Electro-optic infantry weapons trainer

• US 4,336,018 A
• Filed: 12/19/1979
• Issued: 06/22/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Shaw, Bon F., Marshall, Albert H., Towle, Herbert C., Riordan, Thomas J., Siragusa, George A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hum, Vance Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Application Number:
  US06/105,313
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 434/18, 434/19, 434/20, 434/21, 434/22, 434/25, 434/26, 273/310, 273/311, 273/312, 273/DIG. 28
• US Class Current: 434/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2627 Cooperating with a motion picture projector
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/08 Infrared hit-indicating systems
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/10 Cinematographic hit-indicating systems cinematographic targets F41J9/14

Abstract

An electro-optic infantry weapons training system for simulating the firingf a quintet of weapons at a visual target which appears upon a screen. A quintet of trainee riflemen, each of whom is holding a weapon, aim and fire the weapons at the visual target. A visual projector projects upon the screen a background scene including the visual target, while an infrared projector simultaneously projects upon the screen an infrared target. Each weapon includes a sensor element for sensing the infrared target whenever the weapon is correctly aimed at the visual target. The sensor elements are connected in a unique combination with sensor circuits, enable circuits, and an interface circuit so as to provide to a microprocessor computer and an eight-bit microcomputer data words which indicate whether each of the quintet of trainee riflemen have scored a hit upon the visual target. The microprocessor computer then supplies a message to a voice unit so as to indicate to an instructor and each of the quintet of trainee riflemen whether the trainee rifleman has scored a hit upon the visual target. The eight-bit microcomputer supplies to a data CRT display a message so as to indicate to the instructor whether each of the five trainee riflemen have scored a hit upon the visual target. At the conclusion of a training session, the microprocessor computer will supply to a data terminal, in accordance with a message format, the results of the training session.

Claims

1. A weapon training simulation system comprising in combination:

first projecting means having first and second outputs for displaying upon a screen a background scene including a visual target;

second projecting means having first and second outputs for displaying upon said screen an infrared target, and for producing a target present signal;

a plurality of weapons, each of which includes a trigger mechanism, and an ammunition magazine engagably attached thereto so as to allow said ammunition magazine to be removed therefrom;

means effectively connected between the said first projecting means and the said second projecting means for coordinately driving said first and second projecting means such that whenever at least one of a plurality of trainee riflemen correctly aims and fires one of said plurality of weapons at said infrared target a hit will be recorded upon said visual target;

a plurality of sensor means effectively and respectively attached to said plurality of weapons with each of said sensor means including a quartet of photodiodes, each photodiode of which is adopted for producing an analog output signal upon sensing said infrared target;

a plurality of circuit means, each circuit means of which has a quartet of signal inputs effectively and respectively connected to the outputs of the photodiodes of one of said plurality of sensor means, a reset input, a quartet of data outputs, a data ready strobe output, a trigger output, and each circuit means of which is mechanically coupled to the trigger mechanism of one of said plurality of weapons for providing, in response to said analog output signals, data word at the quartet of data outputs thereof whenever one of said trainee rifleman fires one of said weapons at said visual target, and for generating at the data ready strobe output thereof a data ready pulse whenever one of said trainee riflemen fires one of said weapons at said visual target;

an interface means having a plurality of data inputs effectively and respectively connected to the data outputs of said plurality of circuit means, a plurality of data ready strobe inputs respectively connected to the data ready strobe outputs of said plurality of circuit means, a target present input connected to the second output of said second projecting means, a serial data input, a quartet of decode select inputs, a decode enable input, a quartet of rifle data inputs, a trio of rifle select inputs, an initialization input, a write input, a clock input, a reset output connected to the reset inputs of said plurality of circuit means, a master service request output, a plurality of service request outputs, a quartet of data outputs, a voice unit enable output, a data terminal enable output, and a CRT output adopted for passing to the target present output thereof the target present signal supplied by said second projecting means, for receiving from each of said plurality of circuit means the data word provided thereby in response to the data ready pulse generated therefrom, and for storing therein the data words provided by said plurality of circuit means; and

computer means having a quartet of data inputs respectively connected to the quartet of data outputs of said interface means, a target present input connected to the target present output of said interface means, a master sevice request input connected to the master service request output of said interface means, a plurality of service request inputs respectively connected to the plurality of service request outputs of said interface means, a data terminal input, a serial data output connected to the serial data input of said interface means, a quartet of decode select outputs respectively connected to the quartet of decode select inputs of said interface means, a decode enable output connected to the decode enable input of said interface means, a quartet of rifle data outputs respectively connected to the quartet of rifle data inputs of said interface means, a trio of rifle select outputs respectively connected to the trio of rifle select inputs of said interface means, an initialization output connected to the initialization input of said interface means, a write output connected to the write input of said interface means, a clock output connected to the clock input of said interface means adopted for supplying to said interface means a plurality of predetermined address words, each of said predetermined address words to effect the transfer of one of said data words stored by said interface means from said interface means to said computer means, for performing an analysis of said data words in accordance with a predetermined computer program so as to generate a plurality of predetermined messages, each of which is indicative of a hit, a miss, or a specific area of near miss, and for receiving the target present signal from said interface means so as to determine, in accordance with said predetermined computer program, a reaction time for each of said plurality of trainee riflemen whenever said plurality of trainee riflemen fire said plurality of weapons at said visual target.

2. The weapon training simulation system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of weapons comprises a rifle.

3. The weapon training simulation system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of circuit means comprises:

a quartet of sensor circuits each of which has a signal input, an enable input, and a reset input, with the signal inputs thereof connected to the outputs of said quartet of photodiodes, and the reset inputs thereof connected to the reset outputs of said interface means;

a voltage source;

a trigger switch mechanically coupled to the trigger mechanism of one of said plurality of weapons, said trigger switch having an input connected to said voltage source and a pair of outputs;

an auto-manual switch mounted upon one of said plurality of weapons, said auto-manual switch having an input connected to said voltage source, an auto output, and a manual output;

an RS flip-flop having a reset input connected to the first of the pair of outputs of said trigger switch, a set input connected to the second of the pair of outputs of said trigger switch, and a Q output;

a first one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to the Q output of said RS flip-flop and an output;

a pulse generator having an input connected to the Q output of said RS flip-flop and an output;

a first AND gate having a first input connected to the auto output of said auto-manual switch, a second input connected to the output of said pulse generator and an output;

a second AND gate having a first input connected to the output of said one-shot multivibrator, a second input connected to the manual output of said auto-manual switch, and an output;

an OR gate having a first input connected to the output of said first AND gate, a second input connected to the manual output of said auto-manual switch and an output;

a capacitor mounted within said ammunition magazine;

a second one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to said capacitor, and an output;

a counter having a reset input connected to the output of said second one-shot multivibrator, a clock input and an output;

a third AND gate having a first input connected to the output of said OR gate, a second input connected to the output of said counter, and an output;

a third one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to the output of said third AND gate, and an output connected to the clock input of said counter and the enable inputs of said quartet of sensor circuits;

a fourth AND gate having a first input connected to the output of said counter, and a second input connected to the output of said third one-shot multivibrator; and

a fourth one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to the output of said third one-shot multivibrator.

4. The weapon training simulation system according to claim 3, wherein each of said quartet of sensor circuits comprises:

an active filter having an input effectively connected to the output of one of said quartet of photodiodes and an output;

a voltage comparator having a first input connected to the output of said active filter, a second input connected to a direct current voltage source and an output;

an AND gate having a first input connected to the output of said voltage comparator, a second input connected to the output of said third one-shot multivibrator, and an output; and

a latch having a first input connected to the output of said AND gate, a second input connected to the reset output of said interface means, and an output.

5. The weapon training simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said interface means comprises:

a plurality of latches, each of which has a quartet of data inputs respectively connected to the data outputs of one of said circuit means, a data ready strobe input connected to the data ready strobe output of one of said sensor means, a data clear input, a data ready input, and an interrupt output;

an OR gate having a plurality of inputs respectively connected to the interrupt outputs of said plurality of latches;

a decoder having a quartet of decode select inputs respectively connected to the quartet of decode select outputs of said computer means, a decode enable input connected to the decode enable output of said computer means, a data clear output connected to the data clear inputs of said plurality of latches, a plurality of data ready outputs respectively connected to the data ready inputs of said plurality of latches, a first control output, and a second control output;

an RS flip-flop having a set input connected to the first control output of said decoder, a reset input connected to the second control output of said decoder, a Q output and a Q output;

a first AND gate having a first input connected to the serial data output of said computer means, and a second input connected to the Q output of said RS flip-flop;

a second AND gate having a first input connected to the serial data output of said computer means, and a second input connected to the Q output of said RS flip-flop;

a one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to the write output of said computer means and an output;

a D flip-flop having a D input connected to the clock output of said computer means, a Q output, and a Q output; and

an eight-bit microcomputer having a quartet of rifle data inputs respectively connected to the quartet of rifle data outputs of said computer means, a trio of rifle select inputs respectively connected to the trio of rifle select outputs of said computer means, a write input connected to the output of said one-shot multivibrator, an initialization input connected to the initialization output of said computer means, an X1 input connected to the Q output of said D flip-flop, and an X2 input connected to the Q output of said D flip-flop.

6. The weapon training simulation system according to claim 1, further characterized by a data terminal having an input connected to the data terminal output of said interface means, and an output connected to the data terminal input of said computer means.

7. The weapon training simulation system according to claim 1, further characterized by an audio system having a first input connected to the second output of said first projecting means, and a second input connected to the voice unit enable output of said interface means.

8. The weapon training simulation system according to claim 7, wherein said audio system comprises:

an audio circuit having a first input connected to the second output of said first projecting means, a second input and an output;

a voice unit having an input connected to the voice unit enable output of said interface means, and an output connected to the second input of said audio circuit; and

a plurality of headphones, each of which has an input effectively connected to the output of said audio circuit.

9. The weapon training simulation system according to claim 1, further characterized by a data CRT display having an input connected to the CRT output of said interface means.

10. The weapon training simulation system of claim 1, further characterized by a plurality of lasers, each of which is effectively attached to one of said plurality of weapons, and each of which has an input connected to the trigger output of one of said plurality of circuit means.

11. The weapon training simulation system of claim 1, further characterized by an infrared television camera spatially disposed downstream from said screen, said infrared television camera having an output.

12. The weapon training simulation system of claim 11, further characterized by an infrared target CRT display having an input connected to the output of said infrared television camera.

13. The simulation system according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined computer program comprises a computer program for performing a data processing function in accordance with the following truth table:

for a 1,1,1,1 word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, a first hit indicator message representing a hit emanates from said computer;

for a 0,1,0,0 word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, a second hit indicator message representing a high right target miss emanates from said computer;

for a 1,0,0,0 word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, a third hit indicator message representing a high left target miss emanates from said computer;

for a 1,1,0,0 word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, a fourth hit indicator message representing a high target miss emanates from said computer;

for a 1,1,0,0 word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, a fifth hit indicator message representing a low left target miss emanates from said computer;

for a 0,0,1,0 word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, a sixth hit indicator message representing a low right target miss emanates from said computer;

for a 1,0,0,1 word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, a seventh hit indicator message representing a left target miss emanates from said computer;

for a 0,1,1,0 word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, an eighth hit indicator message representing a right target miss emanates from said computer;

for a 0,0,1,1 word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, a ninth hit indicator message representing a low target miss emanates from said computer; and

for a 0,0,0,0, word supplied to the quartet of data inputs of said computer, a tenth hit indicator message representing a miss emanates from said computer.

14. An electro-optic infantry weapons trainer comprising, in combination:

a visual projector having first and second outputs for displaying upon a screen a background scene including a visual target, said background scene including said visual target being chopped at a first predetermined frequency;

an infrared projector having first and second outputs for producing a target present signal and for projecting upon said screen an infrared target, said infrared target being chopped at a second predetermined frequency;

a weapon having a trigger mechanism, an intake port, and an ammunition magazine engagably attached thereto so as to allow said ammunition magazine to be removed therefrom;

a selsyn circuit effectively connected between said visual projector and said infrared projector for coordinately driving said visual and infrared projectors such that whenever a trainee rifleman correctly aims and fires said weapon at said infrared target, a hit will be recorded upon said visual target;

a sensor element effectively attached to said weapon, said sensor element having a quartet of photodiodes, each of which has an output and each of which is adopted for producing an analog output signal upon sensing said infrared target;

a quartet of sensor circuits, each of which has a signal input, an enable input, a reset input, and a data output, with the signal inputs thereof respectively connected to the outputs of said quartet of photodiodes, adopted for filtering said analog output signals produced by said quartet of photodiodes so as to pass only said analog output signals having said second predetermined frequency and for converting said passed analog output signals to digital logic data signals;

an enable circuit mechanically coupled to the trigger mechanism of said weapon and having an enable output connected to the enable inputs of said quartet of sensor circuits, a data ready strobe output, and a trigger output for generating an enable signal so as to allow the reading out of said digital logic data signals appearing at the data outputs of said quartet of sensor circuits whenever said trainee rifleman fires said weapon, for limiting to a predetermined number the times said trainee rifleman may fire said weapon, for allowing said trainee rifleman to fire said weapon in either an automatic mode or a manual mode, and for providing a data ready pulse whenever said trainee rifleman fires said weapon;

an interface circuit having a quartet of data inputs respectively connected to the data outputs of said quartet of sensor circuits, a data strobe ready input connected to the data strobe ready output of said enable circuit, a target present input connected to the second output of said infrared projector, a serial data input, a quartet of decode select inputs, a decode enable input, a quartet of rifle data inputs, a trio of rifle select inputs, an initialization input, a write input, a clock input, a reset output connected to the reset inputs of said quartet of sensor circuits, a target present output, a master service request output, a service request output, a quartet of data outputs, a voice unit enable output, a data terminal enable output, and a CRT output adopted for passing to the target present output thereof the target present signal supplied by said infrared projector, and for storing the digital logic data signals appearing at the data outputs of said quartet of sensor circuits in response to the data ready pulse provided by said enable circuit; and

a computer having a quartet of data inputs respectively and effectively connected to the quartet of data outputs of said interface circuit, a target present input connected to the target present output of said interface circuit, a master service request input connected to the master service request output of said interface circuit, a service request input connected to the service request output of said interface circuit, a data terminal input, a serial data output connected to the serial data input of said interface circuit, a quartet of decode select outputs respectively connected to the quartet of decode select inputs of said interface circuit, a decode enable output connected to the decode enable input of said interface circuit, a quartet of rifle data outputs respectively connected to the quartet of rifle data inputs of said interface circuit, a trio of rifle select outputs respectively connected to the trio of rifle select inputs of said interface circuit, an initialization output connected to the initialization input of said interface circuit, a write output connected to the write input of said interface circuit, and a clock output connected to the clock input of said interface circuit adopted for supplying to said interface circuit a predetermined address word so as to effect the transfer of the digital logic data signals stored by said interface circuit from said interface circuit to said computer, for performing an analysis of said digital logic data signals in accordance with a predetermined computer program so as to produce a predetermined message indicative of a hit, a miss, or a specific area of near miss, and for receiving the target present signal from said interface circuit so as to determine, in accordance with said predetermined computer program, a reaction time for said trainee rifleman whenever said trainee rifleman fires said weapon at said visual target.

15. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, wherein said first predetermined frequency is forty-eight hertz.

16. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, wherein said second predetermined frequency is ninety-six hertz.

17. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, wherein each of said sensor circuits comprises:

an active filter having an input effectively connected to the output of one of said quartet of photodiodes and an output;

a voltage comparator having a first input connected to the output of said active filter, a second input connected to a direct current voltage source and an output;

an AND gate having a first input connected to the output of said voltage comparator, a second input connected to the enable output of said enable circuit, and an output; and

a latch having a first input connected to the output of said AND gate, a second input connected to the reset output of said interface circuit, and an output.

18. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, wherein said weapon comprises a rifle.

19. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, wherein said enable circuit comprises:

a voltage source;

a trigger switch mechanically coupled to the trigger mechanism of said weapon, said trigger switch having an input connected to said voltage source and a pair of outputs;

an auto-manual switch mounted upon said weapon, said auto-manual switch having an input connected to said voltage source, an auto output, and a manual output;

an RS flip-flop having a reset input connected to the first of the pair of outputs of said trigger switch, a set input connected to the second of the pair of outputs of said trigger switch, and a Q output;

a first one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to the Q output of said RS flip-flop and an output;

a pulse generator having an input connected to the Q output of said RS flip-flop and an output;

a first AND gate having a first input connected to the auto output of said auto-manual switch, a second input connected to the output of said pulse generator, and an output;

a second AND gate having a first input connected to the output of said one-shot multivibrator, a second input connected to the manual output of said auto-manual switch, and an output;

an OR gate having a first input connected to the output of said first AND gate, a second input connected to the output of said second AND gate, and an output;

a capacitor mounted within said ammunition magazine;

a second one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to said capacitor, and an output;

a counter having a reset input connected to the output of said second one-shot multivibrator, a clock input, and an output;

a third AND gate having a first input connected to the output of said OR gate, a second input connected to the output of said counter, and an output;

a third one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to the output of said third AND gate, and an output connected to the clock input of said counter;

a fourth AND gate having a first input connected to the output of said counter, and a second input connected to the output of said third one-shot multivibrator; and

a fourth one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to the output of said third one-shot multivibrator.

20. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, wherein said interface circuit comprises:

a latch having a quartet of data inputs respectively connected to the data outputs of said quartet of sensor circuits, a data ready strobe input connected to the data ready strobe output of said enable circuit, a data clear input, and a data ready input;

a decoder having a quartet of decode select inputs respectively connected to the quartet of decode select outputs of said computer, a decode enable input connected to the decode enable output of said computer, a data clear output connected to the data clear input of said latch, a data ready output connected to the data ready input of said latch, a first control output, and a second control output;

an RS flip-flop having a set input connected to the first control output of said decoder, a reset input connected to the second control output of said decoder, a Q output, and a Q output;

a first AND gate having a first input connected to the serial data output of said computer, and a second input connected to the Q output of said RS flip-flop;

a second AND gate having a first input connected to the serial data output of said computer, and a second input connected to the Q output of said RS flip-flop;

a one-shot multivibrator having an input connected to the write output of said computer, and an output;

a D flip-flop having a D input connected to the clock output of said computer, a Q output, and a Q output; and

an eight-bit microcomputer having a quartet of rifle data inputs respectively connected to the quartet of rifle data outputs of said computer, a trio of rifle select inputs respectively connected to the trio of rifle select outputs of said computer, an initialization input connected to the initialization output of said computer, a write input connected to the output of said one-shot multivibrator, an X1 input connected to the Q output of said D flip-flop, and an X2 input connected to the Q output of said D flip-flop.

21. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, further characterised by a four blade shutter rotatably mounted within said infrared projector for chopping said infrared target at said second predetermined frequency.

22. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, further characterized by a rifle recoil simulator having an input connected to the trigger output of said enable circuit, and an output port effectively connected to the intake port of said weapon for exerting upon said trainee rifleman a recoil motion whenever said trainee rifleman fires said weapon.

23. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, further characterized by a data terminal having an input connected to the data terminal enable output of said interface circuit, and an output connected to the data terminal input of said computer.

24. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 14, further characterized by an audio system having a first input connected to the second output of said visual projector, and a second input connected to the voice unit enable output of said interface circuit.

25. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer according to claim 24, wherein said audio system comprises:

an audio circuit having a first input connected to the second output of said visual projector, a second input, and an output;

a voice unit having an input connected to the voice unit enable output of said interface circuit, and an output connected to the second input of said audio circuit; and

a pair of headphones, each of which has an input effectively connected to the output of said audio circuit.

26. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer of claim 25, wherein said audio circuit comprises:

a mixer having a first input connected to the second output of said visual projector, a second input connected to the output of said voice unit, and an output; and

an amplifier having an input connected to the output of said mixer.

27. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer of claim 14, further characterized by a data CRT display having an input connected to the CRT output of said interface circuit.

28. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer of claim 14, further characterized by a laser effectively attached to said weapon, said laser having an input connected to the trigger output of said enable circuit for projecting a laser beam spot onto said screen whenever said trainee rifleman fires said weapon.

29. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer of claim 14, further characterized by an infrared television camera spatially disposed downstream from said screen, said infrared television camera having an output.

30. The electro-optic infantry weapons trainer of claim 29, further characterized by an infrared target CRT display having an input connected to the output of said infrared television camera.

31. A weapon fire simulation system comprising, in combination:

projection apparatus having a plurality of outputs for simultaneously and coordinately projecting onto a screen a background scene including a visual target and an infrared target;

a weapon having a trigger mechanism attached thereto;

a sensor element attached to said weapon, said sensor element having a quartet of photodiodes, each of which is adapted for producing an analog output signal upon sensing said infrared target;

a quartet of sensor circuits, each of which has a signal input and an enable input, and a data output, with the signal inputs thereof respectively connected to the outputs of said quartet of photodiodes;

an enable circuit mechanically coupled to the trigger mechanism of said weapon and having an enable output connected to the enable inputs of said quartet of sensor circuits, and a data ready strobe output, for generating an enable signal and providing a data ready pulse so as to allow the reading out of the data appearing at the data outputs of said quartet of sensor circuits whenever said trigger mechanism is operated;

an interface circuit having a quartet of data inputs respectively connected to the quartet of data outputs of said sensor circuits, a data ready strobe input connected to the data ready strobe of said enable circuit, a plurality of computer inputs, and a plurality of computer outputs, for receiving from said sensor circuits the data word provided thereby, and for storing said data word therein; and

a computer having a plurality of inputs respectively connected to the computer outputs of said interface circuit, and a plurality of outputs respectively connected to the computer inputs of said interface circuit, for supplying to said interface circuit a predetermined address word so as to effect the transfer of said data word from said interface circuit to said computer, wherein said computer performs an analysis of said data word in accordance with a predetermined computer program stored therein so as to indicate to a trainee rifleman whether said trainee rifleman has scored a hit upon said visual target.