Memory enhanced ammunition cartridge and method of making and using the same

• US 7,533,614 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2005
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ronald E. Reich
• Original Assignee: Ronald E. Reich
• Inventors: Reich, Ronald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; Bret
• Application Number:
  US11/227,344
• Time in Patent Office: 1,349 Days
• Field of Search: 102/430, 102/473, 102/501, 102/517
• US Class Current: 102/430
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 5/025 characterised by the dimension of the case or the missile

Abstract

The present invention provides a memory enhanced ammunition cartridge. The memory enhanced cartridge can be manufactured using a conventional bulk processing methodology. The bullet of the cartridge contains therein a memory within it. This memory can be programmed with the retail purchaser identification at the point of sale, thereby avoiding the need for a database of information relating to purchasers of ammunition. After the cartridge has been used, the ejected bullet can be located at the target, and the memory read to determine the identity of the purchaser, and potentially the user, of the bullet.

Claims

1. An apparatus fired by a gun and capable of having an identifier associated therewith written to with a programming device and read therefrom with a reading device, the apparatus comprising:

a casing having an open end;

explosive material disposed within the casing;

a bullet having a front projectile end and another end that covers the open end of the casing; and

a memory device attached to the bullet, the memory device having memory cells that are programmable and adapted to store in the memory cells the identifier;

wherein the memory device further includes a receiver that inputs external wireless signals and a control circuit, the control circuit adapted to input the external wireless signals and program the memory cells with the identifier that is transmitted with the external wireless signals.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the memory device further includes a power circuit that inputs external wireless power signals.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the memory device further includes a battery.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the memory cells are write once only EEPROM memory cells.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 further including laser programmable memory cells.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a hole disposed in the bullet, and the memory device is attached to the bullet by being located within the hole.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the hole is located at the another end of the bullet.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 further including a plug that assists in retaining the memory device within the hole.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the plug is clay.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the memory device includes an antenna.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein a part of the antenna projects outside of the bullet.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the memory cells are electrically programmable memory cells.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12 further including preprogrammed memory cells.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12 further including a hole disposed in the bullet, and the memory device is attached to the bullet by being located within the hole.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the memory device includes an antenna.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 further including preprogrammed memory cells.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the preprogrammed memory cells are laser programmable memory cells.

18. An apparatus fired by a gun and capable of having an identifier associated therewith written to with a programming device and read therefrom with a reading device, the apparatus comprising:

a casing having an open end;

explosive material disposed within the casing;

a bullet having a front projectile end and another end that covers the open end of the casing; and

a memory device attached to the bullet, the memory device having memory cells that are programmable and adapted to store in the memory cells the identifier,

wherein the memory cells are write once only EEPROM memory cells.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the memory device further includes a receiver that inputs external wireless signals and a control circuit, the control circuit adapted to input the external wireless signals and program the memory cells with the identifier that is transmitted with the external wireless signals.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18 further including preprogrammed memory cells.

21. The apparatus according to claim 18 further including a hole disposed in the bullet, and the memory device is attached to the bullet by being located within the hole.

22. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the memory device includes an antenna.

23. An apparatus fired by a gun and capable of having an identifier associated therewith written to with a programming device and read therefrom with a reading device, the apparatus comprising:

a casing having an open end;

explosive material disposed within the casing;

a bullet having a front projectile end and another end that covers the open end of the casing;

a memory device attached to the bullet, the memory device having memory cells that are programmable and adapted to store in the memory cells the identifier; and

a hole disposed in the bullet, wherein the memory device is attached to the bullet by being located within the hole, and further including a plug that assists in retaining the memory device, including unprogrammed memory cells that can be subsequently programmed after manufacture of the apparatus, within the hole.

24. The apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the memory device further includes a receiver that inputs external wireless signals and a control circuit, the control circuit adapted to input the external wireless signals and program the memory cells with the identifier that is transmitted with the external wireless signals.

25. The apparatus according to claim 23 further including preprogrammed memory cells.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25 wherein the preprogrammed memory cells are laser programmable memory cells.

27. The apparatus according to claim 23 wherein the memory device includes an antenna.

28. The apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the memory device further includes a receiver that inputs external wireless signals and a control circuit, the control circuit adapted to input the external wireless signals and program the memory cells with the identifier that is transmitted with the external wireless signals.

29. An apparatus fired by a gun and capable of having an identifier associated therewith written to with a programming device and read therefrom with a reading device, the apparatus comprising:

a casing having an open end;

explosive material disposed within the casing;

a bullet having a front projectile end and another end that covers the open end of the casing; and

a memory device attached to the bullet, the memory device having memory cells that are programmable and adapted to store in the memory cells the identifier,

wherein the memory device includes a control circuit that controls programming the memory cells.

30. The apparatus according to claim 29 further including a hole disposed in the bullet, and the memory device is attached to the bullet by being located within the hole.

31. The apparatus according to claim 29 further including preprogrammed memory cells.

32. The apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the preprogrammed memory cells are laser programmable memory cells.

33. The apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the memory device further includes a receiver that inputs external wireless signals and wherein the control circuit is adapted to input the external wireless signals and program the memory cells with the identifier that is transmitted with the external wireless signals.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33 further including a hole disposed in the bullet, and the memory device is attached to the bullet by being located within the hole.

35. The apparatus according to claim 34 further including preprogrammed memory cells.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35 wherein the memory device includes an antenna.

37. The apparatus according to claim 29 wherein the memory device includes an antenna.