Abstract: An apparatus (112) includes a housing (104) configured to couple the apparatus to a weapon mount (110) and to secure one or more gas springs (102). The one or more gas springs are configured to provide one or more forces. The apparatus also includes one or more wire ropes (114), where each wire rope is fixed at a first end to the weapon mount and has a hook at a second end. The apparatus further includes one or more guides (108) configured to guide the one or more wire ropes. In addition, the apparatus includes one or more bearings (106) configured to facilitate movement of the one or more wire ropes. The one or more wire ropes are configured to couple movement of the one or more gas springs to a tensile force on a front portion of the weapon mount or a weapon (116) so as to counter-balance a weight of the weapon in the weapon mount.

Abstract: A direct view optical sight including an integrated laser rangefinder. One example of the sight includes an eyepiece, an objective providing an optical aperture and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene to the eyepiece, an erector tube assembly coupled between the eyepiece and the objective, the laser rangefinder configured to transmit and receive laser radiation, and a beam combiner assembly mounted to the erector tube assembly and positioned between the erector tube assembly and the objective, the beam combiner assembly configured to combine the laser radiation and the electromagnetic radiation to allow the laser rangefinder to transmit and receive the laser radiation via the optical aperture of the objective, and to maintain optical alignment of the laser rangefinder and the viewed scene during movement of the erector tube assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus (112) includes a housing (104) configured to couple the apparatus to a weapon mount (110) and to secure one or more gas springs (102). The one or more gas springs are configured to provide one or more forces. The apparatus also includes one or more wire ropes (114), where each wire rope is fixed at a first end to the weapon mount and has a hook at a second end. The apparatus further includes one or more guides (108) configured to guide the one or more wire ropes. In addition, the apparatus includes one or more bearings (106) configured to facilitate movement of the one or more wire ropes. The one or more wire ropes are configured to couple movement of the one or more gas springs to a tensile force on a front portion of the weapon mount or a weapon (116) so as to counter-balance a weight of the weapon in the weapon mount.

Abstract: An electronic eyepiece includes a digital microdisplay and an electrically switchable light blocking mechanism configured to selectively transmit or block light transmitted along an optical path toward the digital microdisplay to protect the microdisplay from the risk of light focus damage. Further, a method of protecting a digital microdisplay of an electronic eyepiece from light focus damage includes determining a risk of light focus damage, and selectively opening or closing an optical path to the digital microdisplay responsive to the risk of light focus damage exceeding a predetermined risk threshold.

Abstract: A device has structure that can support the device on a weapon, and a range portion that specifies a range to a target. A sensor portion provides sensor information representing an orientation of the device, and an electronic control portion is responsive to sensor information from the sensor portion and a range from the range portion for calculating how to hit the target with each of first and second munitions that are different.

Abstract: An electronic eyepiece includes a digital microdisplay and an electrically switchable light blocking mechanism configured to selectively transmit or block light transmitted along an optical path toward the digital microdisplay.

Abstract: A device includes structure that can support the device on a weapon. One version of the device includes a first sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition, and a second sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from the first munition. A different version includes first and second sights that each facilitate weapon orientation, and an electronic control portion that is operatively coupled to and simultaneously exerts control with respect to each of the first and second sights, the first and second sights each displaying targeting information generated electronically by the electronic control portion.

Abstract: An apparatus includes first and second portions. The first portion has optics which cause first radiation within a selected waveband to travel along a path of travel and to have a selected field of view. The second portion introduces second radiation within the selected waveband into the field of view, without any significant degradation of a transmission efficiency of the first radiation along the path of travel. The second radiation then travels with the first radiation along the path of travel.

Abstract: A device includes structure that can support the device on a weapon. One version of the device includes a first sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition, and a second sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from the first munition. A different version includes first and second sights that each facilitate weapon orientation, and an electronic control portion that is operatively coupled to and simultaneously exerts control with respect to each of the first and second sights, the first and second sights each displaying targeting information generated electronically by the electronic control portion.

Abstract: A device includes structure that can support the device on a weapon. One version of the device includes a first sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition, and a second sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from the first munition. A different version includes first and second sights that each facilitate weapon orientation, and an electronic control portion that is operatively coupled to and simultaneously exerts control with respect to each of the first and second sights, the first and second sights each displaying targeting information generated electronically by the electronic control portion.

Abstract: A device can be supported on a weapon, and has a range portion that specifies a range to a target, a sensor portion that provides sensor information representing an orientation of the device; and a sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire the munition. The device has an electronic control portion responsive to sensor information from the sensor portion and a range from the range portion for calculating how to hit a target with a munition, and for causing the sight to present a visual indication of how to orient the weapon so that the munition will hit the target, the electronic control portion terminating the presentation of the visual indication by the sight in response to a lack of user activity for a selected time interval during the presentation of the visual indication.

Abstract: An apparatus has a rangefinder portion that includes: a radiation generator which emits radiation having a selected wavelength; a radiation detector which detects radiation having the selected wavelength; and an optical portion which includes a non-reciprocal optical part. The optical portion routes radiation emitted by the radiation generator at the selected wavelength through the non-reciprocal optical part and then through an aperture toward a location remote from the apparatus, and also routes radiation received via the aperture at the selected wavelength through the non-reciprocal optical part and then to the radiation detector.

Abstract: A device has structure that can support the device on a weapon, and a range portion that specifies a range to a target. A sensor portion provides sensor information representing an orientation of the device, and an electronic control portion is responsive to sensor information from the sensor portion and a range from the range portion for calculating how to hit the target with a munition. The device includes a sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire the munition, the sight having an analog indicator that is disposed within its field of view and that is responsive to the electronic control portion for indicating how to orient the weapon so that the munition will hit the target.

Abstract: In methods and apparatus for operatively coupling a radiant energy/electric current transducer to an electric current processor, a removable coupling module is provided for insertion between that processor and that transducer. A memory integrated circuit is provided in that coupling module. Information about the transducer relevant to operation of the processor is stored in that memory integrated circuit. A processor connector plug is on the removable coupling module for the memory integrated circuit. The coupling module is separable from the processor at that processor connector plug. A transducer connector plug is on the removable coupling module. The transducer is separable from the coupling module at that transducer connector plug, wherein the transducer is separable from the coupling module and that coupling module is separable from the processor.

Abstract: A neutral density filter is made by providing a substrate including a volume absorber having a first density and having an uneven first attenuation characteristic, and providing for a substantially constant attenuation of light by depositing on a backside of the volume absorber a thin-film attenuator having light reflective properties attenuated by the volume attenuator, having a second density and a second attenuation characteristic substantially complementing the first attenuation characteristic to provide the neutral density filter with a substantially constant attenuation at a density substantially equal to the first and second densities. The volume absorber and thin film attenuator are positioned so that incoming light first traverses the volume absorber and then the thin-film attenuator. An antireflection coating may be deposited on a front side of the volume absorber.