US 10,704,863 B1Granted

System for tracking a presumed target using network-connected lead and follower scopes, and scope for configured for use in the system

AssigneesDouglas Fougnies, Robert A. Pressman, Larry L. Day

InventorsDouglas Fougnies, Robert A. Pressman, Larry L. Day, Taylor J. Carpenter

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Abstract

A network of scopes, including one or more lead scopes and one or more follower scopes, is provided to allow scope operators of the respective scopes to track the same presumed target. A lead scope locates a target and communicates target position data of the presumed target to the follower scope. The follower scope uses the target position data and its own position data to electronically generate indicators for use to prompt the operator of the follower scope to make position movements so as to re-position the follower scope from its current target position to move towards the target position defined by the target position data received from the lead scope.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A system for tracking a presumed target using scopes that are remotely located from each other, the presumed target having a target position, the system comprising:

(a) a first scope including:
(i) a first plurality of measurement devices, and
(ii) a first processor configured to:
(A) identify current target position data regarding a presumed target that is located by the first scope, the current target position data being identified using the plurality of measurement devices in the first scope, and
(B) electronically communicate the current target position data regarding the presumed target identified by the first scope to a computer via an electronic network;
and
(b) a second scope configured to be moved by a scope operator, the second scope including:
(i) a second plurality of measurement devices, and
(ii) a second processor configured to:
(A) identify current target position data of the second scope's current target position using the second plurality of measurement devices in the second scope;
(B) communicate with the computer via the electronic network to receive the current target position data regarding the presumed target identified by the first scope;
(C) calculate, using its current target position data and the current target position data received from the first scope, position movements that are required to move the second scope from its current target position to the target position of the presumed target identified by the first scope, and
(D) output electronically generated indicators for use by the scope operator of the second scope to manually re-position the second scope from its current target position to move towards the target position defined by the current target position data of the presumed target identified by the first scope.

10 more elements

A scope configured to be a lead scope or a follower scope, the scope comprising:

(a) a plurality of measurement devices configured to collect data that is necessary to identify current target position data for a presumed target that is located by the scope, wherein the presumed target has a target position;
(b) a network interface configured to:
(i) electronically communicate current target position data of the presumed target identified by the scope to an electronic network for sending via the electronic network to a follower scope when the scope is configured to act as a lead scope, and
(ii) receive via the electronic network current target position data of a presumed target that was previously identified by a lead scope and communicated to the electronic network when the scope is configured to act as a follower scope;
and
(c) a processor, in communication with the network interface and the plurality of measurement devices, configured to:
(i) calculate the current target position data of the scope from the data collected by the plurality of measurement devices, and
(ii) calculate, using the current target position data of the scope and the current target position data received from the lead scope, position movements that are required to move the scope from its current target position to the target position of the presumed target identified by the lead scope when the scope is configured to act as a follower scope, and
wherein the position movements are used to re-position the scope from its current target position to move towards the target position of the presumed target identified by the lead scope when the scope is configured to act as a follower scope.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/700,576Filed 2 Dec 2019 · continuation
Priority: 11 Aug 2017
Published: US 2020/0208944 A12 Jul 2020
Granted: 7 Jul 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

F41G 3/02
Aiming or laying means: using an independent line of sight
F41G 1/38
Sighting devices: telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance ; Supports or mountings therefor
F41G 3/04
Aiming or laying means: for dispersing fire from a battery ; for controlling spread of shots; for coordinating fire from spaced weapons
F41G 3/065
With rangefinder: structural association of sighting devices with laser telemeters

Family

Application62/544,124Us provisional application · filed 11 Aug 2017
Application16/057,247Parent of this continuation · filed 7 Aug 2018
Application16/390,330Parent of this continuation · filed 22 Apr 2019
US 10,267,598 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Apr 2019
US 10,495,414 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2019/0049219 A1Published application
US 2019/0316879 A1Published application
US 2020/0208944 A1Published application
US 10,704,863 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.