Target system transmitting feedback to shooter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016238352-A1
Application number	US-201614994086-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 12, 2016
Priority date	Feb 12, 2015
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An active target has a target face that is backlit by LEDs, where a detection layer behind the target face detects a new projectile hole in the target, such as from a gun or an arrow. The detection layer may be formed of one or more resistive layers, and the detected increase in resistance due to a new projectile hole being created is sensed and correlated to an XY position of the hole. The location of the new hole is transmitted via an RF signal to the shooter's portable device, such as a smartphone, and the shooter sees the location of the hit relative to the target face in real time. The LEDs may be dynamically controlled. The target is disposable and is supported by a support base containing the control electronics and transmitter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A target system comprising:
a target face viewable by a shooter, where the shooter launches a projectile at the target face to form a projectile hole in the target face; at least one resistive layer behind the target face, wherein the projectile hole increases a resistance of the at least one resistive layer; a controller detecting a first signal corresponding to the increase in resistance of the at least one resistive layer due to the projectile hole; and a transmitter for transmitting information to a receiving device to provide the shooter feedback regarding the projectile hole.

2 . The system of claim 1 further comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs) that illuminate the target face.

3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the LEDs backlight the target face.

4 . The system of claim 2 wherein the controller controls the LEDs to highlight different areas of the target face.

5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one resistive layer comprises a plurality of overlapping resistive layers.

6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one resistive layer comprises a single resistive layer behind a single target.

7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the resistance of the at least one resistive layer is periodically detected by the controller to detect a change in resistance relative to a previous detection of the resistance.

8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one resistive layer is scanned to determine a position of the projectile hole in the at least one resistive layer.

9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the controller determines if the at least one resistive layer has received a new projectile hole.

10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the transmitter is an RF transmitter that transmits an RF signal to the receiving device to provide the shooter feedback regarding the projectile hole.

11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the target face and the at least one resistive layer are provided on a disposable flexible substrate, and the controller and transmitter are separate from the substrate and reusable.

12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the controller and transmitter are located in a support base for the substrate.

13 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one resistive layer is printed on a back surface of a substrate, and wherein the target face is on a front surface of the substrate.

14 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least resistive layer comprises:
a plurality of column lines behind the target face;
a plurality of row lines behind the target face orthogonal to the column lines and overlapping the column lines;
wherein the controller is configured to detect a new projectile hole through a particular column line and row line and thereby detect a position of the projectile hole relative to the target face.

15 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least resistive layer comprises a single resistive layer behind the target face, the resistive layer having a first edge and a second edge perpendicular to the first edge, the system further comprising:
a first scanning circuit, coupled to the controller, applying a first predetermined signal along various locations along the first edge;
a second scanning circuit, coupled to the controller, applying a second predetermined signal along various locations along the second edge;
a first detector coupled to the controller and to a third edge of the resistive layer opposite to the first edge for detecting a resistance of the resistive layer while the first scanning circuit is applying the first predetermined signal along various locations along the first edge; and
a second detector coupled to the controller and to a fourth edge of the resistive layer opposite to the second edge for detecting a resistance of the resistive layer while the second scanning circuit is applying the second predetermined signal along various locations along the second edge.

16 . The system of claim 15 wherein the resistive layer is a solid resistive layer.

17 . The system of claim 15 wherein the resistive layer is a resistive mesh.

18 . The system of claim 1 wherein the receiving device is a smartphone.

19 . The system of claim 1 wherein the receiving device is a tablet.

20 . The system of claim 1 wherein the controller comprises an analog-to-digital converter for converting an analog signal representing the increase in resistance of the at least one resistive layer to a digital signal for processing by the controller.

21 . The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is configured to detect a time between successive projectile holes being made in the at least one resistive layer.

22 . The system of claim 1 further comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs) illuminating the target face, wherein the controller is configured to detect a time between the target face being illuminated by the LEDs and when a new projectile hole is made in the target face.

23 . The system of claim 1 further comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs) illuminating the target face, wherein the controller is configured to detect when a new projectile hole is made in the target face while it is illuminated by the LEDs.

24 . The system of claim 1 further comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs) illuminating the target face, wherein the LEDs emit visible light.

25 . The system of claim 1 further comprising light emitting diodes (LEDs) illuminating the target face, wherein the LEDs emit a wavelength of light that is not visible to the human eye.

26 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one resistive layer comprises a separate resistive layer for each scoring value of the target face, wherein a change in resistance of a particular one of the separate resistive layers identifies a scoring value of a new projectile hole.

27 . The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one resistive layer comprises a first resistive metal layer, forming a first set of lines, and a second resistive metal layer, forming a second set of lines orthogonal to the first set of lines.

28 . The system of claim 27 wherein the at least one resistive layer comprises a metal layer that has been etched to form the first set of lines, the second set of lines, and traces leading to a power source.

Assignees

• Nthdegree Tech Worldwide Inc

Inventors

• Baldridge Jeffrey
• Ray Alexander
• Whaley Bradley
• Wagner Darin
• Shotton Neil O
• Blanchard Richard A
• Jueden Shelby
• Roach Steven
• Biggs Larry Todd
• Kahrs Eric

Classifications

• F41J5/041 Primary

  Targets comprising two sets of electric contacts forming a coordinate system grid · CPC title

• F41J5/14 Primary

  Apparatus for signalling hits or scores to the shooter, e.g. manually operated, or for communication between target and shooter; Apparatus for recording hits or scores · CPC title