High-throughput data communication for rail-mounted devices

Abstract

An electronic system for a firearm includes a power source, one or more electrical conductors electrically connected to receive power from the power source, and a plurality of electronic devices. Each electronic device has an electrical input configured to receive power from the one or more electrical conductors to power the electronic device. A communication device is configured for data communication across the one or more electrical conductors. In some embodiments data can be communicated at rates greater than 10 Mbps. Some embodiments utilize multi-frequency encoding, such as orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing. Some embodiments include a data communication device with a lower data communication rate and another data communication device with a higher data communication rate, and can selectively communicate through either data communication device. A method of communicating between electronic devices connected to a firearm includes powering a plurality of electronic devices connected to a firearm from a power source through one or more electrical conductors, and communicating data between the plurality of electronic devices across the one or more electrical conductors.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . An electronic system for a firearm, the electronic system comprising:
 a rail including a first electrical conductor, the first electrical conductor being configured to receive power from a power source; and   a plurality of electronic devices mountable on the rail, each electronic device being connected to the first electrical conductor, the plurality of electronic devices having:
 an electrical input configured to receive power from the first electrical conductor; and 
 a communication device configured for data communication across the first electrical conductor, wherein the communication device utilizes time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication for the data communication across the first electrical conductor of the rail. 
   
     
     
         17 . The electronic system of  claim 16 , wherein the communication device is configured for data communication at rates greater than 10 megabit per second. 
     
     
         18 . The electronic system of  claim 16 , wherein the communication device uses a collision detection TDMA protocol to govern multiple access across the first electrical conductor. 
     
     
         19 . The electronic system of  claim 16 , wherein the communication device uses a collision avoidance TDMA protocol to govern multiple access across the first electrical conductor. 
     
     
         20 . The electronic system of  claim 16 , wherein the communication device uses a bus master TDMA protocol to govern multiple access across the first electrical conductor. 
     
     
         21 . The electronic system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of the plurality of electronic devices comprises a PHY-to-MAC bus in data communication with the communication device. 
     
     
         22 . The electronic system of  claim 21 , wherein the PHY-to-MAC bus is a media-independent interface bus in data communication with the communication device. 
     
     
         23 . The electronic system of  claim 16 , wherein the communication device comprises at least two communication devices, including a lower data rate communication device and a higher data rate communication device. 
     
     
         24 . A firearm comprising the electronic system of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         25 . A rail-mountable accessory configured to be mounted to a rail, the rail including a first conductor configured to receive power from a power source, the rail-mountable accessory comprising:
 a power consuming component configured to receive and be powered by power on the first conductor; and   a communication device configured for data communication across the first electrical conductor, wherein the communication device is configured to communicate time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication for the data communication across the first electrical conductor of the rail.   
     
     
         26 . The rail-mountable accessory of claim  10 , wherein the communication device is configured for data communication at rates greater than 10 megabit per second. 
     
     
         27 . The rail-mountable accessory of claim  10 , wherein the communication device uses a collision detection TDMA protocol to govern multiple access across the first electrical conductor. 
     
     
         28 . The rail-mountable accessory of claim  10 , wherein the communication device uses a collision avoidance TDMA protocol to govern multiple access across the first electrical conductor. 
     
     
         29 . The rail-mountable accessory of claim  10 , wherein the communication device uses a bus master TDMA protocol to govern multiple access across the first electrical conductor. 
     
     
         30 . An intelligent rail system for a firearm, the intelligent rail system comprising:
 a power source;   a first electrical conductor electrically connected to receive power from the power source, at least part of the first electrical conductor being arranged on a rail; and   a plurality of electronic devices mountable on the rail, each electronic device being connected to the first electrical conductor, the plurality of electronic devices having:
 an electrical input configured to receive power from the first electrical conductor to power the electronic device; and 
 a communication device configured for data communication across the first electrical conductor using time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication for the data communication across the first electrical conductor of the rail. 
   
     
     
         31 . The intelligent rail system of  claim 30 , wherein the communication device is configured for data communication at rates greater than 10 megabit per second. 
     
     
         32 . The intelligent rail system of  claim 30 , wherein the communication device uses one of collision detection, collision avoidance, and a bus master TDMA protocol to govern multiple access across the first electrical conductor. 
     
     
         33 . A method of communicating between electronic devices connected to a firearm, the method comprising:
 powering a plurality of electronic devices connected to the firearm from a single power source through a first electrical conductor; and   communicating data between the plurality of electronic devices across the first electrical conductor using time-division multiple access (TDMA) communication for the data communication across the first electrical conductor.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the communicating data is achieved at rates greater than 10 megabit per second. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the data communication uses one of collision detection, collision avoidance, and a bus master TDMA protocol to govern multiple access across the first electrical conductor.