Chemical agent delivery receptacle with reusable digital control cartridge

Abstract

A digitally controlled hand-tossable explosive delivery receptacle comprises a ruggedized reusable compartment enclosing a digital circuit and a disposable cartridge holding one or more explosive chemical agents and a primer. The disposable cartridge is configured to be mounted to the ruggedized reusable cartridge, and a high-strength bulkhead incorporated into the reusable or disposable compartment that separates the digital circuit from the chemical agents. The reusable compartment is sufficiently ruggedized to withstand the ignition of the primer and the detonation of the chemical agents to be reused with one or more additional disposable cartridges. In one implementation, the delivery receptacle uses a commercial airbag initiator as the primer, which is arranged in relation to the one or more chemical agents so that when the initiator is activated, it generates a pressure wave that expels the one or more chemical agents from the grenade.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A non-lethal, modular, software programmable, cable or radio frequency initiated reloadable distraction device utilizing an electronically controlled ignitor in a plurality of ports to produce gas pressure that ruptures a plurality of membranes creating sound impulses to distract or disorient a target subject. 
     
     
         2 . A non-lethal distraction device according to  claim 1 , in which by varying the gas pressure, sound impulses can be produced between 140 db and 170 db. 
     
     
         3 . A non-lethal distraction device according to  claim 1 , in which by the inclusion of flame retardant powder within the plurality of ports, the likelihood of a sympathetic fire being initiated in hazardous environments is significantly reduced. 
     
     
         4 . A non-lethal distraction device according to  claim 1 , in which the device may be laid down, vehicle mounted, hand-thrown, attached to a drone, or mounted on a ground based remote controlled robotic system. 
     
     
         5 . A non-lethal distraction device according to  claim 1 , which may be reloaded in excess of twenty times. 
     
     
         6 . A non-lethal distraction device, comprising:
 one or more reservoirs within the case to hold one or more explosive agents;   an electrically activated initiator within the case operable to detonate the one or more explosive agents;   a control circuit contained within the case that is electrically connected to the initiator; and   a microprocessor in the control circuit;   wherein when the microprocessor is activated, it performs a device integrity check that conditions initiator activation on satisfaction of one or more detectable conditions.   
     
     
         7 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 6 , wherein the microprocessor's device integrity check includes confirming that the initiator is connected to the control circuit. 
     
     
         8 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 7 , wherein the microprocessor confirms that the initiator is connected to the control circuit by attempting to apply a small current to a bridgewire of the initiator and detecting if there is a voltage. 
     
     
         9 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a restraining pin and a spring-biased striker;   a spoon coupled to the case that, when gripped against the case after the restraining pin is removed, restrains the striker from striking the terminals and initiating a detonation sequence;   a magnet in or on the spoon; and   a reed switch in the control circuit positioned to detect the magnet when the spoon is positioned against the case;   wherein the microprocessor, as part of its device integrity check, confirms the presence or absence of the magnet and prevents initiator activation if the magnet is detected.   
     
     
         10 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 9 , wherein if the magnet is detected, the microprocessor prevents detonation of the one or more explosives or ingredients. 
     
     
         11 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 6 , wherein the microprocessor's device integrity check includes testing a voltage level of a battery supplying the control circuit and conditions initiator activation on the voltage level exceeding a threshold. 
     
     
         12 . A non-lethal distraction device, comprising:
 a case;   one or more reservoirs within the case to hold one or more explosive agents;   an electrically activated initiator within the case operable to detonate the one or more explosive agents;   a delay circuit contained within the case that is electrically connected to the initiator; and   a microprocessor in the control circuit;   wherein when the microprocessor is activated, it delays initiator activation by the delay circuit until a pre-programmed digital delay has elapsed. The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 12 , further comprising a warning light indicator, wherein the control circuit activates the warning light indicator during the pre-programmed digital delay.   
     
     
         13 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 12 , wherein the warning light indicator comprises a plurality of red light-emitting-diodes (LEDs). 
     
     
         14 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 12 , further comprising an analog delay sub-circuit, comprising a resistor and capacitor, in the delay circuit that is connected to a reset line of the microprocessor, the analog delay sub-circuit delaying startup of the microprocessor after power is applied to the delay circuit until a voltage output of the analog delay circuit reaches a threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 10 , wherein the analog delay sub-circuit provides an analog delay that, when summed with the pre-programmed digital delay, approximately equals a total amount of delay between delay circuit power activation and initiator activation. 
     
     
         16 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 12 , wherein when the microprocessor is activated, it performs a device integrity check that conditions initiator activation on satisfaction of one or more conditions, wherein a time required to perform the device integrity check is less than 5% of the total amount of delay. 
     
     
         17 . A non-lethal distraction device, comprising:
 a case;   one or more reservoirs within the case to hold one or more explosive agents;   an electrically activated initiator within the case operable to detonate the one or more explosive agents;   a control circuit contained within the case that is electrically connected to the initiator; and   a microprocessor in the control circuit;   wherein when the microprocessor is activated, it checks one or more conditions and, on the basis of those conditions, performs either a firing sequence that electrically activates the initiator or a render-safe termination sequence that renders the control circuit incapable of activating the initiator.   
     
     
         18 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 17 , wherein the firing sequence comprises a preprogrammed digital delay followed by electrical activation of the initiator. 
     
     
         19 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 18 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to electrically activate the initiator by gating a path between an electrode of the initiator and ground. 
     
     
         20 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 17 , wherein the firing sequence comprises electrical activation of the initiator followed by sensing whether the initiator was successfully fired. 
     
     
         21 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 20 , wherein the microprocessor senses whether the initiator was successfully fired by attempting to apply a small current to one end of a bridgewire of the initiator and sensing whether there is a voltage drop across a resistor connected to the other end of the bridgewire. 
     
     
         22 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 17 , wherein the firing sequence further comprises activating a lighting indicator to indicate whether the initiator was successfully fired. 
     
     
         23 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 17 , wherein the render-safe termination sequence comprises blowing a fuse in a path between a power terminal of a battery powering the control circuit and an initiator electrode. 
     
     
         24 . The non-lethal distraction device of  claim 23 , wherein the microprocessor is configured to blow the fuse by shunting current flowing from the power terminal through the fuse to ground. 
     
     
         25 . A grenade comprising:
 a case;   one or more chemical agents contained within the case;   an electrically activated initiator configured to generate a pressure wave to expel, mix, and/or detonate the chemical agents;   a control circuit;   an electrical fuse or circuit breaker in a control circuit path between a power supply and the initiator;   wherein the control circuit is configured to supply activating electricity to the initiator, check whether there was a failed activation event where the initiator failed to activate, and when a failed activation event is detected, blow the fuse or trip the circuit breaker.   
     
     
         26 . The grenade of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more chemical agents comprise a fuel-air mixture. 
     
     
         27 . The grenade of  claim 25 , wherein the one or more chemical agents comprise a lachrymator, a capsaicinoid, or noxious chemical agent. 
     
     
         28 . The grenade of  claim 25 , wherein the control circuit is configured to blow the fuse or trip the circuit breaker by shunting current flowing from the power terminal through the fuse to ground. 
     
     
         29 . The grenade of  claim 25 , wherein the control circuit:
 provides first and second control circuit paths between first and second electrodes of the power supply and first and second electrodes of the initiator, respectively; and   is configured to prevent activating current from flowing through either of the first and second control circuit paths.   
     
     
         30 . The grenade of  claim 29 , wherein the control circuit is configured to prevent activating current from flowing through the first control circuit path by switching a first transistor between the first control circuit path and the second control circuit path to blow the fuse. 
     
     
         31 . A hand-tossable chemical agent delivery receptacle comprising:
 a disposable cartridge;   a ruggedized reusable compartment to which a disposable cartridge is configured to be removably mounted, the reusable compartment enclosing the digital circuit;   one or more chemicals agents;   one or more reservoirs in the disposable cartridge that store the one or more chemical agents;   an electrically activated initiator selected to generate pressure sufficient to mix and expel the chemical agents;   a primer port formed in the disposable cartridge that provides a fluid passageway between the initiator and the reservoirs; and   a battery and manually operated switch connected in a circuit that is operable to supply current to the initiator.   
     
     
         32 . The hand-tossable chemical agent delivery receptacle of  claim 31 , wherein the circuit is a digital circuit that, when activated, checks for a set of conditions and activates the primer when the conditions are met, consequently deploying the chemical agents. 
     
     
         33 . The hand-tossable chemical agent delivery receptacle of  claim 31 , further comprising a high-strength bulkhead incorporated into the reusable compartment that separates the digital circuit from the explosive chemicals, wherein the reusable compartment is sufficiently ruggedized to withstand the ignition of the primer and the detonation of the explosive chemicals to be reused with one or more additional disposable cartridges. 
     
     
         34 . The hand-tossable chemical agent delivery receptacle of  claim 31 , wherein the initiator is an airbag initiator. 
     
     
         35 . The hand-tossable chemical agent delivery receptacle of  claim 33 , further comprising a piston in each of the one or more reservoirs between the one or more chemical agents and the primer port, the disposable cartridge, pistons, and primer port being respectively configured to that a blast generated by the primer's ignition pushes the pistons and the chemical agents in front of the pistons out of the reservoirs before the heat generated by the primer's ignition can detonate the chemical agents. 
     
     
         36 . The hand-tossable chemical agent delivery receptacle of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 a spring-loaded striker mounted on the reusable compartment;   a pull pin arranged on the reusable compartment to hold the spring-loaded striker in a blocked position until the pull pin is removed; and   a hand-holdable safety lever arranged on the reusable compartment to continue holding the spring-loaded striker in the blocked position after the pull pin is removed for as long as the safety lever is grasped against the receptacle;   wherein when the pull pin is removed and the grasp released, the spring-loaded striker ejects the safety lever away from the remainder of the receptacle and closes a power supply switch that provides power to the digital circuit.   
     
     
         37 . The hand-tossable chemical agent delivery receptacle of  claim 36 , further comprising a notch in the pull pin that engages the spring-loaded striker, raising a threshold of force required to remove the pull pin from the device. 
     
     
         38 . The hand-tossable chemical agent delivery receptacle of  claim 36 , further comprising a thumb tab on the safety lever, the thumb tab providing a tactile reference of a top side of the receptacle. 
     
     
         39 . The hand-tossable chemical agent delivery receptacle of  claim 36 , further comprising a latching magnet in a top of the reusable compartment that latches the striker to terminals of the power supply switch after the striker strikes the terminals, thereby minimizing striker bounce. 
     
     
         40 . A remotely activated grenade comprising:
 one or more explosive chemicals;   a primer selected to generate heat sufficient to detonate the explosive chemicals;   a disposable cartridge having one or more reservoirs that store the one or more explosive chemicals prior to detonation and a primer port that provides a fluid passageway between the primer and the reservoirs;   a digital circuit including a wireless communications module that is configured to receive wireless instructions and, in response to an ignition instruction, check for a set of conditions and ignite the primer when the conditions are met, consequently detonating the explosive chemicals; and   a ruggedized reusable compartment to which the disposable cartridge is configured to be mounted, the reusable compartment enclosing the digital circuit.   
     
     
         41 . The remotely activated grenade of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 a high-strength bulkhead incorporated into the reusable or disposable compartment that separates the digital circuit from the explosive chemicals;   wherein the reusable compartment is sufficiently ruggedized to withstand the ignition of the primer and the detonation of the explosive chemicals to be reused with one or more additional disposable cartridges.   
     
     
         42 . The remotely activated grenade of  claim 40 , further comprising an airbag initiator of which the primer is a part.