Continuous aimpoint tracking system
First Claim
1. A continuous aimpoint tracking system for continuously tracking the aimpoint and cant of a shooter, said system comprising:
- a computer having a video display for displaying on said video display the aimpoint and cant;
a laser pointing device to be manipulated by said shooter, said laser pointing device being adapted for emitting laser aim signals and being positioned relative to said video display so as to allow the shooter to aim laser signals at any pre-selected area of said video display;
a position detection device, said detection device being coupled to said computer and mounted thereon so as to frame said video display, said detection device sensing said laser aim signals being emitted from said pointing device and generating corresponding data packets at a rate of at least 112.5 times per second and sending said data packets to said computer, said computer processing said data packets to produce and display video signals indicative of the exact location of said aim signals on said video display.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The Continuous Aimpoint Tracking System is comprised of a position detection device (PDD) and a laser pointing device (LPD) that projects an infrared crosshair onto the PDD. The PDD is coupled to a computer and comprises a multitude of photodiodes and associated circuits, the photodiodes being evenly spaced and arranged to form a frame that can be mounted on the computer so as to surround the computer video display. When a “shot” is fired from the LPD, the crosshair projection is interrupted briefly. The PDD determines the position of the four crosshair intersections and reports them to the computer which, in response, generates the video signals that form the resolved aimpoint on the screen, matching the LPD aimpoint to the video image. Further, the tracking system determines the rotation of the LPD over a range of at least 10 degrees clockwise or counter-clockwise.
25 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A continuous aimpoint tracking system for continuously tracking the aimpoint and cant of a shooter, said system comprising:
- a computer having a video display for displaying on said video display the aimpoint and cant;
a laser pointing device to be manipulated by said shooter, said laser pointing device being adapted for emitting laser aim signals and being positioned relative to said video display so as to allow the shooter to aim laser signals at any pre-selected area of said video display;
a position detection device, said detection device being coupled to said computer and mounted thereon so as to frame said video display, said detection device sensing said laser aim signals being emitted from said pointing device and generating corresponding data packets at a rate of at least 112.5 times per second and sending said data packets to said computer, said computer processing said data packets to produce and display video signals indicative of the exact location of said aim signals on said video display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
- a computer having a video display for displaying on said video display the aimpoint and cant;
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9. A continuous aimpoint tracking system for continuously tracking the aimpoint of a shooter, said system comprising:
- a computer having a display screen for displaying on said screen the aimpoint;
a laser pointing device manipulable by said shooter, said laser pointing device being suitable for emitting laser aim signals that exhibit a Gaussian distribution across the width of said signals and being positioned relative to said display screen so as to allow the shooter to aim said laser signals at any pre-selected area of said screen;
a position detection device coupled to said computer, said position detection device having therein a plurality of photodiodes for producing current signals in response to laser signals impinging thereon, said photodiodes being disposed in a first and a second horizontal rows, said horizontal rows being identical in structure and function, and in a first and a second vertical columns, said vertical columns being identical in structure and function, said rows and columns jointly forming a frame suitable for mounting on said screen of said computer so as to surround said screen, said position detection device further having therein a means for scanning said photodiodes in a pre-determined sequence, a microcontroller coupled to scan said photodiodes, a means for processing said current signals to yield corresponding digital signals, a plurality of bus lines coupled between said photodiodes and said processing means such that every 8th photodiode in a pair of one horizontal row and one vertical column is coupled to the same bus line among said plurality of bus lines; and
a means for isolating any selected photodiode from other photodiodes on the same bus line so that sequential scanning can be performed by said microcontroller, said isolating means being coupled between said photodiodes and said microcontroller, said digital signals being subsequently converted into data packets and input to said computer at a rate of at least 112.5 times per second and said computer processing said data packets to produce and display video signals on said screen, said video signals indicating location of said aim signals with an accuracy of +/−
0.01 inch. - View Dependent Claims (10)
- a computer having a display screen for displaying on said screen the aimpoint;
Specification