Electronic Round Counter Circuit for Firearm Magazine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the number of rounds remaining in a firearm magazine require shooters to lose their sight picture or disrupt their stance, making it inconvenient and unsafe to check while in a firing position.
Innovation Solution
A battery-powered electronic system with a digital display that uses binary conductive strips and a follower conductor to count and display the remaining rounds within the magazine, allowing for continuous situational awareness without needing to look away from the target.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a mechanical counter is used to count rounds, then the round count can be determined, but the shooter must look away from the sights and/or target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical counter system with an electronic counting system that uses conductive strips, a follower conductor, and a digital display. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical components while providing electronic round counting that can be viewed without disrupting the shooter's sight picture or stance.
2Measurement precision
If the shooter physically checks the magazine to determine round count, then accurate information is obtained, but the shooter's stance or position is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary electronic display system that mediates between the magazine's round count and the shooter's need for information. The conductive strips and follower conductor act as intermediaries to automatically track and communicate round count without requiring the shooter to physically interact with the magazine, thus maintaining firing position stability.
3Device complexity
If no round counting system is used, then the firearm remains simple, but the shooter lacks situational awareness of remaining rounds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs visual display elements that change to indicate round count information, providing situational awareness through optical signals rather than mechanical indicators. This allows the shooter to maintain awareness of remaining rounds without adding complex mechanical systems to the firearm.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for displaying the number of rounds remaining in a firearm magazine includes a digital counter with a voltage source. A voltage flows from the digital counter, through a magazine connection, and to a follower conductor in the magazine. The follower conductor contacts binary coded conductive strips, which return a binary representation of the number of rounds in the magazine to the digital counter.