Electromagnetic Ray Simulates Projectile Or Its Path, Or Utilized For Coincidence Detection (e.g., Light-ray Gun, Infrared Aim Detector, Etc.) Patents (Class 463/51)
  • Patent number: 6146278
    Abstract: A shooting video game machine includes a monitor screen, a light source near the monitor screen, and a mock gun having an image sensor with a pixel array for capturing an image including the monitor screen and the light source. A light source position detection unit detects as image position of an image of the light source in the pixel array. A hit position detection unit for determines a position aimed at on the monitor screen based on the image position. The light source position detection unit includes a detector for detecting pixels having data of the image of the light source and stores only address of the detect pixels to a memory. A light source position calculator calculate the image position of the light source according to the address data stored in the memory in a certain time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Konami Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6068484
    Abstract: A system for simulating shooting sports includes a non-projectile ammunition transmitter system that is retrofittable to any standard firearm having an ammunition chamber, a barrel, and a firing pin and a self-contained receiver system. The transmitter system includes an actuating beam cartridge and an adjustable beam choke. The beam cartridge includes a first actuating beam emitter responsive to the firing pin. The beam choke includes a second emission beam emitter responsive to the first actuating beam. The receiver system is a self-contained reusable target having beam sensors and hit indicators. The beam sensors are "triggered" when the emission beam "hits" or is "sensed by" the beam sensors. When the beam sensors sense the emission beam, they cause the hit indicators to indicate that the target has been "hit" by the emission beam. The target may also include at least one triggering motion detector that detects a triggering motion that is associated with the target being launched into the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Lightshot Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. O'Loughlin, Terry P. O'Loughlin, George R. Hull, Michael D. Miles
  • Patent number: 6019682
    Abstract: An electrically-powered bumper car for use in an amusement game. The car is capable of precise movement due to a joystick control and processor connected thereto. This gives the car a movement controllable as to speed and direction, including the ability to stop and reverse directions without repositioning of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Inventor: Emile Arabo
  • Patent number: 6012980
    Abstract: The coordinates detecting device comprises a plurality of sensors (LS1, LS2: photosensors, or the like,) located in prescribed positions in a coordinates detecting region for detecting coordinates set on an image display surface (4) which displays images by means of scanning lines; a counter which counts the number of clock inputs with respect to the horizontal direction of the image display surface and the number of scans in the vertical direction, on the basis of the scan timing of the scanning lines as detected by the sensors; and a coordinates identifying circuit which, when a desired trigger signal (LP3) is input from an external source, outputs the count values of the counters at the time that this trigger signal is input as relative coordinates on the image display surface. The coordinates of any position can be determined accurately even when the display uses a special television format, such as HDTV, or the like, and regardless of differences in the scanning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega Enterprises
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Yoshida, Takeshi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 5984788
    Abstract: The invention provides a toy light projector or light gun and player-worn and self-propelled toy targets which detect light emitted by a toy light gun, and a toy shooting game which includes at least one toy light gun, and at least one toy target. The game is played by a player attempting to "hit" a target which provides a feelable output upon detecting light projected by the gun, e.g., an ejection or release of a material, object, vibration, electrical shock, etc. The output is intended to be received and felt (other than by sight or sound) by a person playing the game. In the preferred embodiments, the target squirts water or bursts a water-filled balloon when a hit is detected or after a given number of hits is detected. Audio/visual effects may also be provided in response to hits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Toymax Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Lebensfeld, Frank Landi, Carmine Russo, David Chu Ki Kwan
  • Patent number: 5795224
    Abstract: A shooting unit support device permits a shooting unit to be repositioned freely with respect to a game display unit, and can detect a displacement position of the shooting unit. A game device using the shooting unit support device enables a player to attack enemies while avoiding attack by the enemies by repositioning the shooting unit with respect to game images, whereby the game play is made realistic and does not take much time to destroy enemies. The shooting unit comprises a support 17 which supports a gun 14 used in a game device 10 opposed to an image display device 12 of the game device 10, an interconnection member 18 and a support rod 19 which permit the support 17 to be moved to reposition a gun 14 relative to the image display device, and a variable resistor 20 which detect a replacing position of the support 17.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yusuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 5788500
    Abstract: An improved battlefield simulation system based upon continuous wave lasers. The system uses continuous wave lasers and high-power light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to simulate weapons. A continuous wave laser energy beam is coded using pulse-code modulation (PCM) and pulse-pause modulation (PPM) so that the agent is uniquely identified, as well as the type of weapon responsible for the light beam. The present system provides improved eye safety, improved sensitivity, improved realism, and improved data transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Oerlikon-Contraves AG
    Inventor: Peter Gerber
  • Patent number: 5741185
    Abstract: The invention provides a toy light projector or light gun and player-worn and self-propelled toy targets which detect light emitted by a toy light gun, and a toy shooting game which includes at least one toy light gun, and at least one toy target. The game is played by a player attempting to "hit" a target which provides audio/visual effects upon detecting light projected by the gun. A main target contains a light detector and all of the circuitry and audio/visual components needed to play a game, and an auxiliary target may contain a light detector and only some of the components needed to play a game and be coupled to a main target to share components therein. A self-propelled target includes circuitry which provides pseudorandom (or other pre-programmed or random) motion to the target. The light gun emits a sound while it is on and ready to be fired, which can serve as a warning to an opposing player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Toymax Inc.
    Inventors: David Chu Ki Kwan, Steven Lebensfeld, Carmine Russo, Frank Landi, Ng Wing Kwong
  • Patent number: 5716216
    Abstract: A system for simulating shooting sports includes a non-projectile ammunition transmitter system that is retrofittable to any standard firearm having an ammunition chamber, a barrel, and a firing pin and a self-contained receiver system. The transmitter system includes an actuating beam cartridge and an adjustable beam choke. The beam cartridge includes a first actuating beam emitter responsive to the firing pin. The beam choke includes a second emission beam emitter responsive to the first actuating beam. The receiver system is a self-contained reusable target having beam sensors and hit indicators. The beam sensors are "triggered" when the emission beam "hits" or is "sensed by" the beam sensors. When the beam sensors sense the emission beam, they cause the hit indicators to indicate that the target has been "hit" by the emission beam. The target may also include at least one triggering motion detector that detects a triggering motion that is associated with the target being launched into the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: LightShot Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. O'Loughlin, Terry P. O'Loughlin, George R. Hull, Michael D. Miles
  • Patent number: 5692275
    Abstract: A remotely actuatable clasp responsive to photonic energy beams is provided. The clasp has a housing that defines a longitudinally extending latch cavity with a latch window. A photonic receiver circuit converts received photonic energy into an electrical signal. A latch member with a first end and a second end. The first end of the latch member has a latch head insertable into the latch cavity to the latch window. The second end of the latch member has a first attach point attachable to the garment. An electromechanical latch is electrically connected to said photonic receiver circuit and pivotally mounted to the housing. The electromechanical latch is engageable in a first position with the latch head through the latch window. The electromechanical latch is disengagable in a second position from the latch head in response to the electrical signal from the receiver circuit. A second attach point is positioned on the housing and is attachable to the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: Cyberstrip, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles H. Freeman, Morgan H. Dunn
  • Patent number: 5690492
    Abstract: A device to determine which target a participant has selected during simued weapon training is disclosed. The device uses a second projector in addition to the computer generated image projector to project a non-visible light onto a screen. The computer generated imagery projector and the non-visible light projector are adjusted to create a composite image, visible and non-visible, projected on the screen such that the non-visible image is overlaid on the visible image at all times. The non-visible image contains information related only to certain pre-defined targets. The participant is able to sense the visible portion of the image on the screen but not the non-visible image, which is reflected from the screen to an electronic sensor that senses only the non-visible image. A computer processes the information obtained from the sensor to determine which target the participant has selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Gordon L. Herald
  • Patent number: 5672108
    Abstract: An electronic game comprising an emitter unit and a target unit. The emitter unit can emit a beam of electromagnetic radiation of a particular wavelength. The target unit has a liquid crystal display and an electromagnetic radiation sensor for measuring the amount of electromagnetic radiation directed at it from the emitter. An electronic controller inside the target unit controls the flow of the game and receives input signals from the radiation sensor which affect the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Tiger Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Clive Lam, Ralph F. Osterhout
  • Patent number: 5641288
    Abstract: A user friendly shooting simulating process and training system are provided to more accurately and reliably detect the impact time and location in which a projectile shot from a shotgun, rifle, pistol or other weapon, hits a moving target. Desirably, the shooting simulating process and training system can also readily display the amount by which the projectile misses the target. The target impact time is based upon the speed and directions of the target and weapon, as well as the internal and external delay time of the projectile. In the preferred form, the training system includes a microprocessor and special projectile sensing equipment, and the targets and projectiles are simulated and viewed on a virtual reality head mounted display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Inventor: William G. Zaenglein, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5577962
    Abstract: A gun game machine from where a player takes out and holds a model gun to play a game. When the number of operations of a trigger lever (6) attains the preset number of times, the game is stopped and, at the same time, a solenoid (20) operates to disengage a boss (23) of a lever (19) from a recess (22b) of a advance and retreat member (15) and the advance and retreat member is ejected down by the effect of a spring (24). When the player pushes up the advance and retreat member (15) to set, a sensor (16) detects the pushing action and resets the trigger count value for enabling the game to continue. The action of pushing up the advance and retreat device (15) is similar to the real action of loading a cartridge into a real gun and the player can enjoy a game having realism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Namco Limited
    Inventors: Yutaka Kounoe, Yasushi Omori, Hideyuki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5569085
    Abstract: A gun game machine wherein the player can hold a model gun in the hand away from an machine casing. This gun game machine comprises a bullet hitting optical detection unit installed in the model gun for detecting a simulated bullet hitting position, a sliding cover provided on an exposed outward portion of the gunbarrel of the model gun and slidable in the longitudinal direction of the gunbarrel section, and a cover driving means for instantaneously moving the sliding cover at high speed. The model gun and the game machine casing may be coupled to each other by means of a flexible cable containing electric conductors. The sliding cover makes a long reciprocating motion similar to the so-called blow-back movement of an actual gun, so that the player can feel a similar reaction or impact corresponding to the firing of the actual gun. This simulated firing operation also serves to attract spectators to the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Namco Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Igarashi, Azuma Mochizuki, Yoshitaka Kajima, Toshiya Ohara, Hideki Inoue, Shigeki Tohyama