US 2015/0176948 A1 · ELECTRO-OPTIC SYSTEM FOR CROSSWIND MEASUREMENT

Abstract

An electro-optic system, e.g., mounted to a weapon, measures down range winds and a range-to-target for compensating the ballistic hit point. The system may include an optical light source, collimated to generate a laser spot on the target. The system may include a wind measurement receiver that captures laser light scattered from the target. The captured light may be modulated by atmospheric scintillation eddies, producing optical patterns which change in time and move with the crosswind. These patterns may be analyzed by a processor using covariance techniques to determine path-integrated crosswinds and associated errors. Ranging is done by measuring the time of flight of the laser pulse to the target collecting the scattered signal from the target. Compensated ballistic hit point, measurement errors and other data may be displayed on a micro-display digital eyepiece, overlaid on the real-time image of the target.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A portable integrated system encased in a housing comprising:

an optical transmitter;
an optical receiver;
a display device;
and
a processor,
wherein:
the optical transmitter produces a collimated laser beam to illuminate a spot on the target,
the optical receiver comprises first and second wind measurement channels separated in a horizontal direction by a predetermined distance to receive optical signals from light transmitted by the optical transmitter and scattered back from a target, and convert the optical signals to obtain time varying electrical signals,
the processor processes the time varying electrical signals from the first and second wind measurement channels to determine a time delay from which a path-weighted average crosswind toward the target is calculated,
the processor calculates, based on the path-weighted average crosswind and range, an offset aim point, and
the offset aim point is displayed on the display device.

8 more elements

A portable system comprising:

an optical transmitter;
an optical receiver;
a display device;
and
a processor programmed to:
receive signals from the optical receiver that are representative of light transmitted by the optical transmitter and scattered back from a target,
process the received signals to determine a path-weighted average crosswind toward the target, and a range to the target, and
calculate, based on the path-weighted average crosswind and the range, an offset aim point,
wherein said offset aim point is displayed on the display device,
wherein the system is mounted on one of:
a rifle, gun, tripod, archer's bow and a crossbow,
wherein the optical transmitter produces a collimated laser beam that is bore-sighted to a rifle barrel, gun barrel, or scope crosshair,
wherein the optical receiver comprises first and second wind measurement channels separated from one another in a horizontal direction by a predetermined distance,
wherein light from the laser beam, which is reflected from the target and travels back toward the system through atmospheric turbulence eddies which move with crosswinds, is detected by an image sensor via said first and second wind measurement channels, respectively, at a time delay based on crosswind speeds and the predetermined distance, and
wherein the path-weighted average crosswind in the horizontal direction is determined by measuring the time delay.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Electro-optic system for crosswind measurement

Life of this patent

Electro-optic system for crosswind measurement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27