# US 12,016,089 B1 · System, apparatus, and method for a thermal target > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,016,089 B1 - Document ID: US12016089B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/442,757 - Filed: 2024-02-15 - Granted: 2024-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2024-02-15 - Applicants: Anthony Miele - Inventors: Anthony Miele - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12016089B1 ## CPC - H05B 3/22: non-flexible - F41J 1/10: Target stands; Target holders - F41J 2/02: Active targets transmitting infrared radiation - H05B 1/0227: {Applications} - H05B 3/0004: {Devices wherein the heating current flows through the material to be heated (Circuit arrangements for heating by passing the current directly across the material to be heated H05B3/0023; granular, powdered or fluid material H05B3/60)} - H05B 3/12: characterised by the composition or nature of the conductive material - F41J 1/00: Targets; Target stands; Target holders (F41J2/00 - F41J11/00 take precedence; targets combined with bullet catchers F41J13/02) - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - F41J: TARGETS; TARGET RANGES; BULLET CATCHERS {(targets for shooting or hurling games A63F9/0204)} ## Abstract An apparatus for a target for a weapon is disclosed. The apparatus has a conductivity layer configured to be removably attached to the target, at least one thermal device configured to be removably attached to the conductivity layer, and a power storage electrically connected to the at least one thermal device. The at least one thermal device is configured to heat or cool the conductivity layer. The conductivity layer has a thermal conductivity that is both greater than the target and between 200 W/mK and 400 W/mK. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for a target for a weapon, comprising: a conductivity layer configured to be removably attached to the target; at least one thermal device configured to be removably attached to the conductivity layer; and a power storage electrically connected to the at least one thermal device; wherein the at least one thermal device is configured to heat or cool the conductivity layer; and wherein the conductivity layer has a thermal conductivity that is both greater than the target and between 200 W/mK and 400 W/mK. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one magnet configured to removably attach the at least one thermal device to the conductivity layer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one thermal device includes a housing containing the at least one magnet and a heater or a cooler. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a controller and a thermal sensor, the thermal sensor electrically connected to the controller and configured to be removably attached to the target. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductivity layer has a thermal conductivity of between about 8 and about 9 times greater than steel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductivity layer is a copper plate or a bladder containing a fluid. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a shield assembly configured to shield the power storage from projectiles fired by the weapon, the shield assembly including at least one of a structural plate or a structural member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive layer configured to attach the at least one thermal device to the conductivity layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conductivity layer is configured to be attached to a rear surface of the target facing away from the weapon when the weapon is fired. ### Claim 10 A method for a target for a weapon, comprising: removably attaching a conductivity layer to the target; removably attaching at least one thermal device to the conductivity layer; electrically connecting a controller to the at least one thermal device; electrically connecting a power storage to the controller; removably attaching a thermal sensor to the target and electrically connecting the thermal sensor to the controller; sensing an actual temperature of the target using the thermal sensor and transferring a signal or a data indicative of the actual temperature to the controller; and heating or cooling the conductivity layer based on the controller controlling the power storage to transfer electricity to the at least one thermal device based on the signal or the data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising heating or cooling the conductivity layer until the actual temperature is equal to a target temperature, the target temperature being different from an ambient temperature by a temperature differential amount. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the temperature differential amount is between 8° F. and 12° F. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further comprising using a thermal imaging device of the weapon to view the temperature differential amount between the target and objects surrounding the target. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein transferring electricity to the at least one thermal device includes at least one of transferring DC power from the power storage or transferring AC power from the power storage that is connected to a power source. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for a target for a weapon, comprising: at least one thermal device configured to be removably attached to the target via at least one magnet of the at least one thermal device; a controller electrically connected to the at least one thermal device; a power storage electrically connected to the controller, the controller being electrically disposed between the power storage and the at least one thermal device; and a thermal sensor electrically connected to the controller and configured to be removably attached to the target, the thermal sensor configured to sense an actual temperature of the target and transfer a signal or a data indicative of the actual temperature to the controller; wherein the controller is configured to control an amount of electricity transferred from the power storage to the at least one thermal device to heat the target based on the signal or the data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one thermal device includes a housing containing the at least one magnet and a heater. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the at least one thermal device is a plurality of thermal devices, each of the plurality of thermal devices including the housing containing the at least one magnet and the heater. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an electrical splitter electrically connected between the controller and the at least one thermal device that is a plurality of thermal devices, the plurality of thermal devices connected in parallel via the electrical splitter. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a conductivity layer disposed between the target and the at least one thermal device, the conductivity layer having a thermal conductivity of between 350 W/mK and 450 W/mK. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the conductivity layer is a copper layer that is heated by the at least one thermal device.