Launcher training system

• US 6,530,782 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2001
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Fouse, Timothy M., Vendetti, Vincent J., Canaday, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US09/795,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123025A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 434/11-27, 434/307.R, 434/308, 434/365, 434/118, 463/5, 463/51-53, 273/358, 273/348.1, 273/359, 273/371, 348/121, 348/141, 348/836, 89/11.1, 89/410.6
• US Class Current: 434/19
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2611 coacting with a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/326 for checking the angle between the axis of the gun sighting device and an auxiliary measuring device F41G3/323 takes precedence

Abstract

A launcher training system includes a housing shaped to resemble a projectile launcher. A hollowed-out portion of the housing defines a boresight axis. An optical sight is coupled to the housing such that the boresight axis and the optical sight'"'"'s line-of-sight are fixed in relation to one another. The optical sight further defines a sight field-of-view (FOV) with a first reticle appearing therein. An imaging means in the hollowed-out portion of the housing generates an image in an image FOV thereof. Video signal transmitter are provided to transmit signals indicative of the image over the air waves. A remotely-located receiver station is provided to reproduce the image with a second reticle being overlaid thereon. The imaging means are adjustably positioned such that the image FOV is sighted along the boresight axis and such that the second reticle overlaid on the reproduced image appears at the same position as the first reticle in the sight FOV.

Claims

1. A launcher training system for use in training a user how to aim a projectile launcher, comprising:

a housing shaped to resemble a projectile launcher, said housing having a hollowed-out portion defining a boresight axis;

an optical sight having a line-of-sight, said optical sight coupled to said housing wherein said boresight axis and said line-of-sight are fixed in relation to one another, said optical sight further defining a sight field-of-view (FOV) and a first reticle in said sight FOV;

first means fitted in said hollowed-out portion for generating an image, said first means having an image FOV;

second means coupled to said first means for transmitting signals indicative of said image over the air waves;

third means remotely located with respect to said housing for reproducing said image using said signals and for overlaying a second reticle on said image so-reproduced; and

fourth means mounted in said hollowed-out portion and coupled to said first means for positioning said first means such that said image FOV is sighted along said boresight axis and such that said second reticle overlaid on said image so-reproduced appears at the same position as said first reticle in said sight FOV.

2. A launcher training system as in claim 1 further comprising fifth means mounted in said housing for weighting and balancing said housing to mimic the weight and balance of the projectile launcher.

3. A launcher training system as in claim 1 wherein said first means comprises at least one camera capable of generating said image in daylight and darkness.

4. A launcher training system as in claim 1 wherein said second means is a video signal transmitter mounted in said housing.

5. A launcher training system as in claim 1 wherein said third means comprises:

a video signal receiver for receiving said signals; and

a video display coupled to said video signal receiver for reproducing said image.

6. A launcher training system as in claim 5 further comprising a video recorder coupled to said video display for recording said image so-reproduced.

7. A launcher training system as in claim 5 wherein said second reticle is permanently marked on said video display.

8. A launcher training system as in claim 5 wherein said second reticle is a video image displayed on said video display.

9. A launcher training system for use in training a user how to aim a projectile launcher, comprising:

a housing shaped to resemble a projectile launcher, said housing having a hollowed-out portion defining a boresight axis;

an optical sight having a line-of-sight, said optical sight coupled to said housing wherein said boresight axis and said line-of-sight are fixed in relation to one another, said optical sight further defining a sight field-of-view (FOV) and a first reticle in said sight FOV;

a first video camera mounted in said hollowed-out portion, said first video camera having a first FOV and generating a first video signal indicative of a first image;

a second video camera-mounted in said hollowed-out portion, said second video camera having a second FOV and generating a second video signal indicative of a second image;

a video signal transmitter mounted in said housing and coupled to said first video camera and said second video camera for transmitting a selected one of said first video signal and said second video signal over the air waves;

a video signal receiver remotely located with respect to said housing for receiving said first video signal and said second video signal;

a video display coupled to said video signal receiver for displaying, at any given time, one of said first image and said second image and for overlaying a second reticle on said one of said first image and said second image; and

positioning means mounted in said hollowed-out portion and coupled to said first video camera and said second video camera for positioning said selected one of said first video camera and said second video camera such that a corresponding one of said first FOV and said second FOV is sighted along said boresight axis and such that said second reticle overlaid on said one of said first image and said second image appears at the same position as said first reticle in said sight FOV.

10. A launcher training system as in claim 9 wherein said first video camera operates in daylight and said second video camera operates in darkness.

11. A launcher training system as in claim 10 further comprising means mounted in said housing for weighting and balancing said housing to mimic the weight and balance of the projectile launcher.

12. A launcher training system as in claim 9 further comprising a video recorder coupled to said video display for recording one of said first image and said second image.

13. A launcher training system as in claim 9 wherein said second reticle is permanently marked on said video display.

14. A launcher training system as in claim 9 wherein said second reticle is a video image displayed on said video display.

15. A launcher training system for use in training a user how to aim a projectile launcher, comprising:

a first housing shaped to resemble a projectile launcher, said first housing having a bore defining a boresight axis;

an optical sight having a line-of-sight, said optical sight coupled to said first housing wherein said boresight axis and said line-of-sight are fixed in relation to one another, said optical sight further defining a sight field-of-view (FOV) and a first reticle in said sight FOV;

a second housing fitted in said bore and coupled to said first housing;

first means coupled to said second housing for generating an image, said first means having an image FOV;

second means coupled to said first means for transmitting signals indicative of said image over the air waves;

third means remotely located with respect to said first housing for reproducing said image using said signals and for overlaying a second reticle on said image so-reproduced; and

fourth means coupling said first means to said second housing for positioning said first means such that said image FOV is sighted along said boresight axis and such that said second reticle overlaid on said image so-reproduced appears at the same position as said first reticle in said sight FOV.

16. A launcher training system as in claim 15 wherein said first means comprises at least one camera capable of generating said image in daylight and darkness.

17. A launcher training system as in claim 15 wherein said second means is a video signal transmitter.

18. A launcher training system as in claim 15 wherein said third means comprises:

a video signal receiver for receiving said signals; and

a video display coupled to said video signal receiver for reproducing said image.

19. A launcher training system as in claim 18 further comprising a video recorder coupled to said video display for recording said image so-reproduced.

20. A launcher training system as in claim 18 wherein said second reticle is permanently marked on said video display.

21. A launcher training system as in claim 18 wherein said second reticle is a video image displayed on said video display.

22. A launcher training system as in claim 15 wherein said second housing comprises:

first and second end plates slidingly fitted within said bore; and

a framework coupling said first and second end plates to one another.