U.S. patent application number 11/297296 was filed with the patent office on 2008-04-24 for weapon sight assembly and weapon system including same.
This patent application is currently assigned to ITL Optronics Ltd.. Invention is credited to Israel Rom.
Application Number | 20080094473 11/297296 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36603342 |
Filed Date | 2008-04-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080094473 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Rom; Israel |
April 24, 2008 |
Weapon sight assembly and weapon system including same
Abstract
A weapon sight assembly, comprising: a platform for mounting the
weapon sight assembly on a weapon; a weapon sight carried by said
platform to facilitate orienting the weapon in alignment with a
target in a field of view; a video camera carried by the platform
for generating and outputting video signals corresponding to the
viewed field; a video transmitter for transmitting the video
signals; and a controller for controlling the video camera and the
video transmitter.
Inventors: |
Rom; Israel; (Reut,
IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Martin Moynihan;PRTSI, Inc.
P.O.Box 16446
Arlington
VA
22215
US
|
Assignee: |
ITL Optronics Ltd.
Petach-Tikva
IL
|
Family ID: |
36603342 |
Appl. No.: |
11/297296 |
Filed: |
December 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/158 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 3/165 20130101;
F41G 3/2611 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/158 |
International
Class: |
H04N 7/18 20060101
H04N007/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 25, 2005 |
IL |
166488 |
Claims
1. A weapon sight assembly, comprising: a platform for mounting the
weapon sight assembly on a weapon; a weapon sight carried by said
platform to facilitate orienting the weapon in alignment with a
target in a field of view; a video camera carried by said platform
for generating and outputting video signals corresponding to the
viewed field; a video transmitter for transmitting said video
signals; and a controller for controlling said video camera and
said video transmitter.
2. The weapon sight assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
video transmitter is a short-range space transmitter having a range
in the order of two meters or less.
3. The weapon sight assembly according to claim 2, wherein said
assembly further comprises: a digital compass for determining the
direction of orientation of the weapon and for outputting data
signals corresponding thereto; and a short-range data transmitter
for transmitting said data signals a short distance of the order
one meter or less.
4. The weapon sight assembly according to claim 3, wherein said
assembly further comprises: a data receiver for receiving data
signals transmitted through space; and a projector for optically
projecting onto the field of view data from said digital compass
and/or data received by said receiver.
5. The weapon sight assembly according to claim 4, wherein said
assembly further comprises: a global positioning system (GPS) unit
for geographically locating the weapon on which the weapon sight
assembly is carried, and for outputting data signals corresponding
thereto for transmission by said data transmitter.
6. The weapon sight assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
platform is constructed for mounting on a rifle barrel.
7. A weapon system, comprising: a weapon sight assembly according
to claim 2 for mounting on a weapon; and portable communication
apparatus constructed for carrying by an individual operating the
weapon and for communicating with with said weapon sight
assembly.
8. The weapon system according to claim 7, wherein said portable
communication apparatus comprises: a short-range video receiver for
receiving the video signals transmitted by the video transmitter of
said weapon sight assembly; and a monitor for displaying the region
viewed by said video camera as preseuted by the video signals
transmitted by said video transmitter.
9. The weapon system according to claim 8, wherein said portable
communication apparatus comprises; a first unit including said
short-range video receiver, and a second unit including said
monitor.
10. The weapon system according to claim 9, wherein said second
unit of the portable communication apparatus is cable-connected to
said first unit of the portable communication apparatus.
11. The weapon system according to claim 9, wherein said first unit
of the portable communication apparatus is constructed so as to be
attachable to the body of the individual operating the weapon for
convenient carrying by said individual; and said second unit of the
portable communication apparatus is constructed so as to be
attachable to the arm or other part of the body, or to be carried
by the hand, of the individual operating the weapon for convenient
viewing by said individual.
12. The weapon system according to claim 8, wherein said portable
communication apparatus further comprises a long-range video
transmitter for transmitting the received video signals to a more
distant location with respect to that of the weapon.
13. The weapon system according to claim 12, wherein said portable
communication apparatus further comprises: a short-range data
receiver for receiving data from said weapon sight assembly; and a
long-range data transmitter for transmitting the received data to
said distant location.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from Israel Patent
Application No. 166488, filed on Jan. 25, 2005, the contents of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to weapon systems, and
particularly to weapon sights used by such weapons to facilitate
their orientation with respect to a target. The invention is
particularly useful with respect to weapon sights for rifles and is
therefore described below with respect to such an application, but
it will be appreciated that the invention could be used with other
types of weapons, such as grenade launchers, and the like.
[0003] A soldier-combatant during a military operation may be
confronted with the need to see around a corner or over an obstacle
without personal exposure. Other serious problems involved during
military operations include the need to communicate battlefield
conditions in real time to commanders or to headquarters, and the
need for the individual soldier-combatants to receive commands,
instructions, or other information in real time from commanders or
from headquarters.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a weapon
sight assembly, and also a weapon system including such a weapon
site assembly, having advantages in one or more of the above
respects.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is a
provided a weapon sight assembly, comprising: a platform for
mounting the weapon sight assembly on a weapon; a weapon sight
carried by the platform to facilitate orienting the weapon in
alignment with a target in a field of view; a video camera carried
by the platform for generating and outputting video signals
corresponding to the viewed field; a video transmitter for
transmitting the video signals; and a controller for controlling
the video camera and the video transmitter.
[0006] In the described preferred embodiment, the video transmitter
is a short-range space transmitter having a range in the order of
two meters or less to enable communication with a
proximally-located portable communication apparatus.
[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is a provided a weapon system, comprising: a weapon sight assembly
as set forth above for mounting on a weapon; and portable
communication apparatus constructed for carrying by an individual
operating the weapon and for communicating with the weapon sight
assembly. In the described preferred embodiment, the portable
communication apparatus comprises a short-range video receiver for
receiving the video signals transmitted by the video transmitter of
the weapon sight assembly; and a monitor for displaying the region
viewed by the video camera as presented by the video signals
transmitted by the video transmitter.
[0008] According to further features in the described preferred
embodiment, the portable communication apparatus comprises a first
unit including the short-range video receiver, and a second unit
including the monitor. Preferably, the second unit is
cable-connected to the first unit. In the described embodiment, the
first unit is constructed so as to be attachable to the body of the
individual operating the weapon for convenient carrying by such
individual and the second unit is constructed so as to be
attachable to the arm or other body part, or to be carried by the
hand, of the individual operating the weapon for convenient viewing
by such individual.
[0009] According to still further features in the described
preferred embodiment, the portable communication apparatus further
comprises a long-range video transmitter for transmitting the
received video signals to a commander or headquarters at a distant
location; a short-range data receiver for receiving data from the
weapon sight assembly; and a long-range transmitter for
transmitting the received data to the distant location.
[0010] In the described preferred embodiment, the weapon site
assembly further comprises a digital compass for determining the
direction of orientation of the weapon and for outputting data
signals corresponding thereto; and a short-range data transmitter
for transmitting the data signals to the data communication
apparatus located a short distance from there, of the order two
meters or less. In the described preferred embodiment, the weapon
sight assembly further comprises a data receiver for receiving data
signals transmitted through space; and a projector for optically
projecting onto the field of view data from the digital compass
and/or data received by the receiver.
[0011] Also included in the described preferred embodiment is a
global positioning system (GPS) unit for geographically locating
the weapon on which the weapon sight assembly is carried, and for
outputting data signals corresponding thereto for transmission by
the data transmitter to the commander or to headquarters. For
purposes of example, the invention is described below wherein the
platform is constructed for mounting on a rifle barrel, but it will
be appreciated that the invention could also be used with other
weapons, for example, grenade launchers and the like.
[0012] As will be described more particularly below, a weapon sight
assembly constructed in accordance with the foregoing features
provides a number of advantages which may be of critical importance
during battlefield conditions. Thus, the forgoing features of the
invention enable the soldier-combatant carrying the weapon to see
around corners or over protective devices or obstacles without
personal exposure to enemy gunfire. In addition, the invention
enables the weapon also to serve also as an intelligence-gathering
device for gathering information as to battlefield conditions and
for communicating such information to commanders or to headquarters
in real time. Further, the invention enables the soldier-combatant
carrying the weapon to receive immediate commands, instructions or
other information from a commander or from headquarters.
[0013] Further features and advantages of the invention will be
apparent from the description below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The invention is described below, for purposes of example
only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 diagrammatically illustrates one form of weapons
system constructed in accordance with the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the construction of the
weapon sight assembly in the weapon system of FIG. 1; and
[0017] FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates the two units of the
portable communication apparatus in the weapon system of FIG.
1.
[0018] It is to be understood that the drawings, and the
description below, are provided primarily for purposes of
facilitating understand the conceptual aspects of the invention and
various possible embodiments thereof, including what is presently
considered to be a preferred embodiment. In the interests of
clarity and brevity, no attempt is made to provide more details
than necessary to enable one skilled in the art, using routine
skill and design, to understand and practice the described
invention. It is to be further understood that the embodiment
described is for purposes of example only, and that the invention
is capable of being embodied in other forms and applications than
described herein.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0019] The weapon system illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a weapon
sight assembly, generally designated 10, mounted on a weapon, in
this case a rifle; and portable communication apparatus, generally
designated 20, constructed for carrying by an individual operating
the weapon, namely a combatant-soldier, for establishing
communication between the weapon sight assembly 10 and a commander
30 or headquarters 40 at a distant location. As will be more
particularly described below with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3, a
two-way short-range communication loop is established between the
weapon system sight assembly 10 and the portable communication
apparatus 20; and a long-range two-way communication loop is
established between the portable communication apparatus 20 and the
distant location of the commander 30 or headquarters 40.
[0020] The weapon sight assembly 10 mounted on the rifle
illustrated in FIG. 1 is more particularly shown in FIG. 2. It
includes a weapon sight 11 of any desired type to facilitate
orienting the weapon in alignment with a target in the field of
view, and a platform 12 for mounting the weapon sight assembly on
the rifle (or other weapon) e.g. via clamps 12a.
[0021] Weapon sight assembly 10 further includes a video camera 13
carried by platform 12 for generating and outputting video signals
corresponding to the viewed field. It further includes a
short-range video transmitter 14 for transmitting such video
signals to the portable communication apparatus 20. The range of
video transmitter 14 is very short, preferably in the order of one
meter or less, only sufficient to communicate with the
proximally-located portable communication apparatus 20.
[0022] Weapon sight assembly 10 further includes: a digital compass
15 of any known type for determining the direction of orientation
of the weapon (rifle) and for outputting data signals corresponding
to such determined orientation; a data projector 16 for optically
projecting in the field of view data from the digital compass 15;
and a short-range data transceiver (transmitter/receiver) 17 also
in communication with the proximally-located portable communication
apparatus 20.
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the weapon sight assembly 10 may
also include a global positioning system (GPS) unit 18 for
geographically locating the respecting weapon and for outputting
data signals corresponding to the geographical location. Such data
may also be transmitted by the short-range data transceiver 17 to
the proximally-located portable communication apparatus 20.
[0024] The control of all the foregoing components carried by the
weapon sight assembly 10 is effected by a controller 19 also
mounted on platform 12 of assembly 10.
[0025] The portable communication apparatus 20, as shown in FIG. 3.
includes two separate units 21, 22, cable-connected together as
shown at 23. Unit 21 is the larger of the two and is constructed so
as to be attachable to the body of the individual
(soldier-combatant) operating the weapon (rifle). For example, unit
21 may include clips 21a attachable to a protective vest worn by
the individual. Unit 22, the smaller of the two units, is
constructed so as to be attachable to the arm, or to be carried by
the hand, of the individual operating the weapon for convenient
reviews by the individual; for example, unit 22 could be strapped
to this arm, or attached by a bracket to the protective vest of
this individual.
[0026] Smaller unit 22 is used primarily as a monitor for viewing
the video information generated by the video camera 13 in the
weapon sight system 10, or for viewing commands, instructions or
other information transmitted to the individual operating the
weapon by his commander 30 or by headquarters 40. Accordingly, the
smaller unit 22 may be similar in size and construction to a
personal digital assistant (PDA) having a screen 24 for displaying
the foregoing information.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the larger portable communication unit
21 (e.g., constructed so as to be vest-worn by the individual)
includes a short-range video receiver 25 and a short-range data
transceiver 26 for communication with the short-range video
transmitter 14 and the short-range data transceiver 17,
respectively, of the weapon sight assembly illustrated in FIG. 2.
Portable communication unit 21 further includes a long-range video
transmitter 27 and a long-range data transceiver 28, e.g., having a
range of several hundred meters, sufficiently for communicating
with the remotely-located commander 30 or headquarters 40 (FIG. 1).
The foregoing components of the vest-worn portable communication
unit 21 are all controlled by a controller 29 included within that
unit.
[0028] It will be seen that weapon system, including a weapon sight
assembly as illustrated in FIG. 2 and portable communication
apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 3, provides a number of advantages
which can be particularly important during combat conditions.
[0029] Thus, the soldier-combatant carrying the weapon (e.g. rifle)
may use the weapon also to see around a corner or over an obstacle.
This can be done without exposure to possible enemy fire by merely
orienting the weapon carrying the sight assembly such that the
video camera 13 on that assembly views the region of interest. The
video signals outputted from the camera are transmitted via the
short-range transmitter 14 to the proximally-located portable
communication unit 21. The latter unit is cable-connected to the
smaller monitor unit 22 such that the video signals received by the
short-range video receiver 25 of portable communication unit 21 are
displayed to the soldier-combatant on the screen 24 of the smaller
arm-carried or hand-held unit 22.
[0030] Since the sight assembly 10 mounted on the weapon requires
only short-range communication (e.g. of less than one meter) with
the portable communication unit 21, the sight assembly may of
relatively light weight so as to impose a minimum load on the
weapon itself. Also, since the communication between the sight
assembly 10 and the portable communication unit 21 is wireless, the
communication with the portable communication unit 21 imposes no
interference or awkwardness in the use of the weapon.
[0031] Further and as noted above, the portable communication unit
21, which includes not only the short-range communication equipment
for communicating with the weapon sight assembly 10 but also the
long-range communication equipment for communicating the commander
30 and/or headquarters 40, is constructed so as to be conveniently
carried on the body of the individual soldier-combatant, e.g. by
attachment to the combatant's vest. The communication unit
therefore also imposes very little restriction on the movements of
the individual combatant/soldier. In addition, since the actual
field of view is displayed by the small monitor unit 22, which can
also be conveniently carried and maneuvered by the individual
(e.g., by being strapped to the individual's arm or carried by the
individual's hand), the field viewed by the video camera 13 on the
weapon sight assembly 10 may be conveniently seen by the
soldiers-combatant whenever desired.
[0032] The weapon sight assembly 10, and the portable communication
apparatus 20 communicating with it, also serve as an important
intelligence gathering means for real-time gathering and
transmitting, to a commander or to headquarters, information
regarding battlefield conditions. Thus, the video information from
video camera 13, digital compass information from digital compass
15, and/or geographical information from GPS unit 18, all on the
weapon sight assembly 10, may be transmitted to the commander 30
and/or headquarters 40 via the portable communication unit 21.
Further, the commander 30 and/or headquarters 40 may communicate
commands, instructions or other information to the individual
soldier/combatants via the long-range receivers in communication
unit 21. Such commands, instructions or information may also be
displayed on screen 24 of the small monitor unit 22 carried by the
individual.
[0033] In addition, controller 19 carried by the weapon sight
assembly 10 can be directly controlled by the remotely-located
commander 30 and/or by headquarters 40 to initiate operation of the
video camera 13 carried by the weapon sight assembly 10 whenever
desired, or to terminate its operation, e.g. in order to display
urgent information or an urgent command to the individual
soldier/combatant on the small monitor unit 22.
[0034] While the invention has been described with respect to one
preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many variations
and other applications may be made. For example, the weapon sight
assembly 10 could omit one or more of the above-described
components, e.g., the GPS unit 18 or the digital compass unit 15.
Alternatively, the weapon sight assembly could include additional
components, e.g., a microphone to enable voice communication with
the commander or headquarters.
[0035] Many other variations, modifications and applications of the
invention will be apparent.
* * * * *