Simulated combat entertainment system

• US 5,354,057 A
• Filed: 09/28/1992
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Michael B. Kinder, Ralph T. Pruitt
• Original Assignee: Michael B. Kinder, Ralph T. Pruitt
• Inventors: Pruitt, Ralph T., Kinder, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Harrison, Jessica J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Owens, Kerry
• Application Number:
  US07/952,924
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 273/57.3, 273/85 G, 273/310-316, 273/371, 273/454, 482/12, 446/405, 434/16, 434/22
• US Class Current: 463/5
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/02 for fencing , e.g. means for indicating hits
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0291 with a simulated projectile, e.g. an image on a screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

An adventure and simulated combat system in which a playing field is divided into a grid and in which the location of each participant within the system is identified by his location within a grid. A central control module includes visual surveillance, communication facilities and a central computer for controlling the system and scoring performance. Two-way radio communication of multiplexed signals at various power levels is extensively employed; and both synchronous and asynchronous modes control and communication are described. Both contact and line-of-sight weaponry are included, and accuracy of operation is provided through improved target discrimination and the utilization of multiple modes of detection of valid target strikes.

Claims

1. A simulated combat entertainment system comprising:

(a) a plurality of targets each an emanating an ongoing unique signal differing from signals emanated by the others of said plurality of targets;

(b) a simulated weapon;

(c) means for operating said simulated weapon;

(d) target identification means interconnected with said simulated weapon responsive to deployment of said simulated weapon immediately adjacent one of said targets and responsive to the unique signal emanated from said one of said targets for identifying said one of said targets; and

(e) contact verification means interconnected with said target identification means and responsive to physical contact by said simulated weapon with said one of said targets for verifying a valid hit thereupon.

2. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of targets include predetermined and distinct parts of an object.

3. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein each said unique signal includes a digitally encoded series of pulses unique to said unique signal.

4. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein each said unique signal includes a carrier of the same frequency.

5. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 1 wherein said contact verification means includes a contact transducer on said simulated weapon.

6. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 5 wherein said contact transducer is an elongated distributed resistor.

7. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 5 wherein said contact transducer is an elongated piezo-electric element.

8. A simulated combat entertainment system comprising:

(a) a target having a plurality of different sub-target areas, each of said different sub-target areas emanating an ongoing signal unique to that sub-target area thus differing from signals emanated by the others of said different sub-target areas;

(b) a simulated weapon;

(c) means for operating said simulated weapon;

(d) sub-target identification means interconnected with said simulated weapon responsive to deployment of said simulated weapon immediately adjacent one of said different sub-target areas and responsive to the signal emanated from said one of said different sub-target areas for identifying said one of said different sub-target areas; and

(e) contact verification means interconnected with said sub-target identification means and responsive to physical contact by said simulated weapon with said one of said different sub-target areas for verifying a valid hit thereupon.

9. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 8 wherein said sub-target areas severally represent body parts of a simulated combatant.

10. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 9 wherein each said unique signal includes a digitally encoded series of pulses unique to said unique signal.

11. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 10 wherein each said unique signal includes a carrier of the same frequency.

12. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 11 wherein said contact verification means includes a contact transducer on said simulated weapon.

13. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 12 wherein said contact transducer is an elongated distributed resistor.

14. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 12 wherein said contact transducer is an elongated piezo-electric element.

15. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 8 further including a target coordination and service unit electrically interconnected with each of said sub-target areas, said target coordination and service unit including means for generating and distributing to each of said sub-target areas said signals unique to said sub-target areas.

16. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 8 further including target scoring means interconnected with said target verification means and responsive to verification of said valid hit for storing electrical indicia of said valid hit therein.

17. A simulated combat entertainment system comprising:

(a) a first target having a plurality of different first sub-target areas, said first sub-target areas each emanating an ongoing and different one of a first set of distinctive identifying signals;

(b) a first simulated weapon operatively associated with said first target

(c) a second target having a plurality of different second sub-target areas, said second sub-target areas each emanating an ongoing and different one of a second set of distinctive identifying signals;

(d) means for operating said first simulated weapon;

(e) first sub-target identification means interconnected with said first simulated weapon responsive to deployment of said first simulated weapon immediately adjacent one of said second sub-target areas and responsive to the distinctive signal emanated from said one of said second sub-target areas for identifying said one of said second sub-target areas; and

(f) contact verification means interconnected with said first sub-target identification means and responsive to physical contact by said first simulated weapon with said one of said second sub-target areas for verifying a valid hit thereupon.

18. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 17 further including a first target coordination and service unit electrically interconnected with said first sub-target areas and a second target coordination and service unit electrically interconnected with said second sub-target areas, said first target coordination and service unit including means for generating and distributing to said first sub-target areas said first set of identifying signals, and said second target coordination and service unit including means for generating and distributing to said second sub-target areas said second set of identifying signals.

19. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 17 in which said distinctive identifying signals are digitally encoded multiplexed signals.

20. A simulated combat entertainment system comprising:

(a) a first target having a plurality of different first sub-target areas, said different first sub-target areas each emanating an ongoing and different one of a first set of distinctive identifying signals;

(b) a first simulated weapon operatively associated with said first target;

(c) a second target having a plurality of different second sub-target areas, said different second sub-target areas each emanating an ongoing and different one of a second set of distinctive identifying signals;

(d) a second simulated weapon operatively associated with said second target;

(e) means for operating said first simulated weapon and said second simulated weapon;

(f) first sub-target identification means interconnected with said first simulated weapon responsive to deployment of said first simulated weapon immediately adjacent one of said second sub-target areas and responsive to the signal emanated from said one of said second sub-target areas for identifying said one of said second sub-target areas; and

(g) contact verification means interconnected with said first sub-target identification means and responsive to physical contact by said first simulated weapon with said one of said second sub-target areas for verifying a valid hit thereupon.

21. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 20 further including a first target coordination and service unit electrically interconnected with said first sub-target areas and a second target coordination and service unit electrically interconnected with said second sub-target areas, said first target coordination and service unit including means for generating and distributing to said first sub-target areas said first set of distinctive identifying signals, and said second target coordination and service unit including means for generating and distributing to said second sub-target areas said second set of distinctive identifying signals.

22. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 20 in which said distinctive identifying signals are digitally encoded multiplexed signals.

23. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 20 further including target scoring means interconnected with said target verification means and responsive to verification of said valid hit for storing electrical indicia of said valid hit therein.

24. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 21 further including target scoring means interconnected with said target verification means and responsive to verification of said valid hit for storing electrical indicia of said valid hit therein.

25. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 24 wherein said target scoring means is included in said target coordination and service units.

26. A simulated combat entertainment system comprising a central control station having surveillance means, central control means and communications means;

a geographical area of predetermined size having a plurality of grids regions, each grid region including grid communications means for bi-directionally communicating with said central control means, audio announcement means, and visual surveillance means;

one of said grid regions including;

(a) a first target having a plurality of different first sub-target areas, said different first sub-target areas each emanating a different one of a first set of distinctive identifying signals;

(b) a first simulated weapon operatively associated with said first target;

(c) a second target having a plurality of different second sub-target areas, said different second sub-target areas each emanating a different one of a second set of distinctive identifying signals;

(d) a second simulated weapon operatively associated with said second target;

(e) means for operating said first simulated weapon and said second simulated weapon;

(f) first sub-target identification means interconnected with said first simulated weapon responsive to deployment of said first simulated weapon adjacent one of said second sub-target areas and responsive to the signal emanated from said one of said second sub-target areas for identifying said one of said second sub-target areas; and

(g) contact verification means interconnected with said first sub-target identification means and responsive to contact by said first simulated weapon with said one of said second sub-target areas for verifying a valid hit thereupon.

27. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 26 further including a first target coordination and service unit electrically interconnected with said first sub-target areas and a second target coordination and service unit electrically interconnected with said second sub-target areas, said first target coordination and service unit including means for generating and distributing to said first sub-target areas said first set of distinctive identifying signals, and said second target coordination and service unit including means for generating and distributing to said second sub-target areas said second set of distinctive identifying signals.

28. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 26 in which said distinctive identifying signals are digitally encoded multiplexed signals.

29. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 26 further including target scoring means interconnected with said target verification means and responsive to verification of said valid hit for storing electrical indicia of said valid hit therein.

30. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 27 further including target scoring means interconnected with said target verification means and responsive to verification of said valid hit for storing electrical indicia of said valid hit therein.

31. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 30 wherein said target scoring means is included in said target coordination and service units.

32. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 29 in which said first and said second target coordination and service units each include memory for storing said electrical indicia.

33. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 32 further including means in said grid communication means for periodically sending sequential interrogating signals to said target coordination and service units thereby to cause said target coordination and service units sequentially to transmit to said grid communication means signals severally representing said electrical indicia.

34. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 32 further including spontaneous transmitting means in each of said target coordination and service units for spontaneously transmitting to said grid communication means signals representing said electrical indicia of a valid hit when said grid communications means is not receiving or transmitting other signals;

and when said grid communications means is receiving or transmitting other signals, to postpone spontaneously transmitting said signals until said grid communications means is not busy.

35. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 33 further including momentary transmission control means for causing the transmissions from said target coordination and service units to be momentary only.

36. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 34 further including momentary transmission control means for causing the transmissions from said target coordination and service units to be momentary only.

37. A simulated combat entertainment system comprising a central control station having surveillance means, central control means and communications means;

a geographical area of predetermined size having a plurality of grids regions, each grid region including grid communications means for bi-directionally communicating with said central control means, audio announcement means, and visual surveillance means;

one of said grid regions including;

(a) a first target having a plurality of different first sub-target areas, said different first sub-target areas each emanating a different one of a first set of distinctive identifying signals;

(b) a first simulated weapon operatively associated with said first target;

(c) a second target having a plurality of different second sub-target areas, said different second sub-target areas each emanating a different one of a second set of distinctive identifying signals;

(d) a second simulated weapon operatively associated with said second target;

(e) means for operating said first simulated weapon and said second simulated weapon;

(f) first sub-target identification means interconnected with said first simulated weapon responsive to activation of said first simulated weapon while said first simulated weapon is pointed toward one of said second sub-target areas and responsive to the signal emanated from said one of said second sub-target areas for identifying said one of said second sub-target areas; and

(g) hit verification means interconnected with said first sub-target identification means and responsive to said identification of said one of said second sub-target areas by said first simulated weapon for verifying a valid hit thereupon.

38. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 37 further including a first target coordination and service unit electrically interconnected with said first sub-target areas and a second target coordination and service unit electrically interconnected with said second sub-target areas, said first target coordination and service unit including means for generating and distributing to said first sub-target areas said first set of distinctive identifying signals, and said second target coordination and service unit including means for generating and distributing to said second sub-target areas said second set of distinctive identifying signals.

39. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 37 in which said distinctive identifying signals are digitally encoded multiplexed infra-red signals.

40. A simulated combat entertainment system according to claim 37 further including target scoring means interconnected with said hit verification means and responsive to verification of said valid hit for storing electrical indicia of said valid hit therein.