Weapon firing simulator

Abstract

Disclosed is a weapon firing simulator device for attachment to a weapon and for simulating the firing of the weapon by a user without the use of ammunition or blanks. In some embodiments, the device controls at least one light emitter and at least one sound emitter in accordance with one or more operational modes including weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill. The device improves the training of a user for realistic combat situations.

Description

WEAPON FIRING SIMULATORTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to simulating the firing of a weapon.PRIORITY

[0002] The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2024902283 filed on 23 July 2024. The entire content of this provisional application is hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND

[0003] Users within professional organisations that utilise rifles and machine guns, train Tactics Techniques and Procedures (TTPs) at the individual and team level, building their neural pathways to increase their combat effectiveness in varying combat scenarios.

[0004] Blank firing cartridges, referred to as ‘blanks’, are utilised to simulate weapons firing, without releasing a projectile, allowing users to train force on force scenarios to assist rehearsing TTPs. In a team training environment, it is important for users to understand when their team mates are engaging targets, so that they can manoeuvre into better firing positions to gain the tactical advantage against an adversary.

[0005] The rehearsing of engagements is achieved with blanks or live rounds; however live rounds pose significant safety risks and are only used when teams are well drilled in team engagements.

[0006] The disadvantage of using blanks to rehearse engagements are that blanks may not always be readily available, once fired they cannot be re-used, meaning once an allocation of blanks has been expended, training ends. Furthermore, blanks reduce the areas users can train in, due to the cartridges ejected from the weapon system as each black round is fired, and reduce time available to train due to safety briefings, equipment checks for ammunition cross contamination, clearing training areas of expended cartridges and cleaning the carbon from the working parts within the weapon system after the training activity.

[0007] Accordingly, it would be useful to provide an alternative system and method to allow users to train in firing a weapon.SUMMARY

[0008] According to a first aspect, there is provided a weapon firing simulator device for attachment to a weapon and for simulating the firing of the weapon by a user without the use of ammunition or blanks, the device comprising: a first input for receiving a firing signal from the weapon indicating that the weapon has been fired; a first output providing a visual indication for simulating that the weapon has been fired; a second output providing an audio indication for simulating that the weapon has been fired; a connector for connecting the device to the weapon; and a processor for controlling a round count representing a number of virtual rounds, and for causing the device to carry out one or more of the following operational modes: weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill; and for controlling one or more of the first output and the second output in accordance with the one or more operational modes carried out.

[0009] According to a second aspect, there is provided a method for simulating the firing of a weapon by a user without the use of ammunition or blanks, the method comprising: controlling a light generator and an audio generator associated with the weapon in response to a firing signal generated by a user actuating a trigger of the weapon, and in accordance with one or more of the following operational modes: weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0010] Embodiments of the present application will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0011] Figure 1 - shows a general block diagram of a weapon firing simulator device according to an aspect described herein;

[0012] Figure 2 - shows a block diagram of a weapon firing simulator device according to some embodiments;

[0013] Figure 3A - shows a front perspective view of a weapon firing simulator device according to some embodiments;

[0014] Figure 3B - shows a rear perspective view of the weapon firing simulator device of Figure 3 A;

[0015] Figure 3C - shows atop view of the weapon firing simulator device of Figure 3A;

[0016] Figure 3D - shows a bottom view of the weapon firing simulator device of Figure 3A;

[0017] Figure 3E - shows a rear view of the weapon firing simulator device of Figure 3A;

[0018] Figure 3F - shows a left side view of the weapon firing simulator device of Figure 3 A;

[0019] Figure 3G - shows a front view of the weapon firing simulator device of Figure 3A;

[0020] Figure 3H - shows a right side view of the weapon firing simulator device of Figure 3A;

[0021] Figure 4A - shows a rear right isometric view of another embodiment of a weapon firing simulator device ;

[0022] Figure 4B - shows a front left isometric view of the weapon firing simulator device of Figure 4B;

[0023] Figure 5 - shows a side view a typical rifle with a Picatinny rail mounted between the weapon sight and end of the barrel and to which a weapon firing simulator device can be conencted according to one aspect;

[0024] Figure 6 - shows an example of a weapon system comprising a weapon and an embodiment of a weapon firing simulator device connected thereto;

[0025] Figure 7 - shows an embodiment of a trigger sensor;

[0026] Figure 8 - shows an example of the trigger sensor of Figure 7 connected to a weapon;

[0027] Figure 9 - shows an example of another embodiment of a trigger sensor connected to a weapon;

[0028] Figure 10 - shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for simulating the firing of a weapon by a user according to one aspect;

[0029] Figure 11A - shows a flowchart of a general embodiment of the ammunition top up mode for a rifle mode;

[0030] Figure 1 IB - shows a flowchart of a general embodiment of the ammunition top up mode for a machine gun mode;

[0031] Figure 12 - shows a flowchart of a general embodiment of a weapon handling test mode;

[0032] Figure 13A - shows an example of a display of various analytics produced by the aspects described;

[0033] Figure 13B - shows an example of a display for the shot clock mode;

[0034] Figure 13C - shows an example of a display for the weapon handling test mode; and

[0035] Figure 14 - shows a circuit diagram for an embodiment of the systems described herein.DESCRIPTION

[0036] Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a general embodiment of a weapon firing simulator device 100 according to one aspect. The weapon firing simulator device 100 comprises a first input 110, a first output 120 and a second output 130. Also provided is a connector 200 for in use, connecting the weapon firing simulator device 100 to a weapon whose firing is to be simulated by a user.

[0037] The weapon firing simulator device 100 also has a processor 230 which controls the function of the weapon firing simulator device 100. In accordance with an aspect, the processor 230 controls a virtual round count representing a number of virtual rounds, and causes the weapon firing simulator device 100 to carry out one or more of the following operational modes: weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill. In use, the processor 230 controls one or more of the first output 120 and the second output 130 in accordance with the one or more operational modes carried out as will be described in more detail further below.

[0038] In some embodiments, the first input is for receiving a firing signal from the weapon, indicating that the weapon has been "fired". In some embodiments, the firing signal is generated when a user actuates a trigger of the weapon. In some embodiments, the firing signal is generated by a trigger sensor that is located at the trigger of the weapon and generates the firing signal upon detecting that the trigger has been actuated. In some embodiments, the trigger sensor is a paddle switch which is actuated by the moving trigger. In some embodiments, the trigger sensor is a button which is depressed by the moving trigger.

[0040] In a broad aspect then, there is provided a weapon firing simulator device for attachment to a weapon and for simulating the firing of the weapon by a user without the use of ammunition or blanks, the device comprising: a first input for receiving a firing signal from the weapon indicating that the weapon has been fired; a first output providing a visual indication for simulating that the weapon has been fired; a second output providing an audio indication for simulating that the weapon has been fired; a connector for connecting the device to the weapon; and a processor for controlling a round count representing a number of virtual rounds, and for causing the device to carry out one or more of the following operational modes: weaponstoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill; and for controlling one or more of the first output and the second output in accordance with the one or more operational modes carried out.

[0041] In another broad aspect, there is also provided a method for simulating the firing of a weapon by a user without the use of ammunition or blanks, the method comprising: controlling a light generator and an audio generator associated with the weapon in response to a firing signal generated by a user actuating a trigger of the weapon, and in accordance with one or more of the following operational modes: weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill.

[0042] Figure 2 shows a more detailed system block diagram of an embodiment of the weapon firing simulator device 100.

[0043] Shown there is housing 220 containing and supporting the other elements These include processor 230 on which is stored instructions to enable it to control the various parts of the weapon firing simulator device 100, including audio speakers 130 (providing the second output), 130’ (via amplifier 131, digital audio file 132 which provides a digital file of various sounds relating to the action of the weapon including an explosion replicating the sound of the weapon firing a round, and the sound of a “click” to represent the sound the weapon makes when the weapon has expended all of its rounds and is no longer able to fire until the rounds are replenished). In some embodiments, this audio file can be tailored for a particular weapon to realistically represent the sound made by that weapon. In some embodiments, the speakers are provided by one or more BUZZER PIEZO 20V 45.4MM TH Part#AT- 4625-TT-HT-R by PUI Audio, Inc.

[0044] Processor 230 also controls the actuation of the first output 120, being, in the example of Figure 2, provided by a flash illuminator, such as a light emitting diode (LED), to replicate the visual effect of a flash of light when a real round is fired. In some embodiments, the LED used is XLAMP WARM WHT 3000K SMD Part#XPGDWT-Bl-0000-00KE7 provided by manufacturer Cree LED.

[0045] First input 110 detailed above with reference to Figure 1 is in this embodiment, provided by a 3.5mm connector for receiving a jack of the trigger sensor 50. This input provides a firing signal generated by the trigger sensor 50 upon actuation of the trigger of the weapon, to the processor 230. The effect of this is described in more detail further below.

[0046] Processor 230 also controls an information display unit 140 which displays information such as a virtual round count, indicating the number of virtual rounds fired by the weapon, that is, the number of times that the trigger of the weapon is actuated by the user when there are virtual rounds available to be fired. In some embodiments, the display 140 is integrated within the housing 220. In some embodiments,the display 140 is provided by a remote device, such as a smart phone, with the data to be displayed provided wirelessly.

[0047] In some embodiments, the weapon firing simulator device 100 can be charged via a USB-C charging port 215. Of course, any other suitable means of charging is also possible, including via induction, or direct charging from a stepped-down mains connection. The associated power supply 210 is provided by a battery. In some embodiments, the battery is rechargeable, and in some embodiments, the battery is replaceable. In some embodiments, the battery is provided by BATT HOLDER CR123A 2 CELL PC PIN Part#36-1079-ND provided by Keystone Electronics.

[0048] An ON / OFF and Mode Selector Switch 150 is also provided. In some embodiments, the switch 150 is a three-state switch, in which in a neutral, middle position, the device is in the OFF state, in a first lateral position, the weapon firing simulator device 100 is selected to be in a rifle mode, and in a second lateral position, the weapon firing simulator device 100 is selected to be in a machine gun mode as will de described in more detail below.

[0049] Also shown in Figure 2 are various push buttons providing control input to the processor 230. There are provided Ammunition Top Up push button 160, Suppressed mode push button 180 and Weapon Handling Test mode push button 170, whose functions are described in more detail further below. In some embodiments, there is provided a second Ammunition Top Up push button 160’ on an opposite side of the weapon firing simulator device 100. In some embodiments, the push buttons are provided by RP8100B2M1CEBLKBLKNIL provided by E-Switch.

[0050] In some embodiments, the control data from one or more of the push buttons can be provided to the processor 230 via another means, including remotely from a smart phone or similar device, to select a particular operational mode of the weapon firing simulator device 100.

[0051] Figures 3A to 3H show various views of a weapon firing simulator device 100 according to other embodiments. In these figures, the weapon firing simulator device 100 has two ammunition top up buttons 160 and 160’ on either side of the device 100, and a flash suppressor 190 at the front. In these embodiments, the speaker 130 is provided at the top of the device 100. It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, speaker 100 will be covered by a housing closure with smaller apertures therein to protect it from the environment such as dust and water. In some embodiments, further speakers are provided on either side of the device 100 as well.

[0052] Also shown in Figure 3B is the connector 200, for connecting the weapon firing simulator device 100 to the weapon. In this example the connector 200 is a connector for a Picatinny rail 380 of the weapon (see Figure 5 for more detail).

[0053] As will be understood by the person skilled in the art, the Picatinny rail 380 is a bracket commonly found on weapon systems that provides a standard mounting platform for accessories and attachments. The Picatinny rail consists of an elongated T-section having a major axis, with cross slots interspersed with flats that allow accessories to be slid into place from the end of, or over the rail and then locked in place.

[0054] Figures 4A and 4B show another embodiment of a weapon firing simulator device 100 connected to a Picatinny rail 380. where the Picatinny rail 380 may integrate with a weapon (see Figure 5, in this case a rifle and further demonstrates a foregrip 330 attached to the underside of weapon 300 via the Picatinny rail 380 (see further below)).

[0055] The embodiment shown in Figures 4A and 4B show a lid 225 connected to a housing 220 via a plurality of bolts 226. Also shown are Ammunition Top Up buttons 160 and 160’, Weapon Handling Test Mode button 170 and Suppressed Mode button 180.

[0056] Also shown in Figures 4A and 4B are the flash suppressor 190, display unit 140 and USB charging port 215. In some embodiments, the weapon firing simulator device 100 is powered by an internal power supply 210 and is charged by USB-C charging port 215 located at the rear left of the weapon finng simulator device 100. When charging, the battery charge indicator 211 illuminates to indicate that the weapon firing simulator device 100 is charging. The charge indicator 211 is positioned at the front right of the weapon firing simulator device 100 so that the weapon firing simulator device 100 can be docked into a charging dock vertically (not demonstrated) and the charge light is viewable to a user.

[0057] In use, the weapon firing simulator device 100 affixes to the weapon‘s Picatinny rail 380 and can be mounted to the top, side or underside. The weapon firing simulator device 100 may be mounted to a barrel via a barrel attachment of the weapon 300, fitted with a Picatinny rail (see Figure 6).

[0058] The weapon firing simulator device 100 height is designed to sit below the weapon sight 370 (see Figure 6), so that the user can establish a point of aim. Its width is designed to accommodate side cocking weapon systems and to allow other weapon attachments to be affixed to the Picatinny rail 380.

[0059] In some embodiments, the weapon firing simulator device 100 has a height of about 25mm, a length of about 180mm and a width of about 80mm. Of course any other suitable dimensions can be used within the practical limitations of the use of the weapon firing simulator device 100 as previously described.

[0060] In some embodiments, the housing of the weapon firing simulator device 100 is made from 6061- T6 Aluminium, but may be made from any other suitable material as would be understood by the person skilled in the art.

[0061] Figure 7 shows an embodiment of the trigger sensor 50, which includes a connector, coiled wire 51 and paddle switch or button 55. The connector connects to the weapon firing simulator device 100 via the connector 110. The coiled wire runs along the body of the weapon 300 and to the paddle switch or button 55. The paddle switch or button is affixed in some embodiments, with hook and loop material. Of course any other means of connecting the trigger sensor to the weapon so as to be actuated upon the trigger 350 being actuated by the user is also possible as will be understood by the person skilled in the art.

[0062] Figures 8 and 9 show different attachments of the trigger sensor 50 to different weapons 300 so as to be able to be actuated by the trigger 350. In some embodiments, the trigger sensor 50 is provided by Saia-Burgess snap action switch Part# V4NSY1UL.

[0063] As previously described, the weapon firing simulator device 100 power is controlled by the on / off mode select switch 240. This is a three-position switch that connects to the weapon firing simulator device 100 processor 230, powered by the internal power supply 210. In its neutral state, the weapon firing simulator device 100 is off. In the forward state the weapon firing simulator device 100 is on and rifle mode is activated. In the rearward state the weapon firing simulator device 100 is on and machine gun mode is activated.

[0064] The two modes, rifle and machine gun have different programming to replicate how the two weapon systems function. The processor 230 adjusts the simulated magazine capacity of each mode, the ammunition top up buttons 160 and 160’ programming and the ability to fire in a semi-automatic or automatic state.

[0065] In both modes the weapon firing simulator device 100 allows a user to press the trigger 350 of the weapon 300, replicating a weapon system firing a live round or a blank round. Upon the user actuating the trigger 350, the processor 230 sends out three signals, one for the flash illuminator 120 to replicate a weapon systems visual flash, one for the audio speakers 130 130’ to replicate an auditory explosion and one to the information display unit 140 to provide analytic data to the user.

[0066] The flash illuminator 120 positioned at the front left of the weapon firing simulator device 100 housing 220, is a momentary flash which projects light forward from the housing 220 and into the flash suppressor 190 of the weapon firing simulator device 100. The flash suppressor 190 disperses the flash to replicate the light dispersal pattern of a blank or live round being fired, 360 degrees around the flash suppressor’s 190 axis. Weapon systems such as the Minimi F89 Light Support Weapon machine gun,only have side mounted Picatinny rails to allow the barrel to be changed. The flash suppressor 190 on the weapon firing simulator device 100 is positioned on the left side of the weapon firing simulator device 100, so when the weapon firing simulator device 100 is rotated and mounted on the right side of a weapon such as F89 Light Support Weapon machine gun, the flash suppressor 190 sits above the barrel and the weapon firing simulator device 100 flash can be observed from both left and right sides of the user. The flash from the flash illuminator 120 is designed to not be harmful to the eyes of users or those looking at the weapon firing simulator device 100 when it is activated. The flash illuminator 120 is a sealed unit to prevent dust and water ingress into the weapon firing simulator device 100.

[0067] The audio speakers 130, 130’ are positioned on the left and right side of the weapon firing simulator device 100 housing 220, to project the auditory explosion of a round being fired, to any person in the vicinity of the user. The audio speakers 130, 130’ are sealed units to prevent dust and water ingress and are wired as per the block diagram in Figure 2. In some embodiments, he auditory explosion generated by the weapon firing simulator device 100 is less than 80 decibels (for example in suppressed mode), so as to not be harmful to users and not requiring them to use hearing protection. In other embodiments, the speakers can generate up to 130db in normal mode operation to replicate the sound of a real round being fired.

[0068] The information display unit 140 is positioned at the rear of the weapon firing simulator device 100 housing 220, orientated towards the user and provides information to the user via a display screen 140. The information display unit 140 provides a numerical value that counts up from zero, of how many simulated or virtual rounds have been fired. This allows the user to assess their ammunition management per engagement, against the ammunition they would commonly carry on their person. The processor 230 calculates the number of virtual rounds fired against the time from when the first virtual round was fired, to the time the last virtual round was fired. The sum generated forms the rounds fired per minute which is displayed on the information display unit 140. This allows the user to assess their rate of fire per engagement. In some embodiments, the timer from first to last round fired, resets after 3 minutes of the weapon firing simulator device 100 not being fired.

[0069] In rifle mode, the weapon firing simulator device 100 loads a simulated magazine with 30 rounds, allowing the user to fire the 30 simulated or virtual rounds in a semi-automatic state. The semi-automatic state refers to the system only firing a simulated or virtual round with each new press of the trigger 350. Upon pressing the trigger 350 on the 31st press, the weapon firing simulator device 100 emits an audio indication that the weapon is expired of virtual rounds, such as a “click” sound of the firing mechanism with no simulated or virtual round being fired, to indicate to the user that the weapon system has an empty magazine. The weapon firing simulator device 100 commences a 3 second internal timer where the system cannot be fired, to indicate to the user they need to conduct a weapon stoppage drill. At the completion of the 3 seconds, sufficient time for the user to rectify the weapon stoppage, the weapon firing simulator device 100 automatically replenishes the simulated magazine with 30 rounds.

[0070] In machine gun mode, the weapon firing simulator device 100 loads a simulated magazine of 100 rounds, allowing the user to fire the BFS 100 times in an automatic state. The automatic state can fire single rounds with the correct manipulation of the trigger 350, or if held, the weapon firing simulator device 100 will continue to simulate firing until the trigger 350 is released. Upon the system firing the 101st simulated round, the weapon firing simulator device 100 emits a click of the firing mechanism with no virtual round being fired, to indicate to the user that the weapon system has an empty magazine. The weapon firing simulator device 100 commences a 3 second internal timer where the system cannot be fired, to indicate to the user they need to conduct a weapon stoppage drill. At the completion of the 3 seconds, the weapon firing simulator device 100 automatically replenishes the simulated magazine with 100 rounds.

[0071] Figure 10 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of this process.

[0072] In a broad aspect, the operational mode of weapon stoppage drill comprises: in response to a weapon stoppage event, not causing the first output to not actuate upon receiving the firing signal; causing the second output to provide an audio indication that the weapon is expired of virtual rounds; and initiate a stoppage timer for a stoppage time, after which the weapon stoppage drill operational mode ceases.

[0073] In some embodiments, the weapon firing simulator device 100 is fitted with two ammunition top- up buttons 160, 160’, one on the left and one of the right of the weapon firing simulator device 100 housing 220 to accommodate left and right-handed firers. The ammunition top-up buttons 160, 160’ allow the user to manually replenish their simulated magazine to prevent being mid engagement and having an ammunition stoppage, where they have run out of rounds to fire. The intent behind these buttons is that the user conducts top-up drill, applies a new magazine to their weapon and when their non-master hand returns to the weapon systems foregrip 330, their thumb activates the ammunition top-up button 160, 160’, to tell the weapon firing simulator device 100 that they have conducted a top-up drill. In rifle mode, due to a simulated round already being chambered from the previous simulated magazine, the simulated magazine capacity is topped up to 31 rounds (one round in the chamber, 30 rounds in the magazine). In machine gun mode, as a round is commonly not chambered and the working parts sit rearward before firing, the simulated magazine is topped up to 100 rounds (no round in the chamber, 100 rounds in the magazine). The ammunition top up buttons 160, 160’ are disabled in the 3 second count of a weapon system stoppage, to prevent a user from bypassing a weapon stoppage drill.

[0074] Figures 11A and 1 IB show respective flowcharts of a general embodiment of these processes.

[0075] In a broad aspect then, the ammunition top up operational mode for a rifle mode comprises:in response to a top up event, increasing the virtual rounds count to a full rounds count.

[0076] In some embodiments, the weapon firing simulator device 100 is fitted with a supressed mode button 180 on the right side of the housing 220. Upon pressing the supressed mode button 180, the weapon firing simulator device 100 reduces the auditory explosion decibel level by half, simulating a sound suppressor being fitted to the weapon 300. This function is used to dull the explosive noise of firing the weapon firing simulator device 100 where training may be undertaken close to or within domestic areas.

[0077] In some embodiments, the weapon firing simulator device 100 is fitted with a weapon handling test mode button 170 on the right side of the housing 220. The weapon handling test mode 170 reduces the simulated magazine capacity to 2-6 simulated or virtual rounds, to allow the user to rehearse weapon stoppages drills, or be tested in their weapon handling to rectify weapon stoppages. Upon activating the weapon handling test mode, the weapon firing simulator device 100 times the user from their last round fired before the weapon stoppage, to their next round fired after their weapon stoppage. The time it took to rectify the stoppage is displayed on the information display unit 140 providing feedback to the user.

[0078] Figure 12 shows a flowchart of a general embodiment of this process.

[0079] In a broad aspect then, the weapon handling test drill operational mode comprises:

[0080] in response to a weapon handling test event, reducing the full rounds count to a reduced full rounds count; when a rounds fired count exceeds the reduced full rounds count, causing the weapon firing simulator device to carry out the weapon stoppage drill operational mode; initiating a weapon handling drill timer until a next firing signal is received, to provide a weapon handling drill timer elapsed time.

[0081] In some embodiments, the weapon firing simulator device 100 may be internally fitted with an iteration to include a push pull solenoid (not demonstrated). When the trigger 350 is activated, the push pull solenoid sends a weight pin toward the rear of the weapon firing simulator device 100 before returning forward to its starting position. The force of the weighted pin travelling rearward, applies rearward push into the weapon system, simulating the recoil effect of firing an explosive round.

[0082] In some embodiments, the weapon firing simulator device 100 may be internally fitted with an iteration to include a vibration motor (not demonstrated). When the trigger 350 is activated, the vibration motor activates providing physical feedback into the user’s non-master hand, on the front foregrip of the weapon system.

[0083] In some embodiments, the device will be fitted with a second information display screen on top of the device. This information display screen will provide analytic data points as to how the user interacted with their weapon over their session.

[0084] In some embodiments of providing analytics for the user, an analytics display screen 145 will display a standard display screen made up of 6 boxes as shown in Figure 13 A.

[0085] These boxes are: Rounds fired - The device will count the amount of rounds fired (virtual rounds count) and display them on the analytic screen per session.

[0086] Rate of fire- The device will calculate the rate of fire by rounds per minute. The rounds per minute will be calculated by the total rounds fired, divided by the minutes it took to fire those rounds. The minutes will be calculated from the first round fired and last round fired. This will provide an average rate of fire which the user can use to determine if the need to increase or decrease their rate of fire to achieve effective fire.

[0087] Emergency reloads - The device will count the amount of times the user runs out of ammunition in their magazine, requiring them to perform an 'emergency reload'. This will be displayed on the analytic screen and prompt the user to be more effective at changing magazines before they run out of ammunition.

[0088] Average reload speed - The device will time how long it takes for a user to change their magazine during a stoppage. This is calculated from the time the user presses the trigger and the device does not fire (simulating an empty magazine), to the time the user changes magazine and fires a round from the new magazine. The average is taken by adding up the total time for all reloads and dividing by the amount of reloads conducted.

[0089] Ammunition Top Ups - The device will count how many magazine 'top ups' are conducted, whereby the user changes magazine when low on ammunition, to avoid an emergency reload. This will be calculated by each time the user presses the 'top up' button, to tell the device they have conducted a magazine change.

[0090] Avr rounds remaining - The device will calculate the average amount of rounds left in a user’s magazine when they conduct a 'top up', allowing the user to determine if they are conducting their top ups too soon. This will be calculated by the device counting the rounds left in the magazine when the user hits the top up button. The device will tally the amount of rounds remaining in each magazine as top ups are conducted, and divide the total rounds by top ups conducted to display on the analytic screen.

[0091] Shot Clock Mode - as shown in Figure 13B, in Shot Clock mode, the analytic display screen changes to display each serial one after the other to enable the user to review their results.

[0092] In weapon handling test mode, the display screen (see Figure 13C) changes to display each serial one after the other to enable the user to review their results.

[0093] Figure 14 shows an embodiment of the circuitry of a weapon firing simulator device 100 according to some aspects. The functions of the various components and blocks will be understood by the person skilled in the art and will not be further described in detail.

[0094] Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.

[0095] In some examples, the device 100 may be distributed between a number of parts and locations. For example, in some examples, the trigger sensor 50 and one or more illuminators 120 and speakers 130, 130’ may be attached to the weapon 300, while the processor 230 may be attached or otherwise carried by the user separately, with communications between the processor 230 and the trigger sensor 50 and illuminator(s) and speaker(s) conducted wirelessly by means such as the Bluetooth protocol. In some examples, the visual data displayed by the display unit 140 can be provided in a heads-up display or other device worked by the user.

[0096] Various aspects and examples have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the features illustrated in and described with reference to the drawings are not to be construed as limiting to the scope of the invention.

[0097] The term ‘weapon system’ includes but is not limited to rifles, machine guns, long guns, shoulder guns and imitations of the aforementioned.

[0098] Those of skill in the art would understand that information and signals may be represented using any of a variety of technologies and techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chips may be referenced throughout the above description may be represented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combination thereof.

[0099] Those of skill in the art would further appreciate that the various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software or instructions, or combinations of both.To clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules, circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each particular application, but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the present invention.

[0100] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a combination of the two. For a hardware implementation, processing may be implemented within one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, other electronic units designed to perform the functions described herein, or a combination thereof. Software modules, also known as computer programs, computer codes, or instructions, may contain a number of source code or object code segments or instructions, and may reside in any computer readable medium such as a RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, a Blu-ray disc, or any other form of computer readable medium. In some aspects the computer-readable media may comprise non-transitory computer-readable media (e.g., tangible media). In addition, for other aspects computer-readable media may comprise transitory computer- readable media (e.g., a signal). Combinations of the above should also be included within the scope of computer- readable media. In another aspect, the computer readable medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the computer readable medium may reside in an ASIC or related device. The software codes may be stored in a memory unit and the processor may be configured to execute them. The memory unit may be implemented within the processor or external to the processor, in which case it can be communicatively coupled to the processor via various means as is known in the art.

[0101] In a broad aspect then, there is provided a computer readable medium containing instructions to cause the computer to perform the steps of any one or more of the methods described herein.

[0102] Further, it should be appreciated that modules and / or other appropriate means for performing the methods and techniques described herein can be downloaded and / or otherwise obtained by computing device. For example, such a device can be coupled to a server to facilitate the transfer of means for performing the methods described herein. Alternatively, various methods described herein can be provided via storage means (e.g., RAM, ROM, a physical storage medium such as a compact disc (CD) or floppy disk, etc.), such that a computing device can obtain the various methods upon coupling or providing the storage means to the device. Moreover, any other suitable technique for providing themethods and techniques described herein to a device can be utilized.

[0103] In one form the invention may comprise a computer program product for performing the method or operations presented herein. For example, such a computer program product may comprise a computer (or processor) readable medium having instructions stored (and / or encoded) thereon, the instructions being executable by one or more processors to perform the operations described herein. For certain aspects, the computer program product may include packaging material.

[0104] The methods disclosed herein comprise one or more steps or actions for achieving the described method. The method steps and / or actions may be interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps or actions is specified, the order and / or use of specific steps and / or actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims.

[0105] As used herein, the term “determining” encompasses a wide variety of actions. For example, “determining” may include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., looking up in a table, a database or another data structure), ascertaining and the like. Also, “determining” may include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory) and the like. Also, “determining” may include resolving, selecting, choosing, establishing and the like.

[0106] The system may be a computer implemented system comprising of a display device, a processor and a memory and an input device. The memory may comprise instructions to cause the processor to execute a method described herein. The processor memory and display device may be included in a standard computing device, such as a desktop computer, a portable computing device such as a laptop computer or tablet, or they may be included in a customised device or system. The computing device may be a unitary computing or programmable device, or a distributed device comprising several components operatively (or functionally) connected via wired or wireless connections.

[0107] Any Input / Output Interface used may comprise a network interface and / or communications module for communicating with an equivalent communications module in another device using a predefined communications protocol (e g Bluetooth, ZigBee, IEEE 802.15, IEEE 802. 11, TCP / IP, UDP, etc). A graphical processing unit (GPU) may also be included. The display apparatus may comprise a flat screen display (e.g. LCD, LED, plasma, touch screen, etc), a projector, CRT, etc. The computing device may comprise a single CPU (core) or multiple CPU’s (multiple core), or multiple processors. The computing device may use a parallel processor, a vector processor, or be a distributed computing device. The memory is operatively coupled to the processor(s) and may comprise RAM and ROM components, and may be provided within or external to the device. The memory may be used to store the operating system and additional software modules or instructions. The processor(s) may be configured to load andexecuted the software modules or instructions stored in the memory.

[0108] Throughout the specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words “comprise” and “include” and variations such as “comprising” and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers, but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0109] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement of any form of suggestion that such prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

[0110] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and / or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A weapon firing simulator device for attachment to a weapon and for simulating the firing of the weapon by a user without the use of ammunition or blanks, the device comprising: a first input for receiving a firing signal from the weapon indicating that the weapon has been fired; a first output providing a visual indication for simulating that the weapon has been fired; a second output providing an audio indication for simulating that the weapon has been fired; a connector for connecting the device to the weapon; and a processor for controlling a round count representing a number of virtual rounds, and for causing the device to carry out one or more of the following operational modes: weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill; and for controlling one or more of the first output and the second output in accordance with the one or more operational modes carried out.

2. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the operational mode of weapon stoppage drill comprises: in reponse to a weapon stoppage event, not causing the first output to not actuate upon receiving the firing signal; causing the second output to provide an audio indication that the weapon is expired of virtual rounds; and initiate a stoppage timer for a stoppage time, after which the weapon stoppage drill operational mode ceases.

3. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the weapon stoppage event comprises the rounds fired count exceeding 30 if the weapon firing simulator device is in a rifle mode.

4. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the weapon stoppage event comprises the rounds fired count exceeding 100 if the weapon firing simulator device is in a machine gun mode.

5. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the stoppage time is about 3 seconds.

6. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ammunition top up operational mode comprises: in response to a top up event, increasing the virtual rounds count to a full rounds count.

7. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 6 wherein if the weapon firing simulator device is in a rifle mode, the full virtual rounds count is 31.

8. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 6 wherein if the weapon firing simulator device is in a machine gun mode, the full virtual rounds count is 100.

9. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the top up event is the actuation of an ammunition top up button.

10. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the weapon handling test drill operational mode comprises: in response to a weapon handling test event, reducing the full rounds count to a reduced full rounds count; when a rounds fired count exceeds the reduced full rounds count, causing the weapon firing simulator device to carry out the weapon stoppage drill operational mode; initiating a weapon handling drill timer until a next firing signal is received, to provide a weapon handling drill timer elapsed time.

11. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the weapon handling drill timer elapsed time is displayed on a display.

12. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the weapon handling test event is the actuation of a weapon handling test mode button.

13. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the processor is for causing the weapon firing simulator device to carry out two or more of the weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill operational modes.

14. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the processor is for causing the weapon firing simulator device to carry out each of the weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill operational modes.

15. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising one or more of a weapon mode selector switch for selecting between a weapon mode including a rifle and a machine gun; an ammunition top up button for initiating the weapon top up drill; a weapon handling test button for initiating the weapon handling test mode, a suppressed mode button for reducing a level of the second output; and a flash suppressor for reducing a level of the first output.

16. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising two ammunition top up buttons, each for initiating the ammunition top up drill mode, disposed on opposite sides of the weapon firing simulator device.

17. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the firing signal is generated by a button which in use, is actuated by a trigger of the weapon when actuated by the user.

18. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the connector is for connecting the weapon firing simulator device to a picatinny rail of the weapon19. A method for simulating the firing of a weapon by a user without the use of ammunition or blanks, the method comprising: controlling a light generator and an audio generator associated with the weapon in response to a firing signal generated by a user actuating a trigger of the weapon, and in accordance with one or more of the following operational modes: weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the operational mode of weapon stoppage drill comprises: in response to a weapon stoppage event, not causing the light generator to actuate upon receiving the firing signal; causing the sound generator to provide an audio indication that the weapon is expired of virtual rounds; and initiating a stoppage timer for a stoppage time, after which the weapon stoppage drill operational mode ceases.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the weapon stoppage event comprises a virtual rounds fired count exceeding 30 if the weapon is simulating a rifle.

22. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the weapon stoppage event comprises a virtual rounds fired count exceeding 100 if the weapon is simulating a machine gun.

23. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the stoppage time is about 3 seconds.

24. A method as claimed in claim 19 wherein the ammunition top up operational mode comprises: in response to a top up event, increasing a virtual rounds count to a full virtual rounds count represntative of the maximum number of virtual rounds available.

25. A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein if the weapon is simulating a rifle, the full virtual rounds count is 31.

26. A method as claimed in claim 24 wherein if the weapon is simulating a machine gun, the fall virtual rounds count is 100.

27. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the top up event is the actuation of an ammunition top up button.

28. A method as claimed in claim 20 wherein the weapon handling test drill operational mode comprises: in response to a weapon handling test event, reducing the full virtual rounds count to a reduced full virtual rounds count; when a virtual rounds fired count exceeds the reduced fall rounds count, carrying out the weapon stoppage drill operational mode; and initiating a weapon handling drill timer until a next firing signal is received, to provide a weapon handling drill timer elapsed time.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28 further comprising displaying the weapon handling drill timer elapsed time on a display.

30. A weapon firing simulator device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the weapon handling test event is the actuation of a weapon handling test mode button.

31. A method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 30 comprising carrying out two or more of the weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill operational modes.

32. A method as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 30 further comprising carrying out each of the weapon stoppage drill; ammunition top up drill and weapon handling test drill operational modes.

33. A weapon system comprising a weapon and a weapon firing simulator device connected thereto.

Images