Self-test Fire Control System For Toy Gun

Abstract

The self-test fire control system for a toy gun includes a power unit and a control unit connected to the power unit and configured with a self-test software application. The power unit includes a power module and a driver module. The control unit includes a voltage monitor module, a regulator module, an indicator module, a fire mode selection module, and a trigger ON/OFF module. Before the toy gun is operated, the control unit may test the circuit switches, the gear set, and the battery so as to see if there is an incompatibility between or anomaly in the motor, spring, battery, or gear set. As such, corrective actions or repairs may be performed and the reliability of the toy gun is enhanced.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Technical Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention generally relates to toy guns and, more particularly, to a self-test fire control system for a toy gun capable of preventing malfunction.

(b) Description of the Prior Art

[0002] Military simulation games are gaining popularity and various types of replica weapons are developed and marketed, such as BB guns, paintball guns, airsoft guns, etc. Based on their power, toy guns may be categorized as airsoft guns, electrically powered guns, and gas-powered guns. For electrically powered guns, electricity powers mechanical parts (e.g., motor, gears) to compress spring and to shoot pellets. Electrically powered guns usually involve electronic control.

[0003] For toy guns with the electronic trigger is already commercially available. They usually include a control module and a power module for fire control. The components, i.e., motor, spring, battery, and gears, are most difficult to control, and are most susceptible to erroneous operation. Especially when one of the components is replaced by the user, incompatibility between components may occur, causing malfunction and power consumption. Therefore tuning and adjustment is often required. For example, a three-round burst fire may suffer unstable current from the battery and adjustment to other components may be required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] A major objective of the present invention is to provide a self-test fire control system for toy guns capable detecting the compatibility between the motor, spring, battery, and gears, so as to prevent malfunction and to enhance operation reliability.

[0005] The self-test fire control system includes a power unit and a control unit connected to the power unit and configured with a self-test software application. The power unit includes a power module and a driver module. The control unit includes a voltage monitor module, a regulator module, an indicator module, a fire mode selection module, and a trigger ON/OFF module. Before the toy gun is operated, the control unit may test the circuit switches, the gear set, and the battery so as to see if there is an incompatibility between or anomaly in the motor, spring, battery, or gear set. As such, corrective actions or repairs may be performed and the reliability of the toy gun is enhanced.

[0006] To provide different fire modes, the toy gun provides a fire selection piece, an interrupted/burst mode microswitch, the trigger microswitch, the interrupted mode microswitch, and the three-round burst mode microswitch. The fire selection piece is engaged by a control dial to move and drive the various microswitches so as to operate the toy gun in different fire modes.

[0007] The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings, identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.

[0008] Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIGS. 1 to 3 are schematic diagrams showing a self-test fire control system according to an embodiment of the present invention configured on toy guns.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the self-test fire control system of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing the self-test fire control system of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing magnetic flux paths of the inductor assembly of FIG. 2.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a perspective break-down diagram showing a self-test fire control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIGS. 6 and 7 are flow diagrams showing the self-test steps of the self-test fire control system of FIGS. 1 to 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a self-test fire control system for a toy gun 1 includes a power unit 2 and a control unit 3. The control unit 3 is configured with a software application and is connected to the power unit 2. The toy gun 1 includes a fire selection piece 11, a safety block piece 12, a trigger 13, an intenupted/burst mode control piece 14, an intenupted/burst mode microswitch 15, a trigger microswitch 16, an interrupted mode microswitch 17, a three-round burst mode microswitch 18, a motor 19, a gear set 20, a spring 21, and a battery 22. The electricity stored in the battery 22 powers the motor 19 to compress the spring 21 through the gear set 20 so as to shoot pellets. The gear set 20 includes a cam 201 that may engage the interrupted/burst mode control piece 14, which in turn presses against the intenupted/burst mode microswitch 15. Whenever the gear set 20 has made a turn, the interrupted/burst mode control piece 14 is engaged once, and the interrupted/burst mode microswitch 15 is turned on once.

[0017] The power unit 2 includes a power module 23 and a driver module 24. The battery 22 is connected to the power module 23 for providing electricity to the toy gun 1. The motor 19 is connected to the driver module 24 for driving the motor 19. The driver module 24 includes a main Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) 241 and an auxiliary MOSFET 242. The control unit 3 includes a voltage monitor module 31, a regulator module 32, an indicator module 33, a fire mode selection module 34, and a trigger ON/OFF module 35. The voltage monitor module 31 and the regulator module 32 are for monitoring and stably and economically providing electrical voltage from the battery 22. The interrupted/burst mode microswitch 15, the interrupted mode microswitch 17, and the three-round burst mode micro switch 18 are respectively connected to the fire mode selection module 34. The trigger micro switch 16 is connected to the trigger ON/OFF module 35.

[0018] The fire selection piece 11 is engaged by a control dial to move and drive the various microswitches such as the interrupted/burst mode microswitch 15, the trigger microswitch 16, the interrupted mode microswitch 17, and the three-round burst mode microswitch 18 so as to operate the toy gun 1 in different fire modes. Before firing, the control unit 2 tests the gear set 20, the interrupted/burst mode microswitch 15, the trigger microswitch 16, the interrupted mode microswitch 17, and the three-round burst mode microswitch 18, and the battery 22, so as to detect whether there is incompatibility between or malfunction in the motor 19, the spring 21, and the battery 22. Therefore erroneous operation may be prevented and required adjustment may be made, thereby enhancing the reliability of the toy gun 1.

[0019] The operation of the present invention is described as follows.

[0020] When the toy gun 1 is set in the safety mode, the fire selection piece 11 is pushed to a foremost position, the safety block piece 12 is raised, and the trigger 13 is stuck. The toy gun 1 therefore cannot be fired.

[0021] When the toy gun 1 is set in the interrupted mode, the fire selection piece 11 is pushed to press the interrupted mode microswitch 17, the safety block piece 12 is freed, and the trigger 13 is operable to engage the trigger switch 16, which sends a signal to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 drives the gear set 20 to make a turn, the interrupted/burst mode control piece 14 is engaged once, and the interrupted/burst mode microswitch 15 is turned on once. The electricity is then cut off.

[0022] When the toy gun 1 is set in the three-round burst mode, the fire selection piece 11 is pushed to press both the interrupted mode microswitch 17 and the three-round burst mode microswitch 18, the safety block piece 12 is freed, and the trigger 13 is operable to engage the trigger switch 16, which sends a signal to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 drives the gear set 20 to make a turn, the interrupted/burst mode control piece 14 is engaged once, and the interrupted/burst mode microswitch 15 is turned on once. The electricity is then cut off after the control unit 3 repeats the process three times.

[0023] When the toy gun 1 is set in the automatic fire mode, the fire selection piece 11 retreats so that no microswitch is pressed, the safety block piece 12 is freed, and the trigger 13 is operable to engage the trigger switch 16, which sends a signal to the control unit 3. The control unit 3 drives the gear set 20 to make a turn, the interrupted/burst mode control piece 14 is engaged once, and the interrupted/burst mode microswitch 15 is turned on once. The electricity is not cut off until the trigger 13 releases and the trigger microswitch 16.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the self-test performed by the present embodiment is as follows.

[0025] To enter the test mode, the toy gun 1's upper and lower parts are disassembled first. Under any fire mode except the safety mode (i.e., the safety block piece 12 is in the safety position), entering the test mode is achieved by pressing the trigger 13 and then connecting the battery 22.

[0026] The control unit 3 first tests the voltage of the battery 22 and instructs the indicator module 33 to present voltage status. For example, if the battery 22 is full, a green lamp is flashed at two-second intervals and, if the battery 22 is low, a red lamp stays on. If the trigger 13 is pressed, the control unit 3 drives the motor 19 to turn the gear set 20.

[0027] Then, the control unit 3 tests the trigger microswitch 16 and instructs the indicator module 33 to present test result. For example, if the microswitch 16 responds within five second, an orange lamp stays on; otherwise, the green lamp is flashed at ten-second intervals.

[0028] Then, when setting the toy gun 1 to the interrupted mode, the control unit 3 tests if a correct mode switch signal is received and instructs the indicator module 33 to present test result. For example, if the correct mode switch signal is received within ten seconds, the green lamp stays on; otherwise, the red lamp stays on.

[0029] Then, when setting the toy gun 1 to the three-round burst mode, the control unit 3 tests if a correct mode switch signal is received and instructs the indicator module 33 to present test result. For example, if the correct mode switch signal is received within ten seconds, the green lamp stays on; otherwise, the red lamp stays on.

[0030] The control unit 3 then tests the two MOSFETs 241 and 242. If the MOSFETs are normal (e.g., not short-circuited), instructs the indicator module 33 to present test result. For example, the green lamp stays on; otherwise, the orange lamp stays on. If the green lamp is on, the control unit 3 also triggers the motor 19 to drive the gear set 20 to make a turn as a prompt.

[0031] Finally, the control unit 3 engages the motor 19 to drive the gear set 20 to make turns and the indicator module 33 is instructed to show that self-test is over by, for example, flashing the green lamp. A user may press the trigger 13 once to exit the self-test mode. The motor 19 drives the gear set 20 to turn three times to acknowledge that the self-test is over. The user then may assemble the upper and lower parts of the toy gun 1 and start using the toy gun 1.

[0032] In the above self-test process, if there is some anomaly, the control unit 3 determines the degree of severity and instructs the indicator module 33 to present the anomaly differently. For example, if the anomaly is related to the gear set 20, the motor 19, or the interrupted/burst mode control piece 14, the red lamp is flashed, signaling that the anomaly is the most severe one. If the anomaly is related to the two MOSFETs, the red lamp stays on, signaling that the anomaly is less severe. If the anomaly is related to the trigger 13, the orange lamp is flashed, signaling that the anomaly is the least severe one. Prompted by these indicator lights, the user should disconnect the battery 22 and perform corrective action and repair.

[0033] In the above self-test process, to see if the spring 21 and the gear set 20 are compatible, the control unit 3 determines the interval that the interrupted/burst mode microswitch 15 is engaged by the interrupted/burst mode control piece 14 when the gear set 20 makes a turn, and tests the rotation speed of the gear set 20 by making the gear set 20 to turn several times. Then the spring 21 is too tight if the rotational speed is too low, or the spring 21 is too loose if the rotational speed is too high.

[0034] While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A self-test fire control system for a toy gun, the toy gun having a fire selection piece, a safety block piece, an interrupted/burst mode control piece, a trigger, a motor, a gear set, a spring, and a battery where the electricity stored in the battery powers the motor to compress the spring through the gear set so as to shoot pellets, the self-test fire control system comprising: a power unit comprising a power module connected to the battery for providing electricity to the toy gun, and a driver module connecting and driving the motor; and a control unit configured with a self-test software application and connected to the power unit where the control unit comprises a voltage monitor module, a regulator module, an indicator module, a fire mode selection module, and a trigger ON/OFF module, the fire mode selection module sets the toy gun to operate in different fire modes, and, before the toy gun is operated, the control unit tests the microswitches, the gear set, and the battery so as to see if there is incompatibility between or anomaly in the motor, spring, battery, or gear set and if corrective action should be performed, thereby enhancing the reliability of the toy gun.

2. The self-test fire control system according to claim 1, wherein the toy gun comprises an interrupted/burst mode microswitch, an interrupted mode microswitch, and a three-round burst mode micro switch, respectively connected to the fire mode selection module; and the toy gun further comprises a trigger microswitch connected to the trigger ON/OFF module.

3. The self-test fire control system according to claim 1, wherein the gear set comprises a cam for engaging the interrupted/burst mode control piece; the interrupted/burst mode control piece presses against the interrupted/burst mode microswitch; when the gear set has made a turn, the interrupted/burst mode control piece is engaged once; and, to see if the spring and the gear set are compatible, the control unit determines an interval that the interrupted/burst mode microswitch is engaged by the interrupted/burst mode control piece.

4. The self-test fire control system according to claim 1, wherein the driver module comprises a main Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) and an auxiliary MOSFET.

5. The self-test fire control system according to claim 2, wherein the gear set comprises a cam for engaging the interrupted/burst mode control piece; the interrupted/burst mode control piece presses against the interrupted/burst mode microswitch; when the gear set has made a turn, the interrupted/burst mode control piece is engaged once; and, to see if the spring and the gear set are compatible, the control unit determines an interval that the interrupted/burst mode microswitch is engaged by the interrupted/burst mode control piece.

6. A self-test method for a fire control system of a toy gun, comprising the steps of: a) entering a test mode of the fire control system after the toy gun's upper and lower parts are disassembled, a trigger of the toy gun is pressed, and a battery of the toy gun is connected; b) testing the battery's voltage and instructing an indicator module of the fire control system to present voltage status by a control unit of the fire control system, and driving a motor of the toy gun to turn a gear set of the toy gun if the trigger is pressed; c) testing a trigger microswitch of the toy gun and instructing the indicator module to present to present test result by the control unit; d) testing if a correct mode switch signal is received after the toy gun is set to an interrupted mode and instructing the indicator module to present test result by the control unit; e) testing if a correct mode switch signal is received after the toy gun is set to a three-round burst mode and instructing the indicator module to present test result by the control unit; f) testing two MOSFETs of a driver module of the fire control system, instructing the indicator module to present test result, and triggering the motor to drive the gear set to make a turn as a prompt if the MOSFETs are normal; and g) engaging the motor to drive the gear set to make a plurality of turns, instructing the indicator module to present test result, exiting the test mode and triggering the motor to drive the gear set to turn three times to acknowledge that the test mode is over if the trigger is pressed once.

7. The self-test fire control system according to claim 6, wherein, if there is some anomaly, the control unit determines the degree of severity and instructs the indicator module to present the anomaly differently.

8. The self-test fire control system according to claim 6, wherein, in step g, an interval that an interrupted/burst mode microswitch of the toy gun is engaged by an interrupted/burst mode control piece of the toy when the gear set makes a turn is determined, and whether a spring of the toy gun and the gear set is compatible.

9. The self-test fire control system according to claim 6, wherein, if the battery's voltage is too low tested in step b, the control unit cuts off the battery's electricity provision.

10. The self-test fire control system according to claim 6, wherein, in step f, the MOSFETs are normal if, when one is ON, the other is OFF.

11. The self-test fire control system according to claim 6, wherein, in step g, if the motor does not turn, the MOSFETs are turned off.

12. The self-test fire control system according to claim 6, wherein, in step b, if the trigger is not pressed within an interval, setting the control unit to enter a sleep mode and waking the control unit after the trigger is pressed.