Ballistic impact sensing and display system

Claim 1

A method for determining and remotely indicating the location of a source of energy in a defined area comprising: sensing the arrival of energy at a minimum of three energy sensors; determining a first time difference between the sensing of energy at two sensors; determining a second time difference between the sensing of energy at two sensors, at least one of which is other than either of the two sensors used to determine said first time difference; remotely indicating the location of the energy source by a matrix of indicators selectively activated according to said first and second time differences and positioned substantially at the intersections of two families of hyperbolic curves; the foci of the first family of hyperbolic curves corresponding to the locations of the sensors which determined said first time difference; and the foci of the second family of hyperbolic curves corresponding to the locations of the sensors which determined said second time difference.

Claim 2

A method for determining and remotely indicating the location of a source of energy in a defined area comprising: sensing the arrival of energy at a minimum of three energy sensors; determining a first time difference between the sensing of energy at two sensors; determining a second time difference between the sensing of energy at two sensors, at least one of which is other than either of the two sensors used to determine said first time difference; remotely indicating the location of the energy source by a matrix of indicators selectively activated according to said first and second time differences and positioned substantially at the intersections of two families of hyperbolic curves; the foci of the first family of hyperbolic curves corresponding to the locations of the sensors which determined said first time difference; and the foci of the second family of hyperbolic curves corresponding to the locations of the sensors which determined said second time difference.

Claim 4

A system for determining and remotely indicating the impact location of a projectile in a defined target area, responsive to the primary shock wave created by impact of the projectile upon the target or supersonic passage of the projectile through the target plane, comprised of: first, second, third, and fourth accoustic sensors located in sequence around the target area, generating signals in response to the arrival of the primary shock wave; first logic means receiving signals from said sensors and generating a first time difference signal between receipt of a signal from either said first or fourth sensor and receipt of a signal from either said second or third sensor; second logic means receiving signals from said sensors and generating a second time difference signal between receipt of a signal from either said first or second sensor and receipt of a signal from either said third or fourth sensor; a clock signal generator; first counter receiving signals from said first logic means and said clock signal generator, and counting clock cycles during said first time difference signal period; second counter receiving signals from said second logic means and said clock signal generator, and counting clock cycles during said second time difference signal period; first indicator driver receiving a count form said first counter and selectively activating a plurality of indicator drive buses; second indicator driver receiving a count from said second counter and selectively activating a plurality of indicator drive buses; a plurality of indicators, each of which is coupled to a single first indicator driver bus and a single second indicator driver bus and is responsive to simultaneous activation of the two buses to which the indicator is coupled.

Claim 5

A system for determining and remotely indicating the impact location of a projectile in a defined target area, responsive to the primary shock wave created by impact of the projectile upon the target or supersonic passage of the projectile through the target plane, comprised of: first, second, third, and fourth accoustic sensors located in sequence around the target area, generating signals in response to the arrival of the primary shock wave; first logic means receiving signals from said sensors and generating a first time difference signal between receipt of a signal from either said first or fourth sensor and receipt of a signal from either said second or third sensor; second logic means receiving signals from said sensors and generating a second time difference signal between receipt of a signal from either said first or second sensor and receipt of a signal from either said third or fourth sensor; a clock signal generator; first counter receiving signals from said first logic means and said clock signal generator, and counting clock cycles during said first time difference signal period; second counter receiving signals from said second logic means and said clock signal generator, and counting clock cycles during said second time difference signal period; first indicator driver receiving a count form said first counter and selectively activating a plurality of indicator drive buses; second indicator driver receiving a count from said second counter and selectively activating a plurality of indicator drive buses; a plurality of indicators, each of which is coupled to a single first indicator driver bus and a single second indicator driver bus and is responsive to simultaneous activation of the two buses to which the indicator is coupled.