Wireless inductive charging of weapon system energy source

• US 9,472,971 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2014
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Cynetic Designs Ltd.
• Inventors: Soar, Roger J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fantu, Yalkew
• Application Number:
  US14/247,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20150115880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 320/108, 320/139, 320/150
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 23/18 Rests for supporting smallarms in non-shooting position racks for storage A47B81/00; racks in vehicles B60R7/14
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 35/00 Accessories or details not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 23/22 Stocks having space for the storage of objects
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 11/00 Details of sighting or aiming apparatus; Accessories tools for adjustment of sights F41G1/545
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

A charging system for the wireless inductive charging of an energy source in a weapon in a weapon system. The charging system includes a first portion of the weapon system, wherein the first portion has a first inductive coil therein, and a female receiver sized for receiving, in a male-female mating engagement, the first portion of the weapon system. The receiver has a second inductive coil positioned to inductively couple with the first inductive coil when the first portion of the weapon system is in the male-female mating engagement with the receiver. The first inductive coil is adapted for electrical connection to a weapon system platform electrical power supply and has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.2 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 10 watts.

Claims

1. For use in a weapon system containing a charger and a man-portable weapon having a corresponding energy source, a charging system for the wireless inductive charging of the energy source in the weapon, the system comprising:

a first portion of the weapon system, wherein said first portion has a first inductive coil therein,

a female receiver sized for receiving, in a male-female mating engagement, said first portion of the weapon system, said receiver having a second inductive coil positioned to inductively couple with said first inductive coil when said first portion of the weapon system is in said male-female mating engagement with said receiver,

said first inductive coil adapted for electrical connection to a weapon system platform electrical power supply and wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.2 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 10 watts,

wherein said weapon system platform electrical power supply is an integrated power supply on a weapon system platform chosen from the group which includes;

a motorized vehicle, an aircraft, a water-bourne craft, a water-submersible craft, a spacecraft, a forward-operating base.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said receiver has a drain adapted to facilitate draining and cleaning environmental fluids, and solids, from said receiver and wherein said receiver is positioned, when in use in a use position, so as to drain from said drain said environmental fluids, and is, in said use position, adapted for ejection of solids collecting in said receiver while said first portion of the weapon system is in said mating engagement with said receiver,

and wherein said receiver defines a support cavity, for supporting in said support cavity said first portion of the weapon system when said first portion of the weapon system is in said mating engagement, and wherein said cavity is sized relative to said first portion of the weapon system for a snug fit therebetween and to allow said draining and ejection of said environmental fluids and solids from said support cavity.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said receiver is chosen from the group comprising:

a) a stock receptacle formed in a stock of the weapon, wherein said first portion of the weapon system is a charging base,

b) an inclined rest wherein said first portion of the weapon system is a portion of the weapon, and wherein said first portion of the weapon rests on, so as to be supported in said mating engagement, on said rest,

c) a platform receptacle wherein said first portion of the weapon system is a portion of the weapon, and wherein said first portion of the weapon is slidably journalled in said receptacle,

d) a storage means.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.15 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 20 watts.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.12 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 50 watts.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.1 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 75 watts.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.075 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 100 watts.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein said charging base is a dongle.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein charging base further includes a flexible, electrically conductive umbilical adapted to be attached to, so as to extend between, said dongle and said platform electrical power supply.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein said stock receptacle is formed in a butt end of said stock, adjacent a user when said weapon is in said use position.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein said inclined rest or said platform receptacle are mounted elevated on a stand.

12. The system of claim 3 wherein said platform receptacle is mounted to one of said platforms.

13. The system of claim 2 wherein said drain on said stock receptacle or said platform receptacle is an opening at a lower end of said support cavity when in said use position.

14. The system of claim 3 wherein said platform receptacle includes a tube or channel defining said support cavity.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said receiver is shielded and wherein said first portion of the weapon system and said receiver are adapted for data transfer therebetween using inductive coupling therebetween.

16. A charging system for the wireless inductive charging of an energy source associated with a weapon system which includes a weapon, wherein the weapon system includes a charging portion, the charging system comprising:

a charging portion of the weapon system, wherein said charging portion includes a first inductive coil,

a charging base having a second inductive coil,

said charging portion and said charging base adapted to inductively couple with one another in a male-female mating engagement so as to form an inductive coupling,

wherein at least one of said charging portion, said charging base includes a drain for removal of environmental detritus, solids, or fluids from within intervening proximity with said inductive coupling,

said first inductive coil adapted for electrical connection to a weapon system platform electrical power supply and wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.2 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 10 watts,

wherein said weapon system platform electrical power supply is an integrated power supply on a weapon system platform chosen from the group which includes;

a motorized vehicle, an aircraft, a water-bourne craft, a water-submersible craft, a spacecraft, a forward-operating base.

17. The charging system of claim 16 wherein the weapon has a stock and wherein said charging portion is said stock of the weapon, wherein said charging base is chosen from the group comprising:

a) a plug-in dongle, and wherein said charging portion includes a cavity sized to receive said dongle into said inductive coupling,

b) a receiver sized to receive said charging portion therein into said inductive coupling.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.15 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 20 watts.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.12 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 50 watts.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.1 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 75 watts.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said first inductive coil has a direct current resistance of less than or equal to substantially 0.075 Ohms so as to be adapted to provide charging power having a peak power of at least substantially 100 watts.

22. The charging system of claim 17 wherein said dongle is mounted on a flexible electrical cord.

23. The charging system of claim 17 wherein the weapon has a butt and wherein said charging portion of the weapon is said butt of the weapon.

24. The charging system of claim 17 wherein said receiver is mounted on a stand, and wherein said stand is adapted for mounting to said platform.

25. The charging system of claim 17 wherein said receiver is an upwardly-opening charging receptacle adapted to receive said charging portion, and wherein said charging portion is held, at least in part, in said charging receptacle by gravity acting on the weapon.

26. The charging system of claim 25 wherein said charging receptacle has an upwardly opening cavity for receiving said charging portion therein in said inductive coupling, and wherein said cavity provides for substantially vertical entry of said charging portion into said charging receptacle.

27. The charging system of claim 26 wherein the weapon includes a butt, and said charging portion includes said butt of the weapon.

28. The charging system of claim 25 wherein said charging receptacle has an upwardly opening cavity for receiving said charging portion therein in said inductive coupling, and wherein said cavity is angled from the vertical to provide for angularly inclined entry of said inclined portion into said charging receptacle.

29. The charging system of claim 28 wherein said charging receptacle is an inclined weapon rest.

30. The charging system of claim 28 wherein said charging receptacle is an inclined tube.

31. The charging system of claim 29 wherein said charging portion is chosen from the group including handgrip, forestock, pistol grip, trigger grip, shoulder-stock, butt, magazine.

32. The charging system of claim 30 wherein said charging portion is chosen from the group including handgrip, forestock, pistol grip, trigger grip, shoulder-stock, butt, magazine.

33. The charging system of claim 17 wherein said receiver includes a clamping mechanism, and wherein a contact sensor or non-contact sensor react to the presence of said charging portion in said receiver, and surfaces of said receiver respond so as to translate or rotate into close adjacency with said charging portion.