Infantry wearable information and weapon system

• US 6,899,539 B1
• Filed: 02/17/2000
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exponent Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Exponent Incorporated
• Inventors: Edwards, Dana, Stallman, Lawrence, Emiro, Neil, Tyrrell, Jack, Dobson, Andrew, Hromadka, Theodore III
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saadat, Cameron
• Application Number:
  US09/505,678
• Time in Patent Office: 1,930 Days
• Field of Search: 364/400, 707/501, 429/96, 89/410.5, 345/339, 345769-770, 345156-167, 345/184, 434/11, 463 1- 2, 463 36- 39, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 434/11
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00

Abstract

Wearable systems for providing situational awareness in battle or combat type conditions. More specially, modular, wearable, weapon integrated computer systems for gathering and transmitting data, wherein the systems include components tailorable for specific conditions or missions. Further provided are hardware and software for controlling such wearable systems and for communicating with remote system wearers.

Claims

1. A portable, wearable, weapon information system for collecting, coordinating, and communicating information, said system being capable of providing real-time situational awareness in armed conflict conditions, said system comprising:

a power supply;

a computer for controlling functions of said apparatus;

a software interface for interacting with said computer;

a display for displaying information processed by said computer;

a weapon communicably connected to said computer, and having a trigger for firing said weapon;

said weapon having a grip for handling said weapon, said grip located adjacent said trigger; and

said weapon having a barrel including a bore, said bore having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough;

wherein said software interface is controlled by a weapon mounted cursor control device mounted on said weapon, said weapon mounted cursor control device comprising;

a control mechanism for positioning a cursor, said control mechanism being so located on a rear facing portion of said grip such that both a right and left handed user can access said control mechanism employing a thumb while maintaining contact with said trigger with a finger; and

an actuating mechanism for performing control, selection, and action functions on said software interface; and

wherein said weapon mounted cursor control device is communicably connected to a first software interface embodied in a computer readable medium, said first software interface providing a click-and-carry method of cursor control and including a cursor and graphical icons, said click-and-carry method comprising in sequence;

orienting said cursor at a first location proximal a graphical icon displayed on said first software interface;

depressing said actuating mechanism to select said graphical icon;

releasing said actuating mechanism;

orienting said cursor at a second location physically separate from said first location;

depressing said actuating mechanism to release said graphical icon at said second location.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a second software interface comprising:

at least one pull-down menu containing words being alternately descriptive of combat scenarios and directives;

a message window for receiving and displaying words selected from said pull-down menu;

means for selectively transmitting a message contained in said message window.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said words which are contained in said pull-down menu may be input by a user.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said control mechanism comprises a joystick for access by a thumb of a user.

5. A portable, wearable, weapon information system for collecting, coordinating, and communicating information, said system being capable of providing real-time situational awareness in armed conflict conditions, said system comprising:

an input/output device for interfacing said computer with components of said system, said components including;

a display for displaying information processed by said computer;

a voiceless, wireless communication means; and

a user position location device;

a power supply;

a computer for controlling functions of said apparatus and having a software interface for interacting with said computer;

wherein said apparatus further includes a weapon communicably connected to said computer, and having a trigger for firing said weapon,

said weapon having a grip for handling said weapon, said grip located adjacent said trigger; and

said weapon having a barrel including a bore, said bore having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough;

wherein said software interface is controlled by a weapon mounted cursor control device mounted on said weapon, said weapon mounted cursor control device comprising;

a control mechanism for positioning a cursor, said control mechanism being so located on a rear facing portion of said grip such that both a right and left handed user can access said control mechanism employing a thumb while maintaining contact with said trigger with a finger; and

an actuating mechanism for performing control, selection, and action functions on said software interface;

wherein said input/output device comprises;

voltage converters for converting power provided by a power source to voltages compatible with said components of said system, said voltage converters thereafter being capable of transmitting said converted power to said components; and

data relays for routing data between said computer and said components thereby permitting said components and said computer to communicate;

a plurality of universal, plug-in, plug-out connectors for receiving universal connectors of said components, said universal, plug-in, plug-out connectors further providing means for quickly removing a said component and thereafter replacing said component with a new component, wherein said new component connects to said input/output device via a universal connector; and

wherein said weapon mounted cursor control device is communicably connected to a first software interface embodied in a computer readable medium, said first software interface providing a click-and-carry method of cursor control and including a cursor and graphical icons, said click-and-carry method comprising in sequence;

orienting said cursor at a first location proximal a graphical icon displayed on said first software interface;

depressing said actuating mechanism to select said graphical icon;

releasing said actuating mechanism;

orienting said cursor at a second location physically separate from said first location;

depressing said actuating mechanism to release said graphical icon at said second location.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 further including a second software interface comprising:

at least one pull-down menu containing words being alternately descriptive of combat scenarios and directives;

a message window for receiving and displaying words selected from said pull-down menu;

means for selectively transmitting a message contained in said message window.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said control mechanism comprises a joystick for access by a thumb of a user therefore enabling the user to maintain a finger on said trigger while operating said joystick.

8. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said input/output device further includes digital/analog data converting means.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said input/output device further includes video format converting means.