Controller for Electrical Impulse Stress Exposure Training

Abstract

A control module used in combination with an activation device for generating an activation signal in response to a stress exposure training event and an electrical impulse device for delivering an electrical shock to the user. The control module has a housing for being carried on the user. The module includes a controller function which sends a shock signal to the impulse device to shock the user according to prescribed shock criteria in response to an activation signal. The control module can be used with various activation devices including light-based force-on-force training or video shoot-back simulations. An operator input of the controller enables the prescribed shock criteria stored on the controller which is carried on the user to be adjusted by an operator directly at the module or remotely.

1 . A method of stress exposure training using an electrical impulse device arranged to be worn by a user and deliver an electrical shock to the user in response to a shock signal, the method comprising:
 providing a controller storing prescribed shock criteria thereon and being arranged to generate the shock signal according to the prescribed shock criteria stored thereon in response to an activation signal;   providing an activation input on the controller for receiving the activation signal;   supporting the controller including the prescribed shock criteria stored thereon on the user such that the controller is in communication with the electrical impulse device; and   enabling the prescribed shock criteria of the controller to be adjusted through an operator input of the controller.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  including coupling the controller directly to the electrical impulse device. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  including providing a remote operator input separate from the controller and enabling adjustments to the prescribed criteria to be communicated wirelessly from the remote operator input to the controller. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  including providing a manually adjusted operator input directly on the controller and enabling the prescribed shock criteria to be manually adjusted through the operator input on the controller. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1  including designating an intensity of the electrical shock as one criterion of the prescribed shock criteria and enabling the intensity of the electrical shock to be adjusted using the operator input. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5  including providing a manually adjustable control as one operator input on the controller and enabling the intensity of the electrical shock to be adjusted using the manually adjustable control. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1  including designating duration of the electrical shock as one criterion of the prescribed shock criteria and enabling the duration of the electrical shock to be adjusted using the operator input. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  including designating a prescribed number of activation signals to generate one shock signal as one criterion of the prescribed shock criteria and enabling the prescribed number of activation signals to be adjusted using the operator input. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1  including enabling the controller to communicate with a plurality of electrical impulse devices worn by the user in which each electrical impulse device includes an identification and designating the identification of one of the electrical impulse devices as one criterion of the prescribed shock criteria. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1  including designating a frequency of the electrical shock as one criterion of the prescribed shock criteria and enabling the frequency of the electrical shock to be adjusted using the operator input. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1  including designating a plurality of controller modes associated with the controller in which each controller mode has different prescribed shock criteria, and enabling the prescribed shock criteria to be adjusted by enabling an operator to select one of the controller modes using the operator input on the controller supported on the user. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  including providing an intensity ramping mode among the controller modes in which an intensity of the electrical shock is increased in duration or intensity in relation to a previously generated shock signal. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  including providing an injury simulating mode in which a plurality of shock signals are generated at periodic intervals from one another in response to one activation signal. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11  including providing a display on the controller supported on the user which identifies which controller mode has been selected. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1  including providing the controller with a memory such that the controller is arranged to record activation data associated with an activation signal in response to receiving said activation signal. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1  including providing a vibration module in communication with the controller which is arranged to vibrate in response to a vibration signal, providing a vibration mode associated with the controller in which the controller is arranged to generate the vibration signal instead of the shock signal in response to the activation signal, and enabling the vibration mode to be selected by the operator input on the controller. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 1  including utilizing the controller in combination with a light-based training system comprising a simulated weapon arranged to generated a light-based signal, a support structure arranged to be self supporting on a body of the user, and an activation device supported on the support structure and having sensor arranged to detect a light-based signal directed thereon by the simulated weapon so as to be arranged to generate the activation signal upon detection of the light-based signal. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 1  including providing an activation signal input on the controller which is arranged to receive activation signals in the form of a radio frequency signal. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 19  including utilizing the controller in combination with a simulated explosive device comprising a trigger arranged to generate the activation signal in response to a prescribed condition and a transmitter arranged to transmit the activation signal in the form of a radio frequency signal to the controller in response to the activation signal being generated by the trigger. 
     
     
         20 . A control module in combination with an activation device arranged to generate an activation signal and an electrical impulse device arranged to be worn by a user and deliver an electrical shock to the user in response to a shock signal for stress exposure training, the control module comprising:
 a housing arranged to be supported on the user;   a controller supported on the housing and including prescribed shock criteria stored thereon, the controller being arranged to generate the shock signal according to the prescribed shock criteria in response to an activation signal;   an activation input on the controller in communication with the activation device so as to be arranged to receive the activation signal from the activation device;   a shock output on the controller in communication with the electrical impulse device so as to be arranged to transmit the shock signal to the electrical impulse device; and   an operator input arranged to enable the prescribed shock criteria on the controller to be adjusted.