Television precision target shooting apparatus and method

• US 4,395,045 A
• Filed: 06/16/1980
• Issued: 07/26/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sanders Associates, INC. (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sanders Associates, INC. (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Baer, Ralph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hum, Vance Y.
• Application Number:
  US06/159,530
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 273/85 G, 273/310-316, 273/DIG. 28, 358/93, 364/410, 340/323-325, 434/20, 434/22, 434/21
• US Class Current: 463/5
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/213 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. cameras, photodiodes or infrared cells A63F13/219, A63F13/655 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/219 for aiming at specific areas on the display, e.g. light-guns
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/245 specially adapted to a particular type of game, e.g. steering wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/28 responding to control signals received from the game device for affecting ambient conditions, e.g. for vibrating players' seats, activating scent dispensers or affecting temperature or light controlling the output signals based on the game progress A63F13/50
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/426 involving on-screen location information, e.g. screen coordinates of an area at which the player is aiming with a light gun
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/837 Shooting of targets
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1062 being specially adapted to a type of game, e.g. steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1087 comprising photodetecting means, e.g. a camera
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8076 Shooting
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2627 Cooperating with a motion picture projector
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

Simulated shooting at displayed images on the screen of a television receiver using an untethered, simulated gun provides indication on the screen of where the gun was pointed at the time of trigger pull. This is achieved by flashing the screen white subsequent a trigger pull in order that a photosensor within the gun will be responsive to short segments of horizontal raster lines such that by counting vertical lines and time intervals with respect to vertical and horizontal synchronization pulses, respectively, identification of where on the screen the gun was pointing is achieved, permitting a symbol to be displayed upon the screen at that location.

Claims

1. Apparatus for shooting at targets displayed on the screen of a raster scan display, comprising:

a simulated weapon having means for sensing at a distance brightened raster scan segments on the screen of a raster scan display and trigger means; and

means responsive to a trigger pull for generating a signal to brighten the raster to thereby permit said simulated weapon to sense brightened raster scan segments.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes an electro-optical sensor responsive to brightened raster scan segments.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, further including means coupled to said electro-optical sensor for coupling signals associated therewith to said means responsive.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said coupling means includes an infrared transmitter and receiver.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein said transmitter includes a photo diode.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein said receiver includes a photo-responsive element.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, further including means responsive to sensed, brightened raster scan segments for generating signals resolving the location on the screen of the sensed, brightened segments.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7, further including means for generating signals to display a symbol on the screen at the resolved location thereby indicating where the weapon was aimed.

9. A method of shooting at targets displayed on the screen of a raster scan display with a simulated weapon having a trigger and electro-optical sensing means, comprising the steps of:

aiming at the displayed target;

pulling the trigger;

brightening the display screen; and

sensing short segments of the brightened display raster.

10. The method of claim 9, further including the step of determining the position of the sensed short segments of the brightened display raster.

11. The method of claim 10, further including the step of displaying a symbol at the determined position thereby indicating where the weapon was aimed.

12. Apparatus for shooting at targets displayed on the screen of a raster scan display, comprising:

means for optically sensing short segments of a displayed television raster, said sensing means including an electro-optical sensor, switching means and means responsive to said switching means for enhancing the brightness of the raster such that said electro-optical sensor will respond thereto; and

means coupled to said sensing means for resolving which of the raster segments were sensed thereby permitting a determination of where on the screen said sensing means was directed.

13. Apparatus for shooting at targets displayed on the screen of a raster scan display, comprising:

means for optically sensing short segments of a displayed complete television raster, said sensing means including an electro-optical sensor, switching means and means responsive to said switching means for enhancing the brightness of the raster such that said electro-optical sensor will respond thereto; and

means coupled to said sensing means for resolving which of the raster segments were sensed thereby permitting a determination of where on the screen said sensing means was directed.