Systems and methods for arc energy regulation using binary adjustment

• US 8,743,527 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2012
• Issued: 06/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Brundula, Steven N. D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Danny
• Application Number:
  US13/420,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20120170168A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• Field of Search: 361/230, 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 interferes with voluntary locomotion of a target by conducting a current through the target. The apparatus includes a current delivery circuit, a detector, and a processor. The current delivery circuit delivers the current in accordance with a goal for causing pain or skeletal muscle contractions that interfere with voluntary locomotion by the target. The detector detects the current delivered through the target to provide a result. The processor adjusts the goal in accordance with a binary search in response to the result.

Claims

1. A method performed by an apparatus, the apparatus for interfering with voluntary locomotion by a target by conducting a current through the target, the method comprising:

monitoring the current delivered through the target, the current delivered in accordance with a goal, wherein the current causes pain or skeletal muscle contractions that interfere with voluntary locomotion by the target; and

adjusting the goal in accordance with a binary search in response to a result of monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises at least one of increasing and decreasing the goal by one-half of a present value of the goal.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the goal comprises at least one of an ionization goal and a stimulus goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises at least one of increasing and decreasing at least one of the ionization goal and the stimulus goal by one-half of a present value of the respective goal.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the goal comprises a stimulus goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises increasing the stimulus goal by one-half of a present value of the stimulus goal to cause pain or skeletal muscle contractions that interfere with voluntary locomotion by the target.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the goal comprises an stimulus goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises decreasing the stimulus goal by one-half of a present value of the stimulus goal to conserve energy.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the goal comprises a ionization goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises increasing the ionization goal by one-half of a present value of the ionization goal to accomplish ionization.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the goal comprises an ionization goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises decreasing the ionization goal by one-half of a present value of the ionization goal to conserve energy.

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

a current delivery circuit that delivers the current in accordance with a goal for causing pain or skeletal muscle contractions that interfere with voluntary locomotion by the target;

a detector that detects the current delivered through the target to provide a result; and

a processor that adjusts the goal in accordance with a binary search in response to the result.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises at least one of increasing and decreasing the goal by one-half of a present value of the goal.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the goal comprises at least one of an ionization goal and a stimulus goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises at least one of increasing and decreasing at least one of the ionization goal and the stimulus goal by one-half of a present value of the respective goal.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the goal comprises a stimulus goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises increasing the stimulus goal by one-half of a present value of the stimulus goal to cause pain or skeletal muscle contractions that interfere with voluntary locomotion by the target.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the goal comprises an stimulus goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises decreasing the stimulus goal by one-half of a present value of the stimulus goal to conserve energy.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the goal comprises a ionization goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises increasing the ionization goal by one-half of a present value of the ionization goal to accomplish ionization.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the goal comprises an ionization goal; and

adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises decreasing the ionization goal by one-half of a present value of the ionization goal to conserve energy.

15. An electronic control device comprising:

an energy delivery circuit that attempts delivery, in accordance with a goal, of an energy for ionization and that after ionization delivers a current for interfering with control by a human or animal target of skeletal muscles of the target;

an ionization detector that detects whether ionization occurred; and

a processor that responsive to the ionization detector and in accordance with a binary search adjusts the goal to conserve energy expended for ionization.

16. The electronic control device of claim 15 wherein adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises at least one of increasing and decreasing the goal by one-half of a present value of the goal.

17. The electronic control device of claim 15 wherein adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises increasing the ionization goal by one-half of a present value of the ionization goal to accomplish ionization.

18. The electronic control device of claim 15 wherein adjusting in accordance with the binary search comprises decreasing the ionization goal by one-half of a present value of the ionization goal to conserve energy.