Firearm Having Central Power Source and Integrated Data Bus to both Power and Control Multiple Accessories

Abstract

There is disclosed an automatic or semiautomatic firearm having one or a plurality of parallel rail attachments for weapon attachments (accessories) with a central power source capable of powering the accessory devices electrically connects through a series of parallel rails circumferentially surrounding a barrel of the firearm. More specifically, there is disclosed a central power source to power up one or a plurality of rail accessories that provides power to each rail accessory through, preferably, a copper or brass strip located on each rail element. In addition, there is disclosed a method for transmitting information among and between weapon attachments using the rails as an antenna and radio frequency transmission of digital or analog signals to receiver units in each attachment of within a central bus.

1 . A firearm comprising one or a plurality of mounting fixtures circumferentially surrounding a barrel, wherein each mounting fixture comprises one or a plurality of common conductors, and wherein each common conductor is electrically connected to a power source. 
   
   
       2 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the common conductors comprise a copper or brass strip of metal in electrical contact with a power source. 
   
   
       3 . The firearm of  claim 2  wherein the power source is a portable device that produces voltage or current power. 
   
   
       4 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a Lithium ion rechargeable battery, a fuel cell, a grid power transformed, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the power source is located on a mounting fixture as an accessory device, within an ammo clip, within the stock of the firearm or attached to another location surrounding the barrel of the firearm. 
   
   
       6 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the common conductors are a data transmission means that allow accessories in contact with the common conductors to transmit or receive analog or digital signals from and to other accessories in contact with the common conductors. 
   
   
       7 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the common conductors further carry RF (radio frequency) signals to communicate between the accessories. 
   
   
       8 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein two or more common conductors are located on opposite sides of the mounting fixture or two or more common conductors are located on the same side of a mounting fixture. 
   
   
       9 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the power source provides voltage or current that is either direct or alternating. 
   
   
       10 . The firearm of  claim 9  wherein the power source provides voltage output from about 2 volts to about 12 volts. 
   
   
       11 . The firearm of  claim 1  wherein the accessory mounting rail further comprises a data transmission means that is separate from the common conductors and capable of allowing accessories mounted to the rail to transmit or receive data from each other or both. 
   
   
       12 . The firearm of  claim 11  wherein the data transmission means further comprises both the common conductors and one or a plurality of separate data transmission means, wherein the accessories may or may not be attached to the mounting fixtures as a source of power. 
   
   
       13 . A firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures, comprising
 (a) one or a plurality of mounting fixtures circumferentially surrounding a barrel, wherein each mounting fixture comprises one or a plurality of common conductors, and wherein each common conductor is electrically connected to a power source; and   (b) a radio frequency (RF) antenna embedded within the plurality of common conductors, wherein each RF antenna is capable of transmitting or picking up radio frequency signals.   
   
   
       14 . The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of  claim 13 , wherein the common conductors comprise a copper or brass strip of metal in electrical contact with a power source. 
   
   
       15 . The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of  claim 14 , wherein the power source is a portable device that produces voltage or current power. 
   
   
       16 . The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of  claim 13 , wherein the power source is selected from the group consisting of a battery, a Lithium ion rechargeable battery, a fuel cell, a grid power transformed, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       17 . The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of  claim 13 , wherein the power source is located on a mounting fixture as an accessory device, within an ammo clip, within the stock of the firearm or attached to another location surrounding the barrel of the firearm. 
   
   
       18 . The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of  claim 13 , wherein two or more common conductors are located on opposite sides of the mounting fixture or two or more common conductors are located on the same side of a mounting fixture. 
   
   
       19 . The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of  claim 13 , wherein the power source provides voltage or current that is either direct or alternating. 
   
   
       20 . The firearm or small weapons system having a plurality of fixtures of  claim 13 , wherein the power source provides voltage output from about 2 volts to about 12 volts.