CEW Connection Quality Detection for Adaptive Pulse Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) inefficiently deliver electrical stimuli, often wasting energy and failing to induce neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI) due to improper electrode spacing and pulse delivery, leading to battery depletion and ineffective target immobilization.
Innovation Solution
A CEW system with adjustable pulse rate and charge per pulse, combined with a processing circuit to optimize electrode deployment and ionization paths, ensuring efficient energy use and reliable target immobilization by determining optimal electrode connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional CEWs deliver electrical stimuli with fixed pulse rate and charge, then the device structure is simple, but energy is wasted and NMI is not reliably induced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of pulse rate and charge per pulse based on real-time connection quality detection. The system transitions from fixed parameters to variable parameters, optimizing energy delivery by adapting pulse characteristics to the actual electrical connection conditions between electrodes and target tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the processing circuit continuously monitors connection quality metrics (such as impedance and current flow) and uses this information to adjust pulse rate and charge parameters. This closed-loop control ensures optimal energy utilization while reliably inducing NMI.
2Reliability
If electrode spacing and pulse delivery are not optimized, then the device is easier to manufacture, but NMI cannot be reliably induced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of connection quality before delivering therapeutic pulses. By assessing electrical connection parameters in advance, the system determines optimal electrode spacing and pulse delivery settings, ensuring reliable NMI induction while accounting for variations in target tissue and electrode placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter optimization by adjusting pulse rate, charge, and electrode spacing based on detected connection quality. The system varies these parameters to find the optimal combination that reliably induces NMI for each specific application scenario, moving from fixed specifications to adaptive parameter selection.
3Reliability
If the CEW delivers continuous high energy pulses, then NMI can be induced, but battery depletes quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulse delivery with variable intervals rather than continuous high-energy pulses. By adjusting the period and duty cycle of pulse delivery based on connection quality detection, the system maintains effective NMI induction while significantly reducing overall energy consumption and extending battery life.
Solution Approach 2:
The system delivers partial energy in optimized pulses rather than continuous excessive energy. By providing just sufficient charge per pulse at optimized intervals, the system achieves reliable target immobilization with minimal energy expenditure, avoiding the waste associated with continuous high-energy delivery.
4Ease of operation
If the CEW uses fixed pulse parameters, then the device is simpler to operate, but energy is wasted and NMI is not reliably induced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-optimization by automatically detecting connection quality and adjusting pulse parameters without user intervention. The processing circuit autonomously monitors electrical characteristics and modifies pulse rate and charge settings, eliminating the need for manual parameter selection while maximizing energy efficiency and NMI reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively induces NMI with reduced energy consumption by optimizing electrode placement and pulse delivery, ensuring consistent target immobilization through controlled electrical pathways.
Implementation Method 1
the selected connection is determined to be a quality connection when a portion of the charge of the pulse is detected to have flowed through the selected connection
Implementation Method 2
it is determined that the pulse did not arc between the terminals
Implementation Method 3
A CEW system with adjustable pulse rate and charge per pulse, combined with a processing circuit to optimize electrode deployment and ionization paths
Data Source
AI summary
A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) launches wire-tethered electrodes from multiple cartridges to provide a stimulus signal through a human or animal target to impede locomotion of the target. The CEW may detect the quality of the electrical coupling (e.g., connection) of pairs of electrodes with the target. In accordance with the quality of the connections, the CEW may provide pulses of a stimulus signal to the various connections between electrode pairs in accordance with a sequence. The sequence may provide pulses at a first maximum pulse rate to any one connection to increase the likelihood of inducing neuromuscular incapacitation (“NMI”) and to save energy. The sequence may provide pulses to all connections at a second maximum pulse rate to increase the likelihood of inducing NMI and to save energy.