Smart magazine for a weapon simulator and method of use

Abstract

A weapon simulator assembly for use by an operator in weapon simulation training includes a simulated weapon and a simulated magazine detachably connected to the simulated weapon at a magazine receiver. A weapon processor is housed in the simulated weapon to monitor the number of rounds of simulated ammunition fired in relation to the simulated magazine. When the simulated magazine, which is identifiable by the weapon processor, is connected to the simulated weapon, the weapon processor will recognize the magazine by connecting with a magazine circuit having updated operating information or by identifying the magazine according to a magnetic signature member. The weapon processor will thereby monitor the number of rounds of simulated ammunition fired by a particular magazine, and disable use of the specific magazine once the simulated magazine has used the predetermined number of simulated rounds of ammunition.

1 . A weapon simulator assembly for use by an operator in weapon simulation training, said weapon simulator assembly comprising:
 a simulated weapon having a magazine receiver;   a weapon processor housed in said simulated weapon; and   a simulated magazine detachably connected to said magazine receiver of said simulated weapon, said magazine comprising means for identifying said magazine to said weapon processor;   said weapon processor connected with said identification means to monitor the use of a predetermined number of simulated rounds of ammunition by a user of the simulated weapon.   
     
     
         2 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 1  further comprising:
 an electrical interface connecting said weapon processor with said identification means.   
     
     
         3 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 2  further comprising:
 a magazine circuit housed in said simulated magazine, said magazine circuit connected to said electrical interface for electrical communication with said weapon processor.   
     
     
         4 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 3 , said magazine circuit storing information corresponding to the simulated ammunition available for use during the simulation, said information transmitted to said weapon processor via said electrical interface. 
     
     
         5 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 1  further comprising:
 a series of sensors connected to said weapon processor, said sensors mounted in said magazine receiver; and   means for distinguishing said simulated magazine by said weapon processor housed in said simulated magazine, said sensors in said weapon processor recognizing said distinguishing means in said simulated magazine attached to said magazine receiver.   
     
     
         6 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 5 , wherein said distinguishing means comprises an arrangement of magnets in said simulated magazine. 
     
     
         7 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 6 , wherein said arrangement of magnets comprises at least one magnet in a position complimentary to one of said sensors. 
     
     
         8 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 6 , wherein said arrangement of magnets comprises at least one void in a position complimentary to one of said sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 1 , further comprising a liquid crystal display connected to said magazine circuit, said magazine circuit directing output onto said liquid crystal display. 
     
     
         10 . A weapon simulator assembly for monitoring the number of simulated rounds of ammunition fired during simulation training, said weapon simulator assembly comprising:
 a simulated weapon housing a weapon processor, said simulated weapon having a receiver and a receiver slot;   a first electrical contact connected to said weapon processor in said receiver;   a simulated magazine detachably connected to said receiver in said receiver slot, said simulated magazine comprising a second electrical contact; and   a magazine processor for monitoring operation of simulated ammunition fired using said simulated magazine, said magazine processor housed in said simulated magazine and in electrical communication with said weapon processor via said first electrical contact and said second electrical contact.   
     
     
         11 . The weapon simulator assembly of  claim 10  further comprising a liquid crystal display connected to said magazine circuit, said magazine circuit directing output onto said liquid crystal display. 
     
     
         13 . A weapon simulator assembly for use in monitoring simulated ammunition used simulation training comprising:
 a simulated weapon housing a weapon processor, said simulated weapon having a receiver and a receiver slot; and
 at least one sensor housed in said simulated weapon proximate said receiver slot, said sensor in electrical communication with said weapon processor; 
   a simulated magazine detachably connected to said receiver in said receiver slot, said simulated magazine comprising a magnetic signature member affixed to said simulated magazine, said magnetic signature member positioned proximate said at least one sensor when said simulated magazine is connected with said receiver, said sensor transmitting a corresponding signal to said weapon processor to identify said simulated magazine, said weapon processor monitoring the use of simulated ammunition associated said identified simulated magazine.   
     
     
         14 . The weapon simulator assembly as defined in  claim 13  wherein said magnetic signature member comprises a magnet to identify said simulated magazine. 
     
     
         15 . The weapon simulator assembly as defined in  claim 13  wherein said magnetic signature member comprises a void to identify said simulated magazine. 
     
     
         16 . A method for monitoring the number of simulated rounds of ammunition used in a simulated magazine used with a simulated weapon, said method comprising the steps of:
 a. providing a weapon processor housed in said simulated weapon, said weapon processor being preset a preset number of rounds of ammunition associated with a simulated magazine;   b. connecting the simulated magazine with the simulated weapon;   c. transmitting a signal from a magazine circuit to said weapon processor identifying the simulated magazine and rounds of ammunition available; and   d. transmitting a signal from said weapon processor when the simulated weapon is fired to reduce the rounds of ammunition available in said simulated magazine.