Systems and methods for electronic weaponry that detects properties of a unit for deployment

• US 7,984,579 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Issued: 07/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taser International Incorporated
• Inventors: Nerheim, Magne H., Cerovic, Milan, Brundula, Steven N.D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Benjamin P
• Application Number:
  US12/113,107
• Publication Number:
  US 20110063770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 42/10.8, 42/84, 42/10.1, 421/06, 102/502, 119/262, 119/232, 119/908, 361/262, 361/232
• US Class Current: 42/1.08
• CPC Class Codes: F41B 15/04 with electric stunning-means ejecting electrically charged liquid jets F41B9/00; electric shock creating harpoons F42B30/14; electric circuits or apparatus for killing or stunning H05C
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0012 Electrical discharge weapons, e.g. for stunning

Abstract

An electronic weapon, when combined with a unit for deployment, causes skeletal muscle contractions in a human or animal target. According to the present invention, a launch controller for an electronic weapon includes a detector, a stimulus signal generator, and a switch. When the switch is conducting, it completes a circuit in combination with a unit for deployment. The circuit, when completed, operates a propellant of the unit for deployment to deploy at least two electrodes of the unit for deployment to enable the stimulus signal generator to deliver through the target a stimulus current to incapacitate the target by causing contractions of the skeletal muscles of the target. The detector is coupled to the switch and detects whether the switch is conducting prior to combining the unit for deployment and the electronic weapon.

Claims

1. A launch controller for an electronic weapon, the electronic weapon, when combined with a unit for deployment, for causing skeletal muscle contractions in a human or animal target, the launch controller comprising:

a detector;

a processor coupled to the detector;

a stimulus signal generator; and

a switch for completing, when conducting, a first circuit in combination with a unit for deployment, the first circuit, when completed, for operating a propellant of the unit for deployment to deploy at least two electrodes of the unit for deployment to enable the stimulus signal generator to deliver through the target a stimulus current to incapacitate the target by causing contractions of the skeletal muscles of the target;

wherein

the detector is coupled to the switch and detects whether the unit for deployment is combined with the electronic weapon and whether the switch is conducting; and

the processor, in response to the detector, determines whether the switch is conducting prior to combining the unit for deployment and the electronic weapon.

2. The launch controller of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic weapon combines with the deployment unit at an interface having a first conductor and a second conductor;

the first circuit includes the first conductor to couple the switch to the propellant;

the first conductor couples the detector to an indicator of the unit for deployment for detecting via a second circuit a property of the unit for deployment; and

the second conductor provides a return path for the second circuit and for a third circuit.

3. The launch controller of claim 2 wherein the property describes a type of the unit for deployment.

4. The launch controller of claim 2 further comprising a recorder that records a result of detecting the property.

5. The launch controller of claim 4 wherein the property describes a type of the unit for deployment.

6. The launch controller of claim 1 wherein:

the electronic weapon combines with the deployment unit at an interface having a first conductor, a second conductor, and a third conductor;

the first circuit includes the first conductor to couple the switch to the propellant;

the second conductor couples the detector to an indicator of the unit for deployment for detecting via a second circuit a property of the unit for deployment; and

the third conductor provides a return path for the first circuit and for the second circuit.

7. The launch controller of claim 6 wherein the property describes a type of the unit for deployment.

8. The launch controller of claim 6 further comprising a recorder that records a result of detecting the property.

9. The launch controller of claim 8 wherein the property describes a type of the unit for deployment.

10. The launch controller of claim 6 wherein the switch comprises a three-state switch operative in each respective state at an output of the switch to source current, to sink current, and to interfere with both sourcing current and sinking current.

11. The launch controller of claim 1 wherein the detector distinguishes absence of a unit for deployment combined with the electronic weapon, presence of a unit for deployment combined with the electronic weapon, a type of the unit for deployment combined with the electronic weapon, and whether the propellant has been operated.

12. The launch controller of claim 11 further comprising a recorder that records a result of detecting.

13. The launch controller of claim 1 wherein the detector comprises a sensor and a processor.

14. An electronic weapon for causing skeletal muscle contractions in a human or animal target after performing a launch function, the electronic weapon comprising:

a launch controller for controlling the launch function of a provided deployment unit;

a switch, responsive to the launch controller, that effects the launch function;

a sensor for detecting a failure of the switch;

wherein

the sensor detects a first current while the launch controller is combined with the deployment unit;

the sensor detects a second current through the switch, the second current for effecting the launch function; and

the sensor provides to the launch controller indicia of a failure of the switch upon determining that the second current exists after the sensor was unable to detect the first current.

15. The electronic weapon of claim 14 further comprising:

a processor that performs at least in part a function of the launch controller.

16. The electronic weapon of claim 15 wherein the processor further performs at least in part a function of the sensor.

17. A method performed by an electronic weapon, the electronic weapon for causing skeletal muscle contractions in a human or animal target when the electronic weapon is combined with a deployment unit, the method comprising:

determining whether the deployment unit is combined or is not combined in accordance with detecting existence of a first current responsive to the deployment unit when the deployment unit is describing the deployment unit to the electronic weapon;

determining whether a circuit of the electronic weapon is operative or failing in accordance with detecting existence of a second current that flows in the circuit when the circuit is operative to control performance of a deployment unit launch function wherein failure of the circuit is determined by detecting existence of the second current after determining that a deployment unit is not present.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the circuit is operative to activate a propellant of the deployment unit.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein determining whether the deployment unit is combined or is not combined comprises determining whether the deployment unit is compatible with the electronic weapon with reference to a description provided by the deployment unit.