Abstract:
A remote target control system utilizes a telephone as an input device to enable remote control of targets. Preferably, the telephone is in the form of a cordless handset and a base unit so that the user can activate the remote control system from a substantial distance from the base unit of the telephone.

Description:
This application claims the benefit of provisional application 60/246,437, filed Nov. 7, 2000. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to mechanisms for moving targets used at shooting ranges and the like in order to test the skill of the shooter under more life-like conditions. More particularly, the present invention relates to the use of a telephone to selectively actuate targets to more accurately test the abilities of the shooter. 
     2. State of the Art 
     In order to maintain proficiency in the use of various types of firearms, it is common for law enforcement officers, military personnel and sportsmen to engage in target practice. In conventional target practice, a target, i.e. an outline of a person, vehicle or animal is held before a bullet trap (or other type of range). The trap receives bullets fired at the target and contains the bullet so that it may be retrieved and recycled. Such traps include total containment systems wherein the bullet is received in a chamber, and less expensive berm traps in which the bullet is received by a bullet deceleration medium, such as sand or small rubber granules. 
     While target practice at stationary targets improves accuracy in that context, it fails to prepare the shooter for most real life situations. For example, a police officer shooting at a stationary target may obtain a high degree of accuracy in that scenario. However, for most sportsmen, law enforcement officers and military personnel, the situation in which the real target remains stationary is rare. Usually in military or law enforcement contexts, the target will be moving, and in many cases the target may be returning (or instigating) fire. 
     To ensure that they are properly trained for such real-life conditions, it is important that law enforcement agents, military personnel and hunters have experience firing at targets are not simply stationary. In attempts to provide more realistic training scenarios, numerous systems have been designed which move the target during shooting practice. For example, a computer can be used to selectively turn targets and thereby test the reflexes of the shooter. 
     One common problem with such embodiments, however, is that the computer controls can rarely adapt to the particular strengths and weaknesses of the shooter. For example, a police officer may have very good reflexes on his or her right side, but may struggle when targets suddenly appear on his or her left side. A conventional computer program will simply run through the shooting drill. A different program must be run to address the reflex disparity. 
     Thus, there is a need for a system in which a person overseeing the target range can target control turning and movement from a remote location to better customize the target movement to the needs of the shooter. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for moving and/or turning targets and otherwise actuating target range devices, such as lights, horns, track runner targets and the like. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide such an improved method and apparatus which is easy to use and relatively inexpensive. 
     The above and other objects of the invention are realized in specific illustrated embodiments of a remote control target system and method of use which includes a target control processor, a remote control unit, and an interface for communicating between the remote control unit and the target control processor. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the remote control unit includes a telephone which is configured to send signals to the target control processor responsive to pressing keys on the telephone. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the remote control unit is formed by a cordless telephone. The handset of the cordless telephone handset is used to transmit signals responsive to pressing the keys on the handset. The handset conveys signals to the base unit, which, in turn, conveys signals to the interface. The interface then forwards the signals to the processor so that the processor turns or moves targets or other target range device in response to the user pressing keys on the cordless telephone. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of a remote target control system made in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a wiring diagram in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made to the drawings in which the various elements of the present invention will be given numeral designations and in which the invention will be discussed so as to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention. It is to be understood that the following description is only exemplary of the principles of the present invention, and should not be viewed as narrowing the pending claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is shown schematic view of a a remote target control system formed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The remote target control system includes a cordless telephone  10  with a hand set  14  and a base unit  18 . The base unit  18  is connected by a power cord  22  to a conventional power socket  26 . The base unit  18  is also connected by a telephone cord to an interface box  30 . The interface box  30  in disposed in communication with a controller  34 , which is, in turn, disposed in communication with a processor. 
     The remote target control system is a useful tool. In general, it gives you eight (8) independent channels that are controlled remotely. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the wireless control is gained by using a standard cordless telephone. This gives the user many choices. It also makes finding replacements extremely easy and prevents the user from being tied to proprietary remote controls which can be expensive to purchase. 
     The remote target control system has (3) modes to work in, Manual, Time Full Seconds, Timed Tenth of a Second. The Manual mode gives the ability to turn channels ON and OFF by a press of a key. The two Times modes offer the ability to input a time in seconds. Then turn on pre-selected channels for that given time. These modes are explained in greater detail below. 
     Setting up the Remote Target Control system 
     The remote target control system main board  42  has a 12 volt DC in  46 , phone in  50 , and 8 channel outputs  54 . The 12 volt DC in  46  is located on the left side of the board. A black temrinal strip is used to connect the 12 volts. A RED wire is for +12 volts DC. The BLACK wire is for NEGATIVE. 
     The phone jack connector  50   a  is located on the bottom side of the board. This works much like a wall phone jack in a home. Simply, plug one end into the controller board  44  and the other end into the cordless telephone  10 . 
     The telephone  10  also requires 120 voltes AC which is provided by the power chord  22  and outlet  26 . The telephone base unit  10  and the interface  30  can be 100–150 feet apart. 
     The eight outputs  54  located on top of the main board  42  in  FIG. 2  are 12 volt DC outputs. These can run target valves, and many other electrical devices. 
     User Modes 
     There are three (3) modes offered by the remote target control system of the present invention. Any mode can be switched to from any other mode. Simply, type in the command to change to that mode. The lights on the board turn on when the corresponding channel is activated. 
     Manual Mode 
     Upon power up, the remote target control system enters this mode with all channels activated. Keys  1 – 8  toggle the corresponding channel, either ON or OFF. The # key will toggle all selected channels ON or OFF. 
     The following is a list of commands used in this mode. 
     Command Function: 
     
         
         1 toggles channel one (ON/OFF) 
         2 toggles channel two (ON/OFF) 
         3 toggles channel three (ON/OFF) 
         4 toggles channel four (ON/OFF) 
         5 toggles channel five (ON/OFF) 
         6 toggles channel six (ON/OFF) 
         7 toggles channel seven (ON/OFF) 
         8 toggles channel eight (ON/OFF0 
         # toggles all selected channels (ON/OFF) 
         *OM enters Manual Mode 
         *06 enters Manual Mode 
       
    
     When a channel is turned on it becomes selected. When the # key is pressed, it toggles all selected channels OFF. The channels that were selected stay selected even though they are OFF. So, when the # key is pressed the second time, the selected channel(s) turn back ON. When no channels are activated (ON) and a number is pressed, that channel is now the only one selected. When you change to other modes, the selected channels are remembered, even though the channels may not have been activated (ON). 
     Timed, Full Second Mode 
     To enter this mode type *01. The default time is set to 1 second. To change this time press *(new time)*. Example: *5* would set the new time to 5 seconds. To execute this time, press the # key. The selected channels will turn ON for the set time, then turn OFF. 
     The following is a list of commands used in this mode. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Command 
                 Function 
                 Example 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 * (new time) * 
                 set new time 
                 *15* (sets the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 new time to 15 
               
               
                   
                   
                 seconds) 
               
               
                 # 
                 execute set time 
               
               
                 *01 
                 enters Timed, Full Second Mode 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     When a time has been executed, a new time can still be entered and executed over top of the previous time. This can be helpful when a long time was accidently executed. Say, 50 seconds was entered. This could be stopped sooner by entering a new time. 
     Timed, Tenth of a Second Mode 
     To enter this mode, type *08 or *0T. The default time is set to 0.1 second. To change this time, press *(new time)*. Example: *25* would set the new time to 2.5 seconds. To execute this time, press the # key. The selected channels will turn ON for the set time, then turn OFF. 
     The following is a list of commands used in this mode. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Command 
                 Function 
                 Example 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 * (new time) * 
                 set new time 
                 *55* (sets the 
               
               
                   
                   
                 new time to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 5.5 seconds) 
               
               
                 # 
                 execute set time 
               
               
                 *0T 
                 enters Timed, Tenth of a Second Mode 
               
               
                 *08 
                 enters Timed, Tenth of a Second Mode 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     When a time has been executed, a new time can still be entered and executed over top of the previous time. This can be helpful when a long time was accidently executed. Say, 22.5 seconds was entered. This could be stopped sooner by entering a new time. 
     CORDLESS ULTRA INTERFACE 
     Cordless Ultra Interface 
     The cordless interface  30  provides an easy way to talk to the range computer. By sending a signal to the input channels of the Modula, a cordless telephone can give commands to the computer. If installing this yourself, refer to the cordless interface install notes. This only covers operation of the cordless interface, it does not talk about installing it. 
     Message Flow 
     It is helpful to understand the flow of the message sent to the computer. When a key is pressed on the handset  14 , the signal goes to the base unit  18 . This is then sent to the cordless interface  30 . The interface  30  sends a signal to the controller  34  and the controller sends it to the processor  38 . This signal shows up on the computer as a Target Hit on the corresponding channel. Typically, the following phone keypad numbers correspond with these channels. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Phone Keypad 
                 Ultra Channel 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 1 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 2 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 3 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 4 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 5 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 6 
                 6 
               
               
                   
                 7 
                 7 
               
               
                   
                 8 
                 8 
               
               
                   
                 9 
                 9 
               
               
                   
                 0 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 * 
                 11 
               
               
                   
                 # 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Example Program 
     What the computer  38  does when a key is pressed is all up to the ultra program. This is the program running on the computer. Usually, this program is set to loop, this way it always watches the channel hit inputs. The following is a sample program of one way this can work. 
     Phone.ult (Entry Program this One Loops) 
     
         
         1. if hit1&gt;0 t=1: run Turn.ult 
         2. if hit2&gt;0 t=2: run Turn.ult 
         3. if hit3&gt;0 t=3: run Turn.ult 
         4. if hit4&gt;0 t=4: run Turn.ult 
         5. if hit5&gt;0 t=5: run Turn.ult 
         6. if hit6&gt;0 t=6: run Turn.ult 
         7. if hit7&gt;0 t=7: run Turn.ult 
         8. if hit8&gt;0 t=8: run Turn.ult 
         9. if hit9&gt;0 t=9: run Turn.ult 
         10. if hit10&gt;0 t=10: run Turn.ult 
         11. if hit 11&gt;0 run AllOn.ult 
         12. if hit12&gt;0 run AllOff.ult 
         13. update 
         14. go to 1
 
Turn.ult (this Turns the Targets for the Time that t is Set for)
 
         1. out1..maxout=on 
         2. wait t 
         3. out1..maxout=off 
         4. run Phone.ult
 
AllOn.ult (this Program When Run Turns all the Targets on and Leaves them on)
 
         1. out1..maxout−on 
         2. run Phone.ult
 
AllOff.ult (this Turns all Targets off)
 
         1. out1..maxout=off 
         2. run Phone.ult 
       
    
     These four programs work together and give full wireless turning control. The run command is used to run other programs. It is important to use the run command because it resets the hit count for all targets. 
     In light of the above-description, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention provide a significant advantage over prior art systems by eliminating cables from the shooting range firing area. Additionally, the person operating the range is given greater mobility. 
     Thus there is disclosed an improved remote target control system. Those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications which can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The appended claims are intended to cover such modifications.