JP3227466U - Air gun trigger detection system that uses light reflection - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air gun trigger detection system which is not easily damaged and has high safety. An air gun trigger detection system includes a printed circuit board (7) on which a sensor including a light source (5) and a receiver (6) (light receiving device) is mounted, and the printed circuit board is disposed on a first inner surface (8) of the air gun. And the active surface of the receiver is directed towards the second inner surface 9 facing the first inner surface of the air gun, the trigger 1 being the stop of the light emitted from the light source. [Selection diagram] Fig. 7

Description

The present invention relates to a system for trigger detection of weapon replicas (especially ASG) that utilizes the reflection of light from within the metal of the gearbox.

An Airsoft Gun (ASG) is a replica that usually looks like a 1:1 scale real gun and uses compressed gas to fire bullets. Airsoft gun type weapons are used for airsoft games, training, military simulations, etc., and the user requires not only the appearance accuracy but also the function of a real gun as much as possible. An automatic electric gun (AEG) is a type of ASG in which an electric motor operates gears to compress a spring. With AEG's new product, the motor is controlled by a short circuit in the contacts that closes the power circuit when the trigger is pressed. A trigger is a mechanical element composed of one or two parts that work together. In the AEG, the movement of the trigger directly applies pressure to the movable portion of the contact block, the movable portion moves, the contacts of the contact block are short-circuited, and the power supply circuit of the motor is closed. A high pressure air gun (HPA) is a type of ASG powered by compressed air. In HPA, the movement of the trigger is similar, but the pressure is on the electronic microswitch. When the trigger is pressed, the solenoid valve supplies the required amount of compressed air to the chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,049 describes a method of preventing trigger rebound that occurs when a launcher (particularly a paintball marker) fires a bullet. This method is based on detecting the position of a movable trigger marker attached to the frame during the fully pulled and fully released states of the trigger. A pin is attached to the lower rear portion of the trigger, and the pin enters the gap of the marker handle when the trigger is pulled. The detection of the trigger position is possible with an analog sensor, in particular an analog optical sensor. A sensor including a light emitting unit and a photosensitive unit is attached to the handle slot. When the trigger is pulled, the pin that is pulled into the slot prevents the light emitted from the light emitting unit from being received by the photosensitive unit. The system recognizes that the trigger is in the pulled state when the light receiving rate is 40% to 60%, and recognizes that the trigger is in the home position when the light receiving rate is 100%.

Patent Document 2 describes a method of detecting a trigger state of a firearm by a plurality of optical sensors, which is used as a trigger mechanism and a safety mechanism. The sensors are mounted on both sides of a trigger mechanism part such as a trigger and a fuse. At least two sensors are required for the circuit to function properly. The sensor is composed of a light emitting LED and a light receiving phototransistor. The movable element of the trigger mechanism in the home position blocks light between some LEDs and the phototransistor and allows light to pass to other sensors. When the position of the moveable element of the trigger mechanism changes, this condition reverses, allowing light to pass through the phototransistor and block light to other sensors. The optical sensor detects a change in the intensity of the received optical signal. The detected information is transmitted to the main controller, which then determines the position of the movable element of the trigger mechanism.

Patent Document 3 describes a paintball marker using an optical fiber cable. These cables are used to connect the photosensor parts, improve the balance of the markers, and allow the photoresistors to be transferred to the stock to minimize the effect of external conditions on the photoresistors. A light source and a sensor consisting of a photoresistor are used to detect the trigger position. Light emitted from a light source on the stock of the marker is transmitted through the first fiber optic cable into the trigger chamber. An input end of the second optical fiber connected to the optical sensor is provided at a position facing the end of the first optical fiber. When the moving trigger blocks the light beam, the amount of light transmitted to the optical sensor through the optical fiber changes, and the trigger position can be detected by analyzing the change.

Patent Document 4 describes a trigger mechanism for a paintball marker that includes a movable trigger, an optical sensor, and a controller that receives a signal that determines the trigger position from the sensor. The optical sensor is composed of an emitter, a receiver, and an actuator spring. The emitter and receiver are installed in the marker handle so as to face each other. There is a gap between both parts to allow the light beam to pass through. The lower part of the actuator spring is connected to the trigger, and when the trigger is pressed, the actuator spring deforms to close the gap and change the amount of light transmitted to the receiver.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,837,058 describes a weapon firing system that includes a firing module and an activation module connected thereto. Its feature is that the activation module includes an interconnected emitter and receiver, and a controller for detecting the blockage of light rays transmitted from the emitter to the receiver. The system according to the present invention is an alternative technique to the conventional trigger mechanism. In one option, the activation module also has components that reflect the light from the emitter. Since the part is below the trigger guard and the emitter and receiver are on opposite sides, the light transmitted from the emitter to the receiver is reflected by the reflective part. The weapon fires when the rays are blocked by the user's finger.

In new AEG products, motor control is accomplished by shorting contacts that close the power circuit when the trigger is pressed. A trigger is a mechanical element that is composed of one or two parts that work together depending on the type of AEG. 1, 2, and 3 show examples of configurations used in AEG. Due to the movement of the trigger 1, pressure is directly applied to the movable portion of the contact block 3, and the movable portion that moves next short-circuits the contact 4 of the contact block 2 to close the power supply circuit of the motor.

FIG. 4 shows an example of HPA. In this case, the trigger movement is similar, but the pressure is on the electronic microswitch 2. When trigger 1 is pressed, the solenoid valve supplies the required amount of compressed air to the chamber.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,089,697 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2016/0054082 U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/042616 US Pat. No. 6,973,748 European Patent Application Publication No. 3367041

In conventional AEG and HPA, the triggering mechanism has some basic drawbacks. Examples include the inability to adjust the trigger sensitivity according to the user's needs, the fact that the contacts of the contact block burn out due to the influence of the current in the circuit, and the resulting malfunction of the weapon and the microswitch against mechanical damage. Low resistance, short-circuiting and opening of contacts a limited number of times.

The air gun trigger detection system comprises at least one light source D1 and a sensor consisting of at least one receiver Q1 for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal. The light source D1 fixed to the printed circuit board is connected to a microcontroller pin, and the receiver Q1 is connected to an analog microcontroller pin having an analog-digital converter or an analog-digital converter U1 connected to a microcontroller. According to the solution according to the invention, a printed circuit board with a light source D1 and a receiver Q1 is fixed to a first inner surface of an air gun, the active surface is directed to a second inner surface facing the first inner surface of the air gun, and a trigger is provided. Serves as a diaphragm for the light emitted from the light source D1.

An LED or a laser diode is most suitable as the light source D1.
As the receiver Q1, a phototransistor, a photodiode, a photoresistor or a CCD detector is most suitable.

It is preferable to cover at least a part of the second inner surface of the air gun facing the printed circuit board with one reflection enhancing layer.
Reflective foils or paints are most suitable as the reflection enhancing layer.

According to the present invention, a fail-safe and maintenance-free sensor that is not damaged by normal specifications can be used. The sensor is connected to the input end of the analog-digital converter. The processing result of the transducer is analyzed by the microcontroller, which allows an accurate analysis of the received signal and an accurate determination of the trigger position. The small size of the light source and receiver allows the use of multiple components depending on needs, resulting in more precise control of the trigger position.

Furthermore, the control and analysis algorithm of the signal reaching the sensor makes it more resistant to the effects of external lighting, and the electro-optical element is more resistant to a wide range of temperature, humidity, vibration, surge and electromagnetic interference due to its structure.

Airsoft users can adjust the settings to customize them to their needs.

The schematic diagram of the conventional AEG. The schematic diagram of another conventional AEG. The schematic diagram of another conventional AEG. The schematic diagram of the conventional HPA. The schematic diagram of the air gun of this invention. The enlarged view of a part of FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an air gun of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a reflective photosensor using a microcontroller equipped with an analog-digital converter. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a reflective optical sensor using a microcontroller connected to an analog-digital converter.

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings.
This system is equipped with a sensor consisting of one LED or laser diode light source and one detector such as phototransistor, photodiode, photoresistor or CCD detector that converts an optical signal into an electrical signal. There is. A printed circuit board having a light source D1(5) and a receiver Q1(6) is fixed to the first inner surface of the air gun, and the active surfaces of the light source D1(5) and the receiver Q1(6) are directed to the second inner surface of the air gun. The trigger (1) serves as a diaphragm for the light emitted from the light source D1 (5).

A layer (10) is provided on the inner surface of the air gun that reflects light. The layer (10) provides a similar reflection effect with each type of air gun, regardless of the color or reflectivity of the inner surface. The light source D1(5) is connected to a pin of the microcontroller. The optical receiver Q1 (6) is an analog pin of a microcontroller with an analog-to-digital converter as shown in FIG. 8 or an analog connected to the microcontroller as shown in FIG. Connected to digital converter.

The light source D1(5) is an LED or a laser diode. The microcontroller controls the light source D1(5) every 1 millisecond as follows. Light source D1(5) is on for 1 millisecond and off for the next 1 millisecond. This cycle is repeated, and the light of the light source D1 (5) is reflected from the second inner surface (9) or the layer (10) facing the first inner surface of the air gun, and is transmitted to the receiver Q1 (6). Depending on the state of the trigger (1), the receiver Q1 (6) is illuminated strongly or weakly with the light reflected from the second inner surface (9) of the air gun. The trigger (1) of the air gun moves between the light source D1 (5) and the receiver Q1 (6) and serves as a diaphragm for emitted light. The positions of the light source D1 (5) and the receiver Q1 (6) are strictly determined with respect to the position of the trigger (1) of the air gun. When the trigger is not pulled, the light source D1 (5) illuminates the entire reflective surface or casts a small shadow on it. The receiver Q1 (6) is then most strongly illuminated by the light reflected from the surface (9) or layer (10) of the air gun. When the trigger is pulled, the trigger gradually casts a large shadow on the surface of the air gun (9) or the surface of the layer (10). At the same time, less light is emitted from the light source D1(5) received by the receiver Q1(6), and when the trigger (1) is fully pulled, the receiver Q1(6) receives the least light. The receiver Q1 (6) converts the luminous intensity into a current, and when the current flows through the resistor R2, a voltage drop occurs at its terminal. An analog-to-digital converter converts this voltage into digital form. Samples are taken every millisecond. Just 100 microseconds after taking the sample, the state of the light source D1(5) is changed and each voltage sample in digital form is stored in a buffer containing the last 5 samples read. Each time the state of the light source D1(5) is changed, the microcontroller analyzes the data stored in the buffer.

For example, the samples: pr[0], pr[2] and pr[4] are read with the light source D1(5) turned on and emitted to ambient light and light source D1(5) and received by receiver Q1(6). It reflects the total value of the light that hits. Samples: pr[1] and pr[3] are read with source D1(5) off and reflect only the ambient light intensity striking receiver Q1(6). By calculating the difference between the even samples pr[0], pr[2], pr[4] and the odd samples pr[1], pr[3], the luminous intensity of the light emitted only from the light source D1(5) can be obtained. Difference between sample pr[0] and sample pr[1], difference between sample pr[2] and sample pr[1], difference between sample pr[2] and sample pr[3], sample pr[4] and sample pr If any of the four differences, [3], is greater than the threshold previously determined by the user during calibration, the trigger is recognized as released. Difference between sample pr[0] and sample pr[1], difference between sample pr[2] and sample pr[1], difference between sample pr[2] and sample pr[3], sample pr[4] and sample pr If each of the four differences, [3], is less than or equal to the threshold previously determined by the user during calibration, the trigger (1) is considered to be in the pulled state and the firing process of the bullet. Is started.

The receiver Q1 (6) is a phototransistor, a photodiode, a photoresistor or a CCD detector.

Claims (6)

An air gun trigger detection system comprising at least one light source and a sensor comprising at least one receiver for converting an optical signal into an electrical signal, said light source fixed to a printed circuit board being connected to a microcontroller pin The receiver is connected to an analog microcontroller pin with an analog to digital converter, or an analog to digital converter connected to the microcontroller, and the printed circuit board with the light source and the receiver is the first of an air gun. Fixed to the inner surface of the air source, the active surface of the light source is directed to a second inner surface opposite the first inner surface of the air gun, the trigger being a stop of light emitted from the light source. The system of claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED or a laser diode. The system of claim 1, wherein the receiver is a phototransistor, a photodiode, a photoresistor or a CCD detector. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the printed circuit board and the second inner surface of the air gun are covered with a reflection enhancing layer. The system of claim 4, wherein the reflection enhancing layer is a reflective foil. The system of claim 4, wherein the reflection enhancing layer is a reflective paint.