DIGITAL ARROW LOCATION COMPUTER

• US 3,590,225 A
• Filed: 02/14/1969
• Issued: 06/29/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Patrick J. Murphy
• Original Assignee: Patrick J. Murphy
• Inventors: Murphy, Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US04/799,451
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• US Class Current: 377/5
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 3/0004 Archery targets
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/46 Indirect determination of position data

Abstract

A projectile path coordinate computing system for use with a detecting system wherein a projectile path is scanned by a beam of energy. The computer includes a binary counter and a clock for stepping the counter. Gating is provided to allow the clock to initiate the stepping of the counter at the initiation of the scan of the projectile path and means are provided for stopping the counter when the beam of energy is interrupted during its scan by a projectile so that the count in the binary counter when stopped is indicative of one coordinate of the position of the projectile within the scanned path. Means are also provided for translating the count into an indication of the coordinate of the projectile within the path.

Claims

1. A projectile path coordinate computer comprising;

a counter having a predetermined capacity which when exceeded results in automatic resetting of the counter, means for stepping said counter at a predetermined rate, means for enabling said counter in response to the beginning of a scan of a target area, first means for disabling said counter when a projectile is encountered in said target area and whereby the accumulated count therein is a measure of the time in the scan when a projectile was encountered and thus a measure of the position of the projectile in the target area, and second means for disabling said counter when its predetermined capacity is exceeded so that said counter is held in a reset condition until said enabling means again enables said counter to thereby synchronize the stepping of the counter and the scan of the target area, said counter comprising a binary counter and said stepping means comprising a clock;

movable indicator means;

binary coded means associated with said indicator means for providing a count representative of the position of said indicator means;

means for comparing the count in said counter and the count provided by said binary coded means; and

means for operating said indicator means responsive to said comparing means when said first disabling means is operative.

2. A projectile coordinate computer according to claim 1, wherein said indicator means includes a bidirectional motor;

means responsive to said enabling means for initially preparing said motor to drive in one direction; and

means responsive to said comparing means for preparing said motor to drive in the other direction when said comparing means determines a match of the count in said counter with the count provided by said binary coded means.

3. A pair of projectile coordinate computers according to claim 1 for ascertaining two coordinates of a projectile path;

and further including means responsive to the first disabling means of both said computers for precluding movement of the indicator means of both of said computers except when the first disabling means of both of said computers is operative.

4. A pair of projectile coordinate computers according to claim 3, further including projectile counting means;

projectile count-indicating means responsive to said projectile counting means; and

means responsive to the first disabling means of both of said computers for stepping said projectile counting means when both said first disabling means are operative.

5. A pair of projectile coordinate computers according to claim 3, wherein indicator means of both said computers include a common point indicator lamp;

and means for extinguishing said lamp whenever one of said indicator means is moving.

6. A pair of projectile coordinate computers according to claim 3, wherein the indicator means of both said computers are adapted for cooperative movement relative to a target indicator having a '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'bull'"'"''"'"'s-eye,'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' and separate '"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"'bull'"'"''"'"'s-eye'"'"''"'"''"'"''"'"' indicating means operative in response to the movement of the indicator means of both said computers to a bull'"'"''"'"'s-eye position on said target indicator.

7. A pair of projectile coordinate computers according to claim 3 wherein the indicator means of both said computers are adapted for cooperative movement relative to a target indicator and separate indicatIng means operative in response to the movement of the indicator means of both of said computers to a predetermined region on said target indicator for providing a separate indication thereof.

8. A pair of projectile coordinate computers according to claim 7 wherein said separate indicating means comprises a first electrical contact located in proximity to target indicator and at a predetermined position with respect to said predetermined region, a second electrical contact movable with both of said indicator means and positioned to make electrical contact with said first electrical contact when both of said indicator means are at said predetermined region, and signal means energizable in response to said second electrical contact electrically contacting said first electrical contact.

9. A projectile coordinate computing system comprising a detecting means for providing information relative to two coordinates of the position of a projectile within a path, said detecting means including a pair of spaced scanners, one for each coordinate, for cyclically scanning said path and detecting projectiles therein, and two separate computing systems for receiving information relative to each coordinate respectively;

each of said systems including a binary counter, clock means for driving the binary counter, gating means responsive to the beginning of the scan by the associated scanner for permitting the counter to be driven by the clock, means responsive to the detection of the projectile in the path by the associated scanner for precluding the clock from driving the counter, and means for stopping the counter at binary zero until said gating means responds to the initiation of the subsequent scanning cycle.

10. A projectile coordinate computing system and indicating means comprising:

a computer including timing means;

means for cyclically scanning a path in which a projectile may pass and for providing a signal indicative of the detection of the projectile in said path;

means responsive to the initiation of the scanning of said path by said scanning means for initiating the operation of said timing means;

means responsive to the detection of a projectile in said path by said scanning means for stopping said timing means whereby the condition of said timing means provides an indication of a coordinate of the projectile within said path;

movable indicating means, including a bidirectional drive motor, responsive to said timing means for determining the condition of said timing means and indicating the same as a coordinate for the position of a projectile within said path; and

switch means operated by said computer for conditioning said motor for movement in one direction during a first portion of a scan and for conditioning said motor for movement in the other direction during a second portion of a scan.

11. The projectile coordinate computing system of claim 10 wherein said indicating means includes a movable indicator and feedback means for providing information relative to the position of said indicator, comparing means for comparing the condition of said timing means and said information provided by said feedback means, and said switch means includes means responsive to said means for initiating operation of said timing means for normally conditioning said motor to move in one direction, and means responsive to said comparing means for conditioning said motor to operate in the other direction when said comparing means determines a match between the conditions of said timing means and said feedback means.

12. The projectile coordinate computing system of claim 11 wherein said motor means comprises a direct current rotary motor and said switch means includes a first switching device connected to a source of power and to one side of said motor, a second switching device connected to the other side of said motor and the other side of said source of power, means responsive to the operation of said first switching device for operating said second switching devIce;

a third switching device connected to said one side of said source of power and to said other side of said motor, a fourth switching device connected to said one side of said motor and said other side of said source of power, and means responsive to the operation of said third switching device for operating said fourth switching device; and

means for alternately operating one of said first and third switching devices.

13. The projectile coordinate computing system of claim 12 wherein all of said switching devices comprise transistors.