Digital pistol

• US 6,890,178 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2003
• Issued: 05/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Gouko, Junichi, Watanabe, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Poon, Peter M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RICHARDSON, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US10/685,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20040123508A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 42/54, 731/67, 273/311, 273/312, 273/313, 434/21, 434/22, 434/19
• US Class Current: 434/19
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/02 Light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light emitting sources, e.g. laser
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 33/06 Recoil simulators
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/2655 in which the light beam is sent from the weapon to the target

Abstract

A gun suitable for games is disclosed for permitting an operator to recognize when a trigger is pulled. A target signal receiver receives a target signal sent from a target for causing the gun to recognize that the gun is opposite the target, and notifies a controller that the target signal receiver has received the target signal. Upon detection of a manipulation by the operator, the controller a forces shooting device to perform a shooting operation, and instructs an information generator to generate recognition information. The shooting device emits an optical bullet formed of a light ray. The recognition information generator drives a solenoid to bring associated members into impact against each other to permit the operator to recognize that the operation has been performed.

Claims

1. A gun comprising:

manipulating means operated by an operator;

shooting means for performing a shooting operation in response to the operation of said manipulating means;

recognition information generating means for generating recognition information for permitting the operator to recognize that the manipulation of said manipulating means has been performed; and

control means configured to detect the operation performed made by the operator on said manipulating means, and in response to the detected operation, to control said recognition information generating means whereby it generates said recognition information;

wherein said recognition information generating means comprises a solenoid, said recognition information generating means being responsive to a control signal from said control means to energize said solenoid, moving a shaft of the solenoid to cause first and second impact elements to impact one another, thereby generating said recognition information;

wherein said solenoid is in the shape of a cylinder which has a diameter larger than a length of the solenoid shaft measured along an axis of motion of the solenoid shaft;

wherein said solenoid is disposed such that the axis of motion of the solenoid shaft is perpendicular to a barrel of the gun.

6. The gun according to claim 1, wherein said recognition information is sound or vibrations.

2. A gun comprising:

manipulating means operated by an operator;

shooting means for performing a shooting operation in response to the operation of said manipulating means;

recognition information generating means for generating recognition information for permitting the operator to recognize that the manipulation of said manipulating means has been performed; and

control means configured to detect the operation performed made by the operator on said manipulating means, and in response to the detected operation, to control said recognition information generating means whereby it generates said recognition information

wherein said recognition information generating means comprises a solenoid, said recognition information generating means being responsive to a control signal from said control means to energize said solenoid, moving a shaft of the solenoid to cause first and second impact elements to impact one another, thereby generating said recognition information;

wherein said solenoid is in the shape of a cylinder which has a diameter larger than a length of the solenoid shaft measured along an axis of motion of the solenoid shaft;

wherein said recognition information generating means is disposed at least partially in close contact with a housing of said gun; and

said housing comprises a recess for preventing said shaft from colliding with said housing by the action of said shaft.

3. The gun according to claim 2, wherein said housing further comprises a groove for receiving a wire therethrough to said recognition information generating means, said housing being in close contact with said recognition information generating means except for said recess and said groove.

4. A gun comprising:

manipulating means operated by an operator;

shooting means for performing a shooting operation in response to the operation of said manipulating means ,

wherein said shooting means emits an optical bullet formed of a light ray in response to a shooting operation;

recognition information generating means for generating recognition information for permitting the operator to recognize that the manipulation of said manipulating means has been performed; and

control means configured to detect the operation performed made by the operator on said manipulating means, and in response to the detected operation, to control said recognition information generating means whereby it generates said recognition information;

a target signal receiver, constructed and arranged so as to receive a target signal sent from a target and generate a notification to said control means that said target signal is received so as to permit said gun to recognize that said gun is opposite said target, wherein;

said shooting means is prohibited from emitting the light ray and said recognition information generating means generates said recognition information upon detection of the operation of said manipulating means by said control means while said target signal receiver has not received said target signal; and

said shooting means emits the light ray and said recognition information generating means generates said recognition information upon detection of the operation of said manipulating means by said control means while said target signal receiver has received said target signal.

5. The gun according to claim 4, wherein said control means, upon detection of the operation performed by the operator on said manipulating means, forces said shooting means to perform a shooting operation, and subsequently forces said recognition information generating means to generate said recognition information.

7. A gun comprising:

a trigger;

shooting means for performing a shooting operation in response to operation of said trigger by a user;

means for providing recognition information to the user as at least one of sound and vibration; and

control means for detecting the operation of the trigger, and in response to the detected trigger operation, actuating the means for providing recognition information to the user;

wherein the means for providing recognition information for the user comprises a solenoid with a solenoid shaft arranged so that when the solenoid is energized, the solenoid shaft moves along a line perpendicular to a barrel of the gun.

8. The gun of claim 7, wherein the movement of the solenoid shaft causes first and second impact members to impact one another.

9. The gun of claim 7, wherein the solenoid is in the shape of a cylinder having a diameter that exceeds a length of the shaft measured along the line of movement of the shaft.

10. The gun of claim 7, further comprising:

a target signal receiver constructed and arranged to receive a target signal sent from a target and generate a notification to said control means that said target signal is received so as to permit said gun to recognize that said gun is opposite said target, wherein;

when the target signal receiver receives the target signal and the trigger is operated, the shooting means generates a light ray and the means for providing recognition information to the user energizes the solenoid; and

when the target signal receiver does not receive the target signal and the trigger is operated, the shooting means does, not generate the light ray, but the means for providing recognition information to the user energizes the solenoid.