Operating mode selection mechanism and method for a firearm

An apparatus for a selective fire firearm, comprising:

• a selectively enabled electronic firing system including an electronic actuator that is operable to fire the firearm in response to a pull of a trigger of the firearm and the electronic firing system being enabled by activation of a switch;
• a selector mechanism including a mode selector movable between a safety mode position to prevent firing of the firearm, a semi-automatic firing mode position to enable a semi-automatic firing of the firearm, an automatic firing mode position to enable automatic firing of the firearm, and an electronic firing mode position;
• and
• a detent mechanism engaged to the selector mechanism, wherein the selector mechanism is configured to selectively positon the detent mechanism into and out of engagement with the switch so that activation of the switch by the detent mechanism occurs with the mode selector in the electronic firing mode position, wherein activation of the switch enables the electronic firing system so the pull of the trigger actuates the electronic actuator to fire the firearm.

An apparatus for a selective fire firearm, comprising:

• an electronic firing system including an electronic actuator that actuates to fire the firearm in response to the electronic firing system being enabled and a pull of a trigger of the firearm;
• a rotatable selector mechanism including an operating mode selector and a post portion extending from the operating mode selector, the post portion including an auto sear positioning portion for enabling at least one of automatic and semi-automatic firing of the firearm, a sear assembly blocking portion for preventing firing of the firearm, and an outer cam region engageable with the electronic tiring system to selectively enable and disable the electronic firing system;
• and
• a detent mechanism engaged to the selector mechanism, wherein the selector mechanism is configured to selectively positon the detent mechanism into and out of engagement with a switch so that activation of the switch by the detent mechanism occurs in response to a predetermined position of the outer cam region of the mode selector relative to the detent mechanism, wherein activation of the switch enables the electronic firing system to fire the firearm in response to the pull of the trigger.

An apparatus for a selective fire firearm, comprising:

• a trigger;
• a hammer connected to the trigger that is movable between a cocked position and an uncocked position;
• a sear assembly and an auto sear that are each positionable to releasably engage the hammer;
• an electronic firing system including an electronic actuator;
• and
• a selector mechanism including a mode selector movable between a safety mode position wherein the sear assembly is blocked from movement by the selector mechanism, a semi-automatic firing mode position wherein an upper sear and a lower sear of the sear assembly are movable relative to the selector mechanism to engage the hammer in the cocked position, an automatic firing mode position wherein the selector mechanism blocks movement of the upper sear and the auto sear is positioned by the selector mechanism to temporarily engage the hammer in the cocked position, and an electronic firing mode position in which the electronic firing system is enabled so a pull of the trigger actuates the electronic actuator to move the lower sear to release the hammer from the cocked position and the upper sear and lower sear are movable relative to the selector mechanism to engage the hammer in the cocked position.