US 5,649,706 A · Simulator and practice method

Abstract

A hunting simulator having a projection of a moving target in life-size as in a natural environment is provided for practice shooting of a missile such as an arrow, dart, bullet, etc. The missile is detected in-flight in a detection plane set apart from a projection screen so the missile is detected undisturbed before impacting on the screen. The primary detector includes a continuously-illuminating LED emitter and a CCD camera sensor collocated with the emitter with a field of view in a detection area within the plane. Retroreflective tape on a perimeter about the detection area efficiently returns emitter radiation to the sensor. Detection is when a missile causes a shadow on the tape with an interruption of reflected light to the sensor, although in an alternative embodiment, the retroreflective tape is installed on the missile instead of the detection plane perimeter. In further alternative embodiments, second and third detection planes between the primary plane and an area from which missiles are launched are used to track and identify simultaneous missiles shot by 2 or more players. Computer-generated game sequences can also be projected instead of life-like hunting scenes.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A practice simulator providing a moving scene toward which a missile is directed by a player from a launch area, comprising

a screen,
an image generator means for presenting a sequence of images of visual scenes at the screen, the images presented being of a size normally viewed by a player in a natural environment that provides the player with a lifelike scene, presenting at least one moving target within said sequence of visual scenes,
two spaced-apart emitters of electromagnetic radiation in a primary plane between the launch area and the screen and transverse to a missile flight path through which passes a missile proceeding from the launch area to the screen, each emitter fully illuminating a primary detection area in the primary plane, the primary plane spaced apart from the screen a distance such that the missile is detected in flight before arriving at the screen,
a retroreflective surface on a portion of the perimeter of the illuminated detection area for reflecting emitter radiation back toward the emitter,
two sensors, each with an electrical output signal responsive to emitter radiation, one of which is collocated with each emitter for receiving retroreflected radiation, each said sensor having a full field of view of the illuminated detection area,
locating means responsive to respective output signals of the sensors for determining the missile position at the time of intersection of the missile with the illuminated detection area.

3 more elements

A practice simulator providing a moving scene toward which a missile is directed by a player from a launch area, comprising

a screen,
an image generator means for presenting a sequence of images of visual scenes at the screen, the images presented being of a size normally viewed by a player in a natural environment that provides the player with a lifelike scene presenting at least one moving target within said sequence of visual scenes,
two separated emitters of electromagnetic radiation in a primary plane between the launch area and the screen and transverse to a missile flight path through which passes a missile proceeding from the launch area to the screen, each emitter fully illuminating a detection area in the primary plane from opposing sides of the detection area, the primary plane spaced apart from the screen a distance such that the missile is detected in flight before arriving at the screen,
a missile in combination with means on the missile for narrowly focussing incident emitter radiation upon reflection from the missile such that effectively all said incident radiation reflects in said primary plane into a beam directed approximately 180 degrees back toward the emitter,
a plurality of sensors, one with each of the emitters, with an electrical output signal responsive to emitter radiation, collocated with each emitter for receiving retroreflected radiation, each said sensor having a full field of view of the illuminated detection area,
locating means responsive to respective output signals of the sensors for determining the missile position at the time of intersection of the missile with the illuminated detection area.

3 more elements

In a simulator comprising an area from which a missile is launched, a primary detection area in a primary plane at which the missile is launched, means for detecting a missile within the primary detection area, locating means for determining the missile position at the time of intersection of the missile within the detection area, a secondary emitter of electromagnetic radiation between the launch area and the primary detection area, the secondary emitter fully illuminating a secondary detection area in a secondary plane through which a missile initially passes enroute to the illuminated primary detection area, a secondary retroreflective surface on a portion of the perimeter of the secondary illuminated detection area for reflecting secondary emitter radiation back toward the secondary emitter, a secondary sensor having a full field of view of the secondary detection area with an electrical output signal responsive to secondary emitter radiation and collocated with the secondary emitter for receiving retroreflected radiation from the secondary emitter, a tertiary emitter of electromagnetic radiation between the secondary plane and the launch area, the tertiary emitter fully illuminating a tertiary detection area in a tertiary plane through which a missile initially passes enroute to the illuminated primary detection area, a tertiary retroreflective surface on a portion of the perimeter of the tertiary illuminated detection area for reflecting tertiary emitter radiation back toward the tertiary emitter, a tertiary sensor having a full field of view of the tertiary detection area with an electrical output signal responsive to tertiary emitter radiation and collocated with the tertiary emitter for receiving retroreflected radiation from the tertiary emitter, means to receive electrical output signals from the tertiary sensor and the secondary sensor determining therefrom a velocity of the missile between the tertiary and the secondary planes,

the method of deriving an association between the player location, a missile, and a hit location, comprising the following steps:
(1) Launching a missile from a subarea toward the primary plane;
(2) Detecting the missile at the tertiary plane on a radial path from the tertiary sensor;
(3) Initiating a time measurement upon detection of the missile at the tertiary plane;
(4) Detecting the missile at the secondary plane on a radial path from the secondary sensor;
(5) Determining the velocity of the missile between the secondary and tertiary planes;
(6) Predicting an arrival time of a missile at the primary plane;
(7) Associating a missile arriving at the primary plane with a time of arrival most closely matching the predicted arrival time;
(8) Determining a flight path of the missile by constraining the flight path to pass through detection radial paths at each of the tertiary and secondary planes and through the detection point at the primary plane.

6 more elements

In a simulator comprising an area from which a missile is launched, primary detection area in a primary plane toward which the missile is launched, means for detecting a missile within the primary detection area, locating means for determining the missile position at the time of intersection of the missile within the detection area, a secondary emitter of electromagnetic radiation between the launch area and the primary detection area, the secondary emitter fully illuminating a secondary detection area in a secondary plane through which a missile initially passes enroute to the illuminated primary detection area, a secondary retroreflective surface on a portion of the perimeter of the secondary illuminated detection area for reflecting secondary emitter radiation back toward the secondary emitter, a secondary sensor having a full field of view of the secondary detection area with an electrical output signal responsive to secondary emitter radiation and collocated with the secondary emitter for receiving retroreflected radiation from the secondary emitter, a tertiary emitter of electromagnetic radiation between the secondary plane and the launch area, the tertiary emitter fully illuminating a tertiary detection area in a tertiary plane through which a missile initially passes enroute to the illuminated primary detection area, a tertiary retroreflective surface on a portion of the perimeter of the tertiary illuminated detection area for reflecting tertiary emitter radiation back toward the tertiary emitter, a tertiary sensor having a full field of view of the tertiary detection area with an electrical output signal responsive to tertiary emitter radiation and collocated with the tertiary emitter for receiving retroreflected radiation from the tertiary emitter,

the method of determining origination of the missile at the launch area as being one or another of 2 launch subareas comprising the launch area, comprising the following steps:
(1) Dividing the launch area into 2 subareas;
(2) Launching a missile from a subarea toward the primary plane;
(3) Detecting the missile at the tertiary plane on a radial path from the tertiary sensor;
(4) Initiating a time measurement upon detection of the missile at the tertiary plane;
(5) Detecting the missile at the secondary plane on a radial path from the secondary sensor;
(6) Determining candidate flight paths of the missile by constraining the flight path to pass through detection radial paths at each of the tertiary and secondary planes and through the detection point at the primary plane.
(7) Deriving a most likely flight path by constraining the flight path of a first missile to pass through a portion of the launch area from where a first player launches a missile and constraining the flight path of a second missile to pass through a similar but different portion of the launch area from where a second player launches a missile.

5 more elements

The method of displaying on an electronic display of a practice simulator the location of a missile detected within a detection area at or near a screen in detection area coordinates and accurately located on the display in display coordinates by converting the location of a missile located within a detection area in detection coordinates X and Y to monitor coordinates in pixel coordinates, X.sub.vga and Y.sub.vga, including the steps of

(1) overlaying a uniform matrix of anchor points over the detection area,
(2) Detecting the missile at or near the screen in detection area coordinates by means of a practice simulator which includes a moving scene toward which a missile is directed by a player, a screen, an area from which a missile is directed toward the screen, an image generator means for presenting a sequence of images of visual scenes at the screen, the images presented being of a size normally viewed by a player in a natural environment that provides the player with a lifelike scene, presenting at least one moving target within said sequence of visual scenes, two spaced-apart emitters of electromagnetic radiation in a primary plane between the launch area and the screen and transverse to a missile flight path through which passes a missile proceeding from the launch area to the screen, each emitter fully illuminating a primary detection area in the primary plane, the primary plane spaced apart from the screen a distance such that the missile is detected in flight before arriving at the screen, a retroreflective surface on a portion of the perimeter of the illuminated detection area for reflecting emitter radiation back toward the emitter, two sensors, each with an electrical output signal responsive to emitter radiation, one of which is collocated with each emitter for receiving retroreflected radiation, each said sensor having a full field of view of the illuminated detection area, locating means responsive to respective output signals of the sensors for determining the missile position at the time of intersection of the missile with the illuminated detection area,
(3) identifying 4 anchor points, S1 through S4, nearest the missile location in the detection area,
(4) deriving a weighted offset to the detection area coordinates to obtain display pixel coordinates as follows:
X.sub.vga =X+ax
Y.sub.vga =Y+ay
where ##EQU2## and where X.sub.offsetP and Y.sub.offsetP for each point, P, equaling Y.sub.vga -Y.sub.p and X.sub.vga -X.sub.p, respectively, the offset for each point, P, between known anchor points in Cartesian coordinates and in monitor coordinates,
(5) communicating the derived display pixel coordinates of the detected missile to the display,
(6) indicating the missile location in pixel coordinates on the electronic display.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Simulator and practice method

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Simulator and practice method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32