Apparatus and method for powering and networking a rail of a firearm

摘要

Disclosed is a rail (410) for attaching accessories to a weapon. The rail includes a plurality of slots (420) and a plurality of ribs (422) each being located in an alternating fashion on a surface of the rail (410). The rail (410) also includes a first plurality of pins (424) each having an end portion located on a surface of one of a first plurality of the plurality of ribs. The rail (410) further includes a second plurality of pins (425) each having a first end portion and a second end portion located on a surface of a second plurality of the plurality of ribs. The second plurality of pins (425) may be magnetised by a magnet in the accessory and consequently close a magnetic switch in the rail (410) to detect attachment of the accessory to the rail (410).