Architecture for Full Motion Diagnostic Training with Trigger-Based Devices

Abstract

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a training system adapted to display to a user three dimensional motion trajectory data of a trigger-based device temporally proximate to a trigger action. In an illustrative example, the training system may provide a near real-time graphical display and/or post-firing analysis with graphical display indications of firearm orientation in three axes before, during, or after a trigger action. Some embodiments may output post-firing analysis of the orientation or trajectory to a user of the firearm. The stored graphical display indications may be stored or displayed in substantially real time to a user or observer, who may provide corrective feedback to the user. The three axes of motion may be mutually orthogonal to define three dimensional space. Various embodiments may provide time-shifting of the graphical display indications, for example, to facilitate analysis of the three axis motion relative in time to trigger actions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A training system for handling a trigger-based device (TBD) having its orientation in three dimensional space defined by a roll axis, a pitch axis, and a yaw axis, the system comprising:
 a trigger sensor adapted to output a trigger signal in response to a trigger event of a trigger coupled to the TBD, whereby the TBD performs a mechanical operation in response to the trigger event;   a roll orientation sensor adapted to output a roll signal representative of motion of the device with respect to the roll axis of the TBD;   a pitch orientation sensor adapted to output a pitch signal representative of motion of the device with respect to the pitch axis of the TBD;   a yaw orientation sensor adapted to output a yaw signal representative of motion of the device with respect to the yaw axis of the TBD;   a controller adapted to receive the trigger signal, the roll signal, the pitch signal, the yaw signal during a limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event;   a data store coupled to the controller to store electronic representations of the roll signal, the pitch signal, and the yaw signal received from the controller; and,   an interface coupled to the controller to transfer information about the electronic representations stored in the data store to a display device for display of an image representing orientation of the TBD along its roll, pitch and yaw axes during the time window directly preceding the trigger event.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the TBD comprises a power tool. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the TBD comprises a firearm. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a finger sensor coupled to the controller and operable to output a signal in response to a trigger finger being moved from a preselected position remote from the trigger. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event comprises a time window that begins after the trigger finger breaks contact with the finger sensor and ends after the time when the trigger breaks. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the time window that begins after the trigger finger breaks contact with the finger sensor and ends after the time when the trigger breaks further ends when the trigger mechanically completes its action and resets. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a grip pressure sensor coupled to the controller and operable to output a signal indicative of a pressure applied around a grip of the TBD during the limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the electronic representations stored in the data store further include the grip signal received from the controller during the limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a body of the TBD, wherein the controller, the data store, and the interface attach to the body. 
     
     
         10 . A training method for handling a trigger-based device (TBD) having its orientation in three dimensional space defined by a roll axis, a pitch axis, and a yaw axis, the system comprising:
 receiving a trigger signal in response to a trigger event of a trigger coupled to the TBD, whereby the TBD performs a mechanical operation in response to the trigger event;   generating from a roll orientation sensor a roll signal representative of motion of the device with respect to the roll axis of the TBD;   generating from a pitch orientation sensor a pitch signal representative of motion of the device with respect to the pitch axis of the TBD;   generating from a yaw orientation sensor a yaw signal representative of motion of the device with respect to the yaw axis of the TBD;   receiving at a controller the trigger signal, the roll signal, the pitch signal, the yaw signal during a limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event;   storing in a data store coupled to the controller electronic representations of the roll signal, the pitch signal, and the yaw signal received from the controller; and,   transferring from an interface coupled to the controller information about the electronic representations stored in the data store to a display device for display of an image representing orientation of the TBD along its roll, pitch and yaw axes during the time window directly preceding the trigger event.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising outputting from a finger sensor coupled to the controller a trigger finger signal in response to a trigger finger being moved from a preselected position remote from the trigger. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the electronic representations stored in the data store further include the trigger finger signal received from the controller during the limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event comprises a time window that begins after the trigger finger breaks contact with the trigger finger sensor and ends after the time when the trigger breaks. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the time window that begins after the trigger finger breaks contact with the trigger finger sensor and ends after the time when the trigger breaks further ends when the trigger mechanically completes its action and resets. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising outputting from a grip pressure sensor coupled to the controller a grip pressure signal indicative of a pressure applied around a grip of the TBD during the limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the electronic representations stored in the data store further include the grip pressure signal received from the controller during the limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the limited window of time comprises at least two trigger events on the TBD, wherein the at least two trigger events occur sequentially and in substantially close time proximity. 
     
     
         18 . A computer program product (CPP) tangibly embodied in a computer readable medium and containing instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations to provide training for handling a trigger-based device (TBD) having its orientation in three dimensional space defined by a roll axis, a pitch axis, and a yaw axis, the operations comprising:
 receive a trigger signal in response to a trigger event of a trigger coupled to the TBD, whereby the TBD performs a mechanical operation in response to the trigger event;   generate from a roll orientation sensor a roll signal representative of motion of the device with respect to the roll axis of the TBD;   generate from a pitch orientation sensor a pitch signal representative of motion of the device with respect to the pitch axis of the TBD;   generate from a yaw orientation sensor a yaw signal representative of motion of the device with respect to the yaw axis of the TBD;   receive at a controller the trigger signal, the roll signal, the pitch signal, and the yaw signal during a limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event;   store in a data store coupled to the controller electronic representations of the roll signal, the pitch signal, and the yaw signal received from the controller; and,   transfer from an interface coupled to the controller information about the electronic representations stored in the data store to a display device for display of an image representing orientation of the TBD along its roll, pitch and yaw axes during the time window directly preceding the trigger event.   
     
     
         19 . The CPP of  claim 18 , the operations further comprising generate from a finger sensor coupled to the controller a trigger finger signal in response to a trigger finger being moved from a preselected position remote from the trigger. 
     
     
         20 . The CPP of  claim 19 , wherein the electronic representations stored in the data store further include the trigger finger signal received from the controller during the limited window of time directly preceding the trigger event.