Switchless Sensing for Electronic Devices Used with Deterrent Devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021116214-A1
Application number	US-202016818358-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 13, 2020
Priority date	Dec 19, 2016
Publication date	Apr 22, 2021
Grant date	—

Abstract

Switchless sensing is provided to control electronic devices of the type associated with deterrent devices.

First claim

1 - 24 . (canceled)

25 . A device, comprising:
a housing; a conductive surface mounted on the housing; an excitation source; at least one processor; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform acts comprising:
causing, at a first time, the excitation source to generate a first electrical field around the conductive surface;
receiving first information indicative of a first capacitance value detected at the conductive surface;
determining that the first capacitance value is less than a predetermined threshold;
causing, at a second time, the excitation source to generate a second electrical field around the conductive surface;
receiving second information indicative of a second capacitance value detected at the conductive surface;
determining that the second capacitance value is greater than the predetermined threshold; and
sending, based at least in part on determining that the second capacitance value is greater than the predetermined threshold, an instruction to an accessory device communicatively coupled to the device, the instruction causing the accessory device to perform an action.

26 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the predetermined threshold is associated with capacitance values that are indicative of a body part of a user being within a predetermined distance of the conductive surface.

27 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the device is configured to couple to at least one of a grip, a trigger guard, a barrel, a chassis, a mounting rail, a sight, or a foregrip of a deterrent device.

28 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the action comprises at least one of:
illuminating a light element; emitting a chemical deterrent; providing aiming assistance; providing location information; presenting a display; providing stabilization information; providing video communication; providing audio communication; or capturing images.

29 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the second information is received during a first sample period characterized by a first sampling frequency, the acts further comprising receiving, at a third time, third information indicative of a third capacitance value detected at the conductive surface during a second sampling period characterized by a second sampling frequency, the second sampling frequency being greater than the first sampling frequency.

30 . The device of claim 25 , wherein the conductive surface comprises a first conductive surface, the device further comprising a second conductive surface, and the acts further comprising receiving, at the second time, third information indicative of a third capacitance value detected at the second conductive surface, wherein the instruction is sent based at least in part on the third capacitance value.

31 . The device of claim 30 , wherein the first conductive surface is separated from the second conductive surface by an electrically insulative material.

32 . The device of claim 25 , wherein:
causing, at the first time, the excitation source to generate the first electrical field comprises causing the first electrical field to supply a first voltage or a first current to the conductive surface; and causing, at the second time, the excitation source to generate the second electrical field comprises causing the second electrical field to supply a second voltage or a second current to the conductive surface.

33 . A device comprising:
a housing; a conductive surface mounted on the housing; an excitation source; at least one processor; and one or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform acts comprising:
causing the excitation source to generate an electrical field around the conductive surface, the electrical field having a magnitude that varies over time;
receiving data associated with a capacitance value detected at the conductive surface, the capacitance value indicating a change in capacitance within the electrical field;
determining that the capacitance value is within a range of capacitance values, the range of capacitance values being indicative a body part of a user being disposed within the electrical field; and
sending, based at least in part on determining that the capacitance value is within the range of capacitance values, an instruction to an accessory device to perform an action.

34 . The device of claim 33 , the acts further comprising:
receiving data associated with an additional capacitance value, the additional capacitance value indicating an additional change in capacitance within the electrical field; determining that the additional capacitance value is outside the range of capacitance values; and sending, based at least in part on determining that the additional capacitance value is outside the range of capacitance values, an additional instruction that causes the accessory device to refrain from performing the action.

35 . The device of claim 33 , wherein receiving the capacitance value occurs during a first sample period characterized by a first sampling frequency, the acts further comprising receiving a second capacitance value during a second sampling period characterized by a second sampling frequency, the second sampling frequency being greater than the first sampling frequency.

36 . The device of claim 33 , the acts further comprising:
receiving data associated with a second capacitance value detected at the conductive surface, the second capacitance value indicating a second change in capacitance within the electrical field; and determining, based at least in part on the capacitance value and the second capacitance value, an updated range of capacitance values associated with the body part of the user being within the electrical field.

37 . The device of claim 33 , wherein the accessory device comprises at least one of a sight, a lighting element, a laser, a display, or a camera attached to a deterrent device.

38 . The device of claim 33 , the device further comprising a second conductive surface, and the acts further comprising receiving data associated with an additional capacitance value detected at the second conductive surface, and wherein sending the instruction is further based at least in part on the additional capacitance value.

39 . The device of claim 38 , wherein a strength of the electrical field is based at least in part on at least one of:
one or more first dimensions of the first conductive surface; one or more second dimensions of the second conductive surface; a distance from the first conductive surface to the second conductive surface; a voltage generated by the excitation source; or a current generated by the excitation source.

40 . A method comprising:
causing an excitation source to generate an electrical field around a conductive surface of a first device, wherein an intensity of the electrical field varies with time; receiving data associated with a capacitance at the conductive surface, the capacitance being generated based at least in part on an object being within the electrical field; determining that the capacitance is greater than a threshold capacitance; and sending an instruction to a second device to perform an action.

41 . The method of claim 40 , wherein:
the first device is configured to mount to a deterrent device; and the second device is an accessory

Assignees

• Crosman Corp

Inventors

• Mock Jeffrey W
• Kowalczyk Jr John A
• St Phillips Eric
• Gagliano Christopher A
• Allen Michael W
• Macblane Robert J

Classifications

• H05B47/10

  Controlling the light source · CPC title

• G01R27/2605

  Measuring capacitance (capacitive sensors G01D5/24) · CPC title

• G01R15/16

  using capacitive devices · CPC title

• F41G1/35 Primary

  for illuminating the target {, e.g. flash lights} · CPC title