LIVE COMBAT SIMULATION

• US 20100093436A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PATHFINDER EVENTS PTY LTD
• Original Assignee: PATHFINDER EVENTS PTY LTD
• Inventors: Lander, Peter John
• Granted Patent: US 8,282,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/37
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2655 in which the light beam is sent from the weapon to the target

Abstract

An electric game apparatus (‘the first apparatus’) for use by a player in a live combat simulation, the apparatus including a firearm-like device, transmission means configured to transmit first and second signals, and a target receiver, the first signal being transmitted towards a target receiver of a like apparatus of another game player (‘second apparatus’) in response to firing said device when aimed at the target receiver of the second apparatus, the second signal being transmitted in response to the target receiver of the first apparatus being hit by a said first signal from a second apparatus to indicate the hit to that other player.

Claims

1. An electric game apparatus for use by a player in a live combat simulation, the apparatus including

a firearm-like device,

transmission means configured to transmit first and second signals, and

a target receiver,

the first signal being transmitted towards a target receiver of a like apparatus of another game player in response to firing the device when aimed at the target receiver of the like apparatus,

the second signal being transmitted in response to the target receiver of the electric game apparatus being hit by a first signal from another apparatus to indicate the hit to that other player.

2. An electric game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric game apparatus is a first apparatus, and wherein the like apparatus of another game player is a second apparatus, and wherein the target receiver of the first apparatus comprises at least one sensor mountable on the body of the player using the first apparatus, the sensor being configured to sense a first signal from a second apparatus.

3. An electric game apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the target receiver of the first apparatus comprises at least one sensor provided on the firearm-like device and configured to sense a first signal transmitted from a second device.

4. An electric game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means includes an infrared transmitter for transmitting the first signal as an infra-red signal, the infrared transmitter being provided on the firearm-like device.

5. An electric game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the firearm-like device includes a lens for focusing the infra-red signal.

6. An electric game apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the target receiver is configured to filter out infra-red light not associated with a first signal from a second device.

7. An electric game apparatus according to claim 1, including adjustment means for varying an effective range of the first signal.

8. An electric game apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission means includes a radio transmitter for transmitting the second signal as a radio signal.

9. An electric game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the radio transmitter is a digital radio transmitter for transmitting the second signal as a digital radio signal.

10. An electric game apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the radio transmitter is provided on the firearm-like device and the firearm-like device includes a protective case housing the radio transmitter, the protective case being formed from plastic whereby the second signal may pass therethrough.

11. An electric game apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus comprising a receiver configured to receive a third signal for controlling its operation.

12. An electric game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the receiver comprises the target receiver.

13. An electric game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the device is configured to switch, upon receipt of the third signal, between an active state in which the transmission means is able to transmit a first signal and an inactive state in which the transmission means is disabled from transmitting a first signal.

14. An electric game apparatus according to claim 11, comprising storage means for storing data indicative of values of operating parameters of the apparatus in accordance with the third signal.

15. An electric game apparatus according to claim 14, the apparatus being configured to store in the storage means data indicative of the number of times the target receiver has been hit by the first signal from a second apparatus.

16. An electric game apparatus according to claim 15, the apparatus being configured to store in the storage means in accordance with the third signal data indicative of a maximum number of times the target receiver is able to be hit by a first signal of a second apparatus, the apparatus being further configured to become inoperable when the number of times becomes the maximum number of times.

17. An electric game apparatus according to claim 14, the apparatus being configured to store in the storage means data indicative of the number of times its transmission means has transmitted a first signal.

18. An electric game apparatus according to claim 17, the apparatus being configured to store in the storage means in accordance with the third signal data indicative of a maximum number of times its transmission means is able to transmit a first signal, the apparatus being further configured to become inoperable when the number of times its transmission means has transmitted a first signal becomes that maximum number.

19. An electric game apparatus according to claim 11, the apparatus being configured to become operable on one of a plurality of effective channels in accordance with the third signal, each channel being specific to a particular game.

20. An electric game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the transmission means is configured to transmit the third signal as a radio signal.

21. An electric game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the transmission means is configured to transmit the third signal as an infrared signal.

22. An electric game apparatus according to claim 11, the apparatus being operable in a game-playing mode in which it is configured to transmit and receive the first and second signals and to receive the third signals, and in a game-controlling mode in which it is configured to transmit the third signal, the apparatus being adapted to be selectively switched between the modes.

23. An electric game apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the transmission means is configured to transmit a fourth signal to a source of the third signal upon receipt of the third signal by its target receiver, the fourth signal being configured to identify the first apparatus to the source, whereby the source can confirm the receipt of the third signal.

24. An electric game apparatus according to claim 23, the apparatus being configured to transmit the fourth signal as a radio signal.

25. An electric game apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus being arranged to be temporarily incapable of transmitting a first signal upon its target receiver being hit by a first signal from a second apparatus.

26. An electric game apparatus according to claim 1, the apparatus being adapted to configure the first signal such that it contains an identifier of the first apparatus, whereby a second apparatus can identify the electric game apparatus upon the target receiver of the second apparatus receiving the first signal, the first apparatus being configured to identify a second apparatus according to the configuration of a first signal received by its target receiver from the second apparatus.

27. An electric game apparatus according to claim 26, the apparatus being further adapted to configure the second signal according to the configuration of the first signal received from the second apparatus by the target receiver of the first apparatus such the second signal is operably receivable only by the second apparatus.

28. A live combat simulation game system, the system comprising

a plurality of apparatuses, each apparatus is for use by a respective game player, and each apparatus includes:

a firearm-like device,

transmission means configured to transmit first and second signals, and

a target receiver,

the first signal being transmitted from a first apparatus towards a target receiver on a second apparatus in response to firing the device when aimed at the target receiver of the second apparatus,

the second signal being transmitted in response to the target receiver of the apparatus being hit by the first signal from a second apparatus to indicate the hit to the player using that second apparatus.

29. A live combat simulation game system according to claim 28, wherein each apparatus is adapted to receive a third signal for controlling their operation, the system further comprising a third apparatus adapted to transmit the third signal.

30. A live combat simulation according to claim 29, wherein at least one apparatus is configured to be operable as the third apparatus.