DESC:FORM 2

THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENT RULES, 2003

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10 and Rule 13)

Title of invention:
AN ELECTRONIC TARGET SYSTEM AND AN ELECTRONIC TARGET SCORING METHOD THEREOF

APPLICANT:
CEREBLE PRIVATE LIMITED
An Indian Entity having address as:
S. No. 65, Plot No. 74, Abhinav Society,
Padmavati, Pune – 411009, Maharashtra, India.

The following specification describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS AND PRIORITY
The present application claims priority from an Indian Patent Application having application number 202121012498, filed on March 23, 2021, incorporated herein by a reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to the field of rifle/pistol shooting training. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an electronic target system and an electronic target scoring method thereof. More precisely, the present subject matter discloses an electronic target system for rifle/pistol shooting training using laser beam detection technology and an electronic target scoring method based on the electronic target system.
BACKGROUND
The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to implementations of the claimed technology.
Conventionally, a laser rifle/pistol shooting training system comprises a rifle, a camera or a plurality of sensors, a laser source, processing means, and an electronic target. The electronic target further comprises the plurality of sensors to identify the position of laser shot thereupon from the laser source. The rifle training system enables a shooter to practice a shot placement and identify a score corresponding to the placement of the shot. Further, this shot is generated by firing a laser rifle onto the electronic target, and the placement of the shot is calculated using a combination of algorithms and onboard electronics. The electronic target comprises of various sensors or similar means to capture the incoming laser beam from the rifle or pistol or any other laser weapon to detect the shot.
As known in the art, a laser target scoring system may comprise a target disc equipped with multiple scoring rings that may further be equipped with at least one illumination sensor. This illumination sensor may be configured for acquiring laser gun shots from the laser intensity on scoring ring. Further, the laser intensity may be compared with a preset value by a controller or a processor. The target ring number of the illumination sensor corresponding to the laser intensity may be sent to a second controller or processor through a wireless communication module which may be used to display or broadcast the target score.
However, as seen in the prior arts of the electronic laser targets, the main deliverable of the score is completely decided on the basis of accuracy of the detection of the shot. But, this accuracy is prone to error due to the ambient or environmental light noise sensed by the laser/light sensors in the electronic target system. Thus, resulting in incorrect scores, which may inadvertently affect the training of the shooter.
Furthermore, an external source of light is used to lit-up the electronic target, requiring more infrastructure and introducing additional light noise into the sensors. This makes the electronic target system less portable and inaccurate.
Consequently, there is a long-standing need of an electronic target system for detecting the shot and calculating the score with extreme accuracy and precision. There is a further need of a colourful back-lit electronic target that allows the laser light to pass through without compromising the accuracy of the system.
SUMMARY
This summary is provided to introduce the concepts related to an electronic target system for rifle/pistol shooting training using laser beam detection technology and an electronic target scoring method based on the electronic target system. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor it is intended to use in determining or limiting the scope of claimed subject matter.
In an embodiment, an electronic target system comprises a housing, an array of light sensors, LEDs, and connection ports. Further, the array of light sensors is configured to detect a laser beam from a laser weapon, a pistol or a rifle or the like, incident thereon. Further, each light sensor of the array of light sensors is configured to filter the environmental light noise based on an individual threshold value. The electronic target system is further configured to determine the position of the shot with an accuracy of ± 0.3 mm based upon the detection of the intensity of the laser beam incident on each light sensor of the array of light sensors. Furthermore, the electronic target system is configured to calculate a score based upon the position of the shot detected and transmit the score over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
In another embodiment, an electronic target scoring method to determine a shooting score using the electronic target system comprises the steps of: system boot up; setting an individual threshold for each light sensor of an array of light sensors for filtering out the environmental light noise; filtering the environmental light noise and the noise generated by the back-lit mechanism; capturing the position of the laser beam shot onto the array of light sensors; calculating the position of the laser beam shot based upon the detection of the intensity of laser beam on each light sensor of the array of light sensors; calculating a score based on the position of the laser beam shot; and transmitting the score to a user device or a cloud server or the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the Figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the Figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer like features and components.
Figure 1 illustrates an electronic target system 100 in an isometric exploded view, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.
Figure 2 illustrates an electronic target system 200 in a side exploded view, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.
Figure 3 illustrates a coverage view 300 of the array of light sensors of the electronic target system, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.
Figure 4 illustrates an electronic target scoring method 400, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.
Figure 5 illustrates an electronic target system 500, in accordance with an embodiment of a present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Reference throughout the specification to “various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in various embodiments,” “in some embodiments,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” in places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. The words like “laser beam shot” may be used interchangeably with the words “laser beam” in the present disclosure.
The present subject matter described herein, in general, relates to an electronic target system for rifle/pistol shooting training using laser beam detection technology and an electronic target scoring method based on the electronic target system. The electronic target system comprises a housing, an array of light sensors configured to detect a laser beam from a laser weapon, LEDs, and connection ports. The array of light sensors is further configured to filter the environmental light noise. The electronic target system determines the position of the shot with an accuracy of ± 0.3 mm based upon the detection of the intensity of the laser beam incident on each light sensor of the array of light sensors, calculates a score based upon the position of the shot detected, and transmits the score over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Further, an electronic target scoring method determines a shooting score by capturing the position of the laser beam shot onto the array of light sensors; calculating the position of the laser beam shot based upon the detection of the intensity of laser beam on each light sensor of the array of light sensors; and calculating the score based on the position of the laser beam shot.
Hereinafter, an electronic target system for rifle/pistol shooting training using laser beam detection technology and an electronic target scoring method based on the electronic target system, according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In one embodiment, referring to Figure 1, an electronic target system 100 comprises a translucent cover 101, a translucent sheet 102, a processing means 103, an array of light sensors 104, a plurality of connection ports 105, a base plate 106, a housing 107 with a plurality of slots 108 for the connection ports 105, and LEDs 201 (shown in figure 2). Further, the translucent cover 101 is a clear or semi-transparent cover made of a material like glass or acrylic or the like. The translucent sheet 102 is an acrylic sheet comprising engraving on the bottom side. The processing means 103 is a processor or a controller like means for performing the analysis of the captured light data and for commanding and controlling the operation of the electronic target system 100. Furthermore, the array of light sensors 104 is configured to detect the laser beam shot 207 (shown in figure 2) from a laser weapon (for example, a laser pistol or a laser rifle or the like) incident on the translucent cover 101. Each light sensor of the array of light sensors 104 is configured to filter the environmental light noise and the light noise from the LEDs 201, based on an individual predefined threshold value. The electronic target system 100 further determines the position of the laser beam shot 207 with an accuracy of ± 0.3 mm, based upon the detection of the intensity of the laser beam 207 incident on each light sensor of the array of light sensors 104. Further, the electronic target system 100 is configured to calculate a shooting/target score based upon the position of the laser beam shot 207 detected and transmit the score over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a user device or the likes.
In another embodiment, as illustrated in Figure 2 in a side exploded view, an electronic target system 200 comprises the translucent cover 101, the translucent sheet 102 comprising an internal reflection region 202 and an engraved layer 203 on the bottom side, the array of light sensors 104, the base plate 106, LEDs 201, a painted paper layer 205, a laser impinging area 206, and a laser beam or laser beam shot 207. Further, electronic target system 200 may also comprise an optional paint layer 204 between the translucent sheet 102 and the painted paper layer 205. The base plate 106 may be a printed circuit board (PCB) or any circuit plate configured to accommodate all the electronic components like the array of light sensors 104, the processing means 103 or the like. Further, the array of light sensors 104 detects the laser beam shot 207 fired from a laser weapon (for example, a laser pistol or a laser rifle or the like) incident on the translucent cover 101 on the laser impinging area 206. Each light sensor of the array of light sensors 104 filters the environmental light noise and the light noise from the LEDs 201, based on an individual predefined threshold value of up to 40000 Lux. The electronic target system 100 further determines the position of the laser beam shot 207 with an accuracy of ± 0.3 mm using the embedded algorithm/software in the processing means 103, based upon the detection of the intensity of the laser beam 207 incident on each light sensor of the array of light sensors 104. Further, the processing means calculates a shooting/target score based upon the position of the laser beam shot 207 detected and transmits the score wirelessly over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a user device or the likes.
Now, referring to Figure 3, which illustrates a coverage view 300 of the array of light sensors 104 of the electronic target system 100, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The coverage view 300 illustrates the coverage region of the array of light sensors 104. The array of light sensors 104 occupies a block space of approximately 18.0625 mm2 (4.25 mm x 4.25 mm). Further, the analog to digital converter has a resolution of 12 Bit (212 = 4096) which means that the laser intensity on each of the light sensors of the array of light sensors 104 may be divided into 4096 values i.e., 4.25 mm can theoretically be divided into 4096 values. Thus, 4.25 ÷ 4096 = 0.0010376 mm, is the theoretical accuracy of the electronic target system 100. However, considering various factors such as surrounding light, light from LEDs 201, laser beam 207 dispersion, etc., the accuracy of the detection of the laser beam shot 207 is ? 0.3 mm.
In another embodiment, referring to Figure 4, an electronic target scoring method 400 based on the electronic target system 100 is illustrated. The electronic target scoring method 400 comprises the steps of: system boot up 401; setting 402 an individual threshold for each light sensor; filtering 403 the environmental light noise; capturing 404 the position of the laser beam shot 207; calculating 405 the position of the laser beam shot 207; calculating 406 a score based on the position of the laser beam shot; and transmitting 407 the score to a user device. The electronic target scoring method 400 may be a computer-readable program or an algorithm embedded in the processing means 103 which may comprise a memory for storage of such program or algorithm.
At step 401, the electronic target method starts with the system boot up that starts/wakes the electronic target system 100 and then proceeds to step 402 for setting an individual threshold value for each light sensor of the array of light sensors 104 for filtering out the environmental light noise. The environmental light noise may be a light noise from outside the electronic target system 100 or from internal components like LEDs 201. The processing means 103 performs the assessment of the environmental light noise in real-time and based on the same, assigns individual threshold to each sensor of the array of light sensors 104.
At step 403, the processing means 103 filters the environmental light noise by using physical filters, and the light escaping the physical filters is filtered using the software/algorithm embedded in the processing means 103.
At step 404, the processing means 103 captures the position of the laser beam shot 207 onto the array of light sensors 104 in the electronic target system 100, wherein the laser beam shot 207 is created by the emitted laser beam from the laser weapon and incident onto the black diameter 501 (shown in figure 5) or the surrounding area that covers the target size of the electronic target system 100 on the translucent cover 101.
At step 405, the processing means 103 calculates the exact position of the laser beam shot 207 formed on the translucent cover 101 based upon the detection of the intensity of laser beam 207 on each light sensor of the array of light sensors 104 with an accuracy of ± 0.3 mm.
At step 406, the processing means 103 calculates a shooting/target score based upon the detected position of the laser beam shot 207 on the translucent cover 101 of the electronic target system 100.
At step 407, the processing means 103 transmits the calculated score to a user device (for example, a mobile device, a display device, a cloud server or the like) wirelessly over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or the like.
Further, in an embodiment referring to Figure 5 with Figures 1, 2 and 3, an electronic target system 500, analogous to the electronic target system 100 comprising a black diameter or target spot 501 is shown. The LEDs 201 are RGB LEDs with sun resistance up to 40000 Lux configured to irradiate the translucent sheet 102 which further comprises an internal reflection region 202 for homogeneous illumination. The LEDs 201 may be coloured LEDs with unique colour illumination for different score ranges.. The black diameter 501 has diameter ranging from 30.5 mm to 59.5 mm depending on the type of laser weapon (rifle or pistol) used for target shooting. The area for laser beam shot 207 detection is 17 mm x 17 mm. Further, the recommended diameter for the incident laser beam 207 is larger than 5 mm. The shot detection accuracy of the electronic target system 500 is ± 0.3 mm. The laser wavelength is between the range 640-660 nm and the operating temperature range for the electronic target system 500 is from 10°C to 42°C. The connection ports 105 are USB type C ports configured to be used for powering the electronic target system 500, powering the LEDs 201, and for connectivity to other devices or storage for updates or installing new program functionalities. Further, the processing means 103 is a 32-bit ARM Cortex M0+ processor. The power supply needed to operate the electronic target system 500 is 5 V DC (2 Amps). The electronic target system 500 supports target shooting modules including 5/10 m rifle, 5/10 m pistol, pentathlon laser run, or the like.
The embodiments illustrated above, especially related to the electronic target system and electronic target scoring method used for shooting training provides following technical advancements over the conventional form of training:
• Better performance tracking and review of the shooter.
• Seamless wireless connectivity with a user device or a cloud server via a mobile application.
Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments illustrated but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
The foregoing description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense. A person of ordinary skill in the art would understand that certain modifications could come within the scope of this disclosure.
The embodiments, examples and alternatives of the preceding paragraphs or the description and drawings, including any of their various aspects or respective individual feature(s), may be taken independently or in any combination. Features described in connection with one embodiment are applicable to all embodiments unless such features are incompatible.

,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. An electronic target system (100) comprising:
a translucent cover (101);
a translucent sheet (102) placed beneath the translucent cover (101);
a base plate (106) configured to accommodate an array of light sensors (104), a processing means (103), and a plurality of connection ports (105);
a housing (107);
LEDs (201) configured to illuminate the translucent sheet (102);
characterized in that
the array of light sensors (104) is configured to filter the environmental light by comparison with a predefined threshold value, wherein the array of light sensors (104) detects and captures the position of a laser beam shot (207) incident on the translucent cover (101); and
the processing means (103) is configured to calculate the position of the laser beam shot (207) incident on the translucent cover (101), wherein the processing means (103) is configured to calculate a score based on the detected position of the laser beam shot (207) incident on the translucent cover (101), wherein the processing means (103) transmits the calculated score to a user device.

2. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the translucent cover (101) is a clear or a semi-transparent cover made of glass or acrylic material or the like.

3. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the translucent sheet (102) is an acrylic sheet comprising an engraving on the bottom side, wherein the translucent sheet (102) comprises an internal reflection region (202) configured for homogeneous illumination of the translucent sheet (102).

4. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the engraving on the bottom side of the translucent sheet (102) is an engraved layer.

5. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic target system (100) comprises an optional paint layer (204) between the translucent sheet (102) and the painted paper layer (205).

6. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the base plate (106) is a printed circuit board or any circuit plate configured to accommodate the electronic components including the array of light sensors (104), the processing means (103), the plurality of connection ports (105) or the like.

7. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (107) made with anodized aluminium.

8. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connection ports (105) are USB type C ports for powering the electronic target system (100), the LEDs (201), and for connectivity to other devices for updates or installing new program functionalities.

9. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing (107) comprises a plurality of slots (108) for the plurality of connection ports (105) and a master reset configured for resetting the electronic target system (100).

10. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the LEDs (201) are RGB LEDs with sun resistance up to 40000 Lux, and wherein the LEDs (201) are configured for different colour illumination for different scores or score ranges.

11. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the translucent cover (101) comprises a target spot (501) with diameter ranging from 30.5 mm to 59.5 mm depending on the type of laser weapon used for target shooting.

12. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic target system (100) comprises an area for the laser beam shot (207) detection having dimensions 17 mm x 17 mm.

13. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic target system (100) is configured for a laser wavelength ranging from 640 nm to 660 nm and an operating temperature ranging from 10°C to 42°C.

14. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic target system (100) operates on a 5 V DC / 2 Amps, and wherein the processing means (103) is a 32-bit ARM Cortex M0+ processor.

15. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing means (103) is configured to determine the position of the laser beam shot (207) with an accuracy of ± 0.3 mm.

16. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic target system (100) is configured to support laser weapons including laser rifles, laser pistols, or the like, and target shooting modules including 5/10 m rifle, 5/10 m pistol, or pentathlon laser run.

17. The electronic target system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user device is any device including but not limited to a mobile device or a display device or a cloud server.

18. An electronic target scoring method (400) to determine a shooting score comprises the steps of:
system boot up (401);
setting (402) an individual threshold value for each light sensor of the array of light sensors (104) for filtering out the environmental light noise;
filtering (403) the environmental light noise and the noise generated by the LEDs (201);
capturing (404) the position of the laser beam shot (207) onto the array of light sensors (104);
calculating (405) the position of the laser beam shot (207) based upon the detection of the intensity of laser beam (207) on each light sensor of the array of light sensors (207);
calculating (406) a score based on the position of the laser beam shot (207); and
transmitting (407) the score to a user device.

19. The electronic target scoring method (400) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the setting (402) an individual threshold value for each light sensor of the array of light sensors (104) comprises assessment of the environmental light noise and assignment of the individual threshold value to each sensor of the array of light sensors (104) is performed in real-time via the processing means (103).

20. The electronic target scoring method (400) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the filtering (403) the environmental light noise and the noise generated by the LEDs (201) comprises filtering of the environmental light noise and the noise generated by the LEDs (201) using physical filters and filtering of the light escaping the physical filters using a software/algorithm embedded in the processing means (103).

21. The electronic target scoring method (400) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the capturing (404) the position of the laser beam shot (207) comprises detection of the laser beam shot (207) is created by the emitted laser beam from the laser weapon and incident onto the translucent cover (101).

22. The electronic target scoring method (400) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the calculating (405) the position of the laser beam shot (207) comprises calculation of the exact position of the laser beam shot (207) on the translucent cover (101) with an accuracy of ± 0.3 mm by the processing means (103).

23. The electronic target scoring method (400) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the calculating (406) a score based on the position of the laser beam shot (207) is executed by the processing means (103).

24. The electronic target scoring method (400) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the transmitting (407) the score to a user device is executed by the processing means (103) wirelessly over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth or the like.

25. The electronic target scoring method (400) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the electronic target scoring method (400) is configured to be a computer-readable program or an algorithm embedded in the processing means (103) comprising a memory for storage of the electronic target scoring method (400).

26. The electronic target scoring method (400) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the user device is any device including but not limited to a mobile device or a display device or a cloud server.
Dated this 22nd day of March 2021

Priyank Gupta
Agent for the Applicant
IN/PA-1454