Method and apparatus for determining and retrieving positional information

Abstract

A system for determining an impact of a target with a projectile includes a plurality of conductors defining a target area. The conductors are configured to allow at least one of the plurality of conductors to be disturbed upon impact by a projectile anywhere on the target area. A first bus is electrically connected to a first portion of a plurality of conductors. A second bus is electrically connected to a second portion of the plurality of conductors. A base resistance exists across the first and second bus. The system includes means for applying a voltage between a first bus and a second bus and means for determining a change in resistance across the first bus and the second bus in response to an impact of the target area by the projectile. A display is connected to the means for determining the change of resistance configured to display a message representative of an impact of the target area by the projectile. The system includes means for recalibrating the base resistance of the target area after the impact by the projectile.

1 . A system for determining an impact of a target with a projectile comprising:
 a plurality of conductors defining a target area, said plurality of conductors configured to allow at least one of said plurality of conductors to be disturbed upon impact by a projectile anywhere on said target area;   a first bus electrically connected to a first portion of said plurality of conductors;   a second bus electrically connected to a second portion of said plurality of conductors, wherein a base resistance exists across said first and second bus;   means for applying a voltage between said first bus and said second bus;   means for determining a change of resistance across said first bus and said second bus in response to an impact of said target area by said projectile; and   a display coupled to said means for determining the change of resistance configured to display an indication representative of an impact of said target area by said projectile.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising means for recalibrating said base resistance of said target area after said impact by said projectile. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of conductors are interconnected. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of conductors form a grid. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of conductors are formed of ink. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of conductors comprise a dielectric coating. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of conductors comprise carbon fiber. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first portion of plurality of conductors are electrically separated from the second portion of said plurality of conductors and wherein said first portion of said plurality of conductors and said second portion of said plurality of conductors electrically contact one another upon impact of the target area by said projectile to cause a change in resistance from said base resistance. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said first portion of said plurality of conductors is electrically connected to said second portion of said plurality of conductors. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second plurality of conductors defining a second target area, said second plurality of conductors configured to allow at least one of said second plurality of conductors to be disturbed upon impact by a projectile anywhere on said second target area; 
 a third bus electrically connected to a first portion of said second plurality of conductors; 
 a fourth bus electrically connected to a second portion of said second plurality of conductors wherein a second base resistance exists across said third and fourth bus; 
 means for determining a change of resistance across said third bus and said fourth bus in response to an impact of said second target area by said projectile; 
 means for recalibrating at least one of said base resistance and said second base resistance after said impact by said projectile; 
 said second target area being superimposed on said first target area and being electrically insulated therefrom; 
 means for displaying whether one or both of said first target area and said second target area have been impacted by said projectile. 
 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said first target area comprises an inner target area and said second target area comprises an outer target surrounding said inner target area. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein said first plurality of conductors comprises a cylinder and said second plurality of conductors is formed in a shape of a mannequin. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said first bus and said third bus comprise a same bus. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10  wherein said third bus is electrically connected to said first bus. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second plurality of conductors defining a second target area, said second plurality of conductors configured to allow at least one of said second plurality of conductors to be disturbed upon impact by a projectile anywhere on said second target area; 
 a third bus electrically connected to a first portion of said second plurality of conductors; 
 a fourth bus electrically connected to a second portion of said second plurality of conductors wherein a second base resistance exists across said third bus and said fourth bus; and 
 means for recalibrating said second base resistance of said target area after said impact by said projectile. 
 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said first bus and said third bus comprise a same bus. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a controller configured to control an amount of current provided to said target area to emit a desired thermal signature of the target area. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10  further comprising a controller configured to control an amount of current provided to said first target area and said second target area to emit a thermal signature of said first target area and said second target area. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a plurality of blocks, each block having a post wrapped with a coil of wire coupled to a controller; and 
 said controller configured to provide an amount of current desired to cause said block to emit a thermal signature by electromagnetic induction. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19  wherein said plurality of blocks comprises a continuous metal panel forming a portion of said target. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein each block of said plurality of blocks is configured to emit a thermal signature in response to a pulse width modulation of current supplied to each block of said plurality of blocks. 
     
     
         22 . A method for determining an impact of a target with a projectile, the method comprising:
 a plurality of conductors defining a target area;   a first bus electrically connected to a first portion of the plurality of conductors;   a second bus electrically connected to a second portion of the plurality of conductors, wherein a base resistance exists across the first bus and the second bus;   applying a voltage between the first bus and the second bus;   impacting the plurality of conductors with a projectile;   determining a change of resistance across the first bus and the second bus in response to the impact by the projectile; and   displaying an indication representative of the impact of the target area by the projectile based on the change in resistance.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising recalibrating the base resistance of the target area after the impact by the projectile. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the applying the voltage comprises providing an amount of current to the plurality of conductors to emit a desired thermal signature from the target. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the target area comprises a first target area and further providing the current to a second target area to provide a second thermal signature. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the first target area and the second target area are coupled to a pulse width modulation circuit for controlling a thermal signature of the first target area and a second thermal signature of the second target area. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising a plurality of blocks, each block having a post wrapped with a coil coupled to a controller. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27  further comprising pulse width modulating a current to said plurality of blocks by said controller to provide a thermal signature to said plurality of blocks by electromagnetic induction. 
     
     
         29 . A system for determining an impact of a target with a projectile comprising:
 a plurality of conductors defining a target area and comprising a capacitive sensor, said plurality of conductors configured to allow at least one of said plurality of conductors to be disturbed upon impact by a projectile anywhere on said target area;   a first bus electrically connected to a first portion of said plurality of conductors;   a second bus electrically connected to a second portion of said plurality of conductors;   means for applying a voltage across said first bus and said second bus;   means for determining a change in capacitance of said capacitive sensor in response to an impact of said target area by said projectile;   a display connected to said means for determining configured to display an indication representative of an impact of said target area by said projectile.   
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a second target area configured to allow a portion of said second target area to be disturbed in response to an impact by the projectile anywhere on said second target area; 
 said first target area being superimposed on said second target area; 
 means for determining an impact on said second target area; and 
 a display coupled to said means for determining the impact configured to display an indication representative of the impact of said second target area by said projectile. 
 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein said second target area comprises one of a piezoelectric material and an accelerometer coupled to said means for determining an impact.