APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR EJECTING A PAYLOAD FROM A MOBILE UNIT
First Claim
1. An apparatus for deploying a payload, comprising:
- a mount adapted to be attached to a mobile unit while allowing normal operation of the mobile unit; and
a deployment mechanism supporting a payload securing mode in which the deployment mechanism secures the payload to the mount and a payload deployment mode in which the deployment mechanism causes the payload to be ejected from the mount;
wherein the deployment mechanism is adapted to transition from the payload securing mode to the payload deployment mode in response to a control signal.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for deploying a payload at a location are provided. The apparatus includes a mount adapted to be attached to a mobile unit while allowing normal operation of the mobile unit, and a deployment mechanism. The deployment mechanism supports a payload securing mode in which the deployment mechanism secures the payload to the mount and a payload deployment mode in which the deployment mechanism causes the payload to be ejected from the mount. The deployment mechanism is adapted to transition from the payload securing mode to the payload deployment mode in response to a control signal. The deployment mechanism includes a securing means adapted for securing the payload to the mount, an ejecting means adapted for ejecting the payload from the mount, and a breaking means adapted for breaking the securing means in response to a control signal, thereby causing the ejecting means to eject the payload from the mount.
21 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus for deploying a payload, comprising:
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a mount adapted to be attached to a mobile unit while allowing normal operation of the mobile unit; and a deployment mechanism supporting a payload securing mode in which the deployment mechanism secures the payload to the mount and a payload deployment mode in which the deployment mechanism causes the payload to be ejected from the mount; wherein the deployment mechanism is adapted to transition from the payload securing mode to the payload deployment mode in response to a control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus adapted for being ejected from a mount, comprising:
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a controller adapted for generating a control signal; a breaking means adapted for breaking a securing means that secures the apparatus to the mount using a securing force, thereby causing an ejecting means to eject the apparatus from the mount using an ejecting force, wherein the breaking means breaks the securing means in response to the control signal; and at least one monitoring component adapted for collecting information.
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24. A method for ejecting a payload from a mount attached to a mobile unit, comprising:
generating a control signal adapted to cause a deployment mechanism to transition from the payload securing mode to the payload deployment mode, wherein the deployment mechanism secures the payload to the mount while in the payload securing mode, wherein the deployment mechanism causes the payload to be ejected from the mount while in the payload deployment mode.
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25. An apparatus for deploying a payload, comprising:
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a mount adapted to be attached to a mobile unit while allowing normal operation of the mobile unit; an ejecting means coupled to the mount, the ejecting means adapted for ejecting the payload from the mount using an ejecting force applied to the payload; a securing means coupled to the mount, the securing means adapted for securing the payload to the mount using a securing force applied to the payload, wherein the securing force prevents the ejecting force from ejecting the payload from the mount prior to a control signal being detected; and a breaking means adapted for breaking the securing means in response to a control signal, thereby causing the ejecting force of the ejecting means to eject the payload from the mount.
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Specification