Missle detection and location

• US 6,155,570 A
• Filed: 07/02/1997
• Issued: 12/05/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Allison L. Rudolph, Paramount Technologies
• Original Assignee: Paramount Technologies
• Inventors: Allison, Rudolph L., Montague, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOTALING, JOHN M
• Application Number:
  US08/886,096
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 273/371, 273/372, 273/373, 273/374, 273/403, 273/404, 273/408, 273/375, 273/377, 463/49-57
• US Class Current: 273/373
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/04 Electric hit-indicating systems; Detecting hits by actuation of electric contacts or switches

Abstract

A system is disclosed for detecting and locating missiles such as darts in a target having a plurality of discrete target areas in which each of the areas has a conductive surface which acts as an electromagnetic signal receiving antenna, and in which a plate is positioned on the back of the target which functions as an electromagnetic signal transmitting antenna. Each of the target areas are monitored for electromagnetic signals and the signals pass through a pin conductor to the monitoring equipment. When a dart is embedded in one of the areas, it also acts as an antenna and, thereby, increases the signal strength of that area to permit detection of the presence and location of the dart. The pin conductors and plate antenna at the back of the dart board substantially improve the discrimination and reliability of the system.

Claims

1. A system for detecting and locating a missile embedded in a target, comprising:

a target having a front face, said front face having a plurality of target areas formed of a first material into which first material one or more of the missiles may be selectively embedded from the front face of the target;

a first electrically conductive area in each of the target areas and adjacent said front face;

a back on said target opposite said front face;

a second electrically conductive area adjacent said back, said second electrically conductive area being spaced substantially equidistantly, from said first electrically conductive area in substantially each of said target areas, and electrically separated from said first electrically conductive area;

signal generating means for imparting a signal to one of said conductive areas whereby said one of said conductive areas defines a transmitting antenna for an electromagnetic signal corresponding to the signal imparted to said one of said conductive areas, and the other of said conductive areas defines a receiving antenna for the electromagnetic signal which is transmitted from the transmitting antenna; and

processing means electrically connected to the other of said conductive areas, said processing means distinguishing between a first of said electromagnetic signals which is received and sensed by the other of said conductive areas in the absence of a missile in a given target area, and a second electromagnetic signal which second signal is an alteration of said first electromagnetic signal by the presence of a missile in said given target area to permit the detection of the presence and location of the missile.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first material comprises dart board bristles, and said first electrically conductive area comprises a conductive coating on said bristles.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said bristles have a given depth, and said first electrically conductive area is located within said bristle depth adjacent to said front face and extends for a depth into said bristles which is less than said given depth.

4. The system of claim 3, including an electrically insulative barrier extending into said first material for a depth greater than the depth of said first electrically conductive area, said insulative barrier defining said plurality of target areas and electrically dividing and separating the first electrically conductive areas of adjacent target areas from each other.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said first material has a given depth, and said first electrically conductive area is located within said first material adjacent said target face and extends for a depth into said first material which is less than said given depth.

6. The system of claim 5, including an electrically insulative barrier extending into said first material for a depth greater than the depth of said first electrically conductive area, said insulative barrier defining said plurality of target areas and electrically dividing and separating the first electrically conductive areas of adjacent target areas from each other.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said second electrically conductive area adjacent said back is an electrically conductive plate.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said plate is painted onto the target back.

9. The system of claim 7, including another electrically conductive plate adjacent said back, and insulative material electrically separating said conductive plates.

10. The system of claim 1, including an electrically conductive pin which is electrically coupled to said first electrically conductive area and which substantially increases the electromagnetic signal in said first electrically conductive area.

11. The system of claim 5, including an electrically conductive pin which is electrically coupled to said first electrically conductive area and which substantially increases the electromagnetic signal in said first electrically conductive area.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said first electrically conductive area is said receiving antenna and said second electrically conductive area is said transmitting antenna which transmits said electromagnetic signal from said back of the target to the receiving antenna at the front face of the target and to a missile when the missile is embedded in said first material.

13. The system of claim 4, wherein said first electrically conductive area is said receiving antenna and said second electrically conductive area is said transmitting antenna which transmits said electromagnetic signal from said back of the target to the receiving antenna at the front face of the target and to a missile when the missile is embedded in said first material.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein said first electrically conductive area is said receiving antenna and said second electrically conductive area is said transmitting antenna which transmits said electromagnetic signal from said back of the target to the receiving antenna at the front face of the target and to a missile when the missile is embedded in said first material.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein said first electrically conductive area is said receiving antenna and said second electrically conductive area is said transmitting antenna which transmits said electromagnetic signal from said back of the target to the receiving antenna at the front face of the target and to a missle when the missile is embedded in said first material.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the missile is a dart and the target is a dart board.

17. The system of claim 4, wherein the missile is a dart and the target is a dart board.

18. The system of claim 5, wherein the missile is a dart and the target is a dart board.

19. The system of claim 7, wherein the missile is a dart and the target is a dart board.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the missile is a dart and the target is a dart board.

21. The system of claim 12, wherein the missile is a dart and the target is a dart board.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein said second electrically conductive area is on said back.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein said target has a perimeter, and wherein said second eclectically conductive area is within said perimeter.