Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F41—WEAPONS
  • F41A—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS COMMON TO BOTH SMALLARMS AND ORDNANCE, e.g. CANNONS; MOUNTINGS FOR SMALLARMS OR ORDNANCE
  • F41A17/00—Safety arrangements, e.g. safeties
  • F41A17/06—Electric or electromechanical safeties
  • F41A17/063—Electric or electromechanical safeties comprising a transponder

Definitions

• the invention concerns a fire weapon control system including safety means for preventing firing of the weapon by an unauthorized user.
• the aim of the invention is therefore to provide an improved fire weapon control system of the above-mentioned kind which operates with reduced energy consumption, which is smaller and cheaper than prior art systems, and which in addition is more reliable.
• a fire weapon control system has a lower energy consumption and can be made much smaller and cheaper than prior art systems, and that in addition it is more reliable, even under extreme climatic conditions.
• FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of handgun control system according to the invention.
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a typical use of a handgun control system shown by Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a prior art receiver circuit used for PSK or FSK demodulation.
• Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of a receiver circuit used for ASK demodulation used in a weapon control system according to the invention.
• Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a prior art demodulator used for PSK or FSK demodulation in a receiver circuit of the type shown by Fig. 3.
• Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of demodulator used for ASK demodulation used in a receiver circuit of the type shown by Fig. 4.
• the weapon is a handgun.
• the weapon can be also any similar firearm, e.g. a rifle or a rapid firing assault weapon.
• a handgun control system basically comprises handgun control means lodged in a hollow part of the handgun handle (as described in detail hereinafter) and a user identification element 15, which is an element external to the handgun.
• the handgun control means include safety means 27 for preventing firing of the handgun and further comprises a reader 23 lodged in a hollow part of the handgun handle 24, e.g. behind a hand grip wall 25 of handle 24.
• Reader 23 comprises a transceiver composed of a signal transmitter and a signal receiver. The output signal of this receiver is used to control the position of said safety means 27.
• Reader 23 also comprises a microprocessor which coordinates the operation of the transceiver, the receiver and the safety means. This microprocessor controls the position of the safety means in response to signals provided by the receiver part of the transceiver.
• the microprocessor manages a plurality of data related to use of the handgun, e.g. the point of time at which the control system of the handgun is put into operation, the points of time at which the handgun is used, the number of projectiles present in the cartridge of the handgun, etc.
• This plurality of data is stored in memory means included in the microprocessor.
• the transceiver of reader 23 comprises an antenna 21 which is lodged in a side wall of the handle 24 of the handgun and on the side of the handle which is located at the shortest distance from the trigger of the handgun.
• Antenna 21 is distanced from metallic parts of the handgun in order to protect the operation of the control system against noise signals and in order to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the useful signals.
• Antenna 21 is so oriented that the main lobe of the transmitting field is directed towards the trigger of the handgun. Therefore, the main lobe of the transmitting field is directed towards the normal position of the user identification element 15, e.g. a finger ring carried by the user, when the handgun is properly hold by the user.
• the user identification element 15 e.g. a finger ring carried by the user
• Safety means 27 have a normally disarmed position and an armed position and are adapted for being moved from the normally disarmed position to said armed position in response to a signal from the signal receiver.
• the user identification element 15 is preferably a finger ring adapted to be worn by an authorized user of the handgun as shown by Fig. 2.
• Element 15 includes a transponder 14 mounted on ring 15 and adapted for receiving a signal from said transmitter in the handgun.
• the user identification element 15 is preferably a bracelet.
• the transmitter in the handgun is adapted to elicit a response from the transponder 14 of the user identification element 15.
• Transponder 14 of the user identification element 15 is adapted to receive a signal from the transmitter in the handgun and to generate a transponder signal back to the handgun.
• the receiver in the handgun comprises recognition means responsive to at least one coded identification carried by the transponder signal, and a means for generating an output signal to operate safety means 27 for release of the safety means to their armed position.
• the coded identification carried by the transponder signal has a hierarchical structure which allows identification of a plurality of authorized users of the handgun.
• the receiver in the handgun further comprises an amplitude shift keying demodulator for demodulating the transponder signal sent to the handgun.
• a preferred embodiment of a handgun control system further comprises programming means for coding said at least one identification in the transponder and in the recognition means of the receiver means in the handgun.
• the handgun control system further comprises a switch 33 for connecting a power supply 29 to electric circuits of said control means of the handgun .
• power supply 29 is normally disconnected from those electric circuits, and is adapted to be connected to those electric circuits by means of switch 33 when the user holds the handle of the handgun, or when pressure is applied to the trigger.
• switch 33 any other activation means having the function of a switch can be used.
• the handgun control system further comprises a LED display 26 which shows the user the status of the batteries and preferably also the status of the handgun control system as a whole.
• the handgun control system further comprises a device 36 or 37 for manually putting the handgun control system out of operation.
• Both devices 36, 37 requires the presence of an authorized transponder to operate.
• Device 36 requires also the presence of an authorized transponder to return to the safety condition.
• Device 37 is adapted to return to the safety condition without the presence of an authorized transponder.
• Batteries 29 are used as power supply. This batteries are preferably placed in a space or container located under the cartridge of the handgun. The battery container may be also connected to the cartridge.
• the shape of the cartridge holder is used as part of a mechanism for putting the handgun control system out of operation. This is achieved for example by configuring the control system in such a way that removal of the cartridge puts the control system out of operation. It is thereby prevented that any projectile remaining in the handgun may be fired.
• a further simplification provided by the use of ASK according to the invention can be by comparing the structure of the demodulator 62 for Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) shown by Fig. 6 with the structure of an FM demodulator shown by Fig. 5.
• ASK Amplitude Shift Keying
• such an FM demodulator comprises the following elements/blocks (some of them are complex circuits) : an input lead 71; a PLL circuit comprising a phase detector 73, a low-pass filter 74 and a voltage controlled oscillator 75; a resistor 76, a capacitor 77 and an output lead 78, whereas the ASK demodulator 62 represented by Fig. 6 only comprises the following elements/blocks (all of which are passive components) : an input lead 81, a diode 82, a capacitor 83, resistors 84, 85, a capacitor 86 and an output lead 87.
• ASK Moreover use of ASK according to the invention provides a considerable reduction of the energy consumption of the transceiver of reader 23 of the handgun control system.
• the energy consumption of such a transceiver is about nine times lower than the one of prior art transceivers for a similar purpose.
• ASK ASK according to the invention provides a stronger signal to the input of the receiver part of the transceiver of reader 23. Therefore, operation of the handgun control system according to the invention is more reliable, even under noise conditions that would seriously affect the reliability of prior art systems.
• screws 42, 43, 44, 45 which can only be removed with special tools are used for mounting the various parts of the control system in the handle of the handgun, in order to protect it against misuse.
• screws 42, which fix the control system to the handgun are positioned internally.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)
• Fire Alarms (AREA)
• Radar Systems Or Details Thereof (AREA)
• Aiming, Guidance, Guns With A Light Source, Armor, Camouflage, And Targets (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (2)

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Family Applications Before (1)

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Family Cites Families (9)

• 1999
  • 1999-04-26 EP EP99810350A patent/EP1048919A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2000
  • 2000-02-26 WO PCT/EP2000/001613 patent/WO2000065291A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2000-02-26 AT AT00910718T patent/ATE278928T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2000-02-26 AU AU32830/00A patent/AU3283000A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2000-02-26 DE DE60014618T patent/DE60014618T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2000-02-26 EP EP00910718A patent/EP1171746B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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