System and Method for the Remote Measurement of the Ammunition Level, Recording and Display of the current level

• US 20100281725A1
• Filed: 03/08/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AWIS LLC
• Original Assignee: AWIS LLC
• Inventors: Arbouw, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,215,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/1.02
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 9/62 having means for indicating the number of cartridges left in the magazine, e.g. last-round indicators last-round safeties F41A17/40

Abstract

This invention relates to a method, system and computer program product that monitors usage for man carried weapon systems; specifically a device to monitor ammunition level and weapon discharges through real time data collection, analysis and real time visual feedback to the operator. An ammunition level detecting system mounted on a projectile weapon comprising: A level measurement unit (LMU) and a Reader and Visualization Unit (RVU) and a PC Dongle which configured to facilitate communication between the RVU and a personal computer (PC), enabling management of the RVU configuration and offloading of sensor obtained and system determined data values.

Claims

1. A system for the real-time measurement of a level of ammunition contained within a magazine seated in a host weapon and providing a visible readout to the weapon operator'"'"'s peripheral vision, the system comprising:

a Level Measurement Unit (LMU) configured to be removably coupled to the host weapon utilized for monitoring the level of ammunition when in a coupled condition, the LMU including a polymer shell which part of the magazine containing a gray coded ferromagnetic material within a shell wall, a follower that provides a mounting platform for electric components and positions ammunition with the magazine shell, and at least one sensing inductor inside the follower to read the magnetic signal from stated gray encoded ferromagnetic material at a specific point on the shell indicating a fill level in the magazine;

a Reader and Visualization Unit (RVU) which configured to communicate with the LMU and receives LMU position data transfer from the LMU, the RVU includes at least one sensor that automatically turns on the system and wakes up the LMU and obtains a reading from the LMU, a storage means that stores the reading obtained from the LMU and a display that provides a read-out of the ammunition level, as calculated by the RVU based on the LMU position and RVU configuration data, and provides a visible interface to configure the system settings; and

a PC Dongle which configured to facilitate communication between the RVU and a personal computer (PC), enabling management of the RVU configuration and offloading of sensor obtained and system determined data values.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the magazine shell contains a means for determining the position of the LMU along the face of the shell.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the position determining means comprises of a passive detectable material or an active sensor array.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the follower comprises a passive detectable material, or an active sensor array.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the RVU contains a central processor unit (CPU) capable of turning the LMU into a deep sleep mode to conserve power.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the RVU contains a transmitter for data transfer and communication between the RVU and LMU.

7. The system in claim 6, wherein the transmitter is capable of waking up the LMU on demand.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the RVU further comprises:

a housing containing electronic components, attached to a mounting solution allowing the attachment to a projectile weapon utilizing a box magazine.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the RVU further comprises an accelerometer sensor responsive to the g-force level generated by the weapons discharge.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the RVU further comprises a central processing unit (CPU) that upon detection of a sufficient spike in g-force powers up the system and signals the LMU to take a reading.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the storage of the RVU is capable of recording data and allowing the CPU to access said data in analyzing system activation based upon discharge, or round expulsion based on a means other than weapon discharge.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the RVU further comprises an antenna array that transfers said data and operating commands to the LMU as described in claims 2 to 11.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the RVU further comprises at least five user interface buttons to both navigate the settings of the system as well power up the system and trigger a signal for the LMU to take a reading.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the RVU further comprises a wired and/or wireless interface to allow data transfer from the storage to a computer or other data collection device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein a GPS location is provided to the RVU from an external GPS source.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein a GPS location is determined via a sensor within the RVU.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein a cardinal compass bearing is provided to the RVU via an electronic compass within the RVU.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein an angle reading is provided to the RVU via a multi-axis MEMS sensor within the RVU.

19. A method for the real-time measurement of a level of ammunition contained within a magazine seated in a host weapon and providing a visible readout to the weapon operator'"'"'s peripheral vision, the method comprising:

configuring a Level Measurement Unit (LMU) to be removably coupled to the host weapon utilizing for monitoring the level of ammunition when in a coupled condition, the LMU including a polymer shell which part of the magazine containing a gray coded ferromagnetic material within a shell wall, a follower that provides a mounting platform for electric components and positions ammunition with the magazine shell, and at least one sensing inductor inside the follower to read the magnetic signal from stated gray encoded ferromagnetic material at a specific point on the shell indicating a fill level in the magazine;

configuring a Reader and Visualization Unit (RVU) to communicate with the LMU and receiving LMU position data transfers from the LMU, the RVU includes at least one sensor that automatically turns on the system and wakes up the LMU and obtains a reading from the LMU, a storage means that stores the reading obtained from the LMU and a display that provides a read-out of the ammunition level, as calculated by the RVU based on the LMU position and RVU configuration data, and provides a visible interface to configure the system settings; and

configuring a PC Dongle to facilitate communication between the RVU and a personal computer (PC), enabling management of the RVU configuration and offloading of sensor obtained and system determined data values.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the magazine shell contains a means for determining the position on the shell.

21. A computer useable storage medium having computer executable program logic stored thereon for executing on a processor, the program logic implementing the steps of claim 19.