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US 11,585,642 B2Granted
Software and sensor system for controlling range equipment
AssigneeAction Target Inc.
InventorsJoseph Green, Cory Haflett, Tim Hakala, David Sharp, Christopher Hess, Devin Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to systems and methods for accurately and safely directing the movement of shooting range targets, and more specifically, to provide self-calibration and synchronicity to programmable target carriers and automatically resetting targets.
Claims24
A method of operating a target carrier comprising:
- selecting a target system having the target carrier, a motor disposed in communication with the target carrier, at least one sensor and at least one processor, the at least one sensor including a sensor associated with the motor to determine an estimated location of the target carrier based on movement of the motor;
- actuating the motor to move the target carrier;
- and
- periodically sensing a position of the target carrier to determine a sensed location;
- and
- adjusting signals sent to the motor in light of the sensed location of the target carrier.
3 more elements
A method of operating a target carrier comprising:
- selecting a target system having the target carrier, a motor disposed in communication with the target carrier, at least one sensor and at least one processor;
- actuating the motor to move the target carrier;
- and
- periodically sensing a position of the target carrier to provide a sensed position;
- and
- adjusting signals sent to the motor in light of the sensed position of the motor;
- and
- wherein the method comprises selecting a plurality of target carriers disposed in communication with a plurality of motors, and wherein the at least one processor receives signals from at least one sensor, determines relative positions between the target carriers and sends signals to at least one motor to modify at least one of the position or a speed of travel of one target carrier in response to sensed location or speed information.
5 more elements
A method of coordinating a movement of a target with a command of a user comprising:
- selecting a target system having a first target, an actuator system having a first embedded controller, a first target position sensor, and a secondary target position sensor, and a processor programmed to detect a fault;
- signaling the first embedded controller;
- and
- controlling the actuator system to affect a behavior of the first target in response to a signal received from the secondary target position sensor.
1 more element
A target system comprising:
- at least one target carrier;
- at least one target actuator system having a motor disposed in communication with the at least one target carrier and a sensor disposed in communication with the motor for providing an estimated position of the at least one target carrier based on movement of the motor;
- at least one sensor disposed in communication with the at least one target actuator system which periodically senses an actual location position of the at least one target carrier;
- and
- at least one processor running a program to determine an estimated position of the at least one target carrier based on movement of the motor, to periodically receive an updated location position from the at least one sensor disposed in communication with the at least one target actuator system, and to correct the estimated position to the updated location position, and adjust signals sent to the motor to adjust a position of the at least one target carrier.
2 more elements
A target system comprising:
- at least one target actuator system having a motor disposed in communication with at least one target carrier;
- at least one sensor disposed in communication with the target actuator system;
- and
- at least one processor, the processor running a program to determine an estimated position of the at least one target carrier, to periodically receive an updated location position, and to correct the estimated position to the updated location position, and adjust signals sent to the motor to adjust the position of the at least one target carrier;
- and
- wherein the at least one target carrier comprises a plurality of target carriers, and wherein the processor is programmed to compare a position or speed of a first target carrier of the plurality of target carriers and a position or speed of a second target carrier of the plurality of target carriers and adjust drive signals sent to the motor associated with the first target carrier to adjust the speed or position of the first target carrier in response to determined position or speed of the second target carrier.
3 more elements
A non-transient computer readable medium containing data and instructions for causing a computer to perform method steps to control a speed and a location of a track-mounted target carrier, the method comprising the steps of:
- calibrating an absolute track position sensor of the track-mounted target carrier to form a calibrated absolute track position sensor;
- receiving at a central controller an instruction from a user to move a target to a predetermined location;
- sending instructions to the track-mounted target carrier to move the target to the predetermined location;
- and
- comparing an actual location of the track-mounted target carrier determined by the calibrated absolute track position sensor with the predetermined location.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.