Less lethal weapons and methods for halting locomotion

• US 7,075,770 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2003
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Smith, Patrick W
• Primary Examiner(s): Keith, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREENE, DANIEL LAWSON
• Application Number:
  US10/673,901
• Time in Patent Office: 1,017 Days
• Field of Search: 89/11.1, 102/201, 361/232, 42/10.8, 463/47.3
• US Class Current: 361/232
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/36 for dispensing materials; for producing chemical or physical reaction; for signalling ; for transmitting information

Abstract

A hand-held stun gun incapacitates a human target by generating a series of powerful electrical output pulses of pulse energy of from 0.9 Joules to 10 Joules which generate a series of output current pulses have an RMS current flow of from 100 milliamps to 500 milliamps when the first and second output terminals are applied to a human target. A battery power supply includes an electronic switch, an energy storage capacitor and a transformer for converting low voltage, direct current into a series of high voltage output pulses.

Claims

1. A method performed by a weapon, the weapon for halting locomotion by a human or animal target, the method comprising:

a. charging a capacitance of the weapon; and

b. discharging 0.75 to 10 joules from the capacitance for 9 to 100 microseconds into a transformer of the weapon to generate a pulse to be conducted through tissue of the target;

whereby 2 to 40 of the pulses per second when conducted through tissue of the target halts locomotion by the target.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse provides from 1 to 3 joules of energy into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein discharging provides from 1.5 to 5 joules of energy from the capacitance per pulse.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating discharging to generate respective pulses at a rate of from 5 to 15 pulses per second.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the capacitance comprises a capacitor of about 0.88 microfarads.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein discharging begins after a voltage across the capacitance is about 2000 volts.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse provides a pulse width greater than 10 microseconds into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the pulse provides a pulse width of about 13 microseconds into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating discharging to generate respective pulses that provide a current of 100 to 500 milliamps RMS into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating discharging to generate respective pulses that provide a current greater than 100 milliamps RMS into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising repeating discharging to generate respective pulses that provide a current of about 162 milliamps RMS into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

12. A method performed by a weapon, the weapon for halting locomotion by a human or animal target, the method comprising:

a. charging a capacitance of the weapon; and

b. discharging the capacitance through a transformer of the weapon to generate in a secondary of the transformer a current consisting essentially of a plurality of substantially equally spaced apart pulses to be conducted through tissue of the target, wherein each pulse has a pulse width from 9 to 100 microseconds and wherein the current has a magnitude of from 100 to 500 milliamps RMS;

whereby 2 to 40 of the pulses per second when conducted through tissue of the target halts locomotion by the target.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the current has a magnitude of from 100 to 500 milliamps RMS through a provided resistance of 1000 ohms in place of the target.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the pulses has an energy of 0.75 to 9 joules.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the pulses has an energy of 0.75 to 9 joules into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the pulses has an energy of 1 to 3 joules.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the pulses has an energy of 1 to 3 joules into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the current has a magnitude of about 162 milliamps RMS into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the pulses has a pulse width of about 13 microseconds.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein at least one of the recurring pulses has a pulse width of about 13 microseconds into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

21. A method for halting locomotion by a human or animal target, the method comprising:

passing a current through tissue of the target, wherein the current comprises a plurality of recurring pulses during a period, each recurring pulse has a pulse width of from 9 to 100 microseconds, and each pulse has from 0.75 to 10 joules of energy;

whereby the plurality of pulses when passed through tissue of the target halts locomotion by the target.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein each recurring pulse has an energy of from 0.9 to 10 joules into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein each recurring pulse has an energy of from 1 to 3 joules.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein each recurring pulse has an energy of from 1 to 3 joules into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein the current has a magnitude of from 100 to 500 milliamps RMS for the period.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein the current has a magnitude of from 100 to 500 milliamps RMS for the period through a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

27. The method of claim 21 wherein each recurring pulse is generated from stored energy, the energy having a magnitude of from 0.75 to 10 joules per pulse.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein each recurring pulse is generated from stored energy, the energy having a magnitude of from 1.5 to 5 joules per pulse.

29. The method of claim 21 wherein the plurality of recurring pulses has a pulse repetition rate of from 2 to 40 pulses per second.

30. The method of claim 21 wherein the plurality of recurring pulses has a pulse repetition rate of from 5 to 15 pulses per second.

31. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one of the recurring pulses has a pulse width from 9 to 100 microseconds into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

32. The method of claim 21 wherein at least one of the recurring pulses has from 0.75 to 10 joules of energy into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

33. The method of claim 21 wherein the recurring pulses provide a current greater than 100 milliamps RMS into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

34. The method of claim 21 wherein the recurring pulses provide a current of about 162 milliamps RMS into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

35. A method for halting locomotion by a human or animal target, the method comprising:

passing a current of 100 to 500 milliamps RMS through tissue of the target, wherein the current consists essentially of a plurality of substantially equally spaced apart pulses during a period, each pulse having a pulse width of from 9 to 100 microseconds;

whereby the plurality of pulses when passed through tissue of the target halts locomotion by the target.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the current has a magnitude of from 100 to 500 milliamps RMS for the period through a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein each pulse has an energy of from 0.9 to 10 joules.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein each pulse has an energy of from 0.9 to 10 joules into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein each pulse has an energy of from 1 to 3 joules.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein each pulse has an energy of from 1 to 3 joules into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

41. The method of claim 35 wherein each pulse is generated from stored energy, the energy having a magnitude of from 0.75 to 10 joules per pulse.

42. The method of claim 35 wherein each pulse is generated from stored energy, the energy having a magnitude from 1.5 to 5 joules per pulse.

43. The method of claim 35 wherein the plurality of pulses has a pulse repetition rate of from 2 to 40 pulses per second.

44. The method of claim 35 wherein the plurality of pulses has a pulse repetition rate of from 5 to 15 pulses per second.

45. The method of claim 35 wherein at least one of the pulses has a pulse width from 9 to 100 microseconds into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.

46. The method of claim 35 wherein the pulses provide a current of about 162 milliamps RMS into a provided resistance of 1000 ohms.