Abstract:
A pattern testing system is able to detect an emission beam such as a laser or light beam from a shooting system. A single pattern testing board includes a plurality of paired emission beam sensors and hit indicators. Each emission beam sensor is responsive to a detected emission beam and each hit indicator signals the sensing of the emission beam by the associated emission beam sensor. Multiple pattern testing boards may be mounted together to provide a larger pattern testing system array. Further, an overlay with a representation thereon, a moving image display system, or a reflective moving image display system may be positioned in front of one or more pattern testing boards.

Description:
[0001]    The present application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/019,152, filed Feb. 6, 1998 which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/753,537, filed Nov. 26, 1996, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,216 on Feb. 10, 1998. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a pattern testing board for use in a system for simulating shooting sports such as the systems described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/019,152 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,216, both of which are assigned to the assignee of this application and are incorporated herein by reference.  
           [0003]    U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/019,152 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,216 are directed to a system for simulating shooting sports including a non-projectile ammunition transmitter system that is retrofittable to any standard firearm having an ammunition chamber, a barrel, and a firing pin and a self-contained receiver system. The transmitter system includes an actuating beam cartridge and an adjustable beam choke. The beam cartridge includes a first actuating beam emitter responsive to the firing pin. The beam choke includes a second emission beam emitter responsive to the first actuating beam. The receiver system is a self-contained reusable target having beam sensors and hit indicators. The beam sensors are “triggered” when the emission beam “hits” or is “sensed by” the beam sensors. When the beam sensors sense the emission beam, they cause the hit indicators to indicate that the target has been “hit” by the emission beam. The target may also include at least one triggering motion detector that detects a triggering motion that is associated with the target being launched into the air.  
           [0004]    Target boards have been used to test non-projectile output from firearms. Exemplary target boards are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,422 to Budmiger, U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,514 to Myllyla et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 4,662,845 to Gallagher et al. Many target boards, including the board disclosed in the Budmiger reference, has one or more detector that senses a beam or pulse and then transmits information to the shooter as to which section or ring of the target was “hit” by the beam or pulse. Other target boards use a simple reflective system that reflects a beam, such as a light beam, back to the shooter. The Myllyla et al. system, which uses a reflector, is a typical example of this type of reflective system. Another type of target board uses sound and/or motion to indicate that the target has been hit by a beam. The Gallagher et al. system is a typical example of this type of sound/motion system.  
           [0005]    None of the known target systems provide detailed information as to the size of the beam, the shape of the beam, and what portion of the beam has hit the target.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The present invention is directed to a pattern testing board suitable for use with a system for simulating shooting sports such as that described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/019,152 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,216. The pattern testing board is able to provide an immediate informative response to a shooter regarding the size of the beam, the shape of the beam, and what portion of the beam has hit the target testing board.  
           [0007]    A pattern testing board of the present invention is able to detect an emission beam such as a laser or light beam from a shooting system. The pattern testing board includes a plurality of paired emission beam sensors and hit indicators. Each emission beam sensor is responsive to a detected emission beam and each hit indicator signals the sensing of the emission beam by the associated emission beam sensor.  
           [0008]    Pursuant to a separate preferred aspect of the present invention, multiple pattern testing boards may be mounted together to provide a larger target array or system.  
           [0009]    Further, an overlay may be positioned in front of a singular patten testing board or in front of the array of boards. The overlay may have one or more representations thereon depicting, for example, a silhouette or facsimile of a human, an animal, a bird, a shooting clay, or an alternate target. The overlay may include special markings or colors to indicate specific “kill” zones.  
           [0010]    Finally, a moving image display system or a reflective moving image display system may be positioned in front of a singular pattern testing board or in front of an array of pattern testing boards. These display systems are light permeable to allow an emission beam to pass through and to allow viewing of the lit IC/amplifier/LED circuits  
           [0011]    The foregoing and other objectives, features, and advantages of the invention will be more readily understood upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a plan diagram of a system for simulating shooting sports including a transmitter system and a receiver system.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 a  is a cross-sectional side view of a beam cartridge.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 b  is a cross-sectional front view of a beam cartridge.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a diagram of the mechanical and electronic circuitry of the beam cartridge.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a beam choke including a variable choke grip.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternate embodiment of the lens system.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a front plan view of a pattern testing board.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is an exploded side view of the pattern testing board.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of an infrared detection IC/amplifier/LED circuit on the box PWB.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 9 is a partial simplified diagram of a box printed wiring board of the pattern testing board.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 10 is a front plan view of an alternate pattern testing board.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 11 is a front plan view of an array of pattern testing boards with an overlay thereover.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 12 is a side view of the array and overlay of FIG. 11.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 is a front plan view of an array of platform testing boards with a preferred embodiment of a moving image display system thereover.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 is a side plan view of an array of pattern testing boards with a preferred embodiment of a reflective moving image display system thereover. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0027]    For the purpose of providing a background for the present invention, the system for simulating shooting sports described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/019,152 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,216 is set forth below. Both U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/019,152 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,216 are assigned to the assignee of this application and are incorporated by reference herein. Reference numerals used in the previous applications have been maintained for consistency, however, for the purpose of brevity, some of the figures have been omitted.  
         [0028]    As shown in FIG. 1, a system for simulating shooting sports includes a non-projectile transmitter system  25  and a self contained receiver system  27 . The transmitter system  25  is retrofittable to any standard firearm  16  having an ammunition chamber  17 , a barrel  18 , and a firing pin  19 .  
         [0029]    The transmitter system  25 , as detailed in FIGS.  2 - 5 , preferably includes an actuating beam (or wave) cartridge  20  and an adjustable beam (or wave) choke  21 . The beam cartridge  20  has dimensions substantially identical to the dimensions of standard projectile or shot cartridges and therefore fits into the ammunition chamber  17  of a standard firearm  16 . The beam choke  21  is adapted to fit into the barrel  18  of a standard firearm  16 . When a firearm  16  is “fired,” the firing pin  19  strikes the beam cartridge  20  which emits a first or actuating beam (or wave)  22  (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) which may be any electromagnetic beam, but is shown as a beam of light. The actuating beam  22  activates the beam choke  21  which emits a second or emission beam (or wave)  24  (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) which may be any electromagnetic beam, but is shown in one embodiment as a laser beam and in another embodiment as a beam of light. Use of the actuating beam  22  as a link between the beam cartridge  20  and the beam choke  21  facilitates the use of the system with firearms of most barrel lengths.  
         [0030]    Although the transmitter system  25  of the simulation system may be used with a self contained receiver system  27 , a pattern testing board  300 , as shown in FIGS.  6 - 9 , was originally contemplated as an auxiliary component of the simulation system. The pattern testing board  300  described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/019,152 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,216 can detect and display the actual pattern of the emission beam  24  emanating from the beam choke  21 . By displaying the actual beam pattern, firearm operation and shot pattern can be verified. To do this, the pattern testing board  300  is placed at a distance of 35 yards from the shooter either behind the target catch net or to the side. One or more shooters can sight and shoot at the pattern testing board  300 . The pattern testing board  300  will display a pattern representative of the shape of the emission beam  24  at, for example, 35 yards.  
         [0031]    As shown in FIGS.  6 - 7 , one preferred embodiment of the pattern testing board  300  consists of a central target disk  302  with central box LED  304 , a plurality of box printed wiring boards (PWBs)  306  which, in this embodiment, are arranged radially around the box LED  304 , a power source  308 , an ON/OFF switch  310 , and an enclosing case  312 . Each of the box PWBs  306  contain a set (shown as eighteen) of IR detection IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314  (FIG. 8) that are spaced 1″ apart. More or less PWBs may be used on a board and the spacing may be adjusted.  
         [0032]    An exemplary case or housing  312  of the pattern testing board  300  is shown in FIG. 7. The housing  312  may be constructed of any sturdy building material such as wood or metal. The example shown includes case components such as an exterior frame  313   a , an inset panel  313   b  for mounting the box PWBs  306  and central target disk  302 , a back cover  313   c , as well as additional braces. The pattern testing board  300  may also include a polycarbonate front sheet  313   d  to protect the electronic circuitry from damage.  
         [0033]    As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7, a power source  308  (shown in phantom) that is connected to conventional 120 V AC  power may be mounted on the inside, bottom of the pattern testing board  300 . Each of the box PWBs  306 , that are preferably spaced radially about a central box LED  304 , are each electrically connected to the power source  308 . Preferably the central target disk  302  is also connected to the power source  308  so that the central box LED  304  is illuminated when the pattern testing board  300  is receiving power. The illuminated central box LED  304  also draws the shooter&#39;s attention to the center of the pattern testing board  300 . As shown in FIG. 6, the array pattern is 40″ in diameter and has 216 detection sites. Larger or smaller array patterns are contemplated in the scope of this invention. The ON/OFF switch  310  may be a conventional wall switch or other toggle device that is mounted on the side of the housing  312 .  
         [0034]    When a beam detection IC/amplifier/LED circuit  314  is illuminated by an emission beam  24  pulsing at a predefined rate for a duration of 1 to 8 milliseconds, the associated LED lights up for a duration of approximately 2 seconds. Both the duration of the pulse and the duration the LED remains lit are exemplary and, in one embodiment, may be adjustable. The resulting display of lit LEDs indicates the location and pattern of the emission beam  24  on the pattern testing board  300 . Each of the box PWBs  306  includes a set of beam detection IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314  such as those shown in FIG. 8. As shown, each circuit  314  includes a photo IC (U 1 )  316  which is a high sensitivity, photo diode, and bandpass amplifier in a single integrated circuit package that is sensitive to the emission beam  24 .  
         [0035]    Turning to the exemplary electronics, when the output of U 1   316  is High (not illuminated), diode D 1   318  is non-conducting, P channel MOSFET (Q 1 )  320  is nonconducting, C 1  has been charged to V CC  by R 2 , and Q 1  drain (D), R 3 , and LED 1  are at ground potential. When the output of U 1   316  goes Low (illumination detected), D 1   318  conducts which brings the D 1  anode junction with R 1  to about 1 volt above ground. If the output of U 1   316  remains Low, the voltage across C 1  decreases from V CC  to +1 volt. As the voltage across C 1  decreases, the source-to-gate voltage of Q 1   320  increases causing Q 1   320  to conduct when the voltage difference exceeds 2 volts. With the Q 1  source at +5 volts and the Q 1  gate at +1 volt, Q 1  source-to-drain (D) resistance appears to be under 10 ohms. With Q 1   320  conducting, R 3  will pull LED 1   322  anode High until LED 1   322  begins conducting at +1.6 volts. LED 1   322  will remain illuminated as long as U 1   316  output is Low. When U 1  V out  returns to High, D 1   318  becomes reversed biased and ceases to conduct. However, the voltage across C 1  proceeds to increase from +1V to V CC  due to the current supplied by R 2 . As the voltage across C 1  increases the gate-to-source voltage of Q 1   320  decreases. Q 1  source-to-drain resistance increases until Q 1   320  ceases to conduct depriving LED 1   322  of all illumination. R 2  and C 1  form a time constant of about 1.5 seconds resulting in current flow through LED 1   322  for about 2 seconds after U 1  V out  goes High. This procedure causes LED 1   322  to remain visible for a predefined time period, such as 2 seconds, after being triggered. Other features of the circuitry include the fact that R 1  and C 1  form a low pass filter to reject quick, short duration excursion of U 1   out  Low caused by noise. R 1  also limits the surge in current that would occur if D 1   318  were directly connected to C 1 .  
         [0036]    FIGS.  10 - 12  show a separate preferred aspect of the pattern testing board  400 . This alternate pattern testing board  400 , like pattern testing board  300 , can detect and display the actual pattern of the emission beam  24  emanating from the beam choke  21 . By displaying the actual beam pattern, firearm operation and shot pattern can be verified. To do this, the pattern testing board  400  is placed at a distance from the shooter either behind the target catch net or to the side. One or more shooters can sight and shoot at the pattern testing board  400 . The pattern testing board  400  will display a pattern representative of the shape of the emission beam  24  at 35 yards. These distances are meant to be exemplary and not to limit the scope of the invention.  
         [0037]    As shown in FIG. 10, the alternate preferred embodiment of the pattern testing board  400  consists of an array of IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314  (shown as a 12×12 array) spaced 1″ apart. The array may be created by mounting, for example, twelve (12) box printed wiring boards (PWBs), such as those shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, vertically or horizontally. If each PWB had twelve IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314 , a 12×12 array would be produced. Alternately,  144  IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314  may be mounted separately to produce the 12×12 array. It should be noted, of course, that the array may be of any size or dimension, the spacing may be changed, and alternate shapes are contemplated.  
         [0038]    When a beam detection IC/amplifier/LED circuit  314  is illuminated by an emission beam  24  pulsing at a predefined rate for a duration of 1 to 8 milliseconds, the associated LED lights up for a duration of approximately 2 seconds. The resulting display of lit LEDs indicates the location and pattern of the emission beam  24  on the pattern testing board  400 . As set forth above, the pulse duration and the duration the LEDs remain lit are exemplary and, in one embodiment, may be adjustable.  
         [0039]    The housing, power source, and ON/OFF switch of the alternate pattern testing board  400  may be identical to that shown in FIG. 7 or may be a variation thereof.  
         [0040]    Optionally, if a single alternate pattern testing board  400  is used, one or more central IC/amplifier/LED circuits  402  may be constantly illuminated while the pattern testing board  400  is receiving power. The illuminated IC/amplifier/LED circuits  402  indicate that the board  400  is receiving power and draw the shooter&#39;s attention to the center of the pattern testing board  400 . The constantly illuminated central IC/amplifier/LED circuits  402  may be in a pattern such as a “+”.  
         [0041]    Further, if a single alternate pattern testing board  400  is used, exterior IC/amplifier/LED circuits  404  outside a predetermined circular area  406  may optionally be deactivated or blocked by an opaque cover. Blocking the exterior IC/amplifier/LED circuits  404  conveys the appearance that the emission beam  24  is circular to the shooter. Although emission beams  24  are not always circular, it is sometimes desirable to enforce this illusion.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIGS. 11 and 12 show a multiple pattern testing board array or system  408 . Although the system  408  is shown as an array of fifteen pattern testing boards  400 , the system may be of any size or dimension. The system provides a large target testing pattern that is of a size sufficient to accommodate a representation of a silhouette or facsimile of a human, an animal, a bird, a shooting clay, or other desired target. The pattern testing boards  400  in the system  408  are preferably electrically interconnected. Also, if used in a system, preferably the boards would not have illuminated central IC/amplifier/LED circuits  402  or blocked or deactivated exterior IC/amplifier/LED circuits  404 . In this manner a uniform system  408  of approximately 1″ resolution is created. By adjusting the spacing of the circuits  314  the sensitivity may be adjusted.  
         [0043]    Further, an overlay  410  may be used with a representation  412  thereon. The overlay is preferably a substantially clear sheet of plastic or other clear material that allows the emission beam  24  to pass through and the shooter to view the illuminated IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314 . The overlay  410  may be suspended in front of the array  408  or may be attached directly thereto. A removable overlay  410  would allow the option of changing the representation  412  to depict alternate targets.  
         [0044]    The representation  412  may depict a silhouette or a facsimile of a human, an animal, a bird, a shooting clay, or an alternate target. The overlay  410  may also include special markings or colors to differentiate specific “kill” (or “wound”) zones  414  within the representation  412 .  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 13 shows the multiple pattern testing board array  408  positioned behind a moving image display system  500  capable of displaying light permeable static or moving images  502 . The images  502  may be generated by a computer  504 . Like the overlay  410 , the emission beam  24  passes through the display system  500  to activate the IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314 . Because the display system  500  is light permeable, the shooter can view the lit IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314  to determine the accuracy of his hit.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 14 shows a reflective moving image display system  510  that is positioned in front of the multiple pattern testing board array  408 . The reflective system  510  is capable of displaying static or moving light permeable images  512  on a reflective, light permeable display  514 . The reflective display  514  may be a sheet of glass. The images  512  could be generated by a computer  516  and displayed on a display screen  518 . The images  512  on the display screen  518  are then reflected onto the reflective display  514 . The emission beam  24  passes through the reflective display  514  to activate the IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314 . Because the reflective display  514  is light permeable, the shooter can view the lit IC/amplifier/LED circuits  314  to determine the accuracy of his hit.  
         [0047]    The system  408  may be constructed by mounting the pattern testing boards  400  to a frame structure  416  using attachment apparatus  418  such as screws or mounting posts. The frame structure  416  may be a back board, metal bars, or other suitable sturdy structure. Each board  400  may include one or more mounting hole  420  through which the attachment apparatus  418  is inserted. Alternatively the boards  400  may be equipped with interlocking structure or may be mounted together, with or without a frame structure, using traditional means such as glue or mounting tape.  
         [0048]    Finally, it should be noted that the pattern testing board and system described above may be used with any system that emits a proper emission beam and, therefore, is not limited to the transmitter system described herein. Suitable beams include, but are not limited to, light beams and laser beams.  
         [0049]    The terms and expressions which have been employed in the foregoing specification are used therein as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, it being recognized that the scope of the invention is defined and limited only by the claims which follow.