IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,632,431
Granted Patent B2
US 12,632,431 · App. 18/909,638 · Granted May 19, 2026

Electronic threat assessment system

Inventors: James Matthew Underwood (Kennesaw, GA); Larry Cullen Underwood (Canton, GA); Davidson Glenn Lucas (Roswell, GA)
G06F16/22F41A19/16G06F16/7837G06F18/2431G06V40/10G08B25/10H04N7/18H04N23/20
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,632,431
App. No.
18/909,638
Granted
May 19, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system for assessing threats includes a method of detecting a physical location of the system, establish a connection to at least one database, scanning a proximate area, prioritizing a plurality of identified objects, comparing data for at least one of the identified object to data from the at least one database, and outputting at least one notification.

Claims (43)

1 . A threat assessment system comprising:

at least one camera; and

a trigger strength adjustment mechanism capable of adjusting the resistance of a trigger during operation of the threat assessment system without input from a user,

wherein the trigger strength adjustment mechanism automatically

prioritizes a subset of identified objects without external input;

compares data for at least one of the subset of identified objects to data from at least one database; and changes a trigger strength when a threat level is detected.

2 . The threat assessment system of claim 1 , wherein the trigger strength adjustment mechanism is electronically controlled based on inputs received from the at least one camera.

3 . The threat assessment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera comprises at least one selected from the group of a night vision camera, a thermal camera, an infrared camera, or a forward-looking infrared camera.

4 . The threat assessment system of claim 1 , further comprising a computing device that connects to and collects data from the at least one camera, wherein the computing device transmits control signals to the trigger strength adjustment mechanism.

5 . The threat assessment system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one secondary device that comprises at least one selected from the group of a flashlight, a laser, an infrared laser, and an ultraviolet light emitter.

6 . The threat assessment system of claim 1 , further comprising a latch handle mechanism that attaches the threat assessment system to a firearm.

7 . The threat assessment system of claim 1 , wherein the trigger strength adjustment mechanism comprises a servo.

8 . The threat assessment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one database is stored in at least one location selected from the group of locally within the threat assessment system or remotely from the threat assessment system with wireless access.

9 . The threat assessment system of claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to automatically determine whether an object detected by the camera is human or non-human.

10 . The threat assessment system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one database comprises at least one selected from the group of:

a database of biometric information for violent criminals;

a database of biometric information for terrorists;

a database of biometric information for hostages; or

a database of biometric information for law enforcement officers.

11 . A system for assessing threats comprising:

a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium coupled to the processor, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

detect a physical location of the system;

establish a connection to at least one database;

identify and analyze a plurality of objects without external input;

prioritize a subset of the plurality of objects without external input;

determine whether each of the subset of the plurality of objects is human or non-human;

compare data for at least one of the subset of the plurality of objects to data from the at least one database; and

change a trigger strength when a threat level is detected.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to output at least one notification wherein the at least one notification is wirelessly transmitted to a remote location.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to operate a trigger strength adjustment mechanism based on the comparison of the data for at least one of the subset of the plurality of objects to data from the at least one database.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to assess the threat level of at least one of the subset of the plurality of objects and classify each object into one of at least two different threat levels.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the at least two different threat levels comprise high, low, and none.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to establish a connection to other nearby similar systems such that the systems pool and share resources.

17 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor is further configured to reduce trigger strength when a high threat level is detected.

18 . A method of assessing threats for a system, the method comprising:

detecting a physical location of the system;

establishing a connection to at least one database;

prioritizing a subset of identified objects; and

comparing data for at least one of the subset of identified objects to data from the at least one database; and adjusting a trigger strength with electronic controls without input from a user based on a detected threat level.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

distinguishing between a human and a non-human for each of the plurality subset of identified objects.

20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising:

assessing the threat level of the at least one of the subset of identified objects; and classifying the at least one of the plurality subset of identified objects into one of at least two different threat levels.

Continuity (3)
Continuation 17477231 · Sep 16, 2021
Provisional Application 63079698 · Sep 17, 2020
Related Publication 20250036606A1 · Jan 30, 2025
References Cited (22)
US 8229163B2 · Coleman et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8400448B1 · Doyle, Jr. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8739672B1 · Kelly · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9068794B1 · Sammut · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9121671B2 · Everett · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9310163B2 · Bay · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9323061B2 · Edwards et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9464871B2 · Bay · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 10274286B2 · Maryfield et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10458753B2 · Sammut et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10948265B2 · Sammut et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 12141113B2 · Underwood · 2024 [cited by examiner]
US 20060028556A1 · Bunn et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 20130192451A1 · Scott et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20160252325A1 · Sammut et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20160330601A1 · Srivastava · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180372445A1 · Myers et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190186857A1 · Galie et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200180784A1 · Frucht · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200333096A1 · Galie et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
CH 632585A5 · 1982 [cited by applicant]
KR 20090113837A · 2009 [cited by applicant]