Methods and apparatus for a conducted electrical weapon

• US 10,072,909 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Inventors: Heroor, Siddharth, Nerheim, Magne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUER, SCOTT ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US15/259,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20180045493A1
• Time in Patent Office: 733 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/36 for access to common bus or bus system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/366 using a centralised polling arbiter
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/445 by mutual authentication, e.g. between devices or programs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0876 based on the identity of the terminal or configuration, e.g. MAC address, hardware or software configuration or device fingerprint
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/00 Circuits or apparatus for generating electric shock effects
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/04 providing pulse voltages mechanical self-interrupters H01H; electronic pulse-generators H03K

Abstract

A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) launches wire-tethered electrodes from multiple cartridges to provide a current through a human or animal target to impede locomotion of the target. The CEW includes a handle and one or more deployment units. A handle and each deployment unit include a processing circuit and memory. A handle may provide operation and usage records to a deployment unit for storage. The information stored on a deployment unit may be unalterable once written. A handle may log a record of usage, deployment units, and other deployment information. The log file may be available to an electronic device through a secure wireless protocol.

Claims

1. A conducted electrical weapon (“

CEW”

) for providing a current through a human or animal target and for cooperating with a provided electronic device, the CEW comprising;

a handle, the handle includes a processing circuit, a memory, a signal generator for providing the current, a communications circuit, a user-operated control, and a plurality of bays; and

a plurality of deployment units, each deployment unit includes at least two wire-tethered electrodes, a pyrotechnic, and a unique identifier, the pyrotechnic for launching the at least two wire-tethered electrodes toward the target to provide the current through the target to impede locomotion of the target, each deployment unit configured to be inserted into any one bay so that one or more bays hold one respective deployment unit;

wherein;

responsive to an operation of the user-operated control to arm the CEW and while the CEW remains armed, the processing circuit stores in the memory a record that includes indicia of;

one or more operations performed by the CEW including any activation of one or more deployment units to launch the at least two wire-tethered electrodes to provide the current through the target; and

the unique identifiers of the deployment units inserted into any of the plurality of bays; and

responsive to an operation of the user-operated control to disarm the CEW;

the communication circuit establishes a wireless communication link with the electronic device; and

the processing circuit transfers the record from the memory to the electronic device via the wireless communication link.

2. The CEW of claim 1 wherein in response to a request from the electronic device, the processing circuit transfers the record from the memory to the electronic device.

3. The CEW of claim 1 wherein the user-operated control comprises a safety switch.

4. The CEW of claim 1 wherein to establish the wireless communication link:

the communications circuit transmits a beacon; and

the electronic device, upon detecting the beacon, establishes the wireless communication link with the communication circuit.

5. The CEW of claim 4 wherein upon establishing the wireless communication link, the CEW:

authenticates the electronic device; and

provides data for the electronic device to authenticate the CEW.

6. The CEW of claim 1 wherein upon establishing the wireless communication link, the CEW:

authenticates the electronic device; and

provides data for the electronic device to authenticate the CEW.

7. The CEW of claim 1 wherein responsive to the operation of the user-operated control to arm the CEW, the processing circuit instructs the communication circuit to transmit a beacon that includes an operating mode of the CEW.

8. The CEW of claim 6 wherein the operating mode includes a present state of the user-operated control.

9. The CEW of claim 1 wherein the record includes at least one of a unique CEW identifier, an operational status, a date and time of firings, and a software version.

10. A handle for providing a current through a human or animal target and for cooperating with a provided electronic device, the handle comprising:

a processing circuit;

a memory;

a signal generator for providing the current, the current for impeding locomotion of the target;

a communications circuit;

a user-operated control;

and a bay for receiving a provided deployment unit, the deployment unit includes at least one provided electrode for delivering the current through the target;

wherein;

responsive to an operation of the user-operated control to arm the CEW and while the CEW remains armed, the processing circuit stores in the memory a record that includes indicia of;

one or more operations performed by the CEW including any activation of the deployment unit to launch the at least one electrode to provide the current through the target; and

a unique identifier from the deployment unit inserted into the bay; and

responsive to an operation of the user-operated control to disarm the CEW;

the communication circuit establishes a wireless communication link with the electronic device; and

the processing circuit transfers the record from the memory to the electronic device via the wireless communication link.

11. The handle of claim 10 wherein, in response to a request from the electronic device, the processing circuit transfers the record from the memory to the electronic device.

12. The handle of claim 10 wherein the user-operated control comprises a safety switch.

13. The handle of claim 10 wherein to establish the wireless communication link:

the communications circuit transmits a beacon; and

the electronic device, upon detecting the beacon, establishes the wireless communication link with the communication circuit.

14. The handle of claim 10 wherein, upon establishing the wireless communication link, the handle:

authenticates the electronic device; and

provides data for the electronic device to authenticate the handle.

15. The handle of claim 10 wherein, responsive to the operation of the user-operated control to arm the handle, the processing circuits instructs the communication circuit to transmit a beacon that includes an operating mode of the CEW.

16. The handle of claim 15 wherein the operating mode includes a present state of the user-operated control.

17. The handle of claim 10 wherein the record includes at least one of a unique handle identifier, an operational status, a date and time of firings, and a software version.