Laser rangefinder with improved display

A rangefinder including:

• a laser ranging system for measuring distance to a first target from a first location,
• a display,
• a processor in communication with the laser ranging system and producing an image on the display,
• an input for providing a wind direction data into the processor, wherein the wind direction is as perceived by a user and without reference to a directional measuring device, by moving an indicator around a periphery of the display and selecting the perceived wind direction represented by the indicator, wherein the indicator is an arrow pointing towards a center of the display and moved around the periphery of the display to also point in a direction the wind is blowing, and further wherein the input for inputting the wind direction is a multi-position button in communication with the processor, and wherein the processor is capable of producing an updated image on the display in response to manipulation of the button;
• an input for inputting a wind speed data into the processor by selecting a numerical wind speed value from a menu, and
• an inertial navigation unit in communication with the processor, the inertial navigation unit capable of detecting a directional orientation,
• the processor capable of storing the wind direction data and the wind speed data for calculating and displaying a new wind speed and a new wind direction when the rangefinder changes position, based on a data from the inertial navigation unit.

A method of viewing information in a rangefinder, comprising the steps of:

• providing a wind data to a processor in the rangefinder, the rangefinder also comprising a display, a laser ranging system, and an inertial navigation unit,
• the wind data provided using an input for providing a wind direction data into the processor, wherein the wind direction is as perceived by a user and determined without reference to a directional measuring device, by moving an indicator around a periphery of the display and selecting the perceived wind direction represented by the indicator;
• wherein using an input for providing the wind direction comprises using a multi-position button to move an arrow-shaped indicator around the periphery of the display until the indicator points in the direction a user perceives the wind is blowing, and
• an input for inputting a wind speed data into the processor by selecting a numerical wind speed value from a menu;
• providing a ballistics data to the processor in the rangefinder,
• taking a distance measurement to a first target from a first location using a laser ranging system of the rangefinder, the processor calculating an elevation and a windage hold value based on the distance measurement taken, the ballistics data, and the wind data provided;
• and
• viewing the calculated elevation and the windage hold values in the rangefinder display.