AI SAFETY GUN

Abstract

AI Safety Gun works opposite of smart guns. Stored or carried unlocked. When handled, sensors require fingerprint and/or facial image software compare images for authorized users. AI immediately locks gun and sounds 140 db alarm if unauthorized. No unauthorized person will walk off with or use the AI gun. Homeowners and police are protected by AI Safety Gun. A police officer caught in a crowd control problem is protected if gun is taken, allowing officer to focus on restraining crowd. Gun has rear facing camera lens for users facial image and front facing lens to view the field gun is pointed at. Civilians gun locks when multiple people in field of view or family members with recorded facial features. A laser beam for police and military aiming assistance when crossing a camera framed torso, causes AI to fire gun, if authorized by trigger being pulled.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

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JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTTED ON A COMPACT DISC AND AN INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF THE MATERIAL ON THE COMPACT DISC

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PRIOR ART

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BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

When my son was five I used a S&W 357 Magnum for home defense. I did not like having a hidden loaded gun with kids around, then my grandfather gave me a shoe box with a loaded 9 MM luger my grandfather's brother had taken from a German in WW I. Half the rounds were 9 MM with a white powder in their hollow point, likely garlic. Half the rounds were 7.22 MM which could still have rattled down the barrel. Germans must have been short of ammo and desperate. The luger was a good childproof gun as without a round on the chamber it was too hard to cock for a kid. As my son got older, I thought there must be a better solution. Years later Smith & Wesson offered to buy my first patent, on terms that made no sense. I have been awarded multiple patents on guns with internal trigger locks. Now my son is sixty something and I am filing this patent combining AI with a hand and long gun.

Dozens of patents have been filed on how to make a gun safer. The guns typically are locked with a device or internally, the user has to do something to use the gun. Currently, a favored unlocking method would be by using a fingerprint lock and/or facial identity. A Colorado start up uses both of these unlocking devices for its BIOFIRE handgun, anticipated to be released in 2023 at about $1,500. This gun does not use an alarm to guard against unauthorized handling and theft. Opposite the AI Safety Gun, this gun is supposed to automatically unlock when the gun recognizes the users' fingerprints or facial image.

The AI Safety Gun stays unlocked until an unauthorized person, child or thief grips it. As in California, the State wants stored gun to be locked, the AI Safety Gun can be sold programmed so that it can be stored locked but can also be programmed so that it can be stored or carried unlocked, automatically locking if the grip is released, unless owner presses a button or otherwise directs gun to stay unlocked, when grip is released. A police officer or other gun user does not have to worry if the AI Safety Gun will reliably unlock every time as it is always unlocked except if gripped by an unauthorized person.

Smart Guns being developed by others may unlock when users fingerprint or facial ID is recognized. The AI Safety Gun works the opposite and locks if it does not ID an authorized user and may sound an alarm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a detailed perspective view of an AI Safety Gun, a handgun with AI assembly of components (1) attached to or as a part of a gun in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of the AI Safety Gun, the handgun of FIG. 1 with components and the AI assembly attached in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the AI Safety Gun, the handgun of FIG. 1 with components attached in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the trigger area of the left side view of the AI Safety Gun of FIG. 1, showing trigger is blocked by blocker pin that has a notch, the back of trigger can fit in when the motor (2) pulls the blocker and its pin, in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed perspective view of a long AI Safety Gun with AI assembly of components. Optional camera screen (102) that may be attached to both sides of or as a part of a long gun in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of FIG. 5 bracket (124) with rear facing camera screen (113).

FIG. 7 illustrates the brackets (124) front facing portion (109) with camera lens (117), light (116) and laser (118); and

FIG. 8 is a sequence diagram that illustrates an AI Safety Gun processor operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is perhaps best described by the claims. An AI device that may be included in a gun that is a firearm, that includes a camera, AI processor, facial recognition software, a laser and alarm. The processor uses AI to compare images and classifies them as friend or foe. Friend images would include family members, children with smaller head sizes than adults, a group of two or more people such as a classroom, people with their hands up, police officers in uniforms with badges, military with approved country flag patches and custom images. Foes generally would be paper targets and non-friends. The device has a camera with at least a front facing lens, an AI processor and may have side and rear facing camera lens, a motor and battery compartment, a trigger blocking or electronic firing device and alarm.

In a favorite embodiment of the present invention is of a rifle that may be an AR 15 type gun and may be configured for military use, the camera has a side mounted removable viewing screen that may be rotated to face the gun handler, or there would be a left and right screen. The AI gun may be held at arm's length while the shooter is behind full cover using the camera's side mounted screen to sight the gun, assisted by the gun's laser and AI. The camera's screen would frame objects, its AI processor would classify as friends or foes. Facial recognition like software would prevent the AI Safety Gun from firing at images classified as friends but pick out foes as potential targets. The gun has a laser, the beam of which indicates to the shooter where the bullet will hit. The shooter may view the target area and laser beam using the camera's screen. When the shooter moves the laser beam over a framed target, the AI processor would fire the AI Safety Gun, providing the shooter was authorizing firing by depressing the trigger, otherwise the gun would not fire. Thus, the AI processor fires the gun if firing has been authorized and aimed properly. Additional viewed framed foes may also be fired at by swiping the laser beam over framed targets. Rapid and accurate firing at targets may occur more than otherwise possible. The AI Safety Gun may use AI electronic firing and make fine aim adjustment using AI to assist in moving gun's aim.

An embodiment of the present invention may combine the AI Safety Gun with a drone so that the gun may be positioned to take advantage of its abilities to identify and fire accurately at foe targets.

An embodiment of the present invention is a gun (3) being the pistol of FIG. 1 having a rear facing camera lens (21) to take shooters facial image and unlock the gun, otherwise if the gun is picked up, the gun would sense this as grip sensors (18) of FIG. 3, or movement would alert the AI and trigger the alarm to sound if the images include facial, finger and/or palm print do not match authorized images. The forward facing camera lens (6) of FIG. 3 has zoom settings (23, 24) on assembly of FIG. 1 with sensors on the grip (17,18) of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3.

An embodiment of the present invention may be used for home defense and kept in a drawer next to the bed or under the owner's driver side seat. The gun would have an assembly of components (1) that may include a tilt meter or accelerometer (15) of FIG. 1, and if stored on its side and picked up, and if the finger, palm print or facial image does not match, the gun would lock and start the guns alarm (26), FIG. 3, which would sound along with the light flashing (7). For the owner or authorized user, the facial recognition and fingerprint software would not lock the gun unless an unauthorized party gripped it, alternatively, if the owner had programmed the gun to be stored locked, recognized images would unlock the gun. AI takes a picture of an unauthorized person attempting to unlock the gun. Grip sensors or movement wakes the processor. Unlocking can also use a keyboard (10) to use 3 or more digit PIN codes, Facial recognition typically can unlock the gun using Camera lens at back of gun (21) or at alternative location on side may be used (9). Rear facing lens may be incorporated into gun at (21), alternative lens location (9) may be used, a lens to view a palmprint or fingerprint (16, 25) would also unlock gun. The assembly (1) would include a laser (8) that's beam could be seen in the vicinity of the target on camera screen (20), (113) or (102), FIG. 5. A battery compartment (14), a motor (2) to move the trigger blocker (4) to block the trigger may be used. A pin in unblocked position (28) may block the trigger in position (27) with trigger nested in notch of pin so that the gun cannot fire. The blocker simply is configured to prevent the trigger from being pulled.

A forward facing camera lens (6) view may be shown on camera screen (20) or (102), camera picture can be zoomed in and out with buttons at (23, 24). Shooter would aim the gun so that the laser beam crosses the target, in war for example a human torso, which would be framed by processor and camera's software on screen. If the shooter is authorizing the gun to fire by depressing the trigger, the AI processor would cause the gun to fire. The shooter then can shift the laser's beam and repeated fire at more targets in the area, with little time spent on aiming. The transmitter may broadcast the guns GPS location if the gun is being used by the military or police. If a police officer draws his or her gun, the gun's transmitter (13) can notify police headquarters. The gun would have a light switch (11).

The AI Safety Gun can be programmed to remain unlocked. Forward aimed lens and processor would lock gun if pointed at programmed friends.

FIG. 5 is a long gun of this AI Safety Gun invention. The long gun would have a laser (118), FIG. 7, that can be seen on the camera's screen (102, 113) when the AI Safety Gun is pointed. The long gun can be held conventionally with the butt of the stock on the shooters shoulder or at arm's length sideways from the shooter so that he or she may view what the gun is pointed at on the side mounted camera screen (102) and operate the AI Safety Gun from full cover, only exposing some of the gun in order for the camera lens to view the target area so that the AI will fire if authorized by operator pressing in trigger. Like a cell phone camera that view images where people heads are recognized as heads and framed to better focus, with the AI Safety Gun head and torso are framed as targets. Facial recognition software would be programmed to classify certain images as friends and others as foes. The processor is programmed to lock the trigger using a trigger blocker (122). When the processor compares stored images classified as “Friends”, processor will not let firing pin be released to shoot. Images of friends would include family members, police officers in uniform with badges, children because their heads are small, a group as small as 2 persons and owner's discretionary friends. Kids. in a classroom would be protected as groups of 2 or more are protected. Not protected would be paper targets, non-friend torsos shapes and images not protected.

An embodiment of the present invention for military use would be programmed as desired by the military unit. It is expected the military of a nation would wear that nation's flag patches that would be recognized as friends by AI Safety Gun in the event the gun is captured by the enemy. Police uniforms with badges would work like flag patches. Moreover, the AI Safety Gun would not recognize the holders and lock with alarm sounding.

A military impact would be the side with the AI Safety Gun could operate the AI Safety Gun from cover with AI assisted rapidly accurate firing. To operate the AI Safety Gun the shooter would press the trigger down to authorize the gun to fire, and when the laser beam contacts the framed target of a foe displayed on the cameras screen, the AI would fire the gun. If there are more framed targets after the initial firing, additional firings could occur. The AI would be doing the firing as long as the shooter aimed the gun and was pressing the trigger.

An embodiment of the present invention for police or military use may use a GPS and transmission device to alert headquarters if gun has been drawn, moved or fired.

The AI Safety Gun pistol or long gun can be programmed to remain unlocked and only lock when handled by an unauthorized person.

In an embodiment depicted at FIG. 1 an accelerometer or motion detector (15, 119) detects if the gun is tilted 90 degrees, as for example if a handgun (3) is stored on its side in a drawer or under a car seat and picked up tilting the gun 90 degrees, the processor (12) is alerted. A fingerprint or facial image of an unauthorized or authorized person gripping the gun would be compared with stored images. Lights (22), FIG. 2. signal the guns status. The rear facing lens (9) provides facial image of person holding the gun to the processor for identification and unauthorized user's face would be photographed. Alternately a police officer could use their badge instead of facial image. The fingerprint/palm print reader lens (25) also provides an image that may be used for unlocking. A back up keyboard (10) can provide PIN code unlocking. An unauthorized persons fingerprint or facial image will trigger the alarm (26) to begin to sound, the light (7) will begin to flash and the transmitter in police embodiments will transmit the officer's location, whether the gun is unlocked or not. It is believed most departments want to know when their officers draw their guns. Grip sensors (17 and 18) with the transmitter in the processor can trigger transmittal of the GPS location.

The camera in police embodiments will record when the gun is drawn getting a better recording than body worn cameras. A pressure sensitive switch (17) or (18), can signal the processor when the gun is no longer held, taken, or just put down and relock the gun or not depending on programming FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. A lens to read a palm at (16) or a fingerprint/palm can be located on the side of the grip at (25). Alternatively, the accelerometer or a lens that stops viewing might be used to signal the processor to lock the gun when gun is not held. Embodiment at FIG. 3 shows a forward facing light (7) with a laser (8) and camera lens (6). Batteries are in compartment (14), FIG. 3.

The illustrated embodiment locking assembly (1) has a motor (2) configured to move a trigger blocker (4) to allow the trigger to be pulled. FIG. 4 illustrates the trigger blocker engaging the trigger so that it cannot be pulled when it locks the trigger. The trigger blocker may simply be positioned between the trigger and trigger guard so that the trigger cannot be rotated to fire the gun. The locking assembly contains a keyboard (10) for programming and back up PIN code unlocking. A forward grip pressure switch (18) may be used by the processor to instantly lock the gun if the holder is disarmed or just puts the gun down.

The camera's forward facing lens can be used for target practice to analyze performance, and to put the target area on the camera's screen. The assembly, if attached to a shotgun, can permit a bird hunter to improve by recording if they have been leading too much or not enough by recording shots and sending them to a cell phone. For police the camera on hand and long guns can provide a more accurate record than a body camera of a police shooting. For the military, the gun could be programmed not to shoot at individuals with approved country flags on their uniforms.

The camera's software can be programmed to prevent school and mass shootings as follows: The gun will lock if, in the field of view, heads are smaller, child size, or there are groups of 2 or more, like in a classroom, or people in the field of view are wearing school or police uniforms or police badges.

The same software can lock the gun if family member faces are programmed into the gun as well as police officer's faces. The gun will lock if police uniforms or badges are identified. The gun is programmed so that the rear lens and fingerprint sensor are used typically to lock the gun with unauthorized handling, only for unlocking after unauthorized handling has locked the gun. The gun works just like a conventional gun however, would still use the front lens for trigger locking.

Claims

1. An AI device assembly is claimed with components configured as part of or attached to a firearm, hereinafter referred to as a gun. The device having a camera with at least a lens orientated to view the finger or palm print of someone holding the gun. A component being an AI processor configured to compare a finger or palm print with authorized user's prints. The assembly including a trigger locking component which typically may be unengaged so that the gun may be fired. If the gun is held by an authorized person, the gun may be fired, however an unauthorized holders print would cause the processor to lock the trigger.

2. The device of claim 1 where a camera lens is orientated so that it views the face of the individual holding the gun, so that the AI processor can compare that image with authorized images, and if there is not a match, lock the trigger.

3. The combination of the device of claims 1 and 2 so that if a print or facial image match an authorized image, the gun stays unlocked, but if not, the processor locks the trigger.

4. The device of claim 3 including a PIN code unlocking component.

5. The device of claim 3 including the ability to sound an audio and/or silent alarm, when the gun locks.

6. The device of claim 3 configured for police use, where if the grip is gripped, a sensor alerts the processor that in turn alerts a remote receiver that may be at a police station, the guns GPS location and the gun may transmit images from the gun's camera and may continue to broadcast images until an authorized print, facial image or pin is recognized.

7. The device of claim 6 where if the processor fails to recognize an authorized print or facial image, the print and facial image are transmitted to a remote receiver.

8. The device of claim 1 with a forward facing camera lens, if the camera views multiple images of people, the processor locks the gun.

9. The device of claim 1 where if the forward facing camera lens views a person or desired image it places an artificial frame around the person or image and when the gun's laser beam crosses into the framed area, the processor may cause the gun to fire, provided that the gun operator is authorizing firing, which may mean the operator is pulling the gun's trigger.

10. The device of claim 3 where the camera also has a forward facing lens and begins to record when the grip is gripped or the gun is moved from laying on its side.

11. The device of claim 1 where the trigger locking component motor includes a threaded shaft configured to advance or retract a trigger blocker, that may be internal within the gun or adjacent to the trigger guard.

12. The device of claim 9 configured so that if the device is attached to the gun, it cannot be removed from the gun while the gun is locked.