IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,546,572
Granted Patent B2
US 12,546,572 · App. 18/222,867 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Distributing deployments in a conducted electrical weapon

Inventors: Michael E. Gish (Scottsdale, AZ); Magne H. Nerheim (Paradise Valley, AZ)
Assignee: Axon Enterprise, Inc.
F41H13/0025
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,546,572
App. No.
18/222,867
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A conducted electrical weapon (“CEW”) may distribute deployments from the CEW across a same activation event and across different activation events. The system may distribute deployments based on a deployment list. The deployment list may define a sequential deployment order for a deployment connections of the CEW. The system may determine a next deployment connection and activate the next deployment connection based on the deployment list. The system may update the deployment list responsive to activations of deployment connections such that the deployment list is sequentially maintained between activation events.

Claims (43)

1 . A method for distributing deployments in a conducted electrical weapon, the method comprising:

retrieving, by a processing circuit, a deployment list, wherein the deployment list defines a deployment order for a plurality of deployment connections for the conducted electrical weapon;

activating, by the processing circuit, a first deployment connection of the plurality of deployment connections based on the deployment order, wherein the activating the first deployment connection causes deployment of a first cartridge of the conducted electrical weapon; and

updating, by the processing circuit, the deployment list to indicate a next deployment connection of the plurality of deployment connections in the deployment order.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the activating the first deployment connection further comprises enabling, by the processing circuit, a first electrical connection of the conducted electrical weapon, wherein the first electrical connection is associated with the first deployment connection.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the activating the first deployment connection further comprises providing, by the processing circuit, an ignition signal through the first electrical connection.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising activating, by the processing circuit, the next deployment connection based on the deployment order, wherein the activating the next deployment connection causes deployment of a next cartridge of the conducted electrical weapon.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the activating the first deployment connection and the activating the next deployment connection are separate activation events separated by a period of time.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the deployment order of the deployment list is sequentially maintained between the separate activation events.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

arming, by the processing circuit, the conducted electrical weapon to enable deployments from the conducted electrical weapon; and

generating, by the processing circuit, the deployment list responsive to the arming.

8 . A conducted electrical weapon, comprising:

a handle comprising:

a processing circuit; and

a tangible, non-transitory memory configured to communicate with the processing circuit;

a magazine coupled to the handle; and

a plurality of cartridges disposed within the magazine and electrically coupled to the handle, 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:

determining a deployment list, wherein the deployment list defines a deployment order for a plurality of deployment connections;

activating a first deployment connection of the plurality of deployment connections based on the deployment order, wherein activating the first deployment connection causes a deployment of a first cartridge of the plurality of cartridges; and

updating the deployment list to indicate a next deployment connection of the plurality of deployment connections in the deployment order.

9 . The conducted electrical weapon of claim 8 , wherein the determining the deployment list comprises generating a random deployment list.

10 . The conducted electrical weapon of claim 8 , wherein the determining the deployment list comprises:

determining available deployment connections; and

generating the deployment list based on the available deployment connections.

11 . The conducted electrical weapon of claim 8 , wherein the determining the deployment list comprises generating a dynamic deployment list.

12 . The conducted electrical weapon of claim 11 , wherein the generating the dynamic deployment list is based on deployment data, and wherein the deployment data is associated with at least one of the handle, the magazine, or a cartridge of the plurality of cartridges.

13 . The conducted electrical weapon of claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise updating the deployment data based on the activating the first deployment connection.

14 . The conducted electrical weapon of claim 11 , wherein the generating the dynamic deployment list is based on an operating setting, and wherein the operating setting is associated with at least one of the handle, the magazine, or a cartridge of the plurality of cartridges.

15 . A method for distributing deployments in a conducted electrical weapon, the method comprising:

during a first activation event:

determining a deployment list, wherein the deployment list defines a deployment order for a plurality of deployment connections for the conducted electrical weapon;

activating a first deployment connection of the plurality of deployment connections based on the deployment order, wherein the activating the first deployment connection causes deployment of a first cartridge of the conducted electrical weapon; and

updating the deployment list to indicate a next deployment connection of the plurality of deployment connections in the deployment order; and

during a second activation event:

determining the deployment list;

activating the next deployment connection based on the deployment order, wherein the activating the next deployment connection causes deployment of a next cartridge of the conducted electrical weapon; and

updating the deployment list to indicate a second next deployment connection of the plurality of deployment connections in the deployment order.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first activation event is separated by the second activation event by a period of time.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the period of time includes at least one of a loading of the next cartridge or an unloading of the first cartridge.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the deployment list is sequentially maintained between the first activation event and the second activation event.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the deployment list is generated between the first activation event and the second activation event.

20 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining the deployment list during each of the first activation event and the second activation event comprises retrieving the deployment list, randomly generating the deployment list, or dynamically generating the deployment list.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 24, 2023
From: GISH, MICHAEL E.; NERHEIM, MAGNE H.
To: AXON ENTERPRISE, INC.
Reel/Frame 064352/0267 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63391445 · Jul 22, 2022
Related Publication 20240027172A1 · Jan 25, 2024
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