Arrow location apparatus

• US 5,727,789 A
• Filed: 06/27/1994
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: JDR Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: JDR Incorporated
• Inventors: Butts, Russell T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoll, William E.
• Application Number:
  US08/267,065
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 273/348, 273/371, 273/373, 273/377, 273/378, 273/379
• US Class Current: 273/371
• 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

In one form of the invention an apparatus for precisely locating an associated arrow embedded in an associated target having a first center which includes a plurality of light sources disposed in an arc having a second center and a plurality of photo sensors arrayed opposite the light sources with the target intermediate the light sources and photo sensors. The apparatus includes a apparatus for turning on and off the light sources sequentially to produce a scan of the target, apparatus for determining the exact location of the arrow embedded in the target with the apparatus for determining utilizing the apparatus for detecting. In another form of the invention an apparatus for precisely locating an associated arrow embedded in an associated target having a first center which includes a plurality of corner cube reflectors disposed having a second center with the plurality of corner cube reflectors being arrayed generally around a first side of the target. The apparatus includes a light detection and transmitting module disposed on the side of the target which is generally opposite the plurality of corner cube reflectors and generates and receives pulses of light after the light has been reflected off one of the plurality of corner cube reflectors. The apparatus includes apparatus for determining the exact location of an arrow embedded in the target.

Claims

1. An apparatus for precisely locating an associated arrow embedded in an associated unmodified standard board target having a first center which includes:

a plurality of light sources disposed in an arc having a second center;

a plurality of photo sensors arrayed opposite said light sources with the target intermediate said light sources and said photo sensors;

means for turning on and off said light sources sequentially to produce a scan of the target;

means for detecting when an arrow embedded in the target interrupts any light beam from any of said light sources to any of said photo sensors; and

means for determining the exact location of the arrow embedded in the target, said means for determining utilizing said means for detecting.

2. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein:

said plurality of photo sensors comprises three photo sensors.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein:

said means for determining the arrow'"'"'s location includes a multiplexer and said multiplexer controls the scan of said light sources.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein:

said multiplexer is controlled by a microprocessor which turns the said light sources on in sequence so that only one said light source'"'"'s light is projected across the target to said photo sensors.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein:

said photo sensors are located in relation to the target and said light sources so that said photo sensors'"'"' cones of operation have azimuth angles of approximately 60 degrees each and said azimuth angles overlap in order to receive the beam of light from any said light source.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein:

said light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein:

the number of said LEDs in said arcuate array is 512.

8. The apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein:

said photo sensors and said plurality of LEDs are covered by a light shield.

9. The apparatus as described in claim 8 wherein:

said arcuate array of said plurality of light sources has an angular sector of 177.6 degrees.

10. The apparatus as described in claim 9, wherein:

said arcuate array of said light sources has a radius of 11.562 inches.

11. The apparatus as described in claim 1 in which:

said microprocessor receives the output signal from said photo sensors and performs the required mathematical functions to calculate the location coordinates.

12. The apparatus as described in claim 11 wherein:

said microprocessor is connected to a Read Only Memory (ROM), in which the rules of the game being played can be programmed, and the score calculated according to the game rules programmed into said ROM.

13. The apparatus as described in claim 12 wherein:

said apparatus further includes a display and said microprocessor displays the score of the game being played on said display.