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US 8,408,460 B2Granted
Auto adjusting ranging device
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsJohn Felix Schneider, Christopher Allen Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ranging system for use with a projectile launching device is provided. The ranging system includes an alignment marker visible with an optical sight device. The position of the alignment marker is adjusted based at least on a determined range to a target.
Claims37
A method of indicating the expected location of a projectile relative to a target object with an optical sight, the method comprising the steps of:
- supporting an optical sight on a projectile launcher, the optical sight including a window;
- coupling an identification device of the window to a controller;
- identifying electronically an optical sight type parameter of the window device based on sensing and matching an electronic identifier from said window and matching said identifier with a profile stored in a library of profiles, wherein the library of profiles includes parameters of the optical sight, projectile launching device identification information, ranging system information, and ballistic identification information, said library of profiles further includes a plurality of projectile launcher operator identification information comprising a plurality of operator identifiers and operator calibration information associated with each of the operator identifiers, said operator calibration information is determined based on storage into said library of profiles of previous sight adjustments by a projectile launcher operator associated with the projectile launcher operator identification information;
- providing a user interface adapted to permit selection of one of the plurality of projectile launcher operator information;
- selecting one of the operator identifier information in said library of profiles using the user interface;
- determining a range to the target object;
- providing an alignment marker within the window of the optical sight;
- calibrating a position of the alignment marker based on said profile including the parameter of the window and said projectile operator information which is used to perform operator unique position calibration of the alignment marker;
- altering the position of the alignment marker within the window of the optical sight based at least on the range to the target object, a selected said profile stored in said library of profiles, said selected one of the operator identifier information, wherein the step of altering a position of the alignment marker includes the steps of:
- providing on a moveable base a first optical source which produces the alignment marker;
- and moving the movable base so that the alignment marker is in the altered position;
- providing a target acquired indicator viewable with the window of the optical sight, wherein the alignment marker is further adapted to alter to display a first and second state, wherein said alignment marker changing from said first state to said second state when the target has been acquired, said target acquired state further indicates the movable base has completed movement so that the alignment marker is in the altered position;
- wherein the optical sight includes a mount supporting the window, and the parameter of the window includes at least one of the maximum distance of the window from the optical source and the orientation of the window relative to the projectile launching device.
10 more elements
A ranging system for use with a projectile launching device to aim at a target object, the ranging system comprising:
- a rangefinder supported by the projectile launching device and configured to determine a range to the target object;
- an optical sight supported by the projectile launching device and including an identification device for electronically providing a parameter of the optical sight based on sensing and matching an electronic optical sight identifier from said optical sight and matching said identifier with a profile stored in a library of profiles, wherein the previously stored profiles includes the parameter of the optical sight, projectile launching device identification information, ranging system information, and ballistic identification information, said library of profiles further includes projectile launcher operator identification information comprising calibration information determined based on previous sight adjustments by an operator associated with the projectile launcher operator identification information, the optical sight further including a field of view, the target object being viewable through the field of view;
- at least one optical source which provides an alignment marker within the field of view of the optical sight, the alignment marker indicating a position that a projectile of the projectile launching device will hit at the location of the target object, wherein the alignment marker is further adapted to display a first and second state, said second state is displayed when the target has been acquired and a movable base has completed movement so that the alignment marker is in an altered position;
- a user interface adapted to permit selection of one of the plurality of projectile launcher operator information adapted to permit said operator to select one of the operator identifier information in said library of profiles using the user interface;
- a controller operably coupled to the rangefinder and the at least one optical source and
- an interface supported by the projectile launching device and configured to couple the identification device of the optical sight with the controller, wherein the controller determines a position of the alignment marker within the field of view of the optical sight based at least on the range to the target object, a selected said profile stored in said library of profiles, said selected one of the operator identifier information, and the parameter from the identification device.
3 more elements
A ranging system for use with a projectile launching device to aim at a target object, the ranging system comprising:
- a rangefinder supported by the projectile launching device and configured to determine a range to the target object;
- an optical sight supported by the projectile launching device;
- the optical sight including a mount, a window supported by the mount, and a coupler removably coupling the window to the mount, the window including an identification device for electronically providing a parameter of the window based on sensing and matching an electronic optical sight identifier from said window and matching said identifier with a profile stored in a library of profiles, wherein the profile stored in a library of profiles includes parameters of the optical sight projectile launching device identification information, ranging system information, and ballistic identification information, said library of profiles further includes projectile launcher operator identification information comprising calibration information determined based on previous sight adjustments by an operator associated with the projectile launcher operator identification information the optical sight permitting the viewing of the target object through the window;
- an optical source providing an alignment marker within the window of the optical sight, the alignment marker indicating a position that a projectile of the projectile launching device will hit at the location of the target object;
- an interface supported by the mount and operably coupled to the identification device of the window;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to the rangefinder, the interface, and the optical source, the controller determining a position of the alignment marker within the window of the optical sight based at least on the range to the target object, a selected said profile stored in said library of profiles, said one of the operator identifier information, and the parameter of the optical window.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.