Apparatus and method for indicating whether a target has been impacted by a projectile

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems and methods for indicating whether a target has been impacted by a projectile are disclosed. Embodiments may include a microcontroller, an impact sensor, and an impact indicator. Apparatus may include an acoustic sensor and a miss indicator. Acoustic information or impact information may be received by the sensors and sent to the microcontroller unit. A determination may be made regarding whether the target has been impacted. An indication of a hit or a miss may be made by the impact indicator based on the determination. A light redirection element, which may include a light pipe, may direct light from the impact indicator around the edge of a target to a viewer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A processor-implemented method of operating a target hit indicator, the method comprising:
 receiving, from an impact sensor by a microcontroller unit, vibration information;   processing the vibration information;   determining whether the processed vibration information is above a vibrational impact threshold; and   indicating a hit if the processed vibration information is above the vibrational impact threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to the receiving of the vibration information:
 operating the target hit indicator in a low-power mode;   receiving at the microcontroller at least one of the following:   initial vibration information from the impact sensor; and   initial acoustic information form the acoustic sensor;   determining at least one of whether the initial vibration information or the initial acoustic information is above a vibration standby wake threshold and an acoustic vibration standby wake threshold, respectively, and if either the initial vibration information is above the vibrational standby wake threshold or the initial acoustic information is above the acoustic standby wake threshold; and   operating the target hit indicator in a standard power mode.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 reverting to operating in a low-power mode responsive to a determination that neither the initial vibration information is above the vibrational standby wake threshold nor the initial acoustic information is above the acoustic standby wake threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a second acoustic sensor by the microcontroller unit, second acoustic information;   determining a location of a projectile based on the acoustic information and the second acoustic information; and   indicating the location of an impact of the projectile by indicating one of a hit and a miss.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 indicating a miss if the processed vibration information is not above the vibrational impact threshold.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 reverting to operating in a low-power mode after the expiring of a clock after indicating one of a hit or indicating a miss.