U.S. patent application number 11/530070 was filed with the patent office on 2008-03-13 for stealth laser sighting system for firearms.
This patent application is currently assigned to Jerrold Scott Pine. Invention is credited to Paul M Michaels, Jerrold Scott Pine.
Application Number | 20080060248 11/530070 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39168134 |
Filed Date | 2008-03-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080060248 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pine; Jerrold Scott ; et
al. |
March 13, 2008 |
Stealth Laser Sighting System For Firearms
Abstract
A stealth laser sighting system for a firearm includes a
non-visible laser and night imaging device with display. The
stealth laser sighting system combines all of the features required
for stealth laser sighting within a self-contained accessory. The
stealth laser sighting system provides for an optional visible
laser system. and can include features such as electronic
calibration, laser rangefinder compensation, target zoom, projected
graphic laser marking, and windage and elevation adjustments on a
graphical overlay. The stealth laser sighting system can be
packaged as an accessory or all of the features can be integrated
into a firearm.
Inventors: |
Pine; Jerrold Scott; (Boca
Raton, FL) ; Michaels; Paul M; (Boca Raton,
FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jerrold Scott Pine
20701 Waters Edge Court
Boca Raton
FL
33498
US
|
Assignee: |
Pine; Jerrold Scott
Boca Raton
FL
Michaels; Paul M
Boca Raton
FL
|
Family ID: |
39168134 |
Appl. No.: |
11/530070 |
Filed: |
September 8, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/114 ;
42/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/35 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/114 ;
42/146 |
International
Class: |
F41G 1/00 20060101
F41G001/00 |
Claims
1. A laser sighting system for use with a firearm, the firearm
having a barrel having provision for detachably attaching the laser
sighting system, the laser sighting system comprising: at least one
laser disposed and aimed in parallel to an axis of the barrel along
which a bullet is discharged, said at least one laser projecting a
laser spot on a target; an imaging device imaging the laser spot
projected on the target, said imaging device generating there from
a real-time image stream; an imaging display displaying the
real-time image stream being generated, said imaging display
oriented to provide a firearm user a direct view of said imaging
display while the firearm is aimed and discharged; the laser spot
projected by said at least one laser being aligned with a location
where the bullet discharged from the firearm will strike the
target; and a controller controlling a supply of power to said at
least one laser, imaging device, and imaging display to facilitate
operation.
2. The laser sighting system according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one laser projects a non-visible laser spot on the target in
a stealth operating mode.
3. The laser sighting system according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one laser projects selectively a non-visible laser spot on
the target in a stealth operating mode, and projects a visible
laser spot on the target in a non-stealth operating mode.
4. The laser sighting system according to claim 1, wherein said
imaging device is a low light level CCD video camera that generates
a real time video stream to said imaging display, said imaging
display comprising an LCD.
5. The laser sighting system according to claim 1, further
comprising a memory for storing and recalling the real time image
stream generated by said imaging device.
6. The laser sighting system according to claim 3, wherein said at
least one laser produces the visible laser spot and the non-visible
laser spot confined within a single optical path.
7. The laser sighting system according to claim 1, wherein the
laser spot projected by said at least one laser is aligned with the
location where the bullet discharged from the firearm will strike
the target using at least one of a mechanically controlled adjuster
to adjust said at least one laser in its horizontal and vertical
relationship to the axis of the barrel of the firearm and an
electronically controlled adjuster to adjust a graphic overlay on
the said imaging display to provide a visual reference to where the
bullet will strike the target, said graphic overlay includes a
graphic indication of sighting adjustments for range and
windage.
8. The laser sighting system according to claim 7, wherein said
electronically controlled adjuster includes a laser range finder
used to adjust a location of said graphic overlay on the said
imaging display to provide the visual reference to where the bullet
will strike the target.
9. The laser sighting system according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one laser includes an aperture to project a graphical laser
spot, said graphical laser spot provides calibrated marks used for
range and windage adjustment.
10. The laser sighting system according to claim 1, wherein said
controller further controls at least one of a manual activation of
digital zoom and variable zoom lens attached to said imaging
device.
11. The laser sighting system according to claim 1, wherein said
controller includes an accelerometer to allow rapid power-up of the
laser sighting system upon detection of motion of the firearm.
12. A firearm with integral laser sighting system comprising: at
least one laser disposed and aimed in parallel to an axis of a
barrel along which a bullet is discharged, said at least one laser
projecting a laser spot on a target; an imaging device imaging the
laser spot projected on the target, said imaging device generating
there from a real-time image stream; an imaging display displaying
the real-time image stream being generated, said imaging display
oriented to provide a firearm user a direct view of said imaging
display while the firearm is aimed and discharged; the laser spot
projected by said at least one laser being aligned with a location
where the bullet discharged from the firearm will strike the
target; and a controller controlling a supply of power to said at
least one laser, imaging device, and imaging display to facilitate
operation.
13. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 12, wherein said at least one laser projects a non-visible
laser spot on the target in a stealth operating mode.
14. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 12, wherein said at least one laser projects selectively a
non-visible laser spot on the target in a stealth operating mode,
and projects a visible laser spot on the target in a non-stealth
operating mode.
15. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 12, wherein said imaging device is a low light level CCD
video camera that generates a real time video stream to said
imaging display, said imaging display comprising an LCD.
16. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 12, further comprising a memory for storing and recalling the
real time image stream generated by said imaging device.
17. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 14, wherein said at least one laser produces the visible
laser spot and the non-visible laser spot confined within a single
optical path.
18. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 12, wherein the laser spot projected by said at least one
laser is aligned with the location where the bullet discharged from
the firearm will strike the target using at least one of a
mechanically controlled adjuster to adjust said at least one laser
in its horizontal and vertical relationship to the axis of the
barrel of the firearm and an electronically controlled adjuster to
adjust a graphic overlay on the said imaging display to provide a
visual reference to where the bullet will strike the target, said
graphic overlay includes a graphic indication of sighting
adjustments for range and windage.
19. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 18, wherein said electronically controlled adjuster includes
a laser range finder used to adjust a location of said graphic
overlay on the said imaging display to provide the visual reference
to where the bullet will strike the target.
20. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 12, wherein said at least one laser includes an aperture to
project a graphical laser spot, said graphical laser spot provides
calibrated marks used for range and windage adjustment.
21. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 12, wherein said controller further controls at least one of
a manual activation of digital zoom and variable zoom lens attached
to said imaging device.
22. The firearm with integral laser sighting system according to
claim 12, wherein said controller includes an accelerometer to
allow rapid power-up of the laser sighting system upon detection of
motion of the firearm.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Many people own small firearms, such as revolvers, pistols,
and rifles for sport and for protection. The United States
Constitution and state laws permit people to protect themselves. A
person may use force, even deadly force, against another person
when he/she reasonably believes that such force is immediately
necessary for the purpose of protecting him/herself against the use
of unlawful force by such other person. For a firearm to be used in
this manner it needs to be quickly and accurately discharged or
else it may provoke return fire and result in personal injury or
even death.
[0002] A very simplified process describing the discharge of a
firearm, such as a handgun, is to load with ammunition, aim the gun
at a target, and fire the gun by actuating a trigger. The most
common means to aim a gun is the visual alignment of a target with
front and rear mechanical sights typically located along the top
barrel of the gun. While aiming, the top of the front sight should
be level with the top of the rear sight and the front sight should
be centered left/right within the horizontal opening of the rear
sight. Accurate firing using mechanical sighting requires that the
target location, front sight, and rear sight be carefully aligned
on the optical axis of the shooters eye to achieve success. This is
not a process that lends itself to rapid response in an emergency
situation. Many times a gun will need to be discharged rapidly and
is aimed in an intuitive process where the gun is pointed at the
target without mechanical sighting and then discharged. The
accuracy when firing in this manner is marginally effective at
short distances and relatively ineffective at longer distances.
[0003] The aiming accuracy problem has been addressed with the
advent of the development of a laser sight. U.S. Pat. No.
5,179,235, entitled "Pistol Sighting Device", issued Sep. 10, 1991
to Toole, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,086, entitled "Recoil Spring
Guide Mounting for Laser Sight", issued Jun. 19, 1990 to
Houde-Walter, illustrate the utility of lasers for aiming firearms,
such as guns and rifles. After a laser is calibrated to a firearm,
a visible red laser dot shines on the target at the location that a
bullet will strike when fired upon. The firearm can rapidly acquire
a target and be fired from positions not requiring mechanical
sighting. The laser system overcomes the aforementioned limitations
for rapid firing and accuracy and provides a viable means to
protect oneself with a firearm. It will be appreciated that laser
sights are currently available as accessories for firearms and are
available as factory integrated features on stock firearms. When
purchased as an accessory there are a host of universal attachment
methods known in the art to fasten the laser assembly to a firearm.
Many firearms even come with accessory mounts built in. Sometimes
the lasers are mounted below the firearm's barrel, sometimes above
the firearms barrel, and sometimes along side the firearm's barrel.
Additionally the calibration of the laser to the firearm needs to
take into account basic targeting variables such as range
(elevation) and windage. These adjustments are generally made with
mechanical alignment set screws or thumb screws to position the
laser to shine at the point of bullet impact and are also well
known in the art. To assist in the calibration, range finders that
calculate the distance from the firearm to a target are readily
available. Some rangefinders are simple optical sights, some use
sound waves, and some use modulated laser light. Laser sights
require power that generally is provided by batteries, such as
Alkaline or lithium batteries. Some laser sight models take into
account power conservation and have a momentary push button
activated by the thumb on the firearm's grip. Other laser sight
models conserve power by pulsing the laser instead of simply
leaving the laser on steady state. Most laser sights, however, just
have on/off slide switches that steadily drain the batteries.
[0004] One of the statistics that is important concerning use of
firearms for protection is that over 80% of shootings happen in low
light situations. Many accessories for firearms contain either a
visible flashlight or an IR flashlight for night vision. The
ability to aim in low light situations with a visible flashlight
introduces another dangerous issue. While the visible light allows
the shooter to aim effectively, it also creates a clear target for
an intruder to aim back. To circumvent the risk of illuminating
oneself as a target for your opponent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,137,
entitled "Modular Laser Apparatus", Dec. 17, 1996 issued to
Teetzel, includes the use of IR lighting and IR laser sights. When
a shooter does not wish to endanger themself as a target, they
switch to IR illumination and IR laser sighting. While no visible
signature illuminates the shooter to an opponent, the shooter must
now wear night vision seeing technology, preferably in goggle form,
to view the intruder. Typical night vision equipment consists of a
low light-level CCD camera with an image display. Night vision
equipment has in the past been bulky and is certainly not designed
for rapid response. Upon engagement with an intruder, a person
seeking to protect themselves would have to power up the night
vision equipment, put the night vision goggles on, locate their
weapon, and power on the IR laser, to be in a readiness state. Not
only is the time required for this sequence potentially hazardous,
the additional motions required can also disclose your location and
intent. What is ideally needed is a rapidly actuated firearm for
protection that is equipped with a compact calibrated laser sight
that can be used in a stealth mode that utilizes non-visible laser
illumination and has built in night vision capability for sighting.
It will be appreciated that such a firearm of this nature, while
portrayed as a weapon of self-defense has many applications for law
enforcement and military use as well. As an offensive weapon, this
sighting technology facilitates stealth approach and targeting. It
can be used with a host of military firearms, such as the M4
carbine and the M16 rifle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] It is therefore an aspect of the present invention to
provide stealth non-visible laser sighting for a firearm.
[0006] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
both visible laser sighting and stealth non-visible laser sighting
for a firearm.
[0007] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
an attached means to image and display the non-visible laser.
[0008] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
stealth laser sighting capability integral to a firearm.
[0009] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
a compact stealth laser sighting apparatus as an accessory that can
be retrofitted to firearms not factory equipped.
[0010] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
mounting interchangeably above or below the barrel of the
weapon.
[0011] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
rapid or automatic actuation of all laser sighting and imaging
means.
[0012] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
mechanical or electronic adjustment for calibrating the laser to
the gun barrel.
[0013] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
mechanical or electronic adjustment for calibrating range
(elevation) and windage.
[0014] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
automatic detection of range and electronic adjustment of
sighting.
[0015] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
image zoom capabilities to accurately sight long-range targets.
[0016] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
a laser crosshair that projects range and windage adjustments on a
target.
[0017] It is further an aspect of the present invention to provide
memory means to record targeting and shooting events.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are
not limitations of the present invention, and wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a side view of a stealth laser sighting system
attached to a typical handgun according to one embodiment of the
present invention.
[0020] FIGS. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the stealth laser
system in accessory form according to the present invention.
[0021] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are perspective views of the stealth
laser system in accessory form according to an alternate embodiment
of the present invention.
[0022] FIGS. 4A and 4B are front views of the stealth laser system
in accessory form according to the present invention.
[0023] FIGS. 5A and 5B are side views of the stealth laser sighting
system in accessory form illustrating alternate attachments to a
typical handgun according to the present invention.
[0024] FIG. 6 is a side view of a stealth laser sighting system
attached to an M-16 rifle according to the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a stealth laser sighting
system according to another embodiment of the present
invention.
[0026] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the stealth laser sighting
system using dual laser diodes according to the present
invention.
[0027] FIGS. 9A and 9B are electrical schematic diagrams of laser
diodes.
[0028] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a stealth laser sighting
system using a photo detector for sensing range according to the
invention.
[0029] FIG. 11 is top view of a circuit board according to the
present invention.
[0030] FIGS. 12A-12E are perspective views showing an image display
according to the present invention.
[0031] FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views showing the image
display with zoom feature according to the present invention.
[0032] FIG. 14 is a side view of a stealth laser sighting system
integrated within a typical handgun according to yet another
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1 there is shown a typical handgun 10 that
as illustrated is by way of example a Beretta pistol. The handgun
10 has a barrel 15 that is the tube that a bullet travels down when
fired. Along the top of the barrel 15 is a mounting base 16, which
fastens accessories such as gun sights and scopes to the firearm.
There are several types of mounting bases: a Weaver base, a Ruger
base, a Leopold base, various .22 bases or "dovetail" bases are the
most common. Attached to the mounting base 16 is mounting adapter
17 which fastens a stealth laser sighting system 19 in accessory
form in accordance with the present invention to the handgun 10 and
contains mechanical adjustment for elevation and windage.
[0034] FIG. 2A illustrates the stealth laser sighting system 19,
shown by way of example in accessory form in accordance with the
present invention. The stealth laser sighting system 19 houses all
the components necessary to project a non-visible or visible laser
dot, and to then image and display the non-visible dot on its
intended target. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B the stealth laser
sighting system 19 includes laser module housings 21 and 23 which
contain laser modules 22 and 24 respectively. The laser modules are
factory calibrated to be aligned with parallel axial alignment to
each other with beams projected normal to the front surface of the
stealth laser sighting system 19. Each laser module contains a
laser diode of a specific wavelength, appropriate optics to
collimate and focus laser light, and driver circuitry for driving
the laser diode. It should be noted that the electromagnetic
spectrum is only visible in the range of 380 to 780 nm. The
wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum immediately outside the
range that the human eye is able to perceive are called ultraviolet
(UV) at shorter wavelengths (high frequency) and infrared (IR) at
longer wavelengths (low frequency). Laser module 22 contains a
laser diode that projects visible light and is tuned to a
predetermined wavelength, such as a wavelength of 635 nm. It will
be appreciated that the visible light emitting laser diode can be
tuned to any wavelength that is in the visible spectrum. Laser
module 24 contains a laser diode that projects IR non-visible light
and is tuned to a predetermined wavelength, such as a wavelength of
830 nm. It will be appreciated that the non-visible light emitting
laser diode can be tuned at any wavelength that is outside of the
visible spectrum that can be imaged and displayed to make the
non-visible light beam visible. An imaging element 25 is used to
capture and transmit real-time video. Imaging element 25 is
designed to image light in the non-visible spectrum and shift the
light into video in the visible spectrum. The imaging element 25 is
designed to be in parallel axial alignment with the laser modules
22 and 24 and image the field of view where laser modules 22 and 24
illuminate a target. Ideally the center of imaging element 25's
field of view would be located along the axis of the laser modules
22 and 25. In one embodiment of the imaging element 25, the imaging
element is a low light level (lux) CCD imager capable of producing
a grayscale composite video image. The imaging element 25 has by
way of example a 92-degree field of view with a pinhole lens, and
has 420 lines of video resolution. Most importantly the spectral
sensitivity of the CCD imager is by way of example from 200 nm-1000
nm that allows both visible and non-visible light to be displayed
within the visible grayscale output as a video stream. Another
important feature of the CDD imager is that it only requires, by
way of example, as little as 0.01 Lux illumination, which produces
very high contrast images in extremely low light situations. While
this embodiment of the imaging element 25 uses a pinhole lens, it
will be appreciated that any imager can be outfitted with any
combination of lens assemblies to provide a fixed or variable zoom
to provide any field of view desired. The imaging element 25
provides a continuous video stream to the image display 27. The
image display 27 is provided by any display technology that
provides high-resolution video in a compact display that requires
minimal power. In one embodiment of image display 27, the display
is a TFT graphic video LCD assembly that contains by way of example
640.times.480 pixels, displays 4096 colors, is a 1.8 inch (45 mm)
diagonal display with a 1.8 inch (45 mm).times.1.8 inch (45
mm).times.0.25 (6 mm) inch footprint. The image display 27 is
located on the top surface of the stealth laser sighting system 19
and is angled downward from front to back to allow clear visual
inspection while in a comfortable shooting position with the gun
held at arms length in front of one's body at chest height. A
battery compartment 26 holds by way of example either lithium or
alkaline batteries, or batteries that can be recharged and are
selected to allow for a predetermined number of hours of usage,
such as several hours of continuous use. Universal mounting feature
28 is a keyed mating recess designed to accept all of the
previously described mounting adaptors 17. The recessed design
requires proper orientation and facilitates a rigid mount that is
required to maintain the calibration between the sight and the gun.
A three-way switch 29 has by way of example a center off position,
a leftmost position powers up all components providing operation in
a stealth mode, and a rightmost position powers up all components
providing operation in a visible mode.
[0035] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C and FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate another
embodiment of stealth laser sighting system 19. In this embodiment
the imaging display 17 pivots using hinge 32. Within hinge 32 is a
rotary switch 33 that automatically powers up the stealth laser
sighting system 19 in a stealth mode when the imaging display 17 is
opened. Stealth mode powers up a non-visible light emitting laser
24, imaging element 25 and imaging display 17. This automatic power
actuation allows for rapid deployment of a firearm in an emergency
situation. To switch to a visible mode, one needs simply to depress
a mode switch 34. A single actuation of mode switch 34 will turn
off the non-visible light emitting laser 24 and turn on a visible
light-emitting laser 22. Actuation again of mode switch 34 will
turn off the imaging element 25 and imaging display 17, which
conserves power since the visible source can be seen without the
aid of imaging element 25 and the imaging display 17. Depressing
mode switch 34 again will begin the cycle again and place the
stealth laser sighting system 19 into the stealth mode.
[0036] FIGS. 3C and 4B show how compact the profile of the stealth
laser sighting system 19 is when the display housing 35 is in the
closed position. The intent of the narrow profile when the imaging
display 17 is closed is to contain the module as much as possible
within the confines of the handgun to enable holstering the
firearm.
[0037] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate multiple mounting locations of
the stealth laser sighting system 19 to handgun 10.
[0038] FIG. 6 illustrates the preferred use of the stealth laser
sight 19 when attached to an automatic or semi-automatic firearm
60, which as illustrated is by way of example an M-16 army
rifle.
[0039] FIG. 7 illustrates the use of a single laser element on
stealth laser sighting system 19. This version does not contain the
visible laser module 22 or a laser module housing 21.
[0040] Referring to FIGS. 8, 9A, and 9B, FIG. 8 illustrates a
stealth laser sighting system 19 that uses a dual output laser
module 80. The dual output laser module 80 contains a single set of
collimating optics, a dual laser diode and driver circuitry. FIG.
9A illustrates a typical schematic for a single mode visible light
emitting laser diode 90. Single mode visible light emitting laser
diode 90 typically includes a photodiode 92 that is used to provide
feedback to control the output of the laser power and includes a
laser diode 94 that is tuned to produce laser light in the visible
spectrum. FIG. 9B illustrates a typical schematic for a dual mode
laser diode 95. The dual mode laser diode 95 includes a photodiode
92, a laser diode 94 tuned to the visible spectrum, and a laser
diode 96 tuned to the non-visible spectrum. This packaging
conserves cost and space that is critical for compactness, and
eliminates the machining tolerance to make the separate visible and
non-visible laser modules parallel as described above regarding
FIGS. 2A and 2B.
[0041] FIG. 10 illustrates the addition of a photo detector 50 that
senses laser light for purposes of calculating the range to a
target. A laser range finder, or LIDAR (Light Detection And
Ranging), uses the laser beam from laser module 22 in order to
determine the distance to an opaque object. The laser range finder
works by sending a laser pulse in a narrow beam towards a target
and measuring how long it takes for the pulse to bounce off the
target and return. The pulse can be coded in order to reduce the
chance that the laser range finder can be jammed. It will be
appreciated that a LIDAR that uses very short (sharp) laser pulses
and has a very fast detector can range on object to within a few
centimeters. The distance from the firearm to the target is used to
set the laser sight elevation, to calibrate where the bullet will
strike a target.
[0042] FIG. 11 is a view of a circuit board 51 that is enclosed
within stealth laser sighting system 19. Circuit board 51
incorporates a micro controller unit 52 that can perform
calculations and processes for the LIDAR. Circuit board 51 also can
incorporate an accelerometer IC 53 and associated circuitry that
can detect motion of the firearm and automatically power up the
stealth laser sighting system 19 in stealth mode for quick firearm
response. Circuit board 51 also can incorporate a display driver 54
that is used to process all of the video information, add video
overlays, and drive the imaging display 27 as required. A memory 62
can be incorporated to record the video information delivered from
the imaging element 25. The memory 62 can be permanently
incorporated onto the circuit board 51, or can be removable, such
as provided using a Flash RAM or a flash memory card. The content
of memory 62 can be reviewed or transferred to other media, and
used as visual evidence of the circumstances of the discharge of
the firearm.
[0043] FIG. 12A illustrates an image as seen on imaging display 27
when the stealth laser sighting system 19 is used in stealth mode.
A laser spot 55, which is not visible directly on the target to the
human eye, shows up on the imaging display 27 on the intended
target where a bullet will strike once the stealth laser sighting
system 19 and firearm are mechanically aligned and calibrated to
each other as described above.
[0044] FIG. 12B illustrates the addition of laser apertures 56 that
cause the stealth laser sighting system 10 to project a targeting
grid 57 on the target instead of projecting just a laser spot 55 as
described above. Laser apertures 56 can have, as shown by example,
cross hatches that are indicative of windage and elevation
adjustments that can be made prior to shooting by aiming the sight
through a particular cross hatch on targeting grid 57 instead of
the center of the target crosshair on targeting grid 57.
[0045] FIG. 12C illustrates the addition of an electronic video
overlay of a crosshair 58. The electronic video overlay of a
crosshair 58 highlights the location of laser spot 55, which makes
the laser spot 55 easier to see on imaging display 27. Additionally
the electronic video overlay of the crosshair 58 can have cross
hatches that are indicative of windage and elevation adjustments,
as described above, that can be made prior to shooting by aiming
the sight through a particular cross hatch instead of the center of
the target crosshair. In this case the laser spot 55, imaging
element 25, and the handgun 10 need to be mechanically aligned, for
the calibrations to aim the firearm effectively.
[0046] FIG. 12D illustrates when the laser spot 55 and the handgun
10 are not mechanically aligned. To accurately calibrate the
stealth laser sighting system 19 and the handgun 10, an electronic
video overlay of a crosshair 59 is manually positioned using a
button-sized joystick 68 where the bullet would strike when aimed.
A similar sighting process known in the art for mechanical
alignment of a sight and a gun would be used to perform this
calibration accurately. To accurately fire the firearm, the shooter
would align the target with crosshairs 59 instead of the actual
laser spot 55.
[0047] FIG. 12E illustrates an auto laser range finder that would
automatically offset crosshair 65 to account for range relative to
the laser spot 55. The shooter would aim at the center of the
crosshair to place a bullet accurately in the target from the
actual distance the firearm was fired.
[0048] FIG. 13A illustrates a long range shot as imaged on imaging
display 27. Upon actuation of a digital zoom button 69 or
rotational adjustment of a zoom lens 77, the image illustrated in
FIG. 13B zooms in to fill the viewing screen to make it easier to
sight the target. It will be appreciated that both optical zoom,
where a lens attached to the imaging device 17 is rotated, and
digital zoom, where a portion of the image is digitally enlarged,
serve identical functions.
[0049] FIG. 14 takes all of the features described above as a
modular accessory for a small firearm and integrates the stealth
laser sighting system 19 directly into the housing of firearm 100.
All of the stealth features and functionality of the stealth laser
sighting system 19 are contained within the firearm body and all
rigid alignments are maintained.
[0050] It will thus be seen that the description set forth above,
and those made apparent from the preceding descriptions, are
effectively attained and since certain changes may be made in the
above construction without departing from the spirit and scope of
the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the
above description or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be
interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
[0051] It is also to be understood that the following claims are
intended to cover all generic and specific features of the
invention herein described and all statements of scope of the
present invention, which as a matter of language, might be said to
fall there between.
* * * * *