Digital target spotting system

Abstract

A digital target spotting system for scoring projectile shots on a target. The system has a computer with a display, a digital image capturing device (e.g. digital camera or camcorder used with an optical spotting scope) adapted for capturing digital images of a target, an event sensor that detects when a projectile is shot at the target, an anemometer for detecting wind speed and detecting wind direction and a chronograph for detecting the projectile speed of a projectile shot at the target. A communication hub acts as a communication hub between the computer and the input sensor devices. Computer software loaded on the computer processes digital images from the digital image capturing device and extracting hits on the target image to determine where on the target hits are made and scores a shooter's performance.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A digital target spotting system for scoring projectile shots on a target, comprising: 
 a digital image capturing device adapted for capturing digital images of a target;    a computer with a display;    computer software for the computer for processing images from the digital image capturing device and extracting hits on the target image to determine where on the target hits are made and for scoring a shooting session.    
     
     
         2 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 1 , further comprising an event sensor that alerts the system when a projectile is shot at the target, which event sensor instructs the computer software to capture and process the digital image.  
     
     
         3 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 1 , further comprising an optical spotting scope to which the digital image capturing device is attached.  
     
     
         4 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer software further comprises a magnification feature.  
     
     
         5 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 3 , wherein the digital image capturing device is selected from one of a still digital camera and a digital camcorder.  
     
     
         6 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 1 , further comprising an anemometer for detecting wind speed and direction, wherein the detected wind speed and direction are collected by the computer software.  
     
     
         7 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a chronograph for detecting the projectile speed of a projectile shot at the target, wherein the detected projectile speed is collected by the computer software.  
     
     
         8 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 1 , further comprising a communication hub which provides a communication channel between the digital image capturing device, an event sensor that determines when a projectile is shot at the target, and one or both of an anemometer for detecting wind speed and detecting wind direction and a chronograph for detecting the projectile speed of a projectile shot at the target, and the computer.  
     
     
         9 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 1 , wherein the computer software will process data captured from digital image capturing device, and data inputted by a user, such as the range of the target, information concerning the projectile and a firearms used, and graphically display such images, and automatically calculate shot statistics during a shooting session.  
     
     
         10 . A digital target spotting system for scoring projectile shots on a target, comprising: 
 a computer with a display;    a digital image capturing device adapted for capturing digital images of a target;    an event sensor that detects when a projectile is shot at the target; and    computer software for processing digital images from the digital image capturing device and extracting hits on the target image to determine where on the target hits are made and for scoring a shooter's performance.    
     
     
         11 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 10 , further comprising a communication hub which provides a communication channel between the digital image capturing device, the event sensor, and one or both of an anemometer for detecting wind speed and detecting wind direction and a chronograph for detecting the projectile speed of a projectile shot at the target, and the computer.  
     
     
         12 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 10 , further comprising an optical spotting scope to which the digital image capturing device is attached.  
     
     
         13 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 10 , wherein the digital image capturing device is selected from one of a still digital camera and a digital camcorder.  
     
     
         14 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more of an anemometer for detecting wind speed and direction, wherein the detected wind speed and direction are collected by the computer software, and a chronograph for detecting the projectile speed of a projectile shot at the target, wherein the detected projectile speed is collected by the computer software.  
     
     
         15 . The digital target spotting system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer software will process data captured from digital image capturing device, and data inputted by a user, such as the range of the target, information concerning the projectile and a firearms used, and graphically display such images, and automatically calculate shot statics during a shooting session.  
     
     
         16 . Computer software for digital target spotting for scoring projectile shots on a target, which software performs the following steps: 
 (a) taking an initial digital image of the target and storing the starting pixel values of the image;    (b) detecting that a shot has been fired at the target;    (c) taking a new digital image of the target and comparing the new digital image with the initial digital image on a pixel by pixel basis and from differences in the pixels' characteristics, determining the position where a projectile hit the target;    (d) storing the projectile hit position;    (e) repeating step (b) and taking a further digital image of the target and comparing it to the prior digital image of the target on a pixel by pixel basis, and from differences in the pixels' characteristics, determining a new projectile hit position on the target;    (f) storing the new projectile hit position;    (g) repeating steps (e) and (f) until no more projectile hits are detected or a user has completed a shooting session; and    (h) processing the projectile hit positions to provide a session score.    
     
     
         17 . The computer software of  claim 16 , where the computer software is adapted to process data comprising one or more of wind speed and direction, firearm type, projectile speed, projectile type, shooter identification, session date and time, and range to target and output such data in a visually displayable manner.  
     
     
         18 . The computer software of  claim 16 , where the computer software outputs statistical reports concerning a shooter's performance.  
     
     
         19 . The computer software of  claim 16 , wherein the software stores images of the target with hits formed thereon, and wherein the software will distinguish the most recent projectile hit on the image of the target from prior hits on the target.  
     
     
         20 . The computer software of  claim 16 , wherein the software stores images of the target into multiple sessions, which images and data can be shared with other users, and wherein sessions can be saved or discarded as desired.