Mason Target System

Abstract

The invention relates to a shooting target and method of using the target for electronically determining the shooting position on a shooting target. Said shooting position is determined in a number of ways, including by use of a plurality of accelerometers to determine the impact area and transmit data relating to the impact to a remote receiver for real-time presentation to the shooter. Said method enables the shooting position to be determined by means of relatively economical electronic systems and said shooting target is portable such that the shooter may bring the target to a plurality of firing ranges and locations to convey the same real-time reporting and benefits to the shooter. Said shooting target may be set-up on a standard target stand to wirelessly relay shot impact information to a portable personal computing device to present real-time virtual impact data to the shooter. This data can then be stored and categorized given user-selected inputs and shared with other shooters in an online forum.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 825,987, filed May 21, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 831,594, filed Jun. 5, 2013, both applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to a device for electronic targeting evaluation of shots fired on a shooting range and, more particularly, to a target, target system and method of use for electronic targeting evaluation of shots fired on a shooting range, which has a sensor arrangement for detecting the positions of the hits in the vicinity of the target or targets and a mobile device and receiver to provide real-time feedback of results.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0003]Various target shooting systems exist for analyzing the accuracy of a shooter's shot on a target. The means by which these target shooting systems work vary widely as demonstrated by the patents and appl...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is a portable, wireless target system that interfaces with a personal computing device to provide real-time feedback. The system includes a target that is connected to a stand, and sensors that detect the impact of a projectile strike on the target. The sensors are connected to the target and the personal computing device, and the data is conveyed to the shooter in real-time. The target system can be used in various applications such as competitions, and the target can be a reusable, portable, or foldable item. The system uses vibration sensors that provide a unique vibration signature when impacted by a projectile, and a controller to determine the location of the target impact. The target system is battery powered for portability, and the data can be correlated with other useful information such as location, time, and force of impact.

Problems solved by technology

Other than the standard target shooting equipment, namely a target and a means for projecting a projectile, such as a firearm, the systems disclosed in these patents and applications require some sort of additional, special equipment and lack versatility, portability, the ability to store shot information given a set of user-selected criteria (type of gun, ammo, distance, etc.) and ability to sync multiple shooters with multiple targets, all on a commonly used electronic device such as an iPad.

However, this approach does not eliminate the time to log the hits and additional time is spent waiting for the physical target to be conveyed to the shooter for evaluation.

The computer systems used in existing wireless technology consists of a prohibitively expensive, bulky, steel cased, rugged computer monitor that attaches to a Pelican Case that houses a receiver and large battery.

The case is large and bulky as well.

As with other current systems, the targets are large, cumbersome and employ a special proprietary computer, not a personal mobile device.

The targets system is very bulky and not for portable use.

As with the SIUS system, Ulrich fails to describe a portable system that can be used with standard mobile devices, such as an Android or Apple tablet, smartphone or mobile phone.

The patent does not provide for the location of the strike.

U.S. Patent Application 2011 / 311949 published 22 Dec. 2011 to Preston et al. for Trajectory Simulation System Utilizing Dynamic Target Feedback That Provides Target Position and Movement Area but does not disclose at least a portable target system that may utilize a standard mobile device.

The '117 publication is not portable nor does it allow for real-time feedback to a standard mobile computing device.

However, the target has to face the shooter and may not be accurate with oblique shots.

Further, image processing may be deficient in a non-ideal environment, losing environmental flexibility.

While other target products are available, none solve the portability and ease of use problem.

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