Position-Sensed Electrode Deployment for Adaptive CEW Spacing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) face inefficiencies in delivering effective neuromuscular incapacitation (NMI) due to suboptimal electrode spacing and pulse parameters, leading to excessive energy consumption and battery depletion.

Innovation Solution

A conducted electrical weapon equipped with a position sensor that automatically deploys electrodes based on changes in position, orientation, and targeted location, optimizing electrode spacing and pulse parameters to enhance NMI delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electrodes are deployed with fixed spacing in existing CEWs, then the device structure is simple, but the NMI delivery effectiveness is suboptimal due to inability to adapt to different shooting distances

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNMI delivery effectivenessVSAvoidelectrode deployment control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic electrode spacing adjustment based on detected shooting distance. The control circuit modifies the spacing between first and second electrodes according to the distance to target, transitioning from fixed to variable spacing to optimize NMI delivery effectiveness at different ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the control circuit detects shooting distance and uses this information to adjust electrode spacing parameters. This closed-loop control ensures optimal electrode configuration is maintained based on real-time distance measurements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If excessive energy is consumed to ensure effective NMI delivery, then the NMI effectiveness is improved, but the battery depletes faster

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveNMI delivery effectivenessVSAvoidbattery energy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts electrical pulse parameters including voltage, current, and duration based on shooting distance. By optimizing these parameters dynamically, the system delivers effective NMI while minimizing energy consumption, preventing premature battery depletion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts pulse delivery parameters based on real-time distance measurements, transitioning from static to adaptive energy delivery. This ensures sufficient energy is used only when necessary for effective NMI while conserving battery power during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Force

If the weapon is oriented vertically downward, then gravity assists electrode deployment, but electrode spacing cannot be optimized for different shooting distances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegravity assistance for deploymentVSAvoidelectrode spacing optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic electrode spacing adjustment based on detected shooting distance. The control circuit modifies the spacing between first and second electrodes according to the distance to target, transitioning from fixed to variable spacing to optimize NMI delivery effectiveness at different ranges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the electrode deployment function into separate controllable segments, allowing independent adjustment of first and second electrode positions. This segmentation enables optimized spacing configuration for different shooting distances while maintaining gravity-assisted deployment mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4264167B1Electrode deployment based on change in position
Publication Date: 2026.02.04 AXON ENTERPRISE INC
  • EP4264167B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4264167B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B
  • EP4264167B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electrode may be automatically deployed based on a change associated with a conducted electrical weapon. The change may comprise a change in position. The electrode may be automatically deployed after a previous electrode is deployed from the conducted electrical weapon and the change in position is detected. A position of the conducted electrical weapon may be detected via a position sensor included in the conducted electrical weapon. The change in position may include an angle of orientation. The angle of orientation may be determined between a first direction in which the previous electrode was deployed and a current direction in which the conducted electrical weapon is oriented. The change in position may comprise a distance. The distance may be determined between a first spatial location of the conducted electrical weapon at a which the previous electrode was deployed and a current spatial location of the conducted electrical weapon.