US20190154381A1

US20190154381A1 - Smart ammunition

Info

Publication number: US20190154381A1
Application number: US16/186,325
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven Wayne Goldstein
Original assignee: Intellishot Holdings Inc
Current assignee: Intellishot Holdings Inc
Priority date: 2017-11-10
Filing date: 2018-11-09
Publication date: 2019-05-23
Also published as: US20220373285A1

Abstract

A smart round of ammunition includes a casing, a primer disposed at a bottom portion of the casing, a projectile mounted at a top portion of the casing and a propellant disposed within an interior portion of the casing between the projectile and primer. The primer includes a piezo generator transducing a mechanical force received at a firing pin portion of the primer into a stored charge, a switch coupling and decoupling a spark gap between the stored charge and the propellant, and a wireless sensor activating the switch responsive to a digital signal received from a component external to the casing. The activation permits a discharge of the stored charge into the spark gap and therefore detonates the propellant.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional filing of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/584,729, filed Nov. 10, 2017, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of smart ammunition.

Description of the Related Art

Technology may provide the answers in the quest to resolve one of our nation's most controversial societal issues: gun violence. In the past decade over one million Americans have been shot, and approximately 31,000 people are killed each year by firearms. That's a rate nearly 20 times that of other industrialized countries.
One potentially disruptive solution has been introduced, termed Smart guns. Smart guns operate in a variety of ways to prevent the trigger from being fully deployed when someone other than the owner tries to use them. Some utilize a four-digit password similar to a Smartphone, others incorporate biometric validation.
But this being about firearms, there are of course complicating factors. Most significantly various pro-gun rights lobbyists and organizations have spoken out against smart gun technology as they believe their digital orientation could lead to a national registry of gun owners, and increase the likelihood of government confiscation. Complicating matters, some gun owners are concerned about reliability, even though extensive testing has shown these technologies offer a high degree of reliability. All in all, adaption of these new technologies rub against the 2nd amendment for many and thus smart gun technology have experienced little acceptance and uptake.
One compelling reason smart firearms are struggling to be embraced, is that even the most basic firearm weapon is built to operate for decades and without failure. Estimates indicate there are roughly 400+ million firearms currently in circulation, enough for every man, woman and child in the US. The vast majority of gun owners don't see the need to replace their existing firearms based on improving safety alone. In fact, they typically keep ownership of their firearms for decades as guns last indefinitely. Finally, Smart gun technology offers little value to mitigate gun violence if the gun owner desires a lethal outcome.
Assuming for the moment, there was unanimous support of Smart gun technology, at the current 3.6 Million rates of annual sales of firearms; it would take approximately 110 years to replace the existing inventory that resides across America's homes. Replacing current firearms with some type of digitally enablement may require the passage of decades to be fully realized.
One final comment, ammunition is a consumable, thus there is but an exhaustible amount of ammunition. Publications disclose ammunition inventory in stores and homes is in the range of years, unlike firearms, which is practically unlimited.
Modern technologies offer new opportunities for “digital marking, tracing and functionality of ammunition. Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) and Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID), NFC, Ultrasonic Identification (UID), GPS, and BEACONS tagging technologies would allow real-time insights to all the information for a round of smart ammunition in the same way clothing is tagged and monitored in a retail store. These tagging technologies would facilitate the detection of the ammunition as well as the enablement of where, and when the munitions can be fired, as well as mitigating the potency of the propellant. As such, the system would report detection and could automatically neutralize the discharging of ammunition within the field. Embedding a small radio-frequency identification tag, and a propellant enabler inside a round of ammunition is a significant step toward increased firearm safety and the mitigation of gun violence.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art in respect to smart gun technology and provide a novel and non-obvious smart ammunition.
An apparatus, method and system for the detection and contextually aware monitoring of smart ammunitions and the mediation of such smart ammunitions are disclosed. In some implementations and embodiments contextually-aware detection and monitoring can include Real Time Location System (RTLS) monitoring of the smart ammunition for a defined area. The defined area can be enabled by an electronic virtual border around a single point with a predefined set of boundaries such as geofencing. Tracking of the ammunition utilizes RF transceivers, whereas the ammunition includes internal or external sensors for determining location, speed of movement, heading, vibration, acceleration (e.g., 3D acceleration), or any information that can monitor the activity, state, identification of the ammunition and to provide detection and contextual awareness.
There are multiple layers of service that can be enabled and mediated; examples include, basic detection of the ammunition within the proximity of the virtual field. Secondary services such as the monitoring of movement such that the system would track a piece of ammunition in the virtual field. Moreover, deactivation or activation of the ammunitions ability to be discharged as well as modifying the ammunition propellant or primer to mitigate its lethality. The smart ammunition can be reactivated to its original state when it's no longer in proximity of the physical area, when a specific time period has elapsed or by the transmission of a control signal.
Simple detection of the ammunition presence can serve as an alarm. Once a firearm was discharged, the system can use acoustic sensors and or other sensors to alert others and authorities. Although we utilizer the term gun, riffle and firearm throughout this document, the invention considers all current and future forms factors of ammunition including other ordnances to be enabled by the disclosures provided.
It should be noted, a novel component of the invention, such that much of the control system and data that can be acquired from the interaction between user, the firearms, the ammunition and the target are stored in the memory of the ammunition such it is can be extracted at a time post the bullet striking the target. All data acquired for the mems devices are stored in non-volatile memory high-survivability hardened subsystem within the bullet and casing enclosures.
Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspects of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of smart ammunition.

FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration of a process for smart ammunition utilization.

FIG. 3 is a pictorial illustration of a magazine implementation of smart ammunition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In an attempt to consider an intelligent and nonpartisan approach to limit gun violence, enhance gun safety, and reduce crime, we postulate that reporting on the detection of ammunition and the mediation of the ammunition within an electronic virtual-space may yield the most favorable reception to the ever-rising gun violence issue. Smart ammunition is digitally enabled. No new firearm technology is required for it to operate, the ammunition is backward compatible. Thus, the ammunition would be agnostic and would work with today's firearms while offering additional value with future and smarter firearm designs.
Operating Environment:
Safe Space is our operating platform and is focused on the goal of keeping schools, places of worship, airports, banks and malls free from firearms being discharged. Although it is culturally recognized not to carry weapons into these environments there is no practical way to enforce this behavior and thus the environment is vulnerable. The commercialization of 3D printed firearms further exacerbates current detection capabilities.
Smart ammunition on the other hand, ensures that individuals nearing or entering the SafeSpace zone could be detected, identified, reported, and would not be able to discharge their firearm regardless of their identity, authority, profession or government empowerment unless a proceeding firearm discharge was first experienced by the system. The ammunition is simply and elegantly neutralized while in the presence of the field.
Overview of the Invention:
There are a number of patents and prior art, which teach a tagging system mounted in or near a round of ammunition. The novelty of this invention extends beyond tagging, as we are not only detecting the ammunition, but determine the flow of user traffic pattern (arrival, departure). We also enable the deactivating or activating of the ammunitions ability to be discharged based on the virtual environment in contact with the ammunition. Furthermore, the ammunition behavioral state can be changed to/from conventional to smart or from smart to conventional. If the ammunitions were in proximity of the specific transmission signal, the ammunitions could automatically or manually be disarmed, thus preventing it from being discharged from the firearm. In addition, it can control the cycle timing between subsequent rounds being discharged after the initial round as well as the number of rounds discharged. The following provides examples of events and criteria that could be used to disarming or arm the ammunition: The identification of an acoustical signature, or discharge detected by a accelerometer-based classification system that a firearm has been discharged, the ammunition location, movement, direction of movement, speed of movement, altitude, location on the body, location within the magazine, location within the firing chamber, the volume of ammunition adjacent to the specific round, the weather conditions, the time of day, day of the week, the GPS location, the detection of other rounds located on or in proximity to the individual, the personal information of the user, any recent communications and or documentation supporting rationale to deactivate the ammunition, the history of the user, the history of the users episodes of gun firing, the size of the crowd in proximity to the user, if located in a smart gun or conventional gun, the type of firearm, the number of firearms in proximity to the user, the ammunition was tamped with, if the transponder system was tampered with if the transponder system is running off main or battery power, sonic-signature detection such as key words being processed such as help, police, shooter, scream detector, SPL detector, number of people in the virtual area, detection of the sound of a siren, Voice recognition system from mobile phones such as Ski, Alexia from Amazon, Fire and smoke detectors that were triggered, position of firearm.
Overall System Architecture:
Firing System—Primer:
The invention uses a piezo-powered generator (PPG) to ignite the combustible explosive housed inside in a primer substructure or the propellant the ammunition's casing. The invention enables conventional firing pin firearm technology hammer strikes to interface with a piezo generator located in the ammunition. In conventional ammunition, the primer contains a small amount of percussion-sensitive explosive such as lead azide. When a fire pin or striker hits the primer cap with sufficient mechanical shock, it detonates the primer material. This sends hot burning particles of primer material into contact with the propellant, beginning its burning.
In contrast, the invention disclosed utilizes the same firearm firing pin strategy but it strikes a control pin and system, which converts mechanical energy (pressure or movement from the control pin) into an electrical signal. This signal upon being conditioned is used to activate a spark gap surrounded by thermally sensitive explosives thus causing detonation and initializing an energetic material train with a propellant. “A spark gap” consists of an arrangement of two or more conducting electrodes separated by a gap usually filled with a gas such as air, designed to allow an electric spark to pass between the conductors. In another embodiment, the PPG can activate an exploding-bridgewire detonator often used where strong unwanted RF signals could cause involuntary detonation. In yet another embodiment, the PPG electrical signal would vaporize a length of a thin wire creating an initial shock wave surrounded by a percussion-sensitive explosive thus initializing an energetic material train with a propellant.
The PPG is designed to replace the current primer component of a round of ammunition, which is responsible for initiating the propellants combustion. Primers are sold as a separate and replaceable component of rim-fire construction adopted worldwide.
Under normal or armed operation, a voltage from the PPG is sent to a spark gap, causing detonation of the propellant upon a trigger pull or other modes of activation in future and advanced firearms technology. We further introduce a switch to couple or decoupled the voltage from the PPG; as such the spark gap would be enabled by the state of this switch. Switch's can be designed utilizing analog technology such as a reed relay or digitally such as MOSFET or Optocoupler or hybrid that would be controlled from a microprocessor. The switch could arm or disarm the flow of voltage from the piezo to the spark gap, which in turn would interact with the propellant. No matter how many times the trigger is squeezed, and assuming the ammunition is disarmed, the ammunition won't be discharged.
Piezo Shock Generator:
The PPG output can be coupled to one or more locations in or on the firearms itself. The smart round and its PPG can easily be electrically coupled via the firing pin or the casing. The PPG is capable of generating sufficient voltage as to create a shock to someone who is in contact with the PPG output. If the system is set up to produce this piezo output, the high voltage would ultimately be communicated to the gun handle, trigger, barrel etc and thus would compromise the normal use of the firearm based on the users ability to hold and or control the firearm normally based on its short-term “electrified” state.
Accelerometer:
An accelerometer is mounded in the smart ammunition. These MEMS sensors will enable a host of data to be sent the user and others, either by RF, BT, NF, RFID, UID or other. Single and multi-axis models of accelerometers can be enabled to measure Interior ballistics—once the trigger of a firearm is pulled, the pressure of the propellant's gasses is released forward, through the barrel of the gun, and out of its muzzle and Exterior ballistics—the bullet spends outside of the gun, before it hits the target}. Analysis is made of the projectile's trajectory, its drag through the air, and its probability of flight alteration in relation to other variables magnitude and direction of the proper acceleration, as a vector quantity, to sense orientation (because direction of weight changes), coordinate acceleration, vibration, shock and falling in a resistive medium (a case where the proper acceleration changes, since it starts at zero, then increases), the elevation and drop, the target distance, the impact as measured in shore rating or other, the moment and elevation of the firearm itself proceeding the ammunition being discharged. Furthermore, G force of each round fired by the firearm, and other data is stored in flash memory (non-volatile memory). In addition to data that can be mind from the accelerometer when inflight.
The sensor can also determine the point of impact force as well as triggering a secondary explosion at point of impact or timed to detonate shortly thereafter, the time of ammunition was fired from the firearm.
Feedback acquired from the kinetic energy produced during the discharge of the ammunition can be sent wirelessly to the users phone or other peripheral depicting user metrics such as the overall stability, recoil, and G force of the last round(s) fired. The user would learn from this feedback and this improve their stance. The final step in a bullet's progression is that of Terminal ballistics, the examination of the changes that occur when a target is struck by a projectile and the counter-effects upon the impacted bullet, which may also be measured.
All data and measurements acquired from the accelerometer can be vital in analysis of a crime scene.
Power System:
The smart ammunition requires power to enable the various MEMS technologies, which reside in the casing as well as in the bullet. Internal battery power can be supplied from well known chemistry engineering. In another embodiment, the dormant explosive can serve a portion of the chemistry to generate power. In another embodiment, the passive RFID tag is powered by external RF transceiver modules or an active RFID tag internally powered, located in proximity of the ammunition. In another embodiment, the ammunition can also include a piezo generator and or pyroelectricity generator, or thermoelectric battery located in the casing, which uses the explosion of the propellant heat and projectile motion to convert this energy to the power necessary to support the voltage and current requirements of the internal MEMS.
The invention can include a second piezo system, which is mounted in the rear portion of the bullet itself. This energy harvesting system uses the shock wave of the traveling bullet to power a RF transmitter, microprocessor and GPS mems co-located in the bullet. The energy harvesting system can also include a capacitor, which is charged during the explosion and or the shock way to produce the mems power needs. Since the duration of bullets travel is measured in seconds, the overall power footprint is quite conservative.
The power source for the piece of ammunition is selected to be a passive energy storage component charged by an external reader or an energy storage component charged by mechanical vibrations. The mechanical vibrations are received by the receiver and converted into electrical power by way of a miniaturized cantilever and a piezoelectric material. The passive energy storage component is charged by ultrasonic radiation following conversion into electrical energy or by electromagnetic waves.
Secondary Explosion:
One aspect of the invention is for the projectile (bullet) to effectively deliver on its intended purpose, and convey the appropriate outcome for the specific target objective.
The bullet can carry a secondary charge or explosive. It can be physically located at the base of the bullet, close to the tip or any location on its geometry.
The secondary charge would be able to cause fragmentation of the bullet; it may contain a payload delivered to the target. Payloads my included biological substances, toxic substances, radio isotopes, sedatives, neurological agents, and other drugs designed to produce specific outcomes upon nearing or having contact with a human or animal target or designed to disseminate in a locations GPS coordinates.
These agents would be disseminated in the target at the point of impact. Another embodiment discloses that the primary explosive can serve specifically to carry the payload to the target while introducing a non-lethal impact and whereby the payload is designed to render the desired outcome. As such, as combination of the payload drug or agent, the kinetic energy of the bullet, velocity, angle of yaw at penetration, impact density, shape, material selection, including coated or “jacketed” used in the construction of the bullet and the primary propellants explosion characteristics, the overall ammunition can be designed to produce the desired outcome.
The invention outlines three solutions for a secondary charge to be activated. In one embodiment, the secondary charge can be activated upon physical impact of the bullet contacting its final destination. This can be accomplished by a secondary primer co-located in the bullet, which in turn causes a secondary explosion of the bullet and fragmentation or redirection of the bullet. The timing of the explosion can be immediate or delayed based on propellant characteristics. At the point of the second explosion, a chemical or other payload can be delivered. In another embodiment, the secondary explosion can be triggered by data supplied by the accelerometer. A sudden rate of change experienced by the accelerometer could likely indicate the bullet hit a point of impact. Thus in this scenario, tie bullet would accomplish its second function. In another embodiment, the secondary explosion can be trigged by GPS coordinates. Coordinates can depict the primary target or secondary targets. Coordinates can be entered in the GPS prior the ammunition be fired or they can be rules based and activate the secondary charge when certain pre-established conditions are met.
Provisioning:
The ammunition can be provisioned into either a conventional or smart state. Said another way, the ammunition could function as a passive (non electronically influenced) round of ammunition or it could take on the state of including some intelligence by enabling one or more of the mems sensors. The ammunition can be shipped in a conventional state and when desired, can be converted to a smart state. Provisioning of this state conversion process can be enabled through an inductive technique, capacitive or a RF technique such as using Bluetooth or RFID communications. In one embodiment, the Bluetooth master or slave can exist in a magazine, firearm, accessories, mobile phone, computer or any other peripheral. Provisioning to an active state can also be induced by an external RFID transponder or BT transmitter. Accordingly, if the ammunition were in a passive state and came in proximity of the virtual RFID transponder field designed to communicate with the ammunition, the ammunitions state could automatically (without user intervention) be switched to a smart state, Under this scenario, the smart ammunition PPG system could be deactivated remotely rendering the ammunition to be neutralized.
RF Transmitter for Tracking the Fired Bullet:
A bullet leaves a turbulent wake behind it. By placing a piezo electric element in the rear section of the bullet, this unsteady wake can be used to generate electricity to power a RF transmitter. Since the turbulent wake will be there regardless of the presence of the piezo element will not impact the power of the bullet itself.
The piezo element will power a small RF amplifier whose sole purpose will be to use the power from the piezo element to create a single carrier wave frequency. A dipole antenna arrangement requires two conductors. The bullet body will be one conductor, and a small stiff wire will be the 2nd conductor. A series of “tracking antenna would be used to track the path of the bullet. Since the dipole radiation pattern is maximum ahead and behind the bullet, this is the best configuration for the tracking antennas.
The RF transmitter sends signals out before, during and at point of impact. It allows for a multi array antenna system to track the bullet in flight. The system would transmit the GPS data back which could be seen on a mobile phone. In addition to trajectory information, the bullet could report back the target destination as measured on point of impact.
The tracking system allows the user to located the bullet at the point of impact. In the case of hunting, the bullet may be imbedded in the animal which is moving about after it was wounded. The hunter could easily track the location of the animal. This RF tracking system can also be enabled on a arrow with the same benefits.
Forensics:
RFID tags incorporate a unique serial number in addition to memory allocated for additional information. This is referred to as an Electronic Product Code (EPC). It is readable with a RFID transponder such as a portable field instrument. The tag contains a 96-bit string of data. The first eight bits are a header which identifies the version of the protocol. The next
28 bits identify the organization that manages the data for this tag; the organization number is assigned by the EPCGlobal consortium. The consortium has implemented Class 5 for ammunition. The next 24 bits are an object class, identifying the kind of product; the last 36 bits are a unique serial number for a particular tag. These last two fields are set by the organization that issued the tag. Rather like a URL, the total electronic product code number can be used as a key into a global database to uniquely identify a particular item.
The 96-bit string of data would be formatted to accept additional data. This data would include: User Personally identifiable information (PII) so that the ammunition can be traceable back through the channels of the original purchaser, retailer, distributor and manufacture. It can store the GPS data from the phone's firing location, through the BTLE or BT and store that data information in the RFID tag.
The invention teaches a process to insure the RFID tag survives and is functional after the bullet hits the target. Multiple micro size RFID tags can be used as many won't survive the point of impact. The size and mass of the tags are designed not to be destroyed when hitting the target. This is accomplished by printing the RFID on a low mass film or back carrier. The RFID tag could also be embedded in a substructure to preserve it operational effectiveness after impact.
In another embodiment, the ammunition is made detectable but not traceable. This aspect makes possible secure SafeSpace areas in without compromising the users Personally identifiable information or PPI.
Another aspect of the invention is directed to a data collection system that includes an active RFID tag for collecting, time-stamping, and storing user data. Examples of the type of data collected include time of round inserted, time discharged, number of rounds proceeding current discharged round, speed data, global positioning data, and round ID data. The system further includes an external data acquisition device, a hand-held data acquisition device like an wand. The external data acquisition device includes an RFID interrogator for communicating with the RFID tag, which enables the RFID tag to transmit the time-stamped data wirelessly to the external data acquisition device. The ability of the system to automatically collect and transfer data allows for the ammunition and discharging history and insights to be stored online.
In another embodiment, a passive RFID tag and non-volatile memory can replace the memory resident in the active RFID tag.
Communications and Interoperability:
The invention leverages industry research focused on Smartdust and mesh networks enabling all components of a firearm and smart ammunition to communicate with one in another. Smartdust is a system of many tiny microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) such as sensors, robots, or other devices, that can detect, for example, light, temperature, vibration, magnetism, or chemicals. They are usually operated on a computer network wirelessly and are distributed over some area to perform tasks, usually sensing through radio-frequency identification. The size of a round is orders of magnitude larger than what is envisaged in Smartdust, as such battery power and transmission distances are far greater.
Any device which shares digital data on the mesh network can communicate to any other device. Each device in the mesh network is independent of each and is self-powered or reliant on the RF signal to harvest the necessary power. The invention considers all possible modes of RF, Ultrasonic, and Magnetic communications commercially known. Communications can occur from round to round, from round to firearm, from firearm to firearm, from firearm to mobile, from bullet to mobile, from bullet to detection array, from bullet to RF transceiver. The RFID transponder nodes located in the virtual site can operate stand alone, or as array, can communicate with a VPN and can communicate over the internet or on a special frequency designated for the system. The interoperability considers interacting with databases, other technologies designed to neutralize a shooter, as well as ShotSpotter type of systems.
This invention is capable is integrating to a target which is enabled with sensors to detect the impact of a bullet. Upon the detection, the target can send precise coordinates of where the bullet hit.
RFID Tag Technology:
Capacitive vs. Inductive
There are two modes of communication used in RFID (termed coupling), inductive coupling and capacitive coupling. Inductive coupling involves the reader emitting a magnetic field. When a tag enters the field, the chip will vary its antennas response, which will result in a perturbation of the magnetic field, which can be detected by the reader. The strength of a magnetic field drops sharply with distance from the emitter; hence inductive systems are inherently short range. This is the mode of operation at HF. Capacitive coupling involves the reader emitting a propagating electromagnetic wave. When this wave impinges on a tag, the chip will modify the antenna radar cross section in such a way that the reflected signal containing the information on the chip can be detected by the reader. This is the primary mode of operation at UHF and in the microwave region.
Active vs. Passive
RFID tags are termed active or passive based on how they are powered. Active tags are battery powered and will actually actively transmit a signal. Active tags have the longest read range (˜100 meters) and are the most expensive due to the battery and transmitter cost. Passive tags have no on-tag power supply. The energy to activate the chip is derived solely from incoming wave from the reader or transponder. The transmitted power density necessary to achieve sufficient voltage for the chip to activate limits the read range. Passive tags are significantly less expensive than active tags and, in general, will have significantly less range. A third class of tags is semi-active, or battery assisted passive (BAP) tags. These tags include a battery so the chip will always have sufficient energy to turn on but they do not have an active transmitter. Since, in general, the limiting factor on the read range of a passive tag is getting sufficient power to the chip, BAP tags have greater range than passive tags although at a higher cost and limited life due to the battery.
Optimizing of the RF tag. As an example, the metal jacket of the casing may function as an antenna if it is designed with two or more metal segments to allow detection of a signal. Such a device will detune in the presence of other metal parts—such as the gun barrel and a magazine.
There are times when the ammunition is chambered prior to the firearm coming in proximity to a transponder. Under this scenario, the ammunition may be blocked from the RFID interrogation transceiver. Accordingly, the invention includes an additional form of communications to modify the state of the smart ammunition when direct RF broadcasts signals are prevented reliable communications due to Faraday cage type structures.
We use the firearm itself as the medium to carry a signal to the ammunition. Should any round of ammunition communicate with the transponder signal, its operational state would known and then electrically coupled to the physical ammunition casing. As such, should any round of smart ammunition be in deactivated state, it could be used to inform all other rounds to deactivate regardless if the other rounds were able to receive a RF deactivation signal. This systemic control signal is propagated through any metal including the firearm, the magazine, and the rounds themselves.
The microprocessor in the ammunition would be operatively coupled to the ammunitions' casing and would program the PPG to deactivate any ammunition in the chain. A real time clock keeps track of time the ammunition state is invoked. We use the this information to insure that the originating round which was deactivated and subsequent rounds could have their status changed based on a window of time.
System Integrity and Fail Safes:
The RFID tag can be placed in a cartridge with the cartridge metal providing some of the antenna functionality-for example by way of a micro-patch antenna configuration that is built in. If the antenna is overloaded to burnout the RFID, a thermal fuse causes the microprocessor to disable the PPG system and thus the ammunition cannot be discharged. In the ammunition casing, antennas can be built into the design as well. However, the changes in the signal reveal the presence of such parts in proximity to the tagged ammunition.
Tampering Detection:
Tampering with ammunition would cause the ammunition to be deactivated, either temporally or permanently. This could be enabled through the disarming of the primer, or through the propellant engine. The ammunition would be able to notify the user or others as to its state of operations. Tampering with the transponders will also deactivate the ammunition.
Detection of Non-Enabled Smart Ammunition:
The invention considers the detection of brass, copper, stainless steel, aluminum and lead, as such; we are able to resolve conventional ammunition detection. Detection would trigger an alert and alert others of lethal weapons within the virtual area. Utilizing new propellants would cause the ammunition to be detectable.
Smart Magazine:
As we have indicated, there is clearly an opportunity to improve gun safety for the user and the community in the immediate area by using technology. One novel invention disclosed herewith, is the concept of a Smart Magazine. The magazine (clip) is an integral component of the gun owner's armamentarium. Magazines are available in various sizes to store multiple rounds of ammunition. They are mechanical devices, normally spring loaded to advance the ammunition into the chamber.
The magazine itself can be preloaded with live ammunition and prepackaged as a system. The magazine can be made from lightweight and durable material, which would allow the magazine to be disposed of when the last of the ammunition is fired.
The magazine has a built in Bluetooth and or Wi-Fi transceiver allowing it to inform a Smartphone of the information and forensics such as the number of rounds fired, the time, date, and location of the firings, who fired the ammunition, even the weather at the time of discharge the ammunition. This could also exist on the magazine directly or coupled to an accessory.
The Smartphone would be able to display the info described as well as personal information such as purchaser identify, purchase info, purchase location, date and amount purchased etc. The Smartphone can deactivate the operation of the magazine, thus limiting the usefulness of the firearm. The Bluetooth or Wi-Fi transceiver system can work with other mesh enabled appliances such that the multiple users can contribute their ammunition status to a larger community. The Bluetooth and or Wi-Fi interface and Smartphone can also work with smart ammunition. The Bluetooth and or Wi-Fi transceiver in the smart ammunition can manually or automatically take on the behavior of master or slave based on the requirements.
Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi or other enabled Smartphones inform the user of data including how many rounds were fired, when, where (GPS). The magazine is disposable and can be retuned for credit or discarded. Magazine incorporates a battery and thus they can power the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and microprocessor and memory and display.
The Smart Magazine carries its own battery, providing power to activate the Bluetooth system functionality in the magazine. In addition, the power emanating from the magazine is conveyed to the smart ammunition as to prime it for operation. In other words, the smart ammunition behaves like traditional ammunition and can be fired at will and is not detectable. Once the smart ammunition is “primed by the magazine” it begins enabling added functionality. The smart ammunition can this sit in a sealed package for years and the rounds wouldn't be activated (powered up) until they are in the magazine or primed by other means. Accordingly, if the deactivated round was proximate of the virtual RF field, the RFID transponder would seamlessly provide both power while obtaining smart ammunition field detection.
Destruction of Smart Ammunition:
A thermal fuse that can activate the propellant so the round can be discharged remotely as necessary. This can occur manually or automatically based on rules, guidelines, laws, interoperability with other equipment and or other firearms or smart ammunition. This can be achieved by delivering a control signal to the RFID tag which in turn is processed by the microprocessor and then sent to the PPG activating the spark-gap or thermal-wire to create a discharge. In another embodiment the PPG can be permanently disabled, thus the ammunition would be rendered useless, as it could never be fired from a firearm.
RFID Transponder (Interrogator):
A transponder wireless signal, which works to power, detect, monitor, recognize, report and to send a control signal to, deactivate or activate or otherwise reduce the power of the ammunition while in proximity of sensor. The transponder can issue additional commands to permanently disable the ammunition. In addition it could send a signal to disrupt the cycle time between discharging, as well as the number of rounds that can be fired during a given period of time.
It could influence the behavior of a single weapons ability to be discharged, or influence the control of multiple or all members within a given virtual field, thus disabling the discharging of specific people or groups of people. In another embodiment, it could invoke a command that the ammunition requires a different virtual field to change its state then the virtual field that it was last in.
In another embodiment, the RF transponder is envisioned offers a boarder scope of services then conventional Interrogator technology. The Interrogator can be programmed to not only provide RF power to a tag, but also to invoke a variety of functions that the tag can perform simply by sending digital word from the transponder. RFID tags are designed to be interrogated once they are powered on, and thus detected providing it's an Electronic Product Code (EPC). This is made possible by modulating the carrier single with a digital word. Schemes such as PCM, Spread Spectrum, Phase-shift keying (PSK), Frequency-shift keying (FSK), Amplitude-shift keying (ASK), On-off keying (OOK), Quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), Continuous phase modulation (CPM) methods and others can be incorporated.
Active RFID tags converge extends to 1500 feet where passive RFID tags operate reliably up to the 50 feet range. Many physical areas are will required multiple transponders and rely on Trilateration. Trilateration refers to determining the position of something by known the angle it subtends from two or three known locations.
To increase accurate and mediation of ammunition, multi-tags, potentially in conjunction with multiple transponders, can provide a viable solution to this problem.
The smart ammunition can change the state of the explosive from being active to non-active. It can switch off the propellant and or firing system. It can do so while in proximity to the virtual field or can be sent a signal to arm or disarm the propellant identify or until and other control signal is transmitted and detected. As such, should the transmission tower become disabled and loose power, the ammunition will operate in their most recent (last state) of arm/disarm.
In this embodiment, the design of a system which enables precise positioning of RFID tags in both azimuth and elevation angles is explained. The positioning is based on measuring the phase difference between at four Yagi antennas placed in two arrays. One array is placed in the azimuth plane and the other array is perpendicular to the first array in the elevation plane. The phase difference of the signals received from the antennas in the azimuth array is used to find the position of RFID tag in the horizontal direction. For the position in the vertical direction, the phase difference of the signals received from the antennas in the elevation plane is used.
This multiphase array results in improved resolution of the tag positioning in the system is in the order of 3 mm in a distance equal to 0.5 meter in front of the array with few number of averaging over the received phase data.
In addition, it is argued how the system is totally immune to any counterfeit attempts to introduce proxy tags, as each round of ammunition contains 2 independent tags, one is placed in the azimuth plane and the other tag is placed perpendicular to the first array in the elevation plane.
The system is free standing and can operate independent of Internet connectivity. In this embodiment, no reporting of the user or the firearm can take be transmitted to a network external to the virtual field.
The system cannot be hacked from outsiders, as it is local and not connected to a network.
In one embodiment, only when the ammunition comes in proximity with transponder, the ammunition be neutralized or deactivated and only at that location. In one embodiment, the ammunition will return to its free state of readiness or activation, once leaving the area with the transponder.
In one embodiment, anyone using the smart ammunition within the virtual field will be operating under the same rules of technology. Assuming there was firearm discharged detected, the system would activate all smart ammunition for a specific class of ammunition such as the smart ammunition controlled by the authorities. As such, the authorizes could discharge their weapons, but on one else would be able to. Since the system may be decoupled from a network that report over the Internet, the transponders stores the activities, which just occurred, so it would know who fired first by ID [Electronic Product Code (EPC)]. of the ammunitions. The transponders may also activate a siren or alarm as well as lock doors and coupe to other local peripherals.
In one embodiment, the firearms and accessories can also use the same tracking and activation.
Optical or Sensor Detection of Round and Casing.
There are many reasons to improve the visualization of a round of ammunition, either before discharge or after the bullet lands at its target Investigators and police use their eyes to locate casings from fired weapons, and medical professionals look for bullet impact on the body. Others reloaded their own bullets and pick up casing from a target range. Often its night and visualization is compromised.
In one embodiment, we teach a solution for improving the efficiency of this process by making the bullets and casing optically more detectable. In another embodiment, we teach a way of enhancing visualization of where the ammunition was fired from as well as where it fell from flight or otherwise hit its target, as the raw casing and bullet are manufactured from luminescent or fluorescent enabled alloys. In another embodiment, we teach as way to enhance evidence collection by enabling a method and process to scan a physical area such as an open field or which could contain acres of property on one side of the equation to a scanning of animal or human tissue to determine and follow the projectile trail as it entered and resides in tissue.
This can be achieved with the human eye, or by sensors attached to mobile devices such as medical equipment, law enforcement forensics equipment, firearm scopes, mobile phones or drones. The luminescent or fluorescent material may contain radiopaque materials and markers commonly used in field of radiographic imaging and radiology.
The composition of the shell casing as well as the projectile are manufactured with a luminescent or fluorescent enabling chemistry. The luminescent or fluorescent emitting particles are added during the stage when the raw material is processed from smelting, refining, alloying, treatment by chemicals, gases, casting and turned into a final finished material ready for shipment to the industry who will utilize the alloy in their manufacturing process. This invention extends broader and beyond than the ammunition industry. There are various other applications for the use of this technology; examples include: aircraft, automobile, fireworks, petrochemical, industrial manufacturing, boating, snowmobile.
Compromised Ammunition Reliably by Design:
As part of the invention enclosed, we look at a solution for through the lens of the ammunition by itself. We teach a method for the mitigation of multiple rounds of ammunition being discharged over a short period of time without the use of any electronic intervention. We teach a method of introducing erratic behavior of the firearm and the reliably of the bullets being fired. Accordingly, the firearm doesn't behave as intended.
Bullet geometry and size can be altered while in the chamber based on prior rounds fired and the thermal characteristics that are generated within the firearm chamber and bore.
The invention discloses a technical process to modify the ammunition itself, which in turn would limit the rounds of munitions a gun can fire over a given period of time known as Rate of Fire typically measured in rounds per minute (RPM or round/min). Furthermore, the invention is designed to temporally halt the usefulness of the firearm based on the users desire to fire addition rounds in a given period of time.
The more rounds fired, results in lower performance and reliability of the weapon known as the weapons Sustained rate. In practice, the limitation of the number of rounds fired is based on a time period, thus for each successive firing of a new round, the weapons' potency and lethality is further reduced to a point where the firearm may also fail to automatically, recoil and reload the next cartridge/casing in its magazine. Should the weapon successfully be discharged, the accuracy of the bullets trajectory and power becomes compromised. At such a point, the firearm would require a “cool-down” period” as to insure proper operations within the manufacturers original published specification.
Accordingly, attempting to fire off hundreds of rounds from a magazine would not be feasible, nor would the speed of successive rounds be reliable. The invention is not designed to be utilized exclusively for rapid-fire semi or fully automatic weapons; rather it serves to mitigate the firing of rapid succession of ammunition.
When there is firing from a gun, there is large amount of heat input to the bore surface of a gun barrel, and the heat transfer to the barrel is mainly due to forced convection from the hot gases generated inside the barrel due to combustion of propellant. Generally, after firing the barrel is naturally cooled by convection and radiation at its outer surface but natural cooling is inefficient and only a fraction of the total heat input is transferred to the external environment. Hence, during continuous discharging at a high rate of fire, the temperature of the gun barrel keeps on rising to ultimately equal to the cook-off temperature. At cook-off temperature, the self-ignition of propellant takes place. This premature self-ignition may result in serious damage to the gun barrel and physical injury.
The invention enables the threat of multi munitions being discharged over a short time interval will be mitigated. This is known as the firearm cyclic rate. For purposes of illustration, the mechanical rate of fire, or how fast the weapon “cycles” includes loads, locks, fires, unlocks, ejects. A manual handgun can produce 20 rounds in 5.3 seconds. For a semiautomatic gun, the effectiveness is increased to 120 rounds in 60 seconds.
In one embodiment, in effect, the firearm would be limited to the purpose of protection, meaning mediating the number of round that can be discharged in a govern period of time.
From a thermodynamic point of view, a firearm is a special type of piston engine or in general heat engine where the bullet has a function of a piston. The energy conversion efficiency of a firearm strongly depends on its construction, especially on its caliber and barrel length. However, for illustration, here is the energy balance of a typical small firearm fired with a common brand of 30-caliber ammunition.
Barrel friction 2%
Projectile motion 32%
Hot gases 34%
Barrel heat 30%
Unburned propellant 1%.
Gun barrel heating from multiple firings continues to be a subject of concern to ordnance engineers. Continuous gun firing results in the rise of the barrel temperature, which creates several unfavorable effects on the system performance. The main heat transfer mechanism for the gun barrel from firing is thermal convection from the propellant gas to the bore surface. The propellant gas is usually produced behind the projectile. Especially, in the situation of high rate semi or fully automatic weapons as, the time interval is very short in continuous firing. The heat flux accumulates so fast that the inner wall temperature of the firearm increases sharply. In serious situations, the bore surface material might even be melted by the heat input from such projectile passage mechanisms.
High rates of fire through a rifle barrel can easily heat it to 500 C, certainly enough heat to change the barrel's dimensions. Compounding matters is that the heating is uneven, as is the dissipation. So you end up warping the barrel in hard-to-control ways, which is enough to affect the projectiles point-of-impact.
The invention utilizes the thermal impact from a proceeding round being discharged and activates expansion and or reduction or other geometry modifications to the bullet in the chamber. In another embodiment, a coating can be added to the bullet during or after the manufacturing process whereby the coating will be activated by the internal barrel and chamber temperatures and will expand or change from its shape or otherwise modify its geometry from its original physical size and geometry.
In another embodiment, the bullet can contain a substance under the outer surface and will modify the shape and or geometry if the bullet as it became activate by the thermal condition inside the firearm. The shape and geometry can increase or decrease based on the materials used in its construction. Changes is shape include, uniform expansion of size uniform reduction of size, an overall geometric modification of its original shape.
In another embodiment, the primer cap can be manufactured from materials disclosed above. This includes the aperture—defined as real estate that is struck from the firearms fire pin. The aperture material can soften or harden based on the thermal conditions in the chamber or riffle barrel. Primers require both force and speed of impact to activate the percussion-sensitive explosive. The internal barrel temperatures modifies the pliability or firmness of the aperture area that receives and interface with the firing pin, thus one can alter the reliability of the primer to be discharged based on the choice of thermally sensitive material selection used in construction of the aperture in primer cap.
In another embodiment, the primer anvil can be manufactured from materials disclosed above. This includes the metallic anvil having a centrally depressed region, which is contacted by the aperture as it is struck from the firearms fire pin. The metallic anvil material can soften or harden based on the thermal conditions in the chamber or riffle barrel. Primers require both force and speed of impact to activate the percussion-sensitive explosive. The internal barrel temperatures modifies the pliability or firmness of the metallic anvils area that receives and interface with the aperture and firing pin, thus one can alter the reliability of the primer to be discharged based on the choice of thermally sensitive material selection used in construction of the anvil primer.
In another embodiment, the interior of the ammunitions' casing can be treated with a fast acting release agent and chemical formulation containing Diphenylamine. It is found in most propellants mixtures to increase stabilization and to prevent buildup of the deterioration product. Stabilizers are added in the amount of 0.5-2% of the total amount of the formulation; higher amounts tend to degrade its ballistic properties.
We take advantage of these properties and characteristics and release additional Diphenylamine to mix with propellant when the casing reaches a specific temperature, thus one can alter the potency of the propellant based on the choice of thermally sensitive benchmarks and the release of the chemicals which will be mixed into the propellant prior to being fired.
In another embodiment, the bullets' hardness can be changed due to thermal conditions inside the firearm barrel or chamber. The hardness can be modified to soften or harden the bullet material. This is accomplished by modifying the TG rating of the bullet at time of manufacture. The bullet can be constructed such that it becomes brittle when activated by heat. This will manifest in the damage that can be caused at point of impact.
In another embodiment, the invention teaches the use of a shape-memory alloy (SMA, smart metal, memory metal, memory alloy, muscle wire, smart alloy that “remembers” its original shape and that when deformed returns to its pre-deformed shape when heated to achieve the desired outcome stated below. These shape-memory alloys can be used in the design and construction of the bullet as well as the casing as to achieve of the design goals defined below.
As the bullet resides in the chamber and is discharged, the bullet expands, contract or changes it geometry based on heat of barrel. This can manifest in the following outcomes:
Change in accuracy is compromised
Change the aerodynamics of the slug
Change the interaction of the bullet and the firearm
Change firearms ability to fire reliability
Change the firearms ability to follow the instructions on first or subsequent fires
Change velocity
Change power
Change distance of travel
Change patter of impact
Change of speed.
Change in straight line without drop in altitude
Change in frequency of fire
Jam the firearm
Modify spin
Compromise trust
Compromises recoil and reload
Reduce the number of rounds discharged during a given period
Reduce lethality
Reduce accuracy
Change geometry of bullet
Prevent additional rounds being fired
Modify the number of time one has to pull trigger
Internal elements of the ammunition (round) can include
The traditional construction of round of ammunition including: the casing, the primer cup mechanical construction (absent of conventional mechanical firing techniques), the rim, the propellant, and the bullet or projectile.
One or more RFID, NFC, Ultrasonic Identification (UID), GPS, or BEACONS tags
One or more BT transceivers
One or more WI-FI transceivers
One or more Accelerometers
One or more Piezo Generators
One or more Microprocessors
One or more Power Regulators One or more Antennas
Elements of the mobile or fixed transmission system include
One or more Transponders
One or more Microphones or acoustical sensors One or more Accelerometers
One Telco interface
Elements of the Smart magazine system include One or more Magazines
One or more BT transceivers
One or more WI-FI transceivers
One or more Power Supplies
Having thus described the invention of the present application in detail and by reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims as follows:

Claims

I claim:

1. A smart round of ammunition comprising:

a casing;

a primer disposed at a bottom portion of the casing;

a projectile mounted at a top portion of the casing; and,

a propellant disposed within an interior portion of the casing between the projectile and primer;

the primer further comprising a piezo generator transducing a mechanical force received at a firing pin portion of the primer into a stored charge, a switch coupling and decoupling a spark gap between the stored charge and the propellant, and a wireless sensor activating the switch responsive to a digital signal received from a component external to the casing, the activation permitting a discharge of the stored charge into the spark gap and therefore detonating the propellant.

2. The smart round of ammunition of claim 1, further comprising a radio frequency identification (RFID) receiver receiving the digital signal from an RFID transmitter remotely disposed from the smart round of ammunition.

3. The smart round of ammunition of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer coupled to a memory and disposed on the projectile, the accelerometer responding to a discharge of the stored charge by storing inertial measurements in the memory measured contemporaneously with the discharge.

4. The smart round of ammunition of claim 4, further comprising a wireless communications transmitter co-located on the projectile with the accelerometer, the wireless communications transmitter wirelessly transmitting to a remote computing device the inertial measurements stored in the memory.

5. The smart round of ammunition of claim 1, wherein the digital signal changes a state of the ammunition to an active state permitting a discharge of the stored charge into the spark gap and therefore detonating the propellant.

6. The smart round of ammunition of claim 5, wherein a subsequently received digital signal changes the state of the ammunition to an inactive state prohibiting a discharge of the stored charge into the spark gap and therefore blocking detonation of the propellant.

7. The smart round of ammunition of claim 2, wherein non-receipt of the digital signal from the RFID transmitter places the smart round of ammunition into an inactive state prohibiting a discharge of the stored charge into the spark gap and therefore blocking detonation of the propellant.

8. The smart round of ammunition of claim 2, wherein receipt of the digital signal from the RFID transmitter places the smart round of ammunition into an active state permitting discharge of the stored charge into the spark gap and therefore detonating the propellant.

9. A magazine comprising:

a multiplicity of smart rounds of ammunition, each of the smart rounds comprising:

a casing;

a primer disposed at a bottom portion of the casing;

a projectile mounted at a top portion of the casing; and,

10. The magazine of claim 9, wherein the magazine comprises a memory powered by a battery disposed within the magazine, the memory receiving from each of the smart rounds, information pertaining to whether or not a corresponding one of the smart rounds has been discharged.

11. The magazine of claim 10, further comprising a wireless transceiver powered by the battery and transmitting data in the memory wirelessly to a smartphone.

12. The magazine of claim 11, wherein the switch is biased in a closed position rendering the smart ammunition active, the magazine further comprising:

a processor powered by the battery and executing computer program instructions operable during execution to respond to a receipt of a signal from the smartphone by biasing the switch to an open position.

13. A smart primer adapted for attachment to a bottom portion of a casing of a round of ammunition comprising a casing, a projectile mounted at a top portion of the casing and propellant disposed within an interior portion of the casing between the projectile and smart primer, the primer comprising:

a piezo generator transducing a mechanical force received at a firing pin portion of the primer into a stored charge, a switch coupling and decoupling a spark gap between the stored charge and the propellant, and a wireless sensor activating the switch responsive to a digital signal received from a component external to the casing, the activation permitting a discharge of the stored charge into the spark gap and therefore detonating the propellant.