Tactical rails, tactical rail systems, and firearm assemblies having tactical rails

Abstract

A tactical rail for a firearm includes a rail body having a receiver end and a muzzle end, a non-contact optical connection, and a high speed data spoke. The non-contact optical connection is arranged at an end of the rail body and is configured to interface with a corresponding non-contact optical interface. The high speed data spoke is connected to the non-contact optical connection for high speed data communication through the non-contact optical connection and the corresponding non-contact optical interface. Tactical rail arrangements and firearm with tactical rails and tactical rail arrangements are also described.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A tactical rail for a firearm, comprising:
 a rail body having a receiver end and a muzzle end;   a non-contact optical connection configured to interface with a non-contact optical interface;   a high speed data spoke coupled to the non-contact optical connection, the high speed data spoke configured for high speed data communication with a high speed data accessory via the non-contact optical connection and the non-contact optical interface; and   an optical switch configured to direct optical signal to the high speed data spoke.   
     
     
         3 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the non-contact optical connection is disposed nearer the receiver end than the muzzle end of the rail body. 
     
     
         4 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the high speed data spoke comprises a crossover spoke configured to couple to a non-contact optical connection of a second tactical rail. 
     
     
         5 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the non-contact optical connection is disposed nearer the muzzle end than the receiver end of the rail body. 
     
     
         6 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a crossover data spoke configured to be coupled to a second non-contact optical connection of the tactical rail, the crossover data spoke configured to couple to a non-contact optical connection of another tactical rail. 
     
     
         7 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising a power bus rail segment disposed between the receiver end and the muzzle end of the rail body. 
     
     
         8 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the power bus comprises a contact electrical connection co-located with the non-contact optical connection. 
     
     
         9 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the power bus includes a rail segment disposed between the muzzle end of the rail body and the receiver end of the rail body. 
     
     
         10 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the power bus includes a crossover bus segment configured to electrically couple the power bus rail segment to another tactical rail. 
     
     
         11 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising the high speed data accessory coupled to the tactical rail and in optical communication with the non-contact optical connection. 
     
     
         12 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the high speed data accessory is removably coupled to the tactical rail. 
     
     
         13 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the second high speed data accessory is optically coupled to another tactical rail through the non-contact optical connection. 
     
     
         14 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the high speed data spoke includes an optical waveguide. 
     
     
         15 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising an accessory detector co-located with the non-contact optical connection. 
     
     
         16 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the accessory detector includes at least one of a hall-effect sensor, a pressure sensor, or a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         17 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the accessory detector, when in a no-accessory-detected state, is configured to prevent optical communication through non-contact optical connection, and wherein the accessory detector, when in an accessory-detected state, is configured to trigger optical communication in the accessory-detected state. 
     
     
         18 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the rail body is configured to be coupled to a firearm as at least one of an upper tactical rail, a right-hand tactical rail, or a left-hand tactical rail. 
     
     
         19 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the rail body comprises a plurality of ribs axially spaced along the rail body between the receiver end of the tactical rail and the muzzle end of the rail body. 
     
     
         20 . The tactical rail as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising an optical-electrical signal converter coupled to the non-contact optical connection, wherein the high speed data spoke is in electrical communication with the optical-electrical signal converter.