Electronic target system and hit detection method

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide an electronic target system and a hit detection method. In certain embodiments, the electronic target system includes a target having a plurality of distinct sectors, each having a measurable capacitance, and a controller configured to determine the capacitance and the change in capacitance of each sector. The controller generally monitors the capacitance and the change in capacitance of each sector. When a sector's capacitance changes at least a designated amount—such as when a projectile pierces the sector and reduces the sector's area—the controller determines that the sector has been hit. In other embodiments, the electronic target system includes a target including one or more vibration sensors configured to detect vibrations in the target. Upon detecting these vibrations, the vibration sensors send responsive signals to a controller. The controller analyzes these signals to determine whether a sector has been hit.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . An electronic target system comprising:
 a target including a substrate of dielectric material, a sector formed from a capacitive material, a lead/clamp interface, and a plurality of leads electrically connecting the sector to the lead/clamp interface; and   a controller electrically connectable to the leads via the lead/clamp interface, the controller configured to determine a change in capacitance of the sector over time and to cause an indication of a hit responsive to determining a designated change in the capacitance of the sector.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic target system of  claim 1 , which includes a signal transfer clamp attachable to the target such that the signal transfer clamp is electrically connected to the lead/clamp interface, the signal transfer clamp electrically connectable to the controller. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic target system of  claim 1 , which includes a lighting device electrically connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to indicate the hit by causing the lighting device to light up. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic target system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to indicate the hit by causing audio output via a speaker of a mobile device. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic target system of  claim 1 , which includes a capacitance-to-frequency converter configured to determine and send a frequency to the controller to enable the controller to determine the change in capacitance of the sector. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic target system of  claim 5 , wherein the capacitance-to-frequency converter is an astable multivibrator. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic target system of  claim 1 , which includes a communication interface configured to communicatively connect with a mobile device of a user. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic target system of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to send, via the communication interface, information related to the hit to the mobile device responsive to determining the designated change in the capacitance of the sector. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic target system of  claim 7 , wherein the communication interface enables communication with one or more other electronic target systems. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic target system of  claim 1 , wherein the sector is formed from conductive ink printed on opposing sides of the substrate of dielectric material and the leads are formed from conductive ink. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic target system of  claim 1 , which includes one or more lighting devices, and wherein the controller is configured to operate the one or more lighting devices in a designated order to facilitate game functionality. 
     
     
         12 . An electronic target system comprising:
 a target;   a vibration sensor attached to the target and configured to generate a signal responsive to detecting a vibration in the target; and   a controller electrically connectable to the vibration sensor, wherein responsive to receiving the signal from the vibration sensor, the controller is configured to: (1) use the signal to determine whether a hit occurred; and (2) cause an indication of the hit responsive to determining that the hit occurred.   
     
     
         13 . The electronic target system of  claim 12 , wherein the vibration sensor includes a piezoelectric sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic target system of  claim 13 , which includes a plurality of vibration sensors, and wherein responsive to receiving the signals from the vibration sensors and determining that a hit occurred, the controller is configured to triangulate a position of the hit on the target. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic target system of  claim 14 , wherein the indication includes an indication of the position of the hit. 
     
     
         16 . The electronic target system of  claim 12 , wherein the target is at least partially formed from at least one of: paper, cardboard, and steel. 
     
     
         17 . The electronic target system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to use the signal to determine whether a hit occurred by comparing the signal to a stored signal indicative of a hit. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic target system of  claim 17 , wherein the stored signal indicative of a hit represents a waveform caused by a projectile piercing the target, the projectile being a conductive or a non-conductive projectile. 
     
     
         19 . An electronic target system comprising:
 a target including a substrate of dielectric material, a sector formed from a capacitive material, a lead/clamp interface, and a plurality of leads electrically connecting the sector to the lead/clamp interface;   a vibration sensor attached to the target and configured to generate a signal responsive to detecting a vibration in the target; and   a controller electrically connectable to the leads via the lead/clamp interface and to the vibration sensor, the controller configured to determine whether a hit occurred based on a change in capacitance of the sector over time and the signal received from the vibration sensor and to cause an indication of the hit responsive to determining a designated change in the capacitance of the sector.   
     
     
         20 . The electronic target system of  claim 19 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the hit occurred when (1) the change in capacitance is a designated change in capacitance and (2) the signal received from the vibration sensor corresponds to a projectile hit signal.