Electronic paintball marker

Abstract

An electronic paintball marker has a breech having an opening that receives a paintball to be fired, the paintball having substantially two positions within the breech, a loaded position and a firing position, and a bolt with two corresponding rearward and forward positions that moves the paintball between the loaded and firing positions. The marker also has a sensor in communication with an electronic controller and positioned to detect a paintball in the loaded position within the breech, wherein, when the sensor detects the paintball in the loaded position, the sensor sends a detection signal to the electronic controller which in turn allows the bolt to move from the rearward to the forward position. Finally, the marker has a trigger that sends a firing signal to the electronic controller, the firing signal initiating a firing sequence comprising the sensor detecting a paintball within the breech, the electronic controller moving the valve from the closed state to the open state, and firing the paintball.

1 . An electronic paintball marker comprising: 
 a breech having an opening that receives a paintball to be fired, the paintball having substantially two positions within the breech, a loaded position and a firing position;    a bolt that reciprocates between rearward and forward positions to move the paintball between the corresponding loaded and firing positions;    a valve in communication with a source of compressed gas and the breech, the valve having an open and closed state, the valve's state controlled by an electronic controller, the valve's open state releasing compressed gas from the source of compressed gas into the breech for firing a paintball, the valve's closed state preventing said firing;    a sensor in communication with the electronic controller and positioned to detect a paintball in the loaded position within the breech, wherein, when the sensor detects the paintball in the loaded position, the sensor sends a detection signal to the electronic controller which in turn allows the bolt to move from the rearward to the forward position; and    a trigger that sends a firing signal to the electronic controller, the firing signal initiating a firing sequence comprising the sensor being activated to detect the paintball within the breech, the electronic controller moving the valve from the closed state to the open state, and firing the paintball.    
     
     
         2 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.  
     
     
         3 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 2  wherein the bolt comprises the optical sensor.  
     
     
         4 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 3  wherein the optical sensor is located on a face of the of the bolt coaxial with the breech.  
     
     
         5 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 2  wherein the optical sensor is located in a lower portion of the bolt.  
     
     
         6 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 2  wherein the optical sensor is located on a bottom surface of the breech.  
     
     
         7 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the electronic controller reciprocates the bolt between the two positions.  
     
     
         8 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 7  wherein the bolt reciprocation is carried out using a motor.  
     
     
         9 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 7  wherein the bolt reciprocation is carried out using an electromagnetic field.  
     
     
         10 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 7  wherein the bolt reciprocation is carried out using the compressed gas.  
     
     
         11 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 7  wherein the bolt reciprocation is carried out using a spring.  
     
     
         12 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 7  wherein the bolt reciprocation is carried out using a motor, an electromagnetic field, compressed gas, a spring, or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the firing sequence is an open bolt firing sequence comprising the sequential steps of: 
 (a) the sensor being activated to detect the paintball within the breech, and if such detection occurs, sending the detection signal to the electronic controller to allow the electronic controller to carry out step (b);    (b) the electronic controller moving the bolt from the rearward position to the forward position; and    (c) the electronic controller moving the valve from the closed position to the open position to fire the paintball.    
     
     
         14 . The paintball marker of  claim 13  wherein the sensor is activated by a direct signal from the trigger.  
     
     
         15 . The paintball marker of  claim 13  wherein the sensor is activated by a signal from the controller.  
     
     
         16 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 13  wherein the firing sequence further comprises the step of: 
 (d) the electronic controller moving the bolt to the rearward position.    
     
     
         17 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the firing sequence is a closed bolt firing sequence comprising the sequential steps of: 
 (a) the electronic controller moving the bolt from the forward position to the rearward position;    (b) the sensor detecting the paintball within the breech, and if such detection occurs, sending the detection signal to the electronic controller to allow the electronic controller to carry out step (c);    (c) the electronic controller moving the bolt from the rearward position to the forward position; and    (d) the electronic controller moving the valve from the closed position to the open position to fire the paintball.    
     
     
         18 . The paintball marker of  claim 17  wherein the sensor is activated by a direct signal from the trigger.  
     
     
         19 . The paintball marker of  claim 17  wherein the sensor is activated by a signal from the controller.  
     
     
         20 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor.  
     
     
         21 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the bolt has an aperture therethrough in communication with the valve, the aperture allowing passage of the compressed gas therethrough to fire the paintball.  
     
     
         22 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein when the sensor does not detect a paintball, the sensor sends a paintball absent signal to the electronic controller that in turn sends a signal to move the bolt to the loaded position.  
     
     
         23 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 18  wherein the electronic controller will not send the signal to move the bolt to the firing position unless the sensor senses a ball in the loaded position within the breech.  
     
     
         24 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the electronic controller activates a solenoid that moves the bolt from the firing to the loaded position.  
     
     
         25 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  wherein the bolt comprises the sensor and wherein the sensor is a mechanical sensor.  
     
     
         26 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a fired detection sensor that detects a paintball after the initiation of the firing sequence;    wherein when the paintball is fired, the fired detection sensor detects the fired paintball and sends a fired signal to the electronic controller, and in response to the fired signal, the electronic controller actuates the bolt into the rearward position.    
     
     
         27 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a forward detection sensor that detects a paintball in the firing position;    wherein when the paintball is in the firing position, the forward detection sensor sends a firing signal to the electronic controller, and in response to the firing signal, the electronic controller moves the valve from the closed to the open state.    
     
     
         28 . The electronic paintball marker of  claim 23  wherein the forward detection sensor protrudes into the breech slightly to serve as a detent that holds the paintball in place in the firing position, said holding being overcome when the paintball is fired and the paintball is driven from the breech.  
     
     
         29 . A bolt for use in a paintball marker comprising a sensor for detecting a paintball.  
     
     
         30 . The bolt of  claim 29  wherein the sensor is an optical sensor.  
     
     
         31 . The bolt of  claim 29  wherein the sensor is a mechanical sensor.  
     
     
         32 . An electronic paintball marker comprising: 
 a breech that receives a paintball to be fired;    a shutter gate movable between an open and a closed position, the shutter gate allowing passage of a paintball to the breech in the open position, the shutter gate prohibiting passage of the paintball to the breech in the closed position;    a valve in communication with a source of compressed gas and the breech, the valve having an open and closed state, the valve's open state releasing compressed gas from the source of compressed gas into the breech which fires the paintball, the valve's closed state preventing said firing;    a sensor in communication with an electronic controller positioned to detect a paintball within the breech;    wherein, when the sensor detects the paintball in the loaded position, the sensor sends a signal to the electronic controller that moves the shutter gate into the closed position and the firing sequence can be initiated, the firing sequence comprising moving the valve from the closed to the open state.    
     
     
         33 . An electronic paintball marker comprising: 
 a breech having an opening that receives a paintball to be fired, the paintball having substantially two positions within the breech, a loaded position and a firing position;    a bolt that reciprocates between rearward and forward positions to move the paintball between the corresponding loaded and firing positions;    a valve in communication with a source of compressed gas and the breech, the valve having an open and closed state, the valve's state controlled by an electronic controller, the valve's open state releasing compressed gas from the source of compressed gas into the breech for firing a paintball, the valve's closed state preventing said firing;    a forward detection sensor that detects a paintball in the firing position; and    a trigger that sends a firing signal to the electronic controller, the firing signal initiating a firing sequence comprising the sensor detecting a paintball within the breech, the electronic controller moving the valve from the closed state to the open state, and firing the paintball;    wherein when the paintball is in the firing position, the forward detection sensor sends a firing signal to the electronic controller, and in response to the firing signal, the electronic controller moves the valve from the closed to the open state.