Target practice system

Abstract

A target practice system includes a target, a first optical sensing unit that views an image on the target, a second optical sensing unit that views a user of the target system, and a data processing unit that communicates with the first optical sensing unit and the second optical sensing unit. The image on the target is either a static or dynamic image that changes over a defined time period, and an algorithm may be implemented in the data processing unit to analyze the image to determine shots on the image. The algorithm may also analyze a user image of the user captured by the second optical sensing unit to identify characteristics of the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A target practice system comprising:
 a target;   a first optical sensing unit that views an image on the target, the image being a dynamic image that changes over a defined time period;   a second optical sensing unit that views a user of the target system;   a data processing unit that communicates with the first optical sensing unit and the second optical sensing unit; and   an algorithm implemented in the data processing unit, the algorithm analyzing the image viewed by the first optical sensing unit to determine shots on the image, the algorithm also analyzing a user image of the user captured by the second optical sensing unit to identify characteristics of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The target system of  claim 1  further comprising a projector that generates the image on the target, the projector communicating with the data processing unit. 
     
     
         3 . The target system of  claim 1  wherein the algorithm is software algorithm stored in a non-transitory computer readable mechanism associated with the data processing unit. 
     
     
         4 . The target system of  claim 1  wherein the target system is connected to a network. 
     
     
         5 . The target system of  claim 1  wherein multiple target systems communicate with each other through the network. 
     
     
         6 . The target system of  claim 1  wherein either or both the first optical sensing unit and the second optical sensing unit is a static camera. 
     
     
         7 . The target system of  claim 1  wherein either or both the first optical sensing unit and the second optical sensing unit is a video camera. 
     
     
         8 . The target system of  claim 1  further comprising a user interface between the user of the target system and the data processing unit. 
     
     
         9 . The target system of  claim 8  wherein the user inputs image commands through the user interface to enable the user to select a target image, the data processing unit sending signals associated with the image commands to the projector such that the image generated by the projector is the target image. 
     
     
         10 . The target system of  claim 8  wherein the user interface provides feedback to the user. 
     
     
         11 . A method of scoring a firearm target system comprising:
 generating an image on a target;   aligning the image on the target with fiducials;   viewing the image on the target with an optical sensing unit;   analyzing the image viewed by the optical sensing unit with an algorithm implemented in a data processing unit to determine shots on the image; and   masking the image to visualize a specific scoring area, the algorithm analyzing shots in the specific scoring area.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the algorithm is software algorithm stored in a non-transitory computer readable mechanism associated with the data processing unit. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the image is generated with a projector. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the image is a dynamic image that changes over a defined time period. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising capturing images of a user that shoots at the target with a second optical sensing unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the target system is connected to the network with at least one other firearm target system. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein users of the target system communicate with other target systems through the network. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein a user of the target system inputs image commands through a user interface to enable the user to select a target image, the data processing unit sending signals associated with the image commands to a projector with generates the image, the image being the target image. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the user interface provides feedback to the user. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the optical sensing unit is a static camera or a video camera. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising creating targets and a shooting/training sequence by a coach for a user. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising sending results to the coach in real-time for analysis and feedback.