Automatic reserve or primary parachute activation device

• US 20050127243A1
• Filed: 10/25/2004
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cybernet Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Cybernet Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Jacobus, Charles J., Voronka, Nestor, Namineni, Pavan, Johnson, Derek M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,073,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 244/150
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 17/56 responsive to barometric pressure

Abstract

An electronic automatic reserve or primary parachute activation device incorporates partial or complete capture of freefaller or tethered parachute jumper kinematics to rapidly and reliable determine when to automatically activate deployment of the primary or reserve chute. This device uses means for directly measuring acceleration, velocity and/or position in addition to air pressure change to enable reliable detection of chute deployment conditions earlier than is possible with conventional pressure change activated automated activations devices. This is important when the activation decision must be made within 5-10 seconds of the initiation of the jump as is the case for military low altitude parachuting.

Claims

1. Apparatus for determining when to automatically deploy a primary or reserve parachute, comprising:

one or more devices for measuring at least one kinematic parameter of the jumper during the jumper'"'"'s fall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the kinematic parameter is the jumper'"'"'s position.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the kinematic parameter is the jumper'"'"'s velocity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the kinematic parameter is the jumper'"'"'s acceleration.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further including one or more devices for estimating the jumper'"'"'s altitude based upon atmospheric pressure.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is a MEMS accelerometer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device is a MEMS gyroscope.