Tap sensor for weapon simulator

Abstract

A weapon simulator assembly for monitoring correction of a malfunction of a simulated weapon having a detachably attached simulated magazine includes a central processor for generating the malfunction scenario. A weapon processor is supported in the simulated weapon in electrical communication with the central processor, with an electrical interface connecting the weapon processor with the simulated magazine detachably attached to said receiver. A sensor, such as a tap sensor or accelerometer, is in electrical communication with the weapon processor via said electrical interface, with the tap sensor or accelerometer registering a strike when a force is applied to the simulated magazine above a predetermined value.

1 . A weapon simulator assembly for monitoring choices of an operator during weapon misfire, said assembly comprising:
 a simulated weapon having a receiver;   a weapon processor supported in said simulated weapon;   a magazine detachably attached to said receiver of said simulated weapon;   an electrical interface connecting said processor with said magazine detachably attached to said receiver; and   a tap sensor in electrical communication with said processor, said tap sensor registering a strike when a force is applied to said magazine.   
   
   
       2 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein said tap sensor is a shock sensor positioned in said magazine and connected to said processor via an electrical interface. 
   
   
       3 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 1 , wherein said tap sensor is an accelerometer connected to said processor via an electrical interface, said tap sensor measuring the sudden acceleration of said weapon simulator. 
   
   
       4 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 3 , wherein said tap sensor is positioned in said magazine and in electrical communication with said processor via said electrical interface. 
   
   
       5 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 3 , wherein said tap sensor is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric accelerometer, a capacitance accelerometer, a null-balance accelerometer, a strain gage accelerometer, a resonance accelerometer, a piezoresistive accelerometer or a magnetic induction accelerometer. 
   
   
       6 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 1  wherein said tap sensor is selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a variable resistance sensor, a shock sensor or an impact sensor. 
   
   
       7 . In a weapon simulation assembly including a simulation for generating weapon misfire in a simulated weapon having a weapon processor and attached simulated magazine, a method for monitoring the correction of the simulated weapon comprising the steps of:
 a. applying a force on the simulated weapon;   b. measuring the force applied on the simulated weapon with a sensor mounted in said magazine;   c. transmitting a signal from said sensor to the weapon processor when the force exceeds a predetermined value; and   d. registering correction in the weapon sensor when the weapon processor receives said signal.   
   
   
       8 . The method as described in  claim 7 , wherein step b further comprises:
 measuring the acceleration of the force applied on the simulated weapon with an accelerometer.   
   
   
       9 . The method as described in  claim 8  wherein the step further comprises:
 measuring the acceleration of the force applied on the simulated weapon with a sensor selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric accelerometer, a capacitance accelerometer, a null-balance accelerometer, a strain gage accelerometer, a resonance accelerometer, a piezoresistive accelerometer or a magnetic induction accelerometer.   
   
   
       10 . The method as described in  claim 7 , wherein step b further comprises:
 measuring the force applied on the simulated magazine with a shock sensor positioned in the simulated magazine.   
   
   
       11 . The method as described in  claim 10 , wherein the step further comprises:
 measuring the force applied on the simulated magazine with a tap sensor selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a variable resistance sensor, a shock sensor or an impact sensor.   
   
   
       12 . A weapon simulator assembly for monitoring correction of a malfunction of a simulated weapon having a detachably attached simulated magazine using a central processor, said assembly comprising:
 a weapon processor supported in the simulated weapon in electrical communication with the central processor;   an electrical interface connecting said weapon processor with the simulated magazine detachably attached to said receiver; and   a tap sensor in electrical communication with said weapon processor via said electrical interface, said tap sensor registering a strike when a force is applied to the simulated magazine.   
   
   
       13 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 12 , wherein said tap sensor is a shock sensor positioned in the simulated magazine and connected to said weapon processor via an electrical interface. 
   
   
       14 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 13  wherein said tap sensor is selected from the group consisting of a pressure sensor, a variable resistance sensor, a shock sensor or an impact sensor. 
   
   
       15 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 12 , wherein said tap sensor is an accelerometer connected to said processor via an electrical interface, said tap sensor measuring the sudden acceleration of said weapon simulator. 
   
   
       16 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 15 , wherein said tap sensor is positioned in said magazine and in electrical communication with the weapon processor via said electrical interface. 
   
   
       17 . The weapon simulator assembly as described in  claim 15 , wherein said tap sensor is selected from the group consisting of a piezoelectric accelerometer, a capacitance accelerometer, a null-balance accelerometer, a strain gage accelerometer, a resonance accelerometer, a piezoresistive accelerometer or a magnetic induction accelerometer.