Laser trainer target

• US 9,429,404 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2012
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crimson Trace Corporation Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Aaron M. Moore, Larry E. Moore
• Inventors: Moore, Larry E., Moore, Aaron M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Utama, Robert J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crocker, Elroy S
• Application Number:
  US13/353,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20130017515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 434/11, 434/16, 434/19, 434/21, 434/210, 421/16
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/32 Night sights, e.g. luminescent optical aspects of sighting devices G02B23/00, G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/54 Devices for testing or checking ; Tools for adjustment of sights
• 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: F42B 12/42 of illuminating type, e.g. carrying flares
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/00 Practice or training ammunition
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 8/02 Cartridges F41A33/02, F42B7/12 take precedence

Abstract

A target senses whether and where it has been struck by a laser light. The target includes a screen for allowing laser light to pass through, a plurality of light sensors behind the screen, and an optical display associated with one or more of the light sensors. When the target is struck by a laser light, a sensor records the strike, and the target may be struck with laser light multiple times, whereby different sensors may record the different strikes. To determine whether and where the target has been struck, the user activates a display mode that causes the optical displays in the target to illuminate. The user can then reset the target so the user can begin again.

Claims

1. A target for sensing a laser light striking the target, the target comprising (a) a screen for allowing laser light to pass through it;

(b) a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors for sensing when it has been exposed to laser light; and

(c) a plurality of optical displays, at least one of the plurality of optical displays being associated with each of the sensors, each optical display capable of being activated to display on the target where the laser light struck the target;

(d) a reset mode activated by illuminating a reset area on the target by a laser light wherein the target is reset and the sensors no longer record whether they the sensors had been struck by laser light prior to the target being reset.

2. The target of claim 1 that is battery powered.

3. The target of claim 1 that has a manual off-on switch.

4. The target of claim 1 wherein the target area that is circular in shape.

5. The target of claim 1 wherein each of the optical displays is a light emitting diode.

6. The target of claim 1 that has a display mode wherein each of the optical displays that is associated with a sensor that has been exposed to laser light illuminates when the display mode is activated.

7. The target of claim 6 wherein the display mode is activated by illuminating a display area on the target by a laser light.

8. The target of claim 1 wherein each sensor that is struck by laser light records the strike of laser light until the target is reset.

9. The target of claim 1 wherein each sensor is in electrical communication with an optical display located at the same relative position on the target as the sensor.

10. The target of claim 1 wherein the sensors are positioned ½

″

apart.

11. The target of claim 1 wherein the sensors are positioned in a circular pattern on circles spaced 1″

apart expanding from the center of the target.

12. The target of claim 1 wherein only one sensor is activated for each laser light strike.

13. The target of claim 1 wherein a laser light strike on the target activates the sensor that senses the highest light intensity from the strike and the other sensors are deactivated with respect to that laser light strike.

14. The target of claim 1 wherein the sensors are deactivated for 25 milliseconds or more before reactivating.

15. The target of claim 1 wherein the target is configured to emit a sound when a laser strike is detected.

16. The target of claim 1 further comprising a remote control configured to control the target, wherein controlling the target includes one or more of:

resetting the target;

activating the display function of the target;

turning the target on;

turning the target off;

adjusting an intensity level of one or more of the optical displays; and

adjusting a volume level of one or more sounds produced by the target.

17. A target for sensing a laser light striking the target, the target comprising (a) a screen for allowing laser light to pass through it;

(b) a plurality of sensors, each of the sensors for sensing when it has been exposed to laser light;

(c) a plurality of optical displays, at least one of the plurality of optical displays being associated with each of the sensors, each optical display capable of being activated to display on the target where the laser light struck the target; and

(d) wherein the sensors are activated for 25 milliseconds or more before being reactivated, and (e) a reset mode activated by illuminating a reset area on the target by a laser light wherein the target is reset and the sensors no longer record whether the sensors had been struck by laser light prior to the target being reset.

18. The target of claim 17 that is battery powered.

19. The target of claim 17 that has a manual off-on switch.

20. The target of claim 17 wherein each of the optical displays is a light emitting diode.

21. The target of claim 17 that has a display mode wherein each of the optical displays that is associated with a sensor that has been exposed to laser light illuminates when the display mode is activated.

22. The target of claim 17 wherein the display mode is activated by illuminating a display area on the target by a laser light.

23. The target of claim 17 wherein each sensor that is struck by laser light records the strike of laser light until the target is reset.

24. The target of claim 17 wherein each sensor is in electrical communication with an optical display located at the same relative position on the target as the sensor.

25. The target of claim 17 wherein the sensors are positioned ½

″

apart.

26. The target of claim 17 wherein the sensors are positioned in a circular pattern on circles spaced 1″

apart expanding from the center of the target.

27. The target of claim 17 wherein only one sensor is activated for each laser light strike.

28. The target of claim 17 wherein a laser light strike on the target activates the sensor that senses the highest light intensity from the strike and the other sensors are deactivated with respect to that laser light strike.

29. The target of claim 17 wherein the target is configured to emit a sound when a laser strike is detected.

30. The target of claim 17 further comprising a remote control configured to control the target, wherein controlling the target includes one or more of:

resetting the target;

activating the display function of the target;

turning the target on;

turning the target off;

adjusting an intensity level of one or more of the optical displays; and

adjusting a volume level of one or more sounds produced by the target.