US Patent 10551149 Powered accessory platform for weapon

A powered accessory platform for a weapon includes a handguard assembly having an upper handguard portion and an opposed lower handguard portion. The upper handguard portion and the lower handguard portion cooperate to define a sleeve. The sleeve has a proximal end configured to attach to the weapon and a distal end opposite the proximal end. The sleeve is configured to surround at least a portion of the weapon when the proximal end is attached to the weapon. A flexible circuit within the sleeve includes one or more circuit elements disposed on a flexible circuit substrate. An accessory mounting rail is located on a top portion of the upper handguard portion, the mounting rail having at least one electrical connector thereon. A first accessory mounting pad is mechanically and electrically coupled to the accessory mounting rail. A power supply connector on the sleeve is configured to attach a power supply.