Safety disarm for firearm

• US 10,750,431 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2017
• Issued: 08/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deadzone US LLC
• Original Assignee: Deadzone US LLC
• Inventors: Juhasz, Paul R., Frerking, Christopher, Tiernan, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Washington, Erika A
• Application Number:
  US15/663,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20170374603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/02 Access restriction performed under specific conditions

Abstract

A firearm is provided with an electronic control system which monitors and controls the firearm. The electronic control system is coupled to a lower level system which may be one or more parts employed in the discharge of a firearm; or an assemblage of parts that configure the firearm into an armed or disarmed state of operation. Image data on a target, firearm system status data, and/or other data may be detected by sensors or collected, under the direction of and processed by the electronic control system. The electronic control system provides control signals to a firearm subsystem adapted to the lower level system to in response to a detected condition to allow operation of the lower level system to operate the firearm. A touch-sensitive screen may allow a firearm operator and an arm/disarm control interface may allow a remote operator or service to monitor and control the firearm.

Claims

1. A firearm device comprising:

a firearm;

a firearm subsystem,

at least one sensor, and

an electronic control system, the electronic control system including a processor, a memory, and executable instructions stored in the memory;

wherein the at least one sensor generates data on a target at which the firearm is aimed;

wherein the memory stores processor executable instructions for enabling the firearm;

wherein the memory stores a memory map of at least one data on a permitted target for enabling the firing of the firearm;

wherein the processor determines if the sensor generated target data matches a permitted target data;

wherein the processor enables the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data.

2. The firearm device of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is a light sensor.

3. The firearm device of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is a microphone sensor.

4. The firearm device of claim 1 wherein the electronic control system further comprises an arm/disarm control interface, the electronic control system configured to provide data on the firearm.

5. The firearm device of claim 4 wherein the arm/disarm control interface is a touch-sensitive scree configured to provide haptic or tactile input to the electronic control system and to render a display of data from the electronic control system.

6. The firearm device of claim 4 wherein the electronic control system further comprises a wireless network interface, the wireless network interface being configured to communicate data to a remote location.

7. The firearm device of claim 6 wherein the remote location is an external utility.

8. The firearm device of claim 7 wherein the external utility is configured for bi-directional communication with the electronic control system.

9. The firearm device of claim 8 wherein the bi-directional communication of the external utility with the electronic control system is selected from the group consisting of historical data, informational data, and control signals, and any combination thereof.

10. The firearm device of claim 8 wherein the bi-directional communication of the external utility with the electronic control system is a control signal.

11. The firearm device of claim 8 wherein the bi-directional communication of the external utility with the electronic control system is data selected from the group consisting of firearm registrant, registration data, permitted firearm operators, firearm operator recognition, date of use, location of use, firearm restrictions, and any combination thereof.

12. The firearm device of claim 7 wherein access to the external utility is selected from the group consisting of an owner of the firearm, an authorized operator of the firearm, a manufacturer of the firearm, a seller of the firearm, a 911 operator, a person or entity having oversight over use of a firearm, and any combination thereof.

13. The firearm device of claim 7 wherein the external utility is configured to track the movement of the firearm.

14. The firearm device of claim 1:

wherein the firearm electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is determined by government regulation or by law.

15. The firearm device of claim 1:

wherein the firearm electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is determined by the firearm device being within a predetermined radius of a fixed geographic location.

16. The firearm device of claim 1:

wherein the firearm electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is determined by the firearm device being within a predetermined radius of operation of the firearm device.

17. The firearm device of claim 1:

wherein the firearm electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is based upon programmed service subscription information.

18. The firearm device of claim 1:

wherein the firearm electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is based upon the identity of an operator.

19. The firearm device of claim 1 further comprising a biometric operator monitor, the biometric operator monitor configured to determine authentication of an operator using the firearm device:

wherein the firearm electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is based upon authentication of the operator.

20. The firearm device of claim 19 wherein the biometric operator monitor employs a biometric identification technique selected from the biometric identification techniques consisting of face recognition, fingerprint identification, hand geometry biometrics, retina scan, iris scan, signature, and voice analysis.

21. The firearm device of claim 1:

wherein the firearm electronic control system processor non-enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data does not match the permitted target data is overridden if the operator of the firearm device is a person with permission to over-ride a disarm condition of the firearm device.

22. The firearm device of claim 21:

wherein the person with permission to over-ride a disarm condition of the firearm device is selected from the group consisting of a law enforcement officer, a military soldier, and other person with permission to over-ride a disarm condition of the firearm device.

23. The firearm device of claim 1:

wherein the firearm electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is overridden if the firearm device has been tampered with.

24. The firearm device of claim 1 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a heat sensor, a location accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a proximity sensor, a gravity sensor, a linear accelerometer, a light sensor, a camera sensor, a microphone sensors, a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor.

25. The firearm device of claim 1 further comprising a light source, the light source configured to reflect light off a target at which the firearm is aimed.

26. A firearm device comprising:

a firearm;

a firearm subsystem,

at least one sensor,

wherein the firearm is configured for adaption to an electronic control system residing in a mobile wireless device, the electronic control system including a processor, a memory, and executable instructions stored in the memory;

wherein the at least one sensor generates data on a target at which the firearm is aimed;

wherein the memory stores processor executable instructions for enabling the firearm;

wherein the memory stores a memory map of at least one data on a permitted target for enabling the firing of the firearm;

wherein the processor determines if the sensor generated target data matches a permitted target data;

wherein the processor enables the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data.

27. The firearm device of claim 26 wherein the electronic control system further comprises an arm/disarm control interface, the electronic control system configured to provide data on the firearm.

28. The firearm device of claim 26 wherein the electronic control system further comprises a wireless network interface, the wireless network interface being configured to communicate data to a remote location.

29. The firearm device of claim 28 wherein the remote location is selected from the group consisting of a mobile wireless device and an external utility.

30. The firearm device of claim 29 wherein the external utility is configured to track the movement of the firearm.

31. The firearm device of claim 26 wherein the adaption of the firearm to the electronic control system is by a wireless communication connection.

32. The firearm device of claim 26 wherein the adaption of the firearm to the electronic control system is by a hardwire communication connection.

33. The firearm device of claim 26 wherein the adaption of the firearm to the electronic control system is by a docking station, the docking station receiving the mobile wireless device, the docking station configured to provide a communication connection between the electronic control system and the firearm.

34. The firearm device of claim 26:

wherein the mobile wireless device electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is determined by government regulation or by law.

35. The firearm device of claim 26:

wherein the mobile wireless device electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is determined by the firearm device being within a predetermined radius of a fixed geographic location.

36. The firearm device of claim 26:

wherein the mobile wireless device electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is determined by the firearm device being within a predetermined radius of operation of the wireless device.

37. The firearm device of claim 26:

wherein the mobile wireless device electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is based upon programmed service subscription information.

38. The firearm device of claim 26:

wherein the mobile wireless device electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is based upon the identity of an operator.

39. The firearm device of claim 26 further comprising a biometric operator monitor, the biometric operator monitor configured to determine authentication of an operator using the firearm device:

wherein the mobile wireless device electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is based upon authentication of the operator.

40. The firearm device of claim 39 wherein the biometric operator monitor employs a biometric identification technique selected from the biometric identification techniques consisting of face recognition, fingerprint identification, hand geometry biometrics, retina scan, iris scan, signature, and voice analysis.

41. The firearm device of claim 26:

wherein the mobile wireless device electronic control system processor non-enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data does not match the permitted target data is overridden if the operator of the firearm device is a person with permission to over-ride a disarm condition of the firearm device.

42. The firearm device of claim 41:

wherein the person with permission to over-ride a disarm condition of the firearm device is selected from the group consisting of a law enforcement officer, a military soldier, and other person with permission to over-ride a disarm condition of the firearm device.

43. The firearm device of claim 26:

wherein the mobile wireless device electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is overridden if the firearm device has been tampered with.

44. The firearm device of claim 26 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a heat sensor, a location accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a proximity sensor, a gravity sensor, a linear accelerometer, a light sensor, a camera sensor, a microphone sensors, a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor.

45. The firearm device of claim 26 further comprising a light source, the light source configured to reflect light off a target at which the firearm is aimed.

46. A firearm device comprising:

a firearm;

a firearm subsystem,

at least one sensor,

wherein the firearm is configured for adaption to an electronic control system residing in an external utility, the electronic control system including a processor, a memory, and executable instructions stored in the memory;

wherein the at least one sensor generates data on a target at which the firearm is aimed;

wherein the memory stores processor executable instructions for enabling the firearm;

wherein the memory stores a memory map of at least one data on a permitted target for enabling the firing of the firearm;

wherein the processor determines if the sensor generated target data matches a permitted target data;

wherein the processor enables the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data.

47. The firearm device of claim 46:

wherein the external utility electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is determined by government regulation or by law.

48. The firearm device of claim 46:

wherein the external utility electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is determined by the wireless device being within a predetermined radius of a fixed geographic location.

49. The firearm device of claim 46:

wherein the external utility electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is determined by the wireless device being within a predetermined radius of operation of the wireless device.

50. The firearm device of claim 46:

wherein the external utility electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is based upon programmed service subscription information.

51. The firearm device of claim 46:

wherein the external utility electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is based upon the identity of an operator.

52. The firearm device of claim 46 further comprising a biometric operator monitor, the biometric operator monitor configured to determine authentication of an operator using the firearm device:

wherein the external utility electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is based upon authentication of the operator.

53. The firearm device of claim 52 wherein the biometric operator monitor employs a biometric identification technique selected from the biometric identification techniques consisting of face recognition, fingerprint identification, hand geometry biometrics, retina scan, iris scan, signature, and voice analysis.

54. The firearm device of claim 46:

wherein the external utility electronic control system processor non-enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data does not match the permitted target data is overridden if the operator of the firearm device is a person with permission to over-ride a disarm condition of the firearm device.

55. The firearm device of claim 54:

wherein the person with permission to over-ride a disarm condition of the firearm device is selected from the group consisting of a law enforcement officer, a military soldier, and other person with permission to over-ride a disarm condition of the firearm device.

56. The firearm device of claim 46:

wherein the external utility electronic control system processor enablement of the firearm subsystem if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data is overridden if the firearm device has been tampered with.

57. The firearm device of claim 46 wherein the at least one sensor is selected from the group consisting of a heat sensor, a location accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer, a proximity sensor, a gravity sensor, a linear accelerometer, a light sensor, a camera sensor, a microphone sensors, a touch sensor, a pressure sensor, a temperature sensor, and a humidity sensor.

58. The firearm device of claim 46 further comprising a light source, the light source configured to reflect light off a target at which the firearm is aimed.

59. The firearm device of claim 46 wherein the external utility is configured to track the movement of the firearm.

60. A method for controlling a firearm configured with a sensor comprising:

storing in a memory of an electronic control system a memory map, the electronic control system being associated with the firearm and configured to enable the firearm, the memory map comprising at least one data on a permitted target for enabling the firing of the firearm;

determining if target data generated by the sensor matches a permitted target data; and

enabling the firearm if the sensor generated target data matches the permitted target data.

61. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of:

determining the permitted target data by government regulation or by law.

62. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of:

determining the permitted target data by the firearm being within a predetermined radius of a fixed geographic location.

63. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of:

determining the permitted target data by the firearm being within a predetermined radius of operation of the firearm.

64. The method of claim 60 further comprising:

determining the permitted target data by programmed service subscription information.

65. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of:

determining the permitted target data by identity of an operator.

66. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of:

determining the permitted target data by authentication of the operator.

67. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of:

overriding a disarm condition by a person with permission to over-ride the disarm condition of the firearm.

68. The method of claim 60 further comprising the step of:

overriding a disarm condition if the firearm has been tampered with.