Firearm usage monitoring system

Abstract

A firearm usage monitoring system configured to store data about location, movement, orientation, and direction of a firearm while in use and includes a hard-wired data and power connection, configured to receive data and power from a wired source. A serial communication system is communicatively coupled to the data and power connection and configured to send data to and receive data from the data and power connection. A microprocessor sends data to and receives data from the serial communication system. A motion monitor is communicatively coupled to the microprocessor module further comprising a gyroscope, an accelerometer and a compass configured to communicate data about movement, orientation, and direction of the firearm. Memory is communicatively coupled to the microprocessor and the motion monitor. Data about the location and position of the firearm in 3D space is transmitted from the motion monitor and GPS and then stored in the memory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm including an integrated monitoring system, the integrated monitoring system comprising:
 a data and power connection configured to receive data from a data source and power from a power source;   a microcontroller module configured to transmit and receive the data from the data and power connection;   a motion monitor configured to use the data from the microprocessor module to generate sensor data indicative of a movement, orientation, and direction of the firearm; and   a regulator electrically coupled to the power source, the regulator configured to reduce a voltage from the power source from a first level to a second level, wherein the voltage is supplied at the second level to the microcontroller module and the motion monitor.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the microcontroller module includes a communication circuit configured to communicate the sensor data or information representative of the sensor data to a device external to the firearm. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm of  claim 2 , wherein the device external to the firearm is a body camera worn by a user of the firearm, wherein the body camera is activated based on the sensor data or the information representative of the sensor data indicating a change in position of the firearm. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm of  claim 3 , wherein the motion monitor is integrated into the firearm, wherein the change in the position of the firearm is detected by the motion monitor based on a motion of the firearm. 
     
     
         5 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a wireless charging system. 
     
     
         6 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the motion monitor is a nine-axis motion monitor, wherein the nine-axis motion monitor uses at least one of a tri-axis gyroscope, a tri-axis accelerometer, or a tri-axis compass to generate the sensor data. 
     
     
         7 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated monitoring system further comprises:
 a serial communication system that communicates one or both of the data or the power between the data and power connection and the microcontroller module.   
     
     
         8 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated monitoring system further comprises:
 a force sensor configured to use electrical resistance to measure a force applied to a grip of the firearm, the force sensor further configured to generate a signal indicative of the measured force, wherein a device external to the firearm is activated based on the signal.   
     
     
         9 . The firearm of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated monitoring system further comprises:
 a global positioning system module coupled to the microcontroller module, the global positioning system module configured to determine a location of the firearm in three-dimensional space.   
     
     
         10 . A firearm including an integrated monitoring system, the integrated monitoring system comprising:
 a serial communication system configured for wired or wireless data communication;   a microcontroller module coupled to the serial communication system, the microcontroller module including a microprocessor and a communication circuit, the microprocessor configured to transmit data to and receive data from the serial communication system; and   a motion monitor coupled to the microcontroller module, the motion monitor including one or more sensors configured to generate sensor data indicative of a movement, orientation, and direction of the firearm,   wherein, responsive to the generation of the sensor data, the communication circuit communicates an indication of the sensor data to a device external to the firearm, wherein the indication of the sensor data is configured to cause the device external to the firearm to activate.   
     
     
         11 . The firearm of  claim 10 , wherein each of the serial communication system, the microcontroller module, and the motion monitor is integrated into a grip of the firearm. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm of  claim 10 , wherein the motion monitor is a nine-axis motion monitor, wherein the one or more sensors include a tri-axis gyroscope, a tri-axis accelerometer, and a tri-axis compass. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm of  claim 10 , wherein the integrated monitoring system further comprises:
 a data and power connection configured to receive data from a data source and power from a power source, wherein the serial communication system is coupled to the data and power connection.   
     
     
         14 . The firearm of  claim 13 , wherein the power source is a wireless charging system. 
     
     
         15 . The firearm of  claim 10 , wherein the device external to the firearm is a body camera worn by a user of the firearm, wherein the body camera starts recording video upon activation. 
     
     
         16 . The firearm of  claim 10 , wherein the integrated monitoring system further comprises:
 a global positioning system module electrically coupled to the microcontroller module, the global positioning system module configured to determine a location of the firearm in three-dimensional space.   
     
     
         17 . A firearm including an integrated monitoring system, the integrated monitoring system comprising:
 a data and power connection configured to receive data from a data source and power from a power source;   a microcontroller module configured to transmit and receive the data from the data and power connection;   a global positioning system module coupled to the microcontroller module, the global positioning system module configured to determine a location of the firearm in three-dimensional space;   a motion monitor configured to use the data from the microprocessor module to generate sensor data indicative of a movement, orientation, and direction of the firearm; and   a communication circuit configured to communicate one or both of the sensor data or the location of the firearm in the three-dimensional space to a device external to the firearm.   
     
     
         18 . The firearm of  claim 17 , wherein the motion monitor is a nine-axis motion monitor, wherein the nine-axis motion monitor uses at least one of a tri-axis gyroscope, a tri-axis accelerometer, or a tri-axis compass to generate the sensor data. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 17 , wherein the integrated monitoring system further comprises:
 a sensor configured to detect a discharge of the firearm, wherein, responsive to the detection of the discharge using the sensor, the communication circuit communicates data indicative of the discharge to the device external to the firearm.   
     
     
         20 . The firearm of  claim 17 , wherein the integrated monitoring system further comprises:
 a force sensor configured to use electrical resistance to measure a force applied to a grip of the firearm, the force sensor further configured to generate a signal indicative of the measured force, wherein a device external to the firearm is activated based on the signal.