Energy harvesting power sources for accidental drop detection and differentiation from firing

• US 7,762,191 B2
• Filed: 01/17/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Omnitek Partners LLC
• Inventors: Rastegar, Jahangir S., Dratler, Richard, Pereira, Carlos M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chambers; Troy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abdosh; Samir
• Application Number:
  US11/654,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20100155472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 102/210, 102/216, 102/207, 89/271.1, 89/280.5, 89/281, 89/6, 89/65
• US Class Current: 102/210
• CPC Class Codes: D21F 1/0027 Screen-cloths
• CPC Class Codes: D21F 7/083 Multi-layer felts
• CPC Class Codes: D21F 7/086 Substantially impermeable for transferring fibrous webs
• CPC Class Codes: F42B 33/06 Dismantling fuzes, cartridges, projectiles, missiles, rockets or bombs F42B33/004 and F42B33/04 take precedence; elimination of undesirable components of explosives C06B21/0091
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 11/02 with piezo-crystal
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/40 wherein the safety or arming action is effected electrically
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 15/44 Arrangements for disarming, or for rendering harmless, fuzes after arming, e.g. after launch
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 9/00 Time fuzes; Combined time and percussion or pressure-actuated fuzes; Fuzes for timed self-destruction of ammunition
• CPC Class Codes: F42C 9/02 the timing being caused by mechanical means

Abstract

A method is provided for differentiating a non-firing event of a munition from a firing event. The method including: providing the munition with a power supply having a piezoelectric material for generating power from a vibration induced by the munition; monitoring an output from the power supply; calculating an impact pulse from the output; and determining whether the munition is to be fired based on the calculation.

Claims

1. A system for use with a munition for differentiating a non-firing event from a firing event, the system comprising:

a power supply having a piezoelectric material for generating power from a vibration induced by the munition; and

a processor operatively connected to the power supply for monitoring an output from the power supply, calculating an impact pulse and determining whether the munition is to be fired based on the calculation.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor compares the calculated impact pulse to a predetermined threshold value.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor outputs a signal to prevent initiation of fuzing where the calculated impact pulse is below the predetermined threshold value.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor outputs a signal to allow initiation of fuzing where the calculated impact pulse is above the predetermined threshold value.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the power supply comprises:

a mass; and

a spring element connected at one end to the mass and at another end to the piezoelectric material.

5. A method for differentiating a non-firing event of a munition from a firing event, the method comprising:

providing the munition with a power supply having a piezoelectric material for generating power from a vibration induced by the munition;

monitoring an output from the power supply;

calculating an impact pulse from the output; and

determining whether the munition is to be fired based on the calculation.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the determining comprises comparing the calculated impact pulse to a predetermined threshold value.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising preventing initiation of fuzing where the calculated impact pulse is below the predetermined threshold value.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising allowing initiation of fuzing where the calculated impact pulse is above the predetermined threshold value.