Electromechanical trigger and methods of operating a gun using the same

Abstract

The present disclosure provides systems and techniques for an electromechanical trigger that is implementable in a gun. The gun may include a trigger mechanism, a trigger sensing mechanism, and a fire control manager. The fire control manager may identify a trigger break based on the trigger sensing mechanism generating a voltage, and the fire control manager may transmit a signal to an actuator mechanism based on the trigger break. A detent mechanism may be dislocated in response to a force applied to a trigger mechanism, and the trigger sensing mechanism may generate the voltage based on the dislocating of the detent mechanism. Dislocating the detent mechanism may correspond to satisfying a trigger break threshold. The actuator mechanism may be displaced in response to the signal, and displacing the actuator mechanism may result in a projectile being propelled from the gun.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gun comprising:
 a trigger including a trigger body that is mechanically coupled with a trigger bar;   a spring detent located within a displacement path of the trigger, wherein the spring detent is configured to bias the trigger in an inactive position; and   a trigger sensor that is configured to generate a voltage in response to the trigger being displaced into an active position, wherein the active position is defined by a portion of the trigger being located past the spring detent.   
     
     
         2 . The gun of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrical circuit configured to transmit a signal to an actuator in response to the voltage, wherein the signal causes displacement of the actuator.   
     
     
         3 . The gun of  claim 2 , wherein the displacement of the actuator results in a firing pin striking a cartridge primer cap. 
     
     
         4 . The gun of  claim 2 , wherein the displacement of the actuator results in disengagement of a safety mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The gun of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a magnet coupled with the trigger body or the trigger bar;   wherein the trigger sensor includes a Hall effect sensor that is configured to generate the voltage based on the magnet being positioned within a threshold distance of the Hall effect sensor.   
     
     
         6 . The gun of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger sensor includes an optical sensor configured to generate the voltage based on the trigger obstructing a beam of electromagnetic radiation generated by the optical sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The gun of  claim 1 , wherein the trigger sensor includes a load cell configured to generate the voltage based on the trigger applying a threshold amount of force onto the load cell. 
     
     
         8 . A gun comprising:
 a trigger that is manipulable by a user along a displacement path;   a detent that is located in the displacement path of the trigger and mechanically or magnetically biases the trigger in an inactive position; and   a sensor that is configured to output a voltage in response to a determination that movement of either the trigger or a structure mechanically coupled thereto exceeds a predetermined amount, the predetermined amount being measurable with respect to the inactive position of the trigger maintained by the detent.   
     
     
         9 . The gun of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a fire control manager that is configured to generate a signal in response to the voltage being output; and   an actuation mechanism that is configured to, upon receiving the signal from the fire control manager, move so as to permit a projectile to be propelled from the gun.   
     
     
         10 . The gun of  claim 9 , wherein the fire control manager is implemented entirely with circuitry. 
     
     
         11 . The gun of  claim 9 , wherein the fire control manager is implemented entirely with executable instructions. 
     
     
         12 . The gun of  claim 9 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises:
 a solenoid that is configured to generate magnetic flux based on the signal, and   a ferromagnetic plunger that is at least partially enveloped by the solenoid and configured to move based on the magnetic flux.   
     
     
         13 . The gun of  claim 9 , wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a piezoelectric element that is configured to cause a portion of the actuation mechanism to move based on the signal. 
     
     
         14 . The gun of  claim 8 , wherein the detent comprises a coil spring. 
     
     
         15 . The gun of  claim 8 , wherein the detent comprises a leaf spring.