Simulation weapon

Abstract

A simulation weapon comprises an electrical energy storage device (44) for providing electrical energy, an electrical load (34) which has a short-term electrical energy demand, and a boost converter (46) electrically arranged between the energy storage device (44) and the load (34). It is proposed that the short-term electrical energy demand of the load (34) is greater than can be supplied by the energy storage device (44) and the boost converter (46) alone, and that a number of supercapacitors (48) are electrically arranged between the load (34) and the boost converter (46).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a simulation weapon according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a simulation weapon is typically a firearm modified for training purposes. When activated, such a weapon does not fire a projectile, but typically emits a pulsed laser beam. This pulsed laser beam is preferably generated by a laser diode. Recoil is typically simulated by a pneumatic system. This system might include, for example, a pneumatic valve actuated by a trigger mechanism, which releases pulsed compressed air that moves a piston. Both the laser diode and the trigger mechanism require an electrical energy pulse with a relatively high current. A suitably sized electrical energy storage device can be difficult to integrate, especially in relatively small simulation weapons.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to create a simulation weapon in which the desired electrical energy pulse can be provided even when only a comparatively small amount of installation space is available.

[0004] This problem is solved by a simulation weapon with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are specified in dependent claims.

[0005] The invention has the advantage that, by providing a suitable number of supercapacitors, it enables the short-term supply of a comparatively low-impedance load with an electrical energy pulse of comparatively high current, without requiring a large installation space for the electrical energy storage device. The electrical energy storage device can, for example, have a comparatively small number of cells or cells with comparatively low power output. Furthermore, the number of supercapacitors also allows for the short-term buffering of electrical or electronic loads when the electrical energy storage device needs to be replaced or recharged. Thus, in many cases, the otherwise necessary re-registration after an energy storage device replacement is unnecessary.

[0006] Specifically, a simulation weapon is proposed that includes an electrical energy storage device to provide electrical power. The simulation weapon could, for example, be a modified handgun, particularly a pistol or rifle. Typically, such a simulation weapon is used in a weapons simulator to train individuals in the operation of the corresponding real-world weapon. The electrical energy storage device could, for example, comprise a relatively small lithium battery cell housed in a suitable location within the simulation weapon, where it can be easily replaced and / or recharged.

[0007] The simulation weapon according to the invention comprises an electrical load that has a short-term electrical energy requirement. "Short-term" in this context means a pulsed electrical energy requirement, typically lasting less than approximately one second, and in particular less than one-tenth of a second. This short-term electrical energy requirement can be used, for example, to simulate recoil and / or the sound of a gunshot, or to generate a light pulse.

[0008] An electrical boost converter is connected between the energy storage device and the load. Such a boost converter is also known as a "step-up converter." The output voltage of such a converter is typically higher than the input voltage. This type of boost converter can be implemented, for example, using an inductor connected in series with a freewheeling diode, followed by a capacitor to summ the output voltage. The inductor is typically connected to ground via a suitable switch. When the switch is opened, the inductor attempts to maintain current flow. This causes the voltage at the secondary end of the inductor to rise very rapidly until it exceeds the voltage across the capacitor, at which point the freewheeling diode switches off.

[0009] According to the invention, the short-term electrical energy demand of the consumer is greater than can be supplied solely by the energy storage device and the boost converter. This is compensated for according to the invention by arranging a number of supercapacitors electrically between the consumer and the boost converter (secondary side) and / or – with appropriate dimensioning of the boost converter – electrically between the energy storage device and the boost converter (primary side), typically in parallel with the consumer or the electrical energy storage device. It is particularly preferred if a number of supercapacitors are arranged either only on the secondary side or only on the primary side. The number of supercapacitors can be 1, but is preferably greater than 1.A number of supercapacitors on the primary side can together form a so-called "hybrid supercapacitor" in combination with an energy storage device, for example a lithium battery, to which the number of supercapacitors are connected in parallel.

[0010] If multiple supercapacitors are present, they are connected in series within a "package." However, several relatively small supercapacitors can also be connected in parallel. The number is preferably chosen to just cover the short-term electrical energy demand. A supercapacitor is an electrochemical capacitor that can be charged and discharged very quickly. The capacitance values ​​of such a supercapacitor result from the combination of two storage principles: the static storage of electrical energy through charge separation and the electrochemical storage of electrical energy through Faraday charge exchange.

[0011] As part of advanced training, the simulation weapon also includes a trigger mechanism for firing a simulated shot. This trigger mechanism is typically a manual trigger operated by the user of the simulation weapon. The electrical component draws a brief electrical energy, typically required when firing such a simulated shot. Activating the trigger mechanism in a standard simulation weapon electronically initiates various processes, simulating, for example, the typical recoil and firing sound of a shot.

[0012] The training course includes the user of a pneumatic valve actuator – for example, an electromagnetic one. Such a pneumatic valve is used in typical simulation weapons, for instance, to generate a pulsed movement of a piston using compressed air stored in the weapon's reservoir, thereby simulating the aforementioned recoil. A compressed air pulse can also be used to simulate a firing sound. This training course therefore enables the creation of a highly realistic simulation weapon. The use of multiple supercapacitors also allows for rapid firing sequences, meaning the simulation weapon can be fired multiple times in quick succession.

[0013] During training, the user is equipped with a laser diode. This laser diode can generate a directed laser light pulse, which, for example, projects a point of light onto a screen at the target of the simulated weapon. This point of light can be detected by suitable sensors, allowing for an evaluation of the user's accuracy without the weapon actually firing a projectile. Furthermore, the use of multiple supercapacitors enables rapid "firing sequences," meaning multiple activations of the simulated weapon and thus multiple generations of the point of light in quick succession. It is also possible for the point of light to be generated continuously at a specific frequency, for example, around 10 Hz, even without manual triggering.This too can be achieved through the invention with a suitable design.

[0014] In a training course, it is stipulated that the energy storage system will include, or in particular be comprised of, a 3.5 or 3.8 V battery cell. These are comparatively small and inexpensive.

[0015] During further training, it is planned that the boost converter and the number of supercapacitors will provide a short-term electrical power supply of approximately 1 A at a voltage of approximately 10-12 V. This allows the power supply of typical electrical components in a simulation weapon, for example, during the firing of a simulated shot.

[0016] One embodiment of the invention is explained below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Figure 1: a weapons simulator with a simulation weapon; Figure 2: the simulation weapon of Figure 1more detail with an electrical circuit; Figure 3 a first embodiment of the electrical circuit of the simulation weapon of Figure 2 more detailed; and Figure 4 a representation similar to Figure 3 a second embodiment of the electrical circuit of the simulation weapon of Figure 2 .

[0017] Subsequently, functionally equivalent elements and areas in different figures and embodiments bear the same reference numerals. They are normally only explained in more detail upon their first mention.

[0018] A weapons simulator contributes to Figure 1 The reference symbol 10 in total. The weapon simulator 10 comprises a projection surface 12 in the form of a screen, onto which a Figure 1A moving image scene 14 is projected by a non-visible projection device. The non-visible projection device can, for example, be arranged behind the translucent projection surface 12 and therefore be hidden during the display in Figure 1 The projection surface 12 will be obscured. The weapon simulator 10 can typically be located in a building, for example, a hall.

[0019] The Weapons Simulator 10 also includes a Simulation Weapon 16, in this case, for example, a converted handgun. The simulation weapon (also called "simulation input device") has a light source and corresponding optics, in this case, for example, an infrared laser (in Figure 1 (not shown), which emits a corresponding laser beam 18, thereby generating a point of light 20 at the point targeted by the simulation weapon 16 on the projection surface 12.

[0020] In one variant, the light spot 20 can be generated as a single light pulse when the user activates a trigger device 22. In another variant, however, the light spot can be generated as a continuous sequence of short light pulses, for example at a frequency of approximately 10 Hz, independently of whether the trigger device 22 is activated.

[0021] The simulation weapon 16 communicates wirelessly with a computer 24 as an example. A target tracking device in the form of a camera 26 of the weapon simulator 10 continuously captures the content of the projection surface 12, including the light point 20. The camera 26 is connected to an image evaluation unit 28, which allows the position of the light point 20 to be evaluated when the triggering device 22 is activated, and thus the aiming accuracy of the user of the simulation weapon 16 to be assessed.

[0022] The simulation weapon 16, with its functional components, is somewhat more detailed, albeit schematic, in its design. Figure 2 The system is shown. It comprises a compressed air reservoir 30 in which compressed air is stored at a comparatively high pressure. The compressed air reservoir 30 is connected to a pneumatic valve assembly 32 ("pneumatic valve"), which has an electrical consumer in the form of an electromagnetically actuated actuator 34. The valve assembly 32 is, in this example, a fast-switching switching valve or on / off valve.

[0023] The valve assembly 32 is pneumatically connected to a pneumatic cylinder 36. This cylinder includes a piston (not shown). When the valve assembly 32 is actuated, the piston of the pneumatic cylinder 36 is moved impulsively, i.e., very quickly, thereby simulating recoil such as would be generated by a real firearm when a shot is fired. In addition, a noise is produced that is similar to the noise that would be produced by a real firearm when a shot is fired.

[0024] Furthermore, the simulation weapon 16 has a laser diode 38 by means of which the laser beam 18 is generated. The simulation weapon 16 contains an electronic control unit 40, which controls the individual components of the simulation weapon 16, in particular the actuating device 34 and the laser diode 38. The electrical energy for actuating the actuating device 34 and, if applicable, also for the laser diode 38, is provided by an electrical energy supply unit 42.

[0025] As from Figure 3 As can be seen, the electrical energy supply device 42 includes, by way of example, an energy storage device 44 in the form of a commercially available 3.5 or 3.8 V battery cell, for example a lithium battery cell. In an embodiment not shown, several such battery cells may also be arranged.

[0026] A boost converter 46 is arranged or connected electrically in parallel to the energy storage device 44. Such a boost converter 46 is also referred to as a "step-up converter". The output voltage of such a boost converter is typically higher than the input voltage. This type of boost converter 46 can be implemented, for example, by an inductor connected in series with a freewheeling diode, behind which a charging capacitor sums the output voltage. The inductor is typically connected to ground by a suitable switch. When the switch is opened, the inductor attempts to maintain current flow. This causes the voltage at the secondary end of the inductor to rise very rapidly until it exceeds the voltage across the capacitor and the freewheeling diode opens.

[0027] At the in Figure 3In the illustrated embodiment, a number of supercapacitors 48 are arranged or connected electrically in parallel to the boost converter 46 and electrically on its side facing away from the energy storage device 44 (secondary side). The supercapacitors 48 are typically electrochemical capacitors that can be charged and discharged very quickly. The capacitance value of a supercapacitor 48 results from the sum of two storage principles, namely the static storage of electrical energy by charge separation and the electrochemical storage of electrical energy by Faraday charge exchange.

[0028] In this example, the number is 3. In embodiments not shown, the number can also be only 1, or it can be (significantly) more than 3. The number is typically set so that a short-term electrical energy demand of a consumer, in this example the actuating device 34, can be satisfied, even though this short-term electrical energy demand is greater than can be supplied solely by the energy storage device 44 and the boost converter 46. For example, electrical energy of approximately 1 A at a voltage of approximately 10-12 V can be supplied for a short time.

[0029] Overall, the use of the boost converter 46 makes it possible to generate a higher voltage from the comparatively low supply voltage of the electrical energy storage device 44. However, under high, short-term current loads, such as those occurring when the release device 22 is activated to actuate the actuating device 34, this boost converter 46 would have to be oversized with lower efficiency in order to supply the required high currents. Accordingly, the electrical energy storage device 44 would also have to be oversized.

[0030] In contrast, buffering with a suitable number of supercapacitors 48 ensures the short-term supply of low-impedance devices, in this case, for example, the actuating device 34, the valve device 32, and / or the laser diode 38, and thus enables the use of a relatively small boost converter 46 and a relatively small electrical energy storage device 44. This allows the limited installation space in the simulation weapon 16 to be used for a self-sufficient power supply.

[0031] At the in Figure 4In the alternative embodiment shown, a number of supercapacitors 48 are arranged or connected electrically in parallel to the boost converter 46 and electrically on its primary side facing the energy storage device 44. Here too, the supercapacitors 48 are connected electrically in parallel to the load 34 and the electrical energy storage device 44. The supercapacitors 48 arranged here on the primary side can form a "hybrid supercapacitor" in combination with the electrical energy storage device 44.

[0032] In a further alternative embodiment (not shown), a number of supercapacitors are arranged on both the primary and secondary sides.

Claims

1. Simulation weapon (16), comprising: an electrical energy storage device (44) for providing electrical energy, an electrical consumer (34) which has a short-term electrical energy demand, and an electrical boost converter (46) arranged between the energy storage device (44) and the consumer (34), characterized by the fact that the short-term electrical energy demand of the consumer (34) is greater than can be supplied by the energy storage device (44) and the boost converter (46) alone, and that a number of supercapacitors (48) are arranged electrically between the consumer (34) and the boost converter (46) and / or electrically between the energy storage device (44) and the boost converter (46).

2. Simulation weapon (16) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatit has a triggering device (22) for triggering a simulated shot, and that the electrical consumer (34) has the short-term electrical energy requirement at least also during the triggering of a simulated shot.

3. Simulation weapon (16) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the consumer includes an actuating device (34) of a pneumatic valve (32).

4. Simulation weapon according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the consumer includes a laser diode.

5. Simulation weapon (16) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the energy storage device (44) comprises a 3.5 or 3.8 V battery cell, in particular is formed by such a battery cell.

6. Simulation weapon (16) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact thatthrough the boost converter (46) and the number of supercapacitors (48) electrical energy of approximately 1 A at a voltage of approximately 10-12 V is briefly provided.

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