# US 9,518,804 B2 · Laser rangefinder with improved display > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,518,804 B2 - Document ID: US9518804B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/465,611 - Filed: 2014-08-21 - Published: 2015-02-26 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-08-22 - Assignees: Sheltered Wings, Inc. - Applicants: Sheltered Wings, Inc. - Inventors: David M. Hamilton - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9518804B2 ## CPC - F41G 3/065: {Structural association of sighting devices with laser telemeters} - F41G 1/473: for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns - F41G 3/08: with means for compensating for speed, direction, temperature, pressure, or humidity of the atmosphere (measuring G01) - G01C 3/04: Adaptation of rangefinders for combination with telescopes or binoculars - G01S 17/10: using transmission of interrupted, pulse-modulated waves (determination of distance by phase measurements G01S17/32) - F41G: WEAPON SIGHTS; AIMING (optical aspects thereof G02B) - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES ## Abstract A rangefinder having improved display capabilities. The rangefinder has a ranging system, a processor, and a display. The rangefinder may have a multi-position button for inputting data, and may also have an inertial navigation unit. The rangefinder has improved input and tracking of wind direction and speed, allowing for improved ballistic compensation for wind. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A rangefinder including: a laser ranging system for measuring a distance to a target, a display, a processor in communication with the laser ranging system and capable of producing an image on the display, an input for inputting a wind direction 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 image and selecting the perceived wind direction represented by the indicator, and further wherein the input for inputting 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; and an input for inputting a wind speed into the processor by selecting a numerical wind speed value from a menu. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The rangefinder of claim 1 wherein the indicator is an arrow pointing the direction from which the wind is blowing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The rangefinder of claim 2 wherein the arrow points towards the center of the display. ### Claim 4 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The rangefinder of claim 4 wherein the processor further calculates and displays a windage setting and an elevation setting for the first target on the display. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The rangefinder of claim 5 wherein the processor uses the stored wind speed and the stored wind direction data from the first target and further calculates a windage and an elevation setting for a second target measured from a second location based on the stored wind speed and direction data. ### Claim 7 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. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the ballistics data is stored in a ballistics data processor. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, comprising the additional steps of: taking a distance measurement to a second target from a second location using the laser ranging system of the rangefinder, the processor calculating an elevation value and a windage hold value based on the distance measurement taken, the ballistics data, the wind data provided, and the data from the inertial navigation unit; and viewing the calculated elevation and the windage hold values in the rangefinder display for the second target. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the wind data and the ballistics data is the same for both the first and second target. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the indicator is movable in 30 degree increments.