Apparatus for testing a conducted energy weapon

• US 8,428,899 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2009
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datrend Systems Inc.
• Original Assignee: Datrend Systems Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, Mark Edward, Evans, Ronald William
• Primary Examiner(s): CHERRY, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US12/583,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040515A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,350 Days
• Field of Search: 702/117
• US Class Current: 702/117
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 31/00 Testing arrangements testing mounts F41A23/16
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0012 Electrical discharge weapons, e.g. for stunning
• 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: G01R 31/001 Measuring interference from external sources to, or emission from, the device under test, e.g. EMC, EMI, EMP or ESD testing measuring electromagnetic fields G01R29/08; circuits for generating HV pulses in dielectric strength testing G01R31/14

Abstract

Apparatus for testing a conducted energy weapon includes analyzer to produce characteristic signals representative of characteristics of electrical current pulses delivered by the weapon into a resistive load when the weapon is discharged. Risk estimation device responsive to the characteristic signals produces a risk estimate representative of a risk of injury to a targeted subject due to electrical stimulation, or alternatively representative of a risk of failure to incapacitate the targeted subject. Indicator device responsive to the risk estimate indicates the risk of injury, or alternatively the risk of failure to incapacitate, and warns the user of the apparatus when the risk exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1. Apparatus for testing a conducted energy weapon, comprising:

(a) receptacle means for connecting a set of terminals on the conducted energy weapon to a resistive load;

(b) sensor means for producing a load signal representative of electrical current pulses delivered from the set of terminals to the resistive load when the conducted energy weapon is discharged;

(c) analyzer means responsive to the load signal for producing a plurality of characteristic signals representative of characteristics of the electrical current pulses;

(d) risk estimation means responsive to the plurality of characteristic signals for producing a risk estimate representative of an adverse outcome when the conducted energy weapon is discharged; and

(e) indicator means responsive to the risk estimate for indicating the risk of the adverse outcome.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic signals includes an amplitude signal representative of peak values of the electrical current pulses.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic signals includes a duration signal representative of durations of the electrical current pulses.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic signals includes an instantaneous frequency signal representative of inverted time intervals between the electrical current pulses.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of characteristic signals includes a net charge signal representative of net electric charges delivered by the electrical current pulses.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the adverse outcome is injury to a targeted subject.

7. Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the risk estimation means produces the risk estimate by:

(a) selecting, from the plurality of characteristic signals, each characteristic signal in turn;

(b) comparing each characteristic signal to a corresponding set of predetermined thresholds representative of graduated severities of harm due to an electrical stimulation; and

(c) incrementing the risk estimate in each instance where a characteristic signal exceeds a threshold of the corresponding set of predetermined thresholds.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the adverse outcome is failure to incapacitate a targeted subject.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the risk estimation means produces the risk estimate by:

(a) selecting, from the plurality of characteristic signals, each characteristic signal in turn;

(b) comparing each characteristic signal to a corresponding set of predetermined thresholds representative of graduated levels of incapacitation due to an electrical stimulation; and

(c) incrementing the risk estimate in each instance where a characteristic signal falls below a threshold of the corresponding set of predetermined thresholds.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the indicator means includes decision means for indicating that the risk estimate has exceeded a predetermined threshold.