WO2017204792A1

WO2017204792A1 - Holster sensors

Info

Publication number: WO2017204792A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/034042
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ian N Robinson
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Current assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
Priority date: 2016-05-25
Filing date: 2016-05-25
Publication date: 2017-11-30
Anticipated expiration: 2018-11-25

Abstract

Examples described herein include a holster that includes a housing to receive a corresponding weapon, and a sensor to detect a detectable element associated with a recent discharge of the weapon when the weapon is received in the housing.

Description

HOLSTER SENSORS

BACKGROUND

[0001] Law enforcement and other organizations collect information regarding use of dischargeable weapons, such as firearm, electroshock guns, deterrent sprays, and the like. Such information can be analyzed to generate incident reports. Such reports can then be used in Saw enforcement procedures, judiciary proceeding, insurance investigations, and other scenarios.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic representation of an example holster with sensors,

[0003] FIG. 2 depicts a schematic representation of an example holster system with sensors.

[0004] FIG. 3 depicts a schematic representation of an example holster system with sensors,

[0005] FIG. 4 depicts a graphic representation of an example holster.

[0006] FIG. 5 depicts a schematic representation of an example holster system.

[0007] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example method.

[0008] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of another example method,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] In various scenarios it is useful to know when a weapon, such as a side arm or stun gun, has been fired or discharged. To detect prior discharge events of a weapon after it is removed from a holster and before it is returned to the holster, implementation of the present disclosure include sensors disposed in the receiving region of the holster to detect various types of detectable events that are associated with conditions or characteristics result from a weapon discharge. [0010] Implementations of the present disclosure include systems, devices, and methods for determining and recording instances when a weapon may have been discharged. In various example implementations, the holder or holster for carrying a weapon on a person's body can include any number of sensors, processors, and communication devices for sensing, determining, recording, and communicating detectable events, features, or characteristics of a weapon that may indicate or otherwise be associated with a recent discharge of the weapon. Information regarding the recent discharge of a weapon can then be used to enhance or further improve the details or completeness of an incident report. For example, in implementations in which a holster sensor system has determined that a firearm thai was returned to the corresponding holster had recently been discharged, information confirming the discharge of the weapon, and possibly the location, time, number of discharges (e.g., number of rounds fired), and associated user can be recorded and subsequently used to improve the veracity of any other associated evidence- As used herein, the term "weapon" can refer to any type of firearm including, but not limited to, pistols, rifles, revolvers, handguns, as well as stun guns, tasers, pepper sprays, and any and ail other lethal and nonlethal dischargeable weapons. To illustrate various aspects and advantages of the present disclosure, several specific examples are described herein in reference to the accompanying figures. However, reference to the specific examples are not intended to be limiting.

[0011] FIG. 1 depicts a schematic representation of an example holster 110 according to various implementations of the present disclosure. As shown, the holster 110 can include a sensor 11 1. The sensor 111 can include any number of individual or composite sensors disposed in, on, or around the housing of the holster 110 that specifically or genericaily accepts a corresponding weapon 120. The weapon 120 can include a detectable element 130. The detectable element 130 can include any feature, mechanism, characteristic, element, or condition of the weapon 120 that can exist or vary from an original condition or state based on a recent discharge of the weapon 120.

[0012] For example, in implementations in which the weapon 120 is a firearm, such as a gun, pistol, revolver, or the like, sensor 111 disposed in the housing of the holster 110 may be able to detect an increase in the temperature of any number of parts of the firearm {e.g., the barrel, the firing chamber, the firing pin, etc.). Based on the increased temperature, when compared to a temperature reading determined before weapon 120 was last removed from the holster 1 10, sensor readings by sensor 1 1 1 can indicate that the weapon 120 was recently discharged.

[0013] In some implementations, determination of increased temperature of some element of the weapon 120 can include consideration of readings or data determined by other sensors 1 1 1 or other components of the holster 110. For example, sensor readings or other data received from a remote device regarding the ambient temperature, time of day, orientation of the holster, time period which the weapon 120 has been out of the holster 1 10, ambient light, humidity, previous temperature of the elements of the weapon 120, etc. As such, the determination of that a particular weapon 120 was recently discharged can be in response to any number of data points or factors. In addition, the specific to the data points or factors used, or how they are weighted, in the determination can be dependent on the specific values, ranges, or thresholds for the data points or factors. For exarnpie, if before the weapon 120 is removed from the holster 1 10, the sensor 1 1 1 determines that a particular part of the weapon 120 is a first temperature, but the weapon 120 has been absent from the holster 1 10 for longer than a threshold amount of time (e.g., one hour) in an ambient environmental temperature that is greater than the first temperature, then a detected increase in temperature for that particular part of the weapon 120 may be ignored or deemphasized due to natural heating. In other words, the weapon 120 may have heated up in response to being present in a hot environment. In such instances, the holster 1 10 or an association associated system may use other data points or factors to determine whether the weapon 120 was recently discharged prior to being replaced into the holster 110.

[0014] FIG. 2 depicts another example implementation 200 of a weapon 120 and a holster 1 10, In the example implementation 200, the holster 1 10 can include a sensor 1 1 1 , as weil as a processor 113, and a non-transitory computer readable medium 1 15. As shown, the processor 1 13 can be coupled to the sensor 1 11 and the non-transitory computer readable medium 1 15. Accordingly, the processor 113 can include or retrieve computer executable code that includes instructions for operating the sensor 111. For example, the processor 113 can include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a general-purpose microprocessor, microcontroller or any combination of hardware and machine executable code to implement the functionality of the processor 113 described herein.

[0015] In various example implementations described herein, the processor 113 can operate the sensor 1 11 to detect various detectable features or elements 130 of the weapon 120 to determine if it has been recently fired before being returned to the holster 110. In some implementations, the processor 1 13 can receive the sensor signals from the sensor 11 1 and analyze the signals to determine if the sensor signals indicates any conditions or circumstances exist on the weapon 120 associated with a recent discharge. The processor 113 may also record current sensor signals from the sensor 111 as well as historical sensor signals or process data regarding previously sensed detectable elements 130,

[0016] The sensor 11 1 can include any number of sensors. Accordingly, the sensor 111 can include functionality for sensing various types of detectable elements 130. As depicted in example 200 of FIG. 2, the detectable elements 130 can include a corresponding sensor 131, a structural elements 133, or an emitter 135. In such implementations_: the weapon 120 can include specific functionality for independently determining when the weapon 120 has been discharged.

[0017] For example, the sensor 131 can include a microphone, temperature sensor, light sensor, inertial sensor, pressure sensor, or any other sensor that can be used to detect conditions or events such as, sound (e.g. the sound of gunfire), temperature (e.g., increased heat in the barrel or firing chamber of a gun), light (e.g., a muzzle flash), motion (e.g., kickback), and the like. In such implementations, the sensor 130 may record the detected event. Recording the detected events may include storing electronic bits, switching a physical flag, activating an LED, or a similar event indicating feature in the structure 133. For example, in some implementations, the sensor 131 can include a pressure sensor in the trigger an/or the firing pin that mechanically sets a physical fiag in the structure 133 (e.g., a red painted a reflective indicator visible through a window on the weapon 120) that the sensor 111 can detect and use the indication that the weapon 120 had been fired. In such implementations, the sensor 1 1 1 can be mechanical, magnetic, or optical. Similarly, the sensor 131 can include a microphone or light sensor thai detects the sound or light typically presents when the weapon 120 is discharged, in some implementations, the sensor 131 can include a counter or indicator that indicates how many times a weapon was discharged since being removed from the holster 110.

[0018] In response to detecting a threshold level of sound or light, the sensor may store an electronic record in the structure 133 implemented as a computer readable medium. Thus, when the weapon 120 is returned to the holster 1 10, the sensor 1 11 can sense the detectable elements 130 in the form of a flag set in the structure 133 or in the form of an electronic signal transmitted by the emitter 135. In such implementations, the emitter 135 can include functionality for transmitting a signal in the form of electromagnetic energy (e.g., radio frequency signals, infrared signals, light signals, etc.) receivable by the sensor 11 1.

[0019] Thus when the weapon 120 in the example 200 is returned to the holster 110, the holster can include features or elements which trigger the weapon 120 to display or relay the detectable elements in the structure 133 and/or emitter 135. in related implementations, the holster hundred 10 can include features or elements that can cause the weapon 122 resets the detectable elements 130 embodied in the sensor 131 , the structure 133, or emitter 135. As such, each time the weapon 120 is removed from the holster 110, the sensors 131 and the other subcomponents of the weapon 120 can be ready to detect the next discharge the weapon 120. In some implementations, the weapon 120 can also include various other subcomponents not depicted in FIG, 2, For example, the weapon 120 can also include a clock, a global positioning system (GPS) device, a biometric sensor, and other devices that can record other aspects of the situation or circumstances in which the weapon 120 is discharged. Accordingly, it is possible for the weapon 120 to record the time, location, and the user of the weapon 120 at the time that the discharge is recorded.

[0020] FIG. 3 depicts example 300 in which the holster 110 includes multiple sensors 1 1 1 and is coupled to an external controller 140. The weapon 120 and the holster 110 of example 300 are similar to the components described above in reference to examples 100 and 200 and FIGS. 1 and 2. External controller 140 can include functionality as depicted for controlling the holster 1 10 and its component sensors 11 1. The external controller 140 can be implemented in any type of computing device such as a smart phone, laptop, tablet computer, or specialty computing device configured to be worn by the user of the holster 110. For example, the controller 140 can be integrated or attached to a belt or strap used to attach the holster 100 tend to a corresponding user. Alternatively, the controller 140 can be coupled to the holster 110 by wireless communication protocol, such as a so-called personal area network (PAN).

[0021] In any such implementations, the controller 140 can include a processor 1 13, as described above, a non-transitory computer readable medium 115, as well as a network interface 117. In various implementations, the network interface 1 17 can include functionality for communicating with and/or controlling the holster 1 10, the component sensors 111 , as well as functionality for communicating with another remote computing device (not shown). For example, the network interface 117 can include functionality and/or components for communicating with the holster 110 using a wireless communication protocols and media, such as variations of IEEE 802.15 ("Bluetooth"). In addition, the network interface 1 17 can include functionality and/or components for communicating with remote computing devices using various wired and wireless electronic communication media and protocols, such as IEEE 802.11 ("Wi-Fi"), Ethernet, General Packet Radio Service (e.g., GPRS standards 1G, 2G, 3G, 4G, 4G LTE, 4G WiMAX, etc.).

[0022] The controller 140 can access sensor signals/sensor data, such data regarding indications from detectable elements 130, from the holster 1 10 and stored in the non-transitory computer readable medium 115 or transmit the data to remote computing device for further analysis, archiving, or other reporting purposes. For example, the controller 140 is connected to the holster 110, the processor 1 13 can execute instructions stored as computer executable code on the non-transitory computer readable medium 115 to perform analytical functions on the sensor data determined by the sensors 1 11 to determine whether the weapon 120 have been discharged before being replaced into holster 110. As described herein, information regarding detectable elements 130 of the weapon 120 can be stored at various points in time to generate a historical view of the data. Using such data, the processor 113 analyze the most recent data regarding the detectable elements 130 and historical data regarding detectable elements 130 to make a determination as to whether the weapon 120 was discharged.

[0023] FIG. 4 graphically depicts example 400 of a weapon 120, in this case a handgun, disposed in the corresponding holster 1 10. As shown, the weapon 120 can be disposed in the housing 420, The housing 420 can include any type of flexible, semi rigid, or rigid materials for holding, securing, or carrying the weapon 120. In various examples, the weapon 120 can be inserted into the interior region 410 of the housing 420 and held in a position so that the N sensors 111 , where N is an integer, can sense the corresponding parts or detectable elements 130 of the weapon 120, For example, the sensor 1 11-4 can include a temperature sensor, such as a thermocouple, infrared sensor, or the like, disposed within the interior region 410 of the housing 420 to detect temperatures at the muzzle, barrel, or other dischargeable region of the weapon 120, Similarly, sensors 1 11-1 through sensor 1 1 1-3 can be disposed so as to sense or otherwise detect detectable elements 130 on the weapon 120. Accordingly, the interior region 410 of the housing 420 can be shaped and dimensioned according to the type and/or model of the particular weapon 120 with which it will be used. In some implementations, the particular interior region 410 can be configured and dimensioned with keyed interior features that will allow only a single model of weapon 120 and/or a particular weapon 122 be inserted into the holster 110. The interior region 410 can be integral to the holster 110 or be implemented as a sleeve that fits into a generic shape of the holster 110. Such features can prevent a weapon 120 that is not associated with the holster 1 10 from being inserted Into the holster, [0024] For example, sensor 1 1 1-1 can include an optical sensor that could detect a structure 133 on the weapon 120 that is triggered or stored upon discharge, in such scenarios, the structure 133 can include a resettabie flag thai includes a particular color or reflective coating of the optical sensor can detect. As described herein, the holster 1 10 may also include a mechanism for resetting such resettabie flags once the optical sensor determines that the weapon 120 has been recently discharged.

[0025] Example sensor 111-2 can include a wireless detection module that can communicate or otherwise receive signals from and emitter 135 in the weapon 120. In such implementations, the emitter 135 can be triggered to begin transmitting an RF or optical signal upon discharge of weapon 120. Accordingly, when the wireless detection module of sensor 1 11 -2 detects the signal transmitted by the emitter 135, the holster 110 and/or controller 140 can determine that the weapon 120 recently reinserted into the holster 110 has been recently fired. In some implementations, the emitter 135 can include an optical emitter such as a visible, iR, or ultraviolet emitting light emitting diode (LED).

[0026] Example sensor 1 1 1-3 may include a temperature or chemical residue sensor disposed in the housing 420 of the holster 1 10 to be in position to detect conditions within the firing chamber and/or magazine of the weapon 120 was inserted in the holster. As such, the sensor 111-3 can detect differentials in temperature and/or the presence of chemical residues indicative of the weapon 120 been recently discharged. For example, the sensor 1 11 -3 can include various optical or spectrographic sensors that can detect the presence of gunpowder or other accelerant residues that would be expected to be present in specific areas or regions of the weapon 120 once it is been discharged. In some implementations, analysis of the concentrations of the chemicals present can be analyzed to determine to some degree of accuracy the time between when the weapon 120 was discharged, how many times it was discharged, and the time it was returned to the holster 1 10. Such determinations can be made using external data that correlates the natural dissipation or half-life of certain chemical residues in the conditions of a particular weapon 120 used in a particular scenario, As such, any of the sensors 111 may also include components for tracking time periods, temperatures of the environments or user, location, orientation relative to the ground, etc.

[0027] In some example implementations, the sensor 1 11-N can include a strain sensor that can be used to detect differentials in the mass or weight of the weapon 120 disposed in the holster 110. in the example shown, sensor 111-N can be disposed in a section used to couple the holster 100 tend to a belt or strap used to coupie the holster to a user. As such, the strain sensor can measure and/or track the weight of the firearm 120 and any ammunition contained therein, to detect changes in mass or weight that might indicate recent discharge of the weapon 120. As a weapon 120, such as a handgun depicted in FIG. 4, discharges projectile ammunition, the composite weight or mass of the handgun decreases. The change in weight or mass detected by the strain sensor, determined by multiple measurements of the mass or weight of the weapon 120 before and after it is removed and/or replaced in the holder 110 can indicate that the weapon 120 was discharged it was returned to the holster 1 10.

[0028] For iilustrative purposes, the sensor 1 1 1-5 can represent any additional sensor or sensors for tracking conditions, events, or objects, such as time, movement, orientation, shock, ambient temperature, user temperature, ambient light, ambient sound, transmissions from a centralized computer system, transmissions from a local computing device, radio frequency identification (RFlD) tags, and the like. For example, sensor 1 11 -5 can include an RFSD tag reader for reading and RFID tag in the identifier 135 on the weapon 120. Such information can then be included in or associated with to recruit any data pertaining to the detected or suspected discharge of the weapon 120. In this way. it can be recorded which weapon 120 was detected as having been potentially recently discharged.

[0029] In the example 400, the holster 110 can include the processor 113 and/or a non-transitory computer readable medium 115. in such implementations, the holster 110 may also include a power source, such as a battery, capacitor, solar cell, or the like, The processor 113 can execute instructions included in computer executable code stored in the computer readable medium 115 to analyze sensor signals received from the sensors 11 1 and/or retrieved from the computer readable medium 1 15. As described herein, the analysis performed by the processor 1 13 can include sensor signals from any and all sensors 11 1. When the processor 113 has determined that the weapon 120 was recently discharged, it can record the events in the computer readable medium 1 15 or transmit a signal regarding the potential discharge event to another electronic device.

[0030] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an example system 500 that can be included in the holster 110 to implement various aspects of the present disclosure. As shown, the system 500 can include a power source 501 , such as a battery, a backup or external power supply 503, a network interface 505, multiple sensors 111 , a clock 507, a GPS or other location determination device 509, and ID detector 51 1 , and connections to a computer readable medium 115 that includes various code such as the analysis code 513 and record code 515. The ID detector 511 can include any type of detection system for determining the identity of a user, holster 110 or weapon 120. For example, the ID detector 511 can include an RFID reader for detecting and reading an RFID tag disposed on the user, holster, or weapon. Such information can be included in any record of events that may indicate that the weapon 120 was recently discharged.

[0031] In the example system 500, processor 113 can be coupled to any or all of the components of the system. Accordingly the processor 113 can execute operations according to instructions included in computer readable code. The computer readable code may be stored in the computer readable medium 113 or be included in the processor 113. such as in the case in which the processor 113 is an application specific integrated circuit or ASIC.

[0032] The analysis code 513 can include instructions that when executed by the processor 113 can operate the sensors 1 11 , receive sensor signals from the sensors 1 1 1 , and/or analyze the data and/or signals received from the sensors 1 1 1 to determine whether a corresponding weapon 120 was recently fired or discharged before being returned to the holster 1 10. The record code 515 can include instructions that when executed by the processor 113 can cause the processor 113 to record particular sensor signals or data that correspond to the time when a weapon 120 is held in the holster 110 for comparison with events detected from the detectable elements 130 on a weapon 120 which may indicate that the weapon was recently discharged before being returned to the holster 110. Record code 515 can also include instructions thai when executed by the processor 113 cause the processor to record event records corresponding to detected detectable elements 130 that may indicate that the weapon 120 was recently discharged. The event records may include raw sensor signals from any or ali of the sensors 11 1 as well as processed sensor signals weighted according to various values and thresholds in the combined sensor signals. The event records can also be stamped with various situational information such as the time, date, ambient temperature, user temperature, user identifier, weapon identifier, orientation, and any other information that may be pertinent to later investigations regarding the discharge of weapon 120.

[0033] FlG. 8 is a flowchart of an example method 600 of operating sensors in the holster 1 10 to determine whether a weapon 120 received by the holster 110 has been recently discharged. Such methods can begin at box 610 in which the holster 1 10 receives a weapon 110 in the receiving region 420 of the holster. For example, the holster 110 can receive a weapon 120 in the interior region 410 of the housing 420 of the holster 110. With the weapon 120 disposed in the holster 110, various systems of the present disclosure can then activate any number of sensors 1 11 in the holster 110 to sense a detectable element 130 on the weapon 120 that may indicate or correspond to a recent discharge of the weapon, at box 620.

[0034] In one example implementation, the holster 110 can include a mechanism or sensor that causes the sensors 111 to he activated once the weapon 120 was received in the receiving region 410 of the holster 110. ln other implementations, the sensors 11 1 can be activated periodically or randomly to sense the detectable element 130 on the weapon 120. ln such implementations, activation of the sensors 111 may be used to detect the ambient conditions in and around the bolster 110 while the weapon 120 is in and is removed from the holster 110.

[0035] At box 630, a processor 1 13 can analyze the detectable element to determine discharge state of the weapon 120. As described herein, the processor 113 can consider any number of signal sensor signals from any number of sensors 111 to determine whether the weapon 120 was recently discharged. In some implementations, the sensor signals can include information or data regarding the conditions of the ambient environment, the user, the holster, the weapon, and any other information or data available to the processor 1 13 the correspond to a time before during or after a suspected discharge occurred.

[0036] PIG. 7 is a flowchart of another example method 700 according to various implementations of the present disclosure. Example method 700, a holster 1 10 can receive a weapon in the receiving region 410 at box 710. As an example method 600, the holster 110 can activate a sensor 11 1 to sense a detectable element 130, at box 720. Again as in method to 600, the holster 110 can analyze the detectable element 130 to determine the discount charge state of the weapon 120, at box 730.

[0037] At determination 735, the holster 110 can determine whether a detectable elements, the can include multiple elements or conditions pertaining to the weapon 120, the user, or ambient conditions, corresponds or potentially corresponds to the discharge state of the weapon 120.

[0038] If the holster 1 10 determines that a weapon discharge potentially occurred or did occur, then the holster 110 can record the discharge event at box 750. Recording the discharge event can include saving event record and a non -transitory computer readable medium 115 in the holster 110 or in a coupled electronic device. In some implementations, recording the discharge event at box 750 can include transmitting a notification of the detected discharge event to any number of remote computing devices, such as other holsters 1 10 on other users or a central dispatch computing system,

[0039] the holster 1 10 determines that the no weapons discharge occurred, then the holster 110 can at box 740 standby for the next time that the weapon 120 was received in the receiving region 410 of the holster 1 10. The actions in boxes 710 through determination 735 can then be repeated upon the insertion of the weapon 120 into the holster 110, as illustrated in the flowchart of an example 700.

[00403 These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvements may fail within the scope of the appended elaims(s). As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, "a", "an", and "the" includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ail of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or ail of the elements of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or elements are mutually exclusive.

Claims

What is claimed is;

1 A holster comprising:

a housing to receive a corresponding weapon; and

a sensor to detect a detectable element associated with a recent discharge of the weapon when the weapon is received in the housing.

2. The hoister of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a temperature sensor and the detectable element comprises a temperature of a physical element of the weapon.

3. The holster of claim 2 further comprising a clock element to determine times when the weapon is received by and removed from the housing, and wherein the temperature comprises a first temperature corresponding to a first time the weapon is removed from the housing and a second temperature corresponding to a second time when the weapon is received in the housing.

4. The holster of claim 2 further comprising a memory to record the

temperature.

5. The holster of claim 2 further wherein the temperature sensor comprises multiple temperature sensors disposed in the housing to sense

corresponding locations on the weapons, and wherein the temperature comprises multiple temperatures corresponding to the locations.

6. The hoister of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor, a mechanical sensor, or a magnetic sensor and the detectable element comprises a visible indicator, a mechanical indicator, or a magnetic indicator on the weapon.

7. The holster of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor and the detectable element comprises a differential in a weight of the weapon.

8. The holster of claim 1 wherein the sensor comprises a chemical residue sensor and the detectable element comprises chemical residue resulting from the discharge of the weapon.

9. The holster of claim 1 wherein the housing comprises a dock and a memory coupled to the sensor, the clock to Itmestamp a sensor reading of the detectable element stored in the memory.

10. The holster of claim 9 wherein the sensor reading stored in the memory is encrypted using an encryption key associated with the holster.

1 1. A weapon discharge detection system comprising;

a holster to removably hold a weapon;

a sensor disposed in the holster to sense a detectable element associated with a recent discharge of the weapon when the weapon is held in the holster.

12. The weapon discharge detection system of claim 1 1 further comprising;

a memory coupled to the sensor to store data corresponding to the detectable element; and

a processor coupled to the sensor and the memory to analyze the data to determine when the weapon is discharged before being held by the holster.

13. The weapon discharge detection system of claim 12 wherein the

processor analyzes the data against history data corresponding to previous times during which the holster previously held the weapon.

14. A method of determining when a weapon was discharged comprising;

receiving a weapon in holster; and sensing a detectable element associated with a recent discharge the weapon with a sensor disposed in the holster.

15. The of claim 14 method detecting comprising analyzing data

corresponding to the detectable element to determine a false positive.