Optical system with cant indication
AssigneeSig Sauer, Inc.
InventorsAndrew W. York, Gregory Scott Smith
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic indicator on a see-through optical scope indicates whether an optical system is canted. The visual indicator may include one or more LEDs coupled to a microprocessor that is also coupled to a solid-state electronic inclinometer incorporated into the internal structure of the optical system. The microprocessor is configured to selectively illuminate the visual indicator based on the output of the inclinometer, thereby indicating how the reticle is canted, if at all.
Claims20
A sighting device for a firearm, comprising:
- a housing structured to be secured to the firearm;
- a see-through optic made from a transparent material disposed within the housing;
- a target reticle visible when sighting a target through the see-through optic;
- an electronic inclinometer mounted transverse to a long axis of the firearm and structured to determine an amount of roll about the long axis of the firearm;
- and
- an electronic indicator structured to create a visual signal on the target reticle when the electronic inclinometer determines the amount of roll about the long axis of the firearm exceeds a threshold.
A sighting device for a firearm, comprising:
- a housing structured to be secured to the firearm;
- a see-through optic made from a transparent material disposed within the housing;
- a target reticle visible when sighting a target through the see-through optic, the target reticle including a center aperture and a first peripheral aperture;
- and
- an electronic indicator structured to create a visual signal on the target reticle when the electronic inclinometer determines the cant of the firearm exceeds a threshold, in which the electronic indicator includes:
- a light emitting device,
- a light guide structured to carry light generated by the light-emitting device to the center aperture of the reticle,
- a second light-emitting device, and
- a second light guide structured to carry light generated by the second light-emitting device to the first peripheral aperture of the reticle.
A riflescope, comprising:
- a riflescope body structured to be securely fixed to a rifle;
- a see-through optic made from a transparent material disposed within the riflescope body;
- a target reticle visible when sighting a target through the see-through optic;
- an electronic inclinometer structured to determine an amount of roll about a long axis of the firearm;
- and
- an electronic indicator structured to create a visual signal on the target reticle when the electronic inclinometer determines the amount of roll about the long axis of the firearm exceeds a threshold.
A riflescope, comprising:
- a riflescope body structured to be securely fixed to a rifle;
- a see-through optic made from a transparent material disposed within the riflescope body;
- a target reticle visible when sighting a target through the see-through optic, the target reticle including a center aperture and a first peripheral aperture;
- and
- an electronic indicator structured to create a visual signal on the target reticle when the electronic inclinometer determines the cant of the firearm exceeds a threshold, in which the electronic indicator includes:
- a light emitting device,
- a light guide structured to carry light generated by the light-emitting device to the center aperture of the reticle,
- a second light-emitting device, and
- a second light guide structured to carry light generated by the second light-emitting device to the first peripheral aperture of the reticle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.