Patents Assigned to Taser International, Inc.
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Patent number: 7457096Abstract: A driver provides a current through a load circuit that includes an ionizable path. The driver includes an energy sourcing circuit, an ionization detector, a controller, and a pulse generator. The controller determines, in response to the detector and by trial and error, a respective quantity of energy for each pulse of a plurality of pulses to be generated. For each pulse of the plurality, the pulse generator receives the respective quantity of energy from the energy sourcing circuit, provides in response to the quantity of energy a respective voltage to ionize the ionization path, and provides the current through the load circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2006Date of Patent: November 25, 2008Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventor: Steven N. D. Brundula
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Patent number: 7409912Abstract: An apparatus for use in place of a round of percussion primed ammunition in a weapon includes a power supply and a switch. The switch is responsive to the mechanism in the weapon that fires the ammunition. Operation of the switch may enable the power supply to supply power to a replaceable cartridge. The cartridge may propel probes for delivering an incapacitating electrical charge from the power supply to the target. Another cartridge may include contacts to be applied without propellant to the target to stun the target. The apparatus may be inserted in the barrel of a weapon, for example, into the muzzle of a grenade launcher.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2004Date of Patent: August 12, 2008Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventors: Milan Cerovic, David K. DuBay
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Patent number: 7363742Abstract: An electronic control device includes an audio and/or video recorder, for example, packaged as a user-replaceable battery module. The audio and/or video recorder records audio and/or video information for a period beginning prior to receiving of a signal by the module. The signal may be a trigger signal, provided by the electronic control device. Use of the weapon module is documented by recorded audio and/or video information for the period, for example, extending a while before and after operation of the trigger.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2005Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventor: Magne H. Nerheim
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Patent number: 7336472Abstract: An electric discharge weapon includes a high voltage circuit, a control circuit, and a light source. The high voltage circuit includes a spark gap having a breakdown voltage affected by light. A magnitude of an electric discharge of the weapon is related to the breakdown voltage of the spark gap. Under control of the control circuit, the light source emits light to illuminate the spark gap prior to conduction so that the magnitude of the electric discharge is within a desired range.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Assignee: Taser International, Inc.Inventors: Magne H. Nerheim, Ryan C. Markle, Matthew T. Carver, Nache Shekarri
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Patent number: 7327549Abstract: An apparatus for impact with a target includes electrodes deployed after contact is made between the apparatus and the target. Spacing of deployed electrodes may be more accurate and/or more repeatable for more effective delivery of an immobilizing stimulus signal.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2006Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventors: Patrick W. Smith, Magne H. Nerheim
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Publication number: 20070297116Abstract: An electronic weapon impedes locomotion by a target by conducting a current through an electrode and through the target to produce contractions in skeletal muscles of the target that impede locomotion by the target. The weapon may include a deployment unit to deploy one or more electrodes in trajectories away from the apparatus toward the target. The deployment unit may include covered tubes for the electrodes. Removing the cover may be accomplished with a ram urged against the interior of the cover by an electrode so that the electrode does not touch the cover. The cover may include frangible material with grooves for repeatable material separation. The cover may include fasteners that simplify assembly of the cover onto the body of the deployment unit. The fasteners may include hooks with grooves that disjoin from the cover enabling a more repeatable removal of the cover. Electrode trajectories are more accurate as a result of operation of the rams and the structures of the frangible cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 1, 2006Publication date: December 27, 2007Applicant: TASER International, Inc.Inventors: Milan Cerovic, Magne Nerheim, Dubravoko Zekanovic, William Bachand
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Patent number: 7305787Abstract: A system and method provide immediate monitoring of a physiological function, such as ECG, of a subject before, during, or after application of an electric shock intended to temporarily incapacitate the subject. The electric shock may be delivered via at least one electrode ballistically implanted into the subject's skin. Systems and methods may further include performing time domain and/or frequency domain analysis of the results of monitoring, recording results of monitoring and/or analysis, and preventing follow-on shocks, or altering energy characterizing parameters of follow-on electric shocks so as to lessen the risk of injury to the subject, such as cardiac malfunction.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2004Date of Patent: December 11, 2007Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventor: Robert A. Stratbucker
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Patent number: 7280340Abstract: Systems and methods for immobilizing a target such as a human or animal with a stimulus signal coupled to the target via electrodes provide the stimulus signal in accordance with a strike stage, a hold stage, and a rest stage. Systems include a launch device and separate projectile, where the projectile includes a battery, a waveform generator, and electrodes. The strike stage and hold stage may include pulses at a pulse repetition rate, for example, from 10 to 20 pulses per second, each pulse delivering a predetermined amount of charge, for example, about 100 microcoulombs at less than about 500 volts peak. The hold stage may continue immobilization at a lesser expenditure of energy compared to the strike stage. Because the strike stage and hold stage may immobilize by interfering with skeletal muscle control by the target's nervous system, a rest stage may allow the target to take a breath.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2003Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventors: Patrick W. Smith, Magne H. Nerheim
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Publication number: 20070188972Abstract: A method is performed by a deployment unit for an electronic weapon. The method includes describing the apparatus to a launch device of the weapon; and propelling the electrode in response to the launch device. The electrode conducts a current through a provided target to impede locomotion by the target.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2006Publication date: August 16, 2007Applicant: TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Magne Nerheim, Patrick Smith, Steven Brundula, Milan Cerovic, David DuBay
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Patent number: 7234262Abstract: An apparatus for interfering with locomotion by a human or animal target includes a microprocessor programmed to track date and time, to initiate and maintain for a period an electrical current, and to record tracked date and time for each initiation of the current. The current, when conducted through the target, interferes with use by the target of the skeletal muscles of the target during the period.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2005Date of Patent: June 26, 2007Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventor: Patrick W. Smith
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Patent number: 7218077Abstract: A signal generator provides an output signal having a series of pulses and a pulse repetition rate. The signal generator includes an energy storage circuit and a switch control circuit. The energy storage circuit includes a switch operated by the switch control circuit. After delivery of a pulse of the output signal, the switch control circuit operates the switch in a first mode to provide the pulse repetition rate of the output signal. The switch control circuit also operates the switch in each of the first mode and a second mode at a switching rate, wherein relatively more energy from a battery is stored as a consequence of the second mode than is stored as a consequence of the first mode. Energy from the battery is stored for delivery in a pulse of the output signal. The switching rate is compensated in accordance with a temperature of the battery and a voltage of the battery. Compensation maintains the battery voltage above a minimum value.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2004Date of Patent: May 15, 2007Assignee: Taser International, Inc.Inventor: Magne H. Nerheim
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Publication number: 20070097592Abstract: An apparatus for interfering with locomotion by a human or animal target includes a microprocessor programmed to track date and time, to initiate and maintain for a period an electrical current, and to record tracked date and time for each initiation of the current. The current, when conducted through the target, interferes with use by the target of the skeletal muscles of the target during the period.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2005Publication date: May 3, 2007Applicant: TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Patrick Smith
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Patent number: 7158362Abstract: An apparatus for interfering with locomotion by one or more targets being animal or human, uses a plurality of delivery circuits that each deliver current through any target of the one or more targets. The apparatus includes a capacitance, a switch, a trigger; and a control circuit that controls the switch. Each delivery circuit includes a respective transformer. The switch, in response to operation of the trigger, conducts energy discharged from the capacitance into the transformer of a first delivery circuit to enable operation of the first delivery circuit; and conducts energy discharged from the capacitance into the transformer of a second delivery circuit to enable operation of the second delivery circuit. The respective transformer provides the current causing contraction of skeletal muscles of the one or more targets, interfering with locomotion by the one or more targets.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2005Date of Patent: January 2, 2007Assignee: Taser International, Inc.Inventor: Patrick W. Smith
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Patent number: 7143539Abstract: A weapon, according to various aspects of the present invention, includes a receiver, a trigger, and a cartridge store. The receiver receives a cartridge. The cartridge applies a deterrent force to the target. The trigger activates the cartridge. The cartridge store stores a plurality of provided cartridges. The cartridge store, then the trigger, and then the receiver are arranged in sequence proceeding linearly away from a user of the weapon.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2004Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Taser International, Inc.Inventors: Milan Cerovic, David Dubay
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Patent number: 7145762Abstract: An electronic disabling device includes first and second electrodes positionable to establish first and second spaced apart contact points on a target having a high impedance air gap existing between at least one of the electrodes and the target. The power supply generates a first high voltage, short duration output across the first and second electrodes during a first time interval to ionize air within the air gap to thereby reduce the high impedance across the air gap to a lower impedance to enable current flow across the air gap at a lower voltage level. The power supply next generates a second lower voltage, longer duration output across the first and second electrodes during a second time interval to maintain the current flow across the first and second electrodes and between the first and second contact points on the target to enable the current flow through the target to cause involuntary muscle contractions to thereby immobilize the target.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2003Date of Patent: December 5, 2006Assignee: Taser International, Inc.Inventor: Magne Nerheim
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Publication number: 20060256498Abstract: Systems and methods for immobilizing a target such as a human or animal with a stimulus signal coupled to the target via numerous electrodes select particular electrodes to use for the stimulus signal. Subsets of electrodes may be tested by applying a test signal and monitoring the energy or charge delivered during a prescribed time. If the delivered energy or charge using a particular subset of electrodes as indicated by monitoring test pulse amplitude suitably compares to a limit, then the particular subset is selected for applying the stimulus signal. A first stimulus signal may be applied to a first subset of electrodes to prompt movement of the target toward an electrode that, when better coupled to the target as a consequence of movement of the target will provide a more effective subset of electrodes for further stimulus.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2006Publication date: November 16, 2006Applicant: TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventors: Patrick Smith, Magne Nerheim
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Publication number: 20060209489Abstract: An apparatus for interfering with locomotion by one or more targets being animal or human, uses a plurality of delivery circuits that each deliver current through any target of the one or more targets. The apparatus includes a capacitance, a switch, a trigger; and a control circuit that controls the switch. Each delivery circuit includes a respective transformer. The switch, in response to operation of the trigger, conducts energy discharged from the capacitance into the transformer of a first delivery circuit to enable operation of the first delivery circuit; and conducts energy discharged from the capacitance into the transformer of a second delivery circuit to enable operation of the second delivery circuit. The respective transformer provides the current causing contraction of skeletal muscles of the one or more targets, interfering with locomotion by the one or more targets.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2005Publication date: September 21, 2006Applicant: TASER INTERNATIONAL, INC.Inventor: Patrick Smith
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Patent number: D560723Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventors: Milan Cerovic, Ryan C. Markle
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Patent number: D567879Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2007Date of Patent: April 29, 2008Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventors: Milan Cerovic, Ryan C. Markle
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Patent number: D570948Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2007Date of Patent: June 10, 2008Assignee: TASER International, Inc.Inventors: Milan Cerovic, Christopher W. Baldwin