Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SIMULATED FIREARM HAVING
A MULTIPLE INTEGRATED LASER ENGAGEMENT SYSTEM
RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C.
119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.
60/898,886, entitled "Simulated Firearm for a Multiple
Integrated Laser Engagement System," Attorney's Docket
077443.0116, filed February 1, 2007, by Giles D. Jones et
al.
GOVERNMENT FUNDING
The U.S. Government may have certain rights in this
invention as provided for by the terms of Contract No.
N61339-00-D-0001 awarded by the Naval Air Warfare Center,
Training Systems Division for the Program Executive
Office for Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO
STRI ) .
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
This disclosure generally relates to firearm
training devices, and more particularly to a simulated
firearm having a multiple integrated laser engagement
system.
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BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Training places individuals in simulated situations
in order to develop appropriate responses in those
situations. For example, soldiers may participate in
training exercises in order to prepare for actual combat
situations.
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SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
According to one embodiment of the disclosure, an
apparatus that simulates a firearm includes a simulated
firearm housing and a multiple integrated laser
engagement system (MILES) device. The simulated firearm
housing simulates the appearance of an actual firearm.
The MILES device is housed in and integrated within the
simulated firearm housing. A MILES circuit portion
detects a triggering event. A transmitter transmits a
MILES signal in response to the triggering event, the
MILES signal representing a bullet fired from the actual
firearm.
Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one
or more technical advantages. A technical advantage of
one embodiment may be that a simulated firearm has a
multiple integrated laser engagement system (MILES)
device that emits a MILES signal representing a bullet.
The MILES device is integrated into the simulated
firearm.
Certain embodiments of the invention may include
none, some, or all of the above technical advantages.
One or more other technical advantages may be readily
apparent to one skilled in the art from the figures,
descriptions, and claims included herein.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A more complete understanding of embodiments of the
disclosure will be apparent from the detailed description
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
which:
FIGURE 1 illustrates one embodiment of a simulated
firearm with a housing that simulates the appearance of
an actual firearm;
FIGURE 2 illustrates embodiments of a triggering
mechanism and a multiple integrated laser engagement
(MILES) device that may be used with the simulated
firearm of FIGURE 1;
FIGURE 3 illustrates a more detailed view of the
triggering mechanism of FIGURE 2;
FIGURES 4A and 4B illustrate one embodiment of a
MILES device configured within a sonic suppressor of a
simulated firearm;
FIGURES 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate another embodiment
of a MILES device configured within a flash suppressor of
a simulated firearm; and
FIGURES 6A and 6B illustrate another embodiment of a
MILES device configured within a simulated firearm that
simulates an actual handgun.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
FIGURE 1 illustrates one embodiment of a simulated
firearm 10 with a housing 20 that simulates the
5 appearance of an actual firearm. As described below,
simulated firearm 10 has a multiple integrated laser
engagement system (MILES) device that is configured to
transmit a MILES signal in response to detecting a
triggering event. The MILES signal represents a bullet
that may be fired from the actual firearm. The MILES
device is integrated into the simulated firearm.
Simulated firearm 10 may simulate any suitable
actual firearm. Examples of actual firearms include
Maschinenpistole 5 (MP5), AsToraaT Ka,naruHMKOSa obpasu,a
1947 rox~a (AK-47), Heckler & Koch GmbH G3, Messier 92
(M92), and other shotgun, sub-machine gun, and handgun
firearms. In this particular embodiment, simulated
firearm 10 simulates a Maschinenpistole 5 (MP5) firearm.
In one embodiment, simulated firearm 10 may be a
commercial off the shelf (COTS) simulated firearm.
Examples of such simulated firearms include toy or
replica firearms or air guns. In one embodiment,
simulated firearm 10 may be unable to fire ammunition
that is fired by an actual firearm. Certain embodiments
of simulated firearm 10 may provide an advantage in that
simulated firearm 10 may be unable to cause injury or
harm.
In one embodiment, simulated firearm 10 has a
housing 20 that includes components similar to those of
an actual firearm. In one embodiment, housing 20 may
include a scope 30, a sight 34, a stock 38, a lower
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receiver 42, a trigger 46, a magazine 54, a barrel 50, a
sonic suppressor 58, and a flash suppressor (not shown).
In one embodiment, certain components may be configured
as detachable firearm attachments, such as scope 30,
lower receiver 42, magazine 54, sonic suppressor 58, and
a flash suppressor.
FIGURE 2 illustrates embodiments of a triggering
mechanism 60 and a multiple integrated laser engagement
(MILES) device 62 that may be used with simulated firearm
10 of FIGURE 1. Triggering mechanism 60 initiates a
simulated firing of simulated firearm 10. In one
embodiment, trigger 46 may be activated, such as pulled,
to generate a trigger signal that initiates a simulated
firing of simulated firearm 10. Triggering mechanism 60
is described in more detail with reference to FIGURE 3.
FIGURE 3 illustrates a more detailed view of the
triggering mechanism 60 of FIGURE 2. In the embodiment,
triggering mechanism 60 includes a transmitter switch 80,
a magazine switch 84, and a pneumatic device 88 coupled
as shown. In response to activation of trigger 46,
transmitter switch 80 provides a trigger signal, which in
turn activates magazine switch 84. Activation of
magazine switch 84 activates pneumatic device 88, which
releases compressed gas. In one embodiment, the release
of compressed gas constitutes a triggering event that
initiates MILES device 62. In another embodiment, the
trigger signal itself constitutes a triggering event.
Referring back to FIGURE 2, MILES device 62 emits a
MILES signal that represents a bullet fired from the
actual firearm, and may emit the signal in response to
detecting a triggering event. A MILES signal may be a
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line-of-sight type signal, such as an infrared signal
emitted from a light emitting diode (LED) or laser. The
MILES signal may carry information about the shooter,
firearm, and/or ammunition simulated by simulated firearm
10.
In the illustrated embodiment, MILES device 62
includes a triggering event detector 66, a processing
circuit 70, a programmable interface 74, and a
transmitter 78. Triggering event detector 66 detects a
triggering event that indicates that trigger 46 has been
activated and has generated a trigger signal. In one
embodiment, the triggering event may be release of
compressed air by a pneumatic device in response to a
trigger signal. In another embodiment, the triggering
event may be the trigger signal itself.
Processing circuit 70 manages the operation of MILES
device 62, and may instruct transmitter 78 to emit a
MILES signal in response to triggering event detector 66
detecting a triggering event. Processing circuit 70 may
control features of MILES device 62 to simulate
characteristics of one or more actual firearms. Features
that may be controlled may include the signal strength,
speed at which signals are fired, and/or the number of
signals that may be fired after the trigger is activated,
in a certain time period, or after reloading. Simulated
characteristics may include the ammunition type and
caliber, firing speed, or magazine capacity. Processing
circuit 70 may track the number of simulated firings
after the trigger is pulled, during a certain time
period, and/or after reloading.
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Programmable interface 74 may be used to program
and/or upgrade software executed by processing circuit
70. For example, programmable interface 74 may receive
an instruction to program software to have simulated
firearm 10 simulate a particular type of actual firearm.
Programmable interface 74 may also be used to load weapon
and/or user identifier codes. Programmable interface 74
may be any suitable interface, such as a universal serial
bus (USB) interface.
Transmitter 78 transmits the MILES signal.
Transmitter 78 may be any suitable transmitter configured
to transmit a MILES signal, such as a light emitting
diode or a laser. Transmitter 78 may be placed anywhere
on or within an suitable component of simulated firearm
10. In the illustrated embodiment, transmitter 78 is
configured in sonic suppressor 58.
One or more components of MILES device 62 may be
disposed within or on one or more components of simulated
firearm 10 in any suitable manner. In one embodiment,
triggering event detector 66, processing circuit 70, and
programmable interface 74 may form a MILES circuit
portion 76 configured within or on one component, and
transmitter 78 may be configured within or on another
component.
In one embodiment, MILES device 62 is disposed
within one or more components of simulated firearm 10 to
preserve the appearance of simulated firearm 10 as an
actual firearm. MILES device 62 may be disposed within a
firearm attachment to allow for interchangeability with
other commercial off the shelf simulated firearms.
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FIGURES 4A and 4B illustrate one embodiment of MILES
device 62 configured within sonic suppressor 58 of
simulated firearm 10. MILES device 62 includes circuit
portion 76 and transmitter 78. Circuit portion 76 is
disposed within the muzzle of sonic suppressor 58, closer
towards barrel 50. In the illustrated example, circuit
portion 76 is temporarily removed from sonic suppressor
58 for explanatory purposes only. Transmitter 78 is
disposed within sonic suppressor 58, farther away from
barrel 50.
FIGURES 5A, 5B, and 5C illustrate another embodiment
of a MILES device 62 configured within a flash suppressor
110 of a simulated firearm 10. Flash suppressor 110
reduces the visibility of a muzzle flash that occurs upon
firing. MILES device 62 includes circuit portion 76 and
transmitter 78. Circuit portion 76 is disposed within
the muzzle on flash suppressor 110, closer towards barrel
50. Transmitter 78 is disposed within the muzzle of
flash suppressor 110, farther away from barrel 50.
Screws 114 may facilitate attachment of MILES device 62
to and removal MILES device 62 from flash suppressor 110.
Flash suppressor 110 may be mounted to simulated
firearm 10 using any suitable coupling, such as screws,
bolts, lugs, or threaded aperture. In this particular
embodiment, flash suppressor 110 is configured with lugs
118 used to couple flash suppressor 110 to simulated
firearm 10.
FIGURES 6A and 6B illustrate another embodiment of
MILES device 62 configured within a simulated firearm 122
that simulates an actual handgun. Simulated firearm 122
is shown in a disassembled state in order to show MILES
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device 62. In the illustrated embodiment, simulated
firearm 122 includes a lower receiver 42 and an upper
receiver 126. MILES device 62 includes circuit portion
76 and transmitter 78. A first portion of circuit
5 portion 76 is disposed within lower receiver 42, and a
second portion of circuit portion 76 and transmitter 78
are disposed within upper receiver 126. In one
embodiment, the first portion comprises programmable
interface 74, and the second portion comprises triggering
10 event detector 66 and processing circuit 70.
Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made
to simulated firearm 10 without departing from the scope
of the invention. The components of simulated firearm 10
may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations
of simulated firearm 10 may be performed by more, fewer,
or other components. For example, the operations of
circuit portion 76 and transmitter 78 may be performed by
one component, or the operations of circuit portion 76
may be performed by more than one component.
Additionally, operations of simulated firearm 10 may be
performed using any suitable logic comprising software,
hardware, and/or other logic. As used in this document,
"each" refers to each member of a set or each member of a
subset of a set.
Certain embodiments of the invention may provide one
or more technical advantages. A technical advantage of
one embodiment may be that a simulated firearm has a
MILES device that emits a MILES signal representing a
bullet. The MILES device is integrated into the
simulated firearm.
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Although several embodiments have been illustrated
and described in detail, it will be recognized that
substitutions and alterations are possible without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention, as defined by the following claims.
