Small arms laser training device

• US 4,102,059 A
• Filed: 08/02/1976
• Issued: 07/25/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cerheronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cerheronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Dotson, Edsel E., Burchick, Duane A., Kimble, Joe W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rose, Arthur S.
• Application Number:
  US05/710,676
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 35/25, 273/101.1, 240/6.41, 362/110-114
• US Class Current: 434/22
• 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

A miniaturized laser assembly is mounted on a weapon with the power source and circuitry for the laser assembly being contained within the weapon with no significant visual or actual weight change in the weapons original characteristics. The laser weapon is fired in a normal manner by squeezing the trigger while aiming at the target. The laser emits a harmless invisible signal pulse of coherent light so that if the weapon is aimed correctly a detector indicator unit mounted on a target receives and processes the laser pulse to cause an audible sound signifying that a hit has been registered.

Claims

1. A weapon marksman training system comprising in combination, a barreled weapon adapted to be selectively operated from a number of modes including live fire, laser means mounted to said weapon in parallel axial alignment with the bore of the barrel, laser pulse generating means completely enclosed in said weapon and located remote from said laser means, said laser pulse generating means being electrically connected to said laser means by connecting circuitry, said laser pulse generating means comprising a power source and an electrical circuit connected to said power source, said laser pulse generating means adapted to cause said laser means to generate a burst of coherent light, a target adapted to be used with said laser weapon, said target comprising a housing, sensor means mounted to said housing, said sensor means adapted to produce an electrical pulse when struck by coherent light, circuit means connected to said sensor means adapted to transmit only electrical pulses of a predetermined width and amplitude and indicator means electrically connected to said circuit means to receive said pulses from said circuit means and produce a signal indicating a true hit on said target from said weapon.

2. A training system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said power source is at least one rechargeable battery.

3. A laser pistol simulator system for training in pistol fire against a target comprising:

a. a modified pistol having a handle, trigger and barrel, able to fire ammunition;

b. laser beam transmitter mounted on said barrel and a power source and laser pulser generating circuit means electrically connected together and removeably mounted in said handle remote from said laser beam transmitter;

c. circuit means electrically connecting said laser beam transmitter with said power source and laser pulser generating circuit means contained within said handle and barrel;

d. switch means operable from said trigger for activating said laser beam transmitter in short bursts; and

e. target means for sensing a laser beam when the beam strikes said target means;

filter means in operative circuit relationship with said target means for passing only electrical pulses of a predetermined width and amplitude;

amplifier means in operative circuit relationship with said filter means for amplifying said predetermined electrical pulses;

threshold comparator means in operative circuit relationship between said amplifier means and an indicator means for enabling transmission of the pulse output from said amplifier means when it is greater than a predetermined value; and

means in operative circuit relationship with said indicator means for indicating when said laser beam strikes said target means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said indicator means is an audio system.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said indicator means is a light.

6. A modified weapon and marksman training system comprising in combination, a modified barreled weapon having a butt capable of firing live ammunition including a pulse generating circuit completely enclosed within the butt of a weapon, said pulse generating circuit comprising power source means connected to an electrical circuit positioned remote from but connected to a laser mounted on the barrel of the weapon, said pulse generating circuit being adapted to cause said laser to generate a burst of invisible coherent light;

a target adapted to be used with said weapon, said target comprising a sensor, an amplifier connected to said sensor, a threshold comparator connected to said amplifier in operative relationship to sense, electronically filter, amplify and produce an electrical pulse when predetermined narrow pulse widths of invisible coherent light emitted from said modified weapon strike said sensor, and indicator timer means connected to said threshold comparator;

said indicator timer means comprising a flip flop, a one shot multivibrator, a timer integrated circuit means and an indicating device operatively electrically connected together for indicating that a true hit has been registered.

7. A modified weapon and marksman training system as claimed in claim 6 wherein, the flip flop is arranged to receive an output signal pulse from the timer integrated circuit means to prevent further pulse receptions until said timer integrated circuit means has completed its cycle said indicator timer circuit means further including a transistor connected in operative circuit relationship with said timer integrated circuit means to produce a signal output of a fixed duration to give an indication that a true hit on said sensor from said weapon has been accomplished.

8. A laser pistol system utilizing a pistol modified for training a live or simulated pistol fire against a target;

said system comprising;

a. a conventional pistol frame having a trigger mechanism, barrel, sights, butt and butt grips;

b. a laser optics module mounted to said barrel outside of the bore and aligned with the axis of the bore;

c. a power source, a laser pulser module including circuit means and switch means electrically connected together and mounted in said butt remote from said laser optics module and enclosed by said grips;

d. means electrically connecting said laser optics module with said power source, laser pulser module and switch means;

e. means connected to said trigger mechanism for activating said laser pulser module circuit means and for energizing said laser optics module with said power source;

f. a detector used as a target for sensing a laser pulse when the pulse strikes said detector; and

an electronic filter in operative circuit relationship with said detector for passing only a resultant voltage in response to a fast rise time laser pulse, an amplifier in operative circuit relationship with said electronic filter and detector receiving and amplifying said voltage and providing gain only for the narrow fast rise time laser pulse produced by the laser pistol;

a threshold comparator for comparing the voltage level of said predetermined narrow pulse width with a fixed threshold value and passing only those pulses that are above the fixed threshold value;

said comparator being arranged in operative circuit relationship with said amplifier, electronic filter and detector means; and

an indicator means in operative circuit relationship with said comparator, amplifier, electronic filter and detector to receive a pulse from said comparator indicating that said laser pulse had struck said detector.

9. A laser pistol system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said indicator means is an audio system.

10. A laser pistol system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said indicator means is a light system.