ES2229943B1 - OPTICAL POSITIONING SYSTEM FOR VIRTUAL SIMULATOR OF SHOOTING GUN FROM THE SHOULDER. - Google Patents

Abstract

Optical positioning system for virtual gun simulator shooting from the shoulder. The object of this Invention Patent Application is a positioning system for virtual gun simulator shooting from the shoulder, whose differentiating elements are a projection screen with active element and a receiver located in the simulated weapon. This system is especially suitable for weapons simulators that do not rest on the ground, and allows reducing both the size and complexity of the simulation equipment, as well as its commissioning time, making it fully portable and compatible with the current mobility of military units

Description

Optical positioning system for simulator virtual gun shooting from the shoulder.

Object of the invention

The present invention patent application It aims at an optical positioning system for virtual gun simulator shooting from the shoulder.

Background of the invention

Currently, there is a trend widespread in all the armed forces of the world, aimed at reduce the training costs of any shooters type of weapon

To this end, the use of based equipment is imposed in computer systems that present virtual targets within a generated environment (image and sound), to which a simulated weapon that allows to perform the normal processes of preparation, aiming and firing of the real weapon.

One of the issues that all these systems they have to solve is to know where the weapon is pointing simulated, and for this several solutions have been developed, which succinctly described as background:

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Cathode ray screen (CRT) and sensor in the simulated weapon. It is based on that, a certain number of times per second (25, 50, 100) the screen image CRT is illuminated by rows of dots -pixels- and is turned off by full. The sensor informs the system of the moment when it illuminates the pixel to which it is pointing, so that the system can Know what pixel it is.

Because of his operating principle, this technique is not applicable to TFT screens (flat screens, projectors, etc.), in which the Image is not illuminated by rows of pixels, but full. Thus, its use is widespread in video games, but it is irrelevant to large projected images.

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Reference to a fixed point in the ground. It is a very reliable system, since it is based on sensors -encoders or potentiometers, for example- placed between the weapon and your support This technique, suitable for simulating weapons that rely on  the ground - for example, those that have a tripod -, It is totally unsuitable for light weapons that fire from the shoulder, to which the existence of a ground support It would take away all realism.

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Passive screen reference. its use is limited to aiming on a point of color in a White screen. Its cost is very economical, but it turns out incompatible with the use of a visual environment realistic.

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Fixed cameras that identify the simulated weapon position based on reference points in it. This system requires modifications to the external appearance of the weapon simulated but, above all, requires the fixed location of a certain number of cameras in the room, which is incompatible with the concept of portability.

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Gyroscopic system, with surroundings external visual This system is very effective and realistic, but it demands the initial identification of a reference point with respect to the presentation screen, and frequent verification of this reference, which returns to the initial problem. Besides, the complexity of the gyroscopic sensors of the necessary precision, It makes its cost very high. On the other hand, it can be a excessive weight, incompatible with a light weapon.

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Gyroscopic system, with surroundings internal visual Also very effective and realistic, demands the implementation of a system that generates the image of the environment within of the weapon's own aiming equipment, which makes it inadequate for small arms, light weapons, or with aiming systems simple.

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Simulated weapon with active emitter and screen with receivers. This system, which is quite reliable, uses an infrared laser emitter in the weapon. Requires an array of receivers located on the screen, which, for getting the right precision makes this element a component very complex and delicate, and therefore difficult to maintain, in addition to very heavy, which greatly limits its portability.

Description of the invention

The solution referred to in this Patent application is based on the use of a screen of projection equipped with at least one emitting element that produces a point of light in the spectrum not visible, coded or not, and that it can be on the surface of the screen itself or outside it, in its vicinity, and a simulated weapon endowed with at least one sensitive receiving device in said non-visible spectrum.

The identification of the point (or points) of light does not visible by the receiving device (or devices) installed in The simulated weapon allows operations to be carried out easily Precise for the most effective simulation.

This solution solves the inconveniences described in the background, since:

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Allows the use of images projected on a large format screen.

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Does not require support in the ground.

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It allows the generation of any complex visual environment, on a screen external to the weapon.

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It does not require the installation of fixed elements in the room.

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No components required excessively expensive or delicate.

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Its start-up is immediate, not requiring careful adjustments.

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All its components are lightweight and robust, compatible with simulation of light weapons and with the basic concept of portability.

Brief description of the figures

At the end of this patent application for Invention the following figures are included:

Figure 1.- General system configuration

Figure 2.- Emitting focus

Figure 3.- Block diagram of the receiver

Figure 4.- Image perceived by the devices sensors

Figure 5.- Coordinate assignment by control logic

In the text, the numbers in square brackets are references to these figures.

Practical realization of the invention

The following is described, although not limited to her, one of the many possible embodiments of the system of positioning for virtual firing weapon simulator from the shoulder referred to in this Patent Application Invention.

This embodiment consists of a screen (1) equipped with an emitting focus (2) located at X and Y coordinates known.

This emitting bulb (2), in turn, is formed by a conventional lamp (3) of the necessary power, housed in a closed receptacle (4), which has only a small hole (5) covered by an infrared filter (6). ). This set generates an infrared light point -not visible- of reduced size-
nes.

On the screen (1) the image is projected -visible- from a conventional projector (7), and generated by a computer equipment (8) that controls the entire system.

A simulated weapon (9) allows the user to perform the same maneuvers and manipulations as with the real weapon; in specifically, the aim is made through its viewfinder (10).

The simulated weapon (9) is equipped with a receiver (11), designed and located so that your presence goes unnoticed Even the shooter.

The angle? Existing between the axis (12) of the viewfinder (10) and the axis (13) of the receiver (11) depends on the design of these, and therefore is known. This angle refers to positions in space though, in order to simplify the illustration, in Figure 1 it has been represented in a single plane.

The receiver (11) is formed by two sensor devices (14.1 and 14.2) of the type of CCD matrices, capable of breaking down the image received in a huge number of pixels. These sensor devices (14.1 and 14.2) are placed orthogonally with each other.

Each of the sensor devices (14.1 and 14.2) has an infrared filter (15.1 and 15.2), and an optical (16.1 and 16.2), which allows the incoming light to be properly focused on the sensitive surface of the sensor. The resulting set is sensitive, exclusively, to infrared light, and the collected image for each of the sensor devices (14.1 or 14.2) it is similar to that represented in Figure 4.

The information collected by each of the sensor devices (14.1 and 14.2) are sent to the logic of control (17), which determines which row the pixel or pixels are in excited by the light coming from the emitting bulb (2). Like both sensor devices (14.1 and 14.2) are placed orthogonally each other, you can assign values to the horizontal coordinates and vertical of the location of the emitting focus (2) within the image perceived (see Figure 5).

The control logic (17), through the interface (18), sends these coordinates to the computer equipment (8). The interface (18) can be both via electric cable and via fiber optic, or via radio.

Finally, the computer equipment (8), which includes the right program, controls the entire system and exploits the information obtained with him.

Functioning

To better explain the operation of the described embodiment, and the possibilities involved, has chosen its application to a gifted weapon, as an aiming element, with a shooting direction that, depending on telemetry done on the target and the follow-up of it for a brief period of time, as well as the entry of other data (type of ammunition, temperature, etc.), calculates and presents to the shooter the point for which you have to aim to impact the White.

Such a weapon is described in the patent. Spanish No. P9201304-X, "Steering System shooting for tense shooting weapon ", registered by the same inventor I present it.

The operating steps are the following:

one)

He emitting bulb (2), placed on the screen (1) or its vicinity, emits a small point of light in the non-visible spectrum.

2)

He projector (7) presents on the screen (1) the image of an environment on which the shooter can use the simulated weapon (9). This image is generated by the computer equipment (8) according to its programming and according to the instructor's orders, and can reproduce any aspect of combat (different landscapes, climates and whites, enemy fire, ...), even sounds, through the adequate equipment

Since the point of light of the emitting bulb (2) is emitted in the spectrum not visible, the shooter does not notice any strange elements in the image of the projected environment, neither with the naked eye nor pointing the weapon simulated (9) through its firing direction (10).

3)

He shooter faces the simulated weapon (9) and, when the target, gives the shooting direction (10) the order to start the tracing. At this time, the system begins a cycle of position reading:

to)

The sensor devices (14.1 and 14.2) receive, through their optics  (16.1 and 16.2) the screen image with the point of light not visible from the emitting bulb (2).

Thanks to infrared filters (15.1 and 15.2) with which they are equipped, the image of the projected environment, which is visible light, is eliminated, not affecting the sensor devices (9.1 and 9.2).

b)

Every sensor (14.1 and 14.2) decomposes the image in pixels and sends the information corresponding to the control logic (17).

C)

The control logic (17) identifies in which row of each sensor it is registered the emitting focus (2).

The values coming from both sensors form the focus coordinates emitter relative to the perceived image.

d)

The control logic sends this information to the computer equipment (8) of the system through the interface (18).

and)

He computer equipment (8), thanks to its programming, knows the X and Y coordinates of the emitting focus (2) with respect to the screen (1), the angle? (between the axes (12 and 13) of the direction of shot (10) and receiver (11).

With this data and the relative coordinates received from the control logic (17), Calculate at what point on the screen (1) the direction is pointing shooting (10).

4)

In function of the screen point (1) to which the direction of shot (10), the computer equipment (8) assigns a distance value to white.

5)

To the end of the target tracking time, another cycle of  position reading.

6)

In function of the distance between the points calculated in 3) and 5), the computer equipment (8) calculates the lateral displacement of the White.

7)

The assigned values of distance and lateral displacement of the target are transmitted to the direction of fire (10).

8)

The shooting direction (5) then calculates the future point by which He has to aim, and shows it to the shooter.

9)

He shooter corrects the aim and presses the trigger. At this time, it Perform another position reading cycle.

10)

In function of the screen point (1) to which the direction of shot (10) when the trigger is pressed, the computer equipment (8) calculate the point of impact of the shot, and display in the screen (1), through the projector (7), a representation of the point of impact including, for example, the destruction of White.

At the same time, informs the instructor of the score obtained and saves it for the final report.

Alternatives

From the description included in this Patent application is immediately deducted two alternatives, both with their advantages and disadvantages:

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Use of more than one focus light emitter in the spectrum not visible.

The utilization of at least two emitting foci, whose coordinates are known, it allows the determination of the angle of edging of the simulated weapon, data that can be taken into account by the control team of the system, bringing more realism to the simulation - very necessary in certain type of weapons (powerful, initial speed not very high, ...).

The utilization of more than a single emitting focus translates into a more complex equipment and heavy, and in higher computing requirements.

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Use of a single Sensitive sensor device in the non-visible spectrum.

The utilization of a single receiving device saves volume in the simulated weapon, which can be critical for weapons with equipment Aim of reduced size.

Your inconvenience is that it goes from counting rows in two CCD sensor devices, to count rows and pixels, even in a single sensor device. This change requires a computing speed of several orders greater, making both the programming and the more complicated necessary equipment ("software" and "hardware"), thus moving away the basic concepts of simplicity and portability team desired

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Coded focus emission Light emitter in is not visible spectrum.

The utilization of an emission encoded in the emitting focus, allows the system identify this emitting focus, differentiating it from other sources of non-visible radiation that may be in its vicinity.

Its use It means a higher computing load.

Claims (7)

1. Positioning system for virtual gun simulator shooting from the shoulder, consisting of a screen, a simulated weapon and a computer system, which is characterized by having a light emitter in the non-visible spectrum, formed by a lamp that emits in non-visible frequency or by a conventional lamp equipped with an infrared filter, and placed on the projection screen or nearby, in a known position. 2. Positioning system for virtual shooting gun simulator from the shoulder, according to claim 1, consisting of a screen, a simulated weapon and a computer system, characterized by having two light emitters in the non-visible spectrum, each formed by a lamp that emits in non-visible frequency or by a conventional lamp equipped with an infrared filter, and placed on the projection screen or in its immediate vicinity, in known positions, to allow to determine the angle of edging of the simulated weapon. 3. Positioning system for virtual gun firing simulator from the shoulder, according to claims 1 or 2, characterized by having two CCD type sensor devices, sensitive to light in the same non-visible spectrum, each formed by a specific receiver or by a conventional receiver equipped with an infrared filter, and placed orthogonally in a simulated weapon. 4. Positioning system for virtual shooting gun simulator from the shoulder, according to claim 3, characterized in that it has a control logic capable of determining in which row of each sensor the pixels are excited by the non-visible light coming from of the issuer. 5. Positioning system for virtual shooting gun simulator from the shoulder, according to claims 1 or 2, characterized by having a sensor device of type CCD, sensitive to light in the same non-visible spectrum, formed by a specific receiver or by a conventional receiver equipped with an infrared filter, and placed in a simulated weapon. 6. Positioning system for virtual shooting gun simulator from the shoulder according to claim 5, characterized in that it has a control logic capable of determining in which row and in which column of the sensor the pixels are excited by light are not visible from the issuer. 7. Positioning system for virtual gun simulator shooting from the shoulder, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emission of the emitter or emitters is encoded, allowing the system to differentiate them from other sources of non-visible light.