GB2340589A

GB2340589A - Weapon security system

Info

Publication number: GB2340589A
Application number: GB9817132A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hilary Barbara Cannon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-08-07
Filing date: 1998-08-07
Publication date: 2000-02-23
Also published as: GB9817132D0

Abstract

A firearm contains a power source such as a battery, an electric/mechanical interface such as a solenoid, a receiver, a first microchip and circuitry connecting all of these components. A second microchip, at a location remote from the firearm, sends a signal to the first microchip, which responds by activating the solenoid and allowing actuation of the firearm. The second, remotely located microchip may be inserted into the operator's hand, under the skin between the thumb and forefinger, or embedded in a ring which is worn on the hand. A switch may be incorporated on the firearm to turn off the receiver when it is not required and preserve the life of the battery. The firearm may be carried in a holster which triggers the switch when the gun is drawn and when it is replaced in the holster. Alternatively, circuitry within the holster could complete a relay circuit with the gun when it is in the holster, and when it is drawn the relay would close and switch on the receiver. The gun may be carried in a holster rather than a case and switches such as reed switches, pressure switches or heat sensitive switches may be used.

Description

Title of invention: Weapon to hand read system 2340589

Many of the serious crimes involving guns are committed with Firearms that do not belong to the crin-dnal. i.e. weapons that have been stolen in burglaries etc. Also many of the shootings involving children, whether accidental or otherwise are often committed when the child or young person does not have permission to have the weapon i.e. like some of the shootings at schools in America. Over the years there have also been many occurrences of Police Officers being shot with their own weapon.

The invention: a "Weapon to hand Read system" would give a Police Officer or other legitimately armed person reassurance that if he loses control of his weapon, it cannot be used. The system may also have a place within the Armed Forces, under cover agencies, even the public sector i.e. body guards; the public could also have it on their privately owned weapons, therefore preventing their children or other undesirables from usage.

The firearm would contain the fol.lowing compprients:

1. Switch (to turn scanner/receiver on 2. Battery 3. Pre-programmed Microchip & circuitry 4. Scanner/Receiver (capable of recognising the return signal from the chip inlon the hand) 5. Solenoid/Electric to mechanical interface The hand would contain the following copWnent:

6. Remotely powered digitally encoded microchip.

This encoded microchip (6) can either be:

A. Glued or stuck to the skin, or inserted into the hand (similar to the identity tag inserted into a pets ear) This option would be more reliable/secure and easier to use, it may also aid future gun enforcement agencies by giving them an option of scanning peoples hands. The encoded chip could be inserted anywhere in the hand depending on where the scanner/receiver is located on the weapon. The most appropriate place may be just under the skin, in the webbed/soft join in between the thumb and forefinger, that way it would not interfere with any muscle tissue and would marry up to the weapon in the same spot every time. (See Diagram 1) OR B. Be worn in a ring on the finger.

The principal is simple - the weapon is disabled (incapable of fning) in its normal state. When the weapon is held or drawn from the holster, the switch (1) turns on the circuitry. The Scanner/Receiver (4) scans and receives the code of the chip (6) in/on the hand and passes it to the programmed microchip (3), only when the correct code is read will the solenoid or other suitable electric to mechanical interface (5) be activated, making the gun ready to use. Obviously if the user does not have the correctly encoded chip in or on his hand then the weapon cannot be used.

The switch (1) is there purely to save battery life i.e. to turn the scanner/receiver off when it is not required and on when it is required.

How this switch (1) operates depends on the weapon application i.e. If a Police Officer was using the system, the weapon would be holstered the majority of the time in which case the switch would be triggered when the weapon was drawn (turning on the scanner) and triggered again when it was holstered; (turning off the scaririer) this function could be achieved in the following ways:

C. By having a microchip relay within the weapon that turns the scanner/receiver on and off. The Microchip relay would be "normally closed" but open when current is applied. The battery source to control the relay would be located in the holster and a circuit would exist when the weapon was holstered via contacts on the outside of the weapon and inside the holster; therefore when the weapon was drawn the circuit would breakdown and the relay would close and turn on the scanner. Like wise when the weapon was holstered the circuit would be complete, opening the relay and switching off the scanner. When the weapons holstered (not in use) the battery in the holster will charge the battery within the weapon thus utilising the systems full potential; this principal:(.C.) can be applied to a gun carrying device other than a holster i.e. a gun case.

D. By using a read switch within the weapon, that opens when a magnetic field is applied. A magnet could be located within the holster, which would open the read switch when the weapon was holstered turning ofF the scanner.

Alternatively, if the weapon was not going to be kept in a holster or case, the switch (1) could be built into the weapon, as follows:

E. By having a pressure to electrical conversion device i.e. Piezo Crystal or capacitive touch plate switch (pressure switches) F. By having a heat sensitive switch.

These devices (E & F) would be located where the hand most commonly comes into contact with the weapon i.e. on a revolver it may be the stock, on a pistol it would probably be the pistol grip; Therefore when the weapon is picked up the switch will turn on the scanner.

G. Any combination of the above (C,D,E&F) could be used depending on the weapons application.

The Solenoid or other suitable electric to mechanical interface, would mechanically disable the weapon in a variety of ways depending on the make and model. The working components between and including the trigger and the firing pin would be the ideal parts to disable, alternatively, the components between the safety catch and the firing pin.

Claims

Claims claim 1 A firearm containing an independent power source and

circuffly, an electric to mechanical interface, a scanner/receiver and a pre-programmed microchip which will only respond upon recognising the matched return signalfrom a remotely powered digitally coded microchip causing the electric to mechanical interface to activate and automatically bring thefirearm into the one and only positionfrom which it is readyforfiring.

Claim 2 A firearm as claimed in claim 1, where the scannerIreceiver couples with a remote passive digitally coded microchip when within a designed rangeldistance using any of thefollowing methods: inductive coupling, propagation coupling or by a close proximity electromagneticfield Claim 3 A firearm as claimed in claims 1 and 2, where the data transfer between the scanner and the remote digital microchip (air interface) is via a rhythmically varyingfleld or carrier wave (sinusoidal).

Claim 4 A pistol "firearpn as claimed in claim 1, where the parts referred to in claim 1 (except the remotely coded microchip) are mounted within a suitably des removable plastic unitforming an attached side panel, grip or stock Claim 5 A firearm as claimed in claim 1, which is potentially readyforfiring when the correctly coded, remotely powered digitally coded microchip, is within a designed distance of the scannerIreceiver claim A firearm as claimed in claim 1, where the pre-programmed microchip within the weapon, can be programmed to accept the code of a remotely powered digitally coded microchip, through the use of a master external microchip.

Claim 7 A pistol typefirearm as claimed in claim 1, where the electric to mechanical interface acts upon a specially designedladapted trggerltraction bar enabling it tofire, provided the correct code has been detected.

1 Claim 8 A firearm as claimed in claim 1, where the circuitry within the weapon include light Emitting Diodes (LED's) to clearly identify to the operator when the weapon is capable offiring or not.

Claim A holster or gun ca"ng casefor afirearm as claimed in claim 1, where it isfittedwith apower source and circuitry that actuates a relay within the weapon when thefirearm is holstered or cased Claim 10 A holster or gun ca"ng casefor afirearin as claimed in claim 1, where it isfitted with a power source and circzdtpy that re-charges a primmy cell within the weapon, when thefirearm is holstered or cased.

Claim 11 A holster or gun ca"ng casefor afirearm as claimed in claim 1, where it isfitted with a magnet or electromagnet that operates a read switch within thefirearm when it is holstered or cased.

Claim 12 A firearm as claimed in claim 1, where operation ofa pressure switch mounted on the weapon will turn the scannerlreceiver on Qabn 13 A firearm as claimed in claim 1, where operation of a heat sensitive switch mounted on the weapon will turn the scannerlreceiver on 6.