U.S. patent application number 14/307437 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-02 for rifle scope having elevation and windage ocular display.
This patent application is currently assigned to KRUGER OPTICAL, INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is KRUGER OPTICAL, INC.. Invention is credited to Mark A. Thomas, Mitchell Thomas.
Application Number | 20140290113 14/307437 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50776511 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140290113 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Thomas; Mark A. ; et
al. |
October 2, 2014 |
Rifle Scope Having Elevation and Windage Ocular Display
Abstract
A rifle scope that includes an optical train defining an optical
axis having a pointing direction. The optical train has an erector
tube pivotably mounted in the scope housing and having a front end.
The scope also includes an elevation and windage angle adjustment
assembly, including a user input; an actuator assembly that changes
the optical axis pointing direction in response to input from the
user input, by pivoting the erector tube; a sensing and computing
assembly that includes a laser assembly that produces a laser beam
that is directed through the erector tube, a mirror that reflects
the laser beam to a two-axis positioning sensor, and a data
processor that computes the optical axis pointing direction in
response to input from the two-axis positioning sensor; and an
ocular display assembly, that displays the optical axis pointing
direction as an image superimposed on the image of the field of
view.
Inventors: |
Thomas; Mark A.; (Sisters,
OR) ; Thomas; Mitchell; (Sisters, OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KRUGER OPTICAL, INC. |
TIGGARD |
OR |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
KRUGER OPTICAL, INC.
Tiggard
OR
|
Family ID: |
50776511 |
Appl. No.: |
14/307437 |
Filed: |
June 17, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
PCT/US13/70930 |
Nov 20, 2013 |
|
|
|
14307437 |
|
|
|
|
61728520 |
Nov 20, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
42/114 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41G 1/36 20130101; F41G
1/38 20130101; G02B 23/02 20130101; G02B 23/10 20130101; G02B
23/105 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
42/114 |
International
Class: |
F41G 1/36 20060101
F41G001/36 |
Claims
1. A rifle scope, comprising: (a) a scope housing; (b) an optical
train, supported in the scope housing and defining an optical axis
having a pointing direction, and having: (i) an objective lens set,
which accepts light into the optical train and defines a scope
front end; (ii) an erector tube pivotably mounted in the scope
housing and having a front end; and (iii) an ocular portion,
adapted to present an image of a field of view to a user and
defining a scope back end; (c) an elevation and windage angle
adjustment assembly, including (i) an elevation and windage angle
adjustment user input assembly; (ii) an actuator assembly that
changes the optical axis pointing direction in response to input
from the user input assembly, by pivoting the erector tube; (iii) a
sensing and computing assembly that includes a laser assembly that
produces a laser beam that is directed through the erector tube and
a mirror that reflects the laser beam to a two-axis positioning
sensor, and a data processor that computes the optical axis
pointing direction in response to input from the two-axis
positioning sensor; and (iv) an ocular display assembly,
communicatively connected to the sensor assembly, that displays the
optical axis pointing direction as an image superimposed on the
image of the field of view.
2. A rifle scope, comprising: (a) a scope housing; (b) an optical
train, supported in the scope housing and defining an optical axis
having a pointing direction, and having: (i) an objective lens set,
which accepts light into the optical train and defines a scope
front end; (ii) an erector tube pivotably mounted in the scope
housing and having a front end; and (iii) an ocular portion,
adapted to present an image of a field of view to a user and
defining a scope back end; (c) an elevation and windage angle
adjustment assembly, including (i) an elevation and windage angle
adjustment user input assembly; (ii) an actuator assembly that
changes the optical axis pointing direction in response to input
from the user input assembly, by pivoting the erector tube; (iii) a
sensing and computing assembly that includes two orthogonally
positioned hall effect sensors positioned to detect the position of
the erector tube front end and forms a determination of optical
axis pointing direction from readings from the sensors; and (iv) an
ocular display assembly, communicatively connected to the sensor
assembly, that displays the optical axis pointing direction as an
image superimposed on the image of the field of view.
3. A rifle scope, comprising: (a) a scope housing; (b) an optical
train, supported in the scope housing and defining an optical axis
having a pointing direction, and having: (i) an objective lens set,
which accepts light into the optical train and defines a scope
front end; (ii) an erector tube pivotably mounted in the scope
housing and having a front end; and (iii) an ocular portion,
adapted to present an image of a field of view to a user and
defining a scope back end; (c) an elevation and windage angle
adjustment assembly, including (i) an elevation and windage angle
adjustment user input assembly; (ii) an actuator assembly that
changes the optical axis pointing direction in response to input
from the user input assembly, by pivoting the erector tube; (iii) a
sensing and computing assembly that includes two orthogonally
positioned lasers and two orthogonally positioned laser detectors,
positioned to detect the position of the erector tube front end and
that forms a determination of optical axis pointing direction from
readings from the detectors; and (iv) an ocular display assembly,
communicatively connected to the sensor assembly, that displays the
optical axis pointing direction as an image superimposed on the
image of the field of view.
4. A rifle scope, comprising: (a) a scope housing; (b) an optical
train, supported in the scope housing and defining an optical axis
having a pointing direction, and having: (i) an objective lens set,
which accepts light into the optical train and defines a scope
front end; (ii) an erector tube pivotably mounted in the scope
housing and having a front end; and (iii) an ocular portion,
adapted to present an image of a field of view to a user and
defining a scope back end; (c) an elevation and windage angle
adjustment assembly, including (i) an elevation and windage angle
adjustment user input assembly; (ii) an actuator assembly that
includes a cam set about the front end of the erector tube, and
being responsive to the user input assembly, so that when the cam
is rotated the erector tube pointing angle is changed, thereby
changing the optical axis pointing direction in response to input
from the user input assembly, by pivoting the erector tube; (iii) a
sensing and computing assembly that forms a determination of
optical axis pointing direction; and (iv) an ocular display
assembly, communicatively connected to the sensor assembly, that
displays the optical axis pointing direction as an image
superimposed on the image of the field of view.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application serial
number PCT/US/70930, filed on Nov. 20, 2013, which is incorporated
herein by reference as if fully set forth herein, and which, in
turn, claims priority from provisional application Ser. No.
61/728,520, filed Nov. 20, 2012, which is also incorporated by
reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Elevation and windage knobs have long been an important part
of a rifle scope. The elevation knob causes the optical axis of the
scope to point slightly downwardly, so that the shooter will point
the rifle up, relative to how it would otherwise be pointed for the
same position of the reticle on a field of view. The windage knob
performs the same function for azimuth, so that a shooter can
compensate for the presence of a cross-wind. These knobs, however,
do present shooters with some difficulties.
[0003] First, there is the problem always inherent in a mechanical
linkage, of inaccuracy introduced by imperfections in the train of
parts leading from the knob to the pivotably mounted optical
element that is moved to adjust elevation and windage angle
(collectively, "optical axis pointing angle"). There is an
inevitable tolerance in each part, and some looseness in the
system, which introduces uncertainty and inaccuracy into the
pointing angle of the scope. These inaccuracies tend to be greatest
at the far ends of the adjustment range. U.S. Pat. No. 6,862,832
does address this problem by introducing a system in which the
pointing angle of the optical element is measured by an optical
sensor. But neither this sensor, nor its mode of use, appears to be
further described. Accordingly, the measurement accuracy provided
cannot be determined. Further, it cannot be that there is a
thorough disclosure of implementation of a system with actual
measurement of the optical element pointing angle.
[0004] Another problem encountered is that of knob over-rotation.
Typically, both the elevation and windage knobs, in order to
provide the shooter with both a full range and precision
adjustment, can be fully rotated about three times. But this means
that a shooter cannot determine, by simply viewing the knob, how
far it has been rotated. Rather, he must remember how many
rotations have been introduced. This can lead to a miss-adjustment,
which that shooter might perceive only after missing a few
shots.
[0005] Yet another problem is the need to leave shooting position
to check pointing angle, either by removing one's eye from the
scope ocular, or removing one's finger from the trigger to feel the
knob position. Adjusting pointing angle is likely to cause an even
greater interruption in the shot process.
SUMMARY
[0006] The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described
and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods
which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in
scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described
problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments
are directed to other improvements.
[0007] In a first separate aspect the present invention may take
the form of a rifle scope that includes a scope housing and an
optical train, supported in the scope housing and defining an
optical axis having a pointing direction. The optical train has an
objective lens set, which accepts light into the optical train and
defines a scope front; an erector tube pivotably mounted in the
scope housing and having a front end; and an ocular portion,
adapted to present an image of a field of view to a user and
defining a scope back end. The scope also includes an elevation and
windage angle adjustment assembly, including an elevation and
windage angle adjustment user input assembly; an actuator assembly
that changes the optical axis pointing direction in response to
input from the user input assembly, by pivoting the erector tube; a
sensing and computing assembly that includes a laser assembly that
produces a laser beam that is directed through the erector tube and
a mirror that reflects the laser beam to a two-axis positioning
sensor, and a data processor that computes the optical angle
pointing direction in response to input from the two-axis
positioning sensor; and an ocular display assembly, communicatively
connected to the sensor assembly, that displays the optical axis
pointing direction as an image superimposed on the image of the
field of view.
[0008] In a second separate aspect the present invention may take
the form of a rifle scope that includes a scope housing and an
optical train, supported in the scope housing and defining an
optical axis having a pointing direction. The optical train has an
objective lens set, which accepts light into the optical train and
defines a scope front; an erector tube pivotably mounted in the
scope housing and having a front end; and an ocular portion,
adapted to present an image of a field of view to a user and
defining a scope back end. The scope also includes an elevation and
windage angle adjustment assembly, including an elevation and
windage angle adjustment user input assembly; an actuator assembly
that changes the optical axis pointing direction in response to
input from the user input assembly, by pivoting the erector tube; a
sensing and computing assembly that includes two orthogonally
positioned hall effect sensors positioned to detect the position of
the erector tube front end and that forms a determination of
optical axis pointing direction from readings from the sensors; and
an ocular display assembly, communicatively connected to the sensor
assembly, that displays the optical axis pointing direction as an
image superimposed on the image of the field of view.
[0009] In a third separate aspect the present invention may take
the form of a rifle scope that includes a scope housing and an
optical train, supported in the scope housing and defining an
optical axis having a pointing direction. The optical train has an
objective lens set, which accepts light into the optical train and
defines a scope front; an erector tube pivotably mounted in the
scope housing and having a front end; and an ocular portion,
adapted to present an image of a field of view to a user and
defining a scope back end. The scope also includes an elevation and
windage angle adjustment assembly, including an elevation and
windage angle adjustment user input assembly; an actuator assembly
that changes the optical axis pointing direction in response to
input from the user input assembly, by pivoting the erector tube; a
sensing and computing assembly that includes two orthogonally
positioned lasers and two orthogonally positioned laser detectors,
positioned to detect the position of the erector tube front end and
that forms a determination of optical axis pointing direction from
readings from the detectors; and an ocular display assembly,
communicatively connected to the sensor assembly, that displays the
optical axis pointing direction as an image superimposed on the
image of the field of view.
[0010] In a fourth separate aspect the present invention may take
the form of a A rifle scope that includes a scope housing and an
optical train, supported in the scope housing and defining an
optical axis having a pointing direction. The optical train has an
objective lens set, which accepts light into the optical train and
defines a scope front; an erector tube pivotably mounted in the
scope housing and having a front end; and an ocular portion,
adapted to present an image of a field of view to a user and
defining a scope back end. The scope also includes an elevation and
windage angle adjustment assembly, including an elevation and
windage angle adjustment user input assembly; an actuator assembly
that changes the optical axis pointing direction in response to
input from the user input assembly, by pivoting the erector tube;
an actuator assembly that includes a cam set about the front end of
the erector tube, and being responsive to the user input assembly,
so that when the cam is rotated the erector tube pointing angle is
changed, thereby changing the optical axis pointing direction in
response to input from the user input assembly, by pivoting the
erector tube; a sensing and computing assembly that forms a
determination of optical axis pointing direction; and an ocular
display assembly, communicatively connected to the sensor assembly,
that displays the optical axis pointing direction as an image
superimposed on the image of the field of view.
[0011] In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments
described above, further aspects and embodiments will become
apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following
detailed descriptions.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced
drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed
herein are to be considered illustrative rather than
restrictive.
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a rifle scope, according
to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 1B is a side sectional view of a rifle scope, according
to an alternative preferred embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view of the rifle scope of FIG.
1B taken along line 1C-1C.
[0016] FIG. 1D is a perspective view of a rifle scope according to
an additional alternative preferred embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 1E is an exploded detail view of a portion of the rifle
scope of 1D.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a rifle scope according
to an alternative preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a view of the ocular lens of either the scope of
FIG. 1 or the scope of FIG. 2, displaying windage and elevation
angle.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a rifle scope according
to another alternative preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the rifle scope of FIG.
4, taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of a variant of the rifle
scope of FIG. 4, representing the same view as is shown in FIG.
5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a first embodiment of a rifle scope 10
having ocular elevation and windage angle reporting, includes a
housing 12, an erector tube 14, an elevation adjust knob 16, a
windage adjust knob 18, and an ocular or eyepiece 20. To accurately
measure erector tube pointing angle (which is also the optical axis
of the scope), a laser 30 transmits a beam 31 onto a mirror 32,
which in one preferred embodiment reflects light at the frequency
of laser 30 and transmits light at all other frequencies. An
erector tube mirror 34 is attached to the front end of the erector
tube 14, to reflect the laser beam 31 at a right angle to a
two-axis positioning sensor 36, which senses the location at which
the laser beam 31 is striking it. A data processor 38 receives data
from sensor 36 and uses it to compute elevation and windage angles
of the scope optical axis. These angles are sent through a
communicative link (not shown), which in one preferred embodiment
is a conductive wire and in an alternative preferred embodiment is
a fiber optic link, to a display mechanism 40, which projects the
windage and elevation angles, in minutes of angle or milliradians,
onto a mirror 42 which selectively reflects light of the frequency
produced by display mechanism 40 and transmits other light. Mirror
42 reflects the display projected by mechanism 40 onto the lower
portion of the field of view of a user looking through the scope
eyepiece 20 as shown in FIG. 3.
[0024] There are a number of benefits to scope 10, relative to
other scopes. First, a user need not remove his eye from the
eyepiece 20, as he adjusts the elevation knob 16 or the windage
knob 18, or both. Although some scope users may be adept enough to
adjust elevation or windage or both to a desired angle, simply by
feel, any large adjustment made using such a technique could be
dangerously uncertain. The user with pointing angle feedback,
directly in his field of view, has no need to take his eye off of
the eyepiece 20, and can, as a result, adjust the elevation and
windage angles while maintaining a bead on his quarry. This greatly
reduces the amount of time needed to adjust the scope for a shot,
thereby enhancing the possibility of shooting success.
[0025] Additionally, the mechanical linkages used to communicate
positions of knobs 16 and 18 (according to standard prior art
practice) introduce an error in adjustment from knob position to
actual elevation and windage angles. For small adjustments, close
to zero, these errors are relatively small, but for larger
adjustments, the errors become larger as well. For scope 10,
however, this does not matter, because the actual knob position
does not matter. The angle is read directly by sensor 36, and this
is what the user sees projected at eyepiece 20, and it is the
figure to which he adjusts the knob. As this figure should be
highly repeatable, the accuracy between the angle reported to the
shooter and the actual angle differs only by measurement error,
which is comparatively small relative to the mechanical error of
the knobs 16 and 18 and the associated actuation train.
[0026] An alternative preferred embodiment of a rifle scope 48 is
shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. Scope 48 is the same as scope 10, except
for that the apparatus for measuring the pointing angle of erector
tube 14 does not include the elements shown for scope 10, but
rather includes a pair of location sensors 50A, 50B and 52A, 52B.
In one preferred embodiment elements 50A and 52A are lasers and
elements 50B and 52B are two-axis position sensors 36. In another
preferred embodiment elements 50A and 52A are laser range finders
(having an extremely short range) and elements 50B and 52B are
reflective. In another preferred embodiment elements 50A and 52A
are hall effect (magnetic) sources and 50B and 52B are hall effect
sensors.
[0027] In an alternative preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1D and
1E, a cam or pair of cams 60 (only one shown) are used in
conjunction with a positioning post or pair of posts 62 (only one
shown), whereby the rotation of cam 60 pushes the front end of tube
14 into a different position. Cam(s) 60 are instrumented to provide
position information for ocular display.
[0028] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, a rifle scope 110, includes
a housing 112 and an erector tube 114. An elevation adjustment
button 116 and a windage adjustment button 118 are electrically
supplied by battery 119 and have outputs leading to a computer 122,
which in response, computes the degree of rotation (around the axis
of housing 112)for wedges 130 and 132 to create the windage and
elevation angles indicated by buttons 116 and 118. In one preferred
embodiment, angles indicated by buttons 116 and 118 are displayed
by projecting mechanism 140, and reflected by specific frequency
reflecting mirror 142, onto the field of view of a user looking
through eyepiece 120, as shown in FIG. 3. Actuators 134 and 136 are
commanded to rotate glass wedges 130 and 132 the amount indicated
by actuator buttons 116 and 118. In one preferred embodiment
encoding is placed on the exterior of the housing for wedges 130
and 132, so that the exact degree of rotation can be read by the
actuators 134 and 136, thereby ensuring accuracy.
[0029] Similar to scope 10, the user of scope 110 does not have to
remove his eye from the eyepiece in order to adjust windage and
elevation angle. Moreover, in a preferred embodiment, the user can
depress one of buttons 116 or 118 constantly to make an adjustment
to the windage and elevation angles, an operation that is somewhat
easier than turning a knob. In a preferred embodiment, buttons 116
and 118 may be depressed simultaneously. In one preferred
embodiment a short press to a button 116 or 118 changes the
direction of angle adjustment.
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, in yet another alternative
preferred embodiment, a rifle scope 210, includes a housing 212 and
an erector tube 214. Similar to scope 110, scope 210 includes an
elevation adjustment button 216 and a windage adjustment button
218, which are powered by a battery 222 and which each send a
signal to data processing unit 220. A reticle 240, having a
crosshairs intersection 250, is positioned at the first image
plane, and is position adjustable by way of elevation adjustment
actuator 242 and a windage adjustment actuator 244 (FIG. 5), which
are opposed by counter-springs 246 and 248, respectively. Actuators
242 and 244 are powered by battery 222 and are controlled by data
processing unit 220, in response to input from windage and
elevation control buttons 216 and 218.
[0031] Because the first image plane is inverted, moving the
reticle to the right, will cause the image of the reticle to move
to the left, causing a the scope and rifle to move to the right,
relative to where it would have been without reticle adjustment,
when the crosshair intersection 250 is aimed at a particular point.
Actuators 242 and 244, collectively with data processing unit 220,
a display mechanism 260 and a mirror 262, form a windage and
elevation detection and reporting assembly. Display mechanism 260
and mirror 262 superimpose the windage and elevation angles 264
(FIG. 3), in minutes of angle, onto the ocular field of view 266
(FIG. 3).
[0032] FIG. 6 shows an alternative preferred embodiment to the
scope of FIGS. 4 and 5, in which manual actuators 252 and 254, in
the form of threaded elements opposed by counter-springs 256 and
258, respectively, are used to move reticle 240 to a desired
position. In one preferred embodiment, this embodiment also reports
windage and elevation through the eyepiece, by having
instrumentation that measure input into manual actuators 252 and
254. But in an alternative preferred embodiment, the exterior of
actuators 252 and 254 are marked, so that a user can ascertain his
elevation and windage adjustment by visually inspecting the
exterior of actuators 252 and 254.
[0033] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have
been discussed above, those possessed of skill in the art will
recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and
sub-combinations, thereof. It is therefore intended that the
following appended claims and claims hereafter introduced are
interpreted to include all such modifications, permutations,
additions and sub-combinations as are within their true spirit and
scope.
* * * * *