Method and apparatus for determining and retrieving positional information

• US 8,862,431 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2010
• Issued: 10/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Hodge
• Original Assignee: Bruce Hodge
• Inventors: Hodge, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): SUGLO, JANET L
• Application Number:
  US12/966,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20110214499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,401 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 463/2, 463/53, 463/57, 273/373
• US Class Current: 702/150
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 43/00 Improving safety of vessels, e.g. damage control, not otherwise provided for fire-fighting in ships A62C3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B63G 13/00 Other offensive or defensive arrangements on vessels; Vessels characterised thereby
• CPC Class Codes: D03D 1/0088 Fabrics having an electronic function
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/04 Electric hit-indicating systems; Detecting hits by actuation of electric contacts or switches
• CPC Class Codes: F41J 5/041 Targets comprising two sets of electric contacts forming a coordinate system grid
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/003 for measuring position, not involving coordinate determination coordinate measuring G01B7/004

Abstract

An apparatus for determining and retrieving positional information including a surface having a plurality of first elements and a plurality of second elements, a first detection element connected to at least one of the plurality of first elements, and a second detection element connected to at least one of the plurality of second elements. The detection elements may include pulse detection elements or current sensing circuits. The plurality of first elements and the plurality of second elements may include conductive and non-conductive threads, and the conductive threads may include piezoelectric crystals embedded within conductive plastic.

Claims

1. A method for determining and retrieving positional information, comprising:

locating a plurality of first conductive elements on a surface and a plurality of second conductive elements on said surface to form a first grid having a first plurality of intersections,

electrically isolating the plurality of first conductive elements from the plurality of second conductive elements;

coupling a second grid to the surface and electrically isolating the second grid from the plurality of first conductive elements and the plurality of second conductive elements, the second grid comprising a plurality of third conductive elements intersecting each other at a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes aligned with the plurality of intersections;

penetrating the surface with a first projectile;

electronically determining a first location of a first penetration of the surface with the first projectile based on a first change in a first electrical measurement of the plurality of first conductive elements and a second change in a second electrical measurement of the plurality second conductive elements;

penetrating the surface with a second projectile;

electronically generating a plurality of possible penetration points of the second projectile based on the first location;

performing a computer simulation of the second grid;

performing a plurality of third electrical measurements on a second plurality of locations of the second grid; and

electronically determining a second location of a second penetration of the surface with the second projectile based on the plurality of possible penetration points of the second projectile, the computer simulation and the plurality of third electrical measurements.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first measurement, the second measurement, and the plurality of third measurements comprise measurements of least one of potential and current.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of first conductive elements and the plurality of second conductive elements comprise conductive elements of a plurality of first grid conductive elements of the first grid, and further comprising determining a third location of penetration of the surface based on a fourth change in a fourth electrical measurement of a fourth conductive element of the plurality of first grid conductive elements and a fifth change in a fifth electrical measurement of a fifth conducting element of the plurality of first grid conductive elements.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the electronically generating the plurality of possible penetration points of the second projectile is based on the first location and the third location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the electronically generating the plurality of possible penetration points of the second projectile comprises selecting a plurality of possible nodes of the second grid.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronically generating the plurality of possible penetration points of the second projectile comprises selecting a plurality of possible nodes of the second grid.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the electronically determining the second location comprises comparing the computer simulation and the plurality of third electrical measurements.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the performing the computer simulation comprises simulating the nodes of the second grid.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the simulating the nodes of the second grid comprises simulating electrical measurements of the second plurality of locations of the second grid.

10. A system for determining and retrieving positional information, comprising:

a plurality of first conductive elements located on a surface and a plurality of second conductive elements located on said surface to form a first grid having a plurality of intersections, the plurality of first conductive elements electrically isolated from the plurality of second conductive elements;

a controller connected to the plurality of first elements and the plurality of second elements and configured to determine a first location of a first penetration of the surface with a first projectile based on a first change in a first electrical measurement of the first conductive element and a second change in a second electrical measurement of the second conducting element;

a second grid coupled to the surface and electrically isolated from the plurality of first conductive elements and the plurality of second conductive elements, the second grid comprising a plurality of third conductive elements intersecting each other at a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes aligned with the plurality of intersections;

a second controller connected to the second grid and configured to generate a plurality of possible penetration points of a second projectile based on the first location, the second controller configured to perform a computer simulation of the second grid and perform a plurality of third electrical measurements on a second plurality of locations of the second grid; and

the second controller configured to determine a second location of a second penetration of the surface based on the plurality of possible penetration points of the second projectile, the computer simulation and the plurality of third electrical measurements.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the first controller and the second controller are a same controller.