System for training and evaluation of security personnel in use of firearms

• US 4,948,371 A
• Filed: 04/25/1989
• Issued: 08/14/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Original Assignee: United States Department of Energy
• Inventors: Hall, Howard F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAHR, JENNIFER DOYLE
• Application Number:
  US07/343,988
• Time in Patent Office: 476 Days
• Field of Search: 434/11, 434/20-23, 434/219, 273/310-316, 273/371, 364/410, 358/104, 358/342, 358/904
• US Class Current: 434/21
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2627 Cooperating with a motion picture projector
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/00 Simulators for teaching or training purposes for the use of weapons F41; computing aspects G06; protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality H04L67/131
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/003 for military purposes and tactics

Abstract

An interactive video display system comprising a laser disc player with a remote large-screen projector to view life-size video scenarios and a control computer. A video disc has at least one basic scenario and one or more branches of the basic scenario with one or more subbranches from any one or more of the branches and further subbranches, if desired, to any level of programming desired. The control computer is programmed for interactive control of the branching, and control of other effects that enhance the scenario, in response to detection of when the trainee has (1) drawn an infrared laser handgun from his holster, (2) fired his laser handgun, (3) taken cover, (4) advanced or retreated from the adversary on the screen, and (5) when the adversary has fired his gun at the trainee.

Claims

1. An interactive video projection system for realistic training and evaluation of security personnel armed with a portable infrared laser handgun to be used under prescribed security procedures in life-threatening and security scenarios comprising

a laser disc player for reading out recorded video programs of training scenarios and alternate scenarios to which the process of reading out for display may conditionally branch and subbranch to any level of programming desired based upon action of the trainee, including the handling of said laser handgun,

a large-screen projector for life-size display of video scenarios being read out of said laser disc player,

a control computer programmed for interactive control of branching and subbranching in the readout of said recorded video programs and other effect that enhance the scenario based upon said action of the trainee in handling said laser handgun, including

means for detecting when said handgun has been drawn from a holster,

means for detecting when said handgun has been fired at an adversary in said scenario,

means for detecting whether the trainee has advanced or retreated from said screen, and

means for detecting whether the trainee has taken cover whenever an adversary in said scenario fires at the trainee.

2. An interactive video projection system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for detecting when said handgun has been fired at an adversary in said scenario is comprised of an infrared television camera focused on said screen for detecting an infrared dot on said screen produced by firing said infrared laser handgun.

3. An interactive video projection system as defined in claim 2 including means for computing the X and Y coordinates of said dot detected on said screen based upon vertical and horizontal sync pulses of said infrared video camera and a source of clock pulses by counting horizontal sync pulses which define camera scan rasters to computer the Y coordinate of said dot on said screen as viewed by said infrared camera during each interval between vertical sync pulses which define a frame, and counting clock pulses to compute the X coordinate of said dot on said screen as viewed by said infrared camera during each interval between horizontal sync pulses,

means for discriminating a laser dot signal in a video signal from said infrared detector and in response thereto for initiating a latch signal to cause the contents of said X and Y counting means to be latched in latching registers and a laser gun shot interrupt signal to said control computer to cause said computer to read out the contents of said latching registers, and

means responsive to said computer reading out said latching registers for clearing said interrupt signal.

4. An interactive video projection system as defined in claim 3 including means for storing a shot sound, and means responsive to said laser gun shot interrupt signal for reading out said shot sound for enhancement of said scenario based upon the trainee firing said laser handgun.

5. An interactive video projection system as defined in claim 4 wherein an adversary in said large screen display shoots back at said trainee, including

means for generating a shoot back signal,

means for energizing an infrared emitter to produce an infrared flash from a position over said screen in a direction away from said screen,

infrared detectors mounted on a vest worn by said trainee to detect said infrared flash, and

means for transmitting vest data to said control computer that said trainee has been hit upon an infrared detector on said vest detecting an infrared flash.

6. An interactive video projection system as defined in claim 5 wherein said means for transmitting vest data includes

means for initiating a vest interrupt signal upon said vest detecting an infrared flash to said control computer,

means for latching said vest data, and

means for reading the contents of said vest data latch into said control computer in response to instructions from said computer.

7. An interactive video projection system as defined in claim 6 wherein said means for detecting whether the trainee has taken cover includes at least one treadle behind an object positioned to provide cover to produce treadle data when said trainee has taken cover by stepping on said treadle, and wherein said one treadle data is included in said vest data to produce a vest interrupt signal when it changes state between stepping on and stepping off.

8. An interactive video projection system as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for detecting whether the trainee has advanced or retreated from said screen includes a second treadle beside said object to produce treadle data when said trainee advances toward or retreats from said screen by stepping on or stepping off of said second treadle, and wherein said second treadle data is included in said vest data when it changes state between stepping on and stepping off.

9. An interactive video projection system as defined in claim 8 wherein said means for detecting when said handgun has been drawn from holster by said trainee is comprised of a microswitch and wherein said microswitch data is included in said vest data.