WIRELESSLY CONDUCTED ELECTRONIC WEAPON

• US 20180106577A1
• Filed: 12/07/2017
• Published: 04/19/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Digital Ally Incorporated
• Inventors: Phillips, Steven L., Han, Peng, Ross, Stanton E., Farnham, IV, James W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,337,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 11/80 specially adapted for particular purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F41F 7/00 Launching-apparatus for projecting missiles or projectiles otherwise than from barrels, e.g. using spigotsF41F3/04 takes precedence; centrifugal sling apparatus F41B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0031 for remote electrical discharge by means of a wireless projectile

Abstract

An electroshock system wirelessly delivers a shock to a subject. The electroshock system may include a launcher, a wireless projectile, a power source, and a wireless power transmitter. The launcher is configured to be grasped by a user. The wireless projectile is configured to detach from the launcher and adhere to a subject. The power source contributes power for the administration of a shock to the subject. The wireless power transmitter delivers said contributed power to the wireless projectile while the wireless projectile is detached from the launcher. The power source and the wireless transmitter may be co-located with the launcher, or may be separate (such as secured to a person or within a vehicle).

Claims

1. A wireless electroshock weapon configured to launch a wireless projectile toward a subject so as to deliver a shock to the subject, comprising:

a body for holding by a user;

a chamber for securing the wireless projectile;

a propulsion mechanism for firing the wireless projectile toward the subject; and

a transmitting antenna for transmitting RF energy to the wireless projectile that has been fired,

wherein the wireless projectile is configured to deliver the shock to the subject to whom the wireless projectile is adhered,

wherein a majority of the delivered shock is supplied by the transmitted RF energy from the transmitting antenna.

2. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 1, further comprising:

an amplifier for increasing the RF energy sent to the projectile.

3. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 1,

wherein the propulsion mechanism is configured to fire the projectile by releasing a compressed gas,

wherein the propulsion mechanism is configured to selectively separate the projectile from the wireless electroshock weapon upon direct contact with and adherence to the subject.

4. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 1, wherein the wireless power transmitter includes a directional antenna for directing said shock energy in the general direction of the projectile while the projectile is adhered to the subject.

5. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 1, further comprising:

a power source disposed outside said body; and

a wire connecting the power source to the body,

wherein the power source provides at least a portion of the RF energy transmitted to the projectile.

6. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 5, wherein the launcher, the power source, and the wireless power transmitter are disposed at least partially within the body.

7. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 5, further comprising:

a housing distinct from the body,

wherein the power source and the transmitting antenna are disposed at least partially within or on the housing.

8. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 7, wherein the housing is configured to be secured to a person.

9. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 7, wherein the housing is configured to be installed in a vehicle.

10. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 1, further comprising:

an input for controlling the administration of the shock to a subject,

wherein, upon an activation of the input, the wireless projectile is instructed to administer the shock to the subject,

wherein, upon a deactivation of the input, the wireless projectile is instructed to cease administration of the shock to the subject.

11. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 10, wherein said instruction to administer the shock is distinct from the transmitted RF energy.

12. A wireless electroshock weapon configured to administer a shock to a subject, comprising:

a launcher including—

a body for holding by a user;

a propulsion mechanism for firing the wireless projectile toward the subject;

a transmitting antenna for transmitting shock energy to the wireless projectile that has been fired; and

a projectile including—

an adhering segment for adhering the projectile to a subject;

a receiving antenna for wirelessly receiving shock energy;

a power extraction circuit for generating power from the shock energy for the administration of the shock;

a shock administration segment for delivering the shock energy from the power extraction circuit to the subject.

13. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 12,

wherein the shock administration component and the adhering segment are disposed in a forward direction,

wherein the receiving antenna is disposed in a rearward direction,

wherein the rearward direction is generally opposite the forward direction and generally directed toward the launcher upon the projectile being fired from the launcher.

14. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 12, wherein the projectile further includes:

a processing element for controlling said administration of the shock; and

a communications element for sending status messages to the launcher.

15. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 14, wherein the communications element is configured to receive a message indicative that the projectile should administer the shock.

16. The wireless electroshock weapon of claim 14,

wherein the status message is a first status message indicative that the projectile has sufficient power for the administration of the shock,

wherein the status message is a second status message indicative that the projectile is in direct contact with and adhering to the subject.

17. A method of delivering a shock to a subject, comprising:

firing a wireless projectile toward the subject;

transmitting, from a transmitting antenna, shock energy to the wireless projectile that has been fired,

wherein the wireless projectile is configured to deliver the shock to the subject to whom the wireless projectile is adhered,

delivering, via the wireless projectile, the shock to the subject,

wherein a majority of the delivered shock is supplied by the transmitted shock energy from the transmitting antenna.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

amplifying energy from a power source to create the shock energy sent to the projectile.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving, from an input, an instruction from the user to administer the shock;

wirelessly instructing the previously fired wireless projectile to administer the shock,

wherein said instruction to administer the shock is distinct from the transmitted shock energy.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving, from the wireless projectile, an indication that the wireless projectile is properly adhered to the subject; and

preventing administration of the shock unless the indication is received.