GB2397914A

GB2397914A - Firearm data logger

Info

Publication number: GB2397914A
Application number: GB0401221A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jonathan David Sutcliff; Roger John Sutcliff
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-02-01
Filing date: 2004-01-21
Publication date: 2004-08-04
Also published as: GB0302366D0; GB0401221D0

Abstract

A versatile electronic data capture system, fitted to a firearm, for armed police, security forces and the like to capture legally submittable evidence in determining a users actions or those of other persons suspected to be committing an offence. The device may include, not exclusively; digital camera, microphone, electronic compass, GPS receiver, inertial sensors, real time clock, and a triggering subsystem. The invention may replace the plastic forearm of any suitable firearm; the triggering sub-system detects shots fired by the weapon and causes data samples from all sensors to be stored internally. Buffering allows data to be stored from before the triggering event capturing the circumstances of the shot. Also provided is a generic real time audio/visual/data output for any peripheral devices such as video recorder, display or telemetry systems to increase the situational awareness of the user or to provide continuous records.

Description

-Page1- 2397914

FIREARM DATA LOGGER

DESCRUPTION

Field of invention.

The invention is directed at providing objective legal evidence in the event of the use of force, or the threat of force by armed personnel. This is accomplished by utilising an electronic sensor array to gather data on conditions surrounding the event and also to record the action taken.

Armed in this context refers to any ranged projectile weapon, including, but not exclusively, pistols, rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, less than lethal weapons such as 'rubber bullet' guns, chemical sprays and electric shock stun-guns.

Background of the invention- Description of prior procedures Whenever law enforcement officers or other security personnel use force, an investigation is required afterwards to establish if that force was justified and appropriate. In the majority of cases prior to this invention, the only primary evidence available could be the statements made by the weapon user and, if surviving, the injured party.

With an increasingly litigious society and the growing use of less-thanlethal weaponry, follow-up enquiries are an increasing drain on resources and source of concern for law enforcement agencies. With court cases and inquiries hampered by a lack of empirical evidence the costs in terms of time, money and resources can be far larger than necessary.

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Summary of the invention

It is the object of the present invention to provide a secure and impartial source of data for post incident evaluation, either within the operating organization (for example to aid training evaluation) or in court of law as evidence to establish the facts of a case.

This invention provides a dedicated tool for the first hand gathering of data in the field from the time of the incident.

The invention is powered by an internal power source. The interface enables access to the captured data to be controlled, helping to guarantee the validity of the evidence gathered.

The system may consist of: 1) Video Camera Mounted so the field of view centres on the target. The camera in the present invention is a digital colour device, but other types such as monochrome, infra-red and low-level light devices, fabricated in either CMOS or COD technologies, could also be used depending on the application. In the current invention it is mounted directly below and in front of the muzzle of the firearm, thus ensuring it always has a clear view

of the weapons target field.

2) Image Buffer This stores several of the latest frames from the video camera and is constantly updated (whilst the system is in active mode). Upon receipt of a trigger event, the Controller selects one or more images that are expected to be free from vibration caused by recoil of the weapon or any other effect that may degrade the captured image quality. This also allows data capture from the time the decision to fire was made and or data capture of the event itself.

-Page3 3) The Controller The Controller is implemented in the current invention using an embedded micro controller. It performs the following minimum functions: a) Monitoring of all peripherals to obtain contextual information.

b) Organising of the Image Buffer, Including the storage of relevant peripheral data for each image.

c) Reacting to trigger events, selecting the appropriate image from the Image Buffer and storing it in non-volatile memory.

d) Handling of interface tasks, including access validation by an external system, e.g. a PC/workstation, image and data transfer and control, configuration and maintenance procedures.

4) Non-volatile memory This is implemented in the current invention using FLASH solid- state memory devices. Other technologies, including but not limited to, FRAM, MRAM, and E2PROM are also acceptable. The use of battery backed-up S RAM or DRAM may be acceptable depending on equipment requirements. The purpose of this section is to be able to store captured images related to each event even during power loss and/or over extended periods of time until they can be transferred to a long-term storage medium.

5) Host Weapon Monitoring Device This sensor can be any triggering device that alerts the system to a firing event. The current invention utilised a piezo electric element with dynamic analogue and digital filtering to return an interrupt to the Controller (see UK patent application 0300223. 5).

-Page4 6) Peripherals Peripheral devices can include, but not exclusively, electronic compass, accelerometers, gyroscopic devices, GPS receiver, real-time clock, microphone, ambient light level sensor and temperature sensor. This enables further data types such as; orientation and location of the firearm, time, audible information from the gun user, target and ambient sound, and ambient conditions to be recorded, along with the image, to further substantiate the context of the event.

7) Interface The interface facilitates connection of the data logger to an external system, e.g. a PC/workstation. This enables the downloading and storing of captured images and data or a continuous feed of data. It also enables device configuration and maintenance to be performed.

Description of operation

By its nature the system is adaptable, by modifying the control programming, many methods of operation can be obtained. The current invention has been programmed to the following field protocol; 1) Weapon is not logged out to a user. The system is in standby mode and has no user ID assigned. Power consumption minimised to prolong internal power source duration.

In the event of a shot, the system will wake and immediately store readings from all available sensors.

2) Weapon is logged out. The system comes into active mode and is assigned a user ID.

In the event of a shot, the system takes the appropriate frame of data from the Image Buffer and stores it in memory.

-Page5 3) Weapon is logged back from user and the system returns to standby mode The current invention has been programmed to the following data check in protocol; 1) System performs security handshake with an external system.

2) Data is copied to the external system which writes it to a permanent storage medium.

3) Once data is confirmed as written to permanent media, the data may be deleted from the internal memory of the data logging system.

Claims

- Page 6 FIREARM DATA LOGGER CLAIMS

1. An electronic device for capturing data pertaining to the use of a host firearm, said device comprising: a. an array of electronic sensors; b. electronic memory to record data captured from the sensors; and c. a control system to govern the operation of the device, including the capture, storage and downloading of data.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the host firearm is any type of lethal or non-lethal projectile firing device.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to be permanently attached to the host firearm.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is adapted to be temporarily attached to the host firearm so as to be removable.

5. A device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the device is adapted to be incorporated in the structure of the host firearm either by modification or original design of said firearm.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor array includes one or more differing types of sensor.

7. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the sensor array includes one or more of each of the following types of sensor; Digital Camera, Electronic Compass, Accelerometer, Gyroscope, GPS receiver, Real Time Clock, Firing Sensor, Microphone, Temperature Sensor and Light Level Sensor.

8. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the digital camera takes the form of a camera based on CMOS, COD or similar technologies.

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9. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the digital camera is responsive to one or more light frequencies at levels visible to the human eye.

10. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the digital camera is responsive to one or more light frequencies or levels that may not be visible or obvious to the human eye such as infrared or in conditions with low levels of illumination.

11. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the digital camera is responsive to the infrared thermal emissions of objects

in its field of view.

12. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the digital camera is operable to capture single frames as still photography and or multiple frames as video imagery.

13. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the microphone takes the form of a uni-directional device designed to capture sounds from the target area.

14. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the microphone takes the form of a uni-directional device designed to capture sounds from the user area such as vocal warnings to a subject.

15. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the microphone takes the form of an omni-directional device designed to capture sounds from the area around the host weapon.

16. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the Firing Sensor monitors the operation of the host weapon to determine when discharge or other actions are performed by the mechanism of the host weapon.

17. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the Firing Sensor is operable to use a Piezo Electric Element and signal processing subsystem to detect host weapon operation.

18. A device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the Firing Sensor is operable to use means such as light gates, micro - Page 8 switches, microphones or accelerometers to detect host weapon operation.

19. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the device contains a subsystem to provide real time clock information to the system.

20. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the device contains systems to provide information on the spatial movement and orientation of the host weapon.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the device incorporates systems utilising gyroscopic, acceleration or magnetic effects to resolve its position and or orientation.

22. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein the device incorporates systems that are operable to use external inputs such as GPS to resolve its position and or orientation.

23. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device incorporates solid state electronic memory to securely record data gathered by the sensor array.

24. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device incorporates non volatile electronic memory to securely record data gathered by the sensor array.

25. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system incorporates the ability to operate in multiple modes, allowing data to be captured and processed in manners appropriate for differing circumstances.

26. A device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operating mode of the control system can be automatically controlled by external stimuli such as removing the host weapon from an armoury or firing the host weapon.

27. A device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operating mode of the control system determines the data captured from the sensor array.

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28. A device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operating mode of the control system determines the data stored from the sensor array.

29. A device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operating mode of the control system determines the level of protection given to captured data when downloading to a base-station or other subsidiary system.

30. A device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the operating mode of the control system allows temporarily unused functions of the device to be suspended, facilitating power conservation.

31. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system incorporates the ability to interface with external systems for purposes of data transfer.

32. A device as claimed in claim 31, wherein the control system incorporates the ability to interface with external systems for purposes of downloading data captured from the sensor array.

33. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system incorporates the ability to interface with external systems for the purpose of reconfiguring the control system.

34. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system incorporates the ability to interface with external systems for the purpose of changing the operating mode of the device.

35. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is powered from an internal power source.

36. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is powered from a mobile power source.

37. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is operable to hold multiple sets of data stored from sensor array in a temporary memory buffer to facilitate the subsequent long-term storage of single or multiple data - Page 10 sets from a time point or points before an event of interest occurs.

38. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is operable to synchronize and cross-reference data captured from the sensor array to maximise the utility of information captured.

39. A device as claimed in any previous claim, wherein the device is operable to provide a continuous feed of data to an external system.

40. A device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the connection between the device and an external system takes the form of an electrical or optical cable.

41. A device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the connection between the device and an external utilises radio transmitters and receivers.

42. A device as claimed in claim 39, wherein the connection between the device and an external system takes the form of an optical link.

43. A firearm incorporating a device as claimed in any preceding claim.

44. A device for capturing data pertaining to the use of a host firearm, substantially as hereinbefore described.

45. A firearm incorporating a device for capturing data pertaining to the use of a host firearm, substantially as hereinbefore described.