IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0999181
(2004-11-29)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Johnson,Eric Arthur
- Kulesza,Joseph Duane
- VanEvery,Eric
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Advanced Design Consulting USA, Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
13 인용 특허 :
21 |
초록
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A system and method for collecting data on small-arms usage in the form of a device which is mounted to the firearm so as to be able to sense at least an impulse in the firearm due to firing. The device is mounted to the gun so as to detect impulses due to firing. A processor accepts impulse signals
A system and method for collecting data on small-arms usage in the form of a device which is mounted to the firearm so as to be able to sense at least an impulse in the firearm due to firing. The device is mounted to the gun so as to detect impulses due to firing. A processor accepts impulse signals from the sensor, and uses either a hold-off delay or a windowing time to determine and store information related to the firing of the firearm. This information may be any combination of temperature, firing rate, firing intervals and time data for subsequent analysis, and, optionally, information identifying the weapon to which the device is attached. The device preferably has an interface to transfer data from the device to a computer or other data collection device.
대표청구항
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What is claimed is: 1. A device for collecting data on usage of a firearm having a barrel, comprising: a single impulse sensor mounted on the firearm producing an impulse signal on a signal output in response to sensing an impulse in the firearm; a processor having an input coupled to the signal ou
What is claimed is: 1. A device for collecting data on usage of a firearm having a barrel, comprising: a single impulse sensor mounted on the firearm producing an impulse signal on a signal output in response to sensing an impulse in the firearm; a processor having an input coupled to the signal output, the processor being programmed such that: when a signal on the signal output of the impulse sensor is detected, a timer window of determined length is started, the length of the timer window is chosen so as to capture all events in one shot without capturing events from a succeeding shot; if at least one other impulse signal is detected during the timer window, a shot is sensed; a memory coupled to the processor, for storing information related to shots sensed by the processor. 2. The device of claim 1, in which the impulse sensor is an accelerometer. 3. The device of claim 1, in which the impulse sensor is an encapsulated piezoelectric slab. 4. The device of claim 1, in which the impulse sensor is oriented parallel to the barrel of the firearm. 5. The device of claim 1, in which the impulse sensor is oriented orthogonal to the barrel of the firearm. 6. The device of claim 1, in which the signal is caused by firing the firearm, and at least one other signal is caused by a rebound of the action of the firearm. 7. The device of claim 1, in which the information stored in the memory is stored a statistical histogram format. 8. The device of claim 1, in which the information stored in the memory comprises date and time that each shot was fired. 9. The device of claim 1, in which the memory is non-volatile memory. 10. The device of claim 1, in which the information stored in the memory comprises identifying data regarding the firearm, selected from the group comprising serial number, barrel number, model number and last date of service. 11. The device of claim 1, in which the length of the time window is variable. 12. The device of claim 1, in which the device is built into a grip of a firearm. 13. The device of claim 1, in which the length of the timer window is 80% or less of an interval between shots at a maximum rate of fire. 14. The device of claim 13, in which the length of the timer window is 50% or less of an interval between shots at a maximum rate of fire. 15. The device of claim 1, in which the information stored in the memory comprises an interval between firing of shots. 16. The device of claim 15, in which the interval between shots is used by the processor to derive a fire rate for the firearm, and the information stored in the memory comprises a maximum fire rate. 17. The device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor coupled to the barrel of the firearm and the processor, in which the information stored in the memory comprises temperature of the barrel as each shot is fired. 18. The device of claim 17, in which the temperature sensor is a thermocouple in contact with the barrel. 19. The device of claim 17, in which the temperature sensor is an infrared detector. 20. The device of claim 17, further comprising at least one amplifier having an input coupled to the temperature sensor and an output coupled to the processor. 21. The device of claim 20, in which the processor is programmed to apply power to the amplifier only during a measurement period, such that power consumption is reduced. 22. The device of claim 1, further comprising an interface coupled to the processor, for transferring data from the device to an external data collection device. 23. The device of claim 22, further comprising an external data collection device comprising a programmed computer coupled to the processor through the interface. 24. The device of claim 1, further comprising a case housing at least the processor and the memory. 25. The device of claim 24, in which the case further comprises a mounting rail for mounting the case to the barrel, and a heat shield for providing thermal insulation between the case and the barrel. 26. The device of claim 24, in which the device further comprises clips for attaching the case to the barrel, and a thermal insulator adhesively applied to the case, for providing thermal insulation between the case and the barrel. 27. The device of claim 26, further comprising a temperature sensor embedded within a contact surface of the thermal insulator, such that the sensor is in contact with the barrel of the firearm when the case is mounted to the barrel by the clips, the sensor being coupled to the processor, and the information stored in the memory comprises temperature of the barrel as each shot is fired. 28. The device of claim 24, in which the device further comprises a strap for attaching the case to the barrel and a plurality of segments of thermal insulator for providing thermal insulation between the case and the barrel, the segments being clamped to the barrel by the strap, the case being attached to one of the plurality of segments. 29. The device of claim 28, further comprising a temperature sensor passing through one of the segments of thermal insulator, such that the sensor is in contact with the barrel of the firearm when the case is mounted to the barrel by the strap, the sensor being coupled to the processor, and the information stored in the memory comprises temperature of the barrel as each shot is fired. 30. A method of collecting data on usage of a firearm having a barrel, comprising the steps of: mounting a single impulse sensor on the firearm, the accelerometer producing a signal on a signal output in response to sensing an impulse in the firearm; processing the signal in a processor, such that: when a signal on the signal output of the impulse sensor is detected, a timer window of determined length is started, the length of the timer window is chosen so as to capture all events in one shot without capturing events from a succeeding shot; if at least one other impulse signal is detected during the timer window, a shot is sensed; storing information related to shots sensed by the processor in a memory. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of sensing barrel temperature after a shot is detected and in which step of storing information comprises storing information on barrel temperature in the memory. 32. The method of claim 30, in which the step of storing information comprises storing date and time that each shot was fired in the memory. 33. The method of claim 30, in which the information stored in the memory is stored a statistical histogram format. 34. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of storing identifying data in the memory regarding the firearm, selected from the group comprising serial number, barrel number, model number and last date of service. 35. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of unloading the stored information from the memory to an external data collection device comprising a programmed computer coupled to the processor through an interface. 36. The method of claim 30, in which step of storing information comprises storing an interval between firing of shots. 37. The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of deriving a fire rate for the firearm from the interval between shots, and in which step of storing information comprises storing a maximum fire rate in the data. 38. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of switching the processor to a power saving sleep mode if a determined time period has elapsed after sensing a shot. 39. The method of claim 38, further comprising the step of releasing the processor from sleep mode when there is a signal on the output of the impulse sensor.
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