US20100003643A1

US20100003643A1 - Simulated magazine and gun simulator using the simulated magazine

Info

Publication number: US20100003643A1
Application number: US12/448,016
Authority: US
Inventors: Jung-il Seo
Original assignee: Korea Elecom Co Ltd
Current assignee: Korea Elecom Co Ltd
Priority date: 2006-12-06
Filing date: 2007-12-05
Publication date: 2010-01-07
Also published as: KR100816389B1; WO2008069560A1

Abstract

A simulated magazine capable of operating according to a movement of a trigger and a gun simulator provided with the simulated magazine are provided. The simulated magazine includes a burst signal generating unit and a magazine body. The burst signal generating unit a burster lever disposed closely on a rear surface of a trigger of a gun, a burst switch lever capable of operating according to a movement of the burster lever, and a tension spring for returning the moved burster lever to its original position. The magazine body includes a central controller for controlling whole operations, a burst switch disposed adjacent to the burst switch lever to be switched on according to a movement of the burst switch lever and transmit a burst signal to the central controller, and a firing signal output unit receiving a firing signal from the central controller and transmitting the firing signal to an external laser beam transmitter. Accordingly, it is possible to provide a simulated magazine capable of operating according to a movement of a trigger and having a stable structure for transmitting a burst signal to a central controller.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a magazine-shaped housing, a simulated magazine, and a gun simulator including the simulated magazine used for a multiple integrated laser engagement system (MILES) or a survival game, and more particularly, to a simulated magazine having a burst signal generating unit having a structure capable of operating according to a movement of a trigger and a gun simulator provided with a simulated magazine.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, in the military training, a multiple integrated laser engagement system (hereinafter, referred to as a MILES) has been introduced to train soldiers. In the multiple integrated battle system, the soldiers can carry out a simulated battle like an actual battle. In the MILES system, a small arms transmitter for emitting laser beams instead of a gun barrel for shooting a bullet is provided to a rifle such as M16 and K2 or a machine gun, and a laser sensor is attached to a harness or a helmet of an enemy's solider or an enemy's weapon. The laser beams are shot to the laser sensor, and the hitting is determined. In the MILES system, since the simulated battle can be carried out without actual killing, battle ability of soldiers and command ability of commanders can be greatly improved.
In a conventional MILES system, real blank bullets are loaded on a magazine for a method of firing a light beam bullet. When the blank bullet is also fired, an impact sound generated due to the firing is sensed by a sensor of a transmitter, so that the transmitter can emit the laser beam. Therefore, all the operations excluding the firing of blank bullets are the same as those for the firing of real bullets.
Although the method of firing a light beam bullet utilising the blank bullet is simple and accurate, many blanks bullets per a solider may be consumed. Therefore, in company-level or battalion level training, there is a problem in that high costs for blank bullets are needed.
In a method of directly firing a light beam by pushing a switch protruding from one side surface of a transmitter attached to a barrel, there is an advantage in that the blank bullets are not used. Since the firing operation, that is, the pushing of the switch is different from the pulling of the trigger of a real gun, suitable training of aiming and firing operations cannot be performed. In addition, individual shot modes such as a signal shot mode and a succession shot mode cannot be performed, so that the method cannot simulate a real situation. Accordingly, there is a problem in that good training effect cannot be obtained.
In order to solve the problems, the inventor of the present invention disclosed a gun simulator in Korean Patent No 10-584928. A simulated magazine disclosed in the Patent Document has a housing having a shape the same as or similar to a real magazine. The simulated magazine provided to the gun simulator emits laser beams at the same time when a trigger is pulled in the same manner of the firing of real bullets. As a result, according to the gun simulator, it is possible to obtain firing effect similar to the firing of real bullets without use of blank bullets.
The gun simulator disclosed in the Patent Document includes a burst signal generating means for generating a burst signal when a trigger of a gun is pulled, a burst signal output means for outputting the generated burst signal, a magazine-shaped housing of which upper portion is inserted and fixed to a magazine inserting portion of the gun, and a laser beam transmitter attached to the gun to emit laser beams toward a target. The housing includes a burst signal input means for receiving the burst signal output from the burst signal output means, a shot mode setting means for setting a shot mode of the laser beam transmitter, a microcomputer for receiving the burst signal from the burst signal input means, recognizing the shot mode set by the shot mode setting means, and generating a firing signal corresponding to the burst signal, a firing signal output means for outputting the firing signal generated by the microcomputer to the laser beam transmitter. The laser beam transmitter includes a firing signal input means for receiving the firing signal output from the firing signal output means and emitting the laser beam according to the firing signal input from the firing signal input means. When the laser beam emitted from the laser beam transmitter is incident to a sensor device provided to a target, it is simulated that the target is hit.
In the gun simulator disclosed in the Patent Document, when the trigger of the gun is pulled, the burst signal generating means needs to generate burst signal. Therefore, the burst signal generating means needs to operate according to a movement of the trigger. For these reasons, the present invention proposes a gun simulator having a burst signal generating means having a new structure capable of operating according to a movement of a trigger of a gun.

DISCLOSURE

[Technical Problem]

In order to solve the aforementioned problems, the present invention provides a simulated magazine having a burst signal generating means having a new structure capable of operating according to a movement of a trigger of a gun.
The present invention also provides a gun simulator provided with the simulated magazine.

[Technical Solution]

In order to solve the aforementioned problems, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a simulated magazine having a burst signal generating unit and a magazine body, wherein the burst signal generating unit comprises: a burster lever disposed closely on a rear surface of a trigger to operate according to a movement of the trigger of a gun; a burster lever supporting member having a shaft disposed at a predetermined position and fixing the burster lever to the shaft so as for the burster lever to be moved within a predetermined angle, a burster bracket disposed in a lower portion of the trigger to fix and mount the burster lever supporting member on one side surface of the magazine body; a burst switch lever connected to a shaft of the burster lever supporting member to operate according to a movement of the burster lever; and a tension spring connected to the shaft of the burster lever supporting member, the tension spring operating so as for the burster lever to be moved by a predetermined angle and then returned to an original position, wherein the magazine body comprises: a burst switch fixed and mounted adjacent to the burst switch lever to be switched on according to a movement of the burst switch lever; a central controller receiving a burst signal from the switched-on burst switch and generating and transmitting a predetermined firing signal; a firing effect generating unit simulating effects at a time of firing of the gun; and a firing signal output unit receiving the firing signal from the central controller and outputting the firing signal externally, wherein the central controller generates a firing signal according to information of a shot mode set by the shot mode setting unit and drives the firing effect generating it when the firing signal is generated and transmitted.
Preferably, the firing effect generating unit of the magazine body of the simulated magazine may comprises at least one of: a set of a speaker and a sound controller for controlling operations of the speaker; a set of a flash light emitting unit for generating a flash light and a flash light controller for controlling operations of the flash light emitting unit; and a set of a vibration generating unit for generating a vibration or an impact and a vibration controller for controlling operations of the vibration generating unit.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a simulated magazine having a burster lever having a structure capable of operating according to a movement of a trigger and to provide a gun simulator having a stable outer appearance and structure. Therefore, according to the present invention, laser beams can be emitted at the same time when the trigger is pulled.
In addition, unlike a conventional magazine where one light beam bullet is fired by one-time triggering or one-time burst signal generating, the simulated magazine according to the present invention can be operated in various firing modes such as a semi-auto mode, an auto mode, or a lock mode according to settings of a shot mode. In addition, since the firing effect generating unit for generating a firing sound, an impact, a flash light at the time of firing is provided, real firing can be simulated without use of blank bullets.
In addition, the speaker provided to the simulated magazine according to the present invention can be designed as a substitute for a radio transceiver, so that it is possible to maximize operation efficiency of the simulated magazine.
It can be understood that various modifications of the present invention can be contrived by the ordinarily skilled in the art. The modifications may include a personal gun simulator, a grenade launcher having a trigger such a K-4, and K-201, a machine gun such as M60 and K-3, 90 mn recoilless gun, or other guns. In these cases, a cannon ball loaded on a cartridge or a launcher or a housing having a grenade cartridge can be used as a substitute for the magazine-shaped housing. In these cases, the shot modes include a lock mode and a firing mode.
In addition, the structure according to the present invention is not limited to military MILE system, but it is used for a private survival game or the like.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a gun simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a whole construction of a simulated magazine of the gun simulator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an internal construction of the simulated magazine of the gun simulator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view illustrating a burst signal generating unit in the simulated magazine of the gun simulator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating states of operations of a burster lever of the burst signal generating unit in the simulated magazine of the gun simulator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE

Hereinafter, constructions and operations of a simulated magazine having a burst signal generating means having a noble structure according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention and a gun simulator provided with the simulated magazine will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The simulated magazine according to the preferred embodiment is provided to a real gun such as M16, M60, K1, K2, and K3 and operates when a trigger of the gun is pulled.
FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating a gun simulator 10 in which a simulated magazine is inserted into a magazine inserting portion, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the gun simulator 10 includes a gun body 12, a simulated magazine 20, and a laser beam transmitter 30. The simulated magazine 20 is inserted into the magazine inserting portion of the gun body 12, and a burster lever of a burst signal generating unit in the simulated magazine is disposed closely on a rear surface of the trigger. The laser beam transmitter 30 is disposed to be adjacent to a muzzle of the gun body 12. Typically, the laser beam transmitter 30 is attached to a barrel. However, if laser beams are not blocked, the laser beam transmitter 30 may be attached to any portion of the gain body of the gun. The laser beam transmitter 30 generates a predetermined utilise signal according to a firing signal from the central controller and emits laser beams according to the generated pulse signal.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a whole construction of the simulated magazine 20 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an internal construction of the simulated magazine 20. Referring to FIG. 2, the simulated magazine 20 includes a burst signal generating unit 200 which generates a burst signal according to a movement of a trigger and a magazine body 300 which generates a firing signal according to the burst signal. The laser beam transmitter 30 generates a laser pulse signal including MILES codes according to the firing signal from the simulated magazine 20 and outputs the laser pulse signal.
Referring to FIG. 3, the simulated magazine 20 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a burst signal generating unit 200 and a magazine body 300. The magazine body 300 includes a housing 302, a burst switch 310 provided to the housing 302, a central controller 320, a shot mode setting switch 330, a firing signal output unit 340, and a firing effect generating unit 350. Now, operations of the above-described components will be described in detail. For the convenience of description, a signal generated by the burst signal generating unit 200 disposed to the trigger according to the operation of the burst switch 310 is referred to as a burst signal, and a signal converted from the burst signal by the central controller 320 of the magazine body 300 of the simulated magazine 20 to be used for controlling the laser beam transmitter 30 is referred to as a firing signal.
The burst signal generating unit 200 is designed to operate according to the movement of the trigger. The burst signal generating unit is disposed on the one side of the magazine body 300 and switches on the burst switch 310 at the same time when the trigger is moved. The structure and operations of the burst signal generating unit 200 will be described later.
The housing 302 of the magazine body 300 of the simulated magazine 20 is constructed in a shape the same as or similar to the shape of real magazine by using a steel or a reinforced plastic material. Therefore, the housing 302 has a shape capable of being inserted into the magazine inserting portion of the gun. Instead of a cartridge or a spring, the housing 302 encloses the burst switch 310, the central controller 320, the firing signal output unit 340, and the like so as to process the burst signal and convert the burst signal to the firing signal. The shot mode setting switch 330 is fixed on an outer surface of the housing. An upper portion of the housing has a shape capable of being inserted into the magazine inserting portion, so that it can be used like a real magazine inserted into a real gun.
The burst switch 310 is provided to an inner portion of the housing of the magazine body 300 and can be instantaneously switched on according to the movement of the burst switch lever 250. The burst switch lever 250 is connected to the burster lever 220 of the burst signal generating unit 200 so as to operate according to the movement of the burster lever 220. When the burster lever 210 is moved, the burst switch lever 250 is also moved, so that the burst switch 310 can be switched on. When the burst switch 310 is switched on, the burst switch 310 transmits a predetermined burst signal to the central controller.
The shot mode setting switch 330 may be constructed in a shape the same as or similar to a shape of a shot mode setting switch of a real gun of which protrusion knob is turned around a shaft. Information on the shot mode set by the shot mode setting switch is transmitted to the central controller 320. The shot modes may include an auto mode in which all bullets charged in the magazine are shot in succession at once triggering for shooting bullets, a semi-auto mode in which a single bullet is shot, and a lock mode in which an accidental shot is prevented. Unlike a real gun where the shot modes are controlled through mechanical operations of a breechblock and a gas tube, the shot modes are set by a program logic controlled by the central controller.
The central controller 320 is constructed with a microcomputer, a microprocessor, or the like. When receiving the burst signal from the switched-on burst switch 310, the central controller generates a firing signal corresponding to the shot mode set by the shot mode setting switch 330 and transmits the firing signal through the firing signal output unit 340 to the laser beam transmitter 30.
The firing effect generating unit 350 may selectively include a set of a speaker 351 and a sound controller 352 for controlling a signal output to the speaker, a set of a flash light emitting unit 353 for generating a flash light and a flash light controller 354 for controlling operations of the flash light emitting unit, or a set of a vibration generating unit 355 for generating a vibration or an impact and a vibration controller 356 for controlling operations of the vibration generating unit, so that the firing effect generating unit can generate a firing sound, a flash light, a vibration, or an impact like firing of bullets when the laser beams are emitted. Before and after the generation of the firing signal, the central controller 320 transmits control signals to the sound controller 352, the flash light controller 354, and/or the vibration controller 356 to drive the speaker 351, the flash light emitting unit 353, and/or the vibration generating unit 355, so that the effects like the flash light, the firing sound, and/or the impact generated at the time of firing of bullets can be obtained.
The firing signal output unit 340 of the simulated magazine includes an antenna and a wireless communication module, so that the firing signal output unit can transmit the firing signal received from the central controller 320 to the laser beam transmitter 30. The antenna may be constructed in a thin type or a loop type received in an inner portion of the magazine as well as an outer protruding type according to a design thereof. Alternatively, a separate antenna is not provided, but the simulated magazine may be constructed to have an antenna function. The wireless communication module may be constructed by selectively using one of Zigbee, Bluetooth, UWB, wireless RAN, and the like.
Now, the structure and operations of the burst signal generating unit 200 of the simulated magazine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 4 is a perspective exploded view illustrating the burst signal generating unit 200 of the simulated magazine 10 according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 4, the burst signal generating unit 200 includes a burster lever 210, a burster lever supporting member 220, a burster bracket 230, a burst switch lever 250, and a tension spring (not shown).
The burster bracket 230 is a member for fixing and mounting the burster lever supporting member 220. The burster bracket is disposed to be fixed on one side surface of the simulated magazine and adjacent to a lower portion of the trigger of the gun.
The burster lever supporting member 220 fixed and mounted by the burster bracket 230 is disposed be fixed on one side surface of the simulated magazine and in a lower region of the trigger of the gun. Preferably, the burster lever supporting member is disposed adjacent to the burst switch 310 mounted in an inner portion of the magazine body 300 of the simulated magazine.
The burster lever 210 is connected to a shaft provided to the burster lever supporting member 220 and disposed closely on a rear surface of the trigger of the gun. The burster lever 210 is constructed with a body 211 of the burster lever connected to the burster lever supporting member and a protrusion 212 extending in a vertical direction from a distal end of the body of the burster lever. The body 211 of the burster lever is disposed on a side surface of the trigger, and the protrusion 212 is disposed closely on a rear surface of the trigger. The protrusion of the burster lever 210 is disposed so closely on the rear surface of the trigger of the gun that the protrusion can be moved according to the movement of the trigger (see (a) of FIG. 5). When the trigger is pulled, the trigger exerts a force to the protrusion 212, so that the burster lever 210 can be moved.
The burster lever supporting member 220 is fixed and mounted by the burster bracket 230 and has a groove 221 having such a shape that the burster lever 210 can be safely laid therein.
The tension spring is connected to a shaft of the burster lever supporting member to which the burster lever is connected. After the burster lever is moved according to the movement of the trigger, the burster lever can be returned to its original position due to the tension spring.
The one end of the burst switch lever 250 is connected to the shaft of the buster lever 210, so that the burster switch lever 250 can operate according to the movement of the buster lever. The other end of the burst switch lever 250 is disposed adjacent to the burst switch in an inner portion of the magazine body 300. When burster lever 210 is moved, the burst switch lever 250 is instantaneously moved, so that the burst switch disposed in an inner portion of the housing 302 of the magazine body 300 is switched on.
In FIG. 5, (a) and (b) are partial side views for explaining operations of a gun simulator provided with the simulated magazine according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to (a) of FIG. 5, the burster lever 210 of the burst signal generating unit 200 of the simulated magazine 20 is disposed closely on the rear surface of the trigger 15. As shown in (a) of FIG. 5, since the burster lever 210 is disposed closely on the rear surface of the trigger 15, the burster lever can be moved at the same time when the trigger is pulled. Referring to (b) of FIG. 5, when the burster lever 210 is not used, the buster lever can be safely laid in the burster lever supporting member 220.
The gun simulator having the aforementioned construction is designed to be provided with the simulated magazine having the burst signal generating unit having the burster lever disposed adjacent to the trigger, so that the burst switch in the magazine body can be operated at the same time when the trigger is moved.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

A simulated magazine according to the present invention and a gun simulator provided with the simulated magazine can be useful for a simulated engagement system or the like used for training soldiers in military.

Claims

1. A simulated magazine having a burst signal generating unit and a magazine body, wherein the burst signal generating unit comprises:

a burster lever disposed closely on a rear surface of a trigger to operate according to a movement of the trigger of a gun;

a burster lever supporting member having a shaft disposed at a predetermined position and fixing the burster lever to the shaft so as for the burster lever to be moved within a predetermined angle,

a burster bracket disposed in a lower portion of the trigger to fix and mount the burster lever supporting member on one side surface of the magazine body; and

a burst switch lever connected to a shaft of the burster lever supporting member to operate according to a movement of the burster lever, and

wherein the magazine body comprises:

a burst switch fixed and mounted adjacent to the burst switch lever to be switched on according to a movement of the burst switch lever;

a central controller receiving a burst signal from the switched-on burst switch and generating and transmitting a predetermined firing signal; and

a firing signal output unit receiving the firing signal from the central controller and outputting the firing signal externally.

2. The simulated magazine according to claim 1, wherein the burst signal generating unit further comprises a tension spring connected to the shaft of the burster lever supporting member, wherein the tension spring operates so as for the burster lever to be moved by a predetermined angle and then returned to an original position.

3. The simulated magazine according to claim 1,

wherein the magazine body further comprises a shot mode setting switch for setting an operating mode of the gun simulator, and

wherein the central controller generates a firing signal according to information on the shot mode set by the shot mode setting switch.

4. The simulated magazine according to claim 1,

wherein the magazine body further comprises a firing effect generating unit simulating effects at a time of firing of the gun, and

wherein the central controller drives the firing effect generating unit when the firing signal is generated and transmitted.

5. The simulated magazine according to claim 4, wherein the firing effect generating unit comprises at least one of:

a set of a speaker and a sound controller for controlling operations of the speaker;

a set of a flash light emitting unit for generating a flash light and a flash light controller for controlling operations of the flash light emitting unit; and

a set of a vibration generating unit for generating a vibration or an impact and a vibration controller for controlling operations of the vibration generating unit.

6. The simulated magazine according to claim 1, wherein the firing signal output unit includes a wireless communication module and an antenna and, when a firing signal is transmitted from the central controller, the firing signal output unit externally transmits the firing signal in an RF signal format through the wireless communication module and the antenna.

7. The simulated magazine according to claim 1, wherein the burster lever supporting member has a groove in which the burster lever can be safely laid.

8. The simulated magazine according to claim 1,

wherein the burster lever is constructed with a body of the burster lever connected to the burster lever supporting member and a protrusion extending in a vertical direction from the body of the burster lever, and

wherein the body of the burster lever is disposed on a side surface of the trigger, the protrusion is disposed closely on a rear surface of the trigger.

9. A gun simulator provided with a simulated magazine including a burst signal generating unit and a magazine body,

wherein the burst signal generating unit comprises:

wherein the magazine body comprises: