Firearm having an intelligent controller

• US 6,321,478 B1
• Filed: 12/04/1998
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corporation (Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Smith & Wesson Corporation (Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klebes, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLEMENT, MICHELLE RENEE
• Application Number:
  US09/206,013
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 42/84, 42/701.1, 891/48, 89/280.5, 89/271.2
• US Class Current: 42/84
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/58 Electric firing mechanisms F41A17/10, F41A17/12 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a firearm adapted to utilize an ammunition round having a non-impact primer adjacent one end thereof. The firearm includes a frame, a movable slide assembly, a power source, and a control module for selectively permitting communication of an ignition signal from the power source to the non-impact primer. The firearm further includes an ammunition chamber formed in the movable slide for releasably housing the ammunition round, as well as including an electrically conductive ignition probe housed within the movable slide for permitting communication of the ignition signal from the power source to the non-impact primer when the ammunition round is disposed in the chamber. A sensor assembly is utilized to generate a status signal to the control module indicative of an operational mode of the firearm. The control module permits generation of the ignition signal in response to an actuation of the trigger assembly only when the sensor assembly indicates that the firearm is in a firing mode.

Claims

1. A firearm adapted to utilize an ammunition round having a non-impact primer adjacent one end thereof, said firearm including a frame, a movable slide assembly, a trigger assembly, a power source, and a control module for selectively permitting communication of an ignition signal from said power source to said non-impact primer, said firearm comprising:

an ammunition chamber formed in said movable slide, said chamber being adapted to releasably house said ammunition round;

an electrically conductive ignition probe housed within said movable slide, said ignition probe permitting communication of said ignition signal from said power source to said non-impact primer when said ammunition round is disposed in said chamber;

a sensor assembly for generating a status signal to said control module indicative of an operational mode of the state of each of said sensors;

said control module having a plurality of operational modes each determined from the values of said sensor assembly status signals, including a firing mode corresponding to sensor assembly signals indicating the firearm is authorized and ready to fire, said firing mode established by said control module only after the actuation of the trigger assembly by the firearm operator, said control module permitting generation of said ignition signal in response to an actuation of said trigger assembly only when said firearm is in said firing mode.

2. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said trigger assembly comprises a pivotable trigger lever and a translatable trigger bar wherein operation of said trigger lever causes said trigger bar to contact a switching device, thereby initiating generation of said ignition signal from said power source to said ignition probe.

3. A firearm according to claim 2, wherein:

said trigger lever is pivotable about a pin fixed to said frame;

said trigger bar is movably fixed to said trigger lever wherein operation of said trigger lever produces an approximately rectilinear movement of said trigger bar; and

said switching device includes at least two switches for reducing the possibility of unintended actuation of said switching device.

4. A firearm according to claim 3, wherein:

said approximately rectilinear movement of said trigger bar occurs in a direction approximately parallel to a movement of said movable slide.

5. A firearm according to claim 4, wherein:

said movable slide is secured to a pair of longitudinal metal rails imbedded in said frame for reciprocal movement thereon, wherein said metal rails comprise said electrical ground.

6. A firearm according to claim 2, wherein:

said trigger assembly includes a Giant Magnetoresistive (GMR) device.

7. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said control module comprises a portion of an ignition system which operates to monitor and control a firing operation of said firearm; and

said ignition system includes an electrical ground in electrical communication with said frame.

8. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said power source comprises a battery.

9. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said power source comprises a battery in electrical communication with a capacitive device; and

said capacitive device being capable of discharging said ignition signal in response to said actuation of said trigger assembly.

10. A firearm according to claim 9, wherein:

said capacitive device defers discharge of said ignition signal to said ignition probe until a predetermined amount of charge is held in said capacitive device.

11. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said ignition signal is an electrical pulse having a predetermined duration; and

said control module prohibits subsequent discharges of said ignition signal for a predetermined time period after said capacitive device discharges said ignition signal.

12. A firearm according to claim 11, wherein:

said predetermined duration is approximately 1 millisecond; and

said predetermined time period is approximately 150 milliseconds.

13. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensor assembly includes a chamber sensor for detecting and communicating to said control module whether said round is positioned in said chamber.

14. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensor assembly includes an energy sensor for measuring and communicating to said control module an amount of energy stored in said power source.

15. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said frame includes a grip portion; and

said sensor assembly includes a grip sensor for detecting and communicating to said control module when an operator engages said grip portion.

16. A firearm according to claim 15, wherein:

said grip sensor includes an integrated array of pressure sensitive sensors oriented on a front and a rear face of said grip portion.

17. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensor assembly includes a magazine sensor for detecting when an ammunition magazine is inserted in a magazine well of said firearm, said magazine sensor communicating to said control module whether said ammunition magazine occupies a predetermined position within said magazine well.

18. A firearm according to claim 17, wherein:

said magazine sensor includes a battery detection and measuring sensing means for detecting and communicating to said control module a presence and charge level of a battery in said ammunition magazine.

19. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said power source is contained in a selectively removable module adapted to be insertable into and removable from said firearm.

20. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensor assembly includes an authorization sensor for receiving data external to said firearm, said external data being indicative of an operator; and

said authorization sensor generating an authorization signal in dependence upon said external data.

21. A firearm according to claim 20, wherein:

said control module includes a database of authorized operators, wherein said control module compares said authorization signal to said database and permits communication of said ignition signal only if said authorization signal corresponds to one of said authorized operators in said database.

22. A firearm according to claim 21, wherein:

said authorization sensor is a fingerprint scanning device located adjacent a grip portion of said firearm, wherein said fingerprint scanning device is adapted to receive fingerprint images of said operator.

23. A firearm according to claim 21, further comprising:

a grip portion having a magazine well for selectively accepting an ammunition magazine therein; and

an authorization key for modifying said database, said authorization key selectively integrating with said magazine well wherein insertion of said authorization key into said magazine well enables communication between said authorization key and said control module.

24. A firearm according to claim 1, wherein:

said sensor assembly includes a chamber sensor for detecting and communicating to said control module whether said round is positioned in said chamber, an energy sensor for measuring and communicating to said control module an amount of energy stored in said power source, a grip sensor for detecting and communicating to said control module when an operator engages said grip portion, a magazine sensor for detecting when an ammunition magazine is inserted in a magazine well of said firearm, and an authorization sensor for receiving data external to said firearm, said external data being indicative of said operator.

25. A firearm according to claim 24, further comprising:

an information display device for displaying a status of said chamber sensor, said energy sensor and said authorization sensor.

26. A firearm according to claim 25, wherein:

said information display device comprises one of an LED and a LCD.

27. A firearm according to claim 1, further comprising:

a power source booster for increasing the magnitude of said ignition signal from said power source to said ignition probe.