LASER RIFLE SIMULATOR SYSTEM

• US 3,792,535 A
• Filed: 12/11/1972
• Issued: 02/19/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Albert H. Marshall, George A. Siragusa
• Original Assignee: Albert H. Marshall, George A. Siragusa
• Inventors: Marshall, Albert H., Siragusa, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolff, J. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/313,704
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 35/25 273/101.1,101.2
• US Class Current: 434/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2683 with reflection of the beam on the target back to the weapon

Abstract

A marksmanship training system combining with a rifle a laser beam transmitter and receiver including an optics system and an indicator means, all of small size and weight and mounted on the barrel of the rifle to form a self-contained unit and including also a target having retroreflective means to provide in the combined system immediate information on hit or miss of the aimed attitude of the rifle toward the target when the rifle trigger is depressed.

Claims

1. A laser rifle simulator system for training in rifle fire against a target comprising:

a. a conventional rifle having a trigger, sight and barrel, b. a laser beam transmitter, a laser beam receiver and amplifier means and means for fixedly attaching said transmitter, receiver and amplifier means to the barrel of said rifle to form with the rifle a self-contained unit, c. means operable from said trigger for activating said laser beam transmitter in short bursts, d. indicator means mounted on said rifle and connected to said receiver to proviDe immediate response to actuation of said receiver while maintaining said self-contained feature, and e. retroreflector means attached to the target to reflect the beam from said transmitter back to said receiver only when said rifle is properly aimed at the target and the trigger thereof is depressed to thereby actuate said indicator means to indicate a hit.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said laser beam receiver and amplifier means comprise a. a photodetector, an operational amplifier and a high-pass filter, b. said photodetector being coupled to said operational amplifier through said filter circuit to eliminate 60 Hz noise and other low frequency transients, c. an SCR and an electrically responsive indicator means for connection in series between a source of voltage differential to actuate said indicator means when said SCR is actuated, d. said SCR being connected for triggering to active condition from an output of said amplifier means, and e. turn-off means connected to said SCR for interrupting the active state thereof comprising an FET and associated resistors and capacitors selected to determine the conducting period of said SCR and hence the period of activation of said indicator means.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, a. said indicator means being an audio system.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, a. said indicator means being a light emitting diode.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, said transmitter means comprising:

a. a laser diode, b. a laser pulser circuit for actuating said laser diode, c. a collimating lens system for collimating the beam from said laser diode, and d. battery means as a power source for said transmitter means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein a. said laser pulser circuit comprises a current limiting resistor, b. an SCR having its anode connected through said resistor to said power source and its cathode connected to the anode of said laser diode, c. a first capacitor connected to the anode of said SCR for discharging therethrough to said laser when said SCR is conditioned to ON condition. d. a second capacitor normally connected to said power source for charging thereof and actuated responsive to closing of said activating means operable from said trigger to discharge to the trigger gate of said SCR to condition the latter to ON condition, e. said current limiting resistor being selected in value to provide insufficient holding current to said SCR whereby said SCR reverts back to OFF condition following the termination of capacitor discharge to the trigger gate thereof.