Photographic firearm apparatus and method

• US 6,580,876 B1
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Town of Markham
• Original Assignee: Town of Markham
• Inventors: Gordon, Terry
• Primary Examiner(s): Gray, David M.
• Application Number:
  US10/063,033
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 348/61, 396/263, 396/426, 396/429
• US Class Current: 396/263
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/00 Adaptations for training adaptations of barrels for recoil reinforcement F41A21/26; Gun simulators teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26 ; shooting games A63F9/02; military simulation G09B9/003
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 27/00 Accessories; Details or attachments not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/54 Devices for testing or checking ; Tools for adjustment of sights
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 17/00 Details of cameras or camera bodies; Accessories therefor lens hoods or caps G03B11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 29/00 Combinations of cameras, projectors or photographic printing apparatus with non-photographic non-optical apparatus, e.g. clocks or weapons; Cameras having the shape of other objects combinations with flash apparatus G03B15/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/51 Housings

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.

Claims

1. A photographic firearm apparatus, comprising:

photography means for capturing at least one photographic image frame 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; and

image selection means for selecting at least one of said photographic image frames to be saved based on said firing signal.

2. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

target image distance determination means for determining a target distance of said target image from said apparatus; and

ammunition speed determination means for determining an average travel speed of ammunition fired from said firearm over said target distance;

said image selection means further using said average speed and said target distance in addition to said firing signal, for selecting said at least one of said photographic image frames to be saved.

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.

4. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, wherein said firing detecting and signaling means comprises an acoustic detector detecting a sound resulting from the firing of said firearm when said firearm is fired.

5. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1 in combination with said firearm, wherein said apparatus is attached to said firearm.

6. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1 in combination with said firearm, wherein said firearm comprises said apparatus.

7. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an activation detector activating said photography means, in response to detecting a specified condition.

8. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising a heat detector activating said photography means in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a change in nearby heat.

9. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising an optical detector activating said photography means in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a change in light striking said optical detector.

10. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising a motion detector activating said photography means in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a motion of said firearm.

11. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising a pressure detector activating said photography means in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a pressure applied to said firearm.

12. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising an electronic detector activating said photography means in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a change in an electronic condition caused by displacing said firearm.

13. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 7, said activation detector comprising a retinal detector activating said photography means in response to said specified condition comprising detecting a human eye proximate thereto.

14. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, said photography means comprising a digital imaging array.

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).

16. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, said photography 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.

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 displayed on said viewing monitor, wherein an initial stored image is displayed on said monitor based on a designated time in relation to said time zero, and wherein the saving of an image frame is specified by selecting for saving, an image frame showing on said monitor.

18. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising camera activation switch means for activating said photography means for storing in an image memory, a single, still photographic frame.

19. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, said at least one photographic image frame comprising a sequential plurality of photographic image frames, further comprising:

camcorder switch means causing each of said photographic image frames comprising said sequential plurality of photographic image frames to be saved as a moving picture image.

20. The photographic firearm apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a laser emitting a laser beam toward a target coincident with said target image.