Airgun with Predetermined Selectable Impact Energy

Abstract

An airgun is configured to launch a variety of less lethal projectiles such that they are delivered on target with a predetermined amount of impact energy, regardless of range and projectile type. The airgun includes a range finder, an adjustable air mass system, a trigger system, and a controller. The range finder determines a distance to target, and the controller uses the distance to target to determine an energy level for the adjustable air mas system. The adjustable air mass system provides an air mass corresponding to the energy level to the projectile when prompted by the trigger system. The projectile is launched by the airgun with the provided air mass to deliver the projectile on target with a predetermined amount of energy.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An airgun, comprising:
 a range finder configured to determine a distance to a target when actuated;   a range button configured to receive input form a user and actuate the range finder when receiving the input from the user, wherein the range button is located on a foregrip of the airgun or a rear grip of the airgun;   an adjustable air mass system configured to provide an adjustable amount of pressurized air as a function of an energy level;   a trigger system configured to release the adjustable amount of pressurized air from the adjustable airmass system in response to receiving input from the user such that a projectile is launched from the airgun in response to the input from the user;   a magazine configured to provide the projectile, said magazine extending down from a receiver of the airgun when the airgun is assembled and in an upright position; and   a controller comprising a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value, wherein the controller is configured to:
 receive the distance to the target from the range finder; 
 determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media and the distance to the target such that when the projectile is launched by the airgun, the projectile reaches the target with a predetermined amount of impact energy; and 
 provide the determined energy level to the adjustable air mass system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ballistics value is a variable of a predetermined lookup table comprising energy levels corresponding to the received distance to target and a type of the projectile.   
     
     
         3 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ballistics value is a constant associated with the airgun or a type of the projectile; and   the controller calculates the energy level as a function of the ballistics value and the received distance to target.   
     
     
         4 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the predetermined amount of impact energy is constant regardless of range to target within an effective range of the airgun.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the range finder is configured to determine the distance to the target when actuated;   the airgun further comprises a range button configured to receive input from a user and actuate the range finder when receiving the input from the user; and   the range finder emits a visible laser when actuated.   
     
     
         10 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;   the controller is further configured to determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media, and the distance to the target; and   the controller is further configured to provide the determined elevation level to the adjustable sight target such that the adjustable sight compensates for varying energy levels to deliver the projectile launched by the airgun onto the target.   
     
     
         11 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;   the controller is further configured to determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media, the distance to the target, and a projectile type of the projectile; and   the controller is further configured to provide the determined elevation level to the adjustable sight target such that the adjustable sight compensates for varying energy levels and projectile types to deliver the projectile launched by the airgun onto the target.   
     
     
         12 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;   the controller is further configured to determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value in the computer readable storage media, and the distance to the target;   the controller is further configured to provide the determined elevation level to the adjustable sight target such that the adjustable sight compensates for varying energy levels to deliver the projectile launched by the airgun onto the target; and   the adjustable sight is used by the user to aim the airgun at the target.   
     
     
         13 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating a projectile type of a plurality of projectile types;   the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to each projectile type of the plurality of projectile types;   the controller is further configured to:
 receive the indicated projectile type via the user interface; and 
 determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target. 
   
     
     
         14 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;   the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating a projectile type of a plurality of projectile types;   the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to each projectile type of the plurality of projectile types;   the controller is further configured to:
 receive the indicated projectile type via the user interface; 
 determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target; and 
 determine the elevation level as a function of the received projectile type, the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target. 
   
     
     
         15 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;   the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating a projectile type of a plurality of projectile types;   the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to each projectile type of the plurality of projectile types;   the controller is further configured to:
 receive the indicated projectile type via the user interface; 
 determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target; and 
 determine the elevation level as a function of the received projectile type, the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target; 
   the user interface comprises one or more switches having a plurality of positions, each position of the plurality of positions corresponding to a projectile type.   
     
     
         16 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airgun further comprises an adjustable sight configured to adjust an elevation of the sight as a function of an elevation level;   the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating the predetermined amount of impact energy, wherein the indicated predetermined amount of impact energy is one of a plurality of predetermined amount of impact energies;   the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to the amount of impact energy indicated via the user interface;   the controller is further configured to:
 receive the indicated predetermined amount of impact energy via the user interface; 
 determine the energy level as a function of the received predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target; 
 determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target; 
 determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target; and 
 determine the elevation level as a function of the predetermined amount of impact energy, the ballistics value corresponding to the received projectile type, and the distance to the target. 
   
     
     
         17 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the airgun further comprises a user interface configured to receive input from a user indicating the predetermined amount of impact energy, wherein the indicated predetermined amount of impact energy is one of a plurality of predetermined amount of impact energies;   the controller comprises a computer readable storage media storing a ballistics value corresponding to the amount of impact energy indicated via the user interface;   the controller is further configured to:
 receive the indicated predetermined amount of impact energy via the user interface; 
 determine the energy level as a function of the received predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target; 
 determine the energy level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target; 
 determine the elevation level as a function of the ballistics value corresponding to the predetermined amount of impact energy and the distance to the target. 
   
     
     
         18 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustable air mass system comprises at least one of:
 an adjustable air pressure regulator; or 
 an adjustable shot cylinder volume. 
   
     
     
         19 . The airgun of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the adjustable air mass system comprises an adjustable air pressure regulator; and   the airgun adjusts a regulated shot pressure as a function of the determined energy level.   
     
     
         20 . The airgun of  claim 1 , said airgun further comprising:
 a battery configured to provide power to the controller and the adjustable air mass system;   a user interface comprising a selector switch configured to switch between a regulated and an unregulated shot mode;   a precharged pneumatic cylinder configured to provide pressurized air to the adjustable air mass system;   a barrel configured to receive the projectile and pressurized air from the adjustable air mass system and direct the projectile toward the target; and   a receiver configured to support the magazine, trigger system, and barrel.