Weapon training simulator
AssigneeSpartanics, Ltd.
InventorsJohn D. Linton, Samuel P. Willits, William L. Mohan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for automatically determining without human intervention the intersection point of the axis of an aimable optical system with a plane. A scanning radiation source is imaged on a radiation sensor array by a movable focusing reflector. The signal output from the sensor array is electronically processed to determine the intersection point of the optical axis of the focusing reflector on a target plane. When the apparatus is used as a weapon training simulator, a shot sound synthesizer imparts additional realism.
Claims37
A weapon training simulator of the type including a wieldable weapon having a trigger for controlling simulated weapon firing and a remote target scene comprising
- at least one target plane having one or more identifiable target scenes thereon,
- scanning radiation source means,
- sensor array means comprising one or more sensor bars each of which is comprised of at least one sensor pair, having output signals when irradiated,
- optical system means having an optical axis movable with respect to said target plane to permit its alignment with said identificable target scenes, said optical system means being adapted to image said scanning radiation source means on said sensor array means when said optical axis is aligned with said identificable target scene,
- null detection circuit means connected and responsive to said sensor array means output signals to provide output pulse signals indicative of the point of intersection of said optical axis and said target plane, and
- position detection means connected to and phased with said scanning radiation source means and connected and responsive to said output pulse signals of said null detection circuit means to provide position data for the point of intersection of said optical axis and said target plane.
An apparatus for automatically determining the intersection point of a line with a target plane comprising
- at least one target plane having at least one identifiable target scene associated therewith,
- scanning radiation source means,
- sensor array means adapted to provide output signals indicative of the position of said scanning radiation source means thereon,
- optical means adapted to image said scanning radiation source means on said sensor array means, said optical means having an optical axis movable with respect to said target plane and which defines said line, and circuit means connected and responsive to said sensor array means output signals and comprising position detection means to provide position data for the point of intersection of said optical axis and said target plane.
A simulator which automatically determines the intersection point of a line with a target plane comprising
- at least one target plane having at least one identifiable target scene associated therewith,
- radiation source means,
- sensor array means adapted to provide output signals indicative of the position of said radiation source means thereon,
- optical means adapted to image said radiation source means on said sensor array means, said optical means comprising partially reflecting focusing reflector means and having an optical axis movable with respect to said target plane and which defines said line, said line intersecting said target plane at a point, and
- circuit means connected and responsive to said sensor array means output signals and comprising position detection means to provide position data for the point of intersection of said optical axis and said target plane.
A scanning radiation source comprising
- radiation source means,
- stationary plate means having one or more rectilinear apertures therein,
- slotted scanning disc means,
- means for rotating said slotted scanning disc means, said slotted scanning disc means being disposed between said radiation source means and said stationary plate means to provide repetive linear moving strips of radiant energy, said slots being arcuate and being generated about points lying substantially on the two axes of said rectilinear apertures and their intersection with radial lines perpendicular thereto and extending from the center of disc rotation.
In a method for automatically determining the intersection point of a line with a target plane having at least one identifiable target scene by means of an apparatus of the type including a scanning radiation source, a sensor array comprising one or more pairs of radiation sensors comprising sensor bars responsive to said scanning radiation source to provide signals indicative of the position of the source thereon and operator movable optical imaging means for defining said line and for imaging said source on said sensor array, the improvement comprising the steps of
- effectively connecting the individual sensors of each of said sensor pairs in parallel opposition, and
- detecting when said scanning radiation source is centered on each of said sensor pairs to determine said intersection point as said operator moves said optical imaging means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.