Systems and methods for modular area denial

• US 8,020,481 B1
• Filed: 05/09/2008
• Issued: 09/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Beckwith, Brian T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; Bret
• Assistant Examiner(s): FREEMAN, JOSHUA E
• Application Number:
  US12/118,657
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 89/11, 89/18, 89/11.1, 709204-207, 235/400
• US Class Current: 89/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00

Abstract

A system for performing a function with respect to a zone includes a controller, a network, and a plurality of subsystems. The controller issues a first series of commands. Each command of the first series has a first ordinal. The plurality of subsystems is coupled to the controller via the network. A particular subsystem determines a role in accordance with a physical position of the particular subsystem relative to another subsystem of the plurality of subsystems. The particular subsystem counts commands of the series to determine for a particular command the first ordinal. The particular subsystem performs a function with respect to the zone in accordance with the particular command of the series, in further accordance with the first ordinal, and in further accordance with the role.

Claims

1. A first launcher for operation as a member of a plurality of launchers, wherein a provided controller controls the plurality of launchers, the plurality of launchers and the controller communicate via a provided network, the first launcher comprising:

a first detector that detects indicia for detecting a relationship between the first launcher and a second launcher of the plurality of launchers, the relationship for establishing an order for activating a provided cartridge of each respective launcher of the plurality of launchers, the detector positioned at a first position of the first launcher;

a transmitter for transmitting via the network; and

a circuit that, responsive to the first detector, detects a role of the first launcher in the order;

wherein;

after the first detector detects the relationship, the transmitter transmits a message describing the relationship;

the circuit receives a command via the network; and

responsive to the command and in accordance with the role of the first launcher in the order, the circuit provides a signal to activate the cartridge of the first launcher.

2. The first launcher of claim 1 wherein the circuit comprises:

a receiver that receives the command; and

a processor that provides the signal responsive to the command.

3. The first launcher of claim 1 wherein:

the first position comprises a top of the first launcher; and

the relationship comprises the second launcher positioned above the first launcher.

4. The first launcher of claim 3 wherein:

the order comprises a top-bottom order; and

in accordance with the order, the circuit provides the signal after the second launcher activates its respective cartridge.

5. The first launcher of claim 3 wherein:

the order comprises a bottom-top order; and

in accordance with the order, the circuit provides the signal before the second launcher activates its respective cartridge.

6. The first launcher of claim 1 further comprising a second detector positioned at a second position on the first launcher, wherein:

after the second detector detects indicia of a third launcher of the plurality of launchers, the transmitter transmits a message describing a relationship between the first launcher and the third launcher; and

the relationship between the first launcher and the third launcher is transmitted for further determining the order.

7. The first launcher of claim 6 wherein:

the first position comprises a top of the first launcher;

the second position comprises a bottom of the first launcher; and

the relationship comprises the second launcher positioned above the first launcher and the third launcher positioned below the first launcher.

8. The first launcher of claim 7 wherein:

the order comprises a top-middle-bottom order; and

in accordance with the order, the circuit provides the signal before the third launcher activates its cartridge and after the second launcher activates its cartridge.

9. The first launcher of claim 7 wherein:

the order comprises a bottom-middle-top order; and

in accordance with the order, the circuit provides the signal before the second launcher activates its cartridge and after the third launcher activates its cartridge.

10. The first launcher of claim 1 wherein the indicia comprise an electromagnetic energy.

11. The first launcher of claim 1 wherein the indicia comprise a magnetic flux.

12. The first launcher of claim 1 wherein the first detector comprises a reed switch.

13. The first launcher of claim 1 wherein the first detector comprises an optical detector.

14. The first launcher of claim 1 wherein:

the cartridge comprises at least one wire-tethered electrode; and

activating the cartridge launches the at least one wire-tethered electrode toward a target.

15. The first launcher of claim 1 further comprising an indicator positioned proximate to the first detector, wherein the indicator provides indicia to the second launcher.

16. The first launcher of claim 1 further comprising an indicator positioned proximate to the first detector, wherein:

the indicator provides an electromagnetic energy; and

the indicia comprises a portion of the electromagnetic energy reflected by the second launcher.

17. The first launcher of claim 1 further comprising an indicator positioned proximate to the first detector, wherein the indicator aligns with a second detector positioned on the second launcher.

18. A method performed by a first launcher of a plurality of launchers for activating a cartridge of the first launcher, the plurality of launchers and a controller communicate via a network, the cartridge activated in accordance with an order for activating a respective cartridge of the one or more launchers of the plurality of launchers, the method comprising:

detecting indicia of an other launcher of the plurality of launchers;

in accordance with detecting the indicia, reporting a relationship between the first launcher and the other launcher, the relationship for determining the order for activating the respective cartridge of each launcher; and

responsive to receiving a command formed in accordance with the order, providing a signal to activate the cartridge.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein detecting comprises detecting an electromagnetic energy.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein detecting comprises detecting a magnetic flux.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein detecting comprises:

providing an electromagnetic energy; and

detecting a reflected portion of the electromagnetic energy.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein detecting comprises:

detecting indicia from a second launcher of the plurality of launchers positioned above the first launcher; and

detecting indicia from a third launcher of the plurality of launchers positioned below the first launcher.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein reporting comprises transmitting a message describing that the second launcher is positioned above the first launcher and the third launcher is positioned below the first launcher.

24. The method of claim 18 wherein reporting comprises transmitting a message.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the message describes the relationship.

26. The method of claim 18 wherein:

a detector positioned at a first position on the first launcher accomplishes detecting; and

reporting comprises determining the relationship in accordance with the first position.

27. The method of claim 18 wherein the order comprises a temporal sequence for activating the cartridge of each launcher of the plurality of launchers.

28. The method of claim 18 wherein the relationship comprises a physical position of the first launcher relative to the other launcher.

29. The method of claim 18 wherein the relationship comprises a temporal arrangement between the first launcher and the other launcher.

30. The method of claim 18 wherein the relationship comprises an electrical arrangement between the first launcher and the other launcher.

31. The method of claim 18 wherein providing the signal in accordance with the order comprises providing the signal before the other launcher activates its cartridge.

32. The method of claim 18 wherein providing the signal in accordance with the order comprises providing the signal after the other launcher activates its cartridge.

33. The method of claim 18 wherein providing the signal in accordance with the order comprises providing the signal simultaneously as the other launcher activates its cartridge.