Laser activated moving target

• US 10,532,275 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2016
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crimson Trace Corporation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Crimson Trace Corporation Incorporated
• Inventors: Moore, Larry E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US15/181,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20160361626A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 434 21
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/25 Output arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/02 Photo-electric hit-detector systems comprising a light-emitting device for simulating the firing of a gun F41G3/2622; detecting by optical means G01V8/10

Abstract

A target that, depending upon a type of game for which the target is programmed, senses whether and where it has been struck by a laser light. The target face displays a game board (such as a dart board) and allows laser light to pass through. A plurality of light sensors are behind the target face. When a designated portion of the target face is struck by a laser light, a sensor records the strike. One or more of: the game to be played using the target, the number of players, starting the game, resetting the target for a new game, and changing players, is accomplished remotely by striking an area on the target with laser light.

Claims

1. A target game for sensing a laser light striking a target, comprising (a) a target face that allows the laser light to pass through the target face to form a game image;

(b) a score area and plurality of sensors behind the target face, wherein the score area comprises a plurality of ridges and scoring areas and wherein each of the plurality of sensors is for sensing when the target face has been exposed to the laser light;

(c) a plurality of optical displays, wherein each optical display of the plurality of optical displays is paired with one of the plurality of sensors thereby forming a desired number of sensor/optical display pairs which are positioned so that only a single sensor/display pair is activated by each laser light strike; and

(d) a game selection area that allows game selection to be varied, wherein the game selection area has a default first game type, which when struck by the laser light, changes from the first game type to a second game type, which changes target function depending upon the second game type selected.

2. The target game of claim 1 that is battery powered.

3. The target game of claim 1 that has a manual off-on switch.

4. The target game of claim 1 wherein each of the optical displays is a light emitting diode.

5. The target game of claim 1 further comprising a reset mode wherein the target is reset to another game when the reset is activated.

6. The target game of claim 5 wherein the reset mode is activated by striking a reset area on the target by the laser light.

7. The target game of claim 1 that has a plurality of scoring sections.

8. The target game of claim 1 wherein each sensor is in electrical communication with an optical display located at the same relative position on the target as the sensor.

9. The target game of claim 1 wherein only one sensor is activated for each laser light strike.

10. The target game of claim 1 wherein the laser light strike is recorded by the sensor that senses the highest light intensity from the strike.

11. The target game of claim 1 wherein the laser light strike on the target face activates a sensor that senses the laser light strike and the other sensors are deactivated for a predetermined period.

12. The target game of claim 11 wherein the target flashes before the sensors reactivate.

13. The target game of claim 1 wherein the target face is configured to emit a sound when the laser strike is detected.

14. The target game of claim 1 further comprising a remote control configured to control the target game, wherein controlling the target game includes one or more of:

activating the display function of the target;

turning the target on;

turning the target off;

adjusting an intensity level of one or more of the optical displays; and

adjusting a volume level of one or more sounds produced by the target.

15. The target game of claim 1 that further includes a start game area that, when struck by the laser light, starts the game selected.

16. The target game of claim 15 wherein the start game area is spaced apart from the target face by 1″

-12″

.

17. The target game of claim 15 wherein the start game area changes to a change player area after the game is started.

18. The target game of claim 1 wherein the game selection area changes to a reset area after the game has been started.

19. The target game of claim 1 that projects one or more of the following when a player wins the selected game (a) one or more lights, (b) different colored lights, (c) light in patterns, (d) light in patterns of differing colors, and (e) sound.

20. The target game of claim 2 that is powered by a single, 9V battery.

21. The target game of claim 3 wherein the target has a housing and the off/on switch is positioned on the housing.

22. The target game of claim 11 wherein the other sensors are deactivated for 25 ms.

23. The target game of claim 1 wherein the target function includes changing target face illumination and/or game scoring.

24. The target game of claim 1 wherein the default first game type is a dart game.

25. The target game of claim 1 wherein the second game type is a dart game.

26. The target game of claim 1 wherein the default first game type is a first type of dart game and the second game type is a second type of dart game.