Targeting system

• US 5,577,733 A
• Filed: 10/06/1994
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dennis L. Downing
• Original Assignee: Dennis L. Downing
• Inventors: Downing, Dennis L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHAAF, JAMES CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/319,279
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 273/371, 273/317, 273/348, 273/358, 273/366, 273/381, 273/382, 273/404, 273/181 H, 434/20, 434/21, 434/22, 434/23, 434/16, 250/222.1, 250/222.2
• US Class Current: 273/348
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 1/10 Target stands; Target holders
• 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

The present invention, in one embodiment, is a targeting system for a shooter of a gun, the system having a target image created by a projector and projected on a target screen or, in one embodiment, a pre-printed target. A light panel is disposed between the target and the gun so that a bullet from the gun passes through the light panel which sends signals indicative of the bullet'"'"'s location and velocity to a computer in which the signals are stored and, in one aspect, analyzed and compared with additional data such as previous bullet locations, velocity, and ballistic parameters for such a bullet. In one embodiment a light panel has one or more light emitters which emit a fan-shaped beam of light in a plane and spaced apart from the emitter(s) one or more light detectors. In one aspect such a panel has on-board electronics for calculating: object (e.g. bullet) velocity; and/or object (e.g. bullet) size. Methods are described for using such systems and such panels.

Claims

1. A light panel comprising

a frame with a top, a bottom spaced apart from the top, a first side between the top and the bottom, and a second side spaced apart from the first side, the second side between the top and the bottom, the frame defining a frame space between its top, bottom, and two sides,

at least one light emitter on the first side, the at least one light emitter for continuously emitting a fan-shaped light beam, across the frame through which and beyond which an object may pass, and

at least one light detector on the second side of the frame for continuously detecting the fan-shaped light beam from the at least one light emitter.

2. The light panel of claim 1 wherein the at least one light emitter is two light emitters.

3. The light panel of claim 1 further comprising

electronic sensing apparatus associated with the frame for detecting interruption of the light beams by an object passing through the frame space.

4. The light panel of claim 1 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus connected to the frame for calculating location coordinates of an object passing through the frame space.

5. The light panel of claim 1 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus connected to the frame for calculating size of an object passing through the frame space.

6. The light panel of claim 1 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus connected to the frame for calculating velocity of an object passing through the light panel frame space.

7. The light panel of claim 6 further comprising

the electronic calculating apparatus also for transmitting data regarding the object.

8. The light panel of claim 1 wherein the object is a bullet fired from a gun.

9. The light panel of claim 8 wherein the at least one light emitter is a laser.

10. The light panel of claim 9 further comprising lens means adjacent the laser, the laser for providing a laser light beam to the lens means, and wherein the lens means is a line generating lens emitting a fan-shaped plane of light.

11. A light panel comprising

a frame with a top, a bottom spaced apart from the top, a first side between the top and the bottom, and a second side spaced apart from the first side, the second side between the top and the bottom, the frame defining a frame space between its top, bottom, and two sides,

at least one light emitter on the first side, and at least one light emitter on the bottom, the light emitters each for continuously emitting a fan-shaped light beam in a plane across the frame through which an object may pass, the light beams crossing each other in the frame space,

at least one light detector on the second side of the frame for continuously detecting the fan-shaped light beam from the at least one light emitter on the first side, and

at least one light detector on the top of the frame for continuously detecting the fan-shaped light beam from the at least one light emitter on the bottom of the frame.

12. The light panel of claim 11 further comprising

electronic sensing apparatus the frame for detecting interruption of the light beams by an object passing through the frame space.

13. The light panel of claim 11 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus the frame for calculating size and location coordinates of an object passing through the frame space, and for calculating velocity of an object passing the light panel frame space and through, and for transmitting data regarding the velocity, size, and location coordinates.

14. The light panel of claim 11 wherein the at least one light emitter on the first side is a laser.

15. The light panel of claim 14 further comprising lens means adjacent the laser, the laser for providing a laser light beam to the lens means, and wherein the lens means is a line generating lens emitting a fan-shaped plane of light.

16. The light panel of claim 11 wherein the at least one light emitter on the bottom is a laser.

17. The light panel of claim 16 further comprising lens means adjacent the laser, the laser for providing a laser light beam to the lens means, and wherein the lens means is a line generating lens emitting a fan-shaped plane of light.

18. A light panel comprising

a frame with a top and a bottom spaced apart from the top, the frame defining a frame space between its top and bottom,

at least one light emitting fiber optic on the frame with lens means for continuously emitting a fan-shaped light beam across the frame through which an object may pass and having a first end on the frame and a second end spaced apart therefrom,

at least one light receiving fiber optic on the frame disposed opposite from the at least one light emitting fiber optic with lens means and having a first end on the frame and a second end spaced apart therefrom,

a light emitter adjacent the second end of the at least one light emitting fiber optic for continuously emitting light into the light emitting fiber optic, and

a light detector adjacent the second end of the at least one light receiving fiber optic for continuously receiving light therefrom.

19. The light panel of claim 18 further comprising

electronic sensing apparatus the frame for detecting interruption of the light beams by an object passing through the frame space.

20. The light panel of claim 18 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus the frame for calculating size and location coordinates of an object passing through the frame space, and for calculating velocity of an object passing through the light panel frame space, and for transmitting data regarding the velocity, size, and location coordinates.

21. The light panel of claim 18 wherein the object is a bullet fired from a gun.

22. The light panel of claim 18 wherein the light emitter adjacent the second end of the at least one light emitting fiber optic is a laser.

23. The light panel of claim 18 wherein the lens means is a line generating lens emitting a fan-shaped plane of light.

24. A targeting system for sensing a bullet fired from a gun at a target, the system comprising

a computer,

a light panel disposed adjacent the target and between the gun and the target, a bullet fired from the gun passing through at least one light beam of the light panel before contacting the target material, and

the light panel producing a bullet signal in response to passage of the bullet therethrough, and

the light panel comprising

a frame with a top, a bottom spaced apart from the top, a first side between the top and the bottom, and a second side spaced apart from the first side, the second side between the top and the bottom, the frame defining a frame space between its top, bottom, and two sides,

at least one light emitter on the first side, the at least one light emitter for continuously emitting a fan-shaped light beam across the frame through which and beyond which an object may pass,

at least one light detector on the second side of the frame for continuously detecting the fan-shaped light beam from the at least one light emitter, and

panel connection apparatus interconnecting the light panel and the computer, the bullet signal transmitted to the computer through the panel connection apparatus.

25. The targeting system of claim 24 wherein the at least one light emitter is two light emitters.

26. The targeting system of claim 24 further comprising

electronic sensing apparatus connected to the frame for detecting interruption of light beams by an object passing through the frame space.

27. The targeting system of claim 24 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus connected to the frame for calculating location coordinates of an object passing through the frame space.

28. The targeting system of claim 24 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus connected to the frame for calculating size of an object passing through the frame space.

29. The targeting system of claim 24, the light panel further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus the frame for calculating velocity of an object passing through the light panel frame.

30. The targeting system of claim 29 further comprising

the electronic calculating apparatus also for transmitting data regarding velocity, size and location coordinates of the object.

31. A targeting system for sensing a bullet fired from a gun at a target, the system comprising

a light panel disposed adjacent the target and between the gun and the target, a bullet fired from the gun passing through at least one light beam of the light panel before contacting the target, and

the light panel producing a bullet signal in response to passage of the bullet therethrough, and

the light panel comprising

a frame with a top and a bottom spaced apart from the top, the frame defining a frame space between its top and bottom,

at least one light emitting fiber optic on the frame with lens means for continuously emitting a fan-shaped light beam across the frame through which the bullet may pass and having a first end on the frame and a second end spaced apart therefrom,

at least one light receiving fiber optic on the frame disposed opposite from the at least one light emitting fiber optic with lens means and having a first end on the frame and a second end spaced apart therefrom,

a light emitter adjacent the second end of the at least one light emitting fiber optic for continuously emitting light into the light emitting fiber optic, and

a light detector adjacent the second end of the at least one light receiving fiber optic for continuously receiving light therefrom.

32. The targeting system of claim 31 further comprising

a computer, and

panel connection apparatus interconnecting the light panel and the computer, the bullet signal transmitted to the computer through the panel connection apparatus.

33. The targeting system of claim 31 wherein the light emitter adjacent the second end of the at least one light emitting fiber optic is a laser.

34. The targeting system of claim 31 wherein the lens means is a line generating lens emitting a fan-shaped plane of light.

35. The targeting system of claim 31 wherein the at least one light emitter is two light emitters.

36. The targeting system of claim 31 further comprising

electronic sensing apparatus connected to the frame for detecting interruption of the light beams by an object passing through the frame space.

37. The targeting system of claim 31 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus connected to the frame for calculating location coordinates of an object passing through the frame space.

38. The targeting system of claim 31 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus connected to the frame for calculating size of an object passing through the frame space.

39. The targeting system of claim 31 further comprising

electronic calculating apparatus associated with the frame for calculating velocity of an object passing through the light panel frame space.

40. The targeting system of claim 31 further comprising

the electronic calculating apparatus also for transmitting data regarding the object.