U.S. patent application number 15/246007 was filed with the patent office on 2017-03-02 for electronic target system and hit detection method.
The applicant listed for this patent is Anthony Crivolio, Eric Mills. Invention is credited to Anthony Crivolio, Eric Mills.
Application Number | 20170059285 15/246007 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58097735 |
Filed Date | 2017-03-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170059285 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Crivolio; Anthony ; et
al. |
March 2, 2017 |
ELECTRONIC TARGET SYSTEM AND HIT DETECTION METHOD
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an
electronic target system and a hit detection method. In certain
embodiments, the electronic target system includes a target having
a plurality of distinct sectors, each having a measurable
capacitance, and a controller configured to determine the
capacitance and the change in capacitance of each sector. The
controller generally monitors the capacitance and the change in
capacitance of each sector. When a sector's capacitance changes at
least a designated amount--such as when a projectile pierces the
sector and reduces the sector's area--the controller determines
that the sector has been hit. In other embodiments, the electronic
target system includes a target including one or more vibration
sensors configured to detect vibrations in the target. Upon
detecting these vibrations, the vibration sensors send responsive
signals to a controller. The controller analyzes these signals to
determine whether a sector has been hit.
Inventors: |
Crivolio; Anthony; (Elk
Grove Village, IL) ; Mills; Eric; (Schaumburg,
IL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Crivolio; Anthony
Mills; Eric |
Elk Grove Village
Schaumburg |
IL
IL |
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58097735 |
Appl. No.: |
15/246007 |
Filed: |
August 24, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62209670 |
Aug 25, 2015 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41J 5/14 20130101; F41J
5/056 20130101; F41J 5/04 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F41J 5/04 20060101
F41J005/04; F41J 5/14 20060101 F41J005/14; F41J 5/056 20060101
F41J005/056 |
Claims
1. An electronic target system comprising: a target including a
substrate of dielectric material, a sector formed from a capacitive
material, a lead/clamp interface, and a plurality of leads
electrically connecting the sector to the lead/clamp interface; and
a controller electrically connectable to the leads via the
lead/clamp interface, the controller configured to determine a
change in capacitance of the sector over time and to cause an
indication of a hit responsive to determining a designated change
in the capacitance of the sector.
2. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes a signal
transfer clamp attachable to the target such that the signal
transfer clamp is electrically connected to the lead/clamp
interface, the signal transfer clamp electrically connectable to
the controller.
3. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes a
lighting device electrically connected to the controller, and
wherein the controller is configured to indicate the hit by causing
the lighting device to light up.
4. The electronic target system of claim 1, wherein the controller
is configured to indicate the hit by causing audio output via a
speaker of a mobile device.
5. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes a
capacitance-to-frequency converter configured to determine and send
a frequency to the controller to enable the controller to determine
the change in capacitance of the sector.
6. The electronic target system of claim 5, wherein the
capacitance-to-frequency converter is an astable multivibrator.
7. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes a
communication interface configured to communicatively connect with
a mobile device of a user.
8. The electronic target system of claim 7, wherein the controller
is configured to send, via the communication interface, information
related to the hit to the mobile device responsive to determining
the designated change in the capacitance of the sector.
9. The electronic target system of claim 7, wherein the
communication interface enables communication with one or more
other electronic target systems.
10. The electronic target system of claim 1, wherein the sector is
formed from conductive ink printed on opposing sides of the
substrate of dielectric material and the leads are formed from
conductive ink.
11. The electronic target system of claim 1, which includes one or
more lighting devices, and wherein the controller is configured to
operate the one or more lighting devices in a designated order to
facilitate game functionality.
12. An electronic target system comprising: a target; a vibration
sensor attached to the target and configured to generate a signal
responsive to detecting a vibration in the target; and a controller
electrically connectable to the vibration sensor, wherein
responsive to receiving the signal from the vibration sensor, the
controller is configured to: (1) use the signal to determine
whether a hit occurred; and (2) cause an indication of the hit
responsive to determining that the hit occurred.
13. The electronic target system of claim 12, wherein the vibration
sensor includes a piezoelectric sensor.
14. The electronic target system of claim 13, which includes a
plurality of vibration sensors, and wherein responsive to receiving
the signals from the vibration sensors and determining that a hit
occurred, the controller is configured to triangulate a position of
the hit on the target.
15. The electronic target system of claim 14, wherein the
indication includes an indication of the position of the hit.
16. The electronic target system of claim 12, wherein the target is
at least partially formed from at least one of: paper, cardboard,
and steel.
17. The electronic target system of claim 12, wherein the
controller is configured to use the signal to determine whether a
hit occurred by comparing the signal to a stored signal indicative
of a hit.
18. The electronic target system of claim 17, wherein the stored
signal indicative of a hit represents a waveform caused by a
projectile piercing the target, the projectile being a conductive
or a non-conductive projectile.
19. An electronic target system comprising: a target including a
substrate of dielectric material, a sector formed from a capacitive
material, a lead/clamp interface, and a plurality of leads
electrically connecting the sector to the lead/clamp interface; a
vibration sensor attached to the target and configured to generate
a signal responsive to detecting a vibration in the target; and a
controller electrically connectable to the leads via the lead/clamp
interface and to the vibration sensor, the controller configured to
determine whether a hit occurred based on a change in capacitance
of the sector over time and the signal received from the vibration
sensor and to cause an indication of the hit responsive to
determining a designated change in the capacitance of the
sector.
20. The electronic target system of claim 19, wherein the
controller is configured to determine that the hit occurred when
(1) the change in capacitance is a designated change in capacitance
and (2) the signal received from the vibration sensor corresponds
to a projectile hit signal.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This patent application claims priority to and the benefit
of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/209,670, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] There are various electronic target systems configured to
detect when a projectile pierces a target of the electronic target
system, an event that is sometimes called a "hit." Certain of these
electronic target systems use optical sensors to detect hits. Other
electronic target systems use resistance or short circuiting to
detect hits. These known electronic target systems tend to be too
costly or bulky for the typical consumer, do not offer
instantaneous feedback to the user upon projectile impact, and in
certain instances lack feasibility. Some target systems are not
compatible with certain caliber projectiles or non-conductive
projectiles, which limits their usability. There is a need for new
and improved electronic target systems.
SUMMARY
[0003] Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an
electronic target system and a hit detection method.
[0004] In certain embodiments, the electronic target system
includes a target having a plurality of distinct sectors, each
having a measurable capacitance, and a controller configured to
determine the capacitance and the change in capacitance of each
sector over time. The controller generally monitors the capacitance
and the change in capacitance of each sector. When a sector's
capacitance changes at least a designated amount--such as when a
projectile pierces the sector and reduces the sector's area--the
controller determines that the sector has been hit. The controller
activates a lighting device associated with the hit sector to
indicate the hit to a user, and transmits information related to
the hit to the user's mobile device.
[0005] In other embodiments, the electronic target system includes
a target including one or more vibration sensors configured to
detect vibrations in the target. Upon detecting these vibrations,
the vibration sensors send responsive signals to a controller. The
controller analyzes these signals to determine whether a sector has
been hit (e.g., that a projectile has pierced the target).
[0006] Additional features and advantages are described herein, and
will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the
Figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C are front elevational, right side
elevational, and back elevational views, respectively, of one
embodiment of the electronic target system of the present
disclosure including a target, a signal transfer clamp, a cable,
and a control module.
[0008] FIGS. 2A and 2B are front elevational and back elevational
views, respectively, of the target of the electronic target system
of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.
[0009] FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the target of FIGS. 2A
and 2B taken substantially along line 3A-3A of FIG. 2A.
[0010] FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the target of FIGS. 2A
and 2B taken substantially along line 3B-3B of FIG. 2A.
[0011] FIG. 3C is an end-on view of the target of FIGS. 2A and 2B
at a lead/clamp interface.
[0012] FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C are top front left perspective, left
side elevational, and top plan views, respectively, of the signal
transfer clamp of the electronic target system of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and
1C.
[0013] FIG. 4D is a cross-sectional view of the signal transfer
clamp of FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C taken substantially along line 4D-4D
of FIG. 4B.
[0014] FIG. 4E is a cross-sectional view of the signal transfer
clamp of FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C taken substantially along line 4E-4E
of FIG. 4B.
[0015] FIG. 4F is a cross-sectional view of the signal transfer
clamp of FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C taken substantially along line 4F-4F
of FIG. 4C.
[0016] FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, and 5D are front elevational, right side
elevational, bottom plan, and top front right perspective views,
respectively, of the control module of the electronic target system
of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic of certain components of the control
module of the electronic target system of FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process for
detecting a hit in a sector using the electronic target system of
the present disclosure.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process for
determining the capacitance of a sector using the electronic target
system of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process for
determining the change in capacitance of a sector using the
electronic target system of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The following numbered headings are included for clarity,
and do not limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0022] FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate one embodiment of the
electronic target system 100 of the present disclosure. In this
illustrated embodiment, the electronic target system 100 includes:
a target 200, a signal transfer clamp 300, a cable 400, and a
control module 500. The components of the electronic target system
100 and the operation of the electronic target system 100 are
described in detail below.
1. TARGET
[0023] As best shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the target 200 has a front
side 200a and a back side 200b. The target 200 includes or
otherwise defines a plurality of distinct sectors 210a, 210b, 210c,
210d, and 210e each having a particular shape. Here, the sector
210a has a circular shape and the sectors 210b, 210c, 210d, and
210e each take the shape of a quarter annulus. The target 200 may
include any suitable quantity of sectors that take any suitable
size and any suitable shape.
[0024] Generally, the target is formed by introducing conductive
material onto the front and back sides of a substrate of dielectric
material to form one or more sectors. The dielectric material may
be paper, polypropylene, air, silicone, cotton, epoxy, tin, glass,
wax, wax paper, acrylic, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene,
polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or any other suitable
dielectric material. The substrate of dielectric material may take
any suitable size and any suitable shape.
[0025] More specifically, in certain embodiments, a sector is
formed by printing conductive ink in the desired shape of the
sector on both the front side and the back side of the substrate of
dielectric material in a desired location. This results in the
substrate of dielectric material being sandwiched between the
conductive ink. FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of the target 200
through the sector 210d. Here, the sector 210d is formed by: (1)
printing conductive ink 202a in the shape of a quarter annulus on
the front side 201a of the substrate of dielectric material 201;
and (2) printing conductive ink 202b in the shape of a quarter
annulus on the back side 201b of the substrate of dielectric
material 201 such that a portion of the substrate of dielectric
material 201 is sandwiched between two substantially
identically-sized quarter annuluses of conductive ink. Since the
conductive ink 202 sandwiches the substrate of dielectric material
201 therebetween, the sector 210d acts as a sheet capacitor and
thus can be charged, discharged, and read as a capacitor. The
remaining sectors 210a, 210b, 210c, and 210e in this example
embodiment are formed in a similar manner.
[0026] Sectors can be screen printed onto the substrate of
dielectric material with use of conductive inks such as copper,
carbon, silver, gold, aluminum, nickel, graphene, or any other
conductive ink material. Sectors can also be inkjet printed onto
the substrate of dielectric material with the use of conductive
inks such as copper, carbon, silver, gold, aluminum, nickel,
graphene, or any other conductive ink material.
[0027] In other embodiments, a sector is formed by attaching one
conductive metal sheet having the desired shape of the sector to
the front side of the substrate of dielectric material and another
substantially identically-sized conductive metal sheet to the back
side of the substrate of dielectric material such that the
substrate of dielectric material is sandwiched between the two
conductive metal sheets. The metal sheet technique can use
conductive metal tape such as copper, silver, gold, aluminum,
nickel, graphene, or any other conductive material. In various
embodiments, the target includes sectors formed in different
manners.
[0028] In certain instances, a sector could short if the target
folds and the conductive material on the front side of the target
contacts the conductive material on the back side of the target. To
eliminate the potential for shorting, in certain embodiments the
conductive material (and certain other exposed portions of the
front and back sides of the substrate of dielectric material that
do not include conductive material) are coated with an electrically
insulating material. The electrically insulating material may be
paper, polypropylene, silicone, cotton, epoxy, tin, glass, wax, wax
paper, acrylic, polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene,
polystyrene, polytetrafluoroethylene, or any other suitable
electrically insulating material. Different portions of the target,
such as different sectors, may be coated with electrically
insulating materials of different colors to visibly distinguish the
sectors. In embodiments in which the lighting devices 520 of the
control module 500 (described below) have different colored lights,
the electrically insulating material of a particular sector has the
same (or similar) color as that of the light of the corresponding
lighting device. In certain embodiments, the leads (described
below) are coated with electrically insulating material.
[0029] For example, FIG. 3A shows an electrically insulating
material 203a coating the conductive ink 202a and an electrically
insulating material 203b coating the conductive ink 202b. FIG. 3B
is a cross-sectional view of the target 200 through a portion that
does not include conductive ink, and shows the electrically
insulating material 203a coating the front side 201a of the
substrate of dielectric material 201 and the electrically
insulating material 203b coating the back side 201b of the
substrate of dielectric material 201. FIG. 3C is an end-on view of
the target 200 at the lead/clamp interface 230c' (described below)
that includes conductive ink 202a coating the front side 201a of
the substrate of dielectric material 201 and conductive ink 202b
coating the back side 201b of the substrate of dielectric material
201, but does not include electrically insulating material. In this
embodiment, the lead/clamp interfaces 230 and 230' are not coated
with any electrically insulating material to enable a proper
electrical connection between the lead/clamp interfaces 230 and
230' and the signal transfer clamp 300, as described below. In
certain embodiments, the leads (described below) are coated with
electrically insulating material.
[0030] As best shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the target 200 includes a
plurality of leads 220 (on the front side 200a of the target 200)
and 220' (on the back side 200b of the target 200) and a plurality
of lead/clamp interfaces 230 (on the front side 200a of the target
200) and 230' (on the back side 200b of the target 200). The leads
220 and 220' and the lead/clamp interfaces 230 and 230' are printed
onto the substrate of dielectric material 201, embedded into the
substrate of dielectric material 201, or otherwise attached to or
integrated with the substrate of dielectric material 201.
[0031] Each lead 220 and 220' electrically connects one of the
sectors 210 to one of the lead/clamp interfaces 230 and 230'.
Specifically, in this illustrated embodiment: (1) each lead 220a
electrically connects the sector 210a to the lead/clamp interface
230a, (2) each lead 220b electrically connects the sector 210b to
the lead/clamp interface 230b, (3) each lead 220c electrically
connects the sector 210c to the lead/clamp interface 230c, (4) each
lead 220d electrically connects the sector 210d to the lead/clamp
interface 230d, (5) each lead 220e electrically connects the sector
210e to the lead/clamp interface 230e, (6) each lead 220a'
electrically connects the sector 210a to the lead/clamp interface
230a', (7) each lead 220b' electrically connects the sector 210b to
the lead/clamp interface 230b', (8) each lead 220c' electrically
connects the sector 210c to the lead/clamp interface 230c', (9)
each lead 220d' electrically connects the sector 210d to the
lead/clamp interface 230d', and (10) each lead 220e' electrically
connects the sector 210e to the lead/clamp interface 230e'.
[0032] The leads may be made of a conductive material similar to
that used to form the sectors, such as conductive ink or a
conductive metal sheet(s), but can differ for reliability and/or
cost effectiveness. In this illustrated embodiment, both the front
side of the target and the back side of the target include the
leads and the lead/clamp interfaces. In other embodiments, only one
side of the target includes the leads and the lead/clamp
interfaces.
[0033] False positives may occur if a projectile hits a lead. If
the leads are located at the same position on both the front and
back sides of the target, significant capacitance would exist
between the leads. If a hit were to occur where two leads are
symmetrically overlaid (e.g., a projectile pierces the two leads),
a drop in capacitance would occur and the controller would
determine a false positive hit. To minimize false positives, the
leads electrically connecting the same sector to a lead/clamp
interface, but on different sides of the target (e.g., the leads
220a and 220a'), are spaced from one another so capacitance between
the leads is insignificant. In this embodiment, if a projectile
hits a lead, capacitance will not be substantially affected.
[0034] In this example embodiment, for each lead/clamp interface,
three distinct, spaced-apart leads electrically connect that
lead/clamp interface to one of the sectors. The use of multiple
distinct leads to electrically connect a particular lead/clamp
interface to a particular sector increases the longevity of the
target by introducing redundancy. So, if fewer than all of the
three leads break (e.g., when hit by a projectile), at least one
lead still electrically connects the lead/clamp interface to the
sector. The target can include any suitable quantity of redundant
leads, and the arrangement of those leads can vary depending on the
layout of the sectors.
2. SIGNAL TRANSFER CLAMP
[0035] The signal transfer clamp 300 electrically connects the
lead/clamp interfaces 230 and 230' to the cable 400. As best shown
in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, and 4F, the signal transfer clamp 300
includes a first or upper portion 310 removably connected to a
second or lower portion 320 such that an inner surface 312 of the
upper portion 310 and an inner surface 322 of the lower portion 320
form a target receiving cavity 330 therebetween. The inner surface
312 of the upper portion 310 includes five spaced-apart conducting
plates 312a, 312b, 312c, 312d, and 312e that respectively and
individually electrically connect to the respective sectors 210 of
the front side 200a of the target 200 at the lead/clamp interfaces
230. The inner surface 322 of the lower portion 320 is made of one
solid conducting plate (or in other embodiments multiple conducting
plates) that spans across the entire surface of the lower portion
310 and electrically connects to the respective sectors 210' of the
back side 200b of the target 200 at the lead/clamp interfaces 230'.
The conducting plates may be made of metal or any other suitable
conducting material, or may be any suitable conducting connector
aside from plates (e.g., Pogo pins).
[0036] The signal transfer clamp 300 also defines a cable-receiving
cavity 301 configured to receive an end of the cable 400.
[0037] The signal transfer clamp 300 is mounted onto the target 200
such that the upper and lower portions 310 and 320 of the signal
transfer clamp 300 sandwich the target 200 therebetween, and a
portion of the target 200 is positioned within the void 330.
Specifically, the target 200 is positioned within the void 330 such
that the lead/clamp interfaces 230a, 230b, 230c, 230d, and 230e
contact the conducting plates 312a, 312b, 312c, 312d, and 312e,
respectively, and the lead/clamp interfaces 230a', 230b', 230c',
230d', and 230e' contact the conducting plate of the inner surface
322 of the lower portion 320 of the signal transfer clamp 300. The
target 200 is held with a clamping or friction force created by the
conducting plates 312a, 312b, 312c, 312d, and 312e and the
conducting plate of the inner surface 322 of the signal transfer
clamp 300.
[0038] In another embodiment, the target 200 is positioned within
the void 330 such that the lead/clamp interfaces 230a', 230b',
230c', 230d', and 230e' contact the conducting plates 312a, 312b,
312c, 312d, and 312e, respectively, and the lead/clamp interfaces
230a, 230b, 230c, 230d, and 230e contact the conducting plate of
the inner surface 322 of the lower portion 320 of the signal
transfer clamp 300.
[0039] In certain embodiments (not shown), the upper and lower
portions are hingedly connected such that they are movable between
a clamped configuration and an unclamped configuration. A biasing
element (such as a torsion spring) biases the upper and lower
portions to the clamped configuration. In these embodiments, to
mount the signal transfer clamp to the target, a user overcomes the
force imposed by the biasing element to move the upper and lower
portions to the unclamped configuration, inserts the target between
the upper and lower portions, and then allows the biasing element
to bias the upper and lower portions back to the clamped
configuration to clamp the target between the upper and lower
portions. The signal transfer clamp may attach to the target in any
other suitable manner.
3. CABLE
[0040] The cable 400 electrically connects the signal transfer
clamp 300 and the control module 500. The cable 400 is removable
and replaceable, and can vary in length. The design of the cable
may be similar to that of a typical Ethernet cable or equivalent
cabling. The cable transmits the electrical charge and discharge of
the capacitors from the signal transfer clamp 300 to the control
module 500. One wire acts as ground. The remaining wires are
allocated for each capacitor (i.e., sector).
4. CONTROL MODULE
[0041] The control module 500 is configured to process information
about the state of the target 200, control the lighting devices
(described below), and communicate with a mobile device of the user
(such as a mobile phone of the user or a tablet computing device of
the user) through a suitable communication interface. As best shown
in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, 5D, and 6, the control module 500 includes a
housing 510; a plurality of lighting devices 520a, 520b, 520c,
520d, and 520e disposed on an exterior of the housing 510; a
housing mounting implement 530 disposed on the exterior of the
housing 510; a cable receiving port 505 defined by the housing 510;
a controller 540 housed within the housing 510; and five
capacitance-to-frequency converters 553--one corresponding to each
sector of the target 200--housed within the housing 510.
[0042] The controller 540 (here, a microcontroller) includes, in
this example embodiment, a pre-built chip set used to supply power
to and compute data received from each sector's components. The
controller may be any suitable processing device.
[0043] Each individual capacitance-to-frequency converter module
553 (in this example embodiment, an astable multivibrator)
includes: (1) a ground connector 541 that enables electrical
connection to a suitable ground source; (2) a first power connector
542 that enables electrical connection to a suitable power source;
(3) a capacitor 543; (4) a 555 timer integrated circuit (IC) 544;
(5) a controller connector 545 that enables electrical connection
to the controller 540; (6) a first resistor 546; (7) a second
resistor 547; (8) a signal transfer clamp connector 548 that
enables electrical connection to the signal transfer clamp 300; and
(9) a second power connector 549 that enables electrical connection
to the power source.
[0044] The ground connector 541 is electrically connected to a
suitable ground source (such as via the controller 540) to ground
the 555 timer IC 544. The first and second power connectors 542 and
549 are electrically connected to a suitable power source
(described below) (such as via the controller 540) to power the 555
timer IC 544. The capacitor 543 is set between the ground connector
541 and the 555 timer IC 544 to prevent interference that could
otherwise render the 555 timer IC 544 inaccurate. The first
resistor 546 and the second resistor 547, which has less than half
the resistance of the first resistor 546, are set between the 555
timer IC 544 and the second power connector 549 and control the
frequency of the charge and discharge cycles of the capacitance of
the corresponding sector (described below). These resistors 546 and
547 are used in conjunction with the 555 timer IC 544 and set
between the 555 timer IC 544 and the signal transfer clamp
connector 548 to establish the correct frequency of charge and
discharge rate of the capacitance of the sector. The 555 timer IC
544 is electrically connected to the controller 540 via the
controller connector 545 to enable the 555 timer IC 544 to send the
controller 540 the frequency relating to the capacitance of the
corresponding sector.
[0045] The signal transfer clamp connector 548 is electrically
connected to a suitable connector of an electrical connector 551
disposed in or near the cable receiving port 505. The electrical
connector 551 is configured to electrically connect the
capacitance-to-frequency converters 553 with the cable 400, which
in turn electrically connects to the signal transfer clamp 300,
which in turn electrically connects with the target 200 (and
specifically, the leads and lead/clamp interfaces). Here, a ground
connector 552 electrically connects the electrical connector 551 to
a suitable ground source (such as via the controller 540) used to
ground the leads 220' of the back side 200b of the target 200.
[0046] Although not shown, a communication interface, such as a
Bluetooth or WiFi module, is connected to the controller. The
communication interface is configured to communicatively connect
with a user device, such as a mobile phone or a tablet computing
device. When the controller detects a hit in these embodiments,
information related to the hit may be transmitted to the user
device via the communication interface for analysis and display.
Other wireless transmission modules may be used in place of
Bluetooth or WiFi where extended range of connection is necessary.
In certain embodiments, the control module may be networked or
meshed with other control modules using the communication
interface, such as Bluetooth or WiFi, to enable competitive or
game-like features.
[0047] To ensure safety at a shooting range, in certain embodiments
the controller is filled with an insulating, shock-absorbing
material to reduce shrapnel, such as electronic epoxy potting used
to contain the electronics as one solid unit. The housing also
provides water resistance for use in adverse outdoor conditions
with the use of rubber gaskets at all connection points.
[0048] Each lighting device 520 corresponds to a different one of
the sectors. The lighting devices may be any suitable lighting
devices, such as incandescent bulbs or light-emitting diodes. The
lighting devices 520 may emit the same color light or different
color light. As described below, once a hit is detected in a
sector, the controller 540 activates one of the lighting devices
520 corresponding to that sector for a designated period of time.
Blink patterns of the lighting devices 520 can also be used in
embodiments in which competitive or game-like features are
implemented. In one example, the controller 540 lights a certain
lighting device 520, and the user must hit the corresponding sector
510 with a projectile. In this example, the controller 540 may
light the lighting devices in a particular order or for particular
periods of time. For one game, the controller lights a first
lighting device and waits to detect a hit of the sector
corresponding to the first lighting device. After detecting the
hit, the controller stops lighting the first device and lights a
second lighting device (according to a random or predetermined
order) and waits to detect a hit of the sector corresponding to the
second lighting device, and so on until the controller detects hits
of all sectors of all of the lighting devices lit during the game.
The controller may determine the time it takes the user to hit all
of the corresponding sectors. For another game, the controller
lights a first lighting device. If the controller detects a hit in
the sector corresponding to the first lighting device before a
first time period expires or if the first time period expires, the
controller stops lighting the first lighting device and starts
lighting a second lighting device, and repeats the process. The
controller may determine how many hits the user achieved within the
requisite time periods as well as the total time it took the user
to complete the game. Controllers of different control modules
could communicate with one another to enable game functionality,
such as users competing head-to-head or a single user using
multiple targets of multiple systems to play a game. These are
merely examples, and any of a variety of different games may be
employed. The controller could communicatively connect with an
offsite server configured to store game results and enable users to
access game results to compare their results with others. The
server could create leader boards for each game showing the top
scores or times.
[0049] In certain embodiments, a single multi-color lighting device
can replace the lighting devices 520 to reduce cost and size. In
these embodiments, each sector is associated with a different color
of the multi-color lighting device, and the controller lights the
appropriate color responsive to detecting a hit in a sector.
[0050] The method for mounting the control module 500 varies
depending on the environment of the shooting range. The back of the
control module 500 has rail-mounting system 530 for attachments.
Mounting methods include, but are not limited to, spring-based
clipping and arm-and-swivel with magnetic or suction-based
attachment to the range environment.
[0051] The power source for the controller 540 (and the electronic
target system generally) may be any suitable power source. In
certain embodiments, the power source includes a battery, such as
(but not limited to) a lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, NiCad, NiMH,
or alkaline battery.
5. OPERATION
[0052] In operation, the controller 540 generally monitors the
capacitance of and the change in capacitance of each sector. When a
sector's capacitance changes at least a designated amount--which
may occur when a projectile pierces the sector and reduces the
sector's area--the controller 540 determines that the sector has
been hit. The controller 540 activates the lighting device
associated with the hit sector to indicate the hit to a user. In
certain embodiments, the controller 540 transmits information
associated with the hit sector to the user's personal computing
device, such as the user's mobile phone, tablet computer, or laptop
computer, via the communication interface.
[0053] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process 700 for
detecting a hit in a particular sector using the electronic target
system of the present disclosure. Although the process 700 is
described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 7, many
other processes of performing the acts associated with this
illustrated process 700 may be employed. For example, the order of
certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be changed,
certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be optional, or
certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may not be
employed.
[0054] The process 700 describes the process for detecting a hit in
a single sector. The controller 540 performs the process
700--either simultaneously, at least partially simultaneously, or
serially--for each of the sectors of the target. For a particular
sector, the controller 540 first determines the capacitance of the
sector based on information obtained from the corresponding
capacitance-to-frequency converter 553, as indicated by block 702,
and uses the determined capacitance to determine the change in
capacitance of the sector, as indicated by block 704. The process
800 of determining the capacitance of the sector is described below
with respect to FIG. 8 and the process 900 of determining the
change in capacitance of the sector is described below with respect
to FIG. 9.
[0055] After determining the change in capacitance of the sector,
the controller 540 determines if a hit mode (described below) is
on, as indicated by diamond 706. If the controller 540 determines
at diamond 706 that the hit mode is not on, the controller 540
determines if the sector's capacitance changed at least a
designated amount, as indicated by diamond 708. The designated
amount is determined based on the area of the sector, the sector's
total capacitance, and the area a particular projectile removes and
displaces. If the controller 540 determines at diamond 708 that the
sector's capacitance has not changed at least the designated
amount, the process 700 proceeds to block 716, described below.
[0056] If, on the other hand, the controller 540 determines at
diamond 708 that the sector's capacitance has changed at least the
designated amount, the controller 540 determines that the sector
has been hit (e.g., pierced by a projectile), as indicated by block
710. The controller 540 turns the hit mode on, as indicated by
block 712. The hit mode indicates whether the target was recently
hit to assess when the target stabilizes (described below). The
controller 540 also activates the lighting device associated with
the sector to indicate the hit to the user, as indicated by block
714. The controller 540 then waits a period of time, as indicated
by block 716, before returning to block 702 and restarting the
process 700.
[0057] Returning to diamond 706, if the controller 540 determines
that the hit mode is on, the controller 540 determines if the
sector is stabilized, as indicated by diamond 718. The controller
540 determines that the sector is stabilized when the sector's
change in capacitance is less than half of the designated amount.
If the controller 540 determines that the sector is not stabilized,
the process 700 proceeds to block 716, described above. If, on the
other hand, the controller 540 determines at diamond 718 that the
sector is stabilized, the controller 540 turns the hit mode off, as
indicated by block 720, and deactivates the lighting device
associated with the sector, as indicated by diamond 722. The
process 700 proceeds to block 716, described above.
[0058] In certain embodiments, the controller 540 creates and
transmits data logs associated with one or more steps of the
process via the communication interface to a personal device of the
user, such as the user's mobile phone, tablet computer, or laptop
computer.
[0059] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process 800 for
determining the capacitance of a particular sector using the
electronic target system of the present disclosure. Although the
process 800 is described with reference to the flowchart shown in
FIG. 8, many other processes of performing the acts associated with
this illustrated process 800 may be employed. For example, the
order of certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be
changed, certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be
optional, or certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may not
be employed.
[0060] The process 800 describes the process for determining the
capacitance of a single sector. The controller 540 and the
capacitance-to-frequency converters 553 (and particularly the 555
timer ICs 554) perform the process 800--either simultaneously, at
least partially simultaneously, or serially--for each of the
sectors of the target. For a particular sector, the 555 timer IC
554 of the capacitance-to-frequency converter 55 begins charging
the sector capacitor, as indicated by block 802. The 555 timer IC
554 then determines if the sector capacitor has reached 63% of its
maximum charging voltage--which corresponds to one time
constant--as indicated by diamond 804. If not, the process 800
returns to block 802 and the 555 timer IC 554 continues charging
the sector capacitor.
[0061] If, on the other hand, the 555 timer IC determines at
diamond 804 that the sector capacitor has reached 63% of its
maximum charging voltage, the 555 timer IC 554: (1) sends a pulse
signal to the controller 540, as indicated by block 808; and (2)
discharges the sector capacitor, as indicated by block 806, after
which the process 800 returns to block 802. The sector is charged
and discharged in the range of thousands of times per second
depending on the capacitance.
[0062] As indicated by blocks 810, 812, and 814, as the controller
540 receives the pulse signals from the 555 timer IC 554, the
controller 540 monitors for a rising edge pulse. Over the course of
a time period, the controller 540 counts the quantity of pulses it
receives from the 555 timer IC 554 and determines the frequency of
the pulses (i.e., pulses/time). Using this frequency, the
controller 540 determines the capacitance of the sector capacitor
using the following equations. After determining the capacitance,
the controller 540 resets its counter, as indicated by block 816,
and the process 800 returns to block 810.
f = 1 t 1 + t 2 ##EQU00001## t 1 = 0.693 .times. R A ##EQU00001.2##
t 2 = R A .times. R B R A + R B .times. C .times. ln ( R B - 2 R A
2 R B - R A ) ##EQU00001.3## [0063] f=Frequency [0064]
C=Capacitance [0065] R.sub.A, R.sub.B=Resistance, where
R.sub.A>2R.sub.B [0066] t.sub.1=Charge time [0067]
t.sub.2=Discharge time
[0068] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a process 900 for
determining the change in capacitance of a particular sector using
the electronic target system of the present disclosure. Although
the process 900 is described with reference to the flowchart shown
in FIG. 9, many other processes of performing the acts associated
with this illustrated process 900 may be employed. For example, the
order of certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be
changed, certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may be
optional, or certain of the illustrated blocks or diamonds may not
be employed.
[0069] The process 900 describes the process for determining the
change in capacitance of a single sector. The controller 540
performs the process 900--either simultaneously, at least partially
simultaneously, or serially--for each of the sectors of the target.
Generally, the controller 540 monitors the sector's capacitance
over time, and stores a finite number of historical sector
capacitance values. The controller 540 uses a software moving
average filter to ensure false positives are reduced, though in
alternative embodiments this filter can be swapped with other
similar filters. The moving average filter keeps two adjacent,
equivalent-sized moving average filter windows (a "current moving
average filter window" and an "old moving average filter window")
of data over time. This enables the controller 540 to determine the
change in capacitance.
[0070] More specifically, for a particular sector, the controller
540 first determines the sector's capacitance, as indicated by
block 902 and as described above with respect to FIG. 8 and the
process 800. The controller 540 appends the sector's capacitance to
the end of the current moving average filter window, as indicated
by block 904. The controller 540 removes the oldest capacitance
from the current moving average filter window, as indicated by
block 906, and adds that capacitance removed from the current
moving average filter window to the old moving average filter
window, as indicated by block 908. The controller 540 removes the
oldest capacitance from the old moving average filter window, as
indicated by block 910. With the current and old moving average
filter windows updated, the controller 540 determines the sector's
change in capacitance as the difference between the average values
of the moving average filter windows, as indicated by block
912.
[0071] In alternative embodiments, a higher level of precision on
the position of a hit can be achieved (e.g., where exactly the
projectile pierces the sector). When edges of capacitors are
significantly close enough in distance, parasitic capacitance
exists between the capacitors. Fluctuations in parasitic
capacitance between the sheet capacitors may be read to detect the
exact position by monitoring for aftershock capacitive fluctuations
in sectors adjacent to a sector where a hit was detected. In other
embodiments, overlapping, multi-layer capacitors can also be used
to increase the number of detectable sectors. If multiple sectors
detect that a hit occurred, it can be inferred that the hit was
located within the intersection of the multiple sectors. Detection,
in both cases, involves the software cross comparing the changes in
capacitance in real time.
6. ELECTRONIC TARGET SYSTEM WITH VIBRATION SENSORS
[0072] In other embodiments, the electronic target system includes
a target including a plurality of vibration sensors (such as
piezoelectric sensors), a signal transfer clamp, a cable, and a
control module. The vibration sensors are electrically connected to
the control module via the signal transfer clamp, the cable, and
conductive leads in the target (such as those described above).
When one of the vibration sensors senses vibration in the target,
the vibration sensor sends a responsive signal to the controller,
which determines whether a hit occurred based on that signal.
[0073] The vibration caused by a projectile piercing the target
produces a unique waveform. The controller compares the signal
received from the vibration sensor to this waveform, and determines
that a hit occurred when the signal matches the waveform to a
particular degree. In instances where other bodies affect the
target and cause the vibration sensor to produce a signal--such as
wind-produced vibration, human interaction deforming the target, or
a nearby projectile causing vibration via its path of travel
through the air--the controller filters out and ignores these
signals because their waveforms do not match the
projectile-piercing waveform. The user or controller can
additionally filter these opposing interactions with the target
dynamically with a sensitivity threshold controllable via the
user's mobile device.
[0074] Alternatively, a ground truth vibration sensor will be used
in conjunction with the target vibration sensor to compare
waveforms created by a hit versus those that exist due to
uncontrollable causes in the air.
[0075] In certain of these embodiments in which the target is not
typically piercable by a projectile--such as a steel target--a
"hit" may refer to a projectile contacting the target.
[0076] In certain embodiments, use of multiple vibration sensors
enables the controller to triangulate the position of the hit and
indicate this position to the user.
[0077] Certain targets that include vibration blocking elements or
characteristics to enable the use of multiple vibration sensors to
accurately identify positions of hits. Vibration blocking elements
may include (but are not limited to) openings; a media shift (e.g.,
one type of substrate to another type of substrate); a change in
thickness; or a crease or fold. A vibration blocking element either
eliminates or significantly reduces vibration. In these
embodiments, vibration blocking elements are introduced into the
target such that they define individual sectors. Each sector
includes its own individual vibration sensor. When a sector is hit,
the vibration sensor of that sector will detect the vibration and
send the appropriate signal to the signal transfer clamp. Since the
vibration blocking elements bordering the sector prevent that
vibration from moving into another sector, the controller can
accurately position the hit (i.e., determine which sector was
hit).
[0078] In certain embodiments, one or more of the vibration sensors
are piezoelectric elements printed to the target using conductive
material, such as conductive ink or conductive metal sheet(s) and
piezoelectric ceramics and single crystal materials. The
piezoelectric elements are electrically connected to the signal
transfer clamp, and can be used in place of (or in addition to)
vibration sensors in the signal transfer clamp.
[0079] In certain embodiments, the vibration sensors are used in
conjunction with the above-described capacitance monitoring
embodiments to confirm that the controller correctly determined a
hit based on the change in capacitance of a sector. In these
embodiments, the controller determines that a hit occurs for a
sector when: (1) the controller determines the sector's capacitance
changed at least a designated amount; and (2) the controller
determines based on vibration sensor feedback that a hit occurred.
That is, in these embodiments, two conditions must be met (one
based on capacitance, the other based on vibration sensor feedback)
before the controller definitively determines that a hit occurred.
For instance, a decision diamond could be added immediately before
or after diamond 708 in FIG. 7. At this decision diamond, the
controller 540 determines based on vibration sensor feedback
whether a hit occurred. If yes, the process would continue to
diamond 708 or block 710 (depending on whether the decision diamond
is added immediately before or after diamond 708). If not, the
process would continue to block 716.
[0080] In certain embodiments (such as embodiments in which the
vibration sensors are not piezoelectric), the substrate of the
target may be any suitable material, such as (but not limited to)
paper, cardboard, or steel.
7. CONCLUSION
[0081] The disclosed embodiments are illustrative, not restrictive.
While specific configurations of the electronic shooting target and
method of detection have been described, the present invention can
be applied to a wide variety of fields. There are many alternative
ways of implementing the invention.
* * * * *