| Method and apparatus for detecting and identifying firearms -> Monitor Keywords |
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Method and apparatus for detecting and identifying firearmsRelated Patent Categories: Firearms, Safety MechanismMethod and apparatus for detecting and identifying firearms description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050262751, Method and apparatus for detecting and identifying firearms. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/549,128 filed Mar. 1, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates to a system for remotely detecting the presence of a firearm and identifying the serial number of the firearm employing radiofrequency identification (RFID) tags embedded in firearms and remote readers for the RFID tags. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] There are many situations in which it is desirable to have the ability to detect the presence of a firearm from a distance and, in certain situations, to determine a serial number assigned to the firearm. For example, when police officers approach a parked vehicle it is often of importance for them to know whether a firearm is contained in the vehicle. The officers' approach to the situation can be critically dependent upon this knowledge. Similarly, it is common practice to screen persons entering public places such as schools, airports, concerts and the like for firearms. In these applications it would be very advantageous to be able to determine whether a firearm was carried by a person without actually searching the person. Present systems for conducting such searches, including x-ray systems and the like, are extremely expensive and relatively slow in operation. [0004] Systems that can detect and identify a serial number of firearms from a distance would also be extremely useful to inventory firearms in police stations and the like to prevent them from being misplaced or stolen. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention detects the presence of firearms by embedding an RFID tag into the firearm in such a manner that it could be interrogated by a remote reader. Conventional RFID chips incorporate nonvolatile memories which can store information such as the serial number of the firearm and further include electronic circuitry for receiving an interrogating signal from a remote reader device and responding to the interrogation signal by sending out a signal including the serial number stored in the RFID chip. [0006] Those RFID chips which are commercially available have employed digital circuitry, but development work is underway on RFID chips employing analog circuitry which could be readily employed with the present invention. While commercially available chips have employed silicon circuitry, reports of development work on chips employing quartz crystals have been made and they could be equally employed in the present invention. [0007] The RFID chips employed with the present invention are preferably of the passive type which include circuitry for converting at least a portion of the received signals from the interrogator into electrical power required by the chip for signal processing and transmission. Thus, no data is required and the unit is essentially permanent. Alternatively, the present invention could be employed with active chips employing long life, low power batteries. The RFID chips are preferably programmed to store the serial number of the firearms in their nonvolatile memories. [0008] Broadly, the method of the present invention involves detecting a firearm from a distance by transmitting an interrogating signal to RFID chips and detecting the responses which will preferably include the serial number. The absence of any response indicates that there is no firearm equipped with an RFID chip in the immediate area. If a plurality of responses are received, the reader preferably includes computer circuitry for separating and identifying the separate signals. These techniques are well known to those skilled in the RFID art. The reader may be associated with a computer system which can include, either locally or remotely, a database of firearm serial numbers for the purpose of identifying firearms which have been stolen or the like. A central database might be provided and the Internet or other public network used to communicate information from a local reader to the database. [0009] The RFID chips of the present invention may be built into the firearm during manufacture or added subsequently. Preferably, laws could be passed requiring the implantation of chips in firearms previous to the sale. The serial numbers of firearms sold with the RFID chips would be transmitted to a central database which might be interrogated to determine the identity of a particular firearm. The database might further store information relating to a particular firearm after sale such as resale, use in criminal activity, etc. [0010] By way of example, a police officer who has stopped a vehicle might transmit an interrogating signal to the vehicle, and upon receiving the serial number of a firearm located in the vehicle, send that serial number, via the Internet or the like, to the central database to retrieve any available history relating to the firearm. If the history included the fact that the firearm had been stolen or had been used in a criminal activity, the officer would be alerted as to precautions to be used with respect to the vehicle. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the computer system associated with the reader would automatically communicate with the central database to retrieve stored information relating to a particular serial number when that serial number was received in response to an interrogating signal. [0011] The RFID chips of the present invention are preferably retained in a recess formed in the body of the firearm having an exposed surface so as to allow the easy reception and transmission of interrogating and responding signals. If the body of the firearm is of a ferromagnetic material such as steel, the chip might be supported on a radiofrequency absorbing elastomer layer or other absorbing substrate material to prevent interference with the transmission and reception of signals. [0012] The RFID chip may be of any conventional commercially available form but preferably takes the form of a polyester film with a printed or etched antenna embedded with a silicon chip. This is the type of chip that is commonly used to identify commercial shipments. The reader may take the form of a portable device which may be carried by police officers and the like or may alternatively be a permanent device stationed at the entrance to stadiums, theaters, schools and other mass attendance venues in which it would be desirable to detect the presence of firearms. The reader incorporates a transmitter which sends an RF signal of the frequency to which the RFID chips are sensitive and a receiver for the transponder signals returned by the RFID chips. It also preferably includes a computer for processing the signals and for communicating with the central database to obtain the history of a particular firearm. [0013] If the firearm is made of a nonferromagnetic material or has a nonferromagnetic section such as a butt or handle, the cavity for the chips may be formed directly in this nonferromagnetic section. Weapons which are made from steel typically have wood or plastic handgrips, and this affords a convenient position in which to place the chip. In the cases of weapons made entirely from ferromagnetic materials, a cavity in the weapon may be lined with a radiofrequency-absorbing elastomer or other radiofrequency-absorbing material to shield the chip from fields which might be induced through the ferromagnetic sections. [0014] Inventory systems for firearm repositories in a police station, army base or the like may be monitored by having a reader that periodically reads the serial numbers of all of the weapons in the repository and stores this information on a computer. When a firearm is removed from the repository, means will be provided to allow an authorized person to enter his identification so that the computer may store a record of all firearms contained in the facility and those which are checked out and to whom they were checked out. An alarm system may be activated by removal of a weapon without providing the proper identification. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] Other objects, advantages and applications of the invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description. The description makes reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0016] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system for detecting and identifying a handgun including a reader for RFID chips which communicates with a chip supported in the handgun, a computer which receives the output of the reader and communicates with a remote database associated with a central computer to determine the history of the identified weapon, and a display for providing associated information to the user of the system; [0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a typical handgun having an RFID chip disposed in a recess formed in the hand stock; [0018] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the hand stock of FIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2; and [0019] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an inventory system for handguns involving a controlled area and a computer for maintaining an inventory of the weapons in the area through an RFID reader. 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