Thermal Signature Target
A target with a thermal signature includes two or more bulletproof plates and a heater thermally coupled to at least one of the plates for heating the plate to produce the thermal signature.
1 . A target with a thermal signature comprising;
two or more bulletproof plates; and
a heater thermally coupled to at least one of said plates for heating said plate to produce said thermal signature.
2 . The target of claim 1 , further comprising a standoff disposed between said plates, said standoff thermally and mechanically isolating said plates.
3 . The target of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor associated with one or more of said plates for sensing a temperature of that plate.
4 . The target of claim 3 , further comprising a controller for receiving output of said temperature sensor and controlling said heater to produce said thermal signature using feedback from said temperature sensor.
5 . The target of claim 4 , wherein each plate is thermally coupled to a heater and temperature sensor so that a temperature of each plate can be independently controlled by said controller.
6 . The target of claim 1 , further comprising an insulator disposed over said heater to direct heat from said heater toward a said plate.
7 . The target of claim 1 , wherein said plates comprise a faceplate having openings therein and a plurality of thermally-active plates registered with said openings in said faceplate.
8 . The target of claim 1 , wherein said plates are made of ballistic steel.
9 . The target of claim 1 , further comprising a vibration sensor coupled to at least one of said plates for outputting a signal indicating when that plate has been struck by a round.
10 . The target of claim 9 , further comprising a controller for receiving output from said vibration sensor and for registering hits to said target based on said output.
11 . The target of claim 9 , wherein said vibration sensor comprises an accelerometer.
12 . The target of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless module for wireless controlling said heater.
13 . A target with a thermal signature comprising;
two or more bulletproof plates;
a heater thermally coupled to at least one of said plates for heating said plate to produce said thermal signature;
a temperature sensor corresponding to said heater for sensing a temperature of a said plate heated by said heater; and
a controller receiving output from said sensor and controlling said heater, wherein said controller controls said heater to produce said thermal signature based on said output from said sensor.
14 . The target of claim 13 , further comprising a heater thermally coupled to each plate so that a temperature of each plate is individually controlled by said controller to produce said thermal signature.
15 . The target of claim 14 , further comprising a vibration sensor corresponding to each said plate, wherein a signal from each said vibration sensor is provided to said computer as an indication that the corresponding plate has been hit.
16 . The target of claim 15 , further comprising a wireless module for transmitting data from said controller about hits to said plates detected by said vibration sensors.
17 . The target of claim 13 , further comprising a wireless module in communication with said controller for wirelessly controlling said controller to adjust said thermal signature.
18 . The target of claim 13 , further comprising an insulator covering said heater to prevent loss of heat to a corresponding plate.
19 . The target of claim 13 , wherein said plates comprise ballistic steel.
20 . The target of claim 13 , wherein a configuration of said plates and thermal signature correspond to a human being.