Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41G—WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING
  • F41G3/00—Aiming or laying means
  • F41G3/26—Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying
  • F41G3/2605—Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using a view recording device cosighted with the gun
  • F41G3/2611—Teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying using a view recording device cosighted with the gun coacting with a TV-monitor

Definitions

• the present invention is a device in a firearm, especially a gun and light small arms of the kind mentioned in the preamble of the attached patent claim l.
• a device of a similar nature is known from e.g. EP 0 330 886 (Volpe) , the said publication suggesting an electronic shooting simulator which can be fitted to an ordinary gun, enabling live shots to be fired.
• the simulator works with a so-called telecamera which constitutes an electronic camera, and the entire known device is merely arranged to take a still picture at the very moment when the shot is released. True enough, each single picture is processed and stored electronically, to be presented to the marksman on a monitor, but nevertheless as a still picture which serves to evaluate a shot fired and its pertaining point of impact.
• the said publication fails to describe any recording of the movements which the marksman makes with the weapon before, during and after the actual moment of firing the shot, nor is there any measuring made of the time space occupied by the force which the marksman exerts on the trigger.
• EP 0 160 123 is a practising aid which may be attached to a gun or a pistol, so that live shots can be fired.
• the system relies on the use of a miniature camera attached either directly on the barrel of the gun, or only the optics are attached to the barrel of the gun, leading the picture to the camera, but here by means of a bundle of flexible optical fibres.
• a similar device is also known from DE 32 21 592 (Busch) where an objective is used and is connected to a camera by a bundle of flexible optical fibres several metres long.
• GB 2 141 810 (Keller et al.) relates to an apparatus for the practicing of cannon gunners, where a video camera is also used and connected via a flexible bundle of optic fibres. Such an apparatus would only with difficulty be adaptable to e.g. a gun used by a biathlon marksman without considerable technical efforts.
• NO patent application 78.2090 (Knight et al . ) relates mainly to a system for electronic display of hits made by live shots which entails that a certain type of microphone will need to be placed by the target.
• NO patent application 78.2090 mentions video filming of what the marksman sees through his sight, namely by fitting suitable optics on the gun and connecting the optics to a video camera by means of A bundle of flexible optic fibres, which is highly impractical when the marksmen are to move from shooting station to shooting station.
• pressure sensitive transducers e.g. of the strain gauge type, for the purpose of measuring the pressure exerted by the marksman against four different parts of the gun butt. Mentioned is also a sensor at the trigger, yet this is only intended for recording the time taken by the marksman to increase the pulling force from the first point of pressure until release level, a parameter which is of secondary importance compared with the present invention.
• One aim of the present invention is to provide a device to be used as a practising aid for gun and pistol marksmen, and in particular for biathlon skier marksmen, in a simple, rational and cos -saving manner.
• a further aim of the invention is to provide a device capable of measuring what movements the marksman makes with his weapon relative to the bull's eye of the target in a certain space of time surrounding the actual moment of firing, hereinafter referred to as "the sight movements" .
• Yet another aim of the present invention is to provide a unit which can be attached to the actual weapon, so that the weapon becomes completely mobile, which is an advantage e.g. in connection with biathlon where the contestant varies between shooting and cross-country skiing between the various shooting stations.
• An additional aim of the invention is to provide a device which is independent of additional equipment at the bull's eyes of the targets which entails that the device may be used e.g. for biathlon targets with five black bull's eyes.
• Yet a further aim is to provide units which are easily replaced and adapted to each individual marksman and/or form of shooting, respectively the time and place of shooting and/or displaying.
• an aim of the invention is also to provide a device where measuring is made of the position of the weapon at the exact moment of being fired, so that the points of value / point of impact of the shot is recorded relative to the sight movement.
• An additional aim of the invention is that by means of such a device it will be possible to measure also the force of pressure exerted by the marksman on the trigger of the weapon as a function of the time during the said space of time, e.h. 5 seconds, prior to the moment of firing, and 2 or more seconds after the moment of firing.
• Figure 1 shows an Assembly of the most signif icant components being part of an example of an embodiment of the invention .
• Figures 2 is a schematic constellation of elements which may form part of a general technical solution according to the present invention.
• Figure 3 is a constellation similar to that of Figure 2 wherein is shown an example of a technical realisation of some of the most important elements.
• FIG. 1 to 3 Shown in Figures 1 to 3 is an example of an embodiment of the present invention.
• a weapon in particular a gun, comprising a device detachably fitted to the weapon, which when being used is capable of, by means of processable, electrical signals, identifying, selecting and verifying the extended sight line of the weapon relative to a firing target .
• such a device comprises a combination of optics 1, camera unit 3 and electronic image detector 2 for sequential and optionally selected electronic imaging of the weapon's relative movements and position as regards one or several bull's eyes for a certain space of time before, during and after the firing mechanism of the weapon is released, while a data processing unit is constituted by an electronic central unit 5 detachably fitted to the weapon 1A and being arranged so that it may preferably in digital form, process, optionally compress, and store the image signals received sequentially from the device 1, 3,2, in particular in the form of sight movements before and after firing.
• the device makes use, among other things, of an electronic camera 3 with a specially designed encapsulation 3A and optics 1, which are attached to the actual weapon 1A, in parallel with the sight line, so that the bull's eye constitutes part of the image.
• This electronic camera may, for instance, be a video camera which will automatically take pictures continuously and generate a standard electronic video signal, e.g. CCIR composite video with 50 images per second.
• the relative position of the bull's eye in the picture reveals where the weapon is pointing at any given time.
• a series of pictures, consecutive in time, from the camera will thus contain the desired information concerning the sight movement .
• the electrical signal from the camera 3 is led to the electronic signals processing unit or the central unit 5, which is also attached to the actual weapon 1A.
• the camera signal is digitized, followed by further processing and storing in the "solid state memory”. This process takes place in real time, so that the processing of the signal / storing of requisite information from one image is completed before the next image arrives.
• the signals processing unit 5 has a sufficiently large memory (e.g. 4 Mbit) to enable it to store data from a number of images so large as to be deemed sufficient for being able to describe the movements in connection with several shots (e.g. 10) with acceptable time resolution and sufficiently length of time per shot.
• An electronic image is made up of a rectangular matrix of image points or "pixels" .
• Each pixel may be imagined to consist of a numerical value, representing the colour hue of the pixel. In a black/white image it will be a matter of shades of grey.
• a preferred way of compressing the image information is to add together the digital values of all the pixels so that a sum is arrived at for each horizontal row and one for each vertical column which make up the image. These row and column totals may for instance be performed by hardware logics in the form of a P D circuit which will also store the result directly in a SRAM circuit.
• the signals processing unit should in that case also comprise a micro computer e.g. in the form of a micro controller circuit, to administer the capture of data. It will determine, .among other things, what images from the camera are to be processed and stored.
• the micro computer may also handle the communication as regards the PC, e.g. in the form of standard RS232 signals.
• the signals processing unit may be able to detect when the actual shot is being fired (or the weapon's mechanism being released without a live bullet in the chamber) , a separate sensor is needed.
• This sensor may e.g. be a contact microphone which has good mechanical contact with the actual weapon and is readily able to register the noise generated by the weapon's mechanism upon being released, without being affected by noise from the surroundings.
• the microphone may e.g. be positioned in the same encapsulation as the central unit 5 or the camera unit 3.
• the analogous signal from the microphone is being digitized and used by the central unit e.g. in determining what images should be processed/stored.
• the senor may be a miniature accelerometer which will register the recoil associated with live shots.
• All ring buffers may be realised in one and the same SRAM circuit.
• a black- and-white camera may well be used, and the digitalization of the image information may well be performed by a one bit analogous/digital converter, so that the number "1" corresponds to a dark image pixel and the number "0" to a light one, or vice versa (this presupposes that the camera has automatic exposure control so that varying conditions of light will be of no significance) .
• the small mechanical deformations which occur in the trigger shoe on being exposed to the force from the finger causes the electrical resistance in the strain gauge (s) to be altered in a systematic manner commensurate with the size of the force applied. These changes in resistance will be transformed into electrical voltage or current which is being digitized by an appropriate analogous/digital converter.
• a miniature load cell On weapons where the trigger shoe cannot readily be replaced, it is possible instead to use a miniature load cell, to be fastened in a detachable manner at the front of the trigger shoe so that the marksman's finger presses against it and not directly against the trigger shoe.
• load cells are commercially available and are generally based on strain gauges or piezo- electric crystals.
• the device thus monitors the movements which the marksman makes with the weapon in relation to the bull's eye for a certain space of time surrounding the actual moment of firing, namely the "sight movements". Monitored is in particular also at what point of the bull's eye the weapon is directed at the actual moment of firing, so that the value points / point of impact of the shot is being recorded. Also monitored is the force which the marksman exerts against the weapon's trigger as a function of the time during that same space of time.
• the space of time concerned may e.g. commence 5 seconds prior to the moment of firing, and continue until 2 second after the moment of firing, but this can be adjusted by the marksman himself.
• the device may be used both when firing live shots and for so-called "dry practice", i.e. that the marksman aims and pulls the trigger as with an ordinary shot, but without ammunition in the weapon.
• the device is solely attached to the actual weapon, without the need for cables or any other connection to units not attached to the weapon in the actual firing situation. Nor is there any need for additional equipment mounted at the targets.
• the apparatus may be used in connection with shooting on an ordinary firing range against ordinary targets, or in connection with dry practice either against full-scale targets or against targets of a reduced size at a reduced distance.
• the device may be fitted in a detachable manner to an ordinary weapon so that it may readily be moved from one weapon to another. There is no need for electronic equipment at the target (s) .
• the device When the shooting is finished the device is connected to a standard PC by means of a cable, for transferring the monitored data to the PC.
• a special PC program will post-process the data, presenting the result graphically on the PC screen or on a PC printer.
• the program is furthermore capable of making a statistical analysis of the marksman, based on many shots, and can also compare different marksmen.
• the weapon is rendered completely mobile. That is a major advantage in e.g. biathlon where the contestant alternates between shooting and cross-country skiing with the gun carried on the back.
• the fact that e.g. the biathlon targets consist of as much as five black bull's eyes also represents no major problem, since there is no need for electronic equipment at the target ( s ) .
• the purpose of taking these measurings of sight movements and trigger force is to be able in an objective manner to characterize important aspects of the marksman's behaviour. Too wide deflections in the sight movements prior to the shot being fired may e.g. indicate an incorrect firing position, or that the marksman uses his muscles incorrectly, e.g. tension.
• the sight movements after the shot has been fired will in the case of live ammunition mostly be a result of the weapon's recoil, and the marksman's position and grip on the weapon. If that recoil movement varies from shot to shot, it means that the marksman is unable to handle the recoil, e.g. because his grip on the weapon is not firm enough or because the shooting position is wrong.
• the device also measures the force on the trigger as a function of the time.
• the central unit comprises electronic elements which may comprise software for final signals processing and presentation, optionally replaceable elements which may be pre-adjusted / programmed. with various parameters adapted to the individual marksman and/or form of shooting.
• Particular embodiments may then entail that the electronic elements of the central unit are designed as electronic boards or other appropriate programmable and/or information carrying units.
• the device may moreover be executed in a way where the central unit is equipped to communication, e.g. via a cordless connection or cabling, with a mainframe computer located at the respective practice place, optionally at each shooting station in connection e.g. with biathlon, so that the marksman may have a presentation of the captured information i nigh on real time, immediately after each shot or series of shots .
• the central unit is equipped to communication, e.g. via a cordless connection or cabling, with a mainframe computer located at the respective practice place, optionally at each shooting station in connection e.g. with biathlon, so that the marksman may have a presentation of the captured information i nigh on real time, immediately after each shot or series of shots .
• the sight movements are displayed in two dimensions on a suitable display, and that the pertaining pressure force on the trigger is also shown two-dimensionally on the same or a similar monitor, optionally that the sight movements and the pertaining application of force on the trigger be displayed three-dimensionally, e.g. perspectively, stereoscopically or by means of colour coding.
• the device may also comprise a third sensor 9 mounted internally in the central unit or the camera unit, and arranged so as to measure the angle accelerations as a function of the time in two different directions perpendicular to the sight line, for instance horizontally and vertically, and that electronic information concerning the acceleration in these two directions is being processed and stored in the central unit . thereby to detect the position of the sighting point relative to the images in the period of time between the point in time for each image.
• a third sensor 9 mounted internally in the central unit or the camera unit, and arranged so as to measure the angle accelerations as a function of the time in two different directions perpendicular to the sight line, for instance horizontally and vertically, and that electronic information concerning the acceleration in these two directions is being processed and stored in the central unit . thereby to detect the position of the sighting point relative to the images in the period of time between the point in time for each image.
• the objective is thus to gather supplementary information from a two-axis accelerometer for the purpose of increasing the time resolution of the sight movement beyond the time resolution in the image information.
• a standard video camera for instance, will give 50 images per second, which means 50 points for the sight movement per second. If for instance 200 accelerometer measurings are made per second, then the number of points in the sight movement can be increased to 200 per second. It is, however, important to note that the accelerometer measurings in themselves do not provide an absolute position relative to the bull's eye, but only provides the movement of the sighting point between each image. The image information therefore still remains the most important, as it provides the absolute position of the sighting point relative to the bull's eye.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Position Input By Displaying (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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• 1997
  • 1997-09-05 NO NO974094A patent/NO305184B1/no unknown
• 1998
  • 1998-08-25 EP EP98941932A patent/EP1019667A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1998-08-25 AU AU90085/98A patent/AU9008598A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1998-08-25 WO PCT/NO1998/000249 patent/WO1999013286A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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