Systems and methods for detecting a distance between a conducted electrical weapon and a target

A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) for impeding locomotion of a human or animal target and detecting a distance from the CEW to the target, the CEW for providing a stimulus signal through the target to impede locomotion of the target, the CEW comprising:

• a processing circuit;
• a laser for providing a beam of light;
• a detector for detecting light;
• and
• a shield;
• a signal generator;
• wherein:
• the beam of light strikes the target and scatters;
• the shield in a first position blocks the scattered light from reaching the detector;
• the shield in a second position does not block the scattered light from reaching the detector;
• the processing circuit determines a distance between the CEW to the target in accordance with the first position and the second position of the shield and in accordance with the shield detecting the scattered light;
• the processing circuit activates launch of one or more electrodes toward the target;
• and
• the signal generator provides the stimulus signal through the target via the one or more electrodes to impede locomotion of the target.

A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”), the CEW for launching one or more electrodes for providing a stimulus signal through a human or animal target, the stimulus signal for impeding locomotion of the target, the CEW comprising:

• a processing circuit;
• a detector;
• and
• a shield, the shield positioned relative to the detector to establish a crossover distance;
• wherein the processing circuit:
• determines whether the target is closer than or farther away than the crossover distance from the CEW in accordance with the detector detecting a light scattered from the target;
• and
• in accordance with determining, selects one or more electrodes for launching toward the target to provide the stimulus signal to impede locomotion of the target.

A method performed by a conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) for detecting a distance between the CEW and a human or animal target, the method comprising:

• illuminating a spot on the target with a beam of light, light from the spot provides a scattered light;
• establishing a crossover distance in accordance with a position of a shield with respect to a detector, the crossover distance relative to the spot determines whether the detector detects the scattered light;
• determining the distance between the CEW and the target in accordance with the crossover distance and the detector detecting the scattered light;
• and
• launching one or more electrodes toward the target go provide a current through the target to impede locomotion of the target.