U.S. patent application number 11/068259 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-01 for method and apparatus for detecting and identifying firearms.
Invention is credited to Leslie, Dennis.
Application Number | 20050262751 11/068259 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35423622 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050262751 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leslie, Dennis |
December 1, 2005 |
Method and apparatus for detecting and identifying firearms
Abstract
A system for detecting the presence of firearms and identifying
their unique status includes a radiofrequency identification chip
supported within each firearm either by the manufacturer or by
later retrofit. The RFID chip stores the unique serial number for
the firearm, preferably in nonvolatile form. A reader for the chips
may be used to transmit an interrogating signal from a distance
which causes the chip to send a responsive signal including its
serial number. The reader picks up the serial number and provides
it to an associated computer. The serial number so obtained may be
used with databases to maintain inventories of firearms or
determine the history of firearms.
Inventors: |
Leslie, Dennis; (Taylor,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GIFFORD, KRASS, GROH, SPRINKLE & CITKOWSKI, P.C
PO BOX 7021
TROY
MI
48007-7021
US
|
Family ID: |
35423622 |
Appl. No.: |
11/068259 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60549128 |
Mar 1, 2004 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
42/70.01 ;
42/1.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 17/063 20130101;
F41A 17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
042/070.01 ;
042/001.01 |
International
Class: |
F41A 009/53 |
Claims
1. A method of detecting firearms, comprising: embedding a
transponder unit encoded with a serial number for the firearm in
the firearm; and transmitting an interrogating radiofrequency
signal from a reader which is received by the transponder and
causes the transponder to trigger transmission of a responding
signal for reception by the reader, including an identification of
the serial number of the firearm.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the transponder comprises an RFID
unit.
3. The system of claim 2 where the RFID unit is a single chip.
4. The method of claim 1 further including transmitting the serial
number of the firearm from the reader to a computer having access
to a database relating to the firearm.
5. The method of claim 4 in which the database is located remotely
from the computer and communication between the two is
wireless.
6. A system for detecting firearms comprising: a plurality of
firearms having RFID chips embedded within them, each RFID chip
being encoded with the serial number of the associated firearm; a
reader for transmitting a radiofrequency interrogating signal which
may be picked up by RFID chips within its transmission area and
will trigger the RFID chips responding to a signal, including the
serial number of the associated handgun for reception by the
reader; and a computer operative to receive the serial numbers
received by the reader and to generate an output signal.
7. The system of claim 6 in which the RFID chips are digital and
passive, using the energy in the interrogating signal to generate a
responding signal.
8. The system of claim 6 wherein the RFID chips are active,
employing a battery to power the chip.
9. The system of claim 6 wherein the RFID chip is supported in a
cavity formed in the hand stock of the firearm.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein the RFID chip is supported within
the cavity on a base of a radiofrequency absorbing material.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein the radiofrequency absorbing
material is an elastomer.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the RFID chip is formed on a
polyester film with an imprinted antenna embedded with a silicon
chip.
13. The system of claim 10 wherein the RFID chip is formed on
polyester film with an etched antenna embedded with a silicon
chip.
14. A firearm for use with a firearm detection and identification
system, comprising: a cavity formed on the surface of the firearm;
and an RFID chip supported within the cavity, the RFID chip being
encoded with the serial number of the firearm; whereby an RFID chip
reader can determine the presence and serial number of the firearm
bearing the chip remotely.
15. The firearm of claim 14 further including an RF absorbing
elastomer base separating the chip from the cavity.
16. The firearm of claim 15 wherein the RFID chip is formed on a
polyester film with a printed antenna embedded with a silicon chip.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/549,128 filed Mar. 1, 2004, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to a system for remotely detecting
the presence of a firearm and identifying the serial number of the
firearm employing radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags
embedded in firearms and remote readers for the RFID tags.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There are many situations in which it is desirable to have
the ability to detect the presence of a firearm from a distance
and, in certain situations, to determine a serial number assigned
to the firearm. For example, when police officers approach a parked
vehicle it is often of importance for them to know whether a
firearm is contained in the vehicle. The officers' approach to the
situation can be critically dependent upon this knowledge.
Similarly, it is common practice to screen persons entering public
places such as schools, airports, concerts and the like for
firearms. In these applications it would be very advantageous to be
able to determine whether a firearm was carried by a person without
actually searching the person. Present systems for conducting such
searches, including x-ray systems and the like, are extremely
expensive and relatively slow in operation.
[0004] Systems that can detect and identify a serial number of
firearms from a distance would also be extremely useful to
inventory firearms in police stations and the like to prevent them
from being misplaced or stolen.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention detects the presence of firearms by
embedding an RFID tag into the firearm in such a manner that it
could be interrogated by a remote reader. Conventional RFID chips
incorporate nonvolatile memories which can store information such
as the serial number of the firearm and further include electronic
circuitry for receiving an interrogating signal from a remote
reader device and responding to the interrogation signal by sending
out a signal including the serial number stored in the RFID
chip.
[0006] Those RFID chips which are commercially available have
employed digital circuitry, but development work is underway on
RFID chips employing analog circuitry which could be readily
employed with the present invention. While commercially available
chips have employed silicon circuitry, reports of development work
on chips employing quartz crystals have been made and they could be
equally employed in the present invention.
[0007] The RFID chips employed with the present invention are
preferably of the passive type which include circuitry for
converting at least a portion of the received signals from the
interrogator into electrical power required by the chip for signal
processing and transmission. Thus, no data is required and the unit
is essentially permanent. Alternatively, the present invention
could be employed with active chips employing long life, low power
batteries. The RFID chips are preferably programmed to store the
serial number of the firearms in their nonvolatile memories.
[0008] Broadly, the method of the present invention involves
detecting a firearm from a distance by transmitting an
interrogating signal to RFID chips and detecting the responses
which will preferably include the serial number. The absence of any
response indicates that there is no firearm equipped with an RFID
chip in the immediate area. If a plurality of responses are
received, the reader preferably includes computer circuitry for
separating and identifying the separate signals. These techniques
are well known to those skilled in the RFID art. The reader may be
associated with a computer system which can include, either locally
or remotely, a database of firearm serial numbers for the purpose
of identifying firearms which have been stolen or the like. A
central database might be provided and the Internet or other public
network used to communicate information from a local reader to the
database.
[0009] The RFID chips of the present invention may be built into
the firearm during manufacture or added subsequently. Preferably,
laws could be passed requiring the implantation of chips in
firearms previous to the sale. The serial numbers of firearms sold
with the RFID chips would be transmitted to a central database
which might be interrogated to determine the identity of a
particular firearm. The database might further store information
relating to a particular firearm after sale such as resale, use in
criminal activity, etc.
[0010] By way of example, a police officer who has stopped a
vehicle might transmit an interrogating signal to the vehicle, and
upon receiving the serial number of a firearm located in the
vehicle, send that serial number, via the Internet or the like, to
the central database to retrieve any available history relating to
the firearm. If the history included the fact that the firearm had
been stolen or had been used in a criminal activity, the officer
would be alerted as to precautions to be used with respect to the
vehicle. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the computer
system associated with the reader would automatically communicate
with the central database to retrieve stored information relating
to a particular serial number when that serial number was received
in response to an interrogating signal.
[0011] The RFID chips of the present invention are preferably
retained in a recess formed in the body of the firearm having an
exposed surface so as to allow the easy reception and transmission
of interrogating and responding signals. If the body of the firearm
is of a ferromagnetic material such as steel, the chip might be
supported on a radiofrequency absorbing elastomer layer or other
absorbing substrate material to prevent interference with the
transmission and reception of signals.
[0012] The RFID chip may be of any conventional commercially
available form but preferably takes the form of a polyester film
with a printed or etched antenna embedded with a silicon chip. This
is the type of chip that is commonly used to identify commercial
shipments. The reader may take the form of a portable device which
may be carried by police officers and the like or may alternatively
be a permanent device stationed at the entrance to stadiums,
theaters, schools and other mass attendance venues in which it
would be desirable to detect the presence of firearms. The reader
incorporates a transmitter which sends an RF signal of the
frequency to which the RFID chips are sensitive and a receiver for
the transponder signals returned by the RFID chips. It also
preferably includes a computer for processing the signals and for
communicating with the central database to obtain the history of a
particular firearm.
[0013] If the firearm is made of a nonferromagnetic material or has
a nonferromagnetic section such as a butt or handle, the cavity for
the chips may be formed directly in this nonferromagnetic section.
Weapons which are made from steel typically have wood or plastic
handgrips, and this affords a convenient position in which to place
the chip. In the cases of weapons made entirely from ferromagnetic
materials, a cavity in the weapon may be lined with a
radiofrequency-absorbing elastomer or other
radiofrequency-absorbing material to shield the chip from fields
which might be induced through the ferromagnetic sections.
[0014] Inventory systems for firearm repositories in a police
station, army base or the like may be monitored by having a reader
that periodically reads the serial numbers of all of the weapons in
the repository and stores this information on a computer. When a
firearm is removed from the repository, means will be provided to
allow an authorized person to enter his identification so that the
computer may store a record of all firearms contained in the
facility and those which are checked out and to whom they were
checked out. An alarm system may be activated by removal of a
weapon without providing the proper identification.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] Other objects, advantages and applications of the invention
will be made apparent by the following detailed description. The
description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in
which:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for detecting and
identifying a handgun including a reader for RFID chips which
communicates with a chip supported in the handgun, a computer which
receives the output of the reader and communicates with a remote
database associated with a central computer to determine the
history of the identified weapon, and a display for providing
associated information to the user of the system;
[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a typical handgun having an RFID chip
disposed in a recess formed in the hand stock;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hand stock of FIG. 2
taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2; and
[0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an inventory system for
handguns involving a controlled area and a computer for maintaining
an inventory of the weapons in the area through an RFID reader.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to the drawings, a typical system employing the
method of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. A handgun
10 having a handgrip 12 is conventional except for the formation of
a socket 14 which constitutes a recess in the surface of the
handgrip. The socket supports an RFID chip 16 which is programmed
to retain the serial number of the handgun as assigned during its
manufacture or later retrofit. The RFID chip is preferably of the
digital, passive type typically employed with shipment containers.
The RFID chip is of relatively small dimensions, such as one or two
centimeters, and of a thickness of a fraction of a centimeter. The
cavity 14 has sufficient thickness so that the surface of the chip
does not extend into the grip area. It may be covered in such a way
as to be substantially invisible.
[0021] A reader 18 for the RFID chip 16 is capable of sending an
interrogating signal to the chip from a substantial distance such
as in excess of fifty feet away. Improved versions of the RFID
chips and their readers will in the future likely have a
substantially greater range. The reader is of the conventional type
which may be commercially available and, when actuated, operates to
send an interrogating signal out on an omnidirectional basis. If a
chip compatible with the interrogating signal is within range of
the reader, the chip will receive the signal, store RF energy
contained in the interrogating signal, and use that energy to
transmit a responsive signal encoding the serial number stored in
the chip 16. If no compatible RFID chip is within the range, no
responsive signal will be received. In the event a number of
devices embedded with RFID chips are within the range, a plurality
of signals will be received and conventional technology will be
used to separate the signals. This program is embedded in a
computer 20 connected to the reader 18. The computer includes a
display 22 which may be a numeric or graphic display for displaying
the serial number of responding chips.
[0022] In a preferred embodiment of the invention the computer 20
has transceiver capability and connects through a network,
preferably a public network such as the Internet 24, with a central
computer 26. A single central computer will preferably be located
to service a large area such as a state or the entire nation. The
computer 26 includes a database 28 which stores information
relating to the serial numbers such as their date of manufacture
and any history of the particular firearm which may be entered from
time to time, such as the gun's registered owner, its use in
crimes, having been reported stolen, etc. This information is
transmitted back from the central computer 26 to the local computer
20 through the Internet 24 and an output is generated on the
display 22 indicating the reported history of the particular
firearm 10.
[0023] In a typical application a police officer stops a vehicle
for a traffic infraction or other reason. A reader supported on the
police officer's person or in the police officer's vehicle will
include a reader which sends out an interrogating signal. If the
vehicle contains a firearm equipped with an RFID chip in accordance
with the present invention, the tag will receive the interrogating
signal and send back to the reader its unique serial number. The
fact that the vehicle contains a firearm may be sufficient
information for the police officer to take appropriate action. In
alternative situations the computer associated with the police
officer's vehicle will send a signal to the central computer 26 to
obtain the stored history of the firearm to further provide the
police officer with information which will enable an appropriate
action for the situation. There may be a wireless communication
system between a portable reader carried by the police officer and
a computer located in the police vehicle which can then communicate
with the central database.
[0024] FIG. 2 is a more detailed view of a typical handgun 30
equipped with an RFID chip. The handgun 30 has steel sections but
it employs a plastic handgrip 32. The recess 14 is formed in the
handgrip and supports an RFID chip 16. The surface of the chip is
preferably flush with or below the surface of the handgrip so as to
not interfere with the firing of the handgun. The chip may be
covered in such a way as to make removal of the RFID chip very
difficult. As illustrated in the cross-sectional view of the hand
stock 32 of the gun, illustrated in FIG. 3, an RF absorbing base
such as an elastomer material 32 may be placed beneath or around
the chip 16 to minimize interference from the steel parts of the
gun.
[0025] An embodiment of the invention used for inventorying a
number of firearms equipped with the RFID chips of the present
invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. The controlled storage area,
generally indicated at 40, may be a closed cage accessed by a door
42. An RFID chip reader 44 is centrally disposed within the storage
area 40 and is in communication with a computer 46. At regular
intervals, such as once a minute, the computer energizes the reader
44 to send out an interrogating signal. The responses from the
firearms within the controlled area 40 will be picked up by the
reader 44 and provided to the computer 46 which includes software
for separating the responses and storing the serial numbers of the
firearms responding. The computer may also store a list of the
firearms that are normally stored in the controlled area and
compare the two lists and feed the information to a display 48.
[0026] The controlled area 40 may include a card reader 50 or other
input device which allows a person removing a firearm from the area
40 to provide authorizing input. That person may then remove a
handgun and the computer 46 will maintain a record of who removed a
particular handgun. When a firearm is removed from the controlled
area 40 without authorization, an alarm 52 may be energized to
alert responsible parties. When a firearm is replaced within the
enclosure 40, the party doing so will indicate his authorization to
the input unit 50 and the computer 46 will correct the
inventory.
[0027] It should be recognized that the systems of the present
invention could be used with walk-through systems of the type used
at airports and the like which would incorporate RFID readers. The
system might also be used with crowd control officers and for
general security purposes.
[0028] Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim:
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