Systems and methods for illuminating a spark gap in an electric discharge weapon
First Claim
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1. A weapon for conducting a current through a target to stun or immobilize the target, the weapon comprising:
- a circuit comprising;
a spark gap having a breakdown voltage for conduction, the current being produced in response to conduction by the spark gap; and
a capacitance having a voltage across the capacitance that in operation increases until conduction by the spark gap occurs, whereby conduction by the spark gap occurs in response to reaching a magnitude of the voltage across the capacitance;
a white light source that illuminates the spark gap for a duration of illumination that begins substantially prior to conduction by the spark gap to avoid increasing the voltage across the capacitance beyond a limit of operation of the circuit.
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Abstract
An electric discharge weapon includes a high voltage circuit, a control circuit, and a light source. The high voltage circuit includes a spark gap having a breakdown voltage affected by light. A magnitude of an electric discharge of the weapon is related to the breakdown voltage of the spark gap. Under control of the control circuit, the light source emits light to illuminate the spark gap prior to conduction so that the magnitude of the electric discharge is within a desired range.
27 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A weapon for conducting a current through a target to stun or immobilize the target, the weapon comprising:
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a circuit comprising; a spark gap having a breakdown voltage for conduction, the current being produced in response to conduction by the spark gap; and a capacitance having a voltage across the capacitance that in operation increases until conduction by the spark gap occurs, whereby conduction by the spark gap occurs in response to reaching a magnitude of the voltage across the capacitance; a white light source that illuminates the spark gap for a duration of illumination that begins substantially prior to conduction by the spark gap to avoid increasing the voltage across the capacitance beyond a limit of operation of the circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method performed by a weapon comprising a probe for launching toward a target or a terminal held against a target, a capacitance, a white light source, and a spark gap, the method comprising:
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illuminating the spark gap from the white light source; after illuminating has begun, increasing a voltage across the capacitance to a magnitude at which conduction by the spark gap occurs; and while conduction occurs, providing a current through the probe or terminal and through the target, the current to stun or immobilize the target. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification