Guidance Attachment for Firearm

The disclosure pertains to a guidance system for a firearm that includes a camera and an adjustable touch screen.

A sight for a firearm any device used to assist in precise visual alignment (i.e. aiming) of ranged weapons with the intended target. Sights can be a simple set or system of physical markers that serve as visual references for directly aligning the user's line of sight with the target that provide an optically enhanced—often magnified—target image aligned in the same focus with an aiming point (e.g. telescopic, reflector and holographic sights).

A sight typically has two components, front and rear aiming pieces that must be lined up. Sights such as this can be found on many types of devices including weapons, surveying and measuring instruments, and navigational tools.

On weapons, these sights are usually formed by rugged metal parts, giving them the name “iron sights”, as distinct from optical or computing sights. On many types of weapons they are built-in and may be fixed, adjustable, or marked for elevation, windage, target speed, etc. They are also classified in forms of notch (open sight) or aperture (closed sight). These types of sights can require considerable experience and skill, as the user has to hold proper eye position and simultaneously focus on the rear sight, the front sight, and a target, all at different distances, and align all three planes of focus.

However, recent developments in computer, camera and Al technology, along with the increasing requirement for law enforcement personnel to carry cameras and recording equipment, render firearm sights of the conventional art not up to the current requirements of modern law enforcement and combat. Moreover, modern law enforcement and other shooting situations require increasingly more accurate aiming and decision-making.

There is thus a need for smarter and more accurate firearm sights.

The Background section of this document is provided to place embodiments of the present disclosure in technological and operational context, to assist those of skill in the art in understanding their scope and utility. Unless explicitly identified as such, no statement herein is admitted to be prior arts merely by its inclusion in the Background section.

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to those of skill in the art. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and is not intended to identify key/critical elements of embodiments of the disclosure or to delineate the scope of the disclosure. The sole purpose of this summary is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The disclosure, in part, pertains to a guidance system for a firearm, that includes at least one camera; a high-definition flexible touch screen; a cable connecting the camera to the touch screen; a 3 point 5 point hinge connected to the touch screen; a battery; and a processor. The camera may include a night vision sensor and a thermal sensor. The guidance system may be mounted on a fixture configured to snap onto the firearm and not make contact with the receiver of the firearm. the guidance system is mounted on a fixture configured to snap onto the firearm, and the frame is formed from carbon fiber or plastic.

In the guidance system of the disclosure, the flexible touch screen may be rotatable. The battery may be a 4000 mah battery pack, and the battery may be rechargeable.

In the guidance system of the disclosure, the screen may have a tinted screen cover. The camera may be configured to mount on a side of the firearm. The touch screen may be 3 inches by 5 inches square. The touch screen may have a zooming capacity. The guidance system may include a thermal camera, and the thermal camera may have a 200× zoom capability. The guidance system may be water resistant in fresh water to a maximum depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes. The processor may be configured to integrate data from the camera and a thermal sensor or a thermal camera and to project the integrated data onto the touch screen.

In an embodiment, there is a male electrical connector directly attached to the touch screen, and the male electrical connector is configured to be attached to a female electrical connector. Alternately, wherein there is a male electrical connector attached to the touch screen, and a gooseneck having a male electrical connector and a female electrical connector configured to be attached to the male electrical connector attached to the touch screen. The gooseneck can be a solid tube with an electrical cable running inside. The gooseneck may also be a flexible coaxial cable.

For simplicity and illustrative purposes, the present disclosure is described by referring mainly to exemplary embodiments thereof. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without limitation to these specific details.

The disclosure addresses the disadvantages of sighting devices of the conventional art. The solution, in part, is snap on gun attachments with flexible touchscreen with zooming functionality.

The disclosure pertains to a guidance system that is a viper vision optical attachment for a firearm. Features of the disclosure may include a detachable 5 position 3″×5″ (diagonal=5.8″) hinged flexible touch screen with zoom functionality. The touch screen can be larger than 3″×5″, for example diagonals of 7″, 8″, 9″ or 10″. The touch screen can be 4 W resistive, 5 W resistive or capacitive. The input to the touch screen can be HDMI, USB-C, SDI, VGA, DVI or composite. The attachment can have thermal vision, night vision, and a camera. Power may be supplied by a removable battery that may be a 2500 mah lithium battery. The attachment can have an aluminum charging handle, rifle mount integration or a molded 3D printed snap on arrangement. There can be 200 × zoom for small arms and light weapons, and an ip68 rating. Tactical link software can be through Hotspot.

is a diagram of the guidance system mounted on a pistol. In the side view of, the guidance systemincludes a flexible touch screenwhich can be adjusted to different positions with a 3-point or 5-point adjustable hinge. The touch screen is mounted on a housingthat can be made from carbon fiber, aluminum, steel or a plastic such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), high density polypropylene (HDPP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate, etc. The guidance system may include a sensor elementthat can include a camera, night vision camera, thermal sensor and a laser pointer. The touch screen has a zoom function that can magnify up to 200×.

The night vision camera (NVC) is an optoelectronic device that allows visualization of images in low levels of light, improving the user's night vision. The device enhances ambient visible light and converts near-infrared light into visible light which can be seen by the user; this is known as I(image intensification). By comparison, viewing of infrared thermal radiation is referred to as thermal imaging and operates in a different section of the infrared spectrum. The night vision camera usually includes an image intensifier tube and a protective housing. Many NVCs also include a protective sacrificial lens, mounted over the front lens (i.e., objective lens) on NVCs to protect the latter from damage by environmental hazards, and some can incorporate telescopic lenses. The image produced by an NVC is typically monochrome green, as green was the easiest color to look at for prolonged periods in the dark. Night vision devices may be passive, relying solely on ambient light, or may be active, using an IR (infrared) illuminator to visualize the environment better. Some or all of these elements may be incorporated into the sensor element.

The thermal sensor can be a thermally sensitive resistor (thermistor) whose prime function is to exhibit a large, predictable and precise change in electrical resistance when subjected to a corresponding change in body temperature. Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistors exhibit a decrease in electrical resistance when subjected to an increase in body temperature and Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) thermistors exhibit an increase in electrical resistance when subjected to an increase in body temperature.

is a rear view of a pistol on which the guidance system of the disclosure is mounted. The guidance system includes a snap-on attachmentthat includes a hinge(corresponding to hinge) that can rotate or adjust the touch screen. A rechargeable batteryis mounted on the housing. The hinge can be formed from steel or aluminum. Alternately, the hinge may be formed from a plastic such as an acrylic, a methacrylic or a polyamide. A tinted coveris configured to cover the screen. The cover may be formed from a plastic such as acrylic polymer or methacrylic polymer.

is a frontal view of the guidance system of the disclosure mounted on the front of a pistol. The front view includes a night vision sensor, a cameraand a thermal sensor (thermistor) or thermal cameramounted on the front of housing, which can be made of carbon fiber. The guidance system can also include a laser sight in conjunction with the camera.

is a distal view of elements of the guidance system of the disclosure. The elements include a thermal sensor position, a cameral positionand a night vision position. A 3-position or 5-position gearis configured to rotate the screen. The gear may be formed from metal or plastic.

is a view of a 3-position charging handlethat connects to a slide cover plateto which is attached the screen, showing 3 possible orientations. These orientations may include directly over the firearm, to the left side of the firearm, and to the right side of the firearm, as well as any interstitial positions.

is a side view of aspects of the guidance system of the disclosure. This view includes a charging handle, a rotating gear, camera and sensors, and a removable battery. A slide cover plateis configured to mount the guidance system on a firearm.shows the guidance system and screen mounted on a pistol. The charging handleextends from the distal side of the pistol. The batteryis mounted over the assembly. In this configuration the screen projects upward.

In the disclosure the screen connects to the guidance system.is a view of a 2-prong male connectorconnected to the screen.. Each prong of the male connector includes a support elementand an electrical element. The male connector connects with the female connector, which also includes an electrically conductive elementthat corresponds to the electrical elements of the male connector. The female connector also has a rotating ratchet gear connection point. The male and female connectors should form a waterproof connection. The system may be used in a harsh environment. The connectors can conform to military specifications such as MIL-DTL-38999, MIL-DTL-26482, MIL-DTL-5015, and MIL-DTL-26500

shows a configuration where the male connectoris attached to the screenby a gooseneck. The gooseneck can be a rigid tube with an electrical cable inside. In an embodiment the gooseneck can be the electrical cable. The electrical cable gooseneck can be a coaxial cable having an inner conductor, a dielectric insulator, a metallic shield and a plastic or rubber jacket. The gooseneck can have one male power connection and 1 female connection so that only 1 touchscreen is needed and can be attached with or without the gooseneck attachment. In this configuration, the male connector of the screen is joined with a female connector of the gooseneck. That is, there is a male electrical connector attached to the touch screen, and a gooseneck having a male electrical connector and a female electrical connector configured to be attached to the male electrical connector attached to the touch screen. Also, the configuration can be reversed where the touchscreen if fitted with a female connector that connects with the male connector of the gooseneck.

The guidance system of the disclosure conforms with the IP68 rating for water resistance. An IP (Ingress Protection) rating is an international standard that shows the level of dust and water resistance of the device. Devices that have been certified to an IP68 rating are built to help you do more, in more places. With an IP68 rating, they are water resistant in fresh water to a maximum depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes, and are protected from dust—all without the need for extra cases or covers.

The battery of the device can be lithium ion battery, which uses the reversible intercalation of Li+ ions into electronically conducting solids to store energy. In comparison with other commercial rechargeable batteries, Li-ion batteries are characterized by higher specific energy, higher energy density, higher energy efficiency, a longer cycle life, and a longer calendar life. A Li-ion battery suitable for smaller devices like a mobile phone or the guidance system of the disclosure can be a 3.6 V Li-ion battery with a specific energy of 100-265 Wh/kg (0.360-0.954 MJ/kg), an energy density of 250-693 Wh/L (0.90-2.49 MJ/L) and a specific power of 250-340 W/kg. Suitable batteries include or a 3.7 V 4000 mah Li-ion battery or a 3.7 V 2500 mah Li-ion battery.

A camera option for the guidance system of the disclosure is a thermal camera, which may have a 200× zoom. The thermal camera is also called a themographic camera, infrared camera or thermal imaging camera, thermal camera or thermal imager. A thermal camera infrared (IR) radiation, similar to a normal camera that forms an image using visible light. Instead of the 400-700 nanometer (nm) range of the visible light camera, infrared cameras are sensitive to wavelengths from about 1,000 nm (1 micrometer or μm) to about 14,000 nm (14 μm). The practice of capturing and analyzing the data they provide is called thermography. Images from thermal (infrared) cameras tend to be monochrome because the cameras generally use an image sensor that does not distinguish different wavelengths of infrared radiation. Sometimes these monochromatic images are displayed in pseudo-color, where changes in color are used rather than changes in intensity to display changes in the signal. This technique, called density slicing, is useful because although humans have much greater dynamic range in intensity detection than color overall, the ability to see fine intensity differences in bright areas is fairly limited. Resolution of thermal cameras is considerably lower than that of optical cameras, mostly only 160×120 or 320×240 pixels, although more expensive cameras can achieve a resolution of 1280×1024 pixels.

The processor or controller of the disclosure may be a a computer processor for which the data processing logic and control is included on a single integrated circuit (IC), or a small number of ICs. The microprocessor contains the arithmetic, logic, and control circuitry required to perform the functions of a computer's central processing unit (CPU). The IC is capable of interpreting and executing program instructions and performing arithmetic operations.[1] The microprocessor is a multipurpose, clock-driven, register-based, digital integrated circuit that accepts binary data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and provides results (also in binary form) as output. Microprocessors contain both combinational logic and sequential digital logic, and operate on numbers and symbols represented in the binary number system. The processor receives and integrates data from the camera, thermal sensor, thermal camera, laser etc., and projects the information onto the touch screen, as well as calculating information as to range and direction. Directional information can be obtained via an electronic compass integrated into the guidance unit.

Throughout the specification and the embodiments, the following terms take at least the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Relational terms such as “first” and “second,” and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to an exclusive form. Further, the terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to mean one or more unless specified otherwise or clear from the context to be directed to a singular form. The term “include” and its various forms are intended to mean including but not limited to. References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” “various embodiments,” and other like terms indicate that the embodiments of the disclosed technology so described may include a particular function, feature, structure, or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular function, feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, although it may. The terms “substantially,” “essentially,” “approximately,” “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.