GB2156054A

GB2156054A - Target ranges

Info

Publication number: GB2156054A
Application number: GB08505845A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hermann Detiker; James Robert Shrubsall
Original assignee: Polytronic AG
Current assignee: Polytronic AG
Priority date: 1984-03-16
Filing date: 1985-03-07
Publication date: 1985-10-02
Also published as: GB2156054B; BE901945A; CH665901A5; DE3507400A1; GB8505845D0

Abstract

A picture-projection shooting system comprises a light source 2 arranged behind a target 1 in operative connection with a control arrangement 3 that, after the firing of a shot, switches on the light source 2 for making the bullet hole visible as well as switching the picture-projection apparatus 4 over to still-film picture, with a resetting signal transmitter 5 connected with the control arrangement 3 in order to switch off the light source 2 and switch the picture-projection apparatus 4 back to normal picture projection after evaluation of the shot has taken place. The picture signal of the picture-projection apparatus 4 is transmitted to a first input 9 of a mixer stage 10 of an electronic evaluation apparatus 12, of which the second input 11 is connected with a video camera 13 that films the light permeating the bullet hole, whereby the signal spectrum of the mixer stage 13 is capable of being fed to a monitor 14. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Picture-projection shooting system The present invention relates to a pictureprojection shooting system with a pictureprojection apparatus and a screen picture target.

Systems of this kind are known under the name shooting cinema, and serve the simulation of variable instantaneous situations for a practice-orientated training shooting by sportsmen, huntsmen, organizations for the maintenance of law and order, and the like.

A disadvantage of such systems is the difficulty of discerning the hits, for here as a rule a treated rubber target with a projection screen coating is employed that, although it closes after each penetration, this point of penetration is then also only badly recognizable by colour to the projection screen coating.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a picture-projection shooting system which permits first of all a clear visual recognition of hits.

This is accomplished according to invention in that a light source is arranged behind a target which permits the bullet hole to remain, which light source is in operative connection with a control arrangement that, after the firing of a shot, switches on the light source for making the bullet hole visible as well as switching the picture-projection apparatus over to still-film picture, with a resetting signal being connected with the control arrangement in order to at least switch off the light source and switch the picture-projection apparatus back to normal picture projection after evaluation of the shot has taken place.

Through these measures it is now not only possible to make the point of impact clearly discernable by the there appearing light spot, but also these measures already permit an automation to pass, which, with the firing of the shot, influences the picture-projection apparatus in a manner assisting the evaluation of the hit.

For this the control arrangement can be in operative connection with an acoustic shot detector.

In order then to close the bullet hole after evaluation, it is advantageous for the control arrangement to be connected with a motor drive of a projection sheet that is guided round in several layers one behind the other on the target in order to effect a displacement of the projection sheet to screen off the bullet hole after evaluation of the shot has taken place.

A complete automatic evaluation of hits can then be accomplished when the picture signal of the picture-projection apparatus is transmitted directly or indirectly to a first input of a mixer stage of an electronic evaluation apparatus, of which the second input is connected with a video camera that films the light of the light source permeating the bullet hole, whereby the signal spectrum of the mixer stage is capable of being fed to at least one monitor. For this the light source should have a stronger light intensity in comparison with that of the surroundings and of advantage when this works in UV- or IR- wave range.

Alternatively, the picture projection-apparatus can comprise, moreover, a video projector of which the picture-signal source and/or symbol-picture generator supplies simultaneously the picture signal for the first imput of the mixer stage or comprises a film or slide projector, of which the picture signals are capable of being taken via the projection picture of the target by a further video camera, and from there they are capable of being fed to the first input of the mixer stage.

A picture-projection shooting system developed in such manner may then be further optimalized and universalized by the mixer stage being connected with an additional video camera taking the shooter, and it is of advantage when a processor and/or printer is, in addition, assigned to the evaluation apparatus.

Thus, from these measures there results a picture-projection shooting system that permits, regardless of the choice of picture-projection means, an optimum, fully-automatic hit evaluation as well as the utilization of all film, slide and video techniques.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the picture-projection shooting system; and Figure 2 is a variant embodiment of the picture-projection shooting system shown in diagrammatic plan view. The picture-projection shooting system according to Fig. 1 comprises first of all a target 1 which permits a bullet hole to remain, behind which target a light source 2 is arranged. This light source 2 is in operative connection with a control arrangement 3 via a supply lead 2' which, after the firing of a shot, switches on the source of light for making the bullet hole visible.Furthermore, the shooting system is equipped with a picture-projection apparatus 4 which projects changing picture images onto the target, said images simulating as a rule realistic target objects. At the firing of the shot, the control arrangement 3, also connected with the picture-projecting apparatus 4, can thereby switch over to still-film picture.

Such a fundamental conception of the picture-projection shooting system according to invention already permits a visual evaluation of hits at a high recognition level.

For switching off the light source 2 as well as switching back the picture-projection apparatus 4 to normal picture projection after evaluation of the shot has taken place, a resetting signal transmitter 5 connected with the control arrangement 3 by way of a supply lead 25 is used.

For the control of the last-mentioned control arrangement 3 at the firing of a shot, various arrangements are possible. An acoustic shot detector connected directly with the control arrangement 3 via the supply lead 6' has, however, proved functional.

Furthermore, the control arrangement 3 is connected via a control supply lead 7' with a motor drive 7 of a projection screen sheet 8 which is guided in several layers one behind the other round rollers 8' on the target 1, in order to effect a displacement of the projection screen sheet by an amount sufficient to conceai the bullet hole after evaluation of the shot has been carried out.

For a visually optimum recognition of the bullet hole, the light source 2 should have a stronger light intensity in comparison with that of the surroundings. In this connection the source of light can work in visible or invisible wave range.

Onto such a picture-projection shooting system as previously described, fully automatic electronic hit evaluators may be added, for which the picture signals of the picture-projection apparatus 4 are transmitted directly or indirectly to a first input 9 of a mixer stage 10 of an electronic evaluation arrangement 1 2.

This mixer stage 10 possesses, moreover, a second input 11 which is connected via a supply lead 11' with a video camera 1 3 that films the light of the light source 2 permeating through the bullet hole. On the output side, this mixer stage 10 is then connected via a connection 14' with at least one monitor 14, onto which, then, the heterodyne signal of the projected picture and light spot of the hit appears.

It is of advantage with such an arrangement for the mixer stage 10 to be controlled by way of a supply lead 35 also from the resetting signal transmitter 5 and put in a clearing function after evaluation of the shot has been made.

Such picture-projection shooting system according to invention can, however, be further enlarged by the mixer stage 10 being connected to another video camera 1 8 which, for example, films the shooter, whose picture can appear, then, on the monitor 14 in place of a name put in manually.

Further, for the optimalization of the system, a processor 1 9 for the pre-programming and input of the shooter data, as well as a printer 20 can be added to the evaluation arrangement 1 2 in order to be able to digitize, store and print the picture signal.

In addition to this, all techniques of the computerization can find usage here.

Fig. 1 shows an initial embodiment of the picture-projection shooting system according to invention with a previously-mentioned picture-projection apparatus 4 which comprises here a video projector 4', the picture-signal source 15 thereof being connected on the one side with the control arrangement 3 via a supply lead 15', and on the other side with the first input 9 of the mixer stage 10 via supply lead 9'. The picture-signal source 15 can be, then, a conventional apparatus with cassettes, discs and the like as image carrier.

A symbol-picture generator 1 7 can be, moreover, inserted parallel to the picture-signal source 15, which increases the possibilities of a multiform picture projection on the target further.

By way of comparison with that of the embodiment according to Fig. 1, the pictureprojection arrangement 4 of the picture projection shooting system can comprise in conformity with Fig. 2 a film or slide projector 44. The projected picture signals of the projector 44 on the target 1 are here, then, filmed by another video camera 1 6 and from there fed to the first input 9 of the mixer stage 10 by means of a supply lead 16'.

Whereas here the additional video camera 1 6 is suitable for taking the projected actual picture, the first-mentioned video camera 1 3 is, in the two embodiment variants, so set that it takes only the light permeating the bullet hole.

The system can be further compieted by the addition of a reaction-time apparatus, with the timing taking place by means of a digital stop watch, which stops with the registration of the shot by the shot detector, which values are also evaluable.

Thus, from the foregoing there results a picture-projection shooting system that suffices all requirements, in particuiar of a fullyautomatic electronic hit evaluation.

Claims

1. Picture-projection shooting system with a picture-projection apparatus comprising a light source (2) arranged behind a target (1) that permits a bullet hole to remain open, which light source is in operative connection with a control arrangement (3) that, after the firing of a shot, switches on the light source (2) to make the bullet hole visible as well as switching the picture-projection apparatus (2) over to still-film picture, with a resetting signal transmitter (5) connected with the control arrangement (3) in order to at least switch off the light source (2) and switch the pictureprojection apparatus (2) back to normal picture projection after evaluation of the shot has taken place.

2. Picture-projection shooting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control arrangement (3) is in operating connection with an acoustic shot detector (6).

3. Picture-projection shooting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control arrangement (3) is connected with a motor drive (7) of a projection sheet (8) which is guided round in several layers one behind the other on the target (1) in order to effect a displacement of the projection screen sheet (8) to screen off the bullet hole after evaluation of the shot has taken place.

4. Picture-projection shooting system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the picture signal of the picture-projection apparatus (4) is transmitted directly or indirectly to a first input (9) of a mixer stage (10) of an electronic evaluation apparatus (12), of which the second input (11) is connected with a video camera (13) that films the light of the light source (2) permeating the bullet hole, whereby the signal spectrum of the mixer stage (10) is capable of being fed to at least one monitor (14).

6. Picture-projection shooting system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the picture-projection apparatus (4) comprises a video projector (4'), of which the picture-signal source (15) and/or symbol-picture generator (1 7) supplies simultaneously the picture signal for the first input (9) of the mixer stage (10).

7. Picture-projection shooting system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the picture-projection apparatus (4) comprises a film or slide projector (44), of which the picture signals are capable of being taken by a further video camera (16) via the projection picture of the target (1), and from there they are capable of being fed to the first input (9) of the mixer stage (10).

8. Picture-projection shooting system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the mixer stage (10) is connected with an additional video camera (18) for taking pictures of the shooter.

9. Picture-projection shooting system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the evaluation apparatus (12) is assigned a processor (1 9) and/or printer (20).

10. Picture-projection shooting system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the light source (2) works in UV- or IR-wave range.

11. Picture-projection shooting system as claimed in claims 1 through 10, being substantially described as hereinbefore with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.