Automated scoring target system

A small arm training apparatus for training personnel in the use of rifles, handguns and similar weapons comprising a target assembly including a target movable between a first upright position and a second down position, actuating means for moving said target between said first and said second positions and a piezoelectric accelerometer supported on said target assembly and responsive to vibration of said target generated by projectile hits,

• a hits signal processor responsive to signals generated by said piezoelectric accelerometer for generating hit signal,
• said target assembly further including a bracket;
• means to secure said target to said bracket;
• said piezoelectric accelerometer being rigidly affixed to said bracket;
• and
• said actuating means including means operatively connected to said bracket for rotating said bracket from a first position to a second position whereby said target is held vertically by said bracket in said first position and horizontally by said bracket in said second position, said means operatively connected to said bracket including an electric motor having a drive shaft;
• a transmission including an output lug, said transmission adapted to convert rotary motion of said drive shaft to linear motion of said output lug;
• a first elongated rigid linkage including a first bearing at one end and a second bearing at the other end thereof, said first bearing adapted to secure said first rigid member to said transmission lug;
• a torsion rod rigidly affixed to said bracket;
• a second rigid elongated linkage rigidly affixed to said torsion rod at one end and incorporating a bearing means at the other end;
• coupling means adapted to secure said first rigid bracket to said second bracket bearing means and permit rotational movement therebetween;
• a torsion rod bearing means;
• and,
• mounting base means to rigidly support said torsion rod bearing means and said transmission in a spaced relationship adapted to cause said linear movement of said lug to be converted to rotational movement of said torsion rod through said first and second linkage.

A hit signal processor for generating hit signals in response to vibrations of a target generated by projectile hits comprising:

• a piezoelectric accelerometer for generating an output signal in response to vibrations of the target;
• a filter responsive to a predetermined frequency range of said piezoelectric accelerometer output signal;
• an amplitude detector responsive to the output of said filter;
• a first pulse generator responsive to the output of said amplitude detector and adapted to provide an output of a predetermined duration greater than said input;
• a second pulse generator responsive to the output of said first pulse generator and adapted to provide an output of a predetermined duration;
• a logic circuit inhibited by the output of said first pulse generator and enabled by the output of said second pulse generator when the output of said pulse generator is not present;
• and,
• a third pulse generator responsive to said logic circuit for producing a pulse of predetermined duration.

A hit signal processor for generating hit signals in response to vibrations of a target generated by projectile hits comprising;

• a piezoelectric accelerometer for generating an output signal in response to vibration of the target;
• a first differential amplifier responsive to the output signal of said accelerometer;
• a second differential amplifier responsive to the output of said first differential amplifier output circuit, said second differential amplifier including a reference voltage source;
• said second differential amplifier and said reference voltage source adapted to prevent passage of signals having an amplitude less than a predetermined value;
• a re-triggerable multivibrator responsive to the output of said second differential amplifier and adapted to sustain input pulses thereto an additional duration;
• a first multivibrator adapted to produce a pulse longer in duration than said sustained pulses in response to an input from said re-triggerable multivibrator;
• a third differential amplifier responsive to the outputs of said re-triggerable multivibrator and said first multivibrator, said third differential amplifier adapted to be inhibited by the output of said re-triggerable multivibrator;
• a second multivibrator adapted to produce a pulse longer in duration than the output pulse of said first multivibrator in response to an output from said third differential amplifier;
• and
• a line driver responsive to the output of said third multivibrator.

An automated target scoring system, comprising a control panel having a target status indicator for providing visual indications of target status and a target function selection means for generating target function selection signals, and at least one target assembly comprising;

• a target responsive to said target function selection signals, a plurality of target status signal generating means responsive to said targets operational and physical condition, a piezoelectric accelerometer responsive to vibration of said target and a hits signal processor responsive to signals generated by said piezoelectric accelerometer for generating hit signals for activation of said target status indicator, said hit signal processor including a time domain filter for providing an output in response to said hit signals which discriminates hits on the basis of amplitude, frequency and time said hit signal processor time domain filter being responsive to a predetermined frequency range of said piezoelectric accelerometer output signal;
• and said processor further including an amplitude detector responsive to the output of said filter;
• a first pulse generator responsive to the output of said amplitude detector and adapted to provide an output of a predetermined duration greater than said input;
• a second pulse generator responsive to the output of said first pulse generator and adapted to provide an output of a predetermined duration;
• a logic circuit inhibited by the output of said first pulse generator and enabled by the output of said second pulse generator when the output of said pulse generator is not present;
• and, a third pulse generator responsive to said logic circuit for producing a pulse of predetermined duration.

An automated target scoring system, comprising:

• a control panel having a target status indicator for providing visual indications of target status, and a target function selection means for generating target function selection signals, and at least one target assembly comprising;
• a target responsive to said target function selections signals, a plurality of target status signal generation means responsive to said targets operational and physical condition, a piezoelectric accelerometer responsive to vibration of said target and a hits signal processor responsive to signals generated by said piezoelectric accelerometer for generating hit signals for activation of said target status indicator, said hit signal processor including a time domain filter for providing an output in response to said hit signals which discriminates hits on the basis of amplitude, frequency and time, said hit signal procesor including a first differential amplifier responsive to the output signal of said accelerometer;
• a second differential amplifier responsive to the output of said first differential amplifier output circuit, said second differential amplifier including a reference voltage source;
• said second differential amplifier and said reference voltage source adapted to prevent passage of signals having an amplitude less than a predetermined value;
• a re-triggerable multivibrator responsive to the output of said second differential amplifier and adapted to sustain input pulses thereto an additional duration;
• a first multivibrtor adapted to produce a pulse longer in duration than said sustained pulses in response to an input from said re-triggerable multivibrator;
• a third differential amplifier responsive to the outputs of said re-triggerable multivibrator and said first multivibrator, and third differential amplifier adapted to be inhibited by the output of said re-triggerable multivibrator;
• a second multivibrator adapted to produce a pulse longer in duration than the output pulse of said first multivibrator in response to an output from said third differential amplifier;
• and a line driver responsive to the output of said third multivibrator.

A small arms training apparatus for training personnel in the use of rifles, handguns and similar weapons comprising a target assembly including a target movable between a first upright position and a second down position, actuating means for moving said target between said first and said second positions, a piezoelectric accelerometer supported on said target assembly and responsive to vibration of said target generated by projectile hits, and a hits signal processor responsive to signals generated by said piezoelectric accelerometer for generating hit signals, said hit signal processor including a time domain filter for providing an output in response to said hit signals which discriminates hits on the basis of amplitude, frequency and time said hit signal processor time domain filter being responsive to a predetermined frequency range of said piezoelectric accelerometer output signal;

• and said processor further including an amplitude detector responsive to the output of said filter;
• a first pulse generator responsive to the output of said amplitude detector and adapted to provide an output of a predetermined duration greater than said input;
• a second pulse generator responsive to the output of said first pulse generator and adapted to provide an output of a predetermined duration;
• a logic circuit inhibited by the output of said first pulse generator and enabled by the output of said second pulse generator when the output of said pulse generator is not present;
• and, a third pulse generator responsive to said logic circuit for producing a pulse of predetermined duration.

A small arms training apparatus for training personnel in the use of rifles, handguns and similar weapons comprising a target assembly including a target movable between a first upright position and a second down position, actuating means for moving said target between said first and said second positions and a piezoelectric accelerometer supported on said target assembly and responsive to vibration of said target generated by projectile hits, and a hits signal processor responsive to signals generated by said piezoelectric accelerometer for generating hit signals, said hit signal processor including a time domain filter for providing an output in response to said hit signals which discriminates hits on the basis of amplituded, frequency and time, said hit signal processor including a first differential amplifier responsive to the output signal of said accelerometer;

• a second differential amplifier responsive to the output of said first differential amplifier output circuit;
• said second differential amplifier including a reference voltage source;
• said second differential amplifier and said reference voltage source adapted to prevent passage of signals having an amplitude less than a predetermined value;
• a re-triggerable multivibrator responsive to the output of said second differential amplifier and adapted to sustain input pulses thereto an additional duration;
• a first multivibrator adapted to produce a pulse longer in duration than said sustained pulses in response to an input from said re-triggerable multivibrator;
• a third differential amplifier responsive to the outputs of said re-triggerable multivibrator and said first multivibrator, said third differential amplifier adapted to be inhibited by the output of said re-triggerable multivibrator;
• a second multivibrator adapted to produce a pulse longer in duration than the output pulse of said first multivibrator in response to an output from said third differential amplifier;
• and a line driver responsive to the output of said third multivibrator.