Jun 23, 2026

US12663232 - Smart piston

A smart piston for a countermeasure expendable. The smart piston may include a main body, a gasket that operably engages with the main body, and an electronic system that is carried by the main body. Upon assembly, the electronic system of the smart piston is positioned between the main body and the gasket. The electronic system of the smart piston is configured to provide electrical communication to a payload of countermeasure expendable by passing the electrical communication through the main body to the payload of the countermeasure expendable where the electronic system and the payload are spaced apart from one another.

Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
Inventors: Jeffrey A. Gensler
Filing date: 2023-08-03

countermeasureexpendablepistonelectronicdefensespraydeterrentcompositionwaveabsorbingmaterial

The patent describes a smart piston designed for countermeasure expendables, featuring a main body, a gasket, and an integrated electronic system that facilitates electrical communication with a payload. This electronic system includes a circuit board, multiple electrical ports with varying amperage ratings, and connecting pins to ensure effective signal transmission between components.

Claim 1

1 . A smart piston for a countermeasure expendable, the smart piston comprising: a main body; a gasket operably engaged with the main body; and an electronic system carried by the main body; wherein the electronic system is in electrical communication with a payload of the countermeasure expendable and is positioned between the main body and the gasket; a main body; a gasket operably engaged with the main body; and an electronic system carried by the main body; wherein the electronic system is in electrical communication with a payload of the countermeasure expendable and is positioned between the main body and the gasket; wherein the electronic system comprises: an electronic circuit board; at least one electrical port operably engaged with the electronic circuit board and having a first amperage rating for sending at least one communication signal; and a set of connecting pins operably engaged with the electronic circuit board and the at least one electrical port; wherein the electronic circuit board, the at least one electrical port, and the set of connecting pins are in electrical communication with one another; and an electronic circuit board; at least one electrical port operably engaged with the electronic circuit board and having a first amperage rating for sending at least one communication signal; and a set of connecting pins operably engaged with the electronic circuit board and the at least one electrical port; wherein the electronic circuit board, the at least one electrical port, and the set of connecting pins are in electrical communication with one another; and wherein the electronic system further comprises: at least another electrical port operably engaged with the electronic circuit board and the set of connecting pins and having a second amperage rating that is greater than the first amperage rating of the at least one electrical port for sending at least one power signal; wherein the electronic circuit board, the at least one electrical port, the at least another electrical port, and the set of connecting pins are in electrical communication with one another. at least another electrical port operably engaged with the electronic circuit board and the set of connecting pins and having a second amperage rating that is greater than the first amperage rating of the at least one electrical port for sending at least one power signal; wherein the electronic circuit board, the at least one electrical port, the at least another electrical port, and the set of connecting pins are in electrical communication with one another.

Google Patents

https://patents.google.com/patent/US12663232

USPTO PDF

https://image-ppubs.uspto.gov/dirsearch-public/print/downloadPdf/12663232