Systems and methods for electronic weaponry having audio and/or video recording capability

• US 7,363,742 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2005
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Nerheim, Magne H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael J
• Assistant Examiner(s): KNOX, STEWART
• Application Number:
  US11/270,989
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 899 Days
• Field of Search: 421/46, 332/66
• US Class Current: 42/146
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0018 for nearby electrical discharge, i.e. the electrodes being positioned on the device and the device brought manually or otherwise into contact with a nearby target batons with electric discharge capability F41B15/04; electric shock devices for animals A01K15/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/06 operating only when touched

Abstract

An electronic control device includes an audio and/or video recorder, for example, packaged as a user-replaceable battery module. The audio and/or video recorder records audio and/or video information for a period beginning prior to receiving of a signal by the module. The signal may be a trigger signal, provided by the electronic control device. Use of the weapon module is documented by recorded audio and/or video information for the period, for example, extending a while before and after operation of the trigger.

Claims

1. A module for any one electronic control device of a plurality of electronic control devices, the electronic control device operative with a cartridge, the cartridge having wire-tethered electrodes for launching from the cartridge generally in a direction of aiming to impact a human or animal target, the module comprising:

a. a case;

b. a battery within the case;

c. a recording video camera within the case for recording video in the direction of aiming;

d. an electrical interface through the case for a first signal and a second signal; and

e. a mechanical interface that secures the case to the electronic control device for operation of the electrical interface, that facilitates separation of the case from the electronic control device for field-interchangeable use of the module in turn with another electronic control device of the plurality of electronic control devices, and that orients the video camera in the direction of aiming;

wherein

f. the battery powers the recording video camera, and powers, via the first signal through the case, the electronic control device to provide a current through the target via the electrodes; and

g. the recording video camera begins recording video in response to the second signal through the case from the electronic control device.

2. A battery module for any one weapon module of a plurality of weapon modules, the weapon module operative with an electrode module, the electrode module having, electrodes for launching generally in a direction of aiming to impact a human or animal target, the weapon module having a circuit that generates a relatively high voltage pulse for pulsed current through the electrodes and through the target, the battery module comprising:

a. a case;

b. a battery within the case;

c. a recorder within the case for recording audio and/or video in the direction of aiming;

d. an electrical interface through the case for a first signal and a second signal; and

e. a mechanical interface that secures the case to the weapon module for operation of the electrical interface, that facilitates separation of the case from the weapon module for field-interchangeable use of the battery module in turn with another weapon module of the plurality of weapon modules, and that orients the recorder in the direction of aiming;

wherein

f. the battery powers the recorder, and powers, at a relatively low voltage via the first signal through the case, the circuit to provide the relatively high voltage pulse of current through the target via the electrodes; and

g. the recorder begins recording in response to the second signal through the case from the weapon module.

3. The battery module of claim 2 wherein the recorder further records time and/or date in association with the audio and/or video.

4. The battery module of claim 3 wherein the second signal further conveys indicia of time and/or date.

5. The battery module of claim 2 further comprising a light source powered by the battery for illuminating the target in response to the second signal.

6. The battery module of claim 2 wherein the second signal conveys in serial commands and data.

7. The battery module of claim 2 wherein the second signal conveys indicia of a trigger event of the weapon module and the recorder records audio and/or video for a period prior to the trigger event.

8. The battery module of claim 2 further comprising a holder that accepts a second electrode module for storage.

9. The battery module of claim 8 wherein the holder further accepts a charger for recharging the battery.

10. The battery module of claim 9 wherein the holder comprises a communication interface for exchanging commands and data to and from the battery module.

11. The battery module of claim 2 further comprising an RF transmitter that transmits recorded audio and/or video information.

12. The battery module of claim 2 wherein the recorder comprises a camera that captures video to be recorded by the recorder.

13. The battery module of claim 12 wherein the recorder further comprises a processor that crops captured video prior to recording by the recorder.

14. The battery module of claim 13 wherein the processor determines a position of a laser illumination in the captured video and crops the captured video in accordance with the position.

15. The battery module of claim 2 wherein the recorder comprises a microphone that captures sound to be recorded by the recorder.