Apparatus and method for powering and networking a rail of a firearm

• US 10,060,705 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2014
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Colt Canada Corporation (Colt Defense Holding LLC)
• Original Assignee: Colt Canada Corporation (Colt Defense Holding LLC)
• Inventors: Compton, David Walter, Crocker, Gary Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): CLEMENT, MICHELLE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US14/553,955
• Publication Number:
  US 20160349012A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,372 Days
• Field of Search: 42 84, 42 94, 42 7101, 42 72, 42124
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/003 Mountings with a dove tail element, e.g. "Picatinny rail systems"
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/402 the two or more transmitting or the two or more receiving devices being integrated in the same unit, e.g. power mats with several coils or antennas with several sub-antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/26 using coils
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/79 for data transfer in combination with power transfer

Abstract

A method, apparatus and system for networking accessories to a firearm or weapon wherein the accessories are powered from the rail and data is transferred between the accessories and the rail. In one embodiment, a weapon is provided, the weapon having: an upper receiver; a lower receiver; a powered accessory mounted to a rail of the upper receiver; and an apparatus for networking a microcontroller of the powered accessory to a microcontroller of the upper receiver and a microcontroller of the lower receiver, wherein the data is exclusively provided to the powered accessory from one of a plurality of coils located within the rail; and wherein the powered accessory further comprises a plurality of coils and the powered accessory is configured to determine when one of the plurality of coils of the powered accessory is adjacent to the one of the plurality of coils of the rail.

Claims

1. In combination, a powered accessory and a rail configured to removably receive and retain the powered accessory;

an apparatus for inductively providing power and data to the powered accessory, wherein the data is exclusively provided to the powered accessory from one of a plurality of coils located within the rail; and

wherein the powered accessory further comprises a plurality of coils and the powered accessory is configured to determine when one of the plurality of coils of the powered accessory is adjacent to the one of the plurality of coils of the rail, wherein the data is provided at two different rates.

2. The powered accessory and rail as in claim 1, wherein the rail further comprises:

a plurality of slots and a plurality of ribs each being located in an alternating fashion on a surface of the rail;

a first plurality of pins each having an end portion located on a surface of one of a first plurality of the plurality of ribs;

a second plurality of pins each having a first end portion and a second end portion located on a surface of a second plurality of the plurality of ribs.

3. The powered accessory and rail as in claim 2, wherein each of the second plurality of the plurality of ribs is adjacent to at least two of the first plurality of ribs.

4. The powered accessory and rail as in claim 3, further comprising a coil located beneath a bottom surface of each one of the plurality of slots.

5. The powered accessory and rail as in claim 3, wherein an intermediate portion of each of the second plurality of pins is located adjacent to a switch located in the rail.

6. A weapon, comprising:

an upper receiver;

a lower receiver;

a powered accessory mounted to a rail of the upper receiver; and

an apparatus for inductively providing power and data to the powered accessory, wherein the data is exclusively provided to the powered accessory from one of a plurality of coils located within the rail; and

wherein the powered accessory further comprises a plurality of coils and the powered accessory is configured to determine when one of the plurality of coils of the powered accessory is adjacent to the one of the plurality of coils of the rail, wherein the data is provided at two different rates.

7. The weapon as in claim 6, wherein the rail further comprises:

a plurality of slots and a plurality of ribs each being located in an alternating fashion on a surface of the rail;

a first plurality of pins each having an end portion located on a surface of one of a first plurality of the plurality of ribs;

a second plurality of pins each having a first end portion and a second end portion located on a surface of a second plurality of the plurality of ribs.

8. The weapon as in claim 7, wherein each of the second plurality of the plurality of ribs is adjacent to at least two of the first plurality of ribs.

9. The weapon as in claim 8, further comprising a coil located beneath a bottom surface of each one of the plurality of slots.

10. The weapon as in claim 8, wherein an intermediate portion of each of the second plurality of pins is located adjacent to a switch located in the rail.