Electronic Weapon Flyback Transformer Ionization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic weapons require high voltage to ionize air gaps for current passage, which reduces the energy available for inhibiting locomotion, leading to inefficient energy use and variable effectiveness due to physical conditions affecting gap ionization.
Innovation Solution
An electronic weapon design that includes a signal generator with a flyback transformer for voltage multiplication and separate energy stores to efficiently ionize air gaps and deliver current pulses for locomotion inhibition, using a flyback effect to provide high voltage for ionization and additional energy for target stimulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high voltage is used to ionize air gaps for current passage, then current can flow through the target, but energy available for inhibiting locomotion is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The energy delivery is segmented into two distinct phases: an ionization phase that creates a conductive path through the air gap, and a stimulation phase that delivers locomotion-inhibiting current through the already-ionized gap. This segmentation allows the system to use high voltage only briefly for ionization, then switch to lower voltage for the therapeutic effect, thereby resolving the contradiction between ensuring current passage and preserving energy for locomotion inhibition.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary ionization of the air gap before delivering the main stimulation current. By pre-ionizing the gap with a brief high-voltage pulse, the path for current flow is established in advance, allowing subsequent delivery of higher energy stimulation currents without repeatedly overcoming air gap resistance, thus preserving energy for the intended locomotion inhibition function.
2Reliability
If high voltage is applied to ionize air gaps, then current flow is enabled, but energy efficiency decreases due to variable ionization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic pulsed delivery with distinct ionization and stimulation phases. The ionization phase occurs periodically at the start of each pulse train to establish conductivity, followed by stimulation phases that deliver the therapeutic effect. This periodic structure ensures energy is spent on ionization only when necessary, minimizing energy loss while maintaining reliable current flow establishment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes voltage parameters between phases: high voltage is applied only during the brief ionization phase to overcome air gap resistance, then voltage is reduced to appropriate stimulation levels once the gap is ionized. This parameter change strategy minimizes energy spent on ionization while ensuring reliable current flow, directly addressing the contradiction between enabling current flow and reducing energy loss.
3Productivity
If conventional electronic weapons are used, then locomotion inhibition is achieved, but effectiveness varies due to physical conditions affecting gap ionization
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts its operation based on real-time conditions. The control circuit monitors the ionization process and adjusts the timing and duration of the ionization phase to match varying physical conditions such as gap distance and air density. This dynamic adjustment ensures consistent effectiveness across different environmental conditions, resolving the contradiction between maintaining productivity and ensuring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the control circuit monitors the effectiveness of ionization and adjusts subsequent pulses accordingly. If ionization is incomplete or conditions have changed, the system can extend or intensify the ionization phase. This feedback loop ensures consistent locomotion inhibition effectiveness regardless of varying physical conditions, addressing the reliability concern while maintaining productivity.
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
This approach increases energy efficiency by using stored energy for both ionization and target stimulation, maintaining consistent inhibition of locomotion with reduced energy loss and variability across different physical conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A signal generator with a flyback transformer for voltage multiplication... using a flyback effect to provide high voltage for ionization
Implementation Method 2
Conventionally, a relatively high voltage (e.g., several kilovolts) is needed for ionizing... The electronic weapon may ionize air in each gap so that current can pass across each gap and through the target
Implementation Method 3
The current typically includes pulses generated by a signal generator... The pulse width and repetition rate are conventionally selected to avoid serious injury and to be sufficient to overpower the normal electrical signals transmitted over the nervous system of the target
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic weapon inhibits locomotion by a human or animal target by conducting a stimulus signal through the target. The electronic weapon includes an inductance, first and second energy stores, and a switch. The switch has a first position and a second position and is in series with first energy store and the inductance. Energy from the first energy store is transferred to a magnetic field of the inductance while the switch is operating in the first position. The stimulus signal comprises a first phase and a second phase. During the first phase, the switch is operated in the second position, and a flyback effect of the inductance provides an ionizing voltage for the stimulus signal. During the second phase, the second energy store releases energy for the stimulus signal at a voltage less than the ionizing voltage.