Weapon Simulator Frame Tagging for Assignment Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing weapon simulators, the association between a light spot on the projection surface and the corresponding simulation input device can be lost, requiring quick restoration, which complicates evaluation and often necessitates high-performance evaluation devices.

Innovation Solution

A method is introduced where each frame captured by the camera is assigned a unique identifier through a tag with variable properties, allowing for delayed evaluation and enabling the use of less expensive evaluation devices, by synchronizing the generation of tags and light points with frame transmission and using an additional projection source to create distinguishable tags for each frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the association between light spots and simulation input devices is maintained through continuous evaluation, then the assignment accuracy is improved, but the evaluation device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassignment accuracyVSAvoidevaluation device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding unique identifiers (tags) into each frame before evaluation occurs. These tags contain information about the temporal and spatial relationship between light spots and simulation input devices, allowing the evaluation device to accurately assign light spots to devices without requiring complex real-time processing or high-performance hardware. The identification information is prepared in advance, simplifying the evaluation task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces tags as an intermediary element that mediates between the light spots generated by simulation input devices and the evaluation device. These tags carry identification information that bridges the gap between the optical signals and their source devices, enabling accurate assignment without requiring the evaluation device to perform complex real-time tracking or association algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If frame evaluation is performed immediately after transmission, then the assignment accuracy is improved, but the loss of time increases due to prioritization requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassignment accuracyVSAvoidevaluation time delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding unique identifiers (tags) into each frame before evaluation occurs. These tags contain information about the temporal and spatial relationship between light spots and simulation input devices, allowing the evaluation device to accurately assign light spots to devices without requiring complex real-time processing or high-performance hardware. The identification information is prepared in advance, simplifying the evaluation task.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If high-performance evaluation devices are used for immediate frame evaluation, then the assignment accuracy is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassignment accuracyVSAvoidhardware cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces tags as an intermediary element that mediates between the light spots generated by simulation input devices and the evaluation device. These tags carry identification information that bridges the gap between the optical signals and their source devices, enabling accurate assignment without requiring the evaluation device to perform complex real-time tracking or association algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive tags with embedded identification information as disposable markers in the optical stream. These tags are simple to generate and process, allowing standard, low-cost evaluation devices to achieve accurate light spot assignment without requiring expensive high-performance hardware. The tags are transient optical elements that serve their purpose and are discarded.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This method allows for rapid and efficient assignment of light points to simulation input devices, even after a time interval, using standard computing devices, without the need for immediate evaluation, thus simplifying the evaluation process and reducing hardware requirements.

Implementation Method 1

an additional projection source, which is not a simulation input device and which generates a tag with a tag property on the projection surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission from projection source: Light

Implementation Method 2

the content of the projection surface, including the light points generated by the simulation input devices on the projection surface, is continuously captured by a camera and transmitted using successive frames

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric conversion: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

These typically have a device (for example a laser source with appropriate optics) which generates a point of light on the projection surface at the location targeted by the simulation input device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLaser beam generation: Laser

Data Source

PatentEP4286787A1Method for operating a weapon simulator, and weapon simulator
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 THALES MANAGEMENT & SERVICES DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
  • EP4286787A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4286787A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4286787A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Weapon simulator (10), comprising a plurality of simulation input devices (16), a projection surface (12) onto which the simulation input devices (16) can be aimed, so that a light point (18) is temporarily generated at the point on the projection surface (12) targeted by a simulation input device (16), with a camera (22) which continuously captures the content of the projection surface (12) including the light points (18) on the basis of successive frames, and with an image evaluation device (24) which evaluates the content captured by the camera (22), characterized in that it comprises an additional projection source (26) which is not a simulation input device (16) and which generates a tag (28) with a tag property on the projection surface (12), wherein at least within a plurality of frames the tag (28) has a first tag property for a first frame and a second tag property for a second frame,where the first tag property differs from the second tag property.