Laser shooting system

Abstract

A firearm training system has a plurality of guns each having a memory having a long-code register holding a predetermined gun-specific long code and a short-code register. The gun also has a generator of random short codes. A switch means connected between random short-code generator and the short-code register is actuatable for loading a new short code into the short-code register. The guns also has a laser and circuitry connected to the memory for encoding the laser's beam with the long and short codes from the respective registers. The target has a data-holding memory, a laser-beam sensor, and a processor connected to the sensor and to the memory for reading codes of laser beams detected by the sensor and for associating the read codes with data in the memory.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a laser shooting system. More particularly this invention concerns a system using laser beams for firearms training.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A firearm training system is known where, instead of using live ammunition, the trainees use guns provided with laser units that emit laser beams along the sight lines. Special light-detecting targets are employed to record hits. Such a system is very useful for training shooters who must some day user their firearms near others, as it gives them the necessary training without in any endangering anyone.

Such shooting systems that serve for supporting the shooting instruction without live ammunition and for providing training possibilities are known from practice. With such shooting systems the character of this sport practiced by sport shooters is underlined, where the power of concentration is to be trained and the hand-eye-coordination is to be improved without having to use live ammunition. Since this sport is generally practiced in groups, the shots fired on the target by different persons have to be distinguished.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved firearm training system.

Another object is the provision of such an improved firearm training system that overcomes the above-given disadvantages, in particular wherein the laser beam detected by the sensor of the target can be assigned to the firearm emitting the laser beam.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A firearm training system has according to the invention a plurality of guns each having a memory having a long-code register holding a predetermined gun-specific long code and a short-code register. The gun also has a generator of random short codes. A switch means connected between random short-code generator and the short-code register is actuatable for loading a new short code into the short-code register. The guns also has a laser and circuitry connected to the memory for encoding the laser's beam with the long and short codes from the respective registers. The target has a data-holding memory, a laser-beam sensor, and a processor connected to the sensor and to the memory for reading codes of laser beams detected by the sensor and for associating the read codes with data in the memory.

Thus the long code or first identifier is specific to the laser unit and the short code or second identifier is temporary but can be stored in less space memory and transmitted more easily. The random-code generator allows the short code for a gun to be reset if, for example, it coincides with the short code from someone else on group doing the shooting training.

This shooting system has the advantage that a first identifier can be attributed to the laser unit that allows distinction between all laser units made in a production run, like a serial number. This still avoids the disadvantage that the first identifier can not be transmitted when a shot is released due to its length. For this purpose, the first identifier and the second identifier determined by the random generator are transmitted to the target in a registration procedure triggered by the activation of a switch, so that in the target the second identifier is definitely attributed to the laser unit used. This second identifier requires less memory capacity and can therefore be transmitted more quickly, so that no problem is caused by the fact that this second identifier can be randomly selected by several laser units, as long as these different laser units are not to be registered at the same target. If this should happen, the person with the firearm using the duplicate short code or second identifier only has to repeat the registration procedure, since this way the random generator selects a new second identifier and allocates it to the first identifier. Subsequent to this registration procedure and to the turning of the switch, only the second identifier is transmitted when the following shot is released during the actual training exercise. The second identifier may even be transmitted several times, since due to the shortness of the second identifier there is sufficient time.

Within the framework of the invention it is preferred when the target has of an indicator for correctly saving and displaying the second identifier attributed to a laser unit. This way it is easy to guarantee that all firearms registered by the target with allocated laser units will be matched with respective different second identifiers.

It is advantageous to provide the target with a display unit for the second identifier in order to thus inform the person concerned about the identifier allocated to the person's firearm. Furthermore, the correct observance of the shot release is thus made possible if the shot scores achieved in several rounds by a plurality of persons are to be added. The person running the exercise can thus easily determine that all guns are properly assigned their own short codes, and can see a tally of successful shots as the exercise progresses.

For a simpler identification of the shooter it is also useful to provide the target with an input unit for the entering a name associated with the second identifier and displaying the name.

The encoder has to be able to definitely assign the first identifier and the second identifier to the laser beam. This is carried out optionally by allocating the transmission code to a pulse sequence of the laser beam corresponding to the first identifier and/or to the second identifier. Alternatively, it is also possible for the encoder to vary pulse duration.

One preferred embodiment in the framework of the invention is characterized in that the encoder the first identifier and/or the second identifier uses different frequencies of the laser beam, that is the frequency is encoded such that a certain value is attributed to a specific frequency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The above and other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic display of the shooting system with a laser unit allocated to a firearm and the target detecting the beam emitted by the laser unit; and

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram illustrating the system of this invention.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1 a shooting system 1 consisting of a firearm 2 with a laser 4 emitting a laser beam 3 when a “shot” is released, that is when the trigger 15 is actuated, and of a target 6 detecting the laser beam 3 by means of a sensor 5.

An identifier saved in a first memory unit 13 (FIG. 2) is permanently allocated to a laser unit 4. This identifier can be a relatively long code that is the equivalent of the unique multidigit serial number typically assigned a piece of equipment made as part of a large production run.

The laser unit 4 has a second memory unit 11 for a temporary second identifier that requires less memory capacity than the first identifier, that is in fact a much shorter number for example having only 2 digits. A random generator 12 is provided for selecting this second identifier. Furthermore, the firearm 2 disposes of an encoder 16 and a switch 10 for optionally encoding the laser beam 3 with the first identifier and/or the second identifier.

The target 6 is provided with a sensor 5 and a target memory 14 for a plurality of codes transmitted by different firearms 2. The target is also provided with a display 7 for correctly saving the second identifier allocated to a laser unit 4.

Furthermore, the target 6 has a screen 8 for displaying the second identifier, where a name, particularly the name of the shooter can be assigned to the second identifier by means of an input unit 9 and may be displayed on the screen 8. The transmission of the first identifier and/or the second identifier can be carried out in form of a transmission of the pulse sequence, a transmission of the pulse width or an encoding of the frequency, the laser beam 3 being pulsed with a certain frequency corresponding to a binary display of the first identifier and of the second identifier. Alternatively, the pulse width may be varied for the binary display of the number, so that the binary display of 0 is for example defined by the fact that the laser light is switched on for 20% of a period and that for 80% of the period no signal is being transmitted. The binary display of 1 results from the transmission of the laser beam for 80% of a period, while for 20% no signal is transmitted.

When the frequency is encoded, the beam 3 is transmitted with different frequencies, each single frequency having a certain value in order to thus be able to display the binary number.

In practice, the shooting system 1 according to the invention is used in the following manner:

A continuous beam is generated by the activation of a switch 10 that is encoded with the first identifier transmitted to the target 6 when the laser beam 3 is aimed at the target 6. Subsequently to the transmission of the first identifier, the second identifier selected by the random generator is transmitted so that in the target memory 14 of the target 6 can uniquely associate the first identifier of a given laser unit 4 to the second identifier. A correct registration of this laser unit 4 in the target 6 is indicated by the indicator 7.

A person with a second firearm 2 can subsequently carry out the registration procedure. If the indicator 7 does not indicate a correct registration in case of a randomly selected identical second identifier determined by the random generator being the same as one already in use, the second person, then, has to repeat the registration procedure, since the random generator then selects a new second identifier. Subsequent to the registration of the concerned person's firearm 2 with the laser unit 4 by the target 6, the continuous beam 3 is interrupted by the switch 10.

With every following shot only the short temporary second identifier is transmitted, so that the shot can be correspondingly short and the second identifier may even be transmitted several times.

Claims

1. A firearm training system comprising: a plurality of guns each having a memory having a long-code register holding a predetermined gun-specific long code and a short-code register, means for generating random short codes, switch means connected between the means for generating and the short-code register and actuatable for loading a new short code into the short-code register, means for generating a laser beam, and means connected to the memory for encoding the beam with the long and short codes from the respective registers; and a target having a data-holding memory, a laser-beam sensor, and means connected to the sensor and to the memory for reading codes of laser beams detected by the sensor and for associating the read codes with data in the memory.

2. The shooting system defined in claim 1 wherein the means for encoding is operable to alternately encode the laser beam with the long code or the short code from the short-code register.

3. The shooting system defined in claim 1 wherein the target has means for displaying the short code.

4. The shooting system defined in claim 3 wherein the target has a memory holding shooter data and means connected to the display for associating the shooter data with the short code and displaying the associated data and short code.

5. The shooting system defined in claim 3 wherein the target has input means for feeding the shooter data into the target memory.

6. The shooting system defined in claim 1 wherein the coding means codes the laser beam with pulse sequences representing the codes.

7. The shooting system defined in claim 6 wherein the pulse sequences include pulses of different lengths.

8. The shooting system defined in claim 1 wherein the coding means codes the laser beam by varying its frequency.