Wireless target systems and methods

Abstract

The invention relates to a shooting target and method of using the target for electronically determining the shooting position on a shooting target. Said shooting position is determined in a number of ways, including by use of a plurality of accelerometers to determine the impact area and transmit data relating to the impact to a remote receiver for real-time presentation to the shooter. Said method enables the shooting position to be determined by means of relatively economical electronic systems and said shooting target is portable such that the shooter may bring the target to a plurality of firing ranges and locations to convey the same real-time reporting and benefits to the shooter. Said shooting target may be set-up on a standard target stand to wirelessly relay shot impact information to a portable personal computing device to present real-time virtual impact data to the shooter. This data can then be stored and categorized given user-selected inputs and shared with other shooters in an online forum.

1 . A portable, wireless target system, comprising at least one target, at least one stand, at least one transceiver, and a plurality of sensors;
 wherein the at least one target is connected to the at least one stand and at least a portion of said target is one or more of removable, collapsible, storable and portable;   wherein the plurality of sensors are capable of interfacing with said transceiver;   wherein said at least one transceiver is proximate said target;   wherein said at least one transceiver is capable of wireless communication.   
     
     
         2 . The target system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor with a wireless receiver connected with at least one target, wherein the at least one target comprises a target plate wherein the target plate is capable of wireless adjustment on the X, Y and Z axis, or a combination thereof by use of said electric motor. 
     
     
         3 . The target system of  claim 1 , further comprising an electric motor with a wireless receiver connected with at least one stand, wherein the at least one stand is capable of wireless adjustment on the X, Y and Z axis, or a combination thereof by use of said electric motor. 
     
     
         4 . The target system of  claim 2 , wherein the target system comprises a plurality of target plates. 
     
     
         5 . The target system of  claim 4 , wherein the target system comprises a single target plate. 
     
     
         6 . The target system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sensor is an accelerometer and at least one target plate is made of steel. 
     
     
         7 . The target system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more targets comprise one or more target plates made of paper, cardboard, plastic, rubber, or steel, wherein said target plates fit onto said stand. 
     
     
         8 . The target system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise at least four accelerometers and the target system is capable of being powered by battery. 
     
     
         9 . The target system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise photodiodes. 
     
     
         10 . The target system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one transceiver is capable of wireless communication with a mobile device. 
     
     
         11 . The target system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one transceiver is wirelessly integrated with a mobile device. 
     
     
         12 . The target system of  claim 1 , wherein (a) the receiver is integrated with a detachable memory device; or (b) the transmitter is integrated with a detachable memory device. 
     
     
         13 . The target system of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile device is a personal computing device, portable computer, mobile telephone, or a video game platform. 
     
     
         14 . The target system of  claim 12 , wherein the mobile device is in communication with a transceiver proximate to the target, wherein said mobile device and said transceiver are associated by short range or Bluetooth communication. 
     
     
         15 . The target system of  claim 1  wherein the target comprises a plurality of vibrationally isolated segments forming the target; one or more vibration sensors coupled to each segment; and a plurality of wireless transmitters. 
     
     
         16 . The target system of  claim 15  wherein each vibration sensor comprises one or more accelerometers. 
     
     
         17 . The target system of  claim 15  wherein the vibration sensors are connected to a base station which is wirelessly coupled to one or more receivers or personal mobile devices. 
     
     
         18 . The target system of  claim 15  wherein the vibration sensors provide a vibration signature when impacted by a projectile. 
     
     
         19 . The target system of  claim 15 , wherein the base station receives the vibration signatures real-time and transmits real-time the vibration data to a computer program located on said mobile devices for reporting results of the projectile impacts. 
     
     
         20 . The target system of  claim 19  wherein the vibration signatures include more than one of amplitude, phase, frequency, frequency spectrum, and timing information of vibrations of the respective segments. 
     
     
         21 . The target system of  claim 15  wherein the target system comprises: a first vibration sensor coupled to a first quadrant of the target; a second vibration sensor coupled to a second quadrant of the target; a third vibration sensor coupled to a third quadrant of the target; a fourth vibration sensor coupled to a fourth quadrant of the target; wherein the sensors are interactively connected to the target to determine the location of a projectile strike. 
     
     
         22 . The target system of  claim 21 , further comprising a controller to receive vibration signatures corresponding to the sensed vibrations to determine where the target has been impacted by a projectile; a first long-range wireless transmitters coupled with the target; a second short-range wireless transmitter coupled with at least one mobile device configured to virtually report real-time data on a virtual target relating to the projectile impact. 
     
     
         23 . The target system of  claim 1  wherein the receiver is electronically connected to one or more systems selected from the group consisting of interactive mobile application, computer software, data storage system, video game, computer server, router, and video display system. 
     
     
         24 . The target system of  claim 22  wherein a plurality of target systems are wirelessly connected to a plurality of mobile devices. 
     
     
         25 . A method of determining the location of an impact on a target using a target system comprising at least one target, at least one stand, at least one transceiver, a plurality of sensors, and mobile device;
 wherein the at least one target is connected to the at least one stand and at least a portion of said target is removable;   wherein the plurality of sensors are interfaced with said transceiver;   wherein said transceiver is located proximate said target;   wherein said at least one transceiver is interfaced with said mobile device;   wherein said at least one transceiver is capable of communicating with said at least one mobile device, wherein the transceiver and the mobile device identify each other using a user-assigned identifier.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  wherein the mobile device is configured with an application program interface that validates the target systems transmitting data to the mobile device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the user-assigned identifier is an alphanumeric code. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the target system determines the location of an impact of a projectile fired by a shooter or group of shooters striking at least one target resulting in the generation of impact information; wherein said system transmits such impact information wirelessly to at least one mobile device. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the projectile is selected from the group consisting of a bullet, an arrow, a paintball, a dart, and an athletic ball. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the impact information is received and parsed by a mobile application associated with said at least one mobile device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein said mobile device is selected from the group consisting of an iPad, iPhone, tablet computer, laptop, notebook, ultrabook, and an Android phone. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the impact information comprises location, force and time of the impact. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the mobile application provides real-time impact information comprising the impact of the projectile on the target relative to a target design on a virtual target, wherein the mobile application determines a score from the impact based on an accuracy algorithm and stored in a database. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the mobile application receives user input comprising the type of weapon used; the type of ammunition used; the distance from the weapon to the target; and weather conditions; wherein said mobile application stores the score based on at least one such input. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the mobile application comprises one or more systems selected from the group consisting of an applications program interface, an interactive mobile application, computer software, a data storage system, a video game, a computer server, router, a website and a video display system. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the impact information is received and parsed by a web-based application and can be accessed using a standard web browser. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the database is a relational database using hexatridecimal storage for data stored therein.