Systems and methods for arc energy regulation and pulse delivery

• US 8,154,845 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 04/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Brundula, Steven N. D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Danny
• Application Number:
  US12/971,883
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 361/232, 42/10.8, 102/502
• US Class Current: 361/232
• 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: H05C 1/06 operating only when touched

Abstract

An apparatus for interfering with locomotion of a target by conducting a current through the target. The apparatus includes, according to various aspects of the present invention, a transformer, a resistance in series with the secondary winding of the transformer, and a detector that detects the current through the resistance. The current provided through the target flows through the resistance. The detector operates to detect an amount of charge provided to the target.

Claims

1. An apparatus for interfering with locomotion of a target by conducting a current through the target, the apparatus comprising:

a transformer having a secondary winding, the secondary winding coupled to the target to provide the current;

a resistance in series with the secondary winding whereby the current provided through the target flows through the resistance; and

a detector that detects the current through the resistance to detect an amount of charge provided to the target.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises an integrator.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the current comprises a current provided by a capacitance in series with the secondary winding.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the current comprises a current provided by a collapse of a magnetic field in the transformer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a capacitance in series with the secondary winding; and

a diode that allows the current to bypass the capacitance.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second capacitance, in series with a primary winding of the transformer, the second capacitance for establishing an ionization of air in a gap for delivering the current.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a trigger wherein the processor controls charging of the capacitance in response to the trigger.