Multi-point activation trigger system and method

Abstract

A trigger assembly for a paintball gun preferably includes a trigger arranged to move between a forward and a rearward position. A position transducer is preferably arranged in communication with the trigger to detect an amount of movement of the trigger. The position transducer preferably generates a signal corresponding to the amount of movement of the trigger. A control circuit preferably receives the signal from the position transducer and initiates a firing operation of a firing device when the output signal characteristics satisfy certain predetermined parameters. In one embodiment, the control circuit initiates a firing operation when a change in the output signal is greater than a predetermined threshold value. A change in the output signal can be determined by comparing a present output signal value with a reference signal value. The reference signal value can be set when the trigger is at rest or when the trigger transitions from a forward movement to a rearward movement. In another embodiment, the control circuit can be configured to adjust a firing rate of the firing device based on the amount of trigger pull.

1 . A trigger assembly for a firing device, said trigger assembly comprising:
 a trigger;   a position transducer arranged in mechanical communication with the trigger to detect an amount of trigger pull and generate an output signal that is proportional to the amount of the trigger pull; and   a control circuit arranged in electrical communication with the position transducer to receive the output signal from the position transducer and configured to initiate a fring operation of the firing device based on a change in the output signal from the position transducer.   
     
     
         2 . A trigger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the position transducer comprises a potentiometer. 
     
     
         3 . A trigger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is programmed to initiate a firing operation of the firing device when a change in the output signal from the position transducer is greater than a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         4 . A trigger assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the change in output signal is determined by comparing a current output signal value with a reference signal value. 
     
     
         5 . A trigger assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the reference signal value is set equal to an output signal value approximately when the trigger transitions between a forward movement to a rearward movement. 
     
     
         6 . A trigger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the control circuit is configured to initiate a firing operation during operation of the firing device each time that the trigger transitions from a static position to a predetermined amount of rearward movement and from a forward movement to the predetermined amount of rearward movement. 
     
     
         7 . A trigger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the position transducer is arranged on a control board containing the control circuit, and wherein a mechanical contact is arranged in communication between the position transducer and the trigger. 
     
     
         8 . A trigger assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the position transducer is a potentiometer having an armature arranged in mechanical communication with the trigger. 
     
     
         9 . A trigger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the position transducer is arranged in mechanical communication with the trigger at a pivot point of the trigger to detect an amount of rotation of the trigger about the pivot point of the trigger. 
     
     
         10 . A trigger assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the control board is configured to operate the firing device in a fully automatic mode and wherein a firing rate of the firing device is determined based on an amount of the trigger pull. 
     
     
         11 . A paintball gun having an improved trigger assembly, said paintball gun comprising:
 a grip frame comprising a trigger arranged in the grip frame and configured to move between a forward position and a rearward position;   a position transducer arranged in communication with the trigger to detect an amount of movement of the trigger and configured to generate an output signal that is proportionate to the amount of movement of the trigger; and   a control circuit configured to receive the output signal from the position transducer and initiate a firing operation of the paintball gun based on a change in predetermined parameters of the output signal from the position transducer.   
     
     
         12 . A paintball gun according to  claim 11 , wherein the position transducer comprises a potentiometer arranged in mechanical communication with the trigger. 
     
     
         13 . A paintball gun according to  claim 11 , wherein the control circuit is configured to initiate the firing operation when the change in the output signal is above a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         14 . A paintball gun according to  claim 13 , wherein the change in the output signal is determined by comparing a current output signal value with a predetermined reference signal value. 
     
     
         15 . A paintball gun according to  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined reference signal value is equal to an output signal value when the trigger is at rest or an output signal value approximately when the trigger transitions from a forward movement to a rearward movement. 
     
     
         16 . A method of initiating a firing sequence in a firing device, said method comprising:
 detecting an amount of trigger pull of a trigger in the firing device;   generating a signal that is proportionate to the amount of trigger pull; and   initiating a firing sequence in the firing device in response to the signal.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 16 , wherein initiating a firing sequence in response to the signal comprises determining whether a change in the signal is greater than a threshold value and initiating the firing sequence when the change is greater than the threshold value. 
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , wherein the change in the signal is determined by comparing a current signal value with a reference signal value. 
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein the reference signal value is equal to a signal value when the trigger is at rest or when the trigger transitions from a forward movement to a rearward movement. 
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 16 , further comprising detecting an amount of trigger release and resetting the reference signal value only when the amount of trigger release exceeds a release threshold value.