Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
1
A NETWORKED BATTLE SYSTEM WITH HEADS UP DISPLAY
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent
Application 62/166,427 filed on May 26, 2015, the contents each of which are
incorporated herein by reference thereto.
[0002] Reference is also made to U.S. Patent Application No.
14/517,334 filed on October 17, 2014 and U.S. Patent Application 14/381,542
filed
on September 9, 2014, the contents each of which are incorporated herein by
reference thereto.
[0003] Reference is also made to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No. 61/976,157, filed April 7, 2014 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application
No.
62/003,006, filed May 26, 2014, the contents each of which are incorporated
herein
by reference thereto.
[0004] Reference is also made to U.S. Patent Application No.
14/476,210, filed September 3, 2014 the contents of which is incorporated
herein by
reference thereto. This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent
Application No. 14/481,542, filed September 9,2014 the contents of which is
incorporated herein by reference thereto.
[0005] Reference is also made to U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
13/968,882 filed August 16, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent
Application Serial No. 61/684,062, filed August 16, 2012, the contents each of
which
are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
[0006] Reference is also made to U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
13/956,582 filed August 1, 2013, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent
Application Serial No. 61/684,062, filed August 16, 2012, the contents each of
which
is incorporated herein by reference thereto.
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
2
[0007] Reference is also made to the following applications, U.S.
Patent Application Serial No. 12/688,256 filed January 15, 2010; U.S. Patent
Application Serial No. 13/372,825 filed February 14, 2012; U.S. Provisional
Patent
Application Serial No. 61/443,085 filed February 15, 2011; and U.S.
Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 61/528,728 filed August 29, 2011, the contents
each of
which are also incorporated herein by reference thereto.
BACKGROUND
[0008] Embodiments of the invention relate generally to systems and
methods of providing information between one or more different battlefield
participants.
[0009] Communication of information between different battlefield
participants (e.g., soldiers) may improve battle results. Further, the more
information
communicated, the more the improvement.
[0010] During battle several different components may be used. These
include, for example, rifles, scopes, grenade launchers and communication
devices.
Some of these components may provide for different views and angles of attack
in a
battlefield situation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In one embodiment, a weapon is disclosed that provides
information regarding its position and orientation to a central location that
can
interpret and display this information.
[0012] In one embodiment, a networked battle system is disclosed.
The system includes a communication network, a first rifle and a sensor pack
attached
to the rifle that includes a sensor for determining a bearing of the first
rifle, a sensor
for an accelerometer and a rate gyroscope. The system also includes a
communication element coupled to the rifle allowing the sensor pack to provide
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
3
sensor information to the communication network, a battle management system in
communication with the first rifle through the communication network that
receives
the sensor information from the sensor pack updates a battle plan based on the
sensor
information to form an updated battle plan and a heads up display unit at
least in
operative communication with the communication network and the communication
element and that displays the updated battle plan to a user.
[0013] Other aspects and features of embodiments of the invention
will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the
following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction
with
the accompanying figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described,
by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of firearm embodied as a rifle
according to one embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 2 shows an example of a rail configuration according to
one embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 3 is high-level system diagram illustrating a network
formed that includes a firearm and a heads-up display;
[0018] FIG. 4 is an example of display screen of an accessory that may
be coupled to a firearm;
[0019] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating different possible
communication paths in a firearm;
[0020] FIG. 6 is a dataflow diagram illustrating data transfer from rifle
accessories to a central location and back;
[0021] FIG. 7 illustrates an alternative example of a scope;
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
4
[0022] FIG. 8 illustrates multiple battlefield devices networked
together;
[0023] FIG. 9 is an example of a display; and
[0024] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment of a system and how
information may be transferred.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] The term "firearm" as used herein, refers at least to a rifle,
machine gun, weapon, and pistol and may be automatic, semi-automatic or
otherwise.
Other examples of a firearm includes a grenade launcher, mortar launcher or
the like.
A power or non-powered rail on a firearm may have certain accessories attached
to it.
The accessories include, for example, telescopic sights, tactical sights,
laser sighting
modules, Global Positioning Systems (GPS), bearing sensors, inclination
sensors,
laser distance measuring devices, accelerometers, microphones, video cameras,
cameras and night vision scopes. This list is not meant to be exclusive,
merely an
example of accessories that may utilize a rail. Any of the devices (e.g.,
rifles,
firearms, spotter scopes, etc.) disclosed herein may be referred to from time
to time as
a battlefield device.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a rifle, weapon,
firearm, (automatic, semi-automatic or otherwise) 10 is illustrated. Rifle,
weapon,
firearm, etc. 10 has a plurality of rails 12. In one embodiment, rails 12 may
be
anyone of a MIL-STD-1913 rail, Weaver rail, NATO STANAG 4694 accessory rail
or equivalents thereof Rails 12 are configured to allow a plurality of
accessories 14
to the rifle 10. Rails 12 are mounted at the 12 o'clock, 3 o'clock, 6 o'clock
and 9
o'clock positions with respect to a longitudinal or firing axis of the rifle
and/or a
barrel 16 of the rifle 10.
[0027] Accessories 14 may be any one of: cameras, telescopic sights,
tactical sights, laser sighting modules, Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and
night
vision scopes or any type of sensor. The aforementioned accessories are merely
an
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
example of contemplated accessories for use with rifle or firearm 10. A
specific
example of an attached accessory is shown as personal data assistant (PDA) 140
or
cellular telephone in FIG. 1. This PDA 140 may have a screen to display
information
(e.g., maps, target locations, video or other visual information) and receive
information from a user (e.g., a touch screen or other input devices). In one
embodiment, accessories 14 are items that may require a source of power and/or
may
require data communication with another component of the rifle or firearm 10
or a
system in which rifle or firearm 10 is employed. Of course, one or more of the
accessories may have its own power supply and may be able to communicate data
independent of the firearm.
[0028] A portion of a powering rail configured as a MIL-STD- 1913
rail is shown generally as 12. Rail 12 is a MIL-STD-1913 rail, such as a
Weaver rail,
NATO STANAG 4694 accessory rail or the like. Sliding over rail 12 is a powered
or
powering rail 18.
[0029] With reference to FIG. 2, rail 12 has a plurality of rail slots 20
and rail ribs 22, which are utilized in receiving an accessory of another rail
such as
powering rail 18. Powering rail 18 comprises a plurality of rail slots 24 and
rail ribs
22 in a configuration that allows for the mating of accessories with powering
rail 18.
[0030] In one embodiment, powering rail 18 is mounted to rail 12 via a
cross pin 28 or other device received within a pin hole 30 of powering rail
18. The
pin hole 30 accepts the cross pin 28 so that the pin 28 locks and secures the
rails 12
and 18 together. Although FIG. 1 illustrates rail 18 secured to a top rail 12
of an
upper receiver 31 of rifle or firearm 10 rail 18 can also be secured in
additional
locations such as the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock rail 12 locations. Still further,
rail 18 may be
secured to anyone or any combination of the 3, 6 and 9 o'clock rail 12
locations. In
addition and in one alternative embodiment, powering rail 18 may be formed
into
anyone of rails 12 such that a separate rail 18 is not necessary. In other
words and in
this embodiment, the rail 12 is now the networked power and/or data
transmitting rail.
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
6
[0031] As discussed further below, the rail 18/12 may also provide a
path for transferring data from any or all of the accessories 14 to one or
more
processors carried in the firearm 10. Such processors may be located, for
example, in
the rail 18/12 or the pistol grip 212 or both. Also, the accessories
themselves may
have the ability to receive information back from the processors and transmit
to a
location removed from the firearm 10. For instance, information from sensors
on the
firearm 10 may be routed to the processors and then provided to the PDA 140
for
transmission to an external location. This communication to the PDA 140 may be
through a rail, via a direct connection or wirelessly. As discussed further
below, the
information from the processor may also or instead be provided to a heads up
display
unit. In one embodiment, the heads up display unit described below may include
some or all of the functionality of the PDA 140 and, as such, may perform some
of
the functions of the PDA 140 or may entirely replace the PDA 140.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 3, a schematic illustration of a system
130, using various embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. As
illustrated,
a firearm 10 includes a barrel 1 and has a plurality of powering rails 18
(e.g., 3
o'clock, 6 o'clock, 9 o'clock and 12 o'clock locations with respect to a
longitudinal
axis of the firearm 10 are provided, of course, any other locations are also
contemplated). The powering rails 18 are attached, in one embodiment, to rail
12. As
discussed above, the power rails 18 may be omitted in some instances
[0033] Each of the powering rails 18 may be configured to transmit
power to an associated accessory 14 via conductive couplings. The same or
different
couplings may also allow for the transmission of data though the rails 18
to/from the
accessories. The couplings can be any type of coupling including, for example,
inductive couplings and/or galvanic couplings including direct contact between
two
conductive materials. It shall be understood, however, that the ability to
transmit
power is not required. In such a case, rails 18/12 may only be utilized to
transmit data
between the accessories 14 and the microprocessors 42/52 as described below.
Also,
the rails 18/12 may allow for direct transmission of data between accessories
14.
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
7
[0034] In one embodiment, one of data or power is transmitted via
inductive couplings and the other of data or power is transmitted via galvanic
couplings. More detailed description of the powering rails 18 and the manner
in
which power/data may be transferred is described in one or more the
patents/patent
applications mentioned above.
[0035] Each of the rails 18 are also configured to communicate with a
rail master control unit or processor 42 via a data bus, which in turn allows
all of the
accessories 14 to communicate information to other processors in the firearm.
For
example, the firearm 10 may further include a processor 51 disposed in the
grip 212
(FIG. 1) of the firearm. As discussed more fully below, the processor 51 may
serve as
the master control unit. In one embodiment, the processor 42 may be omitted.
[0036] To the extent that the processor 42 is included, it may be
referred to as a bus processor herein and it controls access to the data bus
formed by
the powering rails to allow for the processor 51 to communicate information to
and
from the accessories 14. The bus processor 42 may be located in either the
upper or
lower receiver of the firearm 10 or may be disposed in/on rails 12 or power
rails 18.
[0037] As illustrated, processor 51 is coupled via communication link
133 to a communication device 132. The communication device 132 may be part of
the processor 51 in one embodiment or may be worn, for example, in backpack or
vest. While illustrated external to the firearm 10, it shall be understood
that the
communication device may be carried on it. Regardless of its location, the
communication device 132 allows the processor 51 to communicate with other
devices 136/200 in the system as more fully described below. The communication
link 133 may be wired or wireless or a combination thereof The communication
device 132 may communicate in any known manner including, but not limited to,
rf
communications, cellular communications, Bluetooth, and ZigBee and the
communication path is generally shown as passing through a communication
network
131. In some cases, the communication device 132 may be shown as a radio but
such
is not limited. The communication network 131 can be any type of now known or
later created network and may include one or more additional processors for
routing
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
8
or storing the information.
[0038] In one embodiment, the PDA 140 may also be able to provide
information to and receive information from the communication network 131. For
instance, accessories 14 in the form of sensors may provide information to the
processor (42 or 51 or both) and receive information back from the processor
and
transmit it off the rifle 10 to the communication network 131. In one
embodiment,
the communication from the PDA 140 is direct to the communication network 131
via path 141 and in another embodiment, the PDA 140 communicates with the
communication device 132 (path 142) which in turn provides communication to
the
communication network 131. It shall be further understood that any of the
processors
51/42 or the PDA 140 may operate as a server in communication with each other
or
external server. For instance, the PDA 140 may operate as a server that
connects the
processors 42/51 to a battle management system. As a server, the PDA 140 may
also
be able to process map or coordinate date received from an external source
such as a
battle management system. The same may be true of the tablet 200 discussed
below.
In addition, while the sensors/accessories 14 are shown as connected to rails,
it shall
be understood these elements can be integral or embedded in the upper receiver
(or
any other portion) of a firearm.
[0039] In one embodiment, the communication device 132 may also
provide for communication to an element worn by a soldier such as a heads up
display
unit 160. As illustrated the heads up display unit 160 is in the form of
glasses. It
shall be understand that this is not limiting and any type of heads up display
may be
used. For instance, the heads up display unit 160 may be in the form of a
helmet or
goggles. Regardless of the form, the heads up display unit 160 may display any
information described herein. For instance, the heads up display unit 160 may
display
information regarding a map received from an external location (as described
both
above and below) and overlay information onto that map.
[0040] As illustrated, the heads up display unit 160 receives
information from the communications device 132. This information may include,
for
example, information from sensors located on the rails 18 that is processed by
the
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
9
processor 51. The data may then be transmitted wirelessly from the
communications
device 132 to the heads up display unit 160 via path 172. In another
embodiment, the
heads up display unit 160 may receive the information from the PDA 140 through
a
wireless connection such as Bluetooth. This is illustrated by dashed
communication
path 175. In one embodiment, the system may include both the PDA 140 and the
heads up display unit 160. In another embodiment, the functions of the PDA 140
may
all be performed by the heads up display unit 160. Also, it shall be
understood that
heads up display unit 160 may connect directly to the network 131 as indicated
by
communication path 175.
[0041] It shall be further understood that any of the processors 51/42
or the heads up display unit 160 may operate as a server in communication with
each
other or an external server. For instance, the heads up display unit 160 may
operate as
a server that connects the processors 42/51 to a battle management system. As
a
server, the heads up display unit 160 may also be able to process map or
coordinate
date received from an external source such as a battle management system.
[0042] FIG. 3 provides for many example communication paths.
Other possible communication paths are shown below. All possible paths are
contemplated herein regardless of whether the PDA 140 or the heads up display
unit
160 (or both) are utilized.
[0043] In one non-limiting embodiment the observer system is a
spotter scope 136 that may be able to determine the location of a potential
target.
This may include determining the location of the scope 136 and the
distance/direction
to the target for instance, by combining a GPS location of the scope 136 with
distance
from a laser range finder and means for determining pointing direction as
discussed
below this information may then be transferred from the scope 136 to the
firearm 10
and then routed through the rails and a location of the target displayed on a
map
shown on an accessory 14 such as a PDA 140. In this embodiment, firearm 10 of
the
system 130 is a sniper rifle, which is networked or communicates with scope
136
through the communication network 131. In one embodiment, the communication
between the firearm and the scope 136 (or the tablet 200 discussed below) may
be
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
direct point-to-point contact. It shall be understood that one or more of the
accessories 14 may also communicate directly to the communication network 131
in
any known manner including, but not limited to, if communications, cellular
communications, Bluetooth, and ZigBee and these communication devices may be
any one of accessories 14 or peripheral device 132 which may be worn by an
operator
of one of the components. In one embodiment, the communication network is a
wireless LAN network. The communication devices also being networked or in
communication with other devices coupled to the powered rail(s) 18. Although
only
two items (e.g., firearm 10 and scope 136) are illustrated it is understood
that
numerous items (e.g., more than two) may be networked to communicate with each
other. For example, multiple firearms 10, scope 136 and numerous other devices
or
items may be networked through system 130 and data can be exchanged between
any
of the items through the communication network 131. Each item may target,
identify, or exchange data (either unique to that item or common between
items) with
respect to multiple targets, locations, persons, or other items.
[0044] Another example of a scope 136 is illustrated as scope in FIG.
7. In this embodiment, the scope 136 may have a device 138 that communicates
with
an associated accessory 14 or device 138/200 illustrated in at least FIG. 1.
For
example, devices 138 and 140 may be GPS, laser range finder, PDA or targeting
devices capable of communicating (e.g., wireless or otherwise) with each other
and
thus exchanging data and information.
[0045] The system illustrated in FIG. 3 shows a version of the system
130 capable of communication with and/or part of a battlefield management
system
(BMS) illustrated as tablet computer 200. Of course, the BMS could be
implanted on
other types of devices. Further, it shall be understood that the PDA 140
and/or the
heads up display unit 160 could be part of the system. In general, a
battlefield
management system is a system that integrates information acquired from
multiple
inputs and can be used coordinate movement/actions of multiple actors (e.g.,
soldiers).
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
11
[0046] As illustrated, one of the accessories 14 is coupled to an adapter
205 that allows it to communicate with the rail 12. The adapter 205 could
condition
power into a form desired by the accessory. For example, the adapter 205 could
be
utilized to convert power into a form or particular pin layout used by a PDA
140 or
scope 136. Further, the adapter could include formatting logic to convert PDA
or
scope data into a form conductive for transmission through the rail 18. For
example,
parallel data could be converted into serial format.
[0047] In one embodiment, the system 130 includes a sensor 220
capable of determining a bearing of firearm 10. Such a sensor may be a compass
or
part of a GPS device or other device. In one embodiment, the angular (bearing,
pitch
and roll) information may be determined from sensors contained in PDA 140. In
other embodiments, the angular sensors may be formed by one or more
rotationally
sensitive sensors such as inclinometers, rate gyros, accelerometers and
magnometer
mounted on the firearm 10. In one embodiment the firearm 10 includes at least
one
set of angular sensors 222 to determine the inclination, roll and bearing with
respect
to the horizontal axis of the firearm 10. The processor 51 may combine the
data from
the sensors (e.g., 220, 222) as well as information from another accessory 14
on the
firearm 10 and then cause it to be transmitted via communication device 132 to
the
battle management system 200 or any other scope 136 or another firearm 10. It
shall
be understood that any of the capabilities disclosed herein with respect to
the rifle 10
may be applicable to the scope 136 or any other device included in system 130.
[0048] In one embodiment, the processor 51 collects data from the
accessories 14 (herein, accessories will also include any sensor on the
firearm) in
either a polled or interrupt method via the data bus. The data bus can be
either wired
or wireless interfaces. The processor 51 may utilize a real time clock to
routinely
interrogate accessories 14 at a predetermined schedule. During these
predetermined
intervals the processor 51 reads the data and stores it into memory. In one
embodiment, the data is tagged with a real time clock stamp to facilitate data
processing. In one embodiment, one or more of the accessories 14 are interrupt
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
12
driven. In such a case, an event causes the accessory 14 to send an interrupt
to the
processor 51 which, in turn, causes the processor 51 to collect data from the
accessory
14.
[0049] Regardless of how collected, the data is transmitted from
communication device 132 to the tablet 200, the scope 136 or both. Further,
either of
scope 136 or the tablet 200 can send information back to the firearm 10.
[0050] In operation, processor 51 draws power from the power supply
84 and may discover connected accessories 14. In one embodiment, the discovery
may include verifying that the accessory 14 is operable. In the case that the
accessory
14 is a sensor, the processor 51 may configure the sensor based on its
location on the
firearm and function. The sensors can be navigation, acoustic or optical
devices. The
sensors all communicate to the processor via the data bus and report sensor
data and
status. The navigation sensors could be individual or integrated into a single
package,
and are GPS (military or commercial), accelerometer, rate gyro, magnometer
(compass) or gyro scope and may sense and report in all three axial planes (x,
y & z).
The acoustic sensor may provide an acoustic signature of the environment
around the
firearm as well as of the firearm itself The optical sensor may capture the
optical
spectrum in front of the weapon. The optical spectrum could be the visual,
infrared,
thermal, Short Wave Length, Medium Wave Length and Long Wave Length, etc.
[0051] It shall be understood that the format of the data
stored/transmitted by the processor 51 can be varied and adapted to meet any
preferred receiving performance. Further, while there are several different
accessories
14 disclosed above, it shall be understood that the processor 51 may include
the
ability to synthesize the data from these accessories before transmitting the
data. For
example, if a camera is used to form a digital image of a target, the time and
the
position and orientation of the rifle 10 can be attached to that image before
it is
transmitted. Further, in some cases, the rifle 10 may include a video camera
attached
as an accessory. In such a case, the data (e.g., images or video) could be
streamed in
real-time with time/position data appended thereto or sent in periodic or
interrupt
driven intervals.
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
13
[0052] In some cases, the processor 51 may include the ability to
process the data collected from the accessories 14. For example, the processor
51
may include instructions that allow it to perform ballistics calculations,
target range
and angular offset calculation, and target tracking. Further, based on
collected data,
the number of shots taken, remaining ammunition, firearm performance and
maintenance determinations and other firearm related calculations may be made.
In
one embodiment, the accessories 14/processor 51 monitor the internal ballistic
life
cycle and internal mechanisms of the firearm 10. As a firearm's mechanisms
wear or
become fouled, previously recorded events can be compared to determine the
percentage of difference. Dependent on the parameter be monitored, such
comparisons may determine the usefulness of the firearm.
[0053] Either in real time or at a prior time, map information related to
an area in which the firearm 10 is, or in the future may be, located is
provided to one
or more of: microprocessor 42/51, PDA 140, heads up display unit 160, and
tablet
200. The map information may be in the form of an overhead aerial view in one
embodiment and may be received from any source including, but not limited to
reconnaissance information taken by satellite or other overhead device such as
a
drone. Of course, publicly available maps could be used in one embodiment.
Based
on a GPS location of the firearm 10, a portion of the map may be selected.
Given the
bearing of the firearm 10, a view of the map in the region in front of the
firearm 10
may be selected and displayed on the PDA 140 or heads up display unit 160, or
both.
Further, with the information the location of "friendlies" can be displayed on
the maps
as the tablet 200 includes information from all of the weapons in the system
130 and
can place indicators on the map at those locations. Further, as an example,
the
location of a hostile party may be added to the map based, for example, the
location of
a friendly and a distance measured to the hostile by a laser range finder.
[0054] In one embodiment, the firearm 10 includes an inclinometer as
one of the accessories 14. Assuming that ballistic information is known about
a
projectile (e.g., a bullet or grenade) that the firearm 10 (or an attachment
thereto)
fires, a projected impact point on the map be displayed.
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
14
[0055] With reference to FIG. 4, an example of a display 201 of PDA
140 is illustrated. Such a display can also or instead by shown on heads up
display
unit 160. The bearing information (shown by compass 203) described above can
be
used to position a possible impact location 202 of the projectile in along
they axis.
Similarly, information from an angular sensors and the ballistic information
can be
used to determine how far the projectile will travel and the, thus, determines
the
location of the impact location 202. As the firearm as raised upward, the
impact
location 202 translates up on the map 201.
[0056] FIG.5 schematically illustrates one embodiment of
communication between various components on a firearm 10 as disclosed herein.
The
particular arrangement, however, may be varied in other embodiments. In this
embodiment, the firearm 10 includes at least one rail 18 onto which several
accessories 14 are coupled. The system includes three different communication
channels shown as a low speed channel 502, a medium speed channel 504 and a
high
speed channel 506. The low speed channel 502 extends from and allows
communication between the master processor 76 and any of the accessories 14.
The
low speed channel 502 can be driven by a low speed transmitter/receiver 510 in
processor 51 that includes selection logic 512 for selecting which of the
accessories
14 to route the communication to.
[0057] Each accessory 14 includes low speed decoding/encoding logic
514 to receive and decode information received over the low speed channel 502.
Of
course, the low speed decoding/encoding logic 514 can also include the ability
to
transmit information from the accessories 14 as described above.
[0058] In one embodiment, the low speed channel 502 carries data at
or about 100 kB/s. Of course, other speeds could be used. The low speed
channel
502 passes through a coupling 520. The coupling 520 could be galvanic or via
inductive coil pairs. In one embodiment, the inductive coil pair could be
replaced
include a two or more core portions about which the coil pair is wound. In
another
embodiment, the cores can be omitted and the inductive coil pair can be
implemented
as an air core transformer. As illustrated, the couplings 520 are contained
within the
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
powering rail 18. Of course, one or more of the portions of the coupling can
be
displaced from the rail 18.
[0059] The medium speed channel 504 is connected to couplings 520
and shares them with low speed channel 502. For clarity, branches of the
medium
speed channel 504 as illustrated in dashed lines. As one of ordinary skill
will realize,
data can be transferred on both the low speed channel 502 and the medium speed
channel at the same time. The medium speed channel 504 is used to transmit
data
between the accessories 14.
[0060] Both the low and medium speed channels 502, 504 can also be
used to transmit data to or receive data from an accessory (e.g. a tether) not
physically
attached to the rail 18 as illustrated by element 540. The connection between
the
processor 51 can be either direct or through an optional inductive coil pair
520'. In
one embodiment, the optional inductive coil pair 520' couples power or data or
both
to processor 51 which may be located in or near a handle portion (e.g., pistol
grip) of
a firearm.
[0061] To allow for communication between accessories 14 over the
medium speed channel 504, the processor 51 can include routing logic 522 that
couples signals from one accessory to another based on information either
received on
the medium speed channel 504. Of course, in the case where two accessories
coupled
to the rail 18 are communicating via the medium speed channel 502, the signal
can be
boosted or otherwise powered to ensure is can drive couplings 520 between the
accessories.
[0062] In another example, the accessory that is transmitting the data
first utilizes the low speed channel 502 to cause the processor 51 sets the
routing logic
522 to couple the medium speed channel 504 to the desired receiving accessory.
Of
course, the processor 51 itself (or an element coupled to it) can be used to
separate
low and medium speed communications from one another and provide them to
either
the low speed transmitter/receiver 510 or the routing logic 522, respectively.
In one
embodiment, the medium speed channel 504 carries data at 10 MB/s.
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
16
[0063] FIG. 5 also illustrates a high speed channel 506. In one
embodiment, the high speed channel 506 is formed by an optical data line and
runs
along at least a portion of the length of the rail 18. For clarity, however,
the high
speed channel 506 is illustrated separated from the rail 18. Accessories 14
can
include optical transmitter/receivers 542 for providing signals to and
receiving signals
from the high speed channel 506. In one embodiment, a high speed signal
controller
532 is provided to control data flow along the high speed channel 506. It
shall be
understood that the high speed signal controller 532 can be located in any
location and
may be provided, for example, as part of the processor 51. In one embodiment,
the
high speed signal controller 532 is an optical signal controller such as, for
example, an
optical router.
[0064] FIG. 6 shows a dataflow of information as it may be transferred
according to one embodiment. Accessory data 1200a, 1200b and 1200c is
representative of data that may be transferred to or from accessories coupled
to a rail
system 1202 coupled to a firearm. The rail system 1202 may be formed as herein
described. Of course other rail systems capable of supporting one or more
accessories
on a firearm may be utilized. The rail system 1202 may provide power to the
accessories in one embodiment but that is not required. The rail system 18 may
also
provide a physical conduit for transmitting data to and from the accessories.
As
mentioned above and as more fully discussed below, the data 1200a-1200c passes
through a coupling 520 that provides for inductive or galvanic transfer of the
data
from the accessory to the communication pathway (e.g., bus) 1204 provided by
the
rail system 1202. Of course, other energy transfer methods such as capacitive
coupling or wireless communication could be utilized. Processor 42 controls
communication over the bus 1204 and as such may be referred to as a bus
processor in
one embodiment. The bus processor 42 may be located in the rail system 1202
itself
or in the upper or lower receiver of a firearm. The bus processor may be able
to
determine, in one embodiment, when an accessory is coupled to the rail system
1202.
It should be noted that another processor (e.g. processor 51) may perform the
bus
control functions in one embodiment and, in such and embodiment, the bus
processor
42 may be omitted.
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
17
[0065] The bus processor can allow, for example, for first accessory
data 1200a to be transferred to the processor 51 first, followed by data 1200b
and then
1200c in one embodiment. Of course, any ordering a data can be provided for.
The
data reaches processor 51 and then transformed into an output data set 1200d.
In one
embodiment, the output data set is a compilation of portions of the data 1200a-
c.
Output data set 1200d could also include additional information such as a time
stamp.
For example, assume data 1200a is GPS data from a GPS device coupled to the
rail
system 1200, data 1200b is bearing information and data 1200c is a target
distance
value. This data could be combined and time stamped to provide an accurate
time
sensitive location of a potential target. Data 1200d may also include
manipulated data
as well.
[0066] The processor 51 may include or be in communication with a
wireless or wired communication device (e.g., communication device 132
described
above). This allows for data 1200d to be transmitted to another location such
as, for
example, a PDA 140 or directly to network 131 (see FIG. 3).
[0067] Regardless, in one embodiment, data 1200d is provided to
computing device 200 (e.g., a battle management system). Data 1200d may be
transmitted off of the rifle 10 in any manner including through one of the
accessories
(e.g., PDA 140).
[0068] Computing device 200 may also receive data from other
battlefield devices (e.g., other rail systems) as generally indicated by data
1200n. The
computing device takes some or all of the data that it has received and may,
in one
embodiment create mission data 1200e. This data is then transferred to
processor 51
and subsequently provided to one or more of the accessories. An example
(following
from above) includes mission data 1200e that includes a map showing all of the
targets identified by any of the rifles and data 1200e could be sent to any or
all of the
rifles that are connected to a particular network. The format and content of
the each of
the different data elements shown in FIG. 6 may be platform agnostic in one
embodiment so that the system 1202 may integrated into any preexisting or
later
developed battle management system.
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
18
[0069] The skilled artisan will realize that any number of rifles 10,
spotter scopes 136, tablets 200 and the like may communicate with one another
as
shown in FIG. 8, other battlefield devices may also be included an indicated
by
reference numeral 201. For instance, grenade launchers, mortar launchers or
any
other element used to determine information or launch a projectile could
communicate through network 131.
[0070] FIG. 9 shows an example of an image that may be displayed on
one or both of the PDA 140 and the heads up display unit 160. The display
includes a
map 901 that may be stored on the display device (the term display device will
be
used herein to refer to either or both the PDA 140 and the heads up display
unit 160.
In one embodiment, the particular map that is shown if based on the weapon
position
902 and the bearing 903 of the weapon. The position may be known, for example,
based on GPS positions determined by sensor on the weapon or the soldier and
the
bearing may be determined by the bearing sensor as described above. In one
embodiment, the image may include a photo 904 or other identifier of the
target.
Based on information either previously known or later acquired (e.g., from
another
weapon or element in the system), the location of the target 905 may also be
shown
by a target indicator 906. Other display elements may include, for example, a
weapon
pointing angle 907, a range/distance key 908 and a menu option 908. As the
skilled
artisan will understand, the display device may include input elements that
allow for
selection or entering of information into them. This information may be used
to mark
a target location, for example.
[0071] FIG. 10 shows one embodiment of a communication
arrangement according to one embodiment. Certain elements may be removed in
some embodiments. For example, the scope camera could be removed and only one
of the phone/goggle may be included.
[0072] While the invention has been described with reference to an
exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various
changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof
without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many
modifications
CA 02986789 2017-11-22
WO 2016/187713
PCT/CA2016/050591
19
may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of
the
invention without departing from the essential scope thereof Therefore, it is
intended
that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as
the best
mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will
include
all embodiments falling within the scope of the present application.
