PROGRAMMABLE LASER MARKSMANSHIP TRAINER

• US 3,811,204 A
• Filed: 03/22/1973
• Issued: 05/21/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/1973
• 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): Grieb, Wm. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolff, J. H.
• Application Number:
  US05/343,775
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 35/25 273/101.1,102.2
• US Class Current: 434/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2627 Cooperating with a motion picture projector
• 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 marksmanship training system employing a screen for viewing a program of slides of different battle scenes each with a target portion in the projected image oriented in relation to one or more of a plurality of light detectors supported behind the screen in a matrix and each capable of being actuated by a laser attached to a weapon being fired to actuate an associated hit indicating lamp and cumulative hit counter. A slide projector and a sequential detector switching means are simultaneously actuated from a common programming means to vary projected images and target areas located therein by sequentially projecting slides and sequentially varying connected light detectors.

Claims

1. A laser marksmanship trainer comprising:

a. a weapon having firing means and a projectile barrel, b. a target screen, c. laser means actuated from said firing means and having a laser beam axis, said laser means being attached to said weapon with said beam axis parallel to said barrel to direct a laser beam to said target when the weapon is aimed thereat and said firing means is operated, d. light sensitive detectors, e. means for supporting said light sensitive detectors in a matrix behind said screen, f. a plurality of photographic slides taken of scenes of different background and target locations and with a camera having a grid corresponding to said matrix to enable taking slides with selected targets in proper orientation to selected arrangements of said detectors in said matrix to provide thereby a plurality of slides each with different target locations and background oriented to said selected detector arrangements, g. a slide projector to be loaded with said slides for sequentially projecting scenes from said slides, h. a slide film made of said grid matrix for projecting on said screen to align said projector to said detector matrix, i. sequential switching means for sequentially connecting for operation different selected of said detectors corresponding to different target locations, j. a hit indicator associated with each detector and electronic actuator means for actuating each indicator from an associated detector, and k. programmable means for actuating said slide projector and said sequential switching means in unison and coordination for projecting selected of said slides and simultaneously actuating corresponding detectors and associated hit indicators.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, a. each of said hit indicators comprising a lamp means mounted adjacent its associated detector, b. said electronic actuator means including an SCR for each lamp and itS associated detector and amplifying means for each detector, each SCR being gated to ON condition from its associated detector and being connected in series with said lamp to act as a switch means therefor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, including a. a digital counter and activating circuit, b. said activating circuit being connected to receive the output of said SCR and to operate said counter to record the total number of target hits per slide.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, a. said sequential switching means comprising a multiposition, multiple stepping solenoid to provide for handling a plurality of slides each having a plurality of targets arranged with a background scene.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, a. said screen having a plurality of small holes located one in front of each lamp and one in front of each detector to provide an unobstructed path for said laser beam to each of said detectors and an unobstructed view of said hit indicator lamp.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, including a. bandpass filter means attached to cover each of said light detector means and selected to pass only the laser frequency light to said detectors to thereby avoid activating said detectors by light originating from said projectors.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2, a. said screen being translucent to pass sufficient laser light to activate said detectors but sufficiently reflective to provide for viewing a projected image.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6, including a. bandpass filter means attached to cover each of said light detector means and selected to pass only the laser frequency light to said detectors to thereby avoid activating said detectors by light originating from said projectors.