Electronically controlled firearm

• US 6,430,861 B1
• Filed: 05/29/2001
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sidney Mccartney, Tyler Ayers
• Original Assignee: Sidney Mccartney, Tyler Ayers
• Inventors: Ayers, Tyler, McCartney, Sidney
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zerr, John W
• Application Number:
  US09/681,727
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 42/84, 89/280.5, 102/201
• US Class Current: 42/84
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 19/63 having means for contactless transmission of electric energy, e.g. by induction, by sparking gap

Abstract

A firearm using a laser in place of a firing pin mechanism. Special cartridges have a lasing chip, which lases to ignite the propellant when a beam from the laser impinges on the lasing chip through a port in the breechblock. An electronic control system prevents the unauthorized use of the firearm by preventing connection of the laser power supply to the laser unless the user of the firearm is in close proximity and is authorized by an ID card.

Claims

1. The combination of:

a firearm having a cartridge chamber adapted to receive a cartridge, a laser adapted to emit a laser beam into the cartridge chamber, and a power supply connected to power the laser;

at least one cartridge arranged to be received in the cartridge chamber, said cartridge having a casing, a propellant, a primer, and including a lasing chip disposed on the rear of the cartridge adapted to lase and generate sufficient heat to cause ignition of the primer and propellant when impinged upon by said laser beam; and

electronic means for selectively connecting the power supply to the laser to cause ignition of the cartridge propellant, wherein said electronic means includes a user identification card and an electronic identification system, said electronic identification system having a card receptacle and adapted to enable connection of the power supply to the laser only when the electronic identification system is enabled by inserting said user identification card into said card receptacle.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said electronic means includes a manually actuated trigger switch on the firearm and a timing circuit connected in series with the trigger switch and arranged to periodically connect the power supply to the laser for providing automatic periodic firing of the firearm.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said electronic means includes a portable short-range r.f. transmitter to be carried by a user and an r.f. receiver incorporated into the firearm, said r.f. receiver adapted to enable connection of the power supply to the laser only when a signal from said r.f. transmitter indicates that the user is in close proximity to the firearm.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein a breechblock is disposed between the laser and the cartridge in the cartridge chamber, said breechblock defining a laser firing port extending through the breechblock and aligned with the lasing chip on the rear of the cartridge for passage of the laser beam through the breechblock.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein said breechblock defines a sloping surface facing the rear of said cartridge, and wherein said cartridge chamber defines an ejection port sufficiently large and directed so as to allow the casing to be ejected when it strikes said sloping surface.

6. The combination of:

a firearm having a barrel, a breech housing, a laser, a hand grip and a trigger, said breech housing defining a cartridge chamber adapted to receive a cartridge, a laser chamber adapted to receive said laser, and a breechblock separating the cartridge chamber from the laser chamber, said breechblock defining a laser firing port extending through the breechblock, said laser adapted to emit a laser beam through said laser firing port into the cartridge chamber, and a power supply connected to power the laser;

at least one cartridge arranged to be received in the cartridge chamber, said cartridge having a casing, a propellant, a primer, and including a lasing chip disposed on the rear of the cartridge adapted to lase and generate sufficient heat to cause ignition of the primer and propellant when impinged upon by said laser beam; and

electronic means for selectively connecting the power supply to the laser to cause ignition of the cartridge propellant, wherein said electronic means includes a user identification card and an electronic identification system disposed in the firearm, said electronic identification system having a card receptacle and adapted to enable connection of the power supply to the laser only when the electronic identification system is enabled by inserting said user identification card into said card receptacle.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein said electronic means includes a manually actuated trigger switch on the firearm arranged to be closed by said trigger and a timing circuit connected in series with the trigger switch and arranged to periodically connect the power supply to the laser for providing automatic continuous firing of the firearm.

8. The combination according to claim 6, wherein said electronic means includes a portable short-range r.f. transmitter to be carried by a user and an r.f. receiver incorporated into the firearm, said r.f. receiver adapted to enable connection of the power supply to the laser only when a signal from said r.f. transmitter indicates that the user is in close proximity to the firearm.

9. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the power supply is disposed in said handgrip of the firearm.

10. The combination of:

a firearm having a cartridge chamber adapted to receive a cartridge, a laser adapted to emit a laser beam into the cartridge chamber, and a power supply connected to power the laser;

at least one cartridge arranged to be received in the cartridge chamber, said cartridge having a propellant, a primer, and including a lasing chip disposed on the rear of the cartridge adapted to lase and generate sufficient heat to cause ignition of the primer and propellant when impinged upon by said laser beam, said cartridge including a cylindrical casing for containing the propellant, primer and lasing chip, a projectile disposed at the front of the casing and adapted to separate therefrom, and a plurality of spaced circumferential stabilizing lands around the casing, said lands being dimensioned to hold the cartridge centered in the cartridge chamber; and

electronic means for selectively connecting the power supply to the laser to cause ignition of the cartridge propellant.

11. The combination according to claim 10, and further including a flexible cartridge belt arranged to hold a plurality of cartridges in laterally spaced relationship along the belt, said belt including circumferential walls around the cartridges and frangible webs connecting said circumferential walls.

12. The combination of:

a firearm having a barrel, a breech housing, a laser, a hand grip and a trigger, said breech housing defining a cartridge chamber adapted to receive a cartridge, a laser chamber adapted to receive said laser, and a breechblock separating the cartridge chamber from the laser chamber, said breechblock defining a laser firing port extending through the breechblock, said laser adapted to emit a laser beam through said laser firing port into the cartridge chamber, and a power supply connected to power the laser;

at least one cartridge arranged to be received in the cartridge chamber, said cartridge having a casing, a propellant, a primer, and including a lasing chip disposed on the rear of the cartridge adapted to lase and generate sufficient heat to cause ignition of the primer and propellant when impinged upon by said laser beam, said cartridge including a cylindrical casing for containing the propellant, primer and lasing chip, a projectile disposed at the front of the casing and adapted to separate therefrom, and a plurality of spaced circumferential stabilizing lands around the casing, said lands being dimensioned to hold the cartridge centered in the cartridge chamber; and

electronic means for selectively connecting the power supply to the laser to cause ignition of the cartridge propellant.

13. The combination according to claim 12, wherein said breechblock defines a sloping surface facing the rear of said cartridge, and wherein said cartridge chamber defines an ejection port sufficiently large and directed so as to allow the casing to be ejected when it strikes said sloping surface.

14. The combination according to claim 12, and further including a flexible cartridge belt arranged to hold a plurality of cartridges in laterally spaced relationship along the belt, said belt including the circumferential walls around the cartridge casings and frangible webs connecting said circumferential walls.