US 11,112,204 B2Granted

Firearm simulators

OwnerKurt S. Schulz, Michael Z. Bacinventors

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Abstract

Firearm simulators are disclosed. In embodiments, a firearm simulator includes a processor, a memory module, a trigger unit that outputs a trigger output signal, a magazine sensor that outputs a magazine sensor output signal, an optoelectronic output device, an optoelectronic sensor, and a wireless communication device. In embodiments, the firearm simulator determines whether a trigger prep event has occurred, determines whether a trigger break event has occurred, and transmits the trigger prep event and the trigger break event with the wireless communication device. In embodiments, the optoelectronic output device is activated when a trigger break event has occurred and a simulated round is available to be fired. In embodiments, a firearm simulator wirelessly transmits information, such as magazine insertion events, magazine ejection events, trigger break events, and trigger prep event to a computing device that displays information pertaining to the received information.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A firearm simulator comprising:

a processor;
a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor;
a trigger unit communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the trigger unit outputs a trigger output signal;
an optoelectronic output device communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the optoelectronic output device outputs light when activated;
an optoelectronic sensor communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the optoelectronic sensor outputs an optoelectronic sensor output signal in response to sensed light;
and
machine readable instructions stored in the memory module that cause the firearm simulator to perform at least the following, when executed by the processor:
determine whether a trigger break event has occurred based on the trigger output signal;
activate the optoelectronic output device when the trigger break event has occurred;
determine an ambient light value based on the optoelectronic sensor output signal when the optoelectronic output device is in a deactivated state;
when the optoelectronic output device is activated such that the optoelectronic output device outputs light that is reflected off of a surface and sensed at the optoelectronic sensor as reflected light, determine a reflected light value based on the optoelectronic sensor output signal that is output in response to sensing the reflected light;
and
determine that a target hit event has occurred based on the reflected light value and the ambient light value.

10 more elements

A firearm simulator comprising:

a processor;
a memory module communicatively coupled to the processor;
a trigger unit communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the trigger unit comprises:
a trigger;
a trigger prep switch that outputs a trigger prep output signal indicative of whether the trigger is in a trigger prep threshold position;
and
a trigger break switch that outputs a trigger break output signal indicative of whether the trigger is in a trigger break threshold position;
a communication device communicatively coupled to the processor;
and
machine readable instructions stored in the memory module that cause the firearm simulator to perform at least the following, when executed by the processor:
determine whether a trigger prep event has occurred based on the trigger prep output signal of the trigger prep switch;
transmit the trigger prep event with the communication device in response to determining that the trigger prep event has occurred;
determine whether a trigger break event has occurred based on the trigger break output signal of the trigger break switch;
and
transmit the trigger break event with the communication device in response to determining that the trigger break event has occurred.

12 more elements

A firearm simulator comprising:

a magazine comprising a magazine head connector;
a firearm frame comprising a magazine well for receiving the magazine;
a microcontroller housed within the firearm frame;
and
a trigger unit housed within the firearm frame, wherein:
when the magazine is retained in the magazine well, the trigger unit is electrically coupled to the magazine head connector and the magazine head connector is electrically coupled to the microcontroller, such that the trigger unit is electrically coupled to the microcontroller;
and
when the magazine is not retained in the magazine well, the trigger unit is not electrically coupled to the microcontroller.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/564,437Filed 9 Sep 2019 · continuation
Priority: 16 Dec 2014
Published: US 2019/0390932 A126 Dec 2019
Granted: 7 Sep 2021
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification2 codes

F41A 33/02
Adaptations for training ; Gun simulators: light- or radiation-emitting guns ; Light- or radiation-sensitive guns; Cartridges carrying light…
F41A
Functional features or details common to both smallarms and ordnance

Family

Application62/092,439Us provisional application · filed 16 Dec 2014
Application62/134,728Us provisional application · filed 18 Mar 2015
Application14/969,842Parent of this continuation · filed 15 Dec 2015
US 2019/0390932 A1Pre-grant publication · published 26 Dec 2019
US 10,451,376 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2016/0169608 A1Published application
US 11,112,204 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.