Self-test fire control system for toy gun

Abstract

The self-test fire control system for a toy gun includes a power unit and a control unit connected to the power unit and configured with a self-test software application. The power unit includes a power module and a driver module. The control unit includes a voltage monitor module, a regulator module, an indicator module, a fire mode selection module, and a trigger ON/OFF module. Before the toy gun is operated, the control unit may test the circuit switches, the gear set, and the battery so as to see if there is an incompatibility between or anomaly in the motor, spring, battery, or gear set. As such, corrective actions or repairs may be performed and the reliability of the toy gun is enhanced.

1 . A self-test fire control system for a toy gun, the toy gun having a fire selection piece, a safety block piece, an interrupted/burst mode control piece, a trigger, a motor, a gear set, a spring, and a battery where the electricity stored in the battery powers the motor to compress the spring through the gear set so as to shoot pellets, the self-test fire control system comprising:
 a power unit comprising a power module connected to the battery for providing electricity to the toy gun, and a driver module connecting and driving the motor; and   a control unit configured with a self-test software application and connected to the power unit where the control unit comprises a voltage monitor module, a regulator module, an indicator module, a fire mode selection module, and a trigger ON/OFF module, the fire mode selection module sets the toy gun to operate in different fire modes, and, before the toy gun is operated, the control unit tests the microswitches, the gear set, and the battery so as to see if there is incompatibility between or anomaly in the motor, spring, battery, or gear set and if corrective action should be performed, thereby enhancing the reliability of the toy gun.   
     
     
         2 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the toy gun comprises an interrupted/burst mode microswitch, an interrupted mode microswitch, and a three-round burst mode micro switch, respectively connected to the fire mode selection module; and the toy gun further comprises a trigger microswitch connected to the trigger ON/OFF module. 
     
     
         3 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the gear set comprises a cam for engaging the interrupted/burst mode control piece; the interrupted/burst mode control piece presses against the interrupted/burst mode microswitch; when the gear set has made a turn, the interrupted/burst mode control piece is engaged once; and, to see if the spring and the gear set are compatible, the control unit determines an interval that the interrupted/burst mode microswitch is engaged by the interrupted/burst mode control piece. 
     
     
         4 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 1 , wherein the driver module comprises a main Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor (MOSFET) and an auxiliary MOSFET. 
     
     
         5 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 2 , wherein the gear set comprises a cam for engaging the interrupted/burst mode control piece; the interrupted/burst mode control piece presses against the interrupted/burst mode microswitch; when the gear set has made a turn, the interrupted/burst mode control piece is engaged once; and, to see if the spring and the gear set are compatible, the control unit determines an interval that the interrupted/burst mode microswitch is engaged by the interrupted/burst mode control piece. 
     
     
         6 . A self-test method for a fire control system of a toy gun, comprising the steps of:
 a) entering a test mode of the fire control system after the toy gun's upper and lower parts are disassembled, a trigger of the toy gun is pressed, and a battery of the toy gun is connected;   b) testing the battery's voltage and instructing an indicator module of the fire control system to present voltage status by a control unit of the fire control system, and driving a motor of the toy gun to turn a gear set of the toy gun if the trigger is pressed;   c) testing a trigger microswitch of the toy gun and instructing the indicator module to present to present test result by the control unit;   d) testing if a correct mode switch signal is received after the toy gun is set to an interrupted mode and instructing the indicator module to present test result by the control unit;   e) testing if a correct mode switch signal is received after the toy gun is set to a three-round burst mode and instructing the indicator module to present test result by the control unit;   f) testing two MOSFETs of a driver module of the fire control system, instructing the indicator module to present test result, and triggering the motor to drive the gear set to make a turn as a prompt if the MOSFETs are normal; and   g) engaging the motor to drive the gear set to make a plurality of turns, instructing the indicator module to present test result, exiting the test mode and triggering the motor to drive the gear set to turn three times to acknowledge that the test mode is over if the trigger is pressed once.   
     
     
         7 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 6 , wherein, if there is some anomaly, the control unit determines the degree of severity and instructs the indicator module to present the anomaly differently. 
     
     
         8 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 6 , wherein, in step g, an interval that an interrupted/burst mode microswitch of the toy gun is engaged by an interrupted/burst mode control piece of the toy when the gear set makes a turn is determined, and whether a spring of the toy gun and the gear set is compatible. 
     
     
         9 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 6 , wherein, if the battery's voltage is too low tested in step b, the control unit cuts off the battery's electricity provision. 
     
     
         10 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 6 , wherein, in step f, the MOSFETs are normal if, when one is ON, the other is OFF. 
     
     
         11 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 6 , wherein, in step g, if the motor does not turn, the MOSFETs are turned off. 
     
     
         12 . The self-test fire control system according to  claim 6 , wherein, in step b, if the trigger is not pressed within an interval, setting the control unit to enter a sleep mode and waking the control unit after the trigger is pressed.