Stun device testing apparatus and methods

• US 8,324,902 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Issued: 12/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aegis Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Aegis Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Burns, Stephen, Marino, Bruno D. V., Stethem, Kenneth J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hoai-An D
• Application Number:
  US12/564,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20100134090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,168 Days
• Field of Search: 324/534, 324/512, 324/500, 324/555, 324/403, 324/409, 324/76.11, 324/76.12, 361/232, 361/230, 452/58, 452/57, 452/54, 452/52
• US Class Current: 324/403
• 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 13/0012 Electrical discharge weapons, e.g. for stunning
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/50 Testing of electric apparatus, lines, cables or components for short-circuits, continuity, leakage current or incorrect line connections testing of sparking plugs H01T13/58
• CPC Class Codes: H05C 3/00 Other circuits or apparatus

Abstract

A method of testing an electric discharge stun device includes the steps of identifying a stun device to be tested and absorbing a discharge from the stun device into a tester. The discharge is characterized by a discharge characteristic that is then compared automatically to information such as (a) a previous corresponding characteristic associated with a previous discharge of the stun device or (b) a corresponding characteristic associated with a prior discharge of at least one other stun device. The characteristic can be a waveform, a peak voltage, duration, current, joule, and temperature.

Claims

1. A method of testing an electric discharge stun device, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a stun device to be tested;

absorbing a discharge from the stun device into a tester, the discharge comprising a discharge characteristic; and

comparing automatically the discharge characteristic to information comprising at least one of (a) a previous corresponding characteristic associated with a previous discharge of the stun device and (b) a known corresponding characteristic associated with a discharge of at least one other stun device,

wherein the discharge characteristic, the previous corresponding characteristic, and the known corresponding characteristic each comprise at least one of a waveform, an amplitude, a duration, a current, a voltage, an energy, and a temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing step comprises the step of accessing the information from a storage medium remote from the tester.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparing step comprises the step of accessing the information from a storage medium associated with the tester.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of reading an identifier associated with the stun device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification step comprises identifying the stun device based on an analysis of the discharge characteristic.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one other stun device comprises a plurality of stun devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying at least one of an individual associated with the stun device and an individual conducting the test.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing information comprising the characteristic of the discharge.

9. A method of ensuring proper operation of a stun device prior to a subsequent discharge against a mammalian target, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying a stun device to be tested;

absorbing a discharge from the stun device into a tester; and

authorizing the subsequent discharge based at least in part on a successful comparison of a discharge characteristic associated with the discharge to information comprising at least one of (a) a previous corresponding characteristic associated with a previous discharge of the stun device and (b) a known corresponding characteristic associated with a discharge of at least one stun device,

wherein the discharge characteristic, the previous corresponding characteristic, and the known corresponding characteristic each comprise at least one of a waveform, an amplitude, a duration, a current, a voltage, an energy, and a temperature.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the authorizing step comprises enabling the stun device to provide the subsequent discharge.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of storing information comprising the characteristic of the discharge in a storage medium.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the storage medium is remote from the tester.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the storage medium is associated with the tester.

14. A tester for testing an electric discharge stun device, the tester comprising:

a stun device contact element for receiving a discharge from a stun device;

a circuit connected to the contact element;

a first storage medium for storing information corresponding to at least one of the stun device and the discharge from the stun device;

a second storage medium for storing information regarding a known electrical discharge, wherein the information in the first storage medium and the second storage medium comprises at least one of a waveform, an amplitude, a duration, a current, a voltage, an energy, and a temperature;

a processor connected to the circuit for comparing information in the first storage medium to information in the second storage medium; and

a stun device identification element connected to the processor.

15. The tester of claim 14, wherein the first storage medium includes the second storage medium.

16. A method of determining a biological response to an electrical discharge from a stun device, the method comprising the steps of:

absorbing the electrical discharge from the stun device into a tester, the discharge comprising a discharge characteristic;

comparing automatically the discharge characteristic to a corresponding discharge characteristic associated with a known electrical discharge, wherein the discharge characteristic comprises at least one of a waveform, an amplitude, a duration, a current, a voltage, an energy, and a temperature; and

determining automatically an expected biological response based at least in part on the comparison.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the determining step comprises obtaining information regarding a biological response to the known electrical discharge.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the biological response is selected from the group consisting of no response, partial tetany, substantially complete tetany, tetany, and cellular damage.