Method and arrangement for indicating hits

• US 6,945,782 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2002
• Issued: 09/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Saab AB
• Original Assignee: Saab AB
• Inventors: Isoz, Peter, Malmberg, Micael
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US10/103,122
• Publication Number:
  US 20050158694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 434/11, 434/14, 434/16, 434 19- 23, 434/27, 434/365, 434/1, 434/2, 434/7, 434/51, 434/52, 463/5, 463 50- 52, 446/175, 446/406, 446/473, 273/265, 273/371, 273/DIG.24
• US Class Current: 434/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2655 in which the light beam is sent from the weapon to the target

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for indicating that a target (1), such as a vehicle, has been hit. The target is provided with information on the weapon action, and a light source indicates a hit. The information can be made available by direct electromagnetic transmission, for example via radio, or by means of one or more strips (9–11) with detectors (13) being arranged on the target (1). In the latter case, the detectors detect incident illuminating electromagnetic radiation, and a light source indicates a hit when the incident radiation satisfies defined detection criteria. According to the invention, the light source is mounted directly in one or more strips (12) which in the present case can be the same as the detector strips and consist of distributed light points preferably in the form of light-emitting diodes (14). In this way, a protected and integrated solution is obtained which has little effect on the shape of the target.

Claims

1. A method for indicating hitting of a target object during a military simulation, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of detectors about a target object, the detectors being operative to detect a simulated strike on the target object;

arranging about the target object in a horizontal direction at least one strip comprising a light source, the light source comprising a plurality of light points distributed along a longitudinal direction of the strip;

analyzing with a processor operatively connected to the detectors and the light source a simulated strike on the target object to determine whether the simulated strike resulted in a simulated hit of the target object; and

activating with the processor at least one light point to indicate detection of the simulated hit of the target object.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of strips are arranged on the target.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the strip is arranged in a longitudinal direction of the target.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the target is a vehicle.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the vehicle is a tank, a track-mounted vehicle, a truck or other wheeled vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

arranging a plurality of detectors on the at least one strip, the detectors operative to detect incident illuminating electromagnetic radiation;

determining whether detected incident electromagnetic radiation satisfies defined detection criteria; and

indicating with the light source when the incident electromagnetic radiation satisfies defined detection criteria.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the at least one strip comprises the distributed light points of the light source and the detectors.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a hit position is transmitted to the target via electromagnetic radiation in cooperation with a simulator system.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein light produced by the light source comprises a wavelength or a wavelength range that is adapted so that it is clearly perceived by the human eye.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein light produced by the light source comprises a wavelength or a wavelength range that is adapted so that it is clearly perceived by sights intended for IR radiation.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein light produced by the light source comprises at least one of wavelengths or wavelength ranges adapted so that they are clearly perceived both by the human eye and by different types of sights.

12. An arrangement operative to indicate hitting of a target object during a military simulation, the arrangement comprising:

a plurality of detectors arranged about a target object, the detectors being operative to detect a simulated strike on the target object;

at least one strip arranged about the target object in a horizontal direction, the at least one strip comprising a light source, the light source comprising a plurality of light points distributed along a longitudinal direction of the strip, the light source being operative to indicate detection of the simulated hit of the target object; and

a processor operatively connected to the detectors and the light source, the processor being operative to analyze a simulated strike on the target object to determine whether the simulated strike resulted in a simulated hit of the target object.

13. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein arrangement comprises a plurality of strips arranged on the target.

14. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the target is a vehicle.

15. The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the vehicle is a tank, a track-mounted vehicle, a truck or other wheeled vehicle.

16. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the distributed light points of the light source comprise light-emitting diodes.

17. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein each of the distributed light points of the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes in a group.

18. The arrangement according to claim 17, wherein each group comprises 8 to 10 light-emitting diodes.

19. The arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the detectors are distributed along the at least one strip, and wherein the detectors operative to detect incident illuminating electromagnetic radiation.

20. The arrangement according to claim 19, wherein the detectors and the points of light are alternatingly distributed along the longitudinal direction of the at least one strip.

21. The arrangement according to claim 12, further comprising:

a simulator system operative to transmit a hit position via electromagnetic radiation.

22. A method of conducting a military exercise, the method comprising:

arranging a plurality of detectors about a target object, the detectors being operative to detect a simulated strike on the target object;

arranging about the target object in a horizontal direction at least one strip comprising a light source, the light source comprising a plurality of light points distributed along a longitudinal direction of the strip;

simulating strikes on the target object with electromagnetic energy directed at the target object;

detecting the simulated strikes with the detectors;

analyzing with a processor operatively connected to the detectors and the light source a simulated strike on the target object to determine whether the simulated strike resulted in a simulated hit of the target object; and

activating with the processor at least one light point to indicate detection of the simulated hit of the target object.