Remote activation of a magazine for a projectile launcher

Abstract

A projectile launcher may comprise a handle and a magazine. The magazine may comprise a magazine power supply, projectiles configured to be deployed from the magazine, and a signal generator configured to provide a stimulus signal through the deployed projectiles. The handle may comprise a handle power supply and a propulsion module configured to provide a propulsion force to the magazine to cause deployment of the projectiles. In response to the magazine being coupled to the handle, the handle power supply may provide power to components of the magazine. The handle may transmit an activation signal to the magazine, including a local signal and a remote signal. In response to the magazine being decoupled from the handle, the magazine power supply may provide power to components of the magazine. The handle may transmit an activation signal to the magazine, including a remote signal.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A handle for a projectile launcher, the handle comprising:
 a processing circuit; and   a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processing circuit, wherein the tangible, non-transitory memory comprises instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to perform operations comprising:
 detecting an activation event; and 
 transmitting an activation signal to a magazine in response to the detecting the activation event, wherein in response to the magazine being electrically coupled to the handle, the transmitting the activation signal comprises transmitting a local signal directly to the magazine and transmitting a remote signal wirelessly to the magazine, and wherein in response to the magazine being electrically decoupled from the handle, the transmitting the activation signal comprises transmitting the remote signal wirelessly to the magazine. 
   
     
     
         2 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise deploying a projectile from the magazine in response to the detecting the activation event. 
     
     
         3 . The handle of  claim 2 , further comprising a propulsion module in communication with the processing circuit, wherein the deploying the projectile comprises providing a propulsion force from the propulsion module to the magazine. 
     
     
         4 . The handle of  claim 3 , wherein the providing the propulsion force from the propulsion module is responsive to the activation event. 
     
     
         5 . The handle of  claim 2 , wherein the deploying the projectile from the magazine is also in response to the magazine being electrically coupled to the handle. 
     
     
         6 . The handle of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise detecting an electrical coupling with the magazine. 
     
     
         7 . The handle of  claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise authenticating the magazine. 
     
     
         8 . The handle of  claim 7 , wherein the authenticating the magazine comprises establishing a wireless connection with the magazine. 
     
     
         9 . The handle of  claim 8 , wherein the remote signal is transmitted via the wireless connection with the magazine while the magazine is electrically coupled to the handle and while the magazine is electrically decoupled from the handle. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 detecting, by a handle of a projectile launcher, an activation event;   in response to the handle being electrically coupled to a magazine:
 deploying, by the handle, a projectile from the magazine; and 
 transmitting, by the handle, an activation signal to the magazine, wherein the activation signal comprises instructions for the magazine to provide a stimulus signal through the projectile, and wherein the activation signal comprises a local signal and a remote signal; and 
   in response to the handle being electrically decoupled from the magazine:
 transmitting, by the handle, the activation signal to the magazine, wherein the activation signal comprises the remote signal. 
   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising detecting, by the handle, at least one of an electrical coupling to the magazine or an electrical decoupling from the magazine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising establishing, by the handle, a wireless connection with the magazine in response to detecting the electrical coupling to the magazine. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 detecting, by the handle, an electrical coupling to the magazine;   detecting, by the handle, a first activation event;   deploying, by the handle, a first projectile from the magazine;   transmitting, by the handle, a first local signal to the magazine; and   transmitting, by the handle, a first remote signal to the magazine, wherein the first local signal and the first remote signal comprise instructions for the magazine to provide a first stimulus signal through the first projectile.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the magazine is configured to provide the first stimulus signal in response to receiving both of the first local signal and the first remote signal. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 detecting, by the handle, an electrical decoupling to the magazine;   detecting, by the handle, a next activation event; and   transmitting, by the handle, a next remote signal to the magazine, wherein the next remote signal comprise instructions for the magazine to provide a next stimulus signal through the first projectile.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 detecting, by the handle, a next activation event;   deploying, by the handle, a next projectile from the magazine;   transmitting, by the handle, a next local signal to the magazine; and   transmitting, by the handle, a next remote signal to the magazine, wherein the next local signal and the next remote signal comprise instructions for the magazine to provide a next stimulus signal through at least one of the first projectile or the next projectile.   
     
     
         17 . A conducted electrical weapon comprising:
 a magazine comprising:
 a signal generator; and 
 a plurality of projectiles; and 
   a handle comprising:
 a propulsion module; 
 a processing circuit; and 
 a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processing circuit, wherein the tangible, non-transitory memory comprises instructions stored thereon that, in response to execution by the processing circuit, cause the processing circuit to perform operations comprising: 
 detecting a first activation event while the magazine is electrically coupled to the handle; 
 deploying, by the propulsion module, a first projectile from the plurality of projectiles; 
 transmitting a first activation signal to the magazine, wherein the first activation signal comprises a local signal and a first remote signal, and wherein in response to receiving the first activation signal the signal generator is configured to provide a stimulus signal through the first projectile; 
 detecting a next activation event while the magazine is electrically decoupled from the handle; and 
 transmitting a next activation signal to the magazine, wherein the next activation signal comprises a next remote signal, and wherein in response to receiving the next activation signal the signal generator is configured to provide a next stimulus signal through the first projectile. 
   
     
     
         18 . The conducted electrical weapon of  claim 17 , wherein the magazine further comprises a magazine power supply, and wherein the handle further comprises a handle power supply. 
     
     
         19 . The conducted electrical weapon of  claim 18 , wherein in response to the magazine being electrically coupled to the handle, the handle power supply is configured to provide power to a component of the magazine and the magazine power supply. 
     
     
         20 . The conducted electrical weapon of  claim 19 , wherein in response to the magazine being electrically decoupled from the handle, the magazine power supply is configured to provide power to the component of the magazine.