WO2021130348A1

WO2021130348A1 - Lethal or non-lethal weapon assembly comprising a projectile launcher and an electronic control unit incorporated into the launcher, and electronic means, one of which is connected to the control unit, for optionally authorising firing

Info

Publication number: WO2021130348A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/087836
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean Angelidis; Jean-Marc Bouthinon
Original assignee: Jean Angelidis; Bouthinon Jean Marc
Priority date: 2019-12-24
Filing date: 2020-12-23
Publication date: 2021-07-01
Also published as: EP4081751B1; FR3105390A1; EP4081751A1

Abstract

Lethal or non-lethal weapon assembly comprising a projectile launcher and an electronic control unit incorporated into the launcher, and electronic means, one of which is connected to the control unit, for optionally authorising firing. The invention essentially consists in providing both a weapon launcher and the authorised user of said weapon with electronic means which cooperate to prevent an attacker from seizing the weapon and using it against the sole legally authorised user of the weapon. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 3

Description

Title: Lethal or non-lethal weapon set comprising a projectile launcher and an electronic control unit integrated into the launcher, and electronic means, one of which is connected to the control unit adapted to authorize or not firing.

Technical area

The present invention relates to the field of lethal or non-lethal weapons, and more particularly to electric pulse pistols.

The main object of the invention is to ensure that only the user authorized to fire can initiate the launch of projectiles.

Although described in relation to a non-lethal weapon and in particular an electric pulse pistol, the invention is applicable to all types of weapons, lethal or not.

Prior art

Non-lethal weapons, also called sub-lethal or reduced-lethal or incapacitating, are weapons designed so that the target is not killed or seriously injured. This type of weapon is mainly used for the maintenance of order, in the dispersal of riots and in self-defense. According to the official definition given by the Department of Defense of the United States of America, less-lethal weapons are weapons systems explicitly designed and primarily used to incapacitate people or equipment, while minimizing fatal accidents or still permanent injuries to these same people as well as undesirable damage to its integrity and its environment.

Projectiles or ammunition described as “less lethal” are therefore used by the police to put an end to disturbances on the public highway, in particular during agitated demonstrations or riots.

A first type of projectile is currently known in the state of the art: these projectiles, fired in the direction of the crowd but towards the sky, release suffocating or irritating gases in order to provoke the dispersion of the demonstrators.

A second type of projectile is known intended for operations for maintaining order or for controlling individuals: these so-called neutralization projectiles can be of various shapes, such as spherical or in the form of a stick, and are generally made of rubber. or equivalent materials. These projectiles are intended to be fired in taut fire on demonstrators in order to neutralize them by the shock effect produced by the projectile due to the transformation of its kinetic energy during contact with the target.

In addition to the rubber bullet launchers, it is known the electronic pulse pistols (PIE), which neutralize the target by administering through two darts thrown and planted in the skin of the threatening individual, an electric shock of high or even very high voltage (50,000 V) but low intensity (typically 1 to 6 mA). These weapons can also be used on airliners, where the use of common firearms would pose considerable risk to the aircraft.

As mentioned above, regardless of the type, non-lethal weapons can be used by law enforcement and more generally by any user who has legal authorization to do so.

One problem that has been identified during interventions by authorized users is that the individual constituting the target can rebel and become an attacker who can physically attack an authorized user carrying a non-lethal weapon.

And in some circumstances, the attacker could go so far as to seize the non-lethal weapon and use it against its authorized carrier.

There is therefore a need to improve lethal or non-lethal weapons, in particular electric pulse pistols, in order to prohibit any use of said weapons by an attacker against an authorized user / carrier.

The aim of the invention is to at least partially meet this need.

Disclosure of the invention

To do this, the invention relates, in one of its aspects, to a lethal or non-lethal weapon set, intended for use by an authorized user comprising:

- a lethal or non-lethal projectile launcher, comprising:

• an electronic control unit suitable for controlling the trigger for launching a projectile,

• at least one first electronic means connected to the electronic control unit, the first electronic means being adapted to emit or receive an electrical signal representative of the position in space of the launcher's barrel by which a projectile is intended to be launched , - a support intended to be attached to the authorized user, comprising at least one second electronic means, adapted to respectively receive or transmit an electrical signal representative of a physical quantity of the authorized user, the first and second electronic means cooperating to such that, when the barrel is directed towards the authorized user, the electronic control unit blocks any launching of projectiles.

According to a first embodiment, the first electronic means is a gyroscope with 3 degrees of freedom integral with the launcher, while the second electronic means is a gyroscope with 3 degrees of freedom integral with the support to be fixed on the upper limb of the user. authorized, intended to carry the launcher, the electronic control unit incorporating a comparison circuit between the angular positions of the gyroscope integral with the launcher and that integral with the support.

According to this first embodiment, each of the gyroscopes is preferably integrated in an inertial unit.

The support to be attached to the upper limb may be a cuff or a sleeve to be attached around the forearm or wrist of the authorized user. Thus, the gyroscope is easily and quickly carried by the user, which is an advantage, for example when a quick intervention has to be carried out.

According to a second embodiment, the first electronic means is a receiver in the form of a directional antenna, while the second electronic means is an electric field emitter, intended to be in contact with the skin of the authorized user for that the latter conducts and emits the electric field, the electronic control unit blocking any launching of projectiles when the directional antenna detects the electric field emitted by the skin of the authorized user. Preferably, the directional antenna is attached to the front of the projectile launcher.

The projectile launcher may be an electric pulse pistol.

According to a third embodiment, the first and second electronic means each consist of a terrestrial magnetic field sensor, the first electronic means being arranged on the projectile launcher while the second electronic means being arranged on the body of the user. , the electronic control unit integrating a circuit for comparing the detections of the two magnetic field sensors. Thus, the invention essentially consists in equipping both a launcher of a weapon and the authorized user of this weapon with electronic means which cooperate to prevent an attacker who seizes the weapon and to use it. against the legally authorized user alone.

Three alternatives for implementing the solution are considered: either a comparison of the angular positions between the weapon and the upper limb of the authorized user, measured by gyroscopic effect, or reception of radio signals by an antenna carried by the weapon when oriented and pointed at the transmitter consisting of the body of the authorized user.

For different reasons, in particular for redundancy security, two or three of the alternatives can be implemented simultaneously.

Regardless of the alternative (s) implemented, the electronic control unit will verify that the direction of the weapon (launcher) and the body of the authorized user is the same within x °, x being able to be fixed at for example at 45 °.

By blocking any launching of projectiles when the weapon is pointed at the authorized user, it prevents any assault on the latter by his own weapon.

In practice, for example, members of the security forces who intervene in disturbances of the public highway are no longer at risk of an aggressor who would try to turn their service weapons against them.

In other words, the invention provides new security in the use of lethal or non-lethal weapons by reliably protecting legally authorized users against any attacker. Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will emerge better on reading the detailed description of examples of implementation of the invention given by way of illustration and not by way of limitation with reference to the following figures.

Brief description of the drawings

[Fig 1] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an electric pulse gun according to the invention.

[Fig 2] Figure 2 is a schematic view of a conventional dart projectile which can be used with a pistol according to Figure 1.

[Fig 3] Figure 3 is a perspective view of a user authorized to use a weapon assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention comprising a pistol. electrical pulse according to the invention and an inertial unit fixed on the user's forearm.

[Fig 4] Figure 4 is a schematic block diagram of the operation of the assembly according to Figure 3.

[Fig 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a user authorized to use a weapon assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention comprising an electric pulse gun according to the invention and a radio transmitter in contact with the user's skin.

detailed description

There is shown in Figure 1, an electric pulse gun according to the invention, generally designated under the reference 1.

This pistol 1, intended to be grabbed by the hand of a user authorized by law, such as a law enforcement officer, is a non-lethal launcher in which a non-lethal projectile 2 is loaded.

The projectile 2 illustrated in Figure 2 in its configuration before use, is adapted to be thrown from the pistol 1 and come to be inserted into a living target in response to a threat from the target, such as an attacker. The distance between gun 1 and the target is generally between 3 and 20 m.

Projectile 2 includes two darts 21, 22 which extend outwardly from projectile body 20 away from each other. The darts 21, 22 are the elements intended to penetrate the target, i.e. the body of the threatening individual. Preferably, as illustrated, the stingers 21, 22 extend parallel to each other in the initial configuration of the projectile, with a spacing distance typically between 5 mm and 5 cm.

In the initial configuration before use, the projectile has a substantially parallelepipedal shape, typically with dimensions in the spatial directions X, Y and Z of 2 to 5 cm.

Once the projectile 2 has been launched, the stingers 21, 22 move away from each other and penetrate inside the skin. A high voltage generator supplies the stingers 21, 22 planted in the skin of the target, a high or very high voltage electric discharge, to generate discomfort for the target, so as to temporarily neutralize the latter. The electric pulse gun 1 generally comprises a body in the form of a housing 10 intended to be held by a hand of a user authorized by law, a source of electric power 11 which supplies electric power to the darts 21, 22. .

The housing 10 comprises a barrel 12 defining a chamber 13 intended to contain projectiles 2, a propulsion mechanism 14 for firing projectiles 2, a trigger 15 for initiating the projection out of barrel 12 of a projectile 2, and an electronic control unit 16 and at least one sight or pointer 17, such as a laser pointer to orient the barrel 12 and therefore the projectile 2 towards the target.

According to the invention, the housing 10 comprises an inertial unit 18 and / or a directional antenna 19.

The electronic control unit 16 is respectively connected to the power supply source 11, to the propulsion mechanism 14, to the trigger 15, to the inertial unit 18 and / or to the directional antenna 19.

As visible in Figures 3 and 5, an authorized user, such as a law enforcement officer, UA can be provided with an armband or wrist support equipped with another inertial unit 3, and / or have a transmitter 4 in contact with his skin.

The operation of the electric pulse gun 1 according to the invention will now be explained.

When the authorized user UA wishes to neutralize a target by projecting a projectile 2 with darts 21, 22, he actuates with the finger of one of his hands, as usually the trigger trigger 15.

If no firing prohibition signal as explained below is received by the control unit 16, the latter delivers an electrical signal to the propulsion mechanism 14 so that the latter sends the projectile 2 in the direction of the desired target. .

If an attacker, in particular the intended target, seizes the gun 1 and turns it against the authorized user UA, then the control unit 16 does not send an electrical actuation signal to the mechanism 14, which blocks all propulsion of the projectile 2 out of the barrel 12 and thereby any delivery of the HT signal to the darts 21, 22.

To do this, three embodiments can be implemented.

According to a first embodiment, the gyroscopic signals delivered respectively by the gyroscope 18 integrated into the housing 10 of the gun and by the gyroscope 3 carried by the upper limb, in particular by the forearm, of the authorized user, are compared by a circuit electronic comparison 160 of the control unit 16. The feedback of the signals from the gyroscope 3 carried by the user's forearm to the electronic control unit for comparison with those from the gyroscope 18 integrated in the casing of the launcher can be done either by an electric wire, but preferably by radio communication.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, if the comparison is significant of an unauthorized position of the pistol 1, that is to say which does not correspond to a holding of the pistol 1 by the hand of the upper limb with an orientation of the barrel at the opposite of G authorized user, then the control unit 16 blocks any trigger signal from the propulsion mechanism 14.

Conversely, if the comparison is significant of a permitted position of the pistol 1, then the control unit 16 can as soon as the trigger 15 is actuated, deliver an electrical signal to the propulsion mechanism, and therefore allow firing. projectile 2.

According to a second embodiment, if the distal end of the barrel 12 is oriented towards the authorized user UA, then the directional antenna 19 which acts as a receiver detects the electric field emitted by the body of the user thanks to the transmitter 4 in contact with the skin of it. The directional antenna 19 then sends an electrical signal relating to the control unit 16 which blocks any triggering signal from the propulsion mechanism 14.

Conversely, if the directional antenna 19 does not detect any signal, then the control unit 16 can, as soon as the trigger 15 is actuated, deliver an electrical signal to the propulsion mechanism, and therefore allow the firing of the projectile 2 .

The third mode, not illustrated, consists in placing two terrestrial magnetic field sensors, one on the launcher and the other on the user's body, and the electronic control unit verifies that the direction of the weapon and of the body is the same except for x °, x being able to be fixed at for example at 45 °.

Other variations and improvements can be envisioned without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example, if in all of the examples illustrated, the non-lethal weapons illustrated are electric pulse pistols, any other type of non-lethal weapon can be considered. Also, in the examples illustrated, the housing 10 of the gun 1 defines the general shape which is entered by the authorized user. The housing 10 is adapted to the size and shape of a hand of the authorized user. As illustrated in Figure 1, the housing 10 may include a knob with projections to fit between the fingers of the authorized user when the latter grips the pistol.

Other forms of housing 10 can be envisaged and for example be of a general shape comparable to that of a firearm. In general, the integration of an inertial unit and / or a directional antenna in the housing 10 is easy and can quite be carried out in a conventional housing, in particular configured to be housed in or to be fixed to. a case.

As shown in FIG. 1, the projectile projection chamber 13 2 is arranged at a distal end of the pistol 1. However, it is possible to envisage placing it in a central portion of the weapon.

The user can place a projectile 2 in chamber 13 manually or by pumping, sliding action, or lever action. The projectile 2 can also be loaded into chamber 13 from a magazine by means of a semi-automatic loading mechanism. The pistol 1 can include for this purpose a magazine (not shown) for storing additional projectiles 2.

The propulsion mechanism 14 can be operated by powder, by a mechanical launcher, or the like. The propulsion can be generated by releasing a compressed gas, by a mechanical spring, by suppressing an explosive charge, or the like.

Claims

1. Lethal or non-lethal weapon set, intended for use by an authorized user (U A) comprising:

- a launcher (1) of lethal or non-lethal projectiles, comprising: an electronic control unit (16) adapted to control the trigger (15) for launching a projectile (2), at least one first electronic means ( 18, 19) connected to G electronic control unit, the first electronic means being adapted to emit or receive an electrical signal representative of the position in space of the launcher's barrel by which a projectile is intended to be launched,

- a support intended to be attached to G authorized user, comprising at least one second electronic means (3, 4) adapted to respectively receive or transmit an electrical signal representative of a physical quantity of the authorized user, the first and second means electronics cooperating so that, when the barrel is directed towards the authorized user, the electronic control unit blocks any launching of projectiles, the first electronic means being a gyroscope with 3 degrees of freedom (18) integral with the launcher, while that the second electronic means being a gyroscope with 3 degrees of freedom (3) integral with the support to be fixed on the upper limb of the authorized user, intended to carry the launcher, G electronic control unit integrating a comparison circuit between the positions angular angles of the gyroscope integral with the launcher and that integral with the support.

2. A weapon assembly according to claim 1, each of the gyroscopes being integrated into an inertial unit.

3. Weapons set according to claim 1 or 2, the support to be fixed on the upper limb being a cuff or a sleeve to be attached around the forearm or wrist of the authorized user.

4. Non-lethal weapon assembly according to one of the preceding claims, the first electronic means being a receiver in the form of a directional antenna (19), while the second electronic means is an electric field emitter (4). , intended to be in contact with the skin of the authorized user so that the latter conducts and emits the electric field, the electronic control unit blocking any launching of projectiles when the directional antenna detects the electric field emitted by the skin of the the authorized user.

5. Weapon assembly according to one of the preceding claims, the first and second electronic means each consisting of a terrestrial magnetic field sensor, the first electronic means being arranged on the projectile launcher while the second electronic means being arranged on the user's body authorize, the electronic control unit integrating a circuit for comparing the detections of the two magnetic field sensors.

6. Weapons set according to one of the preceding claims, the projectile launcher being an electric pulse pistol.