ARM Patent | Smart magazine for airsoft pistol
Publication Number: 20260071842
Publication Date: 2026-03-12
Assignee: V-Armed Inc
Abstract
A smart magazine includes a gas chamber, a processor, a memory, a wireless transceiver, a battery, and a shot counter. The shot counter determines the quantity of virtual bullets in the smart magazine. The quantity of virtual bullets is between zero and a parameter defined value for a maximum magazine capacity of virtual bullets. The shot counter decreases the quantity of virtual bullets by one each time the COTS pistol is fired. When the quantity of virtual bullets is zero per the shot counter, the smart magazine is configured to prevent the COTs pistol from firing. The smart magazine lacks a chamber for non-combustive round objects which the COTS pistol is configured to fire. The smart magazine is a direct replacement for a COTS magazine for the COTS pistol. The COTS magazine stores the non-combustible round objects that the COTS pistol is configured to fire.
Claims
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Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application, that claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 63/661,910 filed on June 20, 2024, the contents of which are hereby fully incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE EMBODIMENTS
The field of the invention and its embodiments relates to BB guns, virtual reality (VR), AIRSOFT modifications, and more specifically to a smart magazine for airsoft pistols.
BACKGROUND OF THE EMBODIMENTS
A GLOCK AIRSOFT pistol is a replica of the popular GLOCK handguns, specifically designed for AIRSOFT play, training, and recreational shooting using plastic pellets. FIG. 1A (Prior Art) shows a BB gun version of the AIRSOFT GLOCK with magazine 110. As shown in FIG. 1B (Prior Art), magazine 110 includes a gas chamber 114 and a pellet container 112. The gas chamber 114 ejects gas into the pistol when the trigger is pulled, which moves the slide from a closed position 126 to an open position 128, as shown by FIGS. 1E and 1F. FIG. 1C and 1D show a slide being manually moved from a closed 122 to open 124 position, which simulates clearing the chamber and allowing a casing of a bullet to be ejected. Each filing of the pistol consumes one “charge” of gas from chamber 114. The slide action and gas insertion simulate the action that occurs when gas from a bullet being fired by a real firearm is redirected to move the slide, which ejects a bullet casing from slide opening. As commercially sold, an AIRSOFT magazine 110 as shown in FIG. 1B has sufficient gas and pellets to permit approximately 60 pellet firings with a slide-action AIRSOFT pistol. When pellets are expended so that chamber 112 is empty, a mechanical extrusion 116 extends from a top of the cartridge 110, which disables firing of the pistol. A spring action of the magazine compressing a pellet region as pellets are expended results in extrusion 116 extending when all pellets are gone.
The GLOCK AIRSOFT pistol:
Availability of the AIRSOFT pistol as an accurate GLOCK live-fire replica has resulted in creation of the AIRSOFT GLOCK enhanced with a wireless independent tracking system (WITS) module. Inclusion of the WITS is designed to enable the pellet firing AIRSOFT pistol to be used as a non-projectile firing weapon in a virtual reality (VR) environment as detailed by WO2021231823. That is, the WITS system enables the location of the pistol to be discerned within a VR environment and permits computing tracking of the gun's virtual projectiles when fired. FIG. 1C (PRIOR ART) shows a WITS module 120 attached to an AIRSOFT GLOCK,
Use of the WITS module, as shown in FIG. 1C results in a slight modification of weight distribution and prevents the gun from being inserted/withdrawn from a standard holster during a VR simulation. Further, although the WITS can detect a quantity of firings and attempt to synchronize these firings to VR software and activity, there is a disconnect between a number of rounds a live-fire GLOCK can fire (typically 14 or 16 depending on magazine and whether a GLOCK 17 or 19 is used) and the number of firings of the AIRSOFT magazine, which is typically sixty. This disconnect can be jarring to operators, such as police, engaged in a VR training simulation. That is, although the VR system recognizes that a magazine is “empty” the WITS equipped pistol continues to fire and provide haptic feedback. Thus, as simulation participants are heavily focused, physical feedback is disjoint from the VR simulation, diminishing the value of the VR based training. A closer replication to real world haptic feedback while in a VR or extended reality (XR) setting would be highly beneficial.
Somewhat Related Problem in the Art
Tangentially, there have been numerous notable accidents during plays and movies involving firearms intended to be loaded with blanks. An AIRSOFT pistol at present is not a viable substitute, despite the proper look and feel, due to it being configured to fire plastic pellets and its present inability to properly coordinate firing direction. Inclusion of a WITS 120, as seen in FIG. 1C, results in an obvious external non-real feature, which is unsuitable for plays/movies. It would be beneficial if a non-live firing pistol, which is one incapable of firing live rounds, could be effectively utilized for plays and movie productions.
Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 9,952,016B2 discloses a conversion of an airsoft gun to fire paintballs to handle feeding either airsoft projectiles or paintball projectiles depending upon the installed kit.
U.S. Pat. No. 10,584,940B2 discloses simulating lead of a target that includes a network, a simulation administrator and a user device connected to the network, a database connected to the simulation administrator, and a set of position trackers positioned at a simulator site.
US20180050268A1 discusses a tactile feedback system for use with a virtual reality system that includes a support structure and tactile feedback units coupled to and spaced apart around the support structure. A microcontroller is coupled to the tactile feedback units to independently control their activation.
WO2021231823A1 discloses a wireless independent tracking system (WITS) module for use with a weapon simulator in a virtual reality (VR) environment. The WITS module includes active tags for tracking a gun simulator the WITS module is coupled to; a shot detector that detects a shot being fired by the gun; a shot counter that counts a number of shots fired; a transmitter that sends a signal to a smart magazine of the gun when the gun is out of virtual ammunition; and a coupler configured to couple the WITS module to a rail of the gun.
Other notable references include: U.S. Pat. No. 1,990,302A, USD0779015S, USD0841758S, USD0812176S, EP3732430B1.
SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS
Aspects of the present disclosure adapts a magazine of an AIRSOFT pistol, which by design shoots plastic pellets, for virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), automated reality and other non-projective, computing assisted usages. With reference to FIG. 1A-1F, relying on a commercial off the shelf (COTS) AIRSOFT pistol unmodified except for magazine-specific changes is beneficial and not contemplated or obvious in light of known art. The disclosure facilitates ease of use and heightens significant human factors during realistic simulations involving the magazine-modified pistol assembly. Effectively, all advantages of inclusion of a wireless independent tracking system (WITS) module, see WO2021231823A1, are achieved while minimizing a footprint and costs, without physically modifying anything on the COTS blow-back enabled, AIRSOFT pistol itself. This is done in a manner that permits use of standard pistol (e.g., GLOCK 17 or 19) holsters during simulations. As disclosed, the modified magazine 220 includes a gas chamber 232, a magazine discharge switch 236, a plunger for mechanically indicating a “bullet out” state 238, a slide sensor 234, and various electronics including a battery 252, microprocessor 246, wireless transceiver 250 (e.g., BLUETOOTH), and a shot counter 258. Additional components, such as position indictors, trackers, accelerometers, and the like are included in embodiments.
In some embodiments using the disclosed magazine 220, a magazine bullet capacity (typically 14 shots) can be electronically set so that the pistol 210 haptically fires with blow-back enabled, up to the set capacity, after which firing is stopped (i.e., via engagement of the mechanical bullet out plunger 238 that interacts with the COTS AIRSOFT pistol 210). At which point, magazine 220 is dropped and another is inserted, which assuming a “full” magazine is added, results in another fourteen shots within the VR/XR environment being enabled. In embodiments, a gas chamber (232) of magazine 220 is charged sufficient for “two clips” or for at least twenty-eight shots given a fourteen shot baseline, in which case ejecting and reinserting the same magazine 220, as detected via switch 236, will recharge that magazine 220.
Physical limits of gas volumetric storage of chamber 232 are present, which will generally limit the number of magazine charges (prior to a gas refill) to one, two, or three-although embodiments specifically designed for more gas capacity are contemplated. As described, the magazine “capacity” can be altered electronically, so that GLOCK OEM magazines that accommodate thirty-three rounds are able to be simulated. In one embodiment, remotely triggered and functionally accurate misfiring events can be simulated. That is, an external signal is conveyed to a pistol assembly, having the disclosed magazine 220, to simulate a misfire on a next shot, which will result in subsequent firings not being permitted until the “chamber” of the AIRSOFT pistol 210 is manually cleared (i.e., moving by hand from a closed 122 to an open 124 position). This clearing is detected via slide sensor 234 and the normal firing is impeded during the misfiring simulation via the bullet out plunger 238 being enabled.
Embodiments of the invention are specifically tailored for a VR simulation that are designed as a professional training tool for police officers, FBI agents, military guards, and the like. In one embodiment, the magazine 220 can be adapted for a home gaming terminal, including a PLAY STATION, a NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT CENTER, an OCULUS RIFT setup and the like. That is, a COTS AIRSOFT firearm from UMAREX for a GLOCK 17 GEN4 with blowback can be purchased commercially off AMAZON for approximately $170 or without blowback for about $60. This COTS pistol 210 is coupled with the disclosed magazine 220 equipped for the home gaming system (e.g., includes an accelerometer, gyroscope, and/or other micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensors needed for the home gaming platform and its respective in-air tracking protocols) to be used for an interactive third person shooter situation (e.g., a shooter game for a home console). PC gaming is similarly enabled by ensuring proper protocol and signaling adaptations.
In another embodiment, magazine 220 can be coupled with a reactive target 204, such as a tiny explosive triggered when “shot” virtually to simulate a bullet strike. This arrangement can effectively simulate and/or emulate a shooting experience with a realistically constructed AIRSOFT pistol, which is incapable of firing live ammo. Such an arrangement can be highly advantageous on a movie set or a play, where a real firearm loaded with blanks has often been used in the past. There, mishaps are possible, which can be lethal. Further, a cost and inconvenience that may be associated with a level of local and state regulations imposed on real firearm use with blanks can be avoided via using gun 210, magazine 220, and reactive target 204.
One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a pistol assembly including a commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) pistol and a smart magazine. The COTS pistol is designed to fire non-combustive round objects from a COTS magazine within which the non-combustive objects are stored. The COTS pistol includes a slide, which is configured to move responsive to receiving a burst of compressed gas released from a pressurized gas chamber of the COTS magazine when the COTS pistol is fired by pulling a pistol trigger. The smart magazine is a replacement for the COTS magazine. The smart magazine includes a gas chamber, a processor, a memory, a wireless transceiver, a battery, and a shot counter. The wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive digital signals from the smart magazine to a wireless network. The battery is configured to power the slide sensor, the processor, the memory, and the wireless transceiver. The shot counter is configured within computer readable code executed by the processor and stored in the memory. The shot counter determines a quantity of virtual bullets in the smart magazine. The quantity of virtual bullets is between zero and a parameter defined value for a maximum magazine capacity of virtual bullets. The shot counter decreases the quantity of virtual bullets by one each time the COTS pistol is fired. When the quantity of virtual bullets is zero per the shot counter, the smart magazine is configured to prevent the COTs pistol from firing. The smart magazine lacks a chamber for the non-combustive round objects which the COTS pistol is configured to fire.
Another aspect of the disclosure is directed to a smart magazine for a COTS pistol assembly. The smart magazine includes a gas chamber, a processor, a memory, a wireless transceiver, a battery, and a shot counter. The wireless transceiver is configured to wirelessly transmit and receive digital signals from the smart magazine to a wireless network. The battery is configured to power the slide sensor, the processor, the memory, and the wireless transceiver. The shot counter is configured within computer readable code executed by the processor and stored in the memory. The shot counter determines a quantity of virtual bullets in the smart magazine. The quantity of virtual bullets is between zero and a parameter defined value for a maximum magazine capacity of virtual bullets. The shot counter decreases the quantity of virtual bullets by one each time the COTS pistol is fired. When the quantity of virtual bullets is zero per the shot counter, the smart magazine is configured to prevent the COTs pistol from firing. The smart magazine lacks a chamber for non-combustive round objects which the COTS pistol is configured to fire. The smart magazine is a direct replacement for a COTS magazine for the COTS pistol. The COTS magazine stores the non-combustible round objects that the COTS pistol is configured to fire.
Still another aspect of the disclosure is directed to an extended reality (XR) pistol peripheral that includes a pistol and a smart magazine. The pistol fires non-combustive round objects from a COTS magazine within which the non-combustive objects are stored. The pistol is an AIRSOFT pistol or a mag-fed paintball gun. In one embodiment, the pistol can be a GLOCK, specifically a GLOCK 17 or GLOCK 19. The smart magazine is a replacement for the COTS magazine. The smart magazine includes a shot counter configured to determine a quantity of virtual bullets in the smart magazine. The quantity of virtual bullets is between zero and a parameter defined value for a maximum magazine capacity of virtual bullets. The shot counter is configured to decrease the quantity of virtual bullets by one each time the COTS pistol is fired. When the quantity of virtual bullets is zero per the shot counter, the smart magazine is configured to prevent the COTs pistol from firing. The smart magazine lacks a chamber for the non-combustive round objects which the COTS pistol is configured to fire. An assembly of the pistol and smart magazine is an interactive peripheral for an extended reality XR system or a virtual reality (VR) system. Components enabling the assembly to function as the interactive peripheral are contained within the smart magazine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A (Prior Art) shows an AIRSOFT GLOCK pistol.
FIG. 1B (Prior Art) shows a magazine for the AIRSOFT GLOCK pistol.
FIG. 1C (Prior Art) shows an AIRSOFT GLOCK pistol with a WITS module.
FIG. 1D (Prior Art) shows a manual slide backward adjustment for the AIRSOFT GLOCK.
FIG. 1E (Prior Art) Shows a Wits Equipped Airsoft Glock Prior to being fired.
FIG. 1F (Prior Art) shows a WITS equipped AIRSOFT GLOCK as it is being fired and the slide is in a backward position.
FIG. 2A shows a model of a system including a pistol with a smart magazine in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
FIG. 2B shows a smart magazine in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
FIG. 2C shows base component of a smart magazine in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
FIG. 2D shows a perspective view of a smart magazine in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
FIG. 2E shows a side view of a smart magazine in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
FIG. 2F shows a top view of a base component of a smart magazine in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
FIG. 2G shows a bottom view of a base component of a smart magazine in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
FIG. 3 shows a model computing device utilized with the smart magazine in accordance with embodiments of the disclosure.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures may be identified with the same reference numerals. Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
With reference to FIG. 2B, a magazine 220 is disclosed that is a direct replacement for a magazine 110 of a commercial off the shelf (COTS) AIRSOFT pistol 210, which incorporates wireless independent tracking system (WITS 120) functionality within the magazine 220. The magazine 220 includes slide sensor 234, shot counter 258, mag discharge switch 236, and bullet out plunger 238. Electronic components are powered by a battery 252 able to be recharged by port 256, which in embodiments is a universal serial bus (USB) port. By form factor, the magazine 220 must fit in pistol 210, which results in main component 222 being somewhat crowded. Thus, magazine 220 can have a smaller internal gas chamber 232 than chamber 114. Further, green gas refillable embodiments are preferred to use of CO2 cartridges (common for magazine 110), although CO2 cartridges may still be used. Pellet chamber 112 is not needed for magazine 220, which is useful for fitting components 220 in the magazine form factor.
In one embodiment additional space can be conserved by separating the magazine 220 into two parts, such as a main component 222 and a base component 224. These components 222 and 224 can be slidably and detachably coupled via mechanical 244 and electronic 242 connectors. A spring lock 244 can be engaged to secure component 222 and 224 together. With reference to FIG. 2C, the base component 224 also includes paired mechanical 226 and electronic 225 connectors. Tracking and directional sensors 228 along with a unique identifier 227 can be included in the base component 224. The directional sensors 228 may include accelerometers, gyroscopes, motion sensors, camera(s), and the like. In one embodiment, the battery 252 powers base component 224. Because the main component 222 is largely enclosed in a chamber, use of an externally exposed base component 224 can be advantageous especially for externally mounted sensors, such as cameras, LED lights, etc. Examples of exposed LED lights configured to visually flash to visual convey meaning to an extern, camera equipped system (e.g., a WITS element in some embodiments) are elaborated upon in WO2021231823A1.
In another embodiment, a battery can be included in base component 224 able to be used for an extended charge and/or able to power main component 222, which may not include its own battery 252 in embodiments. In another embodiment (not shown) base component 224 can include a gas chamber able to form an airtight seal with and to charge chamber 232. Embodiments, where battery and gas storage exist in base component 224, which permits a quick recharging from base component 224. In other embodiments, main component 222 will need to be recharged with gas after use and/or need to have its battery recharged.
The contemplated embodiment having the main 222 and base 224 components coupled together are visually illustrated in detail in a perspective view provided by FIG. 2D and a side view provided by FIG. 2E. FIG. 2F illustrates a top view of base component 224, which is largely consistent with that of FIG. 2C. FIG. 2G shows a bottom view of base component 224 as implemented in an embodiment.
Although the separation of main 222 and base 224 components is preferred in one implementation, integrating all components in a single component, which is not decomposed into two-parts is contemplated. A modular approach having additional detachable components, such as a detachable battery and/or a detachable gas chamber in the bottom of base component 224, is contemplated in embodiments.
Use of a COTS pistol specifically configured as a pellet gun that uses a different commercially sold/included magazine 110, is preferred in embodiments. Specifically, use of an AIRSOFT gun, which itself lacks any VR sensors and lacks any electronic components (as sold) permits leveraging of an existing manufacturing base and product, which inherently lowers costs while ensuring extremely high quality levels. It is noteworthy that a magazine 220 physically having a form factor compatible with magazine 110 results in the magazine 220 being compatible for multiple generations of AIRSOFT's GLOCK 17 and 19, as both utilize a compatible magazine 220. In other embodiments, the magazine 220 and its innovations can be utilized with any pistol 210, whether AIRSOFT based or not. For example, GLOCK in the future could license a special version of the GLOCK 17 and 19, which is not configured to shoot pellets, but may be tailored for VR, XR, or even movie sets in a manner consistent with the disclosure and its innovations.
In other examples, a magazine 220 equivalent to that disclosed can enable additional protocols, signaling, and features on any pistol 210 that would otherwise lack such features or capabilities, which expands the utility of the base pistol 210. In other words, often a significant cost is involved in manufacturing a realistic pistol 210, especially one simulating a specific real-world firearm, which has a removable magazine. VR technologies are constantly evolving and changing. Being able to adapt an existing base pistol 210 to new adaptations, via magazine embedded upgrades, is a way to future proof the base pistol 210.
Referring to FIG. 2A, pistol 210 represents a firearm configured to accept magazine 220. In a preferred embodiment, the pistol 210 can be a COTS AIRSOFT GLOCK configured to fire pellets. In another embodiment, pistol 210 can be a COTS paintball gun having magazine 220, which is often referred to as a mag-fed paintball gun. For example, the GLOCK 17 GENS T4E is a 0.43 caliber paintball marker having functional characteristics effectively equivalent to those shown in FIG. 1A, which can utilize a configured version of magazine 220. Although the GLOCK versions of pistol 210 are emphasized herein, other styles can be utilized in conjunction with a compatible magazine 220. For example, magazine 220 can be for a UMAREX BERETTA M9A3 blowback full-auto 0.177 caliber BB gun air pistol, a T4E New Walther PPQ M2 semi auto blow back paintball pistol, a T3E SMITH AND SESSON M&P M2.0.43 caliber training pistol paintball gun marker, and the like,
The pistol 210 can lack electronic components to communicate over a network 202 or to exchange communication signals with reactive target 204 or system 206. Moreover, pistol 210 can completely lack any electronics and may instead be a mechanical device having a trigger, which when pulled provides haptic feedback based on gas releases that cause a slide of the pistol 210 to move. Pistol 210 may have some electronics in a different embodiment, simply lacking those needed to communicate over network 202 or to communicate with target 204 or system 206. Thus, for purposes of the disclosure and in accordance with an embodiment, any electronics that pistol 210 may have been effectively ignored and not needed to function, as functional components for target 204 and/or system 206 are included exclusively within magazine 220. Consequently, pistol 210 may include some electronics, none of which are used to communicate with reactive target 204 and/or VR/XR system 206.
Electronics within magazine 220 wirelessly exchange signals related to a state of the pistol 210 over network 202, where incoming signals can change state of magazine 220 electronic and outgoing signals can provide current state information to network 202. Network 202 may be a local wireless area network, a personal area network, or a cellular network in embodiments. Preferably, network 202 is a BLUETOOTH network or WIFI (e.g., an 802.11 based protocol) network.
A reactive target 204 is a device configured to receive a signal from magazine 220 relating to a firing of pistol 210, which reacts to receipt of this signal. In one embodiment, the reactive target 204 can be positioned on or proximate to a striking surface where a bullet fired from pistol 210 would strike, if the pistol were a real-loaded firearm. The reaction performed by target 204 can emulate an event occurrence of a bullet strike. Target 204 can effectuate an explosion, a sound effect, a morphing of a physical object, a displacement in space of an object to simulate that object being struck by a bullet, and the like. In one embodiment, reactive target 204 can include a visual screen, which may be a display screen (e.g., LCD, LED, plasma, etc.) or a holographic projector. In one embodiment, reactive target 204 can be communicatively linked to a simulated reality being presented by system 206. For example, a simulated shotgun blast from a shotgun (210) can cause a door handle (target 204) of a real door of an immersive VR environment to be opened, while the blast reaction is visually shown via a heads-up-display (HUD) of system 206.
The VR/XR system 206 is a computer-generated environment with scenes and objects that appear to be real, making the user feel they are immersed in their surroundings. System 206 can be categorized as augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and the like. Pistol 210 is a handheld component or peripheral of system 206.
Gas port 230 represents a region of magazine 220 between pressurized gas chamber 232 and pistol 210. A gas cut-off 240 may exist to open/close gas port 230 responsive to signals from the microprocessor 246. Alternatively, the gas cut-off 240 can exist that is a physical/mechanical component that is not reactive to microprocessor 246 signals. Gas can be recharged by connecting a container through port 230 to chamber 232. Sealing valves, O-Rings, and the like can be used to ensure gas leaks do not occur or are minimized. The gas chamber 232 will preferably be configured to use green gas or CO2, although other gases are contemplated. Further, in embodiments, a replaceable CO2 canister can be used as a gas chamber 232.
The slide sensor 234 detects movement of a slide of the pistol 210, which can equate to a number of “shots” fired in embodiments. In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 2B, a physical connector can be attached to the slide, which moves as the slide moves back and forth. In another embodiment, a MEMs motion sensor/accelerometer can function as a slide sensor 234, as a characteristic vibration occurs as part of the haptic feedback provided by the slide moving.
Mag discharge switch 236 is a component that detects when magazine 220 is discharged from pistol 210. In one embodiment, a spring loaded switch (see FIG. 2B) can extend (e.g., in a first state) when the magazine 220 is not in the pistol 210, which is collapsed (in a second state) when the magazine 220 is in the pistol. Thus, the state of switch 236 determines whether magazine 220 is in or out of the pistol 210. In one embodiment, a characteristic sound can occur when the magazine 220 is inserted/released and the switch 236 can be an audio transducer (e.g., microphone) configured to detect the characteristic sound and determine a state change. Any sensor or set of sensors providing information to permit a state of inserted/external or a change of state can be utilized as mag discharge switch 236 in different embodiments.
Bullet out plunger 238 exists to extend an extrusion when there are no more “bullets” in the magazine 220. This is a basic spring based mechanical extension for magazine 220. As shown in FIG. 2B, a magnet with a spring lock is utilized to implement plunger 238, which is electronically controlled from signals from microprocessor 246. The pistol 210 is mechanically configured to prevent firing (a pulling of the trigger), when plunger 238 is extended.
Shot counter 258 determines the quantity of virtual bullets remaining in magazine 220 based on a magazine bullet size variable. When the firearm 210 is shot a virtual bullet is expended, and the quantity in the magazine 220 is diminished by one. Computations performed by the shot counter 258 occur within the magazine 220 utilizing computer readable instructions read by the microprocessor 246, where the instructions are stored within memory 248. VR/XR system 206 can receive updates when the virtual bullets in the magazine change. Further, a virtual misfire can result in the pistol 210 jamming so that a manual manipulation of the slide is needed to eject the misfired casing. The virtual misfire can be triggered from a signal received via network 202, which causes a next virtual bullet to not discharge properly. Manually ejecting a casing will diminish a quantity of virtual bullets in the magazine as determined by the shot counter 258 by one. Injecting a new magazine 220 will result in a new quantity of virtual bullets being available as determined by that magazine's shot counter (258).
As noted, gas chamber 232 may have sufficient volumes of gas to handle two or more sets of virtual bullets given a magazine bullet size, which is by default fourteen yet is configurable. In such a scenario, magazine 220 can be permitted to “reload” a new set of bullets in a magazine 220 to the maximum (magazine bullet size) when ejected and reinserted, which is determinable using the mag discharge switch 236. In various embodiments, additional actions may need to be taken for this recharging to occur. For example, magazine 220 may have to be placed in a holder to reset the bullets contained therein.
Systems, Devices and Operating Systems
A basic configuration of a computing device is illustrated in FIG. 3 by those components within the inner dashed line. In the basic configuration of the computing device 336, the computing device 336 includes a processor 334 and a system memory 332. The terms “processor” and “central processing unit” or “CPU” are used interchangeably herein. In some examples, the computing device 336 may include one or more processors and the system memory 332. A memory bus 312 is used for communicating between the one or more processors 334 and the system memory 332. With reference to FIG. 2A, magazine 220 can be considered computing device 336; microprocessor 246 can be considered processor 334; memory 248 equates to memory 332, and the like. Reactive target 204 and VR/XR system 206 are also able to be considered computing devices 336 or sets thereof.
Referring back to FIG. 3, depending on the desired configuration, the processor 334 may be of any type, including, but not limited to, a microprocessor (μp), a microcontroller (μC), and a digital signal processor (DSP), or any combination thereof. In examples, the microprocessor may be AMD's ATHLON, DURON and/or OPTERON; ARM's application, embedded and secure processors; IBM and/or MOTOROLA's DRAGONBALL and POWERPC; IBM's and SONY's Cell processor; INTEL'S CELERON, CORE (2) DUO, ITANIUM, PENTIUM, XEON, and/or XSCALE; and/or the like processor(s).
Further, the processor 334 may include one more levels of caching, such as a level cache memory 326, a processor core 324, and registers 322, among other examples. The processor core 324 may include an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a floating point unit (FPU), and/or a digital signal processing core (DSP Core), or any combination thereof. A memory controller 318 may be used with the processor 334, or, in some implementations, the memory controller 318 may be an internal part of the memory controller 318.
Depending on the desired configuration, the system memory 332 may be of any type, including, but not limited to, volatile memory (such as RAM), and/or non-volatile memory (such as ROM, flash memory, etc.), or any combination thereof. The system memory 332 includes an operating system 330, one or more engines, such as an engine 320, and program data 314. In some embodiments, the engine 320 may be an application, a software program, a service, or a software platform, as described infra. The system memory 332 may also include a storage engine 316 that may store any information of data disclosed herein.
The operating system 330 may be a highly fault tolerant, scalable, and secure system such as: APPLE MACINTOSH OS X (Server); AT&T PLAN 9; BE OS; UNIX and UNIX-like system distributions (such as AT&T's UNIX; BERKLEY SOFTWARE DISTRIBUTION (BSD) variations such as FREEBSD, NETBSD, OPENBSD, and/or the like; Linux distributions such as RED HAT, UBUNTU, and/or the like); and/or the like operating systems. However, more limited and/or less secure operating systems also may be employed such as APPLE MACINTOSH OS, IBM OS/2, MICROSOFT DOS, MICROSOFT WINDOWS 2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/MILLENNIUM/NT/VISTA/XP (Server), PALM OS, and/or the like. The operating system 330 may be one specifically optimized to be run on a mobile computing device (e.g., one configuration for device 220 FIG. 1A), such as iOS, ANDROID, WINDOWS Phone, TIZEN, SYMBIAN, and/or the like.
As explained supra, the GUI may provide a baseline and means of accessing and displaying information graphically to users. The QUI may include APPLE MACINTOSH Operating System's AQUA, IBM's OS/2, Microsoft's WINDOWS 2000/2003/3.1/95/98/CE/MILLENNIUM/NT/XP/Vista/7 (i.e., AERO), UNIX'S X-Windows (e.g., which may include additional UNIX graphic interface libraries and layers such as K DESKTOP ENVIRONMENT (KDE), MYTHTV and GNU Network Object Model Environment (GNOME)), web interface libraries (e.g., ActiveX, AJAX, (D)HTML, FLASH, JAVA, JAVASCRIPT, etc. interface libraries such as, but not limited to, DOJO, JQUERY(UI), MOOTOOLS, PROTOTYPE, SCRIPT.ACULO.US, SWFOBJECT, or YAHOO! User Interface, any of which may be used.
Additionally, a web browser component (not shown) is a stored program component that is executed by the CPU. The web browser may be a conventional hypertext viewing application such as MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, EDGE, CHROME, FIREFOX, or NETSCAPE NAVIGATOR. SECURE WEB browsing may be supplied with 128 bit (or greater) encryption by way of HTTPS, SSL, and/or the like. Web browsers allowing for the execution of program components through facilities such as ACTIVEX, AJAX, (D)HTML, FLASH, JAVA, JAVASCRIPT, web browser plug-in APIs (e.g., FIREFOX, SAFARI Plug-in, and/or the like APIs), and/or the like. Web browsers and like information access tools may be integrated into PDAs, cellular telephones, and/or other mobile devices.
A web browser may communicate to and/or with other components in a component collection, including itself, and/or facilities of the like. Most frequently, the web browser communicates with information servers, operating systems, integrated program components (e.g., plug-ins), and/or the like; e.g., it may contain, communicate, generate, obtain, and/or provide program component, system, user, and/or data communications, requests, and/or responses. Of course, in place of a web browser and an information server, a combined application may be developed to perform similar functions of both. The combined application would similarly affect the obtaining and the provision of information to users, user agents, and/or the like from the enabled nodes of the present invention.
Moreover, the computing device 336 may have additional features or functionality, and additional interfaces to facilitate communications between the basic configuration and any desired devices and interfaces. For example, a bus/interface controller is used to facilitate communications between the basic configuration and data storage devices via a storage interface bus 302. The data storage devices may be one or more removable storage devices, one or more non-removable storage devices, or a combination thereof. Examples of the one or more removable storage devices and the one or more non-removable storage devices include magnetic disk devices (such as flexible disk drives and hard-disk drives (HDD)), optical disk drives (such as compact disk (CD) drives or digital versatile disk (DVD) drives), solid state drives (SSD), and tape drives, among others.
In some embodiments, an interface bus facilitates communication from various interface devices (e.g., one or more output devices 338, one or more peripheral interfaces 346, and one or more communication devices 354) to the basic configuration via the bus/interface controller 310. Some of the one or more output devices 338 include a graphics processing unit 340 and an audio processing unit 344, which are configured to communicate to various external devices, such as a display or speakers, via one or more A/V ports 342.
The one or more peripheral interfaces 346 may include a serial interface controller 350 or a parallel interface controller 352, which are configured to communicate with external devices, such as input devices (e.g., a keyboard, a mouse, a pen, a voice input device, or a touch input device, etc.) or other peripheral devices (e.g., a printer or a scanner, etc.) via one or more I/O ports 348.
Further, the one or more communication devices 354 may include a network controller 356, which is arranged to facilitate communication with one or more other computing devices 360 over a network 202 communication link via one or more communication ports 358. The one or more other computing devices 360 include servers, the database, mobile devices, and comparable devices.
The network communication link is an example of a communication media. The communication media are typically embodied by the computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and include any information delivery media. A “modulated data signal” is a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, the communication media may include wired media (such as a wired network or direct-wired connection) and wireless media (such as acoustic, radio frequency (RF), microwave, infrared (IR), and other wireless media). The term “computer-readable media,” as used herein, includes both storage media and communication media.
It should be appreciated that the system memory 332, the one or more removable storage devices 304, and the one or more non-removable storage devices 306 are examples of the computer-readable storage media. The computer-readable storage media is a tangible device that can retain and store instructions (e.g., program code) for use by an instruction execution device (e.g., the computing device 336). Any such, computer storage media is part of the computing device 336.
The computer readable storage media/medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage media/medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, and/or a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage media/medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, and/or a mechanically encoded device (such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon), and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire.
The computer-readable instructions are provided to the processor 334 of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus (e.g., the computing device 336) to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor 334 of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the block diagram blocks. These computer-readable instructions are also stored in a computer-readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions, which implement aspects of the functions/acts specified in the block diagram blocks.
The computer-readable instructions (e.g., the program code) are also loaded onto a computer (e.g. the computing device 336), another programmable data processing apparatus, or another device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, the other programmable apparatus, or the other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions, which execute on the computer, the other programmable apparatus, or the other device, implement the functions/acts specified in the block diagram blocks.
Computer readable program instructions described herein can also be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network (e.g., the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, and/or a wireless network). The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers, and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device.
Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user's computer/computing device, partly on the user's computer/computing device, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer/computing device and partly on a remote computer/computing device or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. In some embodiments, the smart magazine also allows the airsoft gun to function in a VR environment or in movie production without firing any physical projectiles, unlike a standard airsoft magazine.
Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to block diagrams of methods, computer systems, and computing devices according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block and combinations of blocks in the diagrams, can be implemented by the computer readable program instructions.
The block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of computer systems, methods, and computing devices according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the block diagrams may represent a module, a segment, or a portion of executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block and combinations of blocks can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the described embodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiments, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others or ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of illustration and that numerous changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.
