Apparatus and method for powering and networking a rail of a firearm
First Claim
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1. A rail for a weapon, the rail comprising:
- a plurality of slots and a plurality of ribs each being located in an alternating fashion on a surface of the rail;
a first plurality of pins each having an end portion located on a surface of one of a first plurality of the plurality of ribs;
a second plurality of pins each having a first end portion and a second end portion located on a surface of a second plurality of the plurality of ribs; and
a plurality of pins located in the rail for power and data transfer, wherein the plurality of pins located in the rail have an exposed contact surface comprising tungsten carbide.
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Abstract
A method, apparatus and system for networking accessories to a firearm or weapon wherein the accessories are conductively powered from the rail and data is transferred between the accessories and the rail via conductive coupling. In one embodiment, a weapon is provided, the weapon having: an upper receiver; a lower receiver; a powered accessory mounted to a rail of the upper receiver; and an apparatus for conductively networking a microcontroller of the powered accessory to a microcontroller of the upper receiver and a microcontroller of the lower receiver, wherein the data is exclusively provided to the powered accessory from the rail.
276 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A rail for a weapon, the rail comprising:
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a plurality of slots and a plurality of ribs each being located in an alternating fashion on a surface of the rail; a first plurality of pins each having an end portion located on a surface of one of a first plurality of the plurality of ribs; a second plurality of pins each having a first end portion and a second end portion located on a surface of a second plurality of the plurality of ribs; and a plurality of pins located in the rail for power and data transfer, wherein the plurality of pins located in the rail have an exposed contact surface comprising tungsten carbide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. In combination, a powered accessory and a rail configured to removably receive and retain the powered accessory;
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an apparatus for conductively providing power and data to the powered accessory, wherein the data is exclusively provided to the powered accessory from a power source in the rail; and wherein the rail comprises; a plurality of slots and a plurality of ribs each being located in an alternating fashion on a surface of the rail; a first plurality of pins each having an end portion located on a surface of one of a first plurality of the plurality of ribs; a second plurality of pins each having a first end portion and a second end portion located on a surface of a second plurality of the plurality of ribs; and a plurality of pins located in the rail for power and data transfer, wherein the plurality of pins located in the rail have an exposed contact surface comprising tungsten carbide.
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5. A weapon, comprising:
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an upper receiver; a lower receiver; a powered accessory mounted to a rail of the upper receiver; and an apparatus for conductively providing power and data to the powered accessory; and wherein the rail comprises; a plurality of slots and a plurality of ribs each being located in an alternating fashion on a surface of the rail; a first plurality of pins each having an end portion located on a surface of one of a first plurality of the plurality of ribs; a second plurality of pins each having a first end portion and a second end portion located on a surface of a second plurality of the plurality of ribs; and a plurality of pins located in the rail for power and data transfer, wherein the plurality of pins located in the rail have an exposed contact surface comprising tungsten carbide.
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6. A method of networking a removable accessory of a weapon to a microcontroller of the weapon, comprising:
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conductively transferring data between the accessory and the microcontroller via at least one pin having an exposed contact surface comprising tungsten carbide; conductively transferring power to the accessory via at least one pin having an exposed contact surface comprising tungsten carbide; and wherein the microcontroller is capable of determining whether to transfer data or power via magnetization of at least one pin located on the weapon. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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7. A method of networking a removable accessory of a weapon to a microcontroller of the weapon, comprising:
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conductively or inductively transferring data between the accessory and the microcontroller via at least one pin having an exposed contact surface comprising tungsten carbide; conductively or inductively transferring power to the accessory via at least one pin having an exposed contact surface comprising tungsten carbide; and wherein the microcontroller is capable of determining whether to transfer data or power via magnetization of at least one pin located on the weapon. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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Specification