Device and method for detection of the shots on a target from a distance

Claim 1

A system for detecting the shots of a shooter present on a solid, material target having a substantially flat surface from a distance, comprising a solid stationary target having a substantially flat surface capable of being permanently marked, a closed video circuit having only one video camera, a memory storage circuit and a television viewing monitor operatively connected together, said camera being positioned adjacent to the target so as to receive light being influenced by a projectile about to hit the target, said monitor being positioned adjacent the shooter and operatively connected to said camera so that the shooter can see an indication of the shot on the target via said monitor, light source means for providing a track of light substantially defining a two dimensional area comprising parallel paths of light rays adjacent to, in parallel to and spaced in front of the target not impinging said flat surface thereof, said light source means comprises a rectangular member formed with a single elongated longitudinal slot, said track of light originating through said longitudinal slot, said camera having an optical axis being positioned facing said track of light and said flat surface so as to receive light reflected by the projectile while crossing the track of light as the projectile is about to hit the target, said parallel paths of light rays extending non-parallel and substantially perpendicularly to said optical axis of said camera, whereby when the projectile crosses the track of light before hitting the adjacent target a representation of the target impact site appears on the viewing monitor.

Claim 2

A system for detecting the shots of a shooter present on a solid, material target having a substantially flat surface from a distance, comprising a solid stationary target having a substantially flat surface capable of being permanently marked, a closed video circuit having only one video camera, a memory storage circuit and a television viewing monitor operatively connected together, said camera being positioned adjacent to the target so as to receive light being influenced by a projectile about to hit the target, said monitor being positioned adjacent the shooter and operatively connected to said camera so that the shooter can see an indication of the shot on the target via said monitor, light source means for providing a track of light substantially defining a two dimensional area comprising parallel paths of light rays adjacent to, in parallel to and spaced in front of the target not impinging said flat surface thereof, said light source means comprises a rectangular member formed with a single elongated longitudinal slot, said track of light originating through said longitudinal slot, said camera having an optical axis being positioned facing said track of light and said flat surface so as to receive light reflected by the projectile while crossing the track of light as the projectile is about to hit the target, said parallel paths of light rays extending non-parallel and substantially perpendicularly to said optical axis of said camera, whereby when the projectile crosses the track of light before hitting the adjacent target a representation of the target impact site appears on the viewing monitor.

Claim 5

A method for detecting the shots of a shooter on a target from a distance, comprising the steps of providing a planar track of light substantially defining a two dimensional area comprising parallel paths of light rays parallel to, spaced therefrom and adjacent in front of a substantially flat surface of the target without impinging on the target by passing light through a single elongated longitudinal slot in a rectangular member, the track of light originating through the longitudinal slot, and placing a system of Cartesian coordinates over the target by scanning lines, and scanning points within the lines, disposing a video camera having an optical axis adjacent to and facing the target, said parallel paths of light rays extending non-parallel and substantially perpendicularly to said optical axis of said camera, reflecting the light into the video camera by shooting at least one projectile toward the target crossing the track of light before hitting the target, providing a video processing via a closed video circuit having only one video camera, a memory storage circuit and a television viewing monitor operatively connected together, transmitting the reflected light from the camera onto the television monitor positioned adjacent the shooter, whereby when the projectile crosses the track of light before hitting the adjacent target a representation of the target impact site appears on the viewing monitor, so that the shooter can see an indication of the shot on the target.

Claim 6

A method for detecting the shots of a shooter on a target from a distance, comprising the steps of providing a planar track of light substantially defining a two dimensional area comprising parallel paths of light rays parallel to, spaced therefrom and adjacent in front of a substantially flat surface of the target without impinging on the target by passing light through a single elongated longitudinal slot in a rectangular member, the track of light originating through the longitudinal slot, and placing a system of Cartesian coordinates over the target by scanning lines, and scanning points within the lines, disposing a video camera having an optical axis adjacent to and facing the target, said parallel paths of light rays extending non-parallel and substantially perpendicularly to said optical axis of said camera, reflecting the light into the video camera by shooting at least one projectile toward the target crossing the track of light before hitting the target, providing a video processing via a closed video circuit having only one video camera, a memory storage circuit and a television viewing monitor operatively connected together, transmitting the reflected light from the camera onto the television monitor positioned adjacent the shooter, whereby when the projectile crosses the track of light before hitting the adjacent target a representation of the target impact site appears on the viewing monitor, so that the shooter can see an indication of the shot on the target.