Wireless Dual Module Ammunition Sensing System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for monitoring ammunition count in firearm magazines are unreliable due to environmental and mechanical influences, require manual recalibration, and fail to accurately count rounds across different magazine capacities, often disrupting the user's field of view in tactical situations.
Innovation Solution
A contactless resonant inductive sensing system using a microprocessor-driven coil board and a wireless connection between the magazine and a remote display, which provides accurate round counting without mechanical or electrical contact, and can be easily integrated into various firearm types, allowing for precise determination of ammunition levels without interference with the firearm's dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical or electrical contact-based sensing systems are used to count ammunition rounds, then the system can provide round-count information, but the system suffers from wear, environmental interference, and requires manual recalibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical contact-based sensing with electromagnetic induction sensing. The sensor system uses an inductive target mounted to the follower that is inductively coupled with sensing coils, eliminating mechanical wear and contact-based reliability issues. This substitution of mechanical systems with electromagnetic fields directly resolves the contradiction between reliability and environmental/mechanical influences.
2Measurement precision
If firearm-side sensor systems are used to count rounds, then the system can provide round-count information, but the system cannot accurately distinguish between different magazine capacities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an inductive target mounted to the magazine follower as an intermediary element. This target moves with the follower and inductively couples with sensing coils to provide precise position information. The system can determine follower position and calculate round-count accurately regardless of magazine capacity, as the inductive coupling mechanism works universally across different magazine types and capacities.
3Ease of operation
If the display module is positioned near the firearm, then the user can view ammunition count, but the user loses field-of-view of potential targets in tactical situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements wireless communication between the sensor module in the magazine and a remote display module. This allows the display to be positioned in a different spatial dimension or location away from the firearm, enabling the user to view ammunition count information without the display obstructing the tactical field-of-view. The wireless link transmits round-count data to the remote display, resolving the contradiction between visibility and field-of-view.
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
The system offers reliable, wear-free operation in harsh environments, maintaining accuracy across different magazine capacities and user-friendly display of ammunition levels without requiring additional accessories, ensuring the user's awareness of remaining rounds and chamber status.
Implementation Method 1
the present invention utilizes a contactless round-counting technique based upon resonant inductive sensing technology
Implementation Method 2
An inductive target mounted to the follower (e.g., a push plate) is inductively coupled with the sensing coil when energized by a microprocessor
Data Source
AI summary
This invention is to a wireless dual module system for sensing and indicating the remaining rounds contained within a detachable or integrated firearm magazine. The dual module system, one containing a display (display module) and one more round sensing modules (magazine module) may be implemented with no significant modifications to the firearm or magazine. The display module and one or more magazine modules wirelessly linked together are referred to as the system. The system is configured to provide the number of rounds remaining in a magazine, if a magazine is seated properly in the magazine, to indicate an empty magazine, or to indicate that the number of rounds remaining in the magazine is above or below a predetermined range. The system is able to provide an immediate indication of the remaining rounds in a magazine, regardless of the amount of rounds discharged or supplemented by the user.