Shot timer target

Abstract

A wireless electronic network of one or more shooting targets controlled by a Wi-Fi enabled user device (laptop, tablet, phone etc.) that electronically records hits to a vertically raising strike face and presents feedback to the shooter. Each individual target is mounted on a folding plastic frame and is able to lift a plastic strike face into position to begin a shooting training scenario once command is sent via Wi-Fi enabled user device. Projectiles are able to pass through the plastic strike face and the target is able to register hits and record performance data for presentation to the user at the end of a training scenario. The targets are able to be programmed to operate in a variety of user customizable scenarios, to include, but not limited to: Fall when hit, fall after a predetermined number of hits or stay up for a predetermined number of seconds etc. When multiple targets are used together they can be programmed to raise one after another, or in any order and combination of modes that the user can imagine. In this manner the scenario that a shooter might be presented with is intended to be infinitely customizable to train a shooter to be able to think and react on their feet rather than rehearse linear skills by rote. Once a scenario is concluded the strike faces will be lowered and feedback data is transmitted to the shooters Wi-Fi enabled device. The targets are able to be programmed to initiate a shooting scenario when triggered by a motion sensor module that can be mounted to the targets themselves or detached and operated remotely, to be positioned such that the targets begin their scenario once a shooter enters a room or comes around an obstacle. The maximum distance of operation between the controlling Wi-Fi enabled user device and the targets can be extended by use of relay modules to receive and transmit the Wi-Fi signals from the user device to the targets.

1 . A target system comprising one or more target units each controlled by a Wi-Fi enabled microcontroller (hereafter referred to as a “control unit”) and comprising a lightweight, portable, folding plastic stand that supports a vertically sliding lifting mechanism attached to a plastic strike face, capable of being controlled by a user via a Wi-Fi enabled master microcontroller (hereafter referred to as a “master control unit”) created Wi-Fi network and associated webpage menu to raise and lower said strike faces in a variety of shooting training scenarios, said strike faces capable of registering impacts of projectiles that pass through them and relay impact timing data back to the user via said master microcontroller created Wi-Fi network and associated webpage menu. 
     
     
         2 . The vertically sliding lifting mechanism of  claim 1  comprising either a cable and pulley type system or a “scissors” gear-driven type system. Both designs derived from those in common use by the auto industry and adapted to be a cheap, simple, compact solution to the problem of vertically raising a lightweight plastic target strike face for use in shooting training. Both systems using an electric motor and battery. 
     
     
         3 . The master control unit of  claim 1  capable of initiating a target presentation scenario when triggered by an associated motion sensor activated by a shooter/user and the master control unit recording the time between motion sensor activation and all subsequent strike face hits from projectiles if such an option is chosen by a user via a said master controller created Wi-Fi network and associated webpage menu. 
     
     
         4 . The target system of  claim 1  also able to have its operational range of control from the user able to be extended via means of Wi-Fi relay modules with their own on-board power source. Said Wi-Fi relay modules able to re-broadcast the Wi-Fi signal from one to another and another and so on to achieve whatever desired range a user requires when training over longer distances that can be accommodated solely by the Wi-Fi range of the master control unit. 
     
     
         5 . The individual target unit strike face of  claim 1  to have functionally attached a hit sensor able to register the impact of projectiles passing through the strike face (or merely hitting the strike face where projectiles are low velocity/mass such as when a “BB” gun is used for training and such projectiles are unable to penetrate the strike face) Said hit sensor to be attached to the strike face via a spring clip such as a bulldog clip or clothes peg and such sensor able to transmit impact data to the individual target control unit via electronic means such means as a cable or Wi-fi. Said impact data then relayed to the shooter/user via said master controller created Wi-Fi network and associated webpage menu. 
     
     
         6 . The lifting mechanism of  claim 1  to have sensors mounted detect the position of the lifting mechanism and notify the control unit of its position so that the control unit can cease movement of the lifting mechanism before it reaches the limit of movement. This measure is necessary to prevent the lifting mechanism making a “hard stop” when it reaches its limit of travel, that the hit sensor from  claim 5  might incorrectly interpret as the strike from a projectile. 
     
     
         7 . The master control unit of  claim 1  being capable of creating a Wi-Fi network that any user/shooter can connect to via any portable Wi-Fi enabled device i.e. phone, tablet, laptop etc. so that they can control the subordinate target units and any associated elements of the system (i.e. relay modules and/or motion sensor modules). 
     
     
         8 . Each individual target unit of  claim 1  capable of being calibrated by the user via the master control unit created Wi-Fi network and associated webpage menu to only register hits above or below a sensitivity threshold defined by the user. Each individual target unit further capable of being calibrated by the user to adjust the maximum and minimum times that the motor will turn when raising and lowering a strike face, before the hit sensor on that strike face can register a hit. This measure having two intentions; a) to be an additional measure to prevent the hit sensor falsely registering a projectile impact due to a “hard stop” when it reaches it's limit of travel and b) a backup to the position sensors of  claim 6  to arrest movement of the lifting lowering mechanism in case the position sensors fail somehow. 
     
     
         9 . The user interface webpage menu of  claim 1  able to let a user see which targets and associated elements of the target system (i.e. relay modules and/or motion sensor modules) are connected to the system and choose how they will interact with each other. 
     
     
         10 . The control unit and lifting mechanism from  claim 1  able to be powered by a single battery. With a step down converter used to convert the higher voltage of the battery used for the lifting mechanism to the lower voltage needed by the control unit and master control unit if one is integrated. 
     
     
         11 . The control unit of  claim 1  to be connected to a series of relay switches that allow the low voltage output signals of the control unit to activate the higher voltage of the lifting mechanism motor of  claim 2 . 
     
     
         12 . The hit sensor of  claim 1  to consist of a piezoelectric ceramic sensor module, that is capable of generating a measurable analogue output voltage change which is proportional with the strength of vibration detected at the strike face by the impact of a projectile. 
     
     
         13 . The shooter/user menu on the webpage hosted by the master control unit and the shooter/user connects to this webpage to via the Wi-Fi network created by the master control unit. 
     
     
         14 . The Wi-Fi enabled microcontrollers of each target unit of  claim 1  and any associated Wi-Fi relay modules being used to extend range of control and Wi-Fi motion sensor modules that may be being used for activation of a training scenario, being able to connect to the Wi-Fi enabled microcontroller of the master control unit. All elements being visible to the user/shooter via the webpage menu hosted by the master control unit and the user being able to calibrate all connected elements for sensitivity, speed, timings of movement etc. The shooter/user also able to choose variables for a training scenario in which targets will be presented by being raised and lowered via the lifting mechanism of  claim 2  with the intention that they be struck by projectiles from the user/shooter to generate performance data that will then be presented to the user/shooter via the webpage menu hosted by the master control unit. Said variables to include but not limited to; the option for random elements such as the duration before targets will present by being lifted by the lifting mechanism, the duration between said presentation of the same or different separate target units, the number of projectile impacts before a target will be lowered by said lifting mechanism, motion activated presentation, multiple targets being raised simultaneously, some target units being designated “non threat actor” that are not meant to be shot at during a scenario. The menu options further allowing a user/shooter to have an audio “ready” signal played by the user Wi-Fi enabled device to indicate when a scenario is about to begin and a “cease fire” audio signal when a scenario is ended. 
     
     
         15 . The performance data recorded by the master control unit and relayed to the shooter/user via their Wi-Fi enabled device to include but not limited to the times between each target strike face being raised and the times of all subsequent impacts on that target strike face. When motion activated mode being selected this will include the time from said motion being detected by the system to the impacts of projectiles on target strike faces that were raised as a result of that movement being detected. All results data being presented to the user/shooter at the end of a training scenario via a results table accessible on the user Wi-Fi enabled device via the webpage hosted by the master control unit of  claim 1 . Said performance data then able to be saved on the user Wi-Fi enabled device and/or uploaded to an online scoreboard on the world wide web along with any recorded video of the user/shooters training session.