Photographic firearm apparatus and method
First Claim
1. A photographic firearm apparatus, comprising:
- digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing at a predetermined frame rate, a sequential plurality of photographic image frames of a target image;
firing detecting and signaling means for detecting a time zero when a firearm to which said firearm apparatus is attached has been fired and generating a firing signal in response thereto;
timing control computer means for receiving said firing signal from said firing detecting means at said time zero and, based thereon, substantially establishing times at which each of said photographic image frames is captured relative to said time when said firearm has been fired; and
image timing designation means for specifying at least one firing-based designated time in relation to said time zero, wherein at least one image frame captured substantially at said firing-based designated time is thereby saved.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telescopic firearm scope/sight which is fully integrated with a compact digital camera, and which has size, shape and weight characteristics that are substantially the same as those of a conventional, camera-less telescopic scope, is used to photograph a target proximate the instant at which the target is fired upon. To configure the weapon for photography and firing, the scope is simply placed on the firearm in the same manner as a conventional scope, and the firearm is then fired in the conventional manner. Photographs are recorded, alternatively, in response to the sound of, or the recoil from, the firearm firing. An alternative embodiment eliminates the telescopic sight, but maintains all of the digital photography components, and is particularly useful for smaller-scale firearms such as pistols.
98 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A photographic firearm apparatus, comprising:
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digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing at a predetermined frame rate, a sequential plurality of photographic image frames of a target image;
firing detecting and signaling means for detecting a time zero when a firearm to which said firearm apparatus is attached has been fired and generating a firing signal in response thereto;
timing control computer means for receiving said firing signal from said firing detecting means at said time zero and, based thereon, substantially establishing times at which each of said photographic image frames is captured relative to said time when said firearm has been fired; and
image timing designation means for specifying at least one firing-based designated time in relation to said time zero, wherein at least one image frame captured substantially at said firing-based designated time is thereby saved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
target image distance determination means for determining a target distance of said target image from said apparatus and providing said target distance as input to said timing control computer; and
ammunition speed determination means for determining an average travel speed of ammunition fired from said firearm over said target distance and providing said average speed as input to said timing control computer;
said timing control computer further using said average speed and said target distance in addition to said firing signal, for establishing times at which each of said photographic image frames is captured relative to a target impact time when said ammunition strikes a target coincident with said target image; and
said image timing designation means further specifying at least one impact-based designated time in relation to said target impact time, wherein at least one image frame captured substantially at said impact-based designated time is so-saved.
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3. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, wherein said firing detecting and signaling means comprises an acceleration detector detecting a recoil of said firearm when said firearm is fired.
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4. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, wherein said firing detecting and signaling means comprises an acoustic detector detecting an explosion sound resulting from the firing of said firearm when said firearm is fired.
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5. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1 in combination with said firearm, wherein said apparatus is attached to said firearm.
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6. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1 in combination with said firearm, wherein said firearm comprises said apparatus.
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7. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an activation detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to detecting a specified condition.
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8. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising a heat detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a change in nearby heat.
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9. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising an optical detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a change in light striking said optical detector.
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10. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising a motion detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a motion of said firearm.
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11. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising a pressure detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition-comprising detecting a pressure applied to said firearm.
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12. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising an electronic detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a change in an electronic condition caused by displacing said firearm.
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13. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising a retinal detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a human eye proximate thereto.
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14. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, said digital photography capturing means comprising a digital imaging array.
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15. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 14, said digital imaging array comprising devices selected from the group consisting of charge-coupled devices (CCD) and complimentary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS).
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16. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, said digital photography storing means comprising a memory device selected from the group consisting of an internal non-removable memory downloadable to a download device via a download adapter, and a removable memory downloadable to a download device by removal from the apparatus and connection with said download device.
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17. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a viewing monitor and scrolling means for scrolling forward and backward with respect to a given stored image frame showing on said viewing monitor, wherein an initial stored image is displayed on the monitor based on a designated time in relation to said time zero, and wherein the saving of an image frame for subsequent downloading is manually specified by selecting for saving, a stored image showing on the monitor.
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18. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising camera activation switch means activating said capturing, processing and storing in an image memory, of a single, still photographic frame.
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19. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising camcorder switch means causing each of said photographic image frames comprising said sequential plurality of photographic image frames to be saved for subsequent downloading to a download device as a moving picture image.
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20. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a laser emitting a laser beam toward a target coincident with said target image.
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21. A method for recording photographs in connection with the firing of a firearm, comprising the steps of:
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capturing, processing and storing at a predetermined frame rate, a sequential plurality of photographic image frames of a target image, using digital photography means;
detecting a time zero when a firearm to which said firearm apparatus is attached has been fired and generating a firing signal in response thereto, using firing detecting and signaling means;
receiving said firing signal from said firing detecting and signaling means at said time zero and, based thereon, substantially establishing times at which each of said photographic image frames is captured relative to said time when said firearm has been fired, using timing control computer means;
specifying at least one firing-based designated time in relation to said time zero and, based thereon, saving at least one image frame captured substantially at said firing-based designated time, using image timing designation means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
determining a target distance of said target image from said apparatus and providing said target distance as input to said timing control computer, using target image distance determination means;
determining an average travel speed of ammunition fired from said firearm over said target distance and providing said average speed as input to said timing control computer using ammunition speed determination means;
establishing times at which each of said photographic image frames is captured relative to a target impact time when said ammunition strikes a target coincident with said target image, based upon said average speed and said target distance in addition to said firing signal, further using said timing control computer means; and
specifying at-least one impact-based designated time in relation to said target impact time, and saving at least one image frame captured substantially at said impact-based designated time, further using said image timing designation means.
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23. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of detecting and signaling said time zero comprises using firing detecting and signaling means comprising an acceleration detector detecting a recoil of said firearm when said firearm is fired.
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24. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of detecting and signaling said time zero comprises using firing detecting and signaling means comprising an acoustic detector detecting an explosion sound resulting from the firing of said firearm when said firearm is fired.
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25. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of attaching an apparatus employing said method, to said firearm.
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26. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of providing said firearm integrated with an apparatus employing said method.
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27. The method of claim 21, further comprising the step of activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to an activation detector of said photographic firearm apparatus detecting a specified condition.
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28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said activation detector of said photographic firearm apparatus,comprising a heat detector detecting said specified condition comprising a change in nearby heat.
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29. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said activation detector of said photographic firearm apparatus comprising an optical detector detecting said specified condition comprising a change in light striking said optical detector.
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30. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said activation detector of said photographic firearm apparatus comprising a motion detector detecting said specified condition comprising a motion of said firearm.
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31. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said activation detector of said photographic firearm apparatus comprising a pressure detector detecting said specified condition comprising a pressure applied to said firearm.
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32. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said activation detector of said photographic firearm apparatus comprising an electronic detector detecting said specified condition comprising a change in an electronic condition caused by displacing said firearm.
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33. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said activation detector of said photographic firearm apparatus comprising a retinal detector detecting said specified condition comprising a human eye proximate thereto.
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34. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of capturing said photographic image frames comprises using a digital imaging array.
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35. The method of claim 34, said digital imaging array comprising devices selected from the group consisting of charge-coupled devices (CCD) and complimentary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS).
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36. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of storing said photographic image frames comprises storing said photographic image frames into a memory device selected from the group consisting of an internal non-removable memory downloadable to a download device via a download adapter, and a removable memory downloadable to a download device by removal from the apparatus and connection with said download device.
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37. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of saving an image frame for subsequent downloading is manually specified by selecting for saving, a stored image showing on a viewing monitor with scrolling means for scrolling forward and backward with respect to a given stored image frame showing on said viewing monitor, and wherein an initial stored image is displayed on the monitor based on a designated time in relation to said time zero.
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38. The method of claim 21, further comprising capturing, processing and storing in an image memory, a single, still photographic frame, using camera activation switch means.
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39. The method of claim 21, further comprising saving each of said photographic image frames comprising said sequential plurality of photographic image frames for subsequent downloading to a download device as a moving picture image, using camcorder switch means.
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40. The method of claim 21, further comprising emitting a laser beam toward a target coincident with said target image, using a laser.
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41. A firearm comprising:
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digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing at a predetermined frame rate, a sequential plurality of photographic image frames of a target image;
firing detecting and signaling means for detecting a time zero when said firearm has been fired and generating a firing signal in response thereto;
timing control computer means for receiving said firing signal from said firing detecting means at said time zero and, based thereon, substantially establishing times at which each of said photographic image frames is captured relative to said time when said firearm has been fired; and
image timing designation means for specifying at least one firing-based designated time in relation to said time zero, wherein at least one image frame captured substantially at said firing-based designated time is thereby saved. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
target image distance determination means for determining a target distance of said target image from said firearm and providing said target distance as input to said timing control computer; and
ammunition speed determination means for determining an average travel speed of ammunition fired from said firearm over said target distance and providing said average speed as input to said timing control computer;
said timing control computer further using said average speed and said target distance in addition to said firing signal, for establishing times at which each of said photographic image frames is captured relative to a target impact time when said ammunition strikes a target coincident with said target image; and
said image timing designation means further specifying at least one impact-based designated time in relation to said target impact time, wherein at least one image frame captured substantially at said impact-based designated time is so-saved.
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43. The firearm of claim 41, wherein said firing detecting and signaling means comprises an acceleration detector detecting a recoil of said firearm when said firearm is fired.
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44. The firearm of claim 41, wherein said firing detecting and signaling means comprises an acoustic detector detecting an explosion sound resulting from the firing of said firearm when said firearm is fired.
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45. The firearm of claim 41, further comprising an activation detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to detecting a specified condition.
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46. The firearm of claim 45, said activation detector comprising a heat detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a change in nearby heat.
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47. The firearm of claim 45, said activation detector comprising an optical detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a change in light striking said optical detector.
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48. The firearm of claim 45, said activation detector comprising a motion detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a motion of said firearm.
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49. The firearm of claim 45, said activation detector comprising a pressure detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a pressure applied to said firearm.
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50. The firearm of claim 45, said activation detector comprising an electronic detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a change in an electronic condition caused by displacing said firearm.
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51. The firearm of claim 45, said activation detector comprising a retinal detector activating said digital photography means for capturing, processing and storing said plurality of photographic image frames, in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a human eye proximate thereto.
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52. The firearm of claim 41, said digital photography capturing means comprising a digital imaging array.
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53. The firearm of claim 52, said digital imaging array comprising devices selected from the group consisting of charge-coupled devices (CCD) and complimentary metal-oxide semiconductors (CMOS).
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54. The firearm of claim 41, said digital photography storing means comprising a memory device selected from the group consisting of an internal non-removable memory downloadable to a download device via a download adapter, and a removable memory downloadable to a download device by removal from the firearm and connection with said download device.
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55. The firearm of claim 41, further comprising a viewing monitor and scrolling means for scrolling forward and backward with respect to a given stored image frame showing on said viewing monitor, wherein an initial stored image is displayed on the monitor based on a designated time in relation to said time zero, and wherein the saving of an image frame for subsequent downloading is manually specified by selecting for saving, a stored image showing on the monitor.
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56. The firearm of claim 41, further comprising camera activation switch means activating said capturing, processing and storing in an image memory, of a single, still photographic frame.
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57. The firearm of claim 41, further comprising camcorder switch means causing each of said photographic image frames comprising said sequential plurality of photographic image frames to be saved for subsequent downloading to a download device as a moving picture image.
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58. The firearm of claim 41, further comprising a laser emitting a laser beam toward a target coincident with said target image.
Specification