Ammunition supply indicator device

Abstract

An ammunition supply indicator device installable in a firearm ( 11 ) the weapon ( 11 ) comprising a magazine ( 21 ) that includes several moveable means ( 22, 23 ) that slide in a longitudinal axial direction of the magazine ( 21 ); the device ( 12 ) comprising a specific number of receptor means ( 41 ) of the magnetic field generated by several actuator means ( 24 ) attached to the moveable means ( 22, 23 ), the level of the electrical signal depending on the relative distribution of the receptor means ( 31 ) in relation to the magazine ( 21 ), the type of material used to make the firearm ( 11 ), the magazine ( 21 ) and the position of the moveable means ( 22, 23 ).

1 . An ammunition supply indicator device installable in a firearm, the firearm comprising a magazine that includes several moveable means that slide in a longitudinal axial direction of the magazine; characterized in that the indicator device comprises a specific number of receptor means of the magnetic field generated by several actuator means attached to the moveable means, which output a plurality of electrical signals depending on the relative distribution of the receptor means in relation to the magazine, the type of material used to make the firearm, the type of magazine and the position of the moveable means. 
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 ; wherein the magazine comprises a number of cartridges and characterized in that the indicator device includes a signal processing unit that associates the level of the plurality of electrical signals with the number of cartridges held in the magazine in response to receiving the electrical signals. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 ; characterized in that the number and distribution of the receptor means are not dependent on the type of magazine. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 3 ; characterized in that the receptor means are located substantially along at least one vertical axis included in at least one vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axial axis of the magazine. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 ; characterized in that the receptor means are distributed and located vertically within at least one vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal axial axis of the magazine and parallel to it. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 ; wherein the firearm includes a handle and characterized in that the indicator device is attachable to the handle of the firearm where the magazine is seated. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 ; wherein the firearm includes a socket and characterized in that the indicator device is attachable to the socket of the firearm where the magazine is seated. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 2 , characterized in that the receptor means are magnetic-field sensors. 
     
     
         9 . An ammunition supply magazine of a firearm that includes several moveable means that slide in a longitudinal axial direction of the magazine; characterized in that the moveable means include several actuator means moveable together with the moveable means in a longitudinal axial direction of the magazine so that several receptor means included in an indicator device generate and emit electrical signals as a function of the magnetic field detected by the actuator means. 
     
     
         10 . The magazine as claimed in  claim 9 , characterized in that the actuator means comprise a magnetic material. 
     
     
         11 . The magazine as claimed in  claim 9 ; characterized in that the actuator means are incorporable into a spring means of the magazine. 
     
     
         12 . The magazine as claimed in  claim 9 ; characterized in that the actuator means are incorporable into a lifting means of the magazine. 
     
     
         13 . The magazine as claimed in  claim 9 ; characterized in that the actuator means are incorporable into a telescopic extension means that is accommodated between a lifting means and a magazine end. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A firearm in which a magazine is insertable; characterized in that a firearm ammunition supply indicator device is incorporable in it, where the indicator device includes a specific number of receptor means of the magnetic field generated by several actuator means attached to moveable means, which output a plurality of electrical signals as a function of the relative distribution of the receptor means in respect of the magazine, the type of material used to make the firearm, the magazine and the position of the moveable means. 
     
     
         16 . A computer program loadable into an internal memory of a processing unit with input and output units, wherein the computer program includes executable codes configured to perform the steps of the ammunition supply indication method for a firearm as claimed in  claim 18 . 
     
     
         17 . The device as claimed in  claim 8 , characterized in that the magnetic-field sensors are Hall-effect sensors. 
     
     
         18 . An ammunition supply indicator method for a firearm; the steps comprising:
 a) measuring by several receptor means the magnetic field generated by several actuator means attachable to several moveable means included in a magazine as a function of the position reached by a cartridge lifter after it has moved;   b) generating and emitting by the receptor means electrical signals as a function of the measurements obtained in step a); and   c) calculating by a signal processing unit the number of cartridges held in the magazine associated to the position reached by the cartridge lifter.