US 6,269,581 B1Granted

Range compensating rifle scope

OwnerJohn Grohinventor

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Abstract

Disclosed is a rifle scope that utilizes laser range-finding and microprocessor technology to eliminate the need for the shooter to calculate bullet-drop compensation. The scope includes a laser range finder that calculates the distance between the user and the target that is focused in the cross-hairs. The user simply enters the muzzle velocity, i.e. the bullet speed of his particular ammunition as well as the current altitude using pushbuttons located on the scope assembly. A microprocessor automatically calculates the distance that the bullet traveling at the dialed-in speed will drop while traveling the distance calculated by the laser range finder, taking into consideration reduced drag at higher altitudes and the weight of the bullet. Based upon this calculated value, a second LCD image cross-hair is superimposed in the scope's viewfinder, indicating the proper position at which to aim the rifle in order to achieve a direct hit.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A rifle scope that automatically calculates the requisite degree of bullet-drop compensation for a particular target, said rifle scope comprising:

an optical sighting means for viewing a target area, said sighting means having a housing supporting an eyepiece and at least one optical lense that comprise a field of view when viewed therethrough;
a cross-hair means having a vertical sighting cross-hair perpendicular to a horizontal sighting cross-hair for identifying an intended target, said cross-hair means spanning the interior of said sighting means in linear alignment with said optical lense and superimposed over said field of view;
a vertical cross-hair adjustment knob to allow for fine-tuning the positioning of the vertical sighting cross-hair;
a horizontal cross-hair adjustment knob to allow for fine-tuning the positioning of the horizontal sighting cross-hair;
a laser range finding means mounted in said housing, said range finding means calculating the range distance between said optical sighting means and said target;
a micro-processing means mounted in said housing;
a means for manually inputting data into said micro-processing means;
and
a display means for displaying said data, said display means mounted to said housing and visible in an area adjacent to said field of view;
wherein said micro-processing means calculates a bullet drop compensation distance automatically using said data in conjunction with said range distance, said compensation distance displayed in said field of view by a vertical compensation cross-hair.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.