Technical field

The invention relates to a target intended for all types of ranged weapons as well as mechanical ranged weapons, such as a bow or a crossbow for use in competitive shooting sports and also for training military and police forces.

Background Art

Nowadays sport shooters, hunters, policemen and soldiers have a plurality of options when choosing a target.

Most often, paper or metal targets are used in training as well as leisure activities. These targets may be stationary or mechanically movable. A disadvantage of paper targets is that there exists only one graphical representation on one target, for example a picture of a conventional circular target, or a target with an animal or human silhouette on. Such graphical representations are printed directly on a paper target and cannot be changed or modified. With metal targets there is a problem in determining a precise impact of a projectile. In mechanical moving targets, there is a problem with frequent mechanical failures, impracticality and inaccuracy, since the precise location of a projectile impact cannot be read from mechanical targets.

Electronic targets that are able to count a score of shooting by means of a camera and send a result to a mobile device are another option. However, these are either stationary or mechanically moving targets.

Stereotypes of shooting as well as a need to manually replace a target are the disadvantages of these targets.

At training police and military forces, it is very important to achieve the best possible authenticity with real situations, e.g. holding hostages, and the like. The above cited targets provide no such authenticity. Summary of the invention

The aim of the present invention is the projection interactive target that eliminates all the above-mentioned drawbacks and is close to reality in the most authentic manner.

The projection interactive target according to the present invention comprises a principal portion and a target portion, wherein the principal portion further comprises a control and communication unit, having the following attached thereto:

- a projection device for projecting an image on the target portion,

- a sensing device for sensing trajectory of a projectile, projectile hit off the target portion and projectile pierces of the target portion,

- a sensing unit for reading movement of a shooter and or sound made by the shooter,

and where the target portion contains:

- a projection area for capturing a projected image representing the area it is shot on.

Where a projector (video projector, 3D, laser, LCD, CRT, RCA DLP, LCOS, etc.) can be the projection device. The projection device projects a chosen image on the target portion. The image may be initially selected by a user according to a purpose the target is being used for. Hunting scenes for hunters, hostage scenes for police and military forces, etc. Consequently, the image will be selected by the control and communication unit according to a pre-selected algorithm (as explained below).

The image may be a stationary image, animation or a video of a particular object, animal or a person to be hit. The projection device may contain various scenes, e.g. hunting scenes, deer grazing, running deer, deer falling to the ground, or similar hostage scenes: a terrorist holding a hostage, a terrorist falling to the ground, a terrorist shooting at a hostage. There is an advantage that projected images may vary and they may be adapted to users’ needs and requirements.

A camera or a photographic camera can be the sensing device. The sensing device captures a projectile path as well as projectile piercing the target portion, the image is projected to. The sensing device sends an image to the control and communication unit that compares the image to the projected image at the time of the target hit. After the hit the control and communication unit changes the image of the projection device according to the appropriate algorithm. For example a hunting scene: the projection device projects grazing deer in the woods on the target portion. If the hunter shoots at the target portion, the sensing device captures and sends information into the control and communication unit, which evaluates it and appropriately changes the image projected by the projection device. If the hunter hits vital organs, the deer falls dead in the animation. If the hunter fails to hit the vital organs, the deer flees.

A motion sensor and/or a sound sensor - a microphone for sensing the shooter’s movement and for capturing noise level emitted by the shooter may be the sensing unit. When the sensor switches on, the control and communication unit changes the image of the projection device according to the appropriate algorithm. For example a video for hunters: the projection device projects deer grazing in the woods on the target portion. The deer moves, looking around. When the sensing unit captures a sharp motion or noise over a certain level, the deer stampedes and runs away.

That provides interactivity between behaviour of the shooter and behaviour of animals/people displayed on the target portion. Using the projection interactive target according to the present invention the most accurate conditions of shooting can be created and a hunter can be prepared for realistic hunting or a policeman or a soldier for an authentic hostage situation.

The target portion contains projection surface, which may be formed for example by a single colour metal surface in the form of a metal plate or a metal foil. The projection surface may also be a canvas or paper or another flat surface, preferably in white colour. The metal foil, canvas or paper may be stretched between two rotary cylinders, they are wound on. The target portion may further comprise a motor for rotating cylinders that wind a damaged portion of the projection surface onto the second rotary cylinder replacing it with an undamaged projection surface from the first rotary cylinder. According to a preferred embodiment the sensing device for capturing projectile path and hit may be positioned on the target portion. The sensing device consists of a series of photoelectric, optical or laser transmitters and sensors positioned in a frame of the projection surface of the target portion. Said transmitters and sensors are placed in the frame so that they form an optical network directly in front of the projection surface. A layout of the transmitters and sensors in the frame has to such that the individual meshes of the net are smaller than the calibre of the used projectile. According to a preferred embodiment gaps between two adjacent transmitters/sensors are smaller than 5.6 mm, corresponding to .22 calibre. In general, intervals between two adjacent transmitters may be in the range of 5-100 m m .

The projection device projects the image on the projection surface of the target portion (e.g. grazing deer). When a shooter shoots the projectile intersects the optical network arranged in front of the surface in a certain point. The control and communication unit records the precise position of the projectile impact by means of decreasing transmission intensity received by particular sensors and compares it with the position of the projected image. According to the mutual position of the projectile impact and projected image the control and communication unit evaluates the situation and sends a signal to the projection device that reacts in accordance with a pre-selected scenario. If a vital organ is hit, the animal falls, otherwise it flees.

In a preferred embodiment the projecting and sensing device may form a single integral unit.

The principal portion may further contain a loudspeaker - an audio device that may be part of the projection device or a separate unit, for reproducing an audio track belonging to the projected image.

The principal portion is preferably provided with an outer casing made of a shot-proof material, such as a combination of a shot-proof glass and metal.

The principal portion may further preferably comprise an output for a network cable, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth for sending information from the control and communication unit to an external device, which may be e.g. mobile telephone, PC, server or another electronic device, where results of shooting are displayed and through which it is possible to control, set and operate the projection interactive target. Alternatively, the principal portion may contain a control panel for operating the projection interactive target. Said panel can be a touch panel or mechanical one.

The principal portion can be powered either by a battery or directly from the electric power network.

The principal portion may contain means for stabilization, e.g. in the form of legs or means for fixing into ceiling or wall.

According to a preferred embodiment one or multiple client stations can be connected to one control and communication unit. Where each client station contains a projection device, sensing device and sensing unit, or also a speaker. Each client station includes a separate target portion.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 a represents a principal portion of the projection interactive target in a separate version.

Figure 1 b represents a target portion of the projection interactive target.

Figure 2 represents the projection interactive target in a server client-station version. Fig. 3 represents a target portion of the projection interactive target provided with transmitters and sensors.

Detailed description of the invention

Example 1 :

A principal portion of the projection interactive target as shown on figure 1 a consists of a control and communication unit 3, provided with a control panel 6, Wi- Fi/Bluetooth transmitter/receiver 1_1_, output to a network cable 18, cooling 12, power source 5 and an output for connection to the electric power network 8. Further connected to the control unit 3 is a projection device 1 - a projector for projecting image onto a projection surface 15 depicted on Fig. 1 b, a sensing device 2 - a camera for capturing trajectory and a projectile hit into a target portion depicted on Fig. 1 b, a sensing unit 4 - a camera capturing motion of a shooter and a microphone 19 for capturing sound made by a shooter and a loudspeaker 3 for playing sound belonging to the projected image. Connections between individual parts are marked by arrowed lines. Connections can be made by means of cables or Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connection.

The entire principal portion is enclosed in a casing 9 consisting of shot-proof iron with respective opening for sensors filled with shot-proof glass 7.

The principal portion is further provided with stabilization means, such as legs 14 or means 0 for fixing into a ceiling.

Example 2

A target portion as illustrated on Figure 1 b contains a frame 20 having two rotary cylinders arranged on - the first rotary cylinder 16a and the second rotary cylinder 16b, white paper is stretched between forming a projection surface 15 the image from the projection device 1 is projected on, as depicted on Fig. 1 a. The white paper is wound on the first rotary cylinder 16a and passes to the second rotary cylinder 16b. The target portion is further provided with a motor for winding the paper from the first rotary cylinder to the second one. After shooting the damaged part of paper forming a projection surface 15 is wound onto the second rotary cylinder 16b by means of a motor 17 and the projection surface 15 is again formed by an undamaged paper unwound from the first cylinder 16a.

The target portion further contains means for connecting to the control and communication unit 3 (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth) for controlling the motor T7 to wind up the projection surface.

Example 3: A projection interactive target having two client stations as depicted on Fig. 2 contains one control and communication unit 3 provided with a control panel 6, Wi- Fi/Bluetooth transmitter/receiver 1_1_, an output to a network cable 1_8, a cooling 12, a power supply 5 and an output for connection to the electric power network 8. Two separate client stations are connected to the control unit, wherein each client station contains: a projection device 1 and sensing device 2 both oriented towards the projection surface 5 and a sensing unit 4 oriented towards a shooter, a loudspeaker 13 and a microphone 19.

Each client station has a respective target portion. The target portion is identical with the one described on figure 1 b.

Example 4

A target portion as represented on Fig. 3 contains a frame 20 having two rotary cylinders 16a and 16b arranged on, having white paper forming a projection surface 15 stretched between them. The target portion is further provided with a motor T7 for winding paper between the cylinders. Transmitters 2 and sensors 22 are positioned in the frame at regular intervals of 22 mm so that each transmitter has a corresponding sensor positioned at the opposite part of the frame, and transmitters and sensors are arranged so that they form an optical network over/in front of the projection surface 15.

List of reference signs:

1 - Projection device

2 - Sensing device

3 - Control and communication unit

4 - Sensing unit

5 - Power supply

6 - Control panel

7 - Shot-proof glass

8 - Output for connection to electric power network

9 - Casing

10 - Ceiling mounting means

11 - Wi-Fi/Bluetooth transmitter/receiver

12 - Cooling

13 - Loudspeaker

14 - Adjustable feet

15 - Projection surface

16a - First rotary cylinder

16b - Second rotary cylinder

17 - Motor

18 - Output to network cable

19 - Microphone

20 - Frame

21 - Transmitters

22 - Sensors