Abstract: A unified firearm and optical sight integrates the mounting of the optical elements directly into a one-piece frame, receiver, or barrel of the firearm. This solves some technical limitations caused by keeping the firearm and the telescopic sight as separate products. Merging the optics into the frame of the firearm reduces the distance between the optical elements and the barrel, which reduces parallax error. Reducing the number of mechanical connections between the optical elements and the barrel improves the rigidity of the connection, which reduces point-of-aim errors from bumps and shocks. Integrating the telescopic sight into the firearm makes for a smaller and smoother package, which makes it possible for the firearm to be carried in a concealed way. This invention applies to all types of firearms, including handguns, pistols, revolvers, rifles, shotguns, NFA firearms, and AOW firearms.

Abstract: Provided is an adaptive device for shaping a laser beam. The adaptive device includes a variable optical configuration. The variable optical configuration includes: an optical element and a temperature element in contact with the optical element. The adaptive device further includes a controller operatively coupled to the temperature element to apply at least one of heating and cooling to the optical element so as to alter a temperature profile of the optical element, thereby causing an optical property change thereof.