Guide Rod Camera Integration for Preserved Handgun Profile
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing firearm cameras are externally mounted, requiring a rail system, altering the firearm's profile, adding weight and size, being prone to damage, and needing manual activation, which complicates their use in stressful situations.
Innovation Solution
A miniaturized camera system is integrated within the guide rod of a handgun, eliminating the need for a rail system, maintaining the firearm's profile, and using low-power components for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a camera system is externally mounted on the firearm, then the camera can be easily installed and accessed, but it alters the firearm's profile, adds weight and size, and requires a rail system
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is merged with the guide rod assembly, combining two separate components (camera and guide rod) into a single integrated unit. This eliminates the need for external mounting while preserving installation ease, as the camera system is installed during the normal guide rod replacement procedure.
Solution Approach 2:
The camera system is nested within the hollow interior of the guide rod, placing one object inside another. This allows the camera to be housed within the existing guide rod structure without adding external bulk, maintaining the firearm's original profile while enabling easy installation through the guide rod assembly process.
2Ease of repair
If a camera system is externally mounted on the firearm, then it can be easily accessed and replaced, but it adds significant weight and size to the firearm, potentially negatively affecting handling
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the camera system with the guide rod assembly, the camera becomes part of the existing moving components. When the guide rod is replaced as part of maintenance or upgrades, the camera system is replaced simultaneously, maintaining ease of repair while distributing the weight within the firearm's existing structure rather than adding external weight.
3Ease of operation
If a camera system is externally mounted on the firearm, then it can be easily accessed, but it is prone to being damaged and knocked out of alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is nested within the protective hollow interior of the guide rod, which shields it from external damage and alignment issues. The guide rod's structural integrity protects the camera during handling and operation, while the camera remains accessible by removing the guide rod assembly as a unit.
4Ease of manufacture
If an externally-mounted camera system is used, then it can be installed without modifying the firearm's internal structure, but it requires manual activation which makes it difficult to use quickly in stressful situations
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is merged with the guide rod assembly, which is already an internal component of the firearm. This integration allows for automatic activation through the guide rod's movement during firing cycles, eliminating the need for manual activation while maintaining minimal firearm modification since the guide rod is a standard replacement part.
5Loss of information
If existing firearm cameras are used, then they can record video from the firearm operator's perspective, but they require frequent battery replacement due to power inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The camera system is designed to operate in periodic cycles, activating only when needed (such as when the firearm is shouldered or during firing sequences) rather than continuous operation. This periodic activation significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining video recording capability when required, extending battery life between replacements.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is a camera system partially or fully embedded into the guide rod of a handgun. Being hollow, non-moving, and aligned with the barrel, the guide rod is an ideal location for an embedded camera system that looks in a direction that the muzzle of the firearm is facing. The apparatus may include a lens, camera, image capture and processing electronics, controller, communications interface, data storage unit, activation switch, and battery unit. Video is saved to an internal data storage unit. Data is retrieved either by removing the memory storage device or by transferring it via a wired or wireless communications interface. By capturing first-person video, the invention creates a visual record of the situation in which the firearm was used.