Wireless control of firearm accessory using ultrasonic communication

Abstract

Methods, apparatus, and systems provide wireless remote control of firearm accessories using ultrasonic communication through air. In some variations a transmitter and a receiver used in these methods, apparatus, and systems need not be in line-of-sight, so the location of the accessory on the firearm may be selected independently of the location of remote controls for the accessory. The firearm accessories may be or include, for example, laser pointers and illuminators.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wireless control system for a firearm accessory, the control system comprising:
 a transmitter module comprising an ultrasonic transmitter configured to transmit one or more ultrasonic signals representing one or more commands for controlling the firearm accessory; and   a receiver module comprising an ultrasonic receiver configured to receive the one or more signals transmitted by the ultrasonic transmitter, the receiver module controlling operation of the firearm accessory according to the commands represented by the ultrasonic signals.   
     
     
         2 . The wireless control system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter module comprises at least one mechanically activated control that may be activated by an operator of the firearm to initiate transmission by the ultrasonic transmitter of the one or more ultrasonic signals. 
     
     
         3 . The wireless control system of  claim 1 , wherein the transmitter module is at least partially housed in a housing configured to be attached to the firearm. 
     
     
         4 . The wireless control system of  claim 3 , wherein the housing is configured to be attached to the firearm at a stock or grip end of the firearm. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless control system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver module is at least partially housed in a housing configured to be attached to the firearm. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless control system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver module comprises a field programmable gate array configured to decode the commands from the ultrasonic signals. 
     
     
         7 . The wireless control system of  claim 1 , wherein the commands are encoded as ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed code. 
     
     
         8 . The wireless control system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasonic transmitter module and the ultrasonic receiver module are mounted on the firearm and not in line of sight with respect to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The wireless control system of  claim 1 , wherein the firearm accessory comprises one or more laser pointers, one or more illuminators, or one or more laser pointers and one or more illuminators. 
     
     
         10 . The wireless control system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transmitter module is at least partially housed in a housing configured to be attached to the firearm;   the receiver module is at least partially housed in another housing configured to be attached to the firearm; and   the transmitter module comprises at least one mechanically activated control that may be activated by an operator of the firearm to initiate transmission by the ultrasonic transmitter of the one or more ultrasonic signals.   
     
     
         11 . The wireless control system of  claim 10 , wherein the ultrasonic transmitter module and the ultrasonic receiver module are mounted on the firearm and not in line of sight with respect to each other. 
     
     
         12 . A method for wireless control of a firearm accessory, the method comprising:
 transmitting from a transmitter module one or more ultrasonic signals representing one or more commands for controlling the firearm accessory;   receiving the one or more ultrasonic signals with a receiver module;   decoding the one or more ultrasonic signals received by the receiver module to identify the commands they represent; and   controlling the firearm accessory according to the decoded commands.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising activating a control to initiate transmission by the ultrasonic transmitter of the one or more ultrasonic signals. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , comprising decoding the ultrasonic signals received by the receiver module with a field programmable gate array configured to do so. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the commands are encoded as ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed code. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the firearm accessory, the transmitter module, and the receiver module are all mounted on the firearm. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the firearm accessory comprises one or more laser pointers, one or more illuminators, or one or more laser pointers and one or more illuminators. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the commands are encoded as ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed code, comprising decoding the ultrasonic signals received by the receiver module with a field programmable gate array configured to do so. 
     
     
         19 . A method of making a wireless control system for a firearm accessory, the method comprising:
 encoding for transmission as one or more ultrasonic signals one or more commands for controlling operation of the firearm accessory;   configuring a transmitter module to transmit the one or more ultrasonic signals in response to activation of one or more mechanical switches; and   configuring a receiver module to receive the one or more ultrasonic signals and control operation of the firearm accessory according to the commands encoded in the ultrasonic signals.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising encoding the commands as ultrasonic signals using a hopped frequency shift keyed code. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the receiver module comprises a field programmable gate array, comprising configuring the field programmable gate array to decode the ultrasonic signals to identify the commands they represent. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising arranging at least a portion of the transmitter module in a housing configured to be mounted to a firearm. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising arranging at least a portion of the receiver module in a housing configured to be mounted to a firearm. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , comprising:
 arranging at least a portion of the transmitter module in a housing configured to be mounted to a firearm; and   arranging at least a portion of the receiver module in a housing configured to be mounted to a firearm.