U.S. patent application number 15/591815 was filed with the patent office on 2017-11-23 for wireless control of firearm accessory using ultrasonic communication.
The applicant listed for this patent is Steiner eOptics, Inc.. Invention is credited to Jelani Chinelo GIVNER.
Application Number | 20170337809 15/591815 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60329587 |
Filed Date | 2017-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170337809 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GIVNER; Jelani Chinelo |
November 23, 2017 |
WIRELESS CONTROL OF FIREARM ACCESSORY USING ULTRASONIC
COMMUNICATION
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, and systems provide wireless remote control
of firearm accessories using ultrasonic communication through air.
In some variations a transmitter and a receiver used in these
methods, apparatus, and systems need not be in line-of-sight, so
the location of the accessory on the firearm may be selected
independently of the location of remote controls for the accessory.
The firearm accessories may be or include, for example, laser
pointers and illuminators.
Inventors: |
GIVNER; Jelani Chinelo;
(Marina, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Steiner eOptics, Inc. |
Waitsfield |
VT |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
60329587 |
Appl. No.: |
15/591815 |
Filed: |
May 10, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62337570 |
May 17, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/35 20130101; G08C
23/02 20130101; H04M 1/0252 20130101; H04M 1/0274 20130101; F41C
27/00 20130101 |
International
Class: |
G08C 23/02 20060101
G08C023/02; F41G 1/35 20060101 F41G001/35 |
Claims
1. A wireless control system for a firearm accessory, the control
system comprising: a transmitter module comprising an ultrasonic
transmitter configured to transmit one or more ultrasonic signals
representing one or more commands for controlling the firearm
accessory; and a receiver module comprising an ultrasonic receiver
configured to receive the one or more signals transmitted by the
ultrasonic transmitter, the receiver module controlling operation
of the firearm accessory according to the commands represented by
the ultrasonic signals.
2. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter
module comprises at least one mechanically activated control that
may be activated by an operator of the firearm to initiate
transmission by the ultrasonic transmitter of the one or more
ultrasonic signals.
3. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter
module is at least partially housed in a housing configured to be
attached to the firearm.
4. The wireless control system of claim 3, wherein the housing is
configured to be attached to the firearm at a stock or grip end of
the firearm.
5. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the receiver
module is at least partially housed in a housing configured to be
attached to the firearm.
6. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the receiver
module comprises a field programmable gate array configured to
decode the commands from the ultrasonic signals.
7. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the commands are
encoded as ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed
code.
8. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the ultrasonic
transmitter module and the ultrasonic receiver module are mounted
on the firearm and not in line of sight with respect to each
other.
9. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein the firearm
accessory comprises one or more laser pointers, one or more
illuminators, or one or more laser pointers and one or more
illuminators.
10. The wireless control system of claim 1, wherein: the
transmitter module is at least partially housed in a housing
configured to be attached to the firearm; the receiver module is at
least partially housed in another housing configured to be attached
to the firearm; and the transmitter module comprises at least one
mechanically activated control that may be activated by an operator
of the firearm to initiate transmission by the ultrasonic
transmitter of the one or more ultrasonic signals.
11. The wireless control system of claim 10, wherein the ultrasonic
transmitter module and the ultrasonic receiver module are mounted
on the firearm and not in line of sight with respect to each
other.
12. A method for wireless control of a firearm accessory, the
method comprising: transmitting from a transmitter module one or
more ultrasonic signals representing one or more commands for
controlling the firearm accessory; receiving the one or more
ultrasonic signals with a receiver module; decoding the one or more
ultrasonic signals received by the receiver module to identify the
commands they represent; and controlling the firearm accessory
according to the decoded commands.
13. The method of claim 12, comprising activating a control to
initiate transmission by the ultrasonic transmitter of the one or
more ultrasonic signals.
14. The method of claim 12, comprising decoding the ultrasonic
signals received by the receiver module with a field programmable
gate array configured to do so.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the commands are encoded as
ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed code.
16. The method of claim 12, wherein the firearm accessory, the
transmitter module, and the receiver module are all mounted on the
firearm.
17. The method of claim 12, wherein the firearm accessory comprises
one or more laser pointers, one or more illuminators, or one or
more laser pointers and one or more illuminators.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein the commands are encoded as
ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed code,
comprising decoding the ultrasonic signals received by the receiver
module with a field programmable gate array configured to do
so.
19. A method of making a wireless control system for a firearm
accessory, the method comprising: encoding for transmission as one
or more ultrasonic signals one or more commands for controlling
operation of the firearm accessory; configuring a transmitter
module to transmit the one or more ultrasonic signals in response
to activation of one or more mechanical switches; and configuring a
receiver module to receive the one or more ultrasonic signals and
control operation of the firearm accessory according to the
commands encoded in the ultrasonic signals.
20. The method of claim 19, comprising encoding the commands as
ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed code.
21. The method of claim 19, wherein the receiver module comprises a
field programmable gate array, comprising configuring the field
programmable gate array to decode the ultrasonic signals to
identify the commands they represent.
22. The method of claim 19, comprising arranging at least a portion
of the transmitter module in a housing configured to be mounted to
a firearm.
23. The method of claim 19, comprising arranging at least a portion
of the receiver module in a housing configured to be mounted to a
firearm.
24. The method of claim 19, comprising: arranging at least a
portion of the transmitter module in a housing configured to be
mounted to a firearm; and arranging at least a portion of the
receiver module in a housing configured to be mounted to a firearm.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/337,750 titled "Wireless
Control of Firearm Accessory Using Ultrasonic Communication" and
filed May 17, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in
its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to wireless remote control of firearm
accessories such as illuminators and laser pointers, for example,
using ultrasonic acoustic communication.
BACKGROUND
[0003] It is well known to use various accessories such as, for
example, illuminators and laser pointers mounted on firearms. Such
accessories may have various hunting, security, law enforcement,
and military applications, for example. Users of such accessories
may find it advantageous if they could mount the accessory towards
the muzzle end of the firearm and operate it remotely with controls
located near the grip of the firearm. Further, users may find it
advantageous if they were able to mount the accessory at various
alternative locations on the firearm (e.g., top, bottom, right, or
left sides) independently of the location of the controls. A wired
communication link between the controls and the accessory could
interfere with features of the firearm that are active during
operation of the firearm, however. Further, a line-of-sight
wireless communication link between the controls and the accessory
would require coordinated positioning (e.g., in line-of-sight) of
the controls and the accessory, and a radio frequency wireless
communication link between the controls and the firearm would be
potentially susceptible to detection by others and easily jammed or
interrupted by radio-frequency based countermeasures, which may be
disadvantageous in security, law enforcement, and military
applications.
SUMMARY
[0004] This specification discloses methods, apparatus, and systems
for wireless remote control of firearm accessories using ultrasonic
communication through air.
[0005] In one aspect, a wireless control system for a firearm
accessory comprises a transmitter module comprising an ultrasonic
transmitter configured to transmit one or more ultrasonic signals
representing one or more commands for controlling the firearm
accessory, and a receiver module comprising an ultrasonic receiver
configured to receive the one or more signals transmitted by the
ultrasonic transmitter. The receiver module controls operation of
the firearm accessory according to the commands represented by the
ultrasonic signals it receives from the transmitter module.
[0006] The accessory and the receiver module may be located on the
firearm towards its muzzle end and the accessory operated remotely
using controls (e.g., mechanical switches such as buttons) in a
transmitter module located on the firearm near the firearm grip or
otherwise conveniently positioned for use. The transmitter and
receiver modules need not be in line-of-sight, so the location of
the accessory on the firearm may be selected independently of the
location of controls. Preferably a transmitter in the transmitter
module is pointed at least roughly in the direction of a receiver
in the receiver module.
[0007] The transmitter module may be at least partially integrated
into the firearm, at least partially housed in a housing configured
to be attached to the firearm, or both. The receiver module may be
at least partially integrated into the firearm, at least partially
housed in a housing configured to be attached to the firearm, or
both.
[0008] The firearm accessory may include, for example, one or more
laser pointers, one or more illuminators, or one or more laser
pointers and one or more illuminators. Illuminators typically
provide a larger cone-angle illumination beam than a laser pointer.
The light source for an illuminator may be or comprise a laser or a
light emitting diode, for example. The laser pointers and
illuminators may emit visible or infrared light, for example. The
accessory and the receiver module may be detachably mounted to the
firearm using a conventional firearm rail system, for example.
[0009] In another aspect, a method for wireless control of a
firearm accessory comprises transmitting from a transmitter module
one or more ultrasonic signals representing one or more commands
for controlling the firearm accessory, receiving the one or more
ultrasonic signals with a receiver module, decoding the one or more
ultrasonic signals received by the receiver module to identify the
commands they represent, and controlling the firearm accessory
according to the decoded commands. This method may be practiced
using the wireless control system for a firearm accessory
summarized above, for example.
[0010] The method may comprise decoding the ultrasonic signals
received by the receiver module with a field programmable gate
array (FPGA) in the receiver module. The commands may be encoded as
ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed (HFSK)
code, for example.
[0011] In yet another aspect, a method of making a wireless control
system for a firearm accessory comprises encoding one or more
commands for transmission as one or more ultrasonic signals, the
one or more commands being for controlling operation of the firearm
accessory, configuring a transmitter module to transmit the one or
more ultrasonic signals in response to activation of one or more
control (e.g., mechanical) switches, and configuring a receiver
module to receive the one or more ultrasonic signals and control
operation of the firearm accessory according to the commands
encoded in the ultrasonic signals. This method may be practiced to
make the wireless control system for a firearm accessory summarized
above, for example.
[0012] The method may comprise encoding the commands as ultrasonic
signals using an HFSK code, for example. In variations in which the
receiver module comprises a field programmable gate array, the
method may comprise configuring the field programmable gate array
to decode the ultrasonic signals to identify the commands they
represent.
[0013] The method may comprise arranging at least a portion of the
transmitter module in a housing configured to be mounted to a
firearm, integrating at least a portion of the transmitter module
in the firearm, or both. The method may comprise arranging at least
a portion of the receiver module in a housing configured to be
mounted to a firearm, integrating at least a portion of the
receiver module in the firearm, or both.
[0014] These and other embodiments, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent to those skilled in the
art when taken with reference to the following more detailed
description of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings that are first briefly described.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 shows an electronic schematic for an example
ultrasonic transmitter module.
[0016] FIG. 2 shows an electronic schematic for an example
ultrasonic receiver module.
[0017] FIG. 3 shows an example of ultrasonic transmitter and
receiver modules arranged in housings mounted on a firearm to
operate a firearm accessory also mounted on the firearm.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] The following detailed description should be read with
reference to the drawings, in which identical reference numbers
refer to like elements throughout the different figures. The
drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selective
embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the
invention. The detailed description illustrates by way of example,
not by way of limitation, the principles of the invention. This
description will clearly enable one skilled in the art to make and
use the invention, and describes several embodiments, adaptations,
variations, alternatives and uses of the invention, including what
is presently believed to be the best mode of carrying out the
invention. As used in this specification and the appended claims,
the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
[0019] This specification discloses methods, apparatus, and systems
for wireless remote control of firearm accessories using ultrasonic
communication through air. Ultrasonic acoustic communication
through air is disfavored for most communication applications
because ultrasonic communication signals are typically strongly
attenuated by air, and consequently the data transmission rate by
ultrasonic communication in air is typically low over distances
greater than a few (e.g., about 100) meters. Applicant has
discovered, however, that ultrasonic communication in air can
support sufficiently high data rates to enable wireless control of
firearm accessories as described in this specification (e.g., over
distances of about 1 meter or less). Applicant has recognized in
addition that the short range of ultrasonic communication in air,
particularly at low signal magnitudes, and the inability of humans
to detect ultrasonic communications without instrumentation, are
advantageous for these applications because they make it difficult
for other parties to intercept or jam the control signals to the
firearm accessory. This is particularly advantageous for military
uses. Further, an enemy may not even be looking for such
signals.
[0020] As noted above in the summary section, wireless control
systems for firearm accessories as disclosed herein comprise a
transmitter module that includes an ultrasonic transmitter
configured to transmit one or more ultrasonic signals representing
one or more commands for controlling the firearm accessory, and a
receiver module that includes an ultrasonic receiver configured to
receive the one or more signals transmitted by the ultrasonic
transmitter. The receiver module controls operation of the firearm
accessory according to the commands represented by the ultrasonic
signals it receives from the transmitter module.
[0021] The transmitter module may, for example, be enclosed in a
housing that is configured to be mounted to a firearm using any
suitable mounting method. Alternatively, the transmitter module may
be integrated into a portion of the firearm, for example into a
stock and/or grip portion of the firearm. As yet another
alternative, a portion of the transmitter module may be integrated
into or separately attached to the firearm (e.g., in the stock
and/or grip portion), and the remaining portion enclosed in a
housing mountable to the firearm. For example, the transmitter may
be arranged in a housing mountable to the firearm, and buttons or
other (e.g., mechanical) switches controlling operation of the
transmitter (and thus the firearm accessory) may be separately
attached to or integrated into the firearm. Portions of the
transmitter module that are separately attached to or integrated
into the firearm may communicate with portions of the transmitter
module arranged in a separate housing mounted on the firearm via
wired electrical or optical signals, for example, or by any other
suitable arrangement.
[0022] The receiver module may, for example, be enclosed in a
housing that is configured to be mounted to a firearm using any
suitable mounting method. Alternatively, the receiver module may be
integrated into a portion of the firearm. As yet another
alternative, a portion of the receiver module may be integrated
into or separately attached to the firearm, and the remaining
portion enclosed in a housing mountable to the firearm. Portions of
the receiver module that are separately attached to or integrated
into the firearm may communicate with portions of the receiver
module arranged in a separate housing mounted on the firearm via
wired electrical or optical signals, for example, or by any other
suitable arrangement.
[0023] The receiver module and the firearm accessory may be
integrated into a single module, or may be physically separate
components. In the latter case the receiver module may communicate
with and control the firearm accessory via wired electrical or
optical signals, for example, or by any other suitable
arrangement.
[0024] FIG. 1 shows an electronic schematic for an example
ultrasonic transmitter module 100 suitable for use in the
apparatus, systems, and methods described herein. In the
illustrated example, transmitter module 100 comprises one or more
control switches 110 (e.g., buttons or other mechanical switches)
operable individually and/or in combination to represent commands
for controlling the firearm accessory, a processor 120 that
responds to operation of the control switches by outputting a low
level square wave on which is encoded the corresponding commands, a
signal conditioning circuit 130 that smooths out and conditions the
square wave into an offset sinusoidal wave, a high efficiency low
power amplifier 140 optimized for the working transmission signal
frequency range that amplifies the output of signal conditioning
circuit 130, a power supply module/circuit 150 that establishes the
output transmit rail for power amplifier 140, a piezoelectric
transducer 160 that converts electrical energy into the desired
ultrasonic acoustic signals, a tuning element 170 for the
piezoelectric transducer (for example, a low-profile series
inductor or parallel capacitor and series inductor depending on the
complex impedance of the piezoelectric element), and an isolation
and step-up transformer 180 coupling the output of power amplifier
150 to tuning element 170 and to piezoelectric transducer 160 to
drive piezoelectric transducer 160 to emit an ultrasonic acoustic
signal on which are encoded the commands initiated by operation of
control switches 110.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows an electronic schematic for an example
ultrasonic receiver module 200 suitable for use in the apparatus,
systems, and methods described herein. In the illustrated example,
receiver module 200 comprises a piezoelectric transducer 210
(similar to piezoelectric transducer 160 in the transmitter module)
that converts acoustic signals it receives into electrical signals,
a DC blocking capacitor 220 and back-to-back diodes 230 providing
protection from large DC or AC signals, a preamplifier and filter
circuit 240 that selects and amplifies frequencies of interest, an
isolation transformer 250 that couples piezoelectric transducer 210
to preamplifier and filter circuit 240, a signal conditioning
module 260 that converts the filtered and amplified
analog/sinusoidal signals output by preamplifier and filter circuit
240 into offset low level square wave signals, an FPGA 270
configured to correlate and decipher the signal structure in the
low level square waves, a microprocessor 280 that operates a
firearm accessory 290 based on FPGA 270 correlating the incoming
signal and indicating a valid command, and a power supply
module/circuit 300 including voltage converter modules 310 that
provide the required supply voltages to preamplifier and filter
circuit 240, FPGA 270, microprocessor 280, and firearm accessory
290. In the illustrated example, firearm accessory 290 is or
comprises a laser diode and a driver for the laser diode, and
microprocessor 280 turns the laser diode drive and laser diode on
or off, or adjusts the output power emitted by the laser diode,
depending on the commands decoded from the incoming signal by FPGA
270.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows an example arrangement of an ultrasonic
transmitter module housing 300, an ultrasonic receiver module
housing 310, and a firearm accessory 330 (in this example, a dual
beam aiming laser) all mounted on a firearm 340. Transmitter module
housing 300 and receiver module housing 310 are on opposite sides
of the firearm and thus not in line-of-sight. An ultrasonic
transmitter module in housing 300 may be used to send control
signals for accessory 330 to an ultrasonic receiver module in
housing 310. The ultrasonic receiver module communicates with and
controls firearm accessory 330 via (e.g., electrical or optical)
cable 320.
[0027] The ultrasonic signals transmitted and received in the
methods, apparatus, and systems for wireless remote control of
firearm accessories disclosed herein may have frequencies in the
range of about 200 kHz to about 300 kHz, for example.
[0028] The commands may be encoded as ultrasonic signals using an
HFSK code, for example, or using any other suitable coding scheme.
The code may use multiple ultrasonic frequencies, for example four
different frequencies, to encode commands for operating a firearm
accessory. The code may allow use of, for example, 2, 3, 4, 5 or
more than 5 different commands to control the firearm
accessory.
[0029] Each pairing of a transmitter module and a receiver module
may use a unique code distinguishable from all other codes used for
such transmitter and receiver modules. Alternatively, each pairing
of a transmitter module and a receiver module may use one of a
plurality (e.g., greater than or equal to 10, greater than or equal
to 100, or greater than or equal to 1000) distinguishable codes,
thereby allowing use of groups of more than 10, more than 100, or
more than 1000 sets of paired transmitter and receiver modules with
each paired set in a group using a code that is unique compared to
the other pairs in the group. This allows more than one set of
paired transmitter and receiver modules to be used in close
proximity without cross-talk or interference.
[0030] The coding scheme may be selected to allow creation of
multiple codes as described above to execute for example five
different commands without the worry of cross-detection between
different sets of paired transmitter and receiver modules used in
close proximity, multi-path/reflection interruption, false
detection, missed detection, or signal interruption due to low
signal to noise ratio in a worst-case multi-signal and noise
environment that may include high magnitude low frequency ambient
acoustic noise. The coding scheme may be further selected to
tolerate a low bit (data) transmission rate resulting from a
significant reduction in signal fidelity due to multiple signal
paths from the transmitter module to the receiver module arising
from lack of line-of-sight positioning of the transmitter and
receiver.
[0031] As noted above, the firearm accessory may be or comprise,
for example, a laser pointer, an illuminator, or a laser pointer
and an illuminator. The methods, apparatus, and systems disclosed
herein may be used with other accessories, as well. For example,
the accessory may be one or more sensors measuring characteristics
of the firearm such as, for example, orientation or number of
rounds fired. The methods, apparatus, and systems disclosed herein
may be used for example to control operation of such sensors and/or
to control collection of data from such sensors.
[0032] The methods, apparatus, and systems disclosed herein may
support or include bidirectional communication between the firearm
accessory and a module (e.g., a transmitter module as described
above) positioned on the firearm for convenient use by an operator.
Such bidirectional communication may include, for example, a signal
indicating that the firearm accessory is operating as it was
commanded.
[0033] Various embodiments are described in the following
clauses.
[0034] Clause 1. A wireless control system for a firearm accessory,
the control system comprising:
[0035] a transmitter module comprising an ultrasonic transmitter
configured to transmit one or more ultrasonic signals representing
one or more commands for controlling the firearm accessory; and
[0036] a receiver module comprising an ultrasonic receiver
configured to receive the one or more signals transmitted by the
ultrasonic transmitter, the receiver module controlling operation
of the firearm accessory according to the commands represented by
the ultrasonic signals.
[0037] Clause 2. The wireless control system of clause 1, wherein
the transmitter module comprises at least one mechanically
activated control that may be activated by an operator of the
firearm to initiate transmission by the ultrasonic transmitter of
the one or more ultrasonic signals.
[0038] Clause 3. The wireless control system of any of clauses 1-2,
wherein the transmitter module is at least partially integrated
into the firearm.
[0039] Clause 4. The wireless control system of any of clauses 1-3,
wherein the transmitter module is at least partially housed in a
housing configured to be attached to the firearm.
[0040] Clause 5. The wireless control system of any of clauses 1-4,
wherein the transmitter module is at least partially integrated
into the firearm at a stock or grip end of the firearm or at least
partially housed in a housing configured to be attached to the
firearm at a stock or grip end of the firearm.
[0041] Clause 6. The wireless control system of clauses 1-5,
wherein the receiver module is at least partially integrated into
the firearm.
[0042] Clause 7. The wireless control system of any of clauses 1-6,
wherein the receiver module is at least partially housed in a
housing configured to be attached to the firearm.
[0043] Clause 8. The wireless control system of any of clauses 1-7,
wherein the receiver module comprises a field programmable gate
array configured to decode the commands from the ultrasonic
signals.
[0044] Clause 9. The wireless control system of any of clauses 1-8,
wherein the commands are encoded as ultrasonic signals using a
hopped frequency shift keyed code.
[0045] Clause 10. The wireless control system of any of clauses
1-9, wherein the ultrasonic transmitter and the ultrasonic receiver
are not positioned in line of sight with respect to each other.
[0046] Clause 11. The wireless control system of any of clauses
1-10, wherein the firearm accessory comprises one or more laser
pointers.
[0047] Clause 12. The wireless control system of any of clauses
1-11, wherein the firearm accessory comprises one or more
illuminators.
[0048] Clause 13. A method for wireless control of a firearm
accessory, the method comprising:
[0049] transmitting from a transmitter module one or more
ultrasonic signals representing one or more commands for
controlling the firearm accessory;
[0050] receiving the one or more ultrasonic signals with a receiver
module;
[0051] decoding the one or more ultrasonic signals received by the
receiver module to identify the commands they represent; and
[0052] controlling the firearm accessory according to the decoded
commands.
[0053] Clause 14. The method of clause 13, comprising activation of
a control to initiate transmission by the ultrasonic transmitter of
the one or more ultrasonic signals.
[0054] Clause 15. The method of any of clauses 13-14, comprising
decoding the ultrasonic signals received by the receiver module
with a field programmable gate array configured to do so.
[0055] Clause 16. The method of any of clauses 13-15, wherein the
commands are encoded as ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency
shift keyed code.
[0056] Clause 17. The method of any of clauses 13-16, wherein the
firearm accessory, the transmitter module, and the receiver module
are all mounted on the firearm.
[0057] Clause 18. The method of any of clauses 13-17, wherein the
accessory comprises one or more laser pointers.
[0058] Clause 19. The method of any of clauses 13-18, wherein the
accessory comprises one or more illuminators.
[0059] Clause 20. A method of making a wireless control system for
a firearm accessory, the method comprising:
[0060] encoding for transmission as one or more ultrasonic signals
one or more commands for controlling operation of the firearm
accessory;
[0061] configuring a transmitter module to transmit the one or more
ultrasonic signals in response to activation of one or more
mechanical switches; and
[0062] configuring a receiver module to receive the one or more
ultrasonic signals and control operation of the firearm accessory
according to the commands encoded in the ultrasonic signals.
[0063] Clause 21. The method of clause 20, comprising encoding the
commands as ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed
code.
[0064] Clause 22. The method of any of clauses 20-21 wherein the
receiver module comprises a field programmable gate array,
comprising configuring the field programmable gate array to decode
the ultrasonic signals to identify the commands they represent.
[0065] Clause 23. The method of any of clauses 20-22, comprising
arranging at least a portion of the transmitter module in a housing
configured to be mounted to a firearm.
[0066] Clause 24. The method of any of clauses 20-23, comprising
integrating at least a portion of the transmitter module in a
firearm.
[0067] Clause 25. The method of any of clauses 20-24, comprising
arranging at least a portion of the receiver module in a housing
configured to be mounted to a firearm.
[0068] Clause 26. The method of any of clauses 20-25, comprising
integrating at least a portion of the receiver module in a
firearm.
[0069] This disclosure is illustrative and not limiting. Further
modifications will be apparent to one skilled in the art in light
of this disclosure and are intended to fall within the scope of the
appended claims.
* * * * *