Systems and methods for projectile status reporting

• US 7,701,692 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2008
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Nerheim, Magne H., Smith, Patrick W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja; Ronald W
• Application Number:
  US12/328,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20090180234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 361/232
• US Class Current: 361/232
• 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: F41H 13/0025 for remote electrical discharge via conducting wires, e.g. via wire-tethered electrodes shot at a target
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0031 for remote electrical discharge by means of a wireless projectile
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0037 for remote electrical discharge via liquid jets details of the gun for generating the liquid jets F41B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 12/365 Projectiles transmitting information to a remote location using optical or electronic means F42B12/385 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/04 providing pulse voltages mechanical self-interrupters H01H; electronic pulse-generators H03K
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/06 operating only when touched

Abstract

A projectile provides a stimulus signal through a human or animal target for immobilizing the target. The projectile includes a transceiver and a waveform generator. The transceiver receives a first signal and transmits a second signal. The waveform generator provides the stimulus signal through the target for immobilizing the target. The stimulus signal has a signal characteristic controlled by the waveform generator in accordance with the first signal. The second signal comprises a status of the stimulus signal.

Claims

1. A projectile for providing a stimulus signal through a human or animal target for immobilizing the target, the projectile comprising:

a transceiver that receives a first signal and transmits a second signal; and

a waveform generator that provides the stimulus signal through the target for immobilizing the target;

wherein;

the stimulus signal has a signal characteristic controlled by the waveform generator in accordance with the first signal; and

the second signal comprises a status of the stimulus signal.

2. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the signal characteristic comprises an amplitude of the stimulus signal.

3. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the signal characteristic comprises a waveform shape of the stimulus signal.

4. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the signal characteristic comprises a charge per pulse.

5. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the signal characteristic comprises a relatively high initial voltage amplitude.

6. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the signal characteristic comprises a relatively low voltage amplitude.

7. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the status comprises indicia of a stage of a plurality of stages of the stimulus signal.

8. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the status comprises an impedance of a path for the stimulus signal.

9. The projectile of claim 1 wherein the status comprises a result of path testing.

10. The projectile of claim 1 wherein:

the projectile further includes a plurality of pairs of electrodes for selection of at least one pair for the stimulus signal; and

the status comprises a result of electrode pair selection.

11. A projectile for providing a stimulus signal through a human or animal target for immobilizing the target, the projectile comprising:

a transceiver that receives a first signal and transmits a second signal; and

a waveform generator that provides the stimulus signal through the target for immobilizing the target;

wherein;

the stimulus signal has a signal characteristic controlled by the waveform generator in accordance with the first signal; and

the second signal comprises a status of the waveform generator.

12. The projectile of claim 11 wherein the status comprises indicia of a power supply capability.

13. The projectile of claim 12 wherein the power supply comprises a battery.

14. The projectile of claim 11 wherein the status comprises indicia of a termination voltage of a capacitor of the waveform generator.

15. A projectile for providing a stimulus signal through a human or animal target for immobilizing the target, the projectile for cooperating with a launch device, the projectile comprising:

a transceiver that maintains a link with the launch device; and

a waveform generator that provides the stimulus signal through the target for immobilizing the target, wherein the launcher, transceiver, and waveform generator cooperate to accomplish feedback control of the stimulus signal.

16. The projectile of claim 15 wherein feedback control accomplishes delivery of a predetermined charge per pulse of the stimulus signal.

17. The projectile of claim 15 wherein feedback control comprises metering delivery of charge through the target.

18. A projectile for providing a stimulus signal through a human or animal target for immobilizing the target, the projectile for cooperating with a launch device, the projectile comprising:

a transceiver that maintains a link with the launch device for collecting data by the launch device; and

a waveform generator that provides the stimulus signal through the target for immobilizing the target wherein the waveform generator provides the data to the transceiver.