Abstract:
The present invention provides a memory enhanced ammunition cartridge. The memory enhanced cartridge can be manufactured using a conventional bulk processing methodology. The bullet of the cartridge contains therein a memory within it. This memory can be programmed with the retail purchaser identification at the point of sale, thereby avoiding the need for a database of information relating to purchasers of ammunition. After the cartridge has been used, the ejected bullet can be located at the target, and the memory read to determine the identity of the purchaser, and potentially the user, of the bullet.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an identification device and methods of making and using the same, and, more particularly, an identification device that includes a memory and is usable for tracking an ammunition cartridge, specifically a bullet, and methods of making and using the same. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Identification devices and methods of making and using the same are well known. In particular, devices for identifying retail purchasers of ammunition cartridges, including bullets within them, are also known. Conventionally, an ammunition identification device uses a physically readable mark as an identifier, which mark is placed either directly on the bullet, on a casing of a bullet, or on a barrel of a gun. 
     In the case of the marking the casing, the identifier remains with the casing when the ammunition cartridge is shot. In the case of marking either the bullet directly at time of manufacture, or indirectly when marking the barrel, such that when the bullet is shot through the barrel, the identifier on the barrel becomes imprinted on the bullet, the identifier remains with the bullet. Examples of these different types of ammunition tracking devices abound, with representative such devices being disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,293,204; 6,462,302; and 6,886,284. 
     While conventional ammunition identification devices have a degree of usefulness, they also have their limitations. One significant limitation is that the identifier must be placed on either the ammunition cartridge or the gun barrel at the time of manufacture. This limitation has a number of negative consequences. One is that in order to associate an identity with the identifier, a database that is linked to all areas where the ammunition and/or guns with marked barrels are sold is required to provide an index between identity of the individual who has purchased the ammunition cartridge or the gun, and the identifier. Such a database is both difficult to manage, and also raises privacy concerns. Another negative consequence is that additional identifier information cannot be added after the manufacture of the ammunition and/or gun. Another limitation is that it is more difficult to effectively manage distinct identifiers, as they are constrained by the physical limitations of the bullet surface on which marking can occur. Still another significant limitation is that by applying different marks to ammunition cartridges requires changing the manner in which such ammunition cartridges are made from a bulk manufacturing process, in which all ammunition cartridges are made the same way, to a batch manufacturing process, in which different batches of ammunition cartridges are made (such as divided by the box size of the ammunition cartridge), in order apply a different identifier to all the ammunition cartridges in a single box. 
     In view of the above limitations, and others, a new identification device is needed, that is usable for identifying the retail purchaser of an ammunition cartridge, specifically a bullet, and methods of making and using the same. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an identification device, and a method of making and using the same. 
     In a particular embodiment, the identification device is a memory enhanced ammunition cartridge. The memory enhanced cartridge can be manufactured using a conventional bulk processing methodology. The bullet of the cartridge contains therein a memory device within it. This memory device can be programmed with the retail purchaser identification at the point of sale, thereby avoiding the need for a database of information relating to purchasers of ammunition. After the cartridge has been used, the ejected bullet can be located at the target, and the memory read to determine the identity of the purchaser, and potentially the user, of the bullet. 
     Methods of manufacture and using the memory enhanced ammunition cartridge are also described. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the components of a memory enhanced ammunition cartridge according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged view of the bullet illustrated in  FIG. 1  and containing a memory device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of a memory device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment of a memory device according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart of the overall life cycle of the process flow of a memory enhanced ammunition cartridge according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of the manufacturing process of the memory enhanced ammunition cartridge according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 7  illustrates various identifiers for programming into the memory of the memory enhanced ammunition cartridge according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present invention is directed to an identification device and a method of making and using the same. The preferred embodiment of the identification device, as described, is for usage in an ammunition cartridge. It will be apparent; however, that there are aspects of the present invention that can be applied for use in identifying retail purchasers of devices other ammunition cartridges, and as such this detailed description should be so interpreted. 
     It is also noted, however, that an aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is that the identification device is solely for the purpose of associating the identity of an associated retail purchaser, without having other components, and as such is distinguished from identification devices that are within and part of much larger systems. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exploded view of the components of a memory enhanced ammunition cartridge  100  according to the present invention. As illustrated the cartridge  100  includes a casing  110  and a bullet  120  in which, as is known, the casing  110  remains with the weapon at shooting, and the bullet  120  becomes the projectile. Not shown are the primer and explosive which are inserted into the casing  110 . Also illustrated is a hole  130  that is drilled into the bullet  120 . Illustrated separately are a memory device  200 , and a plug  150 . 
     The cartridge  100  is conventional, and can be for use in any size of a weapon, though the preferred embodiment is specifically directed to ammunition used in personal firearms, whether handguns or longguns. 
     It is also noted that the present invention in its preferable form does not require any type of database to be maintained, as the identification information on the bullet that is stored on the memory enhanced ammunition cartridge  100  is private to the retail purchaser. As such, that privacy is maintained at the point of purchase. Alternative embodiments are envisioned, however, in which a database could be maintained, or a database that keeps information on the purchases from certain types of individuals, certain classes of persons (such as excluded groups referenced hereinafter) or for certain classes of firearms—memory enhanced ammunition cartridges  100  for semiautomatic weapons for instance. 
     The bullet  120  is also of essentially conventional manufacture, other than the alterations described herein which is essentially that it has the hole  130  drilled or originally formed in it, which allows for insertion of the memory device  200  therein, which is then held in place with a combination of tension forces as well as the plug  150 . With respect to the size of the hole  130 , this size is primarily dictated by the size of the memory device  200 , and secondarily dictated by the caliber of the bullet. The larger the bullet  120 , the easier it is to make a larger hole  130 , and have a physically larger sized memory device  200  inserted therein, which, due its larger size, can also hold additional optional components, as will be described herein. 
     It should also be noted that testing may need to be done on the bullet  120  having a hole  130  placed therein, as the weight distribution of the bullet  120  changes as a result of the void caused by the hole  130 , which can effect the accuracy of the bullet  120  after it escapes from the barrel of the gun from which it was fired. 
     The plug  150  is made of a material that will hold the memory device  200  into the hole  130 , and many different kinds of materials can be used and are contemplated, though in certain embodiments it may not be necessary to use anything other than friction forces between the memory device  200  and the wall of the hole  130  formed in bullet  120 . It has been determined that clay is an appropriate material for plug  150 . Although epoxy and other glues can also be used, as a result of setting up after drying to be more stiff, they allow for greater force to be transferred to the memory device  200  upon impact of the bullet  200  with the target. As such, with more force transferred, there is a greater likelihood that the memory device  200  may malfunction due to breakage. Further, it is also possible to use a flexible conductor as the plug  150 , which can also be configured for use as the antenna described hereinafter. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an enlarged view of a bullet  120  illustrated in  FIG. 1  and containing a memory device  200  within the drilled hole (not labeled here), which is then kept in position with plug  150 . Associated with the memory device  200  is an antenna  210 , which as illustrated projects out of the bullet, thereby making the reception of the antenna  210  greater. Although shown in this and other drawings as a single antenna, the antenna  210  could have multiple antennas for even greater reception capabilities, or have one antenna for transmit and another for receive operations, as discussed herein. Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the antenna may not need to project out of the hole  130 , or even project off of the memory device  200 , but instead be made integral with it. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of the memory device  200 . Components of the memory device  200  include an RF and power circuit  220 , a control circuit  230 , and a memory circuit  240 . The memory circuit  240  is preferably a one-time only write EEPROM or other similar device, though the present invention should not be limited to any specific type of memory store. The control circuit  230  controls the programming of the memory device, as well as the subsequent reading operations. RF and power circuit  220  is used during both programming and reading operations, primarily to receive the signal or signals (depending upon whether the same signal is used to transmit data as is used to transmit power) externally transmitted from programming devices or reading devices, as will be described hereinafter. A specific detailed example of circuit that can be used to produce the memory device  200  is illustrated and described, particularly with reference to the  FIG. 2  and related drawings and disclosure therein, in Published U.S. Patent Application No. US2005/0174845 and entitled “Semiconductor Device,” which application is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     The above description of memory device  200  is predicated on the power being externally supplied through an RF signal. For larger capacity memories, or for memory devices that use less power efficient circuits, in an alternate embodiment, provision can also be made to include an on-board battery, which will typically only be used one time, during the programming operations. This battery can be triggered upon the receipt of a predetermined data sequence recognized by a comparison circuit that is part of either the RF and power circuit  220  or the control circuit  230 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates another embodiment, illustrated as memory device  200 A. In contrast to the embodiment described by  FIG. 4 , this embodiment illustrates two different types of memory arrays being used: an EEPROM circuit  242  and a laser fuse memory circuit  244 . The laser fuse memory circuit can be laser fused prior to installation of the memory device into the bullet  120 , and contain information that will be the same for all bullets  120 , such as an identification of the manufacturer, and the manufacturing date. Having an embodiment such as this is advantageous in that certain information can be programmed prior to installation of the device, thus avoiding the need to use electrical power that is either transmitted through an RF signal or stored in an on-board battery when subsequently programming other information thereon. 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a flowchart of the overall life cycle of the process flow of a memory enhanced ammunition cartridge  100  according to the present invention. As illustrated, there are three distinct timeframes of interest. The first, illustrated as step  510 , is the manufacture of memory enhanced ammunition cartridges. The manufacturing sequence, which continues to allow for the use of bulk rather than batch manufacturing methods, is described further hereinafter with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
     Step  520  is the next significant timeframe of interest, which is at the point of sale. At the point of sale, a buyer must show identification in order to purchase memory enhanced ammunition cartridges  100 , which are typically sold in boxes of so many units, such as 20-100 or more. At the point of sale, a programming device is used to program each of the memory enhanced ammunition cartridges  100  in a box with the same information. The information that is required is typically at least the identity or the driver&#39;s license or the firearms license number of the buyer. Other types of identification information that can be stored, depending upon the memory capacity, are illustrated in Fig. the identifier table  700  of  FIG. 7 . Exceptions to the programming operation are also preferably allowed when the memory enhanced ammunition cartridges  100  are being purchased by a predetermined class of individuals, such as police officers, military personnel, or other identified excluded groups. When an individual from an excluded group makes a purchase, however, a special code can be inserted, if desired, that at least identifies the excluded group to which the individual belongs. The programming device that is used can be conventional, made to specifications that correspond to the particulars of the specific type of memory and associated circuits used within the memory device  200 . While it is contemplated that the memory enhanced ammunition cartridges  100  can remain within the box in which they are sold, in certain circumstances it may be necessary to remove the memory enhanced ammunition cartridges  100  from the box, in order to have an automatic aligner align the memory enhanced ammunition cartridges  100 , and thereby align the antennas  210  within each of them, in order to ensure that each is programmed correctly. 
     At the point of sale, there can also be a test step that is optionally performed to ensure that proper programming has occurred. 
     Step  530  is the last significant timeframe of interest, which occurs after the memory enhanced ammunition cartridge  100  has been fired, and has lodged in the target of interest. Due to the construction and location of the memory device  200  at the back of the bullet, it has been determined that in most instances, the memory device  200  will remain intact. When discovered, a conventional reading device can automatically read the previously stored identifier information from the memory device  200  disposed within the bullet  120 . This can then allow for rapid detection, if needed, of the person most likely to have fired the bullet. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a flowchart of the manufacturing process of the memory enhanced ammunition cartridge  100  according to the present invention. As illustrated, in step  610 , the memory device  200  is prepared. Thereafter, in optional step  620 , there can be performed any preprogramming such as that associated with the laser fuse described previously in  FIG. 4 , or other type of preprogrammed memory devices. This preparation will typically be bulk manufacturing, so that the quantity of memory devices made equals the typical capacity of the ammunition manufacturing facility. 
     Step  630  then follows, in which each memory device  200  is placed into one bullet  120 , a and then preferably maintained in position using the plug  150 , as has been described previously. Thereafter, step  640  follows and all the bullets  150  with the memory devices  200  disposed therein are placed in a bin for subsequent bulk manufacture, which then occurs at step  650 . Once the memory enhanced ammunition cartridge  100  is manufactured, it is placed in a box that is appropriately labeled with a manufacturers label that describes the type of memory enhanced ammunition cartridge, and may include thereon information for scanning identifier information that can be read from the programming device and then used to input into the memory device  200 , as illustrated in step  660 . Once so placed, the boxes of memory enhanced ammunition cartridges  100  can be distributed to retail outlets as conventionally done, and then, once sold, further programmed as previously described. 
     It is apparent that the above embodiments may be altered in many ways without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, could also apply the memory device described herein the casing of memory enhanced ammunition cartridges. Further, various aspects of a particular embodiment may contain patentably subject matter without regard to other aspects of the same embodiment. Still further, various aspects of different embodiments can be combined together. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be interpreted in a manner consistent with these principles and in light of the following claims.