US 6,856,238 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for user control of appliances

OwnerJohn R. Wootton, F. Maury Matthews +1inventors

InventorsJohn R. Wootton, F. Maury Matthews, J. Joseph Muller

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Abstract

Apparatus (10) and a method for rendering a weapon (12) incapable of use unless authorized by a specified individual. More than one person may be authorized to use the weapon, however only one person may be authorized to use it at any one time. Each authorized person carries a badge (14) or other device which includes an rf transmitter (TAU) capable of transmitting a coded signal to a receiver (REU) installed in the weapon in response to a coded query from a unit (EU) installed in the weapon. If a properly coded transmission is received by the weapon, it becomes capable of being fired by the person who authorized its use. However, the weapon will not fire unless the person using the weapon is also standing behind the weapon. This prevents the weapon from being turned on the person authorized to use it. The apparatus stores details of the weapon's use (e.g., who, when, and where). This information is released upon receipt of an authorized code.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An apparatus for limiting usage of an associated appliance to an authorized user, comprising:

an electronic unit operatively coupled to the associated appliance, said electronic unit configured to regulate activation of the associated appliance;
at least one authorizing unit associated with an authorized user, said authorizing unit configured to periodically emit a signal representative of a unique message;
wherein said electronic unit is further configured to receive said signal;
and
wherein said electronic unit is further configured to calculate a differential strength of said signal to identify a spatial relationship including at least a distance and orientation of said at least one authorizing unit relative to said electronic unit;
and
wherein said electronic unit is further configured to activate the associated appliance only in response to said unique message corresponding to a predetermined message and said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within a predetermined limited spatial volume relative to said electronic unit, said electronic unit including an omni-directional antenna having a first signal detection region and a directionally sensitive antenna having a second signal detection region;
and
wherein an intersection of said first and second signal detection regions defines said predetermined limited spatial volume relative to said electronic unit, and said electronic unit being configured to calculate said differential signal strength utilizing a signal received at said omni-directional antenna and a signal received at said directionally sensitive antenna.

6 more elements

An apparatus for limiting usage of a firearm to an authorized user, the firearm having a muzzle defining a discharge axis and a discharge direction, comprising:

an electronic unit operatively coupled to the associated appliance, said electronic unit configured to regulate activation of the associated appliance;
at least one authorizing unit associated with an authorized user, said authorizing unit configured to periodically emit a signal representative of a unique message;
wherein said electronic unit is further configured to receive said signal;
and
wherein said electronic unit is further configured to identify a spatial relationship between said at least one authorizing unit and said electronic unit, and said spatial relationship includes at least a distance and orientation;
and
wherein said electronic unit is operatively coupled to the firearm to inhibit discharge of the firearm in a first state, and to permit discharge of the firearm in a second state, responsive to said unique message corresponding to a predetermined message and said identified spatial relationship establishing a presence of said at least one authorizing unit within a predetermined limited spatial volume relative to said electronic unit, said predetermined limited spatial volume being disposed about the discharge axis for a predetermined distance opposite the discharge direction from the firearm muzzle.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.