Patent Application
20220196366
The present invention relates to the field of firearms, and targeting systems and methods.
Projectile-firing weapons have been in use at least since the end of the upper Paleolithic period, when archery (the “bow and arrow”) had been invented. A bow is a projectile-firing weapon in which at least one flexible member creates tension in an attached line, which line may be drawn, flexing the member, and then released to propel a projectile known as an arrow by the elastic rebound of the member and line. In modern warfare, firearms and ballistic missiles use propellants to accelerate projectiles at much higher speeds and to strike distant targets, some of which may be difficult, or even impossible, to view with the naked eye. To capitalize on those capabilities and help direct such projectiles to their distant targets, targeting science has been developed.
A wide variety of aiming devices, known as “sights,” have been developed, and allow a user to aim a projectile weapon at a target using the user's vision to align the two. For example, a rifle-mounted telescopic sight (a.k.a. “scope”) allows a marksman to target distant subjects, typically including the use of optic lenses and a superimposed reticle, often in the form of crosshairs meeting at a point associated with a point of impact of the projectile (a.k.a. “point of impact,” “Impact Point,”) at a target within an environment. Such a point of impact may be referred to as a “possible point of impact,” meaning that, if, and only if, the firearm is fired while the point of impact is indicated at that point, will the projectile then fired impact at that point in the environment. Using scopes mounted on high-powered, long-range rifles, highly skilled military and police marksmen, known as snipers, may successfully target and hit subjects at an effective range above 1,000 meters.
However, environmental and user factors can greatly impact the accuracy of rifle and other projectile weapon fire, especially in the instance of ballistic projectiles from handheld weapons, and especially when fired by less skilled shooters. These factors include, but are not limited to: 1) air density, 2) wind, 3) humidity, 4) visibility, 5) air quality, 6) elevation from subject, 7) ambient temperature, 8) hand and body tremor of the user, 9) shake and misalignment due to trigger pull, 10) flinching due to shot anticipation or environmental activity, 11) movement due to breathing, 12) movement due to heartbeat, 13) errant movements, 14) eye shift not addressed by the sight (parallax effect), 15) environmental structural changes or nudges (e.g., sand bag or tripod sinking, nudge from fellow person or other animal), 16) changes or states of change of any of the above factors, and 17) target object or other more general environmental movement. At longer firing ranges, the impact of these environmental and user factors, and resulting targeting inaccuracy, can be exponentially amplified. But greater ranges are beneficial, because they allow a sniper to maintain a safe distance from enemy forces and remain undetected. If snipers are located, critical missions may fail, and, in military campaigns, shooters, such as snipers, may be captured and assassinated.
Advanced reflecting and collimating sights, such as “red dot” sights, are designed to provide rapid acquisition and targeting with both eyes open and observing the entire environment as well as sight components. Such sights may also reduce or substantially eliminate the parallax effect that occurs when the shooter shifts eye position relative to the reticle of a scope or iron sights.
It should be understood that the disclosures in this application related to the background of the invention, in, but not limited to this section titled “Background,” do not necessarily set forth prior art or other known aspects exclusively, and may instead include art that was invented concurrently or after the present invention and conception, and details of the inventor's own discoveries and work and work results.
New targeting systems, hardware and techniques are provided. These systems enable a user to plan shooting or other measures with extreme precision within an environment, evaluate the plan's effectiveness, and execute the plan rapidly. In some aspects of the invention, a user of a targeting system according to some embodiments of the present invention may create, set, adjust and execute projected point(s) of impact, as shown by indicator(s), of a projectile on a target within a target environment (e.g., in a specialized augmented reality sighting display). In other aspects, the system may counteract and/or avoid certain ballistic, viewing perspective and projectile accuracy-affecting factors, in both a sighting display and in a projectile firing mechanism. Yet, in some embodiments, the systems, hardware and techniques so counteract or avoid those factors while maintaining the influence of other factors, such as targeting movements by a user. In some embodiments, the systems, hardware and techniques allow for rapid targeting adjustment, by adjusting three-dimensional (“3D”) positions and rotational attitudes in real time, to maintain an environmental view and a point of impact, and indicator thereof, despite those factors. The system is unobtrusive, allowing the user to engage ordinary targeting activity.
In some embodiments, an auxiliary probe is first launched and deployed at, on and/or about a target. Extremely precise, deliberate targeting for future projectiles, weapons or non-lethal measures is then performed relative to the position and orientation of the probe, in some such embodiments.
In some embodiments, a system according to some aspects of the invention enables a user to, in effect, take a projected, trial shot at a target subject within an environment, evaluate its results, and execute an actual shot matching the trial shot only if satisfied. More specifically, in some such embodiments, a user may aim a rifle at a target with a telescopic sight including a specialized display and issue a trial shot firing command. The specialized display may then overlay an indicator of projected point of impact (a.k.a., a point of impact indicator), evaluate the indicator and projected point of impact (and/or, in some such embodiments, other projected results), and then send a projectile to the point of impact only upon a user's subsequent command(s) (if satisfied with the projected point of impact indicator). If unsatisfied, in some embodiments, a user may adjust the location of such a point of impact indicator for specialized position adjustment tools of the system, rather than cancel, restart and set another point of impact indicator. Prior to aspects of the present invention, shots needed to either succeed or fail, with one, actual execution of the shot—often with disastrous, irreversible consequences.
In some aspects of the invention, the system may execute multiple points of impact together or in rapid succession. In some such embodiments, such points of impact may surround, lead, cover or otherwise have a diverse distribution on, about or at a target and/or projected path of a target subject, based on movement and other environmental factors, such as those discussed elsewhere in this application.
Aspects of the present invention may be applied to a wide variety of other technological fields, in addition to and/or as an alternative to firearms, military and police and/or security technologies, including, but not limited to, shipment and inventory tracking and photography fields.
In still other embodiments of the invention, a new form of projectile, which implements lift that increases at lower speeds to counteract gravitational drop, while maintaining rifle-driven spiraling, is provided.
It should be understood that, for convenience and readability, this application may set forth particular pronouns and other linguistic qualifiers of various specific gender and number, but, where this occurs, all other logically possible gender and number alternatives should also be read in as both conjunctive and alternative statements, as if equally, separately set forth therein.
Where any term is set forth in a sentence, clause or statement (“statement”) in this application, each possible meaning, significance and/or sense of any term used in this application should be read as if separately, conjunctively and/or alternatively set forth in additional statement(s), after the sentence, clause or statement, as necessary to exhaust the possible meanings of each such term and each such statement.
The embodiments set forth in detail in this application are to ease the reader's understanding of inventions set forth herein and, as such, are only examples of the virtually innumerable number of alternative embodiments falling within the scope of the application. No specific embodiment set forth in this application should be read as limiting the scope of any claimed inventions. Where applicable, other devices and methods of carrying out particular tasks and mechanics of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and such other devices and methods may also, or alternatively, be used, in some embodiments of the invention, and should be considered incorporated into the specification and within the scope of the invention.
The Summary, the Abstract, and other parts of the application, are for ease of understanding only, and no part of this application should be read to limit the scope of the invention, whether or not it references matter also set forth in any other part.
The example embodiments of the invention presented herein are directed to new devices, methods and systems for controlling projectiles and, in particular, to advanced targeting and projectile systems and devices, which are now described herein. This description is not intended to limit the application to the embodiments presented herein, which are only examples of the virtually unlimited possible embodiments falling within the scope of the present application. In fact, after reading the following description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the following example embodiments in alternative embodiments, including any possible order, number, combination or other arrangement of any or all aspects, components, sub-components and/or relationships thereof (e.g., smaller and larger scale projectiles, in different projectile forms, such as small caliber, conventional profile bullets and flechettes or large missiles). The following order, number, combination or other arrangement of aspects, components, sub-components and/or relationships are non-limiting.
The rifle, scope, targeting system and some environmental elements in this illustration will be repeated in additional figures, below, to illustrate the operation of aspects of the invention over time. In some embodiments, a rifle 101 is trained/aimed in the general area of a subject 103 (e.g., the driver of a truck, as pictured) on a distant roadway 105. A telescopic rifle sight (“scope”) 107 magnifies the subject 103 and some of the surrounding area, within it's viewing portal 109, which may be enclosed by a cylindrical housing 111 and may include a collimating lens assembly and/or electronic viewfinder display features, which may themselves be collimated and variable, and cover or augment the entire field of view of the viewing portal 109 in some embodiments, and will be discussed in greater detail below with reference to this and other figures. In some embodiments, the electronic viewfinder display aspects of the present invention are capable of creating variably-placed, -sized and -shaped images, including but not limited to virtual objects, such as an image of a reticle and/or potential point-of-impact (a.k.a., “impact point”) indicators, such as indicating dots and other indicator aspects, which images and/or virtual images may be instantaneously placed, moved, morphed, colored, provided with active lighting (“glow”) or otherwise modified. In any event, a more standard, physical reticle with crosshairs 113 may, alternatively or in addition, in some embodiments, also be included, and may or may not itself be reflecting or collimated to ensure or correct for proper alignment and parallax in target sighting. Crosshairs 113 converge at a point initially generally corresponding with a point of impact of a projectile to be fired from the rifle, but the convergence point may be subject to adjustment to account for wind, range, angle/drop vector and other ballistic and/or environmental factors, such as those mentioned above, in some embodiments. An electronically-actuated variable mounting 115 permits the adjustment of the horizontal and vertical position of the viewing portal 109 and/or the crosshairs 113, and may also allow adjustment of the rotational angle of the scope as may be required for the scope to remain viewing at least part of a selected target, as will be discussed in greater detail later in this application with respect to certain embodiments, but this aspect need not be included in all embodiments of the invention. Alternatively, a partially or entirely artificial image viewfinder or other display, such as, but not limited to a light-emitting diode (LED or OLED) or other electronic/photonic display aspect(s), in some embodiments, may be used to create images in the viewing portal corresponding with a view of at least part of the target environment. In some such embodiments, variably-angled sensors or cameras may also be used in place of scope lenses and variable mounting 115 may not be required.
A system including control system unit 117 (which may be a control system comprising computer hardware and software, as discussed in reference to
The stock or barrel of rifle 101 may be rested on a stabilizing support, in some embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, rifle 101 may be rested on sandbags 129. In some embodiments, rifle 101 may be rested on any suitable support for resting the rifle and enhancing physical stability, such as a tripod, or other stabilizing prop, and/or the shooter's arm (not pictured). A bolt action 131 and optional manual reloading bolt lever 133 may be used for chambering cartridges and actuating a firing mechanism, including a firing pin and barrel, in accordance with aspects of the present invention. In some embodiments, such a firing mechanism is angle-variable. One example of one form of angle-variable firing mechanism, in which the control system unit 117 controls adjustments of the angle of at least part of a firing mechanism, is provided with respect to
The following is a discussion of some of the ways in which a system according to aspects of the present invention may be used by a shooter to separately acquire and fire upon a target with high precision, while eliminating or reducing many external factors that otherwise might threaten accuracy. First, as shown in
Continuing with an exemplary method embodiment illustrated in
According to some embodiments of the present invention, in creating and maintaining the point of impact and point of impact indicator, additional aspects of which will be discussed in greater detail below, a system, including but not limited to the control system unit 217, may account for and apply ballistic and other projectile path correction functions to correct for or address any or all of the factors affecting or potentially affecting the accuracy of the point of impact indicator at indicating a point of impact of a projectile on a target, if and when such a projectile is fired from the rifle. The potential influence of such factors may be sensed by sensors (not pictured) which feed data to the system, such as, but not limited to, wind velocity, altitude, shot angle (and corresponding gravity vectors causing projectile drop over the range of a shot fired), barometric pressure, air temperature, humidity, environmental nudging or hand shake—such that position correction and/or intercept algorithms and/or functions may be applied to actuators controlling both the angle of at least part of the firing mechanism (such as a firearm barrel) and the scope, as necessary to maintain firing capability on a point of impact and maintain the point of impact indicator and target within the field of view of the scope. However, preferably, at this stage (where the point of impact has been created but not yet set), human and other environmental movement variables are allowed to continue to move the scope, reticle and point of impact indicator. In some embodiments, the system adjusts only the firing mechanism and barrel angle to maintain a set point of impact at the location corresponding with the new impact point, as it may move with the user's hand or other aiming movements, at this stage. This embodiment will be further illustrated, and discussed in greater detail, with respect to later figures.
To aid the system in counteracting gravity vectors causing projectile drop over the range of a shot fired, a specialized form of projectile may also be used, which eliminates or greatly reduces the increasing rate of bullet drop over the flight path of most ballistic projectiles unpowered during some part of flight. Specifically, such a projectile includes lift-creating elements, at least one of which creates a drafting effect on another element, blocking or reducing some of the lift-producing airflow on that another element. As the projectile experiences drag in flight, and reduces its speed, at later points in its flight, the influence of gravity is more greatly offset in such a projectile, by increased airflow and lift on that another element. To maintain fixed, as opposed to spinning, airflow elements, an internal gyro aspect, which may spin within a housing including such airflow elements, may be included, which gyro may be caused to spin by a rifling or other spin-inducing element of the firing mechanism and/or projectile, increasing the projectile's stability. For rifling to induce such spin, access port(s) and/or access grooves in the housing may be included, allowing rifling to engage the gyro unit, or some tab or aspect thereof, to cause it to spin, while straight-line leveling grooves engage the lift-producing elements, or another housing element, to produce rotationally stabilized, or level flight in the housing.
Turning back to the embodiment illustrated in
Assuming that the user has successfully created a point of impact and its indicator(s) on or near the subject, as desired, using the steps and adjustment process discussed immediately above, the figures below address further aspects of the present invention.
Accordingly, the rifle scope, now shown as 307, generally has been allowed to shift and change its angle with the user or environmental movement discussed above, and now points, along with its reticle, downward and to the left of the subject, rather than directly at it. Nonetheless, due to the active, instantaneous maintenance of the set point of impact and its indicator(s) appearing at the location of the target, counteracting the present and/or future projected influence(s) of accuracy-affecting factors on the indicator and firing mechanism, a user firing the rifle at any time after setting a new impact point and indicator will result in firing a projectile that will accurately impact the subject location, despite those otherwise accuracy-impacting factors. By allowing rifle movement to continue moving the scope, and altering the view in the viewing portal, at the same time as maintaining the point of impact, its indicator(s), and at least part of the firing mechanism, however, the user is able to continue scanning and evaluating more of the environment, and may set additional point(s) of impact, and indicator(s) thereof, in new locations. In some embodiments, such additional point(s) of impact may be selected for a rapid, simultaneous or other pattern of execution by firing of projectiles at such additional points of impact. In some embodiments, a firearm and control system controls multiple firing mechanisms, enabling such simultaneous execution. This embodiment is versatile and timely, while maintaining high accuracy.
Some methods discussed above enable a user to, in effect, take a projected, trial shot at a subject within an environment, evaluate its effectiveness, and then execute it only if satisfied. Prior to this invention, shots needed to either succeed or fail, with one, actual take often with undesirable, irreversible consequences. Furthermore, some methods discussed above enable a user, in effect, to adjust an errant trial shot with separate controls, not subject to the vagaries of a more ordinary shooting process, and execute it once the errant shot is corrected.
In other embodiments, the scope 307 itself may continue to indicate the point of impact by moving, along with the actuated barrel, to counteract any and all user and environmental factors impacting accuracy—rather than remain fixed with respect to, and moved by, some user or environmental factors, as in some embodiments discussed above. In such embodiments, by selecting a point of impact and its indicator(s) with the aide of the system, crosshairs themselves, or some part thereof, may change shape, color, active lighting, or other indicating characteristics to signify that such a point of impact has been created. Such indicating characteristics, but of a different nature, may separately indicate additional point(s) of impact and the setting or priority status(es) thereof (for order of execution by the system), and additional reticles may also be added, to address those additional point(s) of impact and their indicators, in which case the scope may follow (centered on) the latest new point of impact and its indicator, or highest priority point of impact and its indicator(s), with a corresponding reticle, instead of or in addition to another point of impact and its indicator or component thereof, such as those discussed above, unless and until the setting of another point of impact has begun.
Assuming that the user has not yet executed a command to the system (e.g., by full trigger pull) to execute the point of impact that was set and shown by the point of impact indicator(s) 335 and 337, the user may, of course, cancel the point of impact or tweak its location, using the user controls as discussed above. However, the user may also choose to set an additional point(s) of impact and indicator(s), aspects of which will be discussed in greater detail with reference to
If the user then chooses to execute one or both points of impact, the system would first cause the point of impact selected for first execution (the highest priority point of impact) to be hit with a projectile, by actuating the firing mechanism as described above for maintaining aim (including offsetting all environmental and user accuracy-impacting factors) and firing upon (“executing”) that point of impact. If the user then commands the system to execute the point of impact selected for second execution (the next-highest priority point of impact), the system would then actuate the firing mechanism to cause a projectile to hit the second point of impact, e.g., by repositioning the barrel (aiming it) to do so, accounting for all factors impacting accuracy. In some aspects of the present invention, the system may rapidly execute firing upon each point of impact without pausing to allow the rifle to settle after recoil, and further counteract the impact of recoil as another accuracy-impacting factor. But in other aspects, the system may pause to allow such settling, or, at least, part of such settling, to retain firing capability within the range of possible firing mechanism adjustments. In other embodiments, the system considers movement caused by said firing to be an accuracy impacting factor, and actuates firing mechanism actuators to counteract, or reduce the effect of, that movement. Different modes may be available to permit the user to fire upon all impact points set, or to “double-tap” or otherwise produce a close grouping, coverage of possible locations of a target, or other patterns of multiple shots with an automatic rifle on or about a point of impact, or series of points of impact, which actions may be executed upon one command (e.g., one trigger pull). But serial execution (one impact point per trigger pull or other command from highest to lowest priority—which may be rearranged by the user) after recoil settling and determining that the point of impact is still within the viewing portal, which may correspond with being executable by the system, may be preferred in some embodiments, and may also be used in executing such patterns, in such embodiments.
The targeting methods and systems set forth in this application may apply equally to a wide variety of other pointing, aiming, targeting and executing activities, including, but not limited to, cameras and electronic tagging or data write/re-write activities. For example, shipment tracking systems and high-speed photography systems may create multiple targeting (other forms of impact points) for focused activities using the same types of controls and a similar GUI (e.g., photographic viewfinder rather than reticle), but for intercepting a point or area with a tracking (scanning, reading, writing) or photographic activity.
Among other components, the system 500 includes an input/output device 501, a memory device 503, storage media and/or hard disk recorder and/or cloud storage port or connection device 505, and a processor or processors 507. The processor(s) 507 is (are) capable of receiving, interpreting, processing and manipulating signals and executing instructions for further processing and for output, pre-output and/or storage in and outside of the system. The processor(s) 507 may be general or multipurpose, single- or multi-threaded, and may have a single core or several processor cores, including microprocessors. Among other things, the processor is capable of processing signals and instructions for the input/output device 501, analog receiver/storage/converter device 519, and/or analog in/out device 521, to cause a user interface to be provided or modified for use by a user on hardware, such as, but not limited to, physical human hand tracker and other human body part interface controls (e.g., 3-D hand sensor, object emulator, joystick control, sight or scope adjustment dials) and/or a personal computer monitor or terminal monitor with a mouse and keyboard and presentation and input software (as in a GUI), rather than or in addition to electronic/photonic scope or sight aspects, as discussed in reference to other figures in this application.
For example, a “window” presentation user interface aspect may present a user, such as a sniper or other firearm user, with a reticle and/or environmental image, remaining scope readouts or display output, with selectable menu options in a GUI, to select settings for targeting and execution, such as creating, cancelling and adjusting new points of impact or the counteraction or other treatment of factors impacting the accuracy of a firing mechanism (e.g. by actuating firing mechanism actuators that control the position of at least part of a firing mechanism), as discussed in greater detail elsewhere in this application.
As another example, such a “window” presentation user interface aspects may present a user with the option to target or gesture with respect to particular locations of visual emulations of a model or photographic subject, based on live feedback, such as imaging and the detected movement of painted or edge/boundary detected targets within a collateral medium or material. As mentioned above, a wide variety of sensors or auxiliary probes may be used to aid in detecting, defining and even imaging targeted objects or parts thereof (“targets”). As another example, the user interface and hardware may allow a user to manipulate a virtual object that may translate movements into control input matching or related to those movements in real time, and with reference to a live model depicted on a computer monitor and presenting instantaneous information from a radar or sonar or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (“MRI”) or X-ray radiographic (e.g., CAT scan) machine, which may allow a user to create an activity or apply physical force or energy to particular areas of a target, in particular series, locations, shapes and sizes or pulses and pulse rates to substantially cut or ionize matter, which size and shape may be given a hardness of edge, tolerance, and strength, all individually controllable by a user, and which may be provided as feedback to the user by acceleration of the virtual object, either by an actuable effigy of the shape, size, position, resistance and weight of the virtual object and its controls, or by tactile stimulus (e.g., ultrasound and/or radiative feedback). A virtual object or other tool may include a shaped cursor which may be semi-transparent, and may allow the user to plan and view a portrayed path for the planned future action, for example, a planned flight path for a fired projectile, or, as another example, a robotically actuated physical movement, such as surgical lancing or other subject manipulation, before it is actually implemented on a subject (which execution can be done in parts or degrees or completely, with a separate, later command to the system). This manipulatable path planning may be done with a cursor or other display, such as a computer monitor, or depiction/control hardware and techniques (e.g., 3-D physical contour, camera array projection, cutting, shipment tracking plan, or manipulation emulation device). In any event, a user may create a path of planned movement, shooting or a shooting series, tracking protected subject location or path intercept or other activity or other manipulation by programming such a path and/or by first executing the path in virtual or real space and, optionally, reviewing a depicted path based on that execution, and, if satisfied with the characteristics of the movement(s) of the executed path (e.g., direction(s), length(s), instance(s), location(s), coverage(s), breadth(s), pressure(s), actual or real tissue reaction(s), size(s) of lancing or projected lancing, or blunt instrument trial or projection of where lancing or other actuation will take place), all of which characteristics may be displayed numerically or graphically as an attribute of a depicted path in a display as a “Planned Path,” representation, the user may then choose to have the path executed. Some such embodiments are discussed in greater detail elsewhere in this application. In some embodiments, before choosing to execute the path, a user may choose to save a file composed and capable of executing the characteristics of the movement on the system. In some embodiments, the user may elect to modify individual, several or all characteristics of the path over any part of the path's progression (for example, by creating or manipulating segmentation tools such as anchor points along the path), again may choose to save such a file comprised of such information, and again may choose separately to execute the path, which may be executed at different speeds along the path or even with a graduated and/or matched acceleration device, such as a throttle for the path's execution speed (using any possible units/time) which may be stopped at any time during observation of the movement. The system may automatically, or at the user's direction, adjust the path or path segments for unintended hand tremor by smoothing or substituting more graduated curves and movement accelerations along progressions or as to characteristics of the path. The system may automatically, or a user may direct it, to generate reactive or protective radiation in greater, lesser or other amounts that better interfere and protect against ionizing radiation, for protected collateral areas, as well, as another example, based on live feedback concerning the amount of protection actually occurring through interference, as sensed by the system, and/or based on physical models, including refraction models.
The processor(s) 507 is/are capable of processing instructions stored in memory devices 505 and/or 503 (or ROM or RAM), and may communicate via system buses 575. Input/output device 501 is capable of input/output operations for the system, and may include and communicate through numerous input and/or output hardware, and numerous instances thereof, such as, but not limited to, a computer mouse, touch screen, flat panel display, collimating light-augmented scope, and pixel arrays, including a pixel array with differently addressable and separately (or in any progressive or other sub-group) scannable and projectable pixels, system element position sensors and actuators (as in example system for a firearm mechanism 511, which may be the system described in
Input and output devices may deliver input and receive output by any known means, including, but not limited to, the examples shown with respect to examples 517, including, but not limited to, example system for a firearm mechanism 511, camera(s) and/or optical sensor(s) 513, separate local computer 515, and example internet servers 509. The input managed and distributed by the system may be any representational aspect or signal or direct impression captured from any sensed or modeled activity, and may be taken or converted as input through any sensor or carrier means known in the art. In addition, directly carried elements (for example a light stream taken by fiber optics from a view of a scene) may be directly managed, manipulated and distributed in whole or in part to enhance output, and whole ambient light information may be taken by a series of sensors dedicated to angles of detection, or an omnidirectional sensor or series of sensors which record direction as well as the presence of photons sensed and/or recorded, and may exclude the need for lenses (or ignore or re-purpose sensors “out of focal plane” for detecting bokeh information or enhancing resolution as focal lengths and apertures are selected), only later to be analyzed and rendered into focal planes or fields of a user's choice through the system. For example, a series of metallic sensor plates that resonate with or otherwise detect photons propagating in particular directions would also be capable of being recorded with directional information, in addition to other, more ordinary light data recorded by sensors. While this example is illustrative, it is to be understood that any form of electromagnetism, compression wave or other sensed phenomenon may include such sensory, directional and 3D locational information, which may also be made possible by multiple locations and/or angles of sensing, preferably, in a similar or measurably related, if not identical, time frame. The system may condition, select all or part of, alter and/or generate composites from all or part of such direct or analog image transmissions, and may combine them with other forms of image data, such as digital image files, if such direct or data encoded sources are used. Specialized sensors for detecting the presence of interference or resonance of radiation of any type, and imaging the sources or capturing the forces applied based on the known characteristics of waves and electromagnetic radiation in particular, may also be included for input/output devices. Sensors that permit the biangulation or triangulation of light sources, to determine subject and subject environment location and range information, may also be used, and the system may “paint” any part of that subject or environment with electromagnetic, radiative heating, or other markers to ease tracking, targeting, and counteracting environmental/system relative shifts and rotations with the further use of sensors detecting such markings, as discussed in other parts of this application. A direction-indicating beacon may also or alternatively be planted in the surrounding environment to ease these system activities and general system position and subject tracking assessment, including, but not limited to, subject, target and system position projection, in the environment. In this way, impact points may be placed and maintained relative to the subject itself, if marked, or the environment in general.
While the illustrated system example 500 may be helpful to understand the implementation of aspects of the invention, it is to be understood that any form of computer system may be used—for example, a simpler computer system containing a processor for executing instructions and a memory or transmission source. The aspects or features set forth may be implemented with, and in any combination of, digital electronic circuitry, hardware, software, firmware, or in analog circuitry or associational storage and transmission, any of which may be aided and carried out with external hardware and software, optionally, by networked connection, such as by LAN, WAN or the many connections forming the Internet. The system can be embodied in a tangibly-stored computer program, as by a machine-readable medium and propagated signal, for execution by a programmable processor. The method steps of the embodiments of the present invention may be performed by such a programmable processor, executing a program of instructions, operating on input and output, and generating output. A computer program includes instructions for a computer to carry out a particular activity to bring about a particular result, and may be written in any programming language, including compiled and uncompiled and interpreted languages and machine language, and can be deployed in any form, including a complete program, module, component, subroutine, or other suitable routine for a computer program.
A hammer 603 may be included and may be force-biased and caused, upon a shooting execution movement (which may be electronically commanded and/or physically caused) to release stored energy from that force biasing and strike a preferably semi-spherical concave intermediate gear 605 which is physically interfaced with an abutting convex curved, and preferably spherical, striker 607, via gear teeth, such as those shown as 606 and 608. A firing operation embodiment, using the firing mechanism described in this figure, is as follows. When stricken by intermediate gear 605 (itself stricken by hammer 603), striker 607 then, in turn, strikes firing pin 609, which may strike a loaded cartridge (not pictured) held in chamber 611, resulting, for example, in igniting an accelerant and causing a projectile within the cartridge to fire down a rifled barrel 613. Preferably, the magnetic material creating the dipole in spherical striker/gear 607, and shown by groups of negative and positive signs (discussed further, below, and such as those negative and positive signs appearing as, respectively, 610 and 614) is sorted, maintained or reinforced in its dipole position by the striking action—for example, by a heavier positive side of dipole elements.
Any number of physical and electronically mediated, systematically controlled trigger and firing mechanisms may also, or alternatively, be used, to implement various aspects of the present invention. But preferably, a mechanism, which may change the rotational position as well as horizontal and vertical position of at least the firing barrel component of the firing mechanism is used. In the preferred embodiment detailed in
Force-loading structure 621 connects the body of the rifle and barrel, and applies force to the barrel in the direction indicated by force-indicating arrow 622, driving and seating the barrel and connected chamber, firing pin 609 and, most immediately, spherical gear striker 607 into gear 605. Straight-line moveable, piston-action mount 605a connects gear 605 to the body of the rifle, providing a secure platform and also applying reacting force in the direction opposite to force arrow 622 to aid in maintaining strong gear teeth interface for gear 605 and striker 607, by pushing them together. In alternate embodiments, the hammer element may be omitted and the piston 605a or other striking actuator may itself provide striking force to gear 605, striker 607 and/or firing pin. In this instance, a specialized piston and actuably-rotating armature also may be used, which allows the striking force to be generated in any direction, and more perfectly oppose (be generated 180 degrees from) the barrel and chamber direction, however it may be rotationally actuated at the time of striking—moving gear 605 in a straight-line path direction perpendicular to the tangential plane at the central point of the spherical gear interface. A semi-spherical gear such as 605 with a spherical center located at the distal rotational pivot point of the barrel may, instead, be used (as pictured by alternate gear inner surface shape, teeth omitted, shown as 627), which may aid in creating even opposing force as the gear is actuated. But in that case, the capability for fore and aft shifting of the barrel during rotational actuation will be eliminated unless an additional piston or other actuator for creating for and aft shifting of the barrel and firing mechanism is used. Alternatively, or in addition, uneven gear teeth angles and thickness may be used, as pictured, to create approximately stable striking force at the point of striking, opposing the direction of the barrel and chamber, for any possible point of spherical gear interface. In any event, the system may use a final (firing strike completed) barrel position, to whatever degree the barrel may shift in each rotational position due to striking action, in determining the nature and degree of barrel position actuation to result in hitting the highest priority impact point with a shot. To allow piston 605a to operate at a radially-centered attachment point, hammer 603, if used, may contain a central slot or cavity, or be comprised of two striking pieces, between which such a piston is seated. If the hammer is omitted, an actuable striking force exerter may be connected directly to the barrel and/or striker and/or firing pin, and spherical gearing may be implemented without a spherical gear also serving as a striking or strike-transmission element, as it is in the figure. However, such an embodiment may be more expensive to implement, as it would require electrical or more complex mechanical striking assembly, to allow changing barrel position and still exert a sufficient striking force at all such positions.
Turning back to the embodiments shown in the figure, variable striker holders 623 may prevent firing pin actuation until a firing execution is commanded or carried out—serving as a safety and gear engagement maintenance device. For example, holders 623 may retract into pockets 624 by a system or user electronic command or actuation signal, or simply by being overcome by the force of a hammer strike from hammer 603, toward the spherical striker 607. Alternatively, as discussed above, hammer 603 may be omitted, and straight-line only movable piston mount 605a may itself be system- or firing movement-actuable to strike spherical striker 607 and overcome the holding force of holders 623.
If the system has placed a set N.I.P. indicator for the latest set N.I.P. on the display within a view or representation of the target environment in the sight, according to step 709, or, instead, determined that the N.I.P. “set” button was not depressed, the system may proceed to step 711. In step 711, the system determines whether any N.I.P. indicators have been set by the system, including such indicators that may have been set prior to the possible instance discussed above. If so, the system may proceed to step 713, in which it determines whether N.I.P. adjustments are to be made, for example, based on user input adjusting the position of a set N.I.P., such as by horizontal and vertical position adjusting knobs 247 and 245, from
The system then proceeds to step 721, in which it determines and implements necessary adjustments, as discussed elsewhere in this application, to the firing mechanism such that a projectile fired from the firing mechanism will place a projectile on, or as near as possible to on, the location of any set N.I.P. and indicator with the highest priority within the surrounding environment. If there is no currently set N.I.P. and indicator, the system may treat the intersection of the crosshairs or other reticle or impact point display point, as a set N.I.P. and indicator with the highest priority, and implement the adjustments to the firing mechanism discussed immediately above, with respect to step 721. The system then proceeds to step 723, in which it determines whether a firing command has been given by the system or user. If so, the system causes the firing mechanism to fire. If not, the system returns to the starting position.
As with other projectiles discussed in the present application, example projectile 801 comprises an example outer surface 800, which is generally streamlined in shape (e.g., at least partially rounded), in some embodiments. However, in some embodiments, outer surface 800 comprises movable components and joints that react in particular ways when projectile 801 is launched, in-flight and when embedded into a target material. For example, in some embodiments, surface 800 comprises an example seven (7) moving outer surface components, as well as other internal moving component(s), held within surface 800. The exact number and positioning of such components pictured, while useful, are illustrative and not exhaustive of the many possible different numbers and orientations of surface components. An example positioning of such components of surface 800 when deployed is illustrated in greater detail in
To allow such movement of surface components, each component may be connected to the remainder of projectile 801 by hinged joints, such as the examples shown as hinged joints 810. Each of the example seven components of surface 800 are visible in the figure, including a tip component 811, and three sets of one fore and one aft main body component joined together, such as the example shown as 813. In some embodiments, example projectile 801 has an approximately rounded profile and outer surface 800, created by structural components, including fore component 815 and fore component 817, located on or about a leading end 818 of example projectile 801, and aft components, including aft component 819 and aft component 821, located on or about a trailing end 820 of example projectile 801. In some embodiments, projectile 801 has an at least approximately radial symmetry (as in most bullets) about a central, lengthwise axis 822 (which axis is oriented from left to right, in the perspective of the figure). Only two sets of fore and aft components are visible in the figure as part of the outer surface 800—namely, fore component 815, fore component 817, and, to which each is connected, respectively, aft component 819 and aft component 821. Of course, the examples of moving structural components pictured are merely examples of the virtually unlimited numbers and locations of moving structural components which may be used in smart projectiles falling within the scope of the invention. The exact number of such moving structural components may be fewer or more numerous, in various embodiments. For example, in some embodiments, a single (1) movable (i.e., actuable) structural component may be included within example projectile 801. As another example, in some embodiments, two (2) movable structural components may be included within example projectile 801. As another example, in some embodiments, three (3) movable structural components may be included within example projectile 801.
In some embodiments, the control unit 805 (if present) may comprise a number of additional subcomponents for detecting and communicating orientation, position, movements and other factors to the external control system. For example, in some embodiments, control unit 805 comprises an accelerometer, for determining movements of example projectile 801, as well as its orientation and position relative to the force of gravity. The control unit may also comprise a gyroscope, which may be a directional gyroscope or gyrocompass, or a form of gyroscope otherwise re-calibrated periodically according to a reference direction. Preferably, such a gyroscope or gyrocompass is dampened from movement during deployment, to avoid miscalibration or damage during impact of the projectile. As another example, if the control unit is equipped with a G.P.S., or (for example, with its wireless communications atenna(ae) 803 in communication with G.P.S. satellites), indicating its relative orientation and position, a gyroscope or the control system 805 may be periodically recalibrated to indicate a relative orientation of probe 801 with improved accuracy. Similarly, indications from an accelerometer(s) may be used to cross-check movements indicated by a gyroscope or by electromagnetic test signals of the external control system that interact with antennae 803 and/or reflectors 807 (and vice versa). In some embodiments, the accelerometer(s), gyroscope(s), G.P.S. systems, reflectors and antennae may aid in directing the positioning and orientation of projectile 801 during flight, making projectile 801 a remotely-controlled projectile that can be actively directed to a particular target. For example, using a flight-simulating GUI within the external control system, or an augmented targeting GUI such as those set forth in
As mentioned above, the dynamic operation of some example components of projectile/probe 801 are treated in more detail, immediately below, in reference to
As tip 811 collides with target wall 900, in some embodiments, its sharp profile allows it to pierce the material of the wall and enter it. In some embodiments, a sharper or harder tip material may be used, or a larger launching force may be exerted on projectile 901, to pierce and mount probe 900 in harder, stronger, more robust or more distant materials (e.g., armor). In other embodiments, a softer material or lower launching force may be appropriate for deployment and embedding of the probe into a softer or more flexible material (e.g., clothing of a target person to be probe will be attached and tracked, and future targeting will be defined relative to, as set forth above in reference to
As a result, after the probe 901 is so attached to the target, and fixed in orientation relative to it, and its wireless communications antennae and reflectors become accessible to the external control system of the targeting system (e.g., such as the targeting systems set forth above, in reference to
In some embodiments, additional hardware may also be included within probe 901, and controllable by internal control system 805 (which may itself be controlled by commands and communications from the external control system within the targeting system), to increase the number and variety of options for further dealing with the target. In various embodiments, such additional hardware may include: motorized hypodermic needles with drugs held within an attached vessel (e.g., tranquilizers), electric shock-delivering devices, sound-, heat-, light- or gas-generating devices and explosives, or radio beacons, to name just a few possibilities. In some embodiments, probe 901 may include a speaker or two-way communications equipment, for issuing commands or otherwise communicating with a target. Any or all of the above actuators may be actuated by command from a user and/or remote control system or a control system on board example projectile 801 or example projectile 901, either of which control systems may be, include, or be included within, a control system including computer hardware and/or software, such as example control systems set forth in this application. For example, such a control system may be example on-board control system 805 and/or example control system 500, discussed in detail above and in reference to other figures. As discussed above, such a control system may include hardware capable of creating and managing a wireless network (via antennae 803), and thereby conducting wireless communications, e.g., with another control system in a remote location from the projectile 901. In some embodiments, as discussed above, such wireless networks may be, or include, LAN, WAN and/or the many connections forming the Internet, in various embodiments, as discussed in greater detail throughout this application. (See, e.g.,
As explained above, because projectile probe 801/901 is physically fixed in position and orientation to a target material, a targeting system employing such a projectile/probe can define relative distances and positions within said target, and a surrounding environment, with greater precision and greater control, and place or alter impact point indicators in relation to the position and orientation of projectile/probe 801/901 after deployment. Although the example of a physical, non-lethal projectile for defining relative positions of a targeting system (and positioning impact point indicators within a sight and/or display) is provided in detail, it should also be understood that any other system component or method for altering a target material, or an object attached to a target material, may also be used. For example, in one embodiment, a laser or other beam-generating sight (e.g., mounted on the body of the rifle or other launcher of projectiles to be fired by the system) comprised in the targeting system may be used, in which a collimated beam of coherent light or an electromagnetic beam is used to heat, marking, “paint” or otherwise alter a point or region of the target material or an object attached to it. Positions relative to the heated, marked or painted region or point may then be detected (e.g., by light, laser or infrared sensors within the system) to define impact points and display them to a user.
In some embodiments, such a device includes at least one sensor, for monitoring the motion of the firearm within an environment. In some embodiments, such a sensor is a motion sensor, such as any suitable motion sensor known in the art. In some embodiments, such a motion sensor includes a camera. As another example, in some embodiments, such a motion sensor includes an accelerometer. As yet another example, in some embodiments, such a motion sensor includes a range finder (e.g., incorporating RADAR, SONAR and/or LIDAR). In some embodiments, such a motion sensor includes a compass. In some embodiments, such a motion sensor includes a G.P.S. or other beacon-based location and/or orientation determining technology. In some embodiments, any of the motion sensors set forth above determine and communicate a location of the device and/or an attached and/or associated firearm, in three-dimensional space, within a surrounding environment. In some embodiments, any of the motion sensors set forth above determine and communicate a rotational position of the device and/or an attached and/or associated firearm, in three-dimensional space (e.g., based on rotation sensor(s) determining the degree of rotation of the device about 1, 2 and/or 3 rotational axes, relative to an environment surrounding the device.
In some embodiments, such a device controls the operation of a firearm, at least in part, via a firing mechanism connected for communications with, and actuable by, the control system. For example, in some embodiments, the control system may be electronically connected for communications with such a firing mechanism, which is control system-actuable via those communications (e.g., incorporating an electronic firing mechanism actuator, which can drive shooting, or arrest shooting, of the firearm on command by the control system). In some embodiments, the control system may be wirelessly connected for communications with such a firing mechanism, which is control system-actuable (e.g., incorporating a wireless firing mechanism actuator, which can drive shooting, or arrest shooting, of the firearm on command by the control system). As one example of such a firing mechanism actuator, such a device may include a control system actuable trigger, in some embodiments. As another example of such a control system actuable firing mechanism actuator, in some embodiments, such a firing mechanism actuator may include a firing mechanism safety (such as a safety switch).
In some embodiments, as discussed immediately below, such a device may carry out steps to control operation(s) of a firearm, based on the location of at least one predicted point of impact of such a projectile within such an environment, and/or based on motion of said device and/or the firearm (on which it may be mounted) within said environment and based on a position of said device relative to said point-of-impact. Some examples of such steps are discussed immediately below.
Beginning in step 1001, in some embodiments, the control system may begin by determining whether an onboard power source (e.g., a battery) has sufficient levels to run anticipated operations of the control system (such as those discussed in greater detail, below). If not, in some embodiments, the control system may shut down, sleep and/or return to the start of the process. If sufficient levels of power are determined to be available, however, in some embodiments incorporating at least one display (for presenting a G.U.I., as discussed above), the control system may display certain current user-variable and other settings of the control system. For example, as discussed above, in some embodiments, motion sensors such as those discussed above may monitor motion of the device and/or an attached or associated firearm. In some embodiments, an amount of such movement, and/or an amount of such acceleration, may be set by a user and/or the control system, above which amount(s), the control system will arrest or otherwise prevent firing of the firing mechanism of the firearm (e.g., by activating a safety device or by otherwise preventing the actuation of the firing mechanism.) In some embodiments, such amounts may be referred to as “thresholds” of movement and/or acceleration, above which errant, inaccurate operation of the firearm is prevented. Thus, in such embodiments, the control system may proceed to step 1003, in which it displays the latest user- or control system-set threshold(s) for movement and/or acceleration, discussed above (e.g., on the display, or on a physical dial that indicates such time periods). The user may then adjust the amount(s) of those threshold(s), in step 1005, which is then recorded and implemented by the control system as the new, currently set threshold(s), as indicated in step 1007. In some embodiments, only a motion threshold is included. In some embodiments, only an acceleration threshold is included. In some embodiments, both a motion and an acceleration threshold are included.
In some embodiments, a user-alterable setting may control the time and/or time period in which such monitored motions take place. In some embodiments, such time periods are measured backward from the time that a firearm is to be fired (e.g., a time when a user requests the firing of the firearm, such as by fully depressing or “pulling” a trigger of the firearm). As will be discussed in greater detail below, in various embodiments, if substantial movement, acceleration and/or inaccurate aiming of the firearm is determined to take place during that time period (such as movements exceeding the threshold(s) discussed above), the control system may arrest or otherwise prevent firing of the firing mechanism (e.g., by activating a safety device or by otherwise preventing the actuation of the firing mechanism.) In some embodiments, such a time period may be instantaneous, or substantially instantaneous. In some embodiments, however, the time period may be set by a user (e.g., by a user control, of a GUI of said device, presenting options for such time period selections.) Thus, in such embodiments, the control system may proceed to step 1009, in which (again, in some embodiments, after displaying the currently user or default or control system set time period, e.g., on the display, or on a physical dial that indicates such time periods) it permits the user to select and set a new amount of time as that time period. The length of that time period is then recorded for implementation by the control system, in step 1011.
As discussed above, in some embodiments, if sensors monitoring movement of the device and/or associated firearm indicate that motion of at least a part of the device and/or firearm exceed the threshold amounts currently set and implemented, during the time period currently set and implemented, at a time when a user (such as a human user, Artificial Intelligence, and/or control system) requests firing of the firearm (e.g., by pulling a trigger of the device or firearm, or otherwise indicating a firing command) the control system will arrest the firing of the firing mechanism of the firearm. Examples of such firing requests are set forth, and monitored, as indicated in step 1013. Thus, as indicated in subsequent step 1015, if such a movement and/or acceleration exceeding such thresholds is sensed and communicated to the control system during the currently set time period, the control system proceeds to step 1017, in which it so prevents the firing of the firing mechanism (and shooting of the firearm). If, by contrast, the movement of the firearm and/or device is below the threshold(s) during the time period, the control system may proceed to step 1019, in which it causes the firearm to shoot (e.g., actuating the firing mechanism and/or ending the operation of a safety). The control system may then return to the starting position.
In some embodiments, where a decreasing movement and/or acceleration, and/or a movement increasing the alignment of the firearm with a point of impact is determined to be taking place, the control system may implement a delay before firing the firearm (or, releasing the firing arrest) increasing the accuracy of the shooting the firearm. In some embodiments, such a period of the delay may be selected to coincide with an optimal time of alignment of the firearm with the point of impact selected. Some example methods for setting and selecting points of impact are set forth in greater detail, above. Similarly, in some embodiments, the control system may arrest or actuate the firearm based on other factors and conditions, and whether the state of those other factors and conditions are optimal, or within thresholds or amounts, set by the user and or control systems. For example, in some embodiments, any of the ballistic and other accuracy-impacting factors discussed above in this application may be sensed by computer hardware, and thresholds and amounts may be set with the aid of custom software running thereon, implementing steps similar to those set forth in reference to
Any of the steps set forth above, and in this application, are only examples, and are not exhaustive or exclusive expressions of the many, and virtually unlimited, alternative steps, orders of steps, numbers of steps, and overall methods that may be carried out, within the scope of the invention. Any of the embodiments of devices, systems, methods, steps, and techniques set forth above may be combined with any other embodiments of devices, systems, methods, steps, and techniques so set forth, in additional embodiments of the invention. Such alternative embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/088,575, filed Nov. 3, 2020, now U.S. Pat. No. 11,268,789, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/280,017, filed Feb. 19, 2019, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,823,533, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/628,614, filed Jun. 20, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,209,035, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/615,513, filed Sep. 13, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,683,813. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/245,165, filed Aug. 23, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,778,003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/828,514, filed Aug. 17, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,423,223, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/666,965, filed Nov. 2, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,109,864. The entire contents of each of the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference into the present application as if fully set forth herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 17088575 | Nov 2020 | US |
| Child | 17689945 | US | |
| Parent | 16280017 | Feb 2019 | US |
| Child | 17088575 | US | |
| Parent | 15628614 | Jun 2017 | US |
| Child | 16280017 | US | |
| Parent | 15245165 | Aug 2016 | US |
| Child | 15628614 | US | |
| Parent | 14828514 | Aug 2015 | US |
| Child | 15245165 | US | |
| Parent | 13666965 | Nov 2012 | US |
| Child | 14828514 | US | |
| Parent | 13615513 | Sep 2012 | US |
| Child | 15628614 | US |
