Target Device for Determining Received Hits in a Light Based Weapons Simulation System

Abstract

A target device is usable with a simulation system which includes a weapon simulator having a trigger, a chamber for firing a blank cartridge in response to the trigger, and a transmitter arranged to emit a light signal defining one or more activation codes of prescribed duration in response to the trigger. The target device includes a sensor array of photodiodes and a processor receiving output signals from the photodiodes. The processor determines that the sensor array has been hit by the weapon simulator in response to a first portion of one activation code being received by one of the photodiodes and at least one second portion of the same activation code being received by the same or a different one of the photodiodes when the first portion and the at least one second portion correspond to an entirety of one activation code within the respective prescribed duration.

1 . A method of simulating a weapon strike against a user, the method comprising:
 providing a weapon simulator having a trigger and a transmitter arranged to emit a light signal responsive to actuation of the trigger, the light signal comprising a beam of pulsed light defining one or more activation codes, each of prescribed duration;   providing the user with a target device carried on the user, the target device comprising:
 a sensor array comprising a plurality of photodiodes arranged to generate respective output signals responsive to light received thereon; 
 a processor associated with the sensor array so as to be arranged to receive the output signals from the photodiodes of the sensor array; 
 the processor being arranged to determine that the sensor array has been hit by the weapon simulator in response to one activation code being received by the photodiodes within the respective prescribed duration; 
 an output arranged to output a hit signal in response to determination by the processor that the sensor array has been hit by the weapon simulator; and 
 at least one carrier body supporting the photodiodes of the sensor array on the user; 
 said at least one carrier body including a projecting visor portion; 
 the sensor array comprising at least one reflective sensor supported on the projecting visor portion of said at least one carrier body; 
   supporting the projecting visor portion above a face of the user so as to project outwardly from the face of the user and be oriented transversely to the face of the user such that said at least one reflective sensor is supported on a bottom side of the projecting visor portion to face downwardly;   using the weapon simulator to emit a light signal and to direct the light signal towards the user; and   outputting the hit signal from the target device by reflecting the light signal off of the face of the user onto said at least one reflective sensor supported on the bottom side of the projecting visor portion of said at least one carrier body.   
     
     
         2 .- 8 . (canceled)