Methods and Systems for Determining a Gunshot Sequence or Recoil Dynamics of a Gunshot for a Firearm

Abstract

An apparatus, device, or method may detect aim or pointing direction of a firearm, and may display aim directions of the firearm for gunshots fired at a target. Sequence of bullet strikes by multiple gunshots may be determined. A method may comprise detecting gunshots of the firearm discharging live ammunition; measuring aim directions of the firearm substantially at times of detecting the gunshots; recording the times of the gunshots and/or sequence order of the gunshots; and generating output for displaying an image that includes bullet strike icons that represent bullet strikes on the target. Locations of the bullet strike icons in the image may be based, at least in part, on the measured aim directions of the gunshots.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for displaying aim directions of gunshots of a firearm discharging live ammunition at a target, the method comprising:
 detecting the gunshots of the firearm discharging live ammunition;   measuring aim directions of the firearm substantially at times of detecting the gunshots;   recording times of the detected gunshots and/or sequence order of the gunshots; and   generating output for displaying an image that includes bullet strike icons that represent bullet strikes on the target, wherein locations of the bullet strike icons in the image are based, at least in part, on the measured aim directions of the gunshots.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the image further includes sequence numbers associated with the bullet strike icons, wherein the sequence numbers are based, at least in part, on the recorded times and/or sequence order of the gunshots. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring motion of the firearm substantially at the times of detecting the gunshots.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the image further includes display elements indicative of and based, at least in part, on the measured motion of the firearm at the times of detecting the gunshots. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the measured motion includes speeds of translation and/or rotation of the firearm at the times of detecting the gunshots. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the bullet strike icons comprise ellipses having radii based, at least in part, on the speeds of translation and/or rotation of the firearm at the times of detecting the gunshots. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 measuring a time span between (i) the time of detecting at least one of the gunshots and (ii) a time when the sound of the at least one of the gunshots returns to the firearm after reflecting from the target; and   determining a distance between the firearm and the target based, at least in part, on the time span.   
     
     
         8 . A method for displaying aim directions of gunshots of a firearm discharging live ammunition at a target, the method comprising:
 receiving data representative of aim directions of the firearm measured substantially at times of the gunshots;   recording sequence order and/or times of the gunshots; and   generating output for displaying an image that includes bullet strike icons that represent bullet strikes on the target, wherein locations of the bullet strike icons in the display image are based, at least in part, on the measured aim directions of the gunshots.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the image further includes sequence numbers associated with the bullet strike icons, wherein the sequence numbers are based, at least in part, on the recorded times and/or sequence order of the gunshots. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving data representative of motion of the firearm measured substantially at the times of detecting the gunshots; and   recording the motion of the firearm measured substantially at the times of detecting the gunshots.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the image further includes display elements based, at least in part, on the motion of the firearm measured substantially at the times of detecting the gunshots. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the motion of the firearm measured substantially at the times of detecting the gunshots includes speeds of translation and/or rotation of the firearm at the times of detecting the gunshots. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 detecting a gunshot of a firearm;   sensing an aim direction of the firearm substantially at the time of detecting the gunshot;   setting a reference direction based, at least in part, on the aim direction;   sensing subsequent aim directions of the firearm after the time of detecting the gunshot;   comparing any of the subsequent aim directions to the reference direction; and   measuring recoil of the firearm, wherein the measuring is based, at least in part, on the comparing.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein measuring recoil of the firearm generates one or more recoil measurements that include an angle of any of the subsequent aim directions with respect to the reference direction. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the angle with respect to the reference direction is in a plane that is parallel to the firearm. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein measuring recoil of the firearm generates one or more recoil measurements that include a maximum angle of the subsequent aim directions with respect to the reference direction. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 detecting a second gunshot of the firearm;   sensing a second aim direction of the firearm substantially at the time of detecting the second gunshot;   sensing a second set of subsequent aim directions of the firearm after the time of detecting the second gunshot;   comparing any of the second subsequent aim directions to the reference direction; and   generating one or more recoil measurements based, at least in part, on the comparing.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising displaying the recoil measurement on a display. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising recording a history of the recoil measurement. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising updating the reference direction based, at least in part, on a subsequent gunshot.