Linear motion and pop-up target training system

• US 4,340,370 A
• Filed: 09/08/1980
• Issued: 07/20/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1980
• 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., Bond, Gary M., Towle, Herbert C., Grimmer, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grieb, William H.
• Application Number:
  US06/185,047
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 434/22, 273/310, 273/312, 273/366, 273/367, 273/390, 273/391, 273/392, 273/368, 273/369
• US Class Current: 434/22
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2661 in which the light beam is sent from the target to the weapon F41G3/2638 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/28 Small-scale apparatus relief models or maps G09B
• 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: F41J 7/06 Bobbing targets, i.e. targets intermittently or unexpectedly appearing

Abstract

A linear motion and pop-up target training system is disclosed for training a marksman to fire a simulated weapon. Located upon the terrain surface of a modelboard are six pop-up targets and three bi-directional linear motion targets, each of which emits, when activated by a first microprocessor computer, a pulsed beam of infrared light. Mounted upon the weapon is a sensor which will sense the pulsed beam of infrared light emitted by the activated target. The sensor then supplied to a rifle electronics circuit an analog signal proportional to the amount of light received by the sensor, and the rifle electronics circuit converts the analog signal to a digital logic signal to be supplied to a second microprocessor computer. The second microprocessor computer then processes the digital logic signal in accordance with a predetermined computer program so as to determine whether the marksman has scored a hit, a miss, or a near miss upon the activated target.

Claims

1. A weapons training system comprising, in combination:

a modelboard having a terrain surface thereon, said terrain surface having a plurality of apertures, and a plurality of slots located therein;

a plurality of pop-up targets, each of which has first and second inputs, each of which, when activated, pops up through one of the apertures located in the terrain surface of said modelboard, and each of which, when activated, emits therefrom a pulsed beam of infrared light;

a plurality of linear motion targets, each of which has first, second, third, and fourth inputs, each of which, when activated, moves in either a first predetermined direction, or a second predetermined direction upon the terrain surface of said modelboard, and each of which, when activated, emits therefrom a pulsed beam of infrared light;

first computing means having a reset input, first, second, and third sequence select inputs, a plurality of target activate outputs, a target present output, and an audio output for providing digital logic signals at the target activate outputs thereof so as to effect the activation of each of said linear motion targets and said pop-up targets in a predetermined sequence in accordance with a computer program utilized thereby, for providing a target present signal at the target present output thereof whenever one of said linear motion targets, or one of said pop-up targets is activated thereby, and for providing a movement indicator signal at the audio output thereof whenever one of said linear motion targets or one of said pop-up targets is activated thereby;

first signal generating means having an output for providing at the output thereof a direct current voltage signal;

switching means having a first input connected to the output of said first signal generating means, a second input connected to ground and an output connected to the reset input of said first computing means for passing therethrough the direct current voltage signal provided by said signal generating means so as to initialize the computer program utilized by said first computing means;

first gating means having a plurality of inputs, with the first input thereof connected to the output of said switching means, and the remaining inputs thereof respectively connected to the target activate outputs of said first computing means, a plurality of pop-up target activation outputs respectively connected to the first inputs of said pop-up targets, and a plurality of linear motion target activation outputs, one half of which are respectively connected to the first inputs of said linear motion targets, and the other half of which are respectively connected to the second inputs of said linear motion targets adapted for passing therethrough the digital logic signals provided by said first computing means only when said switching means is positioned such that the direct current voltage signal provided by said first signal generating means passes through said switching means to the first input thereof;

second signal generating means having an output for providing at the output thereof a clock signal having a predetermined frequency;

second gating means having a clock input connected to the output of said second signal generating means, a plurality of pop-up target activation inputs respectively connected to the pop-up target activation outputs of said first gating means, a plurality of linear motion target activation inputs respectively connected to the linear motion target activation outputs of said first gating means, a plurality of pop-up target light beam activation outputs respectively connected to the second inputs of said pop-up targets, and a plurality of linear motion target light beam target activation outputs, one half of which are respectively connected to the third inputs of said linear motion targets, and the other half of which are respectively connected to the fourth inputs of said linear motion targets adapted for passing therethrough, in response to the digital logic signals provided by said first computing means, the clock signal provided by said second signal generating means so as to effect the activation of the pulsed beam of infrared light emitted from the linear motion or pop-up target activated by said first computing means;

an imitation weapon having a trigger mechanism for effecting the simulated firing thereof;

sensing means mounted upon the barrel of said weapon, and having an output for receiving the pulsed beam of infrared light from the linear motion or pop-up target activated by said first computing means, and for providing at the output thereof an analog signal proportional to the amount of infrared light received thereby; and

second computing means having a data input connected to the output of said sensing means, a target present input connected to the target present output of said first computing means, and an audio output for converting the analog signal provided by said sensing means to a digital logic signal, and for processing, in accordance with a predetermined computer program, the digital logic signal converted thereby, and the target present signal provided by said first computing means so as to generate a logic indicator signal indicative of whether said marksman has scored a hit, a miss, or a near miss upon the linear motion or pop-up target activated by said first computing means.

2. The weapons training system of claim 1 wherein each of said pop-up targets comprises:

a base mounted within said modelboard;

a pair of L shaped support brackets, the first of which is mounted upon one end of said base, and the second of which is mounted upon the opposite end of said base;

an aperture located within the first of said pair of L shaped support brackets;

a coil mounted upon the second of said pair of L shaped support brackets, said coil having an input effectively connected to one of the pop-up target activation outputs of said first gating means, and a shaft rotatably extending through the aperture of the first of said pair of support brackets;

a support block mounted upon the shaft of said coil;

a target fixedly attached to said support block; and

a photodiode mounted upon said target, said photodiode having an input connected to one of the pop-up target light beam activation outputs of said second gating means.

3. The weapons training system of claim 1 wherein each of said linear motion targets comprises:

a base mounted within said modelboard;

a pair of guide rod support blocks mounted upon said base, the first of which is located near one end of said base, and the second of which is located near the opposite end of said base;

a pair of parallel guide rods rigidly mounted between said pair of guide rod support blocks;

a target support block having therein a pair of apertures, each of which has passing therethrough one of said pair of guide rods;

a pair of limit switch support blocks, the first of which is mounted upon said base adjacent to the first of said pair of guide rod support blocks, and the second of which is mounted upon said base adjacent the second of said pair of guide rod support blocks;

a first limit switch mounted upon the first of said pair of limit switch support blocks, said first limit switch having an input connected to one of the linear motion target activation outputs of said first gating means, and an output;

a second limit switch mounted upon the second of said pair of limit switch support blocks, said second limit switch having an input connected to another of the linear motion target activation outputs of said first gating means, and an output;

a motor support bracket mounted upon one end of said base adjacent the first of said pair of guide rod support blocks, said motor support bracket having therein an aperture;

a motor mounted upon said motor support bracket, said motor having a shaft passing through the aperture of said motor support bracket, a first input connected to the output of said first limit switch, and a second input connected to the output of said second limit switch;

a first sprocket connected to the shaft of said motor, said first sprocket having a plurality of teeth;

a sprocket support bracket mounted upon the opposite end of said base adjacent the second of said pair of guide rod support blocks, said sprocket support bracket having therein an aperture;

a sprocket support shaft passing through the aperture of said sprocket support bracket;

a second sprocket connected to one end of said sprocket support shaft, said second sprocket having a plurality of teeth;

a collar connected to the opposite end of said sprocket support shaft;

a drive chain having one end thereof connected to one side of said target support block, the opposite end thereof connected to the opposite side of said target support, and the remainder thereof meshing with the teeth of said first sprocket and the teeth of said second sprocket;

a target fixedly attached to said target support block and passing through one of the slots located within the terrain surface of said modelboard, said target having a recess therein;

a pair of rectangular-shaped arms adjustably mounted within the recess of said target;

a first photodiode mounted upon the first of said pair of rectangular-shaped arms, said first photodiode having an input connected to one of the linear motion light beam activation outputs of said second gating means; and

a second photodiode mounted upon the second of said pair of rectangular-shaped arms, said second photodiode having an input connected to another of the linear motion light beam activation outputs of said second gating means.

4. The weapons training system of claim 1 wherein said first gating means comprises a plurality of two input AND gates, each of which has the first input thereof connected to one of the target activate outputs of said first computing means, and each of which has the second input thereof connected to the output of said switching means.

5. The weapons training system of claim 1 where said second gating means comprises a plurality of two input AND gates, one half of which have the first inputs thereof respectively connected to the pop-up target activation outputs of said first gating means, the other half of which have the first inputs thereof respectively connected to the linear motion target activation outputs of said first gating means, and each of which has the second input thereof connected to the output of said second signal generating means.

6. The weapons training system of claim 1, wherein said imitation weapon comprises a rifle.

7. The weapons training system of claim 1, wherein said second computing means comprises:

a rifle electronics circuit having an input connected to the output of said sensing means, and an output;

an interface circuit having a target present input connected to the target present output of said first computing means, a data input connected to the output of said rifle electronics circuit, and an input-output terminal; and

a microprocessor computer having an input-output terminal connected to the input-output terminal of said interface circuit.

8. The weapons training system of claim 1, further characterized by:

a bang circuit having an input connected to the audio output of said first computing means, and an output for providing an audio signal at the output thereof in response to the movement indicator signal provided by said first computing means;

a voice unit having an input connected to the audio output of said second computing means, and an output for providing an audio signal at the output thereof in response to the hit indicator signal generated by said second computing means;

an audio circuit having a pair of inputs, the first of which is connected to the output of said voice unit, and the second of which is connected to the output of said bang circuit for passing therethrough the audio signal provided by said bank circuit, and the audio signal provided by said voice unit; and

a headphone adapted to be worn upon the head of said marksman, and having an input connected to the output of said audio circuit for converting the audio signal provided by said bang circuit to an audio message simulating a rifle shot so as to indicate to said marksman that either a pop-up target or a linear motion target has been activated by said first computing means, and for converting the audio signal provided by said voice unit to an audio message so as to indicate to said marksman whether a hit, a miss, or a near miss has been scored upon the linear motion or pop-up target activated by said first computing means.

9. The weapons training system of claim 1, further characterized by:

a first normally open switch having an input connected to the output of said first signal generating means, and an output connected to the first sequence select input of said first computing means;

a second normally open switch having an input connected to the output of said first signal generating means, and an output connected to the second sequence select input of said first computing means; and

a third normally open switch having an input connected to the output of said first signal generating means, and an output connected to the third sequence select input of said first computing means.

10. A target training system comprising, in combination:

a model board having a terrain surface thereon, said terrain surface having a sextet of apertures, and a trio of slots located therein;

first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth pop-up targets, each of which has first and second inputs, each of which, when activated, pops up through one of the sextet of apertures located in the terrain surface of said modelboard, and each of which, when activated, emits therefrom a pulsed beam of infrared light;

first, second, and third linear motion targets, each of which has first, second, third, and fourth inputs, each of which, when activated, moves in either a first predetermined direction, or a second predetermined direction upon the terrain surface of said modelboard, and each of which, when activated, emits therefrom a pulsed beam of infrared light;

a first microprocessor computer having a reset input, first, second, and third sequence select inputs, twelve target activate outputs, a target present output, an audio output, and a ready output adapted for providing digital logic signals at the twelve target activate outputs thereof so as to effect the activation of each of said linear motion targets and said pop-up targets in a predetermined sequence in accordance with a computer program utilized thereby, for providing a target present signal at the target present output thereof whenever one of said linear motion targets or one of said pop-up targets is activated thereby, and for providing a movement indicator signal at the audio output thereof whenever one of said linear motion targets or one of said pop-up targets is activated thereby;

a direct current voltage source having an output for providing a direct current voltage signal;

a selector switch having a first input connected to the output of said direct current voltage source, a second input connected to ground, and an output connected to the reset input of said first microprocessor computer for passing therethrough the direct current voltage signal provided by said direct current voltage source so as to initialize the computer program utilized by said first microprocessor computer;

a first logic gate having twelve inputs effectively and respectively connected the twelve target activate outputs of said first microprocessor computer, a thirteenth input connected to the output of said selector switch, and twelve outputs, six of which are respectively connected to the first inputs of said pop-up targets, three of which are respectively connected to the first inputs of said linear motion targets, and three of which are respectively connected to the second inputs of said linear motion targets for passing therethrough the digital logic signals provided by said first microprocessor computer only when said selector switch is positioned such that the direct current voltage signal provided by said direct current voltage source passes through said selector switch to the thirteenth input thereof;

a signal generator having an output for providing at the output thereof a clock signal having a predetermined frequency;

a second logic gate having twelve inputs effectively and respectively connected to the twelve outputs of said first logic gate, a thirteenth input connected to the output of said signal generator, and twelve outputs, six of which are respectively connected to the second inputs of said pop-up targets, three of which are respectively connected to the third inputs of said linear motion targets, and three of which are respectively connected to the fourth inputs of said linear motion targets for passing therethrough, in response to the digital logic signals provided by said first microprocessor computer, the clock signal provided by said signal generator so as to effect the activation of the pulsed beam of infrared light emitted from the linear motion or pop-up target activated by said first microprocessor computer;

an imitation weapon having a trigger mechanism for effecting the simulated firing thereof;

a sensor element mounted upon the barrel of said weapon, and having an output for receiving the pulsed beam of infrared light from the linear motion or pop-up target activated by said first microprocessor computer, and for providing at the output thereof an analog signal proportional to the amount of infrared light received thereby;

a rifle electronics circuit having an input connected to the output of sensor element, and an output for converting the analog signal provided by said sensor element to a digital logic signal;

an interface circuit having a target present input connected to the target present output of said first microprocessor computer, a data input connected to the output of said rifle electronics circuit, an input-output terminal, and an audio output adapted for passing therethrough the target present signal provided by said first microprocessor computer, and the digital logic signal converted by said rifle electronics circuit;

a second microprocessor computer having an input-output terminal connected to the input-output terminal of said interface circuit adapted for processing, in accordance with a predetermined computer program, the digital logic signal and the target present signal passed through said interface circuit so as to generate a logic indicator signal indicative of whether said marksman has scored a hit, a miss, or a near miss upon the linear motion or pop-up target activated by said first microprocessor computer;

a bang circuit having an input connected to the audio output of said first microprocessor computer, and an output for providing an audio signal at the output thereof in response to the movement indicator signal provided by said first microprocessor computer;

a voice unit having an input connected to the audio output of said interface circuit and an output for providing an audio signal at the output thereof in response to the hit indicator signal generated by said second microprocessor computer;

an audio circuit having a pair of inputs, the first of which is connected to the output of said voice unit, and the second of which is connected to the output of said bang circuit for passing therethrough the audio signal provided by said bang circuit, and the audio signal provided by said voice unit; and

a headphone adapted to be worn upon the head of said marksman, and having an input connected to the output of said audio circuit for converting the audio signal provided by said bang circuit to an audio message simulating a rifle shot so as to indicate to said marksman that either a pop-up target or a linear motion target has been activated by said first microprocessor computer, and for converting the audio signal provided by said voice unit to an audio message so as to indicate to said marksman whether a hit, a miss, or a near miss has been scored upon the linear motion target or pop-up target activated by said first microprocessor computer.

11. The target training system of claim 10 wherein each of said pop-up targets comprises:

a base mounted within said modelboard;

a pair of L shaped support brackets, the first of which is mounted upon one end of said base, and the second of which is mounted upon the opposite end of said base;

an aperture located within the first of said pair of L shaped support brackets;

a coil mounted upon the second of said pair of support brackets, said coil having an input effectively connected to one of the outputs of said first logic gate, and a shaft rotatably extending through the aperture of the first of said pair of support brackets;

a support block mounted upon the shaft of said coil;

a target fixedly attached to said support block; and

a photodiode mounted upon said target, said photodiode having an input connected to one of the outputs of said second logic gate.

12. The target training system of claim 10 wherein each of said linear motion targets comprises:

a base mounted within said modelboard;

a pair of guide rod support blocks mounted upon said base, the first of which is located near one end of said base, and the second of which is located near the opposite end of said base;

a pair of parallel guide rods rigidly mounted between said pair iof guide rod support blocks;

a target support block having therein a pair of apertures, each of which has passing therethrough one of said pair of guide rods;

a pair of limit switch support blocks, the first of which is mounted upon said base adjacent the first of said pair of guide rod support blocks, and the second of which is mounted upon said base adjacent the second of said pair of guide rod support blocks;

a first limit switch mounted upon the first of said pair of limit switch support blocks, said first limit switch having an input connected to one of the outputs of said first logic gate, and an output;

a second limit switch mounted upon the second of said pair of limit switch support blocks, said second limit switch having an input connected to another of the outputs of said first logic gate, and an output;

a motor support bracket mounted upon one end of said base adjacent the first of said pair of guide rod support blocks, said motor support bracket having therein an aperture;

a motor mounted upon said motor support bracket, said motor having a shaft passing through the aperture of said motor support bracket, a first input connected to the output of said first limit switch, and a second input connected to the output of said second limit switch;

a first sprocket connected to the shaft of said motor, said first sprocket having a plurality of teeth;

a sprocket support bracket mounted upon the opposite end of said base adjacent the second of said pair of guide rod support blocks, said sprocket support bracket having therein an aperture;

a sprocket support shaft passing through the aperture of said sprocket support bracket;

a second sprocket connected to one end of said sprocket support shaft, said second sprocket having a plurality of teeth;

a collar connected to the opposite end of said sprocket support shaft;

a drive chain having one end thereof connected to one side of said target support block, the opposite end thereof connected to the opposite side of said target support, and the remainder thereof meshing with the teeth of said first sprocket and the teeth of said second sprocket;

a target fixedly attached to said target support block and passing through one of the slots located within the terrain surface of said modelboard, said target having a recess therein;

a pair of rectangular shaped arms adjustably mounted within the recess of said target;

a first photodiode mounted upon the first of said pair of rectangular shaped arms, said first photodiode having an input connected to one of the outputs of said second logic gate; and

a second photodiode mounted upon the second of said pair of rectangular shaped arms, said second photodiode having an input connected to another of the outputs of said second logic gate.

13. The target training system of claim 10, wherein said first logic gate comprises twelve two-input AND gates, each of which has the first input thereof connected to one of the target activate outputs of said first microprocessor computer, and each of which has the second input thereof connected to the output of said selector switch.

14. The target training system of claim 10, wherein said second logic gate comprises twelve two-input AND gates, each of which has the first input thereof connected to one of the outputs of said first logic gate, and each of which has the second input thereof connected to the output of said signal generator.

15. The target training system of claim 10, wherein said imitation weapon is a rifle.

16. The target training system of claim 10, further characterized by:

a first normally open switch having an input connected to the output of said direct current voltage source, and an output connected to the first sequence select input of said first microprocessor computer;

a second normally open switch having an input connected to the output of said direct current voltage source, and an output connected to the second sequence select input of said first microprocessor computer; and

a third normally open switch having an input connected to the output of said direct current voltage source, and an output connected to the third sequence select input of said first microprocessor computer.

17. The target training system of claim 10 further characterized by:

a first inverter having an input connected to the ready output of said first microprocessor computer, and an output;

a NAND gate having a first input connected to the output of said selector switch, a second input connected to the output of said first inverter, and an output;

a second inverter having an input connected to the output of said NAND gate, and an output;

a first photodiode having an input connected to the output of said direct current voltage source and the output of said second inverter, and an output connected to the input of said second inverter; and

a second photodiode having an input connected to the output of said direct current voltage source, and an output connected to the input of said first photodiode.