Patent Application
20090100998
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to the field of security and in particular, the field of weapons utilized in security situations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since the beginning of time, situations have arisen where various levels of visible threat have been necessary. In some situations, security personnel can more effectively control a situation by the use of stealth and the presence of weapons on security and/or law enforcement personnel merely escalates a situation. In other situations, an obvious show of force can quickly defuse a situation.
The present invention includes a system and method for implementing variable-intimidation weapons. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image display manager generates a collection of signals for displaying a desired color scheme among a collection of color schemes on a display device covering a weapon, in response to receiving an input to a weapon. At least a first color scheme among the collection of color schemes enhances the weapon's visibility and at least a second color scheme among the collection of color schemes reduces the weapon's visibility. In response to receiving the collection of signals, the image display manager displays the desire color scheme on the display according to the collection of signals.
The above, as well as additional purposes, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed written description.
The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further purposes and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:
Referring now to the figures, and in particular, referring to
Weapon 100 also includes a data processing system 104, which controls images displayed on display 102 in response to signals received at input 106. Input 106 may be implemented, for exemplary purposes and not as a way of limitation, as a simple button to enable a user to toggle between preselected images; a microphone that detects sounds and enables data processing system 104 to change the images displayed on display 102 in response to the detected sounds; and/or a biometric sensor that senses the users biometric signatures (e.g., fear, adrenaline, increased breathing, etc.) and enables data processing system 104 to change the images displayed on display 102 in response to the detected biometric signatures. As depicted, exemplary weapon 100 may include an interface to an external computer system 150, which enables a user to perform diagnostic procedures on weapon 100 or upload/download additional images/color schemes for weapon 100.
Display interface 208 enables communication between display 102 and data processing system 104. Audio interface 210 enables input 106 to detect sounds (e.g., the user's voice, etc.), which in turn enables data processing system 104 to determine whether or not to change the appearance of weapon 100. Biometric interface 212 measures the biometric signatures of the user and enables data processing system 104 to determine whether or not the change the appearance of weapon 100. For example, if the user displays elevated heart rate and increased breathing, data processing system 104 may determine that the user is in a crisis situation and changes the appearance of weapon 100 accordingly. Tactile interface 214 enables the user to manually select a desired appearance of weapon via a touch sensor or button-style interface.
Included in system memory 206 is operating system 220, which also includes kernel 224 which includes lower levels of functionality for operating system 220. System memory 206 includes image display manager 232, which receives input from input 106, accesses image database 230 to retrieve a desired color scheme, and sends signals to display 102 to change the appearance of weapon 100 by displaying the desired color scheme on display 102.
If image display manager 232 has received input from input 106 to display a desired color scheme on display 102, the process continues to step 306, which illustrate image display manager 232 determining if the visibility of weapon 100 should be enhanced or reduced. The determination if the visibility of weapon 100 should be enhanced or reduced may be based on user input, or on factors the user has little conscious control over, such as heart rate or the sound of gunfire. If the visibility of the weapon is to be enhanced, the process continues to step 306, which illustrates image display manager 232 retrieving an enhanced-visibility color scheme from image database 230 and displaying the enhanced-visibility color scheme on display 102. The process returns to step 302. If the visibility of the weapon is to be reduced, the process continues to step 306, which illustrates image display manager 232 retrieving a reduced-visibility color scheme from image database 230 and displaying the enhanced-visibility color scheme on display 102. The process returns to step 302.
As discussed, the present invention includes a system and method for implementing variable-intimidation weapons. According to an embodiment of the present invention, an image display manager generates a collection of signals for displaying a desired color scheme among a collection of color schemes on a display device covering a weapon, in response to receiving an input to a weapon. At least a first color scheme among the collection of color schemes enhances the weapon's visibility and at least a second color scheme among the collection of color schemes reduces the weapon's visibility. In response to receiving the collection of signals, the image display manager displays the desire color scheme on the display according to the collection of signals.
It should be understood that at least some aspects of the present invention may alternatively be implemented in a computer-usable medium that contains a program product. Programs defining functions in the present invention can be delivered to a data storage system or a computer system via a variety of signal-bearing media, which include, without limitation, non-writable storage media (e.g., CD-ROM, writable storage media (e.g., hard disk drive, read/write CD-ROM, optical media), system memory such as, but not limited to random access memory (RAM), and communication media, such as computer networks and telephone networks, including Ethernet, the Internet, wireless networks, and like networks. It should be understood, therefore, that such signal-bearing media, when carrying or encoding computer-readable instructions that direct method functions in the present invention, represent alternative embodiments of the present invention. Further, it is understood that the present invention may be implemented by a system having means in the form of hardware, software, or a combination of software and hardware as described herein or their equivalent.
While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
