Method and apparatus for shooting using biometric recognition

• US 6,343,140 B1
• Filed: 10/30/1998
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GR Intellectual Reserve LLC
• Original Assignee: QUIP Technology Limited
• Inventors: Brooks, Juliana H. J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAWAN, SHEELA C
• Application Number:
  US09/183,923
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: 382/116, 382/126, 340/825.34, 348/156, 348/161, 356/71, 356/23, 250/227.2, 600/506, 600/547, 42/700.1, 42/701.1
• US Class Current: 382/115
• CPC Class Codes: F41A 17/066 having means for recognizing biometric parameters, e.g. voice control, finger print or palm print control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/00 Pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

An apparatus for shooting. The apparatus includes a gun. The apparatus includes a controller connected to the gun which controls whether the gun can fire. The apparatus includes a mechanism for determining a present biometric signature of a shooter who desires to fire the gun. The determining mechanism is in communication with the controller. The controller only allows the gun to fire if the present biometric signature of the shooter is recognized by the controller. A method for firing a gun. The method includes the steps of gripping a handle of a gun by a shooter. Then there is the step of recognizing a present biometric signature of the shooter. Next there is the step of releasing a trigger of the gun so the gun can fire as long as the biometric signature of the shooter is recognized.

Claims

1. An apparatus for shooting comprising:

a gun;

a controller connected to the gun which controls whether the gun can fire; and

a mechanism for determining a present non-visible biometric signature of a shooter who desires to fire the gun, said biometric signature comprising a pattern of relative internal electric and/or magnetic properties measured through a plurality of body segments of an individual. said determining mechanism including means for measuring the present biometric signature of a shooter, means for comparing the measured biometric signature with a known biometric signature of an individual to recognize the shooter as the individual and sending a signal to said controller when the shooter is recognized, thereby only allowing the gun to fire if the present non-visible biometric signature of the shooter is recognized by the controller.

2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein the gun includes a handle and the determining mechanism includes electrodes disposed in the handle and adapted to contact a hand of the shooter to measure a pattern of relative internal electric and/or magnetic properties measured through a plurality of segments of the hand when the shooter grips the handle with the hand.

3. An apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the gun has a trigger and wherein the controller includes a locking mechanism operationally engaged with the trigger which releases the trigger so the gun can be fired as long as the controller recognizes the present non-visible biometric signature of the shooter.

4. An apparatus as described in claim 3 wherein the controller includes a memory storing the known non-visible biometric signature, and a comparator which compares the known non-visible biometric signature with the present non-visible biometric signature of the shooter and releases the locking mechanism as long as the present non-visible biometric signature is recognized.

5. An apparatus as described in claim 4 wherein the locking mechanism includes a latch engaged with the trigger which prevents the trigger from firing the gun when the latch is closed.

6. An apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein the locking mechanism includes a magnet which is activated as long as the present non-visible biometric signature of the shooter is recognized, said magnet when activated moving the latch into an open position so the gun can fire.

7. An apparatus as described in claim 6 wherein the locking mechanism includes a battery in the gun handle, and wherein the magnet includes a coil connected to the battery which receives electricity from the battery to create a magnetic field.

11. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the mechanism for determining a present non-visible biometric signature of a shooter comprises a mechanism for sensing internal electric properties of the shooter.

12. The apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the mechanism for determining a present non-visible biometric signature of a shooter comprises a mechanism for sensing internal magnetic properties of the shooter.

8. A method for firing a gun having a trigger comprising the steps of:

providing a trigger locking mechanism,

gripping a handle of a gun by the hand of a shooter;

sensing the present non-visible biometric signature of the shooter by measuring the relative internal electric and/or magnetic properties through a plurality of body segments of the shooter'"'"'s hand,

comparing the measured biometric signature with a known biometric signature of an individual to recognize the present non-visible biometric signature of the shooter; and

releasing the trigger locking mechanism so that the trigger can be operated to fire the gun as long as the non-visible biometric signature of the shooter is recognized.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of recognizing a present non-visible biometric signature of the shooter comprises sensing internal electric properties of the shooter.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of recognizing a present non-visible biometric signature of the shooter comprises sensing internal magnetic properties of the shooter.