초록

Electronic firearm for firing electrically activated ammunition comprising a system control means for controlling and regulating firing, diagnostic functions, power consumption, and a process for operating the firearm.

대표청구항 ▼

1. In an electronic firearm for firing electrically activated ammunition, comprising a barrel attached to a receiver , a chamber formed in the barrel adjacent to the receiver, the receiver being and adapted to receive at least one round of electrically fired ammunition, the barrel and receiver encas

1. In an electronic firearm for firing electrically activated ammunition, comprising a barrel attached to a receiver , a chamber formed in the barrel adjacent to the receiver, the receiver being and adapted to receive at least one round of electrically fired ammunition, the barrel and receiver encased in a stock, a moveable bolt assembly positioned within the receiver, the bolt assembly being adapted to convey a round of ammunition from the receiver into the chamber of the barrel, the bolt assembly comprising a bolt body, a bolt handle capable of moving the bolt assembly among open, closed, and the closed and locked positions, and an electrically conductive firing pin, a trigger assembly operatively connected to the bolt assembly , a voltage supply means, and a safety mechanism having at least a safe and fire position , the improvement comprising:A. A system control means receiving power from the voltage supply means, programmed to control firing, safety, power conservation, and diagnostic functions upon actuation of the trigger assembly, the system control means comprising: i. Voltage increasing means connected to transmit increased voltage to the firing pin; ii. Switching means for isolating the firing pin from the voltage increasing means, and the voltage increasing means from the voltage supply means, the switching means being activated upon the occurrence of at least one condition selected from: a. the absence of a round of ammunition within the chamber of the barrel; b. the safety mechanism being in the a safe position; c. the bolt being in the unlocked position; d. the bolt being in the open position; e. the passing of a predetermined period of inactivity of the firearm; and f. d. the failure or malfunction of the system control means or any component connected thereto; iii. Means for electronically detecting the presence of a round of ammunition within the chamber of the barrel; iv. Means for monitoring the capacity of the voltage supply means; and v. Electronic safety operatively connected to the safety mechanism for preventing voltage from reaching the firing pin when the safety mechanism is in the safe position and for preventing the system control means from detecting a trigger pull when the safety mechanism is in the safe position; B. Electronic trigger switch operatively connected to the trigger and the system control means, the electronic trigger switch adapted to send a signal to the system control means when the trigger is pulled; C. Electrical isolation means insulating the body of the firing pin, the firing pin having a forward conductive end and a rearward conductive area, the forward conductive end positioned to transmit voltage to a round of ammunition within the chamber of the barrel only when the bolt assembly is in a closed and locked position, the rearward conductive area positioned to receive voltage only when the bolt assembly is in the closed and locked position; and D. At least one indicator operatively connected to the system control means . 2. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the and further including a bolt assembly has having front and rear ends and which is movably positioned within the a receiver, positioned behind and substantially aligned with the barrel, the bolt assembly comprising a hollow bolt body operatively connected at its rear end to a hollow bolt plug, a bolt handle on the rear of the bolt assembly, a movable firing pin assembly within the bolt body having forward and rearward ends, and a firing pin spring to bias the firing pin assembly forward by acting between the bolt plug and the rear a rear end of the firing pin assembly .3. A firearm of claim 2 wherein the bolt plug is sealed at its rear end, and the firing pin assembly within the bolt body comprises further comprising a firing pin plunger at its rearward end, the firing pin plunger positioned within the bolt plug and operatively connected to a firing pin plug, a firing pin plunger insulator between the firing pin plunger and the firing pin plug, and a firing pin at the forward end of the firing pin assembly, a with the firing pin spring positioned between the sealed rear end of the bolt plug and the rearward rear end of the firing pin plunger to bias the firing pin forward by acting on the firing pin plunger, a firing pin shoulder within the front end of the bolt body positioned to restrict the forward movement of the firing pin, the rearward movement of the firing pin being limited by the plunger contacting the rear of the bolt plug, a bolt head operatively connected to the front end of the bolt body having lugs positioned to engage slots extending from the front of the receiver into the rear of the chamber of the barrel, a firing pin contact at the rear end of the bolt assembly positioned to connect the rearward conductive area of the firing pin with an electrical contact on a the trigger assembly when the bolt assembly is in the closed and locked position, a bolt plug assembly comprising the hollow bolt plug, a bolt plug detent on the bolt plug, a bolt plug detent spring positioned between the bolt plug and the bolt plug detent to bias the bolt plug detent forward, and a projection on the bolt plug detent positioned to engage the trigger assembly when the bolt is closed.4. A firearm of claim 3 wherein the firing pin plug and the firing pin are adapted to be adjustably connected to permit adjustment of the firing pin in relation to the firing pin plug so that the forward tip of the firing pin is adjustable with respect to the bolt face when the firing pin is in its rearwardmost position.5. A firearm of claim 3 wherein the firing pin plug is a threaded firing pin adjustment screw adapted to fit into a threaded aperture in the rear end of the bolt plug, and the firing pin assembly comprises the firing pin adjustment screw at its rearward end, the screw operatively connected to a firing pin plunger , and wherein the firing pin at the forward end of the firing pin assembly plug is operatively connected to the firing pin plunger, and a with the firing pin plunger insulator between the firing pin plunger and the firing pin plunger plug, the firing pin assembly being is biased forward by the firing pin spring acting on the firing pin plunger and the rear of the bolt plug.6. A firearm of claim 3 wherein the projection on the bolt plug detent, biased forward by the bolt plug detent spring, is positioned to contact a projection on the rear end of the trigger assembly and wherein the bolt assembly, when in the closed and locked position, is biased rearward by the interaction of the detent and the mating projection, securing the bolt assembly in position with the help of the interaction of the lugs with the slots in the receiver.7. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the system control means is selected from at least one of the group consisting of software, firmware, microcode, microprocessor, microcontroller, discrete digital logic, discrete analog logic, and custom integrated logic.8. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the system control means is a microcontroller.9. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the system control means is positioned within the stock.10. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the system control means iis external from the firearm.11. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the system control means is a removable modular circuit board.12. A firearm of claim 11 wherein the circuit board comprises a protective surface modification.13. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the voltage increasing means is a boost converter comprising at least one inductor, diode, capacitor, and switch.14. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the and further comprising means for electronically detecting the presence of a round of ammunition within the chamber of the barrel comprises , including at least two electrodes one electrode positioned to contact electrically conductive portions of a round of ammunition within the chamber.15. A firearm of claim 14 wherein said at least one electrode is comprises the firing pin.16. A firearm of claim 14 wherein the means for electronically detecting the presence of a round of ammunition within the chamber further comprises means for determining whether the detected round is viable.17. A firearm of claim 16 wherein the means for determining whether the detected round is viable comprises means for measurement of the DC resistance of the round.18. A firearm of claim 16 wherein the means for determining whether the detected round is viable comprises means for measurement of the AC impedance of the round.19. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the and further including an electrical isolation means comprises comprising a modification of the a surface of the firing pin.20. A firearm of claim 16 19 wherein the surface modification comprises ion implantation.21. A firearm of claim 1 19 wherein the electrical isolation means comprises an insulating coating.22. A firearm of claim 21 wherein the insulating coating comprises amorphous diamond.23. A firearm of claim 21 wherein the insulating coating comprises ceramic.24. A firearm of claim 23 wherein the ceramic is selected from the group consisting of alumina and magnesia stabilized zirconia.25. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the and further including an electrical isolation means comprises comprising an insulating sleeve surrounding the firing pin.26. A firearm of claim 1 further comprising blind mate circuitry connections operatively connecting and providing electronic signals, commands, and power to all electronic components associated with the receiver, chamber of the barrel, and stock of the firearm.27. A firearm of claim 26 wherein the blind mate circuitry connections are wired in place in the stock, and the barrel assembly of the firearm, so that the connections are broken and made when the firearm is disassembled and reassembled, respectively.28. A firearm of claim 1 further comprising a system authorization switch.29. A firearm of claim 28 wherein the system authorization switch comprises a key switch to activate the system control means.30. A firearm of claim 1 and wherein the system control means and electronic safety are adapted to isolate the firing pin when the safety mechanism is in the safe position by rejecting signals received from the trigger switch assembly (a) when the trigger assembly is pulled activated, and (b) when the trigger assembly is pulled activated and held while the safety mechanism is switched from the safe position to the a fire position.31. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the system control means is adapted to cause energy stored in the voltage increasing means to be diverted to a secondary discharge path upon isolation of the firing pin.32. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the system control means is adapted to monitor the level of voltage emanating from the voltage supply means.33. A firearm of claim 32 wherein the system control means is adapted to cause the switching means to isolate the firing pin upon the detection of power emanating from the voltage supply means in excess of a predetermined level.34. A firearm of claim 32 wherein the switching means is activated by the system control means to isolate the firing pin upon the detection of voltage emanating from the voltage supply means below a predetermined level.35. A firearm of claim 1 wherein the system control means is adapted to monitor the level of voltage emanating from the voltage increasing means.36. A firearm of claim 35 wherein the system control means is adapted to cause the switching means to isolate the firing pin upon the detection of power emanating from the voltage increasing means in excess of a predetermined level.37. A firearm of claim 35 wherein the switching means is activated by the system control means to isolate the firing pin upon the detection of voltage emanating from the voltage increasing means below a predetermined level.38. In a process for firing electrically activated ammunition from an electronic firearm comprising a barrel attached to a receiver , a chamber formed in the barrel adjacent to the receiver, the receiver being and adapted to receive at least one round of electrically fired ammunition, the barrel and receiver encased in a stock, a moveable bolt assembly positioned within the receiver, the bolt assembly being adapted to convey a round of ammunition from the receiver into the chamber of the barrel, the bolt assembly comprising a bolt body, a bolt handle capable of moving the bolt assembly among open, closed, and closed and locked positions, and an electrically conductive firing pin, a trigger assembly operatively connected to the bolt assembly , a voltage supply means for supplying a voltage to the firing pin, and a safety having at least a safe and a fire position , the improvement comprising:A. Controlling and coordinating all firing, safety, power conservation, and diagnostic functions, and regulating the distribution of power to the firing pin through a system control by; i. Increasing the voltage from the voltage supply means, and regulating Regulating the transmission of the increased voltage to the firing pin; ii. Conserving power by isolating the firing pin from the voltage increasing means, and the voltage increasing means from the voltage supply means, upon the occurrence of at least one condition selected from: a. the absence of a round of ammunition within the chamber of the barrel; b. the safety being in the a safe position; c. the bolt being in the unlocked position; d. the bolt being in the open position; e. the passing of a predetermined period of inactivity of the firearm; d. a system authorization switch being in an off position; f e. the failure or malfunction of the system control means or any component connected thereto; and iii. Electronically detecting the presence of ammunition within the chamber of the barrel; iv. Monitoring the capacity of the voltage supply means; and v. Preventing voltage from reaching the firing pin when the safety is in the safe position and preventing the system control from accepting the a signal from the trigger switch assembly generated by a trigger pull acutation of the trigger assembly when the safety is in the safe position; B. Sending a signal to the system control means when the trigger is pulled; and C. Indicating the status of the firearm . 39. A process of claim 38 further comprising detecting the presence of a round of ammunition within the chamber, and determining whether a detected round of ammunition within the chamber is viable.40. A process of claim 38 further comprising visually indicating the status of the firearm.41. The firearm of claim 1 and further including at least one indicator operatively connected to the system control means. 42. The firearm of claim 1 and wherein the firing pin includes a forward conductive end for transmitting voltage to a round of ammunition within the chamber, and a rearward conductive area to receive voltage from the voltage increasing means. 43. A process of claim 38 and further including electronically detecting the presence of a round of ammunition within the chamber of the barrel. 44. A process of claim 38 and further including monitoring the capacity of the voltage supply means. 45. A process of claim 38 and further including preventing voltage from reaching the firing pin when the safety is in a safe position. 46. An electronic firearm, comprising:a barrel; a chamber in which a round of electrically fired ammunition is received; a conductive firing pin for transmitting power to the round of ammunition; a voltage supply for supplying power for initiating firing of the round of ammunition; a system control powered by said voltage supply and monitoring the firearm, for controlling the firing of the round of ammunition, said system control including a switching means for isolating said firing pin from receiving power supplied by said voltage supply upon the occurrence of at least one of the following conditions: a. insufficient energy to initiate the firing of the round of ammunition; b. detection of voltage from said voltage supply below a predetermined level; c. detection of voltage from said voltage supply above a predetermined level; d. absence of a round of ammunition in said chamber; e. lack of viability of the round of ammunition; f. inactivity of the firearm for a predetermined time; g. a system authorization switch being in an off position; and h. failure of the system control or any component connected thereto; a trigger assembly communicating with said system control and having a trigger, whereby as said trigger is activated, a signal is sent to said system control to initiate firing of the round of ammunition; and said system control further including an electronic safety operatively connected to a firearm safety mechanism and responsive to activation of said firearm safety mechanism for preventing power from reaching said firing pin and preventing said system control from detecting activation of said trigger. 47. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and wherein said system control further comprises a voltage increasing means for increasing voltage received from said voltage supply to a voltage sufficient to initiate the firing of the round of ammunition. 48. The electronic firearm of claim 47 and wherein said switching means isolates said voltage supply from said voltage increasing means. 49. The electronic firearm of claim 47 and wherein said switching means isolated said voltage increasing means from said firing pin. 50. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and further comprising an indicator communicating with said system control for indicating the status of the firearm. 51. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and further comprising a system authorization switch communicating with said system for controlling access to the firearm. 52. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and further comprising an insulating coating applied to said firing pin. 53. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and further comprising an insulating sleeve positioned about said firing pin. 54. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and wherein said system control and electronic safety are adapted to isolate said firing pin when said firearm safety mechanism is in a safe position by rejecting signals received from said trigger (a) when said trigger is activated, and (b) when said trigger is activated and held while said firearm safety mechanism is moved from a safe position to a fire position. 55. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and further icluding means for electronically detecting the presence of a round of ammunition in said chamber. 56. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and wherein said firearm safety mechanism is movable between a fire and a safe position for placing the firearm in a nonoperative condition upon movement of said firearm safety mechanism to said safe position. 57. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and wherein said system control includes programming to monitor and control the firearm including initiating the sleep mode for the firearm to place the firearm in a nonoperative condition. 58. The electronic firearm of claim 46 and wherein said system control comprises at least one of the following: a microprocessor, microcontroller, software, firmware, microcode, digital logic, analog logic; and custom integrated logic. 59. An electronic firearm, comprising:a barrel; a chamber in which a round of electrically initiated ammunition is received; a firing pin; a trigger for initiating firing of the round; a voltage supply for supplying power to said firing pin for firing the round; a system control for monitoring the firearm and controlling the power supplied to said firing pin in response to at least one condition selected from: a. insufficient energy to initiate the firing of the round of ammunition; b. detection of voltage from said voltage supply below a predetermined level; c. detection of voltage from said voltage supply above a predetermined level; d. inactivity of the firearm for a predetermined time; e. a system authorization switch being in an off position; and f. failure of said system control or any component connected thereto; said system control including a switching means for isolating said firing pin from said voltage supply to prevent the firing of the round of ammunition, and an electronic safety responsive to activation of a firearm safety for isolating said firing pin and preventing said system control from receiving a signal responsive to activation of said trigger. 60. The electronic firearm of claim 59 and further including a voltage increasing means connected to said voltage supply and said firing pin for transmitting an increased voltage to said firing pin for firing the round of ammunition. 61. The electronic firearm of claim 59 and further comprising at least one indicator communicating with said system control means for indicating the status of the firearm. 62. The electronic firearm of claim 59 and wherein said firing pin comprises a forward conductive end for transmitting voltage to a round of ammunition within the chamber, and a rearwrad conductive area to receive voltage from said voltage supply. 63. The electronic firearm of claim 59 and wherein said firing pin further includes an insulating coating applied thereto. 64. The electronic firearm of claim 59 and further including an insulative sleeve positioned about said firing pin. 65. The electronic firearm of claim 59 and further including a means for detecting the presence of a round of ammunition in said chamber. 66. The electronic firearm of claim 59 and further comprising a system authorization switch communicating with said system control means for controlling access to the firearm. 67. An electronic firearm, comprising:a barrel; a chamber in which a round of electrically initiated ammunition is received; a firing pin; a trigger for initiating firing of the round; a voltage supply for supplying power to said firing pin for firing the round; a system control for monitoring the firearm and controlling the power supplied to said firing pin in response to malfunction or failure of the system or any component connected thereto, said system control including a switching means for isolating said firing pin from said voltage supply to prevent the firing of the round of ammunition; and a means for detecting the presence of a round of ammunition in the chamber. 68. A method of firing a round of electrically-initiated ammunition from a firearm, comprising:receiving a round of ammunition within a chamber; sending a signal to a system control to initiate firing of the round of ammunition as a trigger is activated; supplying power from a voltage supply for initiating firing of the round of ammunition; electronically detecting the round of ammunition within a chamber of the firearm; monitoring the firearm with the system control and controlling the firing of the round of ammunition with the system control; isolating a firing pin of the firearm from receiving power supplied by the voltage supply upon the detection of at least one of the following conditions by the system control: a. insufficient energy to initiate the firing of the round of ammunition; b. detection of voltage from the voltage supply below a predetermined level; c. detection of voltage from the voltage supply above a predetermined level; d. absence of a round of ammunition in the chamber; e. inactivity of the firearm for a predetermined time; f. an authorization switch being in an off position; and g. failure of the system control or any component connected thereto; and transmitting power to the round of ammunition through the firing pin. 69. The method of claim 68 and further comprising increasing the voltage from the voltage supply to a level sufficient to initiate the firing of the round of ammunition, in a voltage increasing means, and isolating the voltage supply from the voltage increasing means. 70. The method of claim 69 and further comprising isolating the voltage increasing means from the firing pin. 71. The method of claim 68 and further comprising detecting viability of the round of ammunition in said chamber. 72. The method of claim 68 and further comprising initiating a sleep mode for the firearm to place the firearm in a nonoperative condition.