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US 10,591,250 B2Granted
Switchless sensing for electronic devices used with deterrent devices
AssigneeCrosman Corporation
InventorsJeffrey W. Mock, John A. Kowalczyk, Jr., Eric St. Phillios, Christopher A. Gagliano, Michael W. Allen, Robert J. MacBlane
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Switchless sensing is provided to control electronic devices of the type associated with deterrent devices.
Claims21
An electronic device for use with a deterrent device comprising:
- a housing with a mounting portion joinable to the deterrent device to position a conductive surface relative to a sensing space where a part of the body of the user of the deterrent device is expected to be found when using the deterrent device;
- an electronic system;
- an excitation system connected to the conductive surface and adapted to cause a time varying electric field to be created about the conductive surface;
- and
- a capacitance sensing circuit adapted to sense capacitance between the conductive surface and the capacitance sensing circuit;
- a control system connected to the capacitance sensing circuit and adapted to detect changes in the sensed capacitance and adapted make decisions about the operation of the electronic system based upon the detected changes;
- and
- an insulator preventing electrical conduction between the body of the user and at least one of the conductive surface and the capacitive sensing circuit;
- wherein the electric field extends through the insulator into the sensing space so that the presence of the part of the body in the sensing space will change the sensed capacitance, wherein the sensing space includes a deactivation portion separated from the conductive surface by the activation portion and wherein the control system is adapted to deactivate the electronic system when the condition indicates that within a predetermined period of time a part of a hand of a user that grips the firearm has left the activation portion and is then detected in the deactivation portion.
6 more elements
An electronic device for use with a deterrent device comprising:
- a housing with a mounting portion joinable to the deterrent device to position a first conductive surface relative and a second conductive surface relative to a sensing space where a part of the body of the user of the deterrent device is expected to be found when using the deterrent device;
- an electronic system;
- an excitation system connected to at least one of the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface and adapted to cause a time varying electric field to be created about the first conductive surface and the second conducive surface;
- and a capacitance sensing circuit adapted to measure a capacitance between the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface;
- a control system connected to the capacitance sensing circuit and adapted make decisions about the operation of the electronic system based upon detected changes in the capacitance between the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface;
- and an insulator preventing electrical conduction between the body of the user and at least one of the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface;
- wherein the electric field extends through the insulator into the sensing space so that the presence of the part of the body in the sensing space will change the capacitance measured between the first conductive surface and the second conductive surface, wherein the sensing space includes a deactivation portion separated from the conductive surface by the activation portion and wherein the control system is adapted to deactivate the electronic system when the condition indicates that within a predetermined period of time a part of a hand of a user that grips the firearm has left the activation portion and is then detected in the deactivation portion.
4 more elements
A deterrent device comprising:
- a deterrent system adapted for user control;
- an electronic system to assist the user in using the user controlled deterrent system;
- a housing with a mounting portion joinable to the deterrent system to position a first conductive surface relative to a sensing space where a part of the body of the user of the deterrent device is expected to be found when controlling the deterrent system;
- an electronic system;
- an excitation system connected to the conductive surface and adapted to cause a time varying electric field to be created about the first conductive surface;
- a capacitance sensing circuit adapted to sense capacitance between the conductive surface and the capacitance sensing circuit;
- a control system connected to the capacitance sensing circuit and adapted to detect changes in the sensed capacitance and adapted make decisions about the operation of the electronic system electronic system based upon the detected changes;
- and
- an insulator preventing electrical conduction between the body of the user and at least one of the conductive surface and the capacitive sensing circuit;
- wherein the electric field extends through the insulator into the sensing space so that the presence of the part of the body in the sensing space will change the sensed capacitance, wherein the sensing space includes a deactivation portion separated from the conductive surface by the activation portion and wherein the control system is adapted to deactivate the electronic system when the condition indicates that within a predetermined period of time a part of a hand of a user that grips the firearm has left the activation portion and is then detected in the deactivation portion.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.