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The state-of-the-art electronics used within our
galleries are designed for maximum endurance and durability, ease of use
and maintenance, and low-cost. Technically speaking, the electronics
used in our galleries are classified as multi-master, distributed
control networks of embedded controllers. The following is a brief
overview describing the system operation from a technical point of view.
The system is designed to accommodate any number of rifle stations
between 2 and 22 and many, many star targets. Since it is common to have
many people playing the game simultaneously, a system was incorporated
to ensure each person gets credit for their shots and not the shots of
others. Here's how it works:
When power is applied, a credit for just one shot is granted for
each rifle. The attendant then pulls the trigger of any rifle to get the
process rolling. That rifle station then starts the "muxing". Muxing is
the process whereby an electronic signal (the baton, like the baton
passed from one relay runner to another) is passed from one rifle
controller to the next. When a rifle trigger is pulled, the bullet is
generated only upon the receipt of the baton. If a star target is hit
while it displays a score-bearing pattern, a score will signal be
generated; of course if all star targets were missed, or if the star
target was hit during a non-scoring pattern, no score signal will be
generated. In either case, the rifle controller will hold the baton for
a short period of time while it samples the scoring bus (to which all
start targets are connected). After this time has elapsed and the score,
if any, was attributed to the deserving patron, the baton is passed to
the next rifle controller.
The muxing process ensures that only one rifle can fire at a time,
thereby isolating each shot, even if users were to pull their triggers
at exactly the same time. This process occurs so quickly that even if
all 22 rifles fired at the same time, the maximum delay time (worst
case) would not be perceptible to the user.
There are easier ways to achieve nearly the same
results, but other methods would not afford you the customer the
following benefits:
- No possible electronic conflicts ensure life-long faithful service
of electronic components
Each rifle, and its controller, are identical - no serialization
to establish and maintain.
- All ICs (integrated circuits - chips) that could possibly be
upgraded are mounted in sockets so they may be easily exchanged for new
ones without sending the system back to the factory.
- Accurate scoring; the muxing action eliminates the possibility of
two or more patrons firing at the same time and quite possibly "losing"
their shots and scores to one another or altogether.
- Reduced amount of wiring and lower component count.
- Identical electronics throughout the system contribute to keep the
overall cost low
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