U.S. patent application number 11/748942 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-05 for smart magazine for a weapon simulator and method of use.
Invention is credited to David Barrett, Igor Tavrovsky.
Application Number | 20080127538 11/748942 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39682227 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080127538 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barrett; David ; et
al. |
June 5, 2008 |
SMART MAGAZINE FOR A WEAPON SIMULATOR AND METHOD OF USE
Abstract
A weapon simulator assembly for use by an operator in weapon
simulation training includes a simulated weapon and a simulated
magazine detachably connected to the simulated weapon at a magazine
receiver. A weapon processor is housed in the simulated weapon to
monitor the number of rounds of simulated ammunition fired in
relation to the simulated magazine. When the simulated magazine,
which is identifiable by the weapon processor, is connected to the
simulated weapon, the weapon processor will recognize the magazine
by connecting with a magazine circuit having updated operating
information or by identifying the magazine according to a magnetic
signature member. The weapon processor will thereby monitor the
number of rounds of simulated ammunition fired by a particular
magazine, and disable use of the specific magazine once the
simulated magazine has used the predetermined number of simulated
rounds of ammunition.
Inventors: |
Barrett; David; (Alpharetta,
GA) ; Tavrovsky; Igor; (Marietta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SMITH, GAMBRELL & RUSSELL
SUITE 3100, PROMENADE II, 1230 PEACHTREE STREET, N.E.
ATLANTA
GA
30309-3592
US
|
Family ID: |
39682227 |
Appl. No.: |
11/748942 |
Filed: |
May 15, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60747288 |
May 15, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/1.02 ;
434/24 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41A 9/62 20130101; F41A
33/02 20130101; F41A 19/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/1.02 ;
434/24 |
International
Class: |
F41A 33/00 20060101
F41A033/00 |
Claims
1. A weapon simulator assembly for use by an operator in weapon
simulation training, said weapon simulator assembly comprising: a
simulated weapon having a magazine receiver; a weapon processor
housed in said simulated weapon; and a simulated magazine
detachably connected to said magazine receiver of said simulated
weapon, said magazine comprising means for identifying said
magazine to said weapon processor; said weapon processor connected
with said identification means to monitor the use of a
predetermined number of simulated rounds of ammunition by a user of
the simulated weapon.
2. The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 1 further
comprising: an electrical interface connecting said weapon
processor with said identification means.
3. The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 2 further
comprising: a magazine circuit housed in said simulated magazine,
said magazine circuit connected to said electrical interface for
electrical communication with said weapon processor.
4. The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 3, said
magazine circuit storing information corresponding to the simulated
ammunition available for use during the simulation, said
information transmitted to said weapon processor via said
electrical interface.
5. The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 1 further
comprising: a series of sensors connected to said weapon processor,
said sensors mounted in said magazine receiver; and means for
distinguishing said simulated magazine by said weapon processor
housed in said simulated magazine, said sensors in said weapon
processor recognizing said distinguishing means in said simulated
magazine attached to said magazine receiver.
6. The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 5, wherein
said distinguishing means comprises an arrangement of magnets in
said simulated magazine.
7. The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 6, wherein
said arrangement of magnets comprises at least one magnet in a
position complimentary to one of said sensors.
8. The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 6, wherein
said arrangement of magnets comprises at least one void in a
position complimentary to one of said sensors.
9. The weapon simulator assembly as described in claim 1, further
comprising a liquid crystal display connected to said magazine
circuit, said magazine circuit directing output onto said liquid
crystal display.
10. A weapon simulator assembly for monitoring the number of
simulated rounds of ammunition fired during simulation training,
said weapon simulator assembly comprising: a simulated weapon
housing a weapon processor, said simulated weapon having a receiver
and a receiver slot; a first electrical contact connected to said
weapon processor in said receiver; a simulated magazine detachably
connected to said receiver in said receiver slot, said simulated
magazine comprising a second electrical contact; and a magazine
processor for monitoring operation of simulated ammunition fired
using said simulated magazine, said magazine processor housed in
said simulated magazine and in electrical communication with said
weapon processor via said first electrical contact and said second
electrical contact.
11. The weapon simulator assembly of claim 10 further comprising a
liquid crystal display connected to said magazine circuit, said
magazine circuit directing output onto said liquid crystal
display.
13. A weapon simulator assembly for use in monitoring simulated
ammunition used simulation training comprising: a simulated weapon
housing a weapon processor, said simulated weapon having a receiver
and a receiver slot; and at least one sensor housed in said
simulated weapon proximate said receiver slot, said sensor in
electrical communication with said weapon processor; a simulated
magazine detachably connected to said receiver in said receiver
slot, said simulated magazine comprising a magnetic signature
member affixed to said simulated magazine, said magnetic signature
member positioned proximate said at least one sensor when said
simulated magazine is connected with said receiver, said sensor
transmitting a corresponding signal to said weapon processor to
identify said simulated magazine, said weapon processor monitoring
the use of simulated ammunition associated said identified
simulated magazine.
14. The weapon simulator assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein
said magnetic signature member comprises a magnet to identify said
simulated magazine.
15. The weapon simulator assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein
said magnetic signature member comprises a void to identify said
simulated magazine.
16. A method for monitoring the number of simulated rounds of
ammunition used in a simulated magazine used with a simulated
weapon, said method comprising the steps of: a. providing a weapon
processor housed in said simulated weapon, said weapon processor
being preset a preset number of rounds of ammunition associated
with a simulated magazine; b. connecting the simulated magazine
with the simulated weapon; c. transmitting a signal from a magazine
circuit to said weapon processor identifying the simulated magazine
and rounds of ammunition available; and d. transmitting a signal
from said weapon processor when the simulated weapon is fired to
reduce the rounds of ammunition available in said simulated
magazine.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims priority from
provisional patent application 60/747,288, which is relied upon and
incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a weapon simulation system
having simulated weapons with simulated ammunition magazines, and,
more particularly, to a weapon simulation system having a simulated
weapon that will identify and remember a particular simulated
magazine, and even more particularly, to a weapon simulation system
that will keep track of the number of simulated rounds of
ammunition that have been expended from a particular magazine when
the simulated magazine has been detached and reattached to the
simulated weapon.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] When military and/or police personnel are engaged in
tactical training situations, they use simulated weapons that are
designed to imitate actual firearms that are used in their field.
Such firearms frequently use detachable magazines, which typically
requires that the operator carry a number of magazines loaded with
ammunition so that they can rapidly re-load their weapon as
needed.
[0004] To provide a realistic experience when training personnel
using weapon simulator systems incorporating simulated weapons with
simulated detachable magazines, weapon simulator systems have been
designed so that the trainee is able to carry a number of simulated
magazines to be used with the simulated weapon. By using various
different magazines, the operator is able to change these magazines
as required with actual firearms. However, while weapon simulator
systems allow the trainee to exchange magazines during a
simulation, the simulated weapons do not differentiate between
individual magazines. Moreover, such designs do not provide a
memory of the amount of ammunition used with a specific magazine.
Consequently, when the simulated magazine is removed from the
simulator, the parameters of the simulated magazine are reset, such
that the same magazine can be removed from the simulated weapon and
immediately re-inserted into the simulated weapon to cause the
parameters of the simulated weapon to be re-loaded. As a result,
the operator only needs one magazine for use with the simulated
weapon, and the realism of using the simulated weapon is
diminished.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a simulated weapon;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the simulated weapon
illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the connections between the
weapon processor and the simulated magazine circuit;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a second embodiment of
the simulated weapon;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the simulated weapon
illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating the sensors used in the
present invention to read magnetic identifiers;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the connections between the
weapon processor and the simulated magazine of the second
embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1-7, a weapon simulator assembly 8 is
illustrated that includes a simulated weapon 10 in conjunction with
a simulated detachable magazine 12. In particular, the weapon
simulator assembly 8 allows for the use of one or more simulated
detachable magazines 12 with one or more simulated weapons 10, with
the number of rounds of ammunition used in each simulated magazine
12 being monitored by the weapon simulator assembly 8 for realistic
use of the weapon simulator assembly 8 during a simulation. That
is, the weapon simulator assembly 8 is able to monitor and track
the number of rounds of ammunition fired and remaining in each
simulated magazine 12 during a simulation to determine when all of
the ammunition in the simulated magazine 12 has been fired.
[0013] In a first embodiment of the weapon simulator assembly 8
illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, the number of rounds of
ammunition used in the simulated magazine 12 are tracked within the
simulated magazine 12 itself. In particular, this weapon simulator
assembly 8 includes the simulated weapon 10 having a receiver 11
and associated receiver slot 11 s to engage and secure the
simulated magazine 12 with the simulated weapon 10. A magazine
circuit 14 or similar processor is housed within the simulated
magazine 12, and connected to at least one magazine electrical
contact 17m in the simulated magazine 12. Similarly, the simulated
weapon 10 includes a weapon processor 16 in communication with
various switches and electronic equipment in the simulated weapon
10 to monitor and control operation of the simulated weapon 10. For
example, among other connections, the weapon processor 16 is in
communication with the trigger 15 to determine when the operator
has attempted to fire the simulated weapon 10, as well as other
electronics that may be used with the weapon simulator assembly 8,
such as a laser 19. The weapon processor 16 is additionally
connected with a weapon electrical contact 17w or sensor located at
the base of the receiver 11 in the receiver slot 11s, as shown in
the cutaway view of FIG. 2. As a result, when the simulated
magazine 12 is inserted into the slot 11s, the magazine circuit 14
will be in electrical communication with the weapon processor 16 in
the simulated weapon 12 via an electrical interface 17.
[0014] When the simulated magazine 12 engages the weapon simulator
10 in the receiver slot 11, the magazine circuit 14 will
communicate with the processor 16 to monitor operation of the
simulated weapon 10 and identify when the simulated weapon 10 has
been fired. That is, the processor 16 will transmit a signal to the
magazine circuit 14 indicating that the simulated weapon 12 has
been fired. The simulated magazine circuit 14 is preset with
operational information, including the number of rounds of
ammunition to be associated with the simulated magazine 12. Thus,
when the weapon processor 16 transmits a signal that the trigger 15
has been pulled and the simulated weapon 12 has been fired, the
magazine circuit 14 will calculate and store information relevant
to the particular magazine 12; namely, the magazine circuit 14 will
calculate the number of rounds of ammunition that have been fired,
and based on the predetermined number of rounds of ammunition
associated with that magazine 12 prior to firing, the magazine
circuit 14 will determine the number of rounds of ammunition that
are available for the operator. Since the information is stored in
the magazine circuit 14 in the simulated magazine 12, it is
portable with the simulated magazine 12 among various simulated
weapons 10. Thus, as the simulated magazine 12 is connected to a
simulated weapon 10, the magazine circuit 14 will transmit the
information to the weapon processor 16 concerning how many rounds
of ammunition remain available for a particular simulation
scenario.
[0015] An advantage of this embodiment of the simulated magazine 12
and method of use is the portability and fidelity of the simulated
magazine 12. That is, the simulated magazine 12 can be swapped and
used in various independent simulated weapons 10, and each magazine
12 will accurately track and report the number of rounds remaining
from the information maintained in the simulated magazine 12 to the
processor 16 in the simulated weapon 10 to which it is connected.
If the magazine circuit 14 calculates that no ammunition is
available, then the operator will be prohibited from firing the
simulated weapon 10 during a simulation and be required to replace
the simulated magazine 12 with one having ammunition available
according to the magazine circuit 14 implemented in the
corresponding simulated magazine 12.
[0016] In addition, a display 18 such as a liquid crystal display,
may be incorporated into the side of the simulated magazine 12 and
connected to the magazine circuit 14. The display visually
indicates information pertinent to the simulated magazine 12, such
as the number of rounds remaining within the simulated magazine 12,
so that the operator will be aware of the status of the simulated
magazine 12.
[0017] A second embodiment of the weapon simulator assembly 8 is
illustrated in FIGS. 4-7. In this embodiment, the weapon processor
16 of the simulated weapon 10 is able to differentiate between
individual magazines 12 through the use of a unique identifier 20
or finger print associated with each magazine 12, and the weapon
processor 16 will administer the operating parameters of the weapon
simulator assembly 8 accordingly. Initially, the weapon processor
16 of the simulated weapon 10 will create a file associated with
each magazine 12 and assign a predetermined value associated with
the number calculate the number of rounds of ammunition provided
for the associated magazine 12, and the processor 16 will keep
track of the number of rounds of ammunition remaining in that
particular magazine 12 according to the identifier of the
particular magazine 12.
[0018] In particular, each magazine 12 includes an magnetic
signature member or identifier 20, which could be a series of
magnets 20 or voids positioned in the simulated magazine 12.
Similarly, the simulated weapon 10 includes one or more sensors 22
corresponding to the magnets 20 or voids in the simulated magazine
12, with the sensors 22 positioned in the simulated weapon 10
proximate the receiver 11. When the simulated magazine 12 is
inserted into and connected with the receiver 11, the magnets 20 or
voids will be substantially adjacent sensors 22 in the weapon
simulator 10 when the simulated magazine 12 is attached to the
receiver 11 of the simulated weapon 10. The arrangement of magnets
20 (or the absence thereof in one of the voids) in different
locations proximate the sensors 22 identifies the simulated
magazine 12 to the processor 16 in the simulated weapon 10. The
weapon processor 16 is programmed to monitor and save firing
information for each independent magazine 12 (that is, the number
of times the simulated weapon 10 has been fired with the particular
simulated magazine 14 attached thereto), and control operation once
a predetermined value associated with the number of rounds of
ammunition available has been exceeded for a particular simulated
magazine 12.
[0019] More particularly, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5,
three magnets 20 are positioned in the simulated magazine 12 to
provide one of seven different choices for the simulated weapon 10
to identify the simulated magazine 12 (see the simulated magazine
Identification Table in FIG. 6). Of course, the number of magnets
20 and sensors 22 incorporated into the simulated magazine 12 and
simulated weapon 10, respectively, could be varied according to the
total number of magazines 12 to be used with the weapon simulator
assembly 8 and to be identified by the processor 16. Once the
simulated magazine 12 is inserted into the slot 11s of the receiver
11, the sensors 22 will generate a binary signal based on the
position of the magnets 20, or lack thereof.
[0020] The weapon simulator 10 is able to specifically identify
each magazine 12 according to the arrangement of magnets 20 in the
simulated magazine 12. The weapon processor 16 will maintain a
record corresponding to each magazine 12 based on identifier 20 or
fingerprint of the simulated magazine 12, with the record
identifying the number of rounds in the simulated magazine 12
according to a preset number of rounds minus the number of times
the weapon simulator 10 had been fired with the particular magazine
12 connected to the weapon simulator 10. Consequently, if one
magazine 12 is replaced by a second magazine 12, the processor 16
of the weapon simulator 10 will be able to maintain an ongoing
correlation of the first magazine 12 with the number of rounds
remaining in that magazine 12.
[0021] An advantage of this embodiment is the simplicity in
identifying the simulated magazine 12. A disadvantage of this
embodiment, however, is that there is no portability among
simulated weapons 10. A magazine 12 could be expended (or partially
expended) with one weapon simulator 12, and the weapon processor 16
for that simulated weapon 10 would maintain the accurate number of
rounds for the particular magazine 12. However, when the simulated
magazine 12 is connected with another simulated weapon 10, that
simulated weapon 10 would not have a record of the information from
the simulated weapon 10 that previously used the simulated magazine
12. In addition, the simulated magazines 12 would have to be marked
on the outside with a visual indicator 22 (such as a magazine
identification number) for the operator to identify the number of
rounds remaining in the simulated magazine 12.
[0022] Having thus described exemplary embodiments, it should be
noted by those skilled in the art that the within disclosures are
exemplary only and that various other alternatives, adaptations,
and modifications may be made within the scope of this disclosure
as described herein and as described in the appended claims.
* * * * *