EP1274965B1 - Electronic security device for a firearm and associated electronically coded ammunition - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for releasing a safety device of a firearm with a trigger for actuating the apparatus, wherein the safety device is capable of blocking the actuation of the apparatus. The safety device is provided at the firearm with a source of electric energy and an electronic circuit energized by the source of electric energy. The electronic circuit includes a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting an interrogation signal to a transponder provided separately from the firearm, a receiver for receiving a response signal wirelessly transmitted from the transponder in response to the interrogation signal, a device for examining information contained in the response signal, a releasing device driven by the examining device and deblocking the actuation of the apparatus depending on the examination result, and a non-volatile memory having an identification code for the firearm stored therein. The examination device includes a comparator device for comparing the code stored in the non-volatile memory with the information contained in the response signal transmitted from the transponder. The non-volatile memory is exchangeable and the remaining components of the electronic circuit are fixedly connected with the firearm.

Description

The invention relates to a device for triggering a shot from a firearm according to the preamble of claim 1, as well as to a suitable for such a missile ammunition and a firing with this ammunition firearm.

The worldwide efforts to tighten arms legislation impressively highlight the great potential for danger posed by the use of firearms by unauthorized persons. Previous safety devices on firearms can at best reduce the risk that a user inadvertently emits a shot by accidentally pressing the trigger of the firearm. But you can not prevent that unauthorized persons can operate the firearm at any time. On the one hand, firearms such as pistols, revolvers or rifles, when they reach the hands of children, pose a very great source of danger. On the other hand, firearms are misused by criminals to threaten, injure or even kill other persons. It is not uncommon for security forces to be shot with their own service pistol, which a criminal could seize by special circumstances.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned above, which allows a backup of the firearm against unauthorized use. Furthermore, an ammunition serving this purpose and a firearm suitable for the use of this ammunition are proposed.

WO 98/04880 discloses a tripping device according to the preamble of claim 1. The memory in which the firearm side identification code is stored is an integral part of the electronic circuit disposed in the weapon and connected to its microcontroller.

US 5,459,957 A describes safety and security mechanisms for a firearm. These can have nonvolatile EPROM memories which can be exchanged.

GB 1 377 398 A describes all features of the preamble of independent claim 6.

According to the invention this object is achieved with respect to a device for triggering a shot of the type mentioned by a development according to the characterizing part of claim 1.

In the solution according to the invention the firearm remains locked against the triggering of a shot, unless the user of the firearm carries the transponder with him, after the operation of the trigger of the firearm in response to the emitted by the circuit of the firearm interrogation signal that enables the unlocking of the triggering device Response signal returns. Suitable transponders are known for this purpose. They comprise a receiver for the interrogation signal and a transmitter for the response signal and obtain the electrical energy required for their operation from the interrogation signal transmitted to them.

The electronic circuit and the electric power source are preferably arranged in the grip of the firearm in the case of handguns. The electrical energy source will usually be a battery. But in this respect, other embodiments are conceivable. For example, a mechanically coupled to the trigger transducer could be used as an energy source, which converts the mechanical movement of the trigger when firing a shot into electrical energy.

As in the case of conventional mechanical safety devices, the safety device is normally also locked in the present case. For this reason, no electrical operating energy is required. An electrical operating energy consumption only occurs when the trigger is actuated and replaced by the exchange of signals between the firearm and the transponder, for example by means of a solenoid provided in the release device, a locking device blocking the mechanical locking pin is moved to its release position.

It is envisaged that the electronic circuit of the firearm has a non-volatile memory in which a firearm identifying code is stored, and the checking means comprises comparing means for comparing the code stored in the non-volatile memory with the information content of the response signal transmitted from the transponder. The code stored in the nonvolatile memory individualizes the firearm. It can therefore only be used by owners of a transponder whose response signal is related to the stored code, which is accepted by the comparator to release the triggering device.

It is further provided that the non-volatile memory is replaceable and the remaining parts of the electronic circuit are firmly connected to the firearm. The gun individualizing non-volatile memory is arranged, for example, on a support which is inserted into a corresponding recess of the magazine of the firearm. When inserting the magazine into the firearm it is contacted with the circuit and thereby individualized by the rest in its construction with all other firearms of the same design matching weapon.

In this context, there is an expedient development in that in the non-volatile memory, a code representing a weapons use permit is additionally stored, which is compared by the comparison device with the information content of the response signal transmitted by the transponder. The code representing the use of the weapon permits, in the manner of a license number, an individualization of the persons authorized to use this weapon. Several codes can be stored for several people, with the result that this weapon can be used by the group of several people. Nevertheless, each person has his own transponder, which only transmits a response signal corresponding to the code applicable to this person. In this case, when the trigger is operated, the comparator will go through all the codes representing the various usage permissions until a valid code has been found. Only in this case, the triggering device is unlocked. Otherwise it remains locked.

It is further contemplated by the invention that the electronic circuit of the firearm include a real time clock, a nonvolatile memory, and a memory writer is written by the time and date of each actuation of the device in the non-volatile memory. This embodiment, which, however, requires a permanent electrical power supply for the real-time clock, allows the logging of all weapon operations. This creates an extremely effective means of criminal or other verification of the use of the weapon. To prevent counterfeiting of the time and date, it must be ensured that the power supply for the real-time clock can not be interrupted unnoticed in any case. For this purpose, the electronic circuit can be provided with a function that permanently locks the weapon in the event of a power interruption for the real-time clock. A remedy this permanent lock is then possible with practically possible effort only by the manufacturer.

The electronic circuit of the firearm will preferably be in the form of a microchip known in the art. This training is advantageous as a microchip in a development of the device but especially for the transponder. In this development of the device, the transponder is designed as a chip and integrated into an object to be worn by the user of the firearm on the body.

This item can undergo various designs that allow an unobtrusive wearing or even a largely captive wearing on the body. For example, the transponder chip could be inserted into a flat carrier in the manner of a known smart card, which the user carries in a pocket of his clothing. A particularly advantageous embodiment, which brings with it the advantage of a small transmission distance between the transponder and firearm, is that the object is a finger ring. If this finger ring worn on the shooting hand, is sufficient because of the short distance, for example, an inductive transmission of the interrogation signal and the response signal.

The aim of increased weapon safety is also the creation of an ammunition according to claim 6 with a projectile casing, a projectile sleeve occluding projectile, arranged in the projectile shell propellant charge and provided on the bullet sleeve ignition device for the propellant charge, which is characterized in that the ignition device electronic circuit comprising an electrical contact assembly contactable with ammunition located in firing position from a firearm complementary contact assembly for impinging electrical energy from the firearm and having a transducer driven by the electronic circuit; converts an electrical ignition energy pulse delivered by the circuit to the transducer in response to the application of energy to an energy pulse suitable for igniting the propellant charge.

This ammunition can not be used for previously known firearms, since their igniter can not be ignited by the firing pin known weapons contrary to conventional primer. If only it is ensured that the future ammunition production is completely converted to the ammunition according to the invention, all previous handguns whose proliferation is afflicted with a high number of unreported, become unusable in a short time. The ammunition according to the invention requires the supply of electrical ignition energy, which is converted by the provided in the ammunition electronic circuit in a suitable waveform for driving the converter, which causes the conversion into a suitable for igniting the propellant energy pulse. As a rule, this will be an electrothermal converter, which provides a sufficient amount of thermal energy to ignite the propellant charge. Preferably, the transducer is a laser diode which, because of its one-time use, can be driven beyond its destructive power.

In addition, it is provided that the electronic circuit of the ignition device has a non-volatile memory in which a code identifying the type of ammunition and code which can be read out via the contact arrangement comprises.

If the identification code is read, it can be used to control the admissibility of the ammunition for a particular weapon or even a particular user.

For the use of this ammunition, a firearm having a contact assembly complementary to the electrical contact arrangement of the ammunition and a triggering device having a trigger is formed such that the triggering device is provided with an electrical power source and an electronic circuit powered therefrom which is responsive to a Actuation of the trigger the complementary contact assembly with the required for igniting the ammunition electrical energy applied.

This embodiment of the firearm is designed to exploit the given by the type of ammunition identifying code given control option such in that the electronic circuit of the firearm comprises means for reading out the identification codes stored in the nonvolatile memory of the electronic circuit of the ammunition and means for checking the identification code which releases or blocks the energization in response to the check. This can be prevented, for example, that the weapon with unsuitable ammunition, which could, for example, a dangerous barrel widening would result in being shot at.

An additional increase of the control possibility is achieved in that the electronic circuit of the firearm has a non-volatile memory, in which the read-out identification code of the ammunition is stored. In this way it can be determined at later checks, with what kind of ammunition the weapon has been fired. The use of impermissible types of ammunition can be subsequently detected and thus uncover premature wear or accidents caused thereby.

Fig. 1 (a)

eine schematische Darstellung einer Vorrichtung zum Auslösen eines Schusses aus einer Schußwaffe in drei verschiedenen Phasen, nämlich vor dem Betätigen des Abzugs, bei teilweise durchgezogenem Abzug und bei ganz durchgezogenem Abzug,

Fig. 1 (b)

ein Funktionsablaufdiagramm der in Fig. 1 (a) dargestellten Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2 (a)

einen schematischen Querschnitt durch eine Patrone,

Fig. 2 (b)

eine für die Patrone von Fig. 2 (a) ausgebildete Vorrichtung zum Auslösen eines Schusses, und

Fig. 2 (c)

ein Funktionsablaufdiagramm für das Zusammenwirken der Patrone von Fig. 2 (a) mit der Auslösevorrichtung von Fig. 2 (b).

Further features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the drawing. Herein show:

Fig. 1 (a)

a schematic representation of an apparatus for triggering a shot from a firearm in three different phases, namely before the trigger, with a partially pulled trigger and fully drawn trigger,

Fig. 1 (b)

FIG. 3 is a functional flow chart of the device shown in FIG. 1 (a). FIG.

Fig. 2 (a)

a schematic cross section through a cartridge,

Fig. 2 (b)

a device for triggering a shot formed for the cartridge of Fig. 2 (a), and

Fig. 2 (c)

a functional flow chart for the interaction of the cartridge of Fig. 2 (a) with the triggering device of Fig. 2 (b).

In FIG. 1 (a), the outline of a pistol 1 in the region of the end of its barrel 2 facing towards its handle is shown schematically on the top left. Within this outline, the device serving to trigger a shot is schematically recognizable. The latter points a trigger 3, a hinged thereto trigger bar 4, a cock 5, between the cock 5 and the trigger 3 remote from the end of the trigger rod 4 arranged Hahnsperrstück 6, which is actuated by the trigger bar 4, a firing pin 7 and a safety lever 8 for the Firing pin on. Such a mechanical construction of the triggering device is well known in the art and therefore will not be further described here. It is only to be noted that the cock lock piece 6 is pivoted by the trigger bar 4 when pulling the trigger 3 in a known manner such that it releases the spring-loaded tap 5, thereby the firing pin 7 in the unlatched position of the safety lever 8 against the primer a running cartridge 2 9 strikes. This condition is shown in Fig. 1 (a) on the left side in the lowest picture.

In the handle part 10 of the gun 1, of which only the uppermost area is shown in Fig. 1 (a), an electronic circuit 11 is arranged, which reproduced to facilitate the representation outside of the handle portion 10, but in reality, for example, in the handle of the handle part 10 is installed.

The electronic circuit 11 has a battery 12 serving as the operating electric power source, a transmitting / receiving circuit 13, a real time clock 14, and a logic device 15 coordinating the operation of the entire circuit.

The trigger 3 has an actuating element 16 for a built-in micro-switch 17. As soon as the trigger 3 is pulled through a little bit for firing, the actuating element 16 closes the microswitch 17. This state is indicated in the middle illustration on the left-hand side of FIG. 1 (a). As a result, the logic module 15 is turned on via the signal applied to its input contacts S1, S2 turn-on signal of the micro-switch 17 and causes the transmitter of the transmitting / receiving circuit 13 to emit an interrogation signal wirelessly.

This interrogation signal is received by a transponder 18 which the user carries separately from the pistol 1. The transponder 18 is formed, for example in the form of a microchip and integrated into a finger ring, which carries the user of the gun 1 on his shooting hand.

The transponder responds in known manner to the received interrogation signal by transmitting a response signal given to it. This is received by the receiver of the transmitting / receiving circuit 13 of the circuit 11 and with respect to demodulated its information content. The logic module 15 has a checking device, which checks the information content according to a predetermined criterion and controls a release device that unlocks the actuation of the triggering device when the criterion is met. This release device is exemplified in FIG. 1 (a) as a switch 19 driven by the logic device 15, which applies an electrical excitation pulse to a solenoid 20 associated with the valve plug 6, thereby disengaging the solenoid 20 from a lock pin which is locked in engagement with the valve plug 6 pulls and thereby further releases the trigger 3, the cock 5 releases, causing the triggering of the shot.

As a criterion for the verification of the information content of the response signal and the unlocking of the triggering device is used in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 (a), a comparison with a stored in a non-volatile memory 21 code. Upon receipt of the response signal from the transponder 18, the logic device 15 reads the stored code from the non-volatile memory 21 and compares it with the information content of the response signal. Only in the event that in this comparison, a predetermined relationship between the information content of the response signal and the read code of the firearm is determined, for example, match, the release is carried out by the release device.

In the illustration of Fig. 1 (a), it is indicated that the non-volatile memory 21 is arranged separately from the remaining parts of the electronic circuit on a flat carrier, for example a small chip card. This chip card is inserted, for example, in a recess of the magazine of the weapon and contacted upon insertion of the magazine with the other parts of the electronic circuit.

If only a single code is stored in the nonvolatile memory 21 of the weapon, it simultaneously identifies the weapon and the transponder 18 emitting the corresponding response signal in the manner of a user license of the transponder 18. However, it may also be provided that in the nonvolatile memory 21 of the weapon additionally one or more weapons usage authorization identifying codes are stored. In this case, the weapon can be assigned a corresponding number of transponders 18, each of which outputs one of the serving as a permission code codes as a response signal. When one of these transponders 18 receives the response signal representing one of these codes, the electronic circuit 11 successively compares this response signal with all the stored permission codes and unlocks the triggering device as soon as the corresponding one of these comparisons Criterion is met. If this is not done for any of the stored permission codes, the weapon remains locked. As a result, it can be used by a particular group of users while other people can not use it.

This operation is summarized in the flowchart of Fig. 1 (b). There, the block "L-code" refers to the assumption of the use permission representing information content of the response signal of the transponder 18 in the logic block 15. The block "G-code" represents the reading of the nonvolatile memory 21 of the weapon codes stored in the logic block 15 The block "Code ok? / Time & Date" symbolizes the comparison of the code transmitted by the transponder 18 with the code stored in the nonvolatile memory 21 of the weapon and the fact that the logic module 15 takes over time and date from the real time clock 14. The block "block gun" symbolizes that the weapon remains locked if the code comparison does not meet the predetermined criterion. The blocks "deblock gun" and "History" symbolize that upon fulfillment of the criterion unlocks the triggering device of the weapon and also time and date of triggering in the non-volatile memory 21 of the weapon are enrolled.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 (a) and (b), the cartridge 9 is fired in a conventional manner by the impact of the firing pin 7 on a primer of the cartridge 9. This is no longer the case with the embodiment of a cartridge 100 shown in FIG. 2 (a). Although the latter has, just like conventional ammunition, a projectile sleeve 101 which is closed at its front end by a projectile 102 and contains a propellant charge 103.

Notwithstanding conventional ammunition, which is provided at the rear end of the projectile sleeve 101 with the primer, an electronic circuit 104 is disposed in the cartridge 100 in the sleeve 101 at the rear end thereof, on whose side facing the propellant charge 103 a laser diode 105 is formed. From the side facing away from the laser diode 105 of the circuit 104 from a contact assembly 106 extends to the outside.

If the contact arrangement 106, which can form, for example, a bus contact, electrical energy is supplied to a sufficient extent, the circuit 104 is activated and outputs an electrical ignition energy pulse to the laser diode 105 from. Since this is a one-time process, the laser diode 105 can be overdriven until it is destroyed. The laser diode 105 converts this electrical ignition energy pulse in a thermal pulse, which is suitable for igniting the propellant charge 103 to. In this way, the propellant charge 103 is ignited and the projectile 102 is fired.

The electronic circuit 104 may include, in addition to the components necessary for the formation of the electrical ignition energy pulse, a nonvolatile memory whose memory contents are readable at the contact arrangement 106. In this non-volatile memory in the production of ammunition is a code identifying their nature, for example, whether it is high-speed ammunition or not, stored. With appropriate design of the firearm in which the ammunition 100 is used, this code can be used for the use of the firearm in various ways.

A basic embodiment of a firearm that can be bombarded with the ammunition shown in Fig. 2 (a) is shown schematically in Fig. 2 (b). Similar to the illustration of Fig. 1 (a), the outline of a gun 200 in the region of the rear end of its barrel 201 and the upper end of the grip part is shown in Fig. 2 (b). Comparable with Fig. 1 (a), there is again the trigger 202, the trigger rod 203 hinged thereto, and the cock stop 204 actuated therefrom. Notwithstanding Fig. 1 (a), however, in this embodiment, the remaining mechanical parts, which are needed there for firing shot, not available.

In particular, there is no firing pin and no serving to its drive cock. Instead, the cock lock piece 204 actuates an electrical microswitch 205 which turns on an electrical circuit 206 built into the handle portion of the gun 200. This circuit 206 is shown in Fig. 2 (a) merely for the sake of ease of illustration outside the grip portion.

This circuit 206 is identical in construction and function to the circuit 11 described above in connection with Fig. 1 (a). Therefore, the corresponding parts of the circuit 206 in Fig. 2 (b) are denoted by the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1 (a). Reference is made to the description there. In addition, it should merely be noted that the switch-on effect of the switch 16, 17 in FIG. 1 (a) corresponds to the switch-on effect of the switch 205 in FIG. 2 (b). However, in Fig. 2 (b), a switch similar to the switch 16, 17 in Fig. 1 (a) could be used as well. A functional deviation, however, is that instead of driving the solenoid 20 in Fig. 1 (a), the circuit 206 in Fig. 2 (b) drives the contact assembly 106 of the ready-to-fire cartridge 100 in the barrel 201 of the gun 200. For this purpose, at the end of the run 201 one for Contact arrangement 106 complementary contact arrangement 207 is provided, which establishes the electrical connection with the circuit 206. Through this connection, the circuit 206 of the gun 200 reads out the code identifying the type of ammunition from the non-volatile memory of the circuit 104 located in the bullet sleeve 101 and also applies the internal power circuitry 104 to the electrical energy required for its operation, in particular to ignite necessary energy.

The logic flow diagram of Figure 2 (c) summarizes the overall operation. The block "L-code" symbolizes the acquisition of the information content of the response signal of the transponder 18 by the logic device 15. Similarly, the block "G-code" symbolizes the readout of the stored in the non-volatile memory 21 of the circuit 206 codes by the logic device 15. Durch the block "Code ok?" It is shown that the logic module 15 compares the two codes with each other and, if the predetermined comparison criterion, for example equality, is not met, keeps the weapon locked, which is symbolized by the block "block gun". These previous functional sequences correspond entirely to the description of the functional sequence with reference to FIG. 1 (b) for the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 (a).

The block "Amunition ok?" indicates the function of the embodiment of Fig. 2 (b) going beyond the embodiment of Fig. 1 (a). Namely, if the code comparison leads to a positive result, the logic device 15 reads out the code identifying the type of ammunition from the nonvolatile memory of the circuit 104 of the cartridge 100. The read ammo code is checked according to a given criterion. If this is not achieved, the weapon remains locked, as indicated by the block "block gun". Further, in this case, the read-out ammunition code with readout date and time is stored in the non-volatile memory 21 of the weapon-side switching circuit 206. This is symbolized by the block "write History Time & Date on Chip".

On the other hand, if the check of the read ammunition code is positive, the weapon side circuit 206 causes the ammunition-side circuit 104 to fire the laser diode 105. This is symbolized in Fig. 2 (c) by the block "deblock gun". At the same time, the read-out weapon code together with the readout date and time are stored in the non-volatile memory 21 of the weapon-side circuit 206 (see block "write history time & date on chip").

List of reference numbers

1

pistol

2

run

3

deduction

4

sear

5

tap

6

Cock blocking member

7

firing pin

8th

safety lever

9

cartridge

10

handle part

11

electronic circuit

12

battery

13

Send / receive circuit

14

Real Time Clock

15

logic module

16

actuator

17

microswitch

18

transponder

19

switch

20

solenoid

21

non-volatile memory

100

cartridge

101

shell casing

102

Bullet

103

propellant

104

circuit

105

laser diode

106

Contact configuration

200

pistol

201

run

202

deduction

203

sear

204

Cock blocking member

205

microswitch

206

circuit

207

complementary contact arrangement

Claims (8)

1. An apparatus for releasing a shot from a gun which has a trigger serving to actuate the apparatus and a safety device by means of which actuation of the apparatus can be blocked, the safety device on the gun (1) being provided with an electrical energy source (12) and an electronic circuit (11) supplied by the latter and which has a transmitter (13) for the wireless transmission of a query signal to a transponder provided separately from the gun (1), a receiver (13) for receiving a response signal in response to the query signal transmitted wirelessly from the transponder (18), a device (15) for checking the information content of the response signal, a release device (19, 20) controlled by the checking device which deblocks actuation of the apparatus dependent on the checking, and a non-volatile memory (21) in which a code identifying the gun (1) is saved, the checking device (15) having a comparison device for comparing the code saved in the non-volatile memory (21) with the information content of the response signal transmitted by the transponder (18), characterised in that the non-volatile memory (21) is disposed on an interchangeable flat carrier which can be brought in contact with the circuit (11), and which can be inserted into a corresponding recess of the magazine of the gun, and can be brought in contact with the circuit (11) by pushing the magazine into the gun (1), and the other parts of the electronic circuit (11) are securely connected to the gun (1).
2. The apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that a code representing a weapon use authorisation is additionally saved in the non-volatile memory (21), and this is compared by the comparison device with the information content of the response signal transmitted by the transponder (18).
3. The apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the electronic circuit (11) of the gun (1) has a real time clock (14) and a memory writing device by means of which the time and date of each actuation of the apparatus is entered in the non-volatile memory (21).
4. The apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the transponder (18) is in the form of a chip and is integrated into an item to be worn on the body of the user of the gun (1).
5. The apparatus according to Claim 4, characterised in that the object is a ring worn on the finger.
6. Ammunition for a gun with a release apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 5, with a bullet casing, a bullet sealing the bullet casing, a propellant disposed in the bullet casing and an igniter provided on the bullet casing for the propellant, the igniter having an electronic circuit (104) with an electric contact arrangement (106) which, with ammunition (100) located in the shooting position, can be brought into contact by a contact arrangement (207) of the gun (200) complementary to this so as to apply electric energy from the gun (200) and with a non-volatile memory in which a code identifying the type of ammunition is saved and which can be read out by means of the contact arrangement (106), and a converter (105) controlled by the electronic circuit (104) which converts an electric ignition energy impulse into an energy impulse suitable for igniting the propellant (103) released by the circuit (104) in response to the energy applied to the converter (104), characterised in that the converter (105) is a laser diode which is overridden until its is destruction.
7. A gun for ammunition according to Claim 6 with a contact arrangement (207) complementary to the electric contact arrangement (106) of the ammunition (100) and an apparatus having a trigger (202) for releasing a shot according to any of Claims 1 to 5, the release apparatus being provided with an electric energy source (12) and an electronic circuit (206) supplied by the latter, which in response to actuation of the trigger (3) acts upon the complementary contact arrangement (207) with the electric energy required to ignite the ammunition (100), characterised in that the electronic circuit (206) of the gun (204) has a device for reading out the identification code saved in the non-volatile memory of the electronic circuit (104) of the ammunition (100) and a device (15) for checking the identification code, which releases or blocks the energy applied dependent on the check.
8. The gun according to Claim 7, characterised in that the electronic circuit (104) of the gun (200) has a non-volatile memory (21) in which the identification code of the ammunition (100) read out is saved.

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