Target carrier with virtual targets

• US 10,048,043 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul Rahmanian
• Original Assignee: Paul Rahmanian
• Inventors: Rahmanian, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): D'Agostino, Paul A
• Application Number:
  US15/207,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20180017362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 11/00 Target ranges timetables, lists or forms for shooter enlistment B42D15/0066
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 2/00 Reflecting targets, e.g. radar-reflector targets; Active targets transmitting electromagnetic or acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 9/14 Cinematographic targets, e.g. moving-picture targets F41G3/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3141 Constructional details thereof details not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/14
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/3179 Video signal processing therefor

Abstract

Various embodiments of systems for improving shooting performance, as well as, carriers configured for that purpose, are disclosed and described herein. In some such embodiments, such systems may comprise: at least one projector, at least one screen, at least one carrier, and at least one pathway. The at least one projector may project one or more images upon at least some portion of the at least one screen. The at least one screen may receive and display the one or more images. The at least one carrier may house the at least one projector; and in some embodiments, may also house at least one screen mount for removably mounting the at least one screen. The at least one carrier may travel along the at least one pathway. A shooter may aim and shoot a firearm at the one or more images displayed upon the at least one screen.

Claims

1. A system for improving shooting performance, wherein the system comprises:

at least one projector for projecting one or more images upon at least some portion of at least one screen;

the at least one screen for displaying the one or more images;

at least one carrier;

wherein the at least one carrier houses the at least one projector;

at least one pathway;

wherein the at least one carrier travels along the at least one pathway;

wherein a shooter aims and shoots a firearm at the one or more images displayed upon the at least one screen.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more images are one or more of static images or dynamic images.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more images are predetermined.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more images are one or more of non-transitorily stored in at least one memory or generated from an image generator.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one screen is a planar member with a major surface for displaying the one or more images;

wherein the major surface is substantially planar.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the major surface is one or more of substantially flat or curved with a predetermined radius.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein a two dimensional projection of the major surface, in a direction orthogonal from the major surface, is selected from the group consisting of:

a regular polygon, an irregular polygon, a circle, an ellipse, a semicircle, or a half ellipse.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carrier comprises at least one screen mount;

wherein the at least one screen mount attaches to the at least one screen, such that the at least one projector and the at least one screen are a predetermined distance from each other.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one screen mount is electrically powerable to articulate the at least one screen with respect to the at least one carrier such that the at least one screen is articulable by one or more of:

pivoting about where the least one screen mount attaches to the at least one screen or rotating about an axis running from the at least one screen to the at least one screen mount.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a second carrier that is a screen carrier;

wherein the at least one carrier is a projector carrier;

wherein the projector carrier houses the at least one projector and the screen carrier comprises at least one screen mount;

wherein the at least one screen mount attaches to the at least one screen, such that the at least one projector and the at least one screen are at variable distances from each other.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises at least one camera, wherein the at least one camera observes a camera field of view that is of substantially all of a major surface of the at least one screen;

wherein the camera facilitates one or more of;

shooter scoring analysis by recording impacts from the firearm upon the major surface or remote viewing of the major surface upon a display device.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one carrier comprises:

at least one processor for reading and implementing programmable code;

wherein the programmable code is non-transitorily stored in at least one memory;

wherein the programmable code is for one or more of;

controlling a position of the at least one carrier with respect to the at least one pathway or controlling media content emitted from the at least one carrier;

the at least one memory in electrical or optical communication with the at least one processor;

wherein the at least one memory non-transitory stores one or more of;

the programmable code or the media content;

at least one communication component;

wherein the at least one communication component comprises one or more of;

at least one communication port or at least one network module;

wherein the at least one communication component is in electrical or optical communication with the at least one processor;

the at least one projector or both the at least one projector and the at least one screen mount;

wherein the at least one screen mount attaches to the at least one screen;

translation mechanics;

wherein the translation mechanics comprises either a mover or the mover with an engagor or the engagor with a track mover;

wherein the translation mechanics facilitate movement of the at least one carrier along the at least one pathway; and

at least one power source;

wherein the at least one power source provides electrical power to one or more of;

the at least one processor, the at least one memory, the at least one projector, the at least one screen mount, the at least one communication component, or the least one translation mechanics.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one carrier further comprises one or more of:

at least one camera;

wherein the at least one camera or observes a camera field of view that is of substantially all of a major surface of the at least one screen;

wherein the camera facilitates one or more of;

shooter scoring analysis by recording impacts from the firearm upon the major surface or remote viewing of the major surface upon a display device;

at least one speaker;

wherein the at least one speaker is in electrical or optical communication with the at least one processor;

wherein the at least one speaker emits audio from audio files;

wherein the media content comprises visual files and audio files;

wherein the at least one speaker receives electrical power from the at least one power source; and

at least one positional sensor;

wherein the at least one positional sensor is in electrical or optical communication with the at least one processor and provides input signals to the at least one processor for the at least one processor to determine the position of the at least one carrier with respect to the at least one pathway;

wherein the at least one positional sensor receives electrical power from the at least one power source.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one power sources comprises one or more of:

at least one battery or electrical coupling to a shoe, wherein the shoe is electrically coupled to at least some portion of the at least one pathway;

wherein this at least some portion of the at least one pathway is electrically charged.

15. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one network module comprises at least one antenna for wireless communications with one or more of:

a computing device, a mobile computing device, a smartphone, a tablet computing device, a server, a laptop, a desktop computer, a NFC tag, or a RFID tag.

16. The system according to claim 12, wherein mover comprises one or more of:

one or more electrical motors, a transmission, one or more gears, one or more belts, one or more axles, one or more wheels;

wherein at least a portion of the mover physically engages a substrate, a track, a rail, or the engagor;

wherein the mover causes the at least one carrier to translate along the at least one pathway.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the engagor physically engages one or more of a rail, a track, a chain, a cable, such that the at least one carrier translates along the rail or along the track or along the chain or along the cable;

wherein the at least one pathway comprises the rail, the track, the chain, or the cable.

18. The system according to claim 12, wherein the track mover causes a track to translate;

wherein the engagor physically engages the track;

wherein the at least one pathway comprises the track.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pathway is at least one elongate member that comprises one or more of:

a track, a rail, a chain, a cable, a belt, or a substrate.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pathway varies within predetermined limits of one or more of:

a x-axis direction, a y-axis direction, a z-axis direction, or combinations thereof, with respect to a predetermined shooting location.