Patents by Inventor Howard F. Hall

Howard F. Hall has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5566951
    Abstract: An archery practice device projects a moving hunt scene on a screen. In one embodiment of the invention, a continuous plane of IR light is located prior to the screen, an arrow carrying a reflector is detected as it penetrates this light plane, and IR illumination is reflected back toward the archer and a full-screen radiation detector. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric motion detector senses impact of an arrow on the screen, an IR source is momentarily triggered by the motion detector, and IR illumination is reflected by the arrow toward the full-screen radiation detector. The detector generates a full-screen signal indicating the point of arrow impact on the screen. Upon detecting the arrow, the moving scene is frozen on the screen. The visual content of the frozen scene is coordinated to the full-screen signal from the detector, whereupon a hit zone image is projected on the screen to indicate the arrow impact point relative to the frozen scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Dart International, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Dart, Howard F. Hall, David A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5328190
    Abstract: An archery practice device simulates dynamic targets, such as in an animal hunt, on a visible screen. A video disk contains a plurality of hunting scenes which are projected via a video projector on a vertical screen whose size simulates an area normally viewed by an archer during a hunt. The screen images are comprised of pixel areas arranged in horizontal rows and vertical columns. A source of light of a spectrum outside the humanly visible range is provided adjacent the screen. Arrows penetrating this light field reflect light to a detector sensitive to light of said spectrum, but not sensitive to visible light otherwise. The detector generates a full screen signal of a plurality of pixel areas, certain of which contain indicia of light reflection from the arrow. Upon detecting such reflection, the scene frame is frozen on the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Dart International, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Dart, Howard F. Hall
  • Patent number: 4948371
    Abstract: An interactive video display system comprising a laser disc player with a remote large-screen projector to view life-size video scenarios and a control computer. A video disc has at least one basic scenario and one or more branches of the basic scenario with one or more subbranches from any one or more of the branches and further subbranches, if desired, to any level of programming desired. The control computer is programmed for interactive control of the branching, and control of other effects that enhance the scenario, in response to detection of when the trainee has (1) drawn an infrared laser handgun from his holster, (2) fired his laser handgun, (3) taken cover, (4) advanced or retreated from the adversary on the screen, and (5) when the adversary has fired his gun at the trainee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Howard F. Hall