Weapon Safety Feedback via Tactile Vibration and Visual Beam
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hand-held weapons often require users to visually verify the status of safety mechanisms and sighting systems during critical situations, which can be time-consuming and distracting, especially for law enforcement and military personnel.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a motor and light source integrated into the weapon, allowing users to discern the firing mode through tactile or visual cues without visually inspecting the weapon, using a motor for vibratory feedback and a light source for a visible beam pattern.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If visual indicators (such as red indicators) are used to show weapon status, then the user can verify the safety condition, but the user must visually inspect the weapon which consumes time and attention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a vibration motor that generates tactile vibrations through the weapon body to indicate firing mode. When the safety is disengaged and the weapon is in firing mode, the motor activates and transmits vibrations through the weapon's structure, allowing the user to sense the status through touch without visual inspection. This resolves the contradiction by providing reliable status indication through a different sensory modality that does not require diverting visual attention.
2Loss of information
If conventional visual indicators are used, then the weapon status can be displayed, but the user's attention is diverted from the situation at hand
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tactile vibrations as an intermediary medium to convey weapon status information. Instead of requiring direct visual contact with visual indicators, the vibration motor acts as an intermediary that translates the safety status into tactile signals transmitted through the weapon body. This allows the user to obtain status information through touch while maintaining visual focus on the external situation, thus resolving the contradiction between information access and operational focus.
3Measurement precision
If the user visually inspects the weapon to verify safety condition, then accurate status determination is achieved, but this is too time-consuming in critical situations
Solution Approach 1:
The vibration motor system provides self-service status indication where the weapon itself generates the tactile feedback signal. The motor is integrated into the weapon structure and automatically activates based on the safety mechanism state, eliminating the need for the user to perform separate visual inspection actions. The user simply touches or holds the weapon to receive immediate tactile feedback about the firing mode, achieving both accuracy and speed without sacrificing either.
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
Enables users to determine the safety condition and aim the weapon effectively without diverting attention from the situation, providing timely and intuitive feedback on the weapon's state through tactile and visual alerts.
Implementation Method 1
The motor can be operable to impart vibratory motion to the weapon of sufficient magnitude that a wielder of the weapon can tactilely sense the vibratory motion
Implementation Method 2
The light source can be operable to generate a light beam visible by a wielder of the weapon without visually inspecting the weapon
Data Source
AI summary
A system for alerting a user to a state of a weapon includes a safety assembly, operably coupled to the weapon and operable to selectively render the weapon into either a safe mode or a firing mode. A motor is carried by the weapon and is operably coupled to the safety assembly so as to be engaged when the weapon is in the firing mode. The motor is operable to impart vibratory motion to the weapon of sufficient magnitude that a wielder of the weapon can tactilely sense the vibratory motion without visually inspecting the weapon to thereby sense that the weapon is in the firing mode without visually inspecting the weapon.