Light gun having selectable modulated infrared output

A light gun which constantly emits visible light and selectively emits infrared light in response to a human operator pulling a trigger, said light gun comprising:

• a source of continuous visible and infrared light directed along a common path predetermined by said operator;
• means for modulating said infrared light along said path while permitting said visible light to pass unmodulated;
• and
• means for selectively blocking said infrared light along said path in accordance with the pulling of said trigger while permitting said visible light to pass unmodulated.

A light gun which constantly emits visible light and selectively emits infrared light in response to a human operator pulling a trigger, said light gun comprising:

• a source of visible and infrared light directed along a path predetermined by said operator;
• means for modulating said infrared light along said path;
• and
• means for selectively blocking said infrared light along said path in accordance with the pulling of said trigger, said blocking means includes an infrared absorbent filter mounted on the armature of a solenoid, said solenoid being positioned to place said filter in blocking relationship with said aperture when said solenoid is deenergized and to move said filter out of blocking relationship when said solenoid is energized.

For use in an amusement park ride in which the ride vehicles include gun platforms with guns aimed at targets while the vehicle is in motion, a light comprising:

• light source means for emitting continuous visible and infrared frequencies along a common predetermined path;
• means for continuously modulating only said infrared frequencies at a predetermined modulating frequency;
• and
• means for selectively blocking only said modulated infrared frequencies while passing said visible frequencies.

For use in an amusement park ride in which the ride vehicles include gun platforms with guns which are aimed at targets while the vehicle is in motion, a light gun comprising:

• a tubular housing;
• light source means for producing light focused at a point along a centerline of said housing, the light from said light source having visible and infrared frequencies;
• aperture means positioned along said housing substantially at said point for establishing substantially a point source of light at said point;
• infrared modulating means positioned adjacent said aperture for modulating the infrared frequencies from said light source means before they enter said aperture;
• selective blocking means positioned adjacent said aperture on the opposite side thereof for selectively blocking said modulated infrared frequencies;
• and
• draw tube means telescopingly positioned within said tubular housing at an opposite end thereof, said draw tube means including a lens for focusing light emitting from said aperture substantially into a column.