Systems and methods for a user interface for electronic weaponry

• US 7,900,388 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Nerheim, Magne H., Cerovic, Milan, Brundula, Steven N. D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson; Stephen M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Troy; Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US11/428,892
• Publication Number:
  US 20070081293A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,706 Days
• Field of Search: 42/10.8, 42/84, 42/11.4, 89/11, 89/11.1, 102/502, 361/252, 231/7
• US Class Current: 42/1.08
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/063 comprising a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control
• 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 13/0087 the high-energy beam being a bright light, e.g. for dazzling or blinding purposes F41H13/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 1/06 operating only when touched

Abstract

An apparatus, according to various aspects of the present invention, produces contractions in skeletal muscles of a target to impede locomotion by the target. The apparatus is used with a provided deployment unit that deploys an electrode away from the apparatus. The electrode conducts a current through the target. The apparatus includes a terminal; a producing sub-system for producing an electric arc to warn the target without conducting a current through the target; a conducting sub-system for conducting the current in series through the terminal and through the target; an initiating sub-system for initiating deployment of the electrode; and an operator interface. The operator interface facilitates, prior to deployment of the electrode, repeated operation of any one or both of the producing sub-system and the conducting sub-system. The operator interface further facilitates, after deployment of the electrode, repeated operation of any one or both of the conducting sub-system and the initiating sub-system, each operation of the initiating sub-system being with a respective further electrode of the deployment unit.

Claims

1. An electronic weapon that cooperates with a plurality of provided deployment units to impede locomotion by a target, each deployment unit comprises a plurality of provided wire-tethered electrodes for launching toward the target to impede locomotion by the target, the electronic weapon comprising:

a first user-operated control;

a second user-operated control; and

a signal generator;

wherein;

each operation of the first control launches the electrodes of one deployment unit of the plurality of deployment units toward the target;

an operation of the second control does not launch any electrodes of any deployment unit;

responsive to each operation of the second control, the signal generator provides a current through the target via the electrodes of each launched deployment unit respectively, the current for contracting skeletal muscles of the target to impede locomotion by the target; and

further responsive to an operation of the first control, the signal generator provides the current via the electrodes launched by the operation of the first control.

2. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic weapon further comprises a processing circuit, coupled between the second control and the signal generator;

the processing circuit, responsive to the second control, controls the signal generator to provide the current determined by the processing circuit; and

the signal generator provides the current through the target to impede locomotion by the target.

3. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic weapon further comprises a terminal for abutting the target; and

the signal generator provides the current through the terminal and through the target to impede locomotion by the target.

4. The electronic weapon of claim 3 wherein the signal generator performs a local stun function to impede locomotion by the target.

5. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein the signal generator performs a remote stun function to impede locomotion by the target.

6. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein the electronic weapon further comprises the plurality of deployment units.

7. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein:

each deployment unit further comprises a terminal for abutting the target; and

prior to launch of the electrodes of any deployment unit, the signal generator, in response to the second control, provides a respective current through the terminal and through the target to impede locomotion by the target without launching the plurality of electrodes of any deployment unit.

8. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein the first control comprises a trigger.

9. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein the second control comprises a switch.

10. The electronic weapon of claim 1 further comprising two terminals positioned on a face of the electronic weapon, wherein responsive to the operation of the second control, the signal generator provides a current between the two terminals to display an arc.

11. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein:

each deployment unit further comprises two terminals; and

responsive to the operation of the second control, the signal generator provides a current between the two terminals to display an arc.

12. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein:

the target comprises a first target and a second target;

a first operation of the first control launches the electrodes of a first deployment unit toward the first target;

a second operation of the first control launches the electrodes of a second deployment unit toward the second target;

responsive to each operation of the second control, the signal generator provides a first current via the electrodes of the first cartridge through the first target to impede locomotion of the first target; and

responsive to each operation of the second control, the signal generator provides a second current via the electrodes of the second cartridge through the second target to impede locomotion of the second target.

13. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein the second control comprises a momentary contact switch that is normally open.

14. The electronic weapon of claim 1 wherein the first control is positioned proximate to the second control for operation by a user.

15. An electronic weapon for impeding locomotion of one or more targets, the apparatus cooperating with a deployment unit having a first electrode and a second electrode, the apparatus comprising:

a first user-operated control that in a first operation initiates launching of the first electrode toward a first target and in a second operation initiates launching of the second electrode toward a second target;

a second user-operated control that does not initiate any launch function; and

a signal generator, responsive to one operation of the second control, provides a first current through the first electrode to impede locomotion by the first target and provides a second current through the second electrode to impede locomotion by the second target;

wherein

further responsive to the first operation of the first control, the signal generator provides the first current via the first electrode.

16. The electronic weapon of claim 15 wherein a further operation of the second control repeats providing the first current and the second current.

17. An electronic weapon for impeding locomotion of one or more targets, the apparatus cooperating with a deployment unit having a first electrode and a second electrode, the apparatus comprising:

a first user-operated control that in a first operation initiates launching of the first electrode toward a first target and in a second operation initiates launching of the second electrode toward a second target;

a second user-operated control that does not initiate any launch function; and

a signal generator, responsive to one operation of the second control, provides a first current through the first electrode to impede locomotion by the first target and provides a second current through the second electrode to impede locomotion by the second target;

wherein

further responsive to the second operation of the first control, the signal generator provides the second current via the second electrode.

18. The electronic weapon of claim 17 wherein further operation of the second control repeats providing the first current and the second current.