices (e.g.,  108 ,  110  and also termed “second user devices”). Further, application  200  includes a communication module, which may implement any of a number of modes of wireless communication including one or more of cellular, Bluetooth, near field communication (NFC), P2P, optical, satellite, and IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi communication. The communication module  204  may receive targeting/positioning information from one or more of the support devices (e.g.,  108 ,  110 ) via one or more of the modes of wireless communication. Additionally, the communication module  204  may be configured to directly communicate with other external devices such as a ballistics calculator (e.g., a Kestrel ballistics solver or meter). 
     Shooter application  200  also includes a display module  206 , which is used to display, among other things, map images and target information overlaid on the map images, which will be discussed in more detail with regard to  FIGS.  3  and  4   . The display module  206  may be configured to load internally stored map data and/or receive map data from wireless communications in order to determine the map data and location of the user device  102 , and also to then accurately overlay the target information on the map images. Additionally, the display module may interface with (or include in some examples) a user input/graphical user interface (GUI) module  208 . The input module  208  may receive user input for one or more of selecting different imaging/targeting to be displayed by the display module  206 , receive user input selections for implementing various aspects of the shooter application, and/or receive communications inputs from the user to be sent to the network, other users, or support devices. 
     Of further note, the shooter application  200  may be implemented on one or more processors coupled with one or more memory/database devices as illustrated by block  210 . Here, the one or more processors may include one or more specialized processors or ASICS configured for implementing one or more of the various modules  202 ,  204 ,  206 , or  208  according to some aspects. Additionally, the one or more memory devices and/or databases may comprise a computer-readable medium or store computer-readable instructions that, when implemented by the one or more processors, effectuate the various modules or functions of the shooter tool (e.g., application  200 ). Furthermore, the one or more memory devices or databases may store one more map databases, weapon information, ballistics information, etc., that are used by the shooter tool (e.g., application  200 ) to display mapping information, and calculate and display ballistics information to the user. 
     In yet another alternative, the shooter application  200  (and/or device running the shooter application) may communicatively couple (wireless or wired) with a weapon system and/or weapon system optics (e.g., rifle sight)  212  to communicate some or all of the information determined by the application  200 . In this aspect, the application may afford providing information to a user that is displayed in the weapon system optics. 
     In aspects, the present shooting tool or application (e.g.,  200 ) provides a user with various information including displayed distance lines (e.g., yard lines) that can be overlaid on map data. As one example,  FIG.  3    shows an exemplary display  300  that may be displayed to a user such as with display module  206 . In this particular example, an overhead view of a map is shown with distances in yards and/or in milliradians/minutes of angle (Mil/MoA) from a current position of the user (i.e., user location  302 ). In this particular case shown in  FIG.  3   , yard lines  304 ,  306 ,  308  overlaying the map data are relative to the position of the user  302 . The yard lines follow the user in the same way range rings work, by constantly tracking to the user&#39;s position and heading. The user is provided with the ability to choose desired color, weight and or opacity setting of yard lines. The user also includes the ability to choose the number, type, and amount of yard lines that are displayed. Yard lines preferably display Mil/MOA hold as well as distance without cluttering the image. 
     These distance lines may be configured to constantly track to a user&#39;s position and heading. Additionally, the display of the distance lines (also referred to hereinafter as “yard lines”) may further be customizable by a user, allowing the user to choose desired colors, weights, and/or opacity as a few examples. Furthermore, the application provides a user with the ability to choose the amount or number of distance lines being displayed. Still further, users may further select between distance lines and range rings (not shown). User selectable, configurable, and reconfigurable range lines (yard lines for US customary units). 
     In yet other aspects, the application (e.g.,  200 ) may provide user configurable yard lines with an auto calculated Mil/MoA verses the range. Additionally, the user customizable yard lines may be expressed in absolute line of sight range using an elevation of a user and a target or expressed in a relative  2 D projection ground sample distance. In still further aspects, the yard lines are tracked to a shooter position and heading. The user may also break yard lines from a position heading and set the heading as desired. 
     In particular aspects, the ability for a user to be able to select color, weight, font size, and or opacity for each yard line may be performed either on screen (e.g., via a GUI) or via a pull out tab. Additionally, the application may be configured to display both the yard lines with range and Mil/MoA as illustrated in  FIG.  3   . Moreover, the yard lines can be quickly swiped away and previously configured yard lines can swiped back in. In still other aspects, the yard line ranges can be reconfigured through touch (e.g., a GUI) or through pen interface commands. In yet other aspects, specific yard line ranges can be numerically specified in a pull out tab via onscreen keyboard. Additionally, the application may be configured with an interface to quickly pre load mission specific configurations and settings. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates another exemplary display  400  that may be displayed to a user such as with display module  206  according to other aspects of the present disclosure. In this view  400 , color coded targeting and corresponding color coded range and Mil/MoA data information are shown to a user. In particular, the user location  402  is part of data overlaid on map data and various color coded target reference points (TRPs) are also overlaid as shown at  404   a ,  406   a ,  408   a ,  410   a , and  412   a . At another portion of the screen, additional corresponding range and Mil/MoA data is displayed in color coded boxes as may be seen by boxes  404   b ,  406   b ,  408   b ,  410   b , and  412   b , which respectively correspond to and provide information concerning targets  404   a ,  406   a ,  408   a ,  410   a , and  412   a . In this manner, the application is configured to allow the user to quickly mark desired TRPs in an easy, quickly referenced, and non-busy manner using colors, although the disclosure is not necessarily limited to such. In other embodiments, the display of the TRP information may be displayed on a side of a display screen as shown in  FIG.  4    or, alternatively in a pull out tab or other similar display functionality. 
       FIG.  5    illustrates another exemplary display  500  that may be displayed to a user such as with display module  206  according to other aspects of the present disclosure. In particular, display  500  is a view of a particular Dope/Density altitude card showing collected data throughout the entire ballistic curve (and the data therein is merely exemplary for a particular location/weapon, etc.). The Dope/Density altitude card provides the user the ability use and/or view all the collected data throughout the entire ballistic curve. The Density altitude can be easily manipulated in order to display corrected holds. Angle manipulation also provides a good function for viewing holds to targets at a given angle. In aspects, the application  200  may display the Dope/Density altitude card either on a currently displayed screen itself or on a pull out tab. Further, the Ability for the shooter to make necessary changes if desired. Moreover, the application  200  is configured to afford the user the ability to pick a specific Dope/Density altitude card to use (e.g., a portion of the Dope/Density altitude card), thereby minimizing the information displayed to the user on the screen. 
     In still further aspects, the application may be configured to allow the user to make necessary changes if desired on a user reconfigurable pull out tab. In an example, a customizable pull out tab will initially enable a user to view all collected and calculated data throughout the ballistics curve. 
     Further features that may provided by application are configurability of the Dope/Density altitude card. In one example, the Dope/Density altitude card is configured to be easily manipulated in order to display corrected holds. Additionally, a user is afforded the ability to display multiple corrected holds. Furthermore, a user is afforded the ability to adjust shot angles of the corrected holds. Still further, multiple holds are configurable to allow for angle manipulation to let the user view a variety of corrected holds and to then select between them. 
       FIG.  6 A  illustrates a flow/state diagram of a methodology for implementing a shooter tool/application, such as those disclosed in  FIGS.  1 - 5   . As illustrated, after the system or tool (e.g., tool  100 ) goes live at  602 , a first state may be that the system is quiet wherein the devices (e.g.,  102 ,  108 ,  110 ) do not share information and are silent as shown at  604 . The next state then is that the devices share data at  606 , such as was described earlier in connection with  FIG.  1   . In aspects, the processes at  606  may include the shooter or user device (e.g.,  102 ) receiving data from one or more of the support devices (e.g.,  108 ,  110 ) via various means such as wireless networks, Wi-Fi, optical, etc. This data is used to determine targeting information to be displayed such as was illustrated in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , as examples. 
       FIG.  6 B , illustrates an exemplary flow chart of an overall operation  610  of the disclosed shooting application according to aspects of the present disclosure. A first part of the process of operation  610  includes gathering/loading/processing map data as shown at  612 . This includes downloading of map database information as well as loading position information such as GPS. Another portion of operation  610  includes overlaying data onto the map data determined at  612 , the overlaying operation shown at  614 . This operation includes receiving a multitude of input data including, but not limited to, data concerning ballistics data, historical stored data, weapon system information, data from the support user devices, etc. The map overlays process in  614  is used, in part, to display information to a user as was illustrated by  FIGS.  3 - 5   , as examples. 
     In aspects, the present methods may be implemented by an apparatus that includes a computer, microcontroller, microprocessor, or specialized processor that executes computer-readable code stored on a tangible computer-readable medium. In a particular example, application  200  includes or at least is executed by at least one processing system including one or more processors  210  responsible for processing, including the execution of computer executable code or software stored on a computer-readable medium also shown at  210 . Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. The software, when executed by the processor  210 , causes the processing system to perform the various functions described above for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium  210  may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor  210  when executing software. 
     In further aspects, the computer-readable medium  210  may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. A non-transitory computer-readable medium includes, by way of example, a magnetic storage device (e.g., hard disk, floppy disk, magnetic strip), an optical disk (e.g., a compact disc (CD) or a digital versatile disc (DVD)), a smart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a card, a stick, or a key drive), a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), a register, a removable disk, and any other suitable medium for storing software and/or instructions that may be accessed and read by a computer. The computer-readable medium  210  may reside in the shooting application or system  200 , external to the system  200 , or distributed across multiple entities including the system  200 . The computer-readable medium  210  may be embodied in a computer program product. By way of example, a computer program product may include a computer-readable medium in packaging materials. Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure depending on the particular application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system. 
     Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within the spirit and scope of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.