Electronic counting device

Abstract

Electronic counting device ( 11 ) of shots fired by a firearm, which comprises an impulse sensor ( 12 ) that is electrically connected to a signal processor ( 13 ), which in turn is electrically connected to a data storage unit ( 14 ).

1 - 10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . An electronic counting device of shots fired by a firearm characterized in that the electronic counting device ( 11 ) comprises an impulse sensor ( 12 ); a signal processor ( 13 ) electrically connected to the impulse sensor ( 12 ); and a data storage unit ( 14 ) electrically connected to the signal processor ( 13 ). 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  characterized in that the electronic counting device ( 11 ) is adapted to be mounted on a body of the firearm and wherein the impulse sensor ( 12 ) is located near a gun firing chain of the firearm to supply impulse peaks at one of its output terminals. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 11  characterized in that the data storage unit ( 14 ) is adapted to store impulse peaks associated with standard impulse signals relative to shots fired by the firearm with different kinds of cartridges. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 13  characterized in that the data storage unit ( 14 ) is a removable memory type. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 13  characterized in that the device further comprises a wireless interface unit; and a data input-output unit ( 15 ); and further characterized in that the wireless interface unit communicates with the data input-output unit ( 15 ) which is connected to the signal microprocessor ( 13 ) of the electronic counting device ( 11 ) to select the kind of cartridge loaded in the firearm. 
     
     
         16 . A method to count shots fired with a firearm, comprising:
 selecting a kind of cartridge stored in a data storage unit ( 14 );   acquiring a multitude of samples at predetermined instants of time in an impulse peak received at an input terminal of a signal processor ( 13 ) based on characteristic parameters derived from a standard impulse signal associated with the kind of cartridge selected,   comparing the tension value of the acquired samples with a predetermined tension value threshold based on an impulse peak relative to the shot itself included in the selected standard impulse signal; if the acquired samples are greater than or equal to the predetermined tension threshold and are maintained during a time interval determined by the standard impulse signal, and   acquiring a predetermined number of samples in an off-peak zone subsequent to the impulse peak received.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising:
 comparing the tension value of the acquired samples with a predetermined tension value threshold based on an off-peak zone subsequent to the impulse peak relative to the shot itself included in the selected standard impulse signal; if the acquired samples are less than or equal to the predetermined tension threshold and are maintained during a time interval determined by the standard impulse signal, and 
 acquiring a predetermined number of samples in an impulse peak relative to a sliding movement in the direction of a sliding element of the firearm associated with the displacement of the case of a fired cartridge. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 comparing the tension value of the acquired samples with a predetermined tension value threshold based on an impulse peak relative to a sliding movement included in the selected standard impulse signal; if the acquired samples are greater than or equal to the predetermined tension threshold and are maintained during a time interval determined by the standard impulse signal, and 
 increasing by one unit in the shot count made by the electronic counting device ( 11 ). 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 transmitting the shot count to a display device mounted on the firearm. 
 
     
     
         20 . A firearm that stores cartridges for firing the cartridges characterized in that the firearm comprises an electronic shot counting device ( 11 ) of  claim 11 .