Self scoring target for darts and similar projectiles

Claim 2

A target adapted to provide electrical signals when engaged by an electrically conductive missile, comprising

Claim 3

(a) first and second adjacent spaced pads each formed of electrically conductive synthetic plastic foam material;

Claim 4

(a) first and second adjacent spaced pads each formed of electrically conductive synthetic plastic foam material;

Claim 5

(b) means for electrically insulating the pads from each other; (c) means for establishing a potential difference between said pads, said potential difference establishing means including (1) a capacitor having a pair of terminals connected with said pads, respectively; and (2) means applying across said capacitor a direct-current potential difference of such magnitude that upon penetration of said insulating means by a first conductive missile to electrically connect said pads, only partial discharge of said capacitor is produced; and (d) means including an operational amplifier having a pair of input terminals connected with said capacitor terminals, respectively, for producing a first electrical signal indicative of the resulting partial discharge of said capacitor, whereby subsequent penetrations of the target by a subsequent conductive missile produces further partial discharge of the capacitor, thereby affording the multiple detection of hits in the same scoring area.

Claim 6

(b) means for electrically insulating the pads from each other; (c) means for establishing a potential difference between said pads, said potential difference establishing means including (1) a capacitor having a pair of terminals connected with said pads, respectively; and (2) means applying across said capacitor a direct-current potential difference of such magnitude that upon penetration of said insulating means by a first conductive missile to electrically connect said pads, only partial discharge of said capacitor is produced; and (d) means including an operational amplifier having a pair of input terminals connected with said capacitor terminals, respectively, for producing a first electrical signal indicative of the resulting partial discharge of said capacitor, whereby subsequent penetrations of the target by a subsequent conductive missile produces further partial discharge of the capacitor, thereby affording the multiple detection of hits in the same scoring area.

Claim 7

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, and further including (e) a third pad (14) of electrically conductive synthetic plastic foam material extending only partially between said first and second pads; (f) means electrically insulating said second and third pads; (g) means including a second capacitor (4) connected across said second and third pads for establishing a potential difference between said second and third pads; and (h) means operable when a conductive missile penetrates said insulating means to electrically connect said second and third pads for producing a second electrical signal indicative of the resulting partial discharge of said second capacitor.

Claim 8

Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the polarity of the direct-current potential means is such that the more positive terminal of the capacitor is connected with the inverting input of the amplifier, and the more negative terminal of the capacitor is connected with the non-inverting input of the amplifier.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 3, and further including Schmidt trigger means connected with the output of the said amplifier, and monostable means connected with the output of said Schmidt trigger means.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 4, and further including a pad of non-conductive plastic foam material arranged between said first and second pads remote from said third pad.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said third pad and said non-conductive pad are separated by a relatively rigid member of electrically insulating plastic material.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said insulating means include layers of insulation arranged between said electrically conductive pads of plastic foam material.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said insulating layers comprise a fabric.

Claim 14

Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said fabric is silk.

Claim 15

Apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said layers comprise a synthetic plastic material.

Claim 16

A target adapted to provide electrical signals when engaged by an electrically conductive missile, comprising (a) first, second and third superimposed, adjacent spaced layers, said first layer comprising a sheet of electrically conductive synthetic plastic foam material, said second layer comprising a plurality of pads of electrically conductive and non-conductive synthetic plastic foam material, respectively, arranged in a first predetermined pattern, and the third layer comprising pads of electrically conductive material arranged in a different predetermined pattern; (b) means for establishing potential differences between the conductive pads of different layers, said potential difference establishing means including (1) a capacitor having a pair of terminals connected with said pads, respectively; and (2) means applying a direct-current potential difference across said capacitor; (c) means operable when a first conductive missile electrically connects the conductive pads of two of said layers for producing a first electrical signal indicative of the resulting partial discharge of said capacitor; and (d) means for indicating the position on the target that a missile has impacted therewith, including a microprocessor, a multiplexer connecting said signal producing means with said multiplexer, a read-only memory connected to the microprocessor, a random access memory connected to the microprocessor, a timing generator connected to the multiplexing device, an interface connected to said microprocessor and said timing generator, and a visual display means connected to the interface and arranged to display a signal indicative of the position on the target that a missile has impacted therewith.

Claim 17

A target adapted to provide electrical signals when engaged by an electrically conductive missile, comprising (a) first, second and third superimposed, adjacent spaced layers, said first layer comprising a sheet of electrically conductive synthetic plastic foam material, said second layer comprising a plurality of pads of electrically conductive and non-conductive synthetic plastic foam material, respectively, arranged in a first predetermined pattern, and the third layer comprising pads of electrically conductive material arranged in a different predetermined pattern; (b) means for establishing potential differences between the conductive pads of different layers, said potential difference establishing means including (1) a capacitor having a pair of terminals connected with said pads, respectively; and (2) means applying a direct-current potential difference across said capacitor; (c) means operable when a first conductive missile electrically connects the conductive pads of two of said layers for producing a first electrical signal indicative of the resulting partial discharge of said capacitor; and (d) means for indicating the position on the target that a missile has impacted therewith, including a microprocessor, a multiplexer connecting said signal producing means with said multiplexer, a read-only memory connected to the microprocessor, a random access memory connected to the microprocessor, a timing generator connected to the multiplexing device, an interface connected to said microprocessor and said timing generator, and a visual display means connected to the interface and arranged to display a signal indicative of the position on the target that a missile has impacted therewith.

Claim 18

Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said layers have a circular periphery, said third layer including first and second central annular pads of electrically conductive synthetic plastic foam material surrounded by a plurality of radially extending pads of said conductive material, and said second layer comprises alternate concentric annular pads of said conductive and non-conductive synthetic plastic foam material.

Claim 19

Apparatus as defined in claim 12, and further including a target face formed in said first layer, the boundaries of the pads of said second and third layers conforming to boundaries of different regions marked on said target face.

Claim 20

Apparatus as defined in claim 13, and further including means connected with said contact means and responsive to change in conductivity between said pads produced by a missile entering the layers, and an electrically conductive pad arranged between certain ones of the pads.

Claim 21

An electronic scoring target adapted to operate an electronic processing system upon the penetration thereof by an electrical conductive shaft, comprising, in combination: (a) a target face; (b) a top sending layer adjacent said target face; (c) a center sensing layer adjacent said top sensing layer, said center sensing layer including, in combination: (1) conducting center foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting center foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting center foam pads and of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer, comprised of silk, arranged between said conducting and non-conducting center foam pads, respectively; and (4) connecting wires imbedded in said conducting center foam pads for connection with the electronic processing system; and (d) a bottom sensing layer adjacent said center sensing layer, said bottom sensing layer including, in combination: (1) conducting bottom foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting bottom foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting bottom foam pads and of a corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer, comprised of silk, positioned between said conducting and said non-conducting bottom foam pads, respectively; and (4) connecting wires imbedded in said conducting bottom foam pad for connection with said electronic processing system.

Claim 22

An electronic scoring target adapted to operate an electronic processing system upon the penetration thereof by an electrical conductive shaft, comprising, in combination: (a) a target face; (b) a top sending layer adjacent said target face; (c) a center sensing layer adjacent said top sensing layer, said center sensing layer including, in combination: (1) conducting center foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting center foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting center foam pads and of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer, comprised of silk, arranged between said conducting and non-conducting center foam pads, respectively; and (4) connecting wires imbedded in said conducting center foam pads for connection with the electronic processing system; and (d) a bottom sensing layer adjacent said center sensing layer, said bottom sensing layer including, in combination: (1) conducting bottom foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting bottom foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting bottom foam pads and of a corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer, comprised of silk, positioned between said conducting and said non-conducting bottom foam pads, respectively; and (4) connecting wires imbedded in said conducting bottom foam pad for connection with said electronic processing system.

Claim 23

An electronic scoring target system adapted to operate upon penetration by an electrically conductive shaft, comprising, in combination: (a) a target face; (b) a top sensing layer adjacent said target face; (c) a center sensing layer adjacent said top sensing layer, said center sensing layer including, in combination: (1) conducting center foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting center foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting foam pads and of correponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer arranged between conducting center foam pads and non-conducting center foam pads; and (4) center connecting wires imbedded in said conducting center foam pads; (d) an electronic processing system connected to said connecting wires, said electronic processing system including, in combination: (1) a multiplexing device to which said connecting wires are attached; (2) a microprocessor connected to said multiplexing device; (3) a read-only memory attached to said microprocessor; (4) a random access memory connected to said microprocessor; (5) a timing generator connected to said multiplexing device; (6) an interface connected to said microprocessor and to said timing generator; (7) display means connected to said interface for displaying the score of said target; and (e) a bottom sensing layer adjacent said center sensing layer, said bottom sensing layer including, in combination: (1) conducting bottom foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting bottom foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting foam pads and of a corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer positioned between said conducting and said non-conducting bottom foam pads, respectively; and (4) bottom connecting wires imbedded in said conducting bottom foam pads and connected to said electronic processing system.

Claim 24

An electronic scoring target system adapted to operate upon penetration by an electrically conductive shaft, comprising, in combination: (a) a target face; (b) a top sensing layer adjacent said target face; (c) a center sensing layer adjacent said top sensing layer, said center sensing layer including, in combination: (1) conducting center foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting center foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting foam pads and of correponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer arranged between conducting center foam pads and non-conducting center foam pads; and (4) center connecting wires imbedded in said conducting center foam pads; (d) an electronic processing system connected to said connecting wires, said electronic processing system including, in combination: (1) a multiplexing device to which said connecting wires are attached; (2) a microprocessor connected to said multiplexing device; (3) a read-only memory attached to said microprocessor; (4) a random access memory connected to said microprocessor; (5) a timing generator connected to said multiplexing device; (6) an interface connected to said microprocessor and to said timing generator; (7) display means connected to said interface for displaying the score of said target; and (e) a bottom sensing layer adjacent said center sensing layer, said bottom sensing layer including, in combination: (1) conducting bottom foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting bottom foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting foam pads and of a corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer positioned between said conducting and said non-conducting bottom foam pads, respectively; and (4) bottom connecting wires imbedded in said conducting bottom foam pads and connected to said electronic processing system.

Claim 25

The combination as claimed in claim 14, wherein said display means includes a video display unit.

Claim 26

An electronic scoring target adapted to operate upon the penetration of an electrical conductive shaft, comprising, in combination: (a) a target face; (b) a top sensing layer adjacent said target face; (c) a center sensing layer adjacent said top sensing layer, said center sensing layer comprising, in combination: (1) conducting center foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting center foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting foam pads and of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer, formed of synthetic plastic material, arranged between said conducting and non-conducting foam pads, respectively; and (4) connecting wires imbedded in said conducting center foam pads for connection with an electronic processing system; and (d) a bottom sensing layer adjacent said center sensing layer, said bottom sensing layer comprising, in combination: (1) conducting bottom foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting bottom foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting bottom foam pads and of a corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer, formed of of synthetic plastic material, arranged between said conducting and non-conducting foam pads, respectively; and (4) connecting wires imbedded in said conducting foam pad for connection with said electronic processing system.

Claim 27

An electronic scoring target adapted to operate upon the penetration of an electrical conductive shaft, comprising, in combination: (a) a target face; (b) a top sensing layer adjacent said target face; (c) a center sensing layer adjacent said top sensing layer, said center sensing layer comprising, in combination: (1) conducting center foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting center foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting foam pads and of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer, formed of synthetic plastic material, arranged between said conducting and non-conducting foam pads, respectively; and (4) connecting wires imbedded in said conducting center foam pads for connection with an electronic processing system; and (d) a bottom sensing layer adjacent said center sensing layer, said bottom sensing layer comprising, in combination: (1) conducting bottom foam pads of corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (2) non-conducting bottom foam pads positioned adjacent said conducting bottom foam pads and of a corresponding pattern to a portion of said target face; (3) a thin electrical insulating layer, formed of of synthetic plastic material, arranged between said conducting and non-conducting foam pads, respectively; and (4) connecting wires imbedded in said conducting foam pad for connection with said electronic processing system.