FIREARM GUN-SIGHT
The present invention relates to a gun-sight system and a method for using the gun-sight and in particular, to such a gun-sight which is calibrated without maneuvering a mechanical bore-sight mechanism.
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The present invention relates to a gun-sight system and a method for using the gun-sight and in particular, to such a gun-sight which is calibrated without maneuvering a mechanical bore-sight mechanism.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCurrent firearm sights or bore sights require manual adjustments that are mechanical utilizing screws or motors to adjust a firearm to a particular user and to provide for ballistic compensation as a result of user marksmanship.
Other firearm reflex sights require laboratory conditions to personalize or adjust or customize a gun-sight to a particular user and to a particular firearm. All firearm require lab conditions to adjust and in firing range for firearm adjustment
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the background by providing a gun-sight system and method that is independent of mechanical adjustment for calibrating the gun-sight to a user and further optionally capable of accommodating for external conditions such as background illumination and/or brightness. Such a system that optionally and preferably adjust the gun-sight to improve user performance and marksmanship by automatically accounting for at least one or more factors associated with the external environment, the user and the firearm itself.
Within the context of this application the term external environment or environmental factors may be used interchangeably. Environmental factors may for example include but not limited to weather conditions, wind, temperature, humidity, terrain, atmospheric pressure, atmospheric ultraviolet (UV) radiation, UV index, pollution, visibility, air quality, sea level, water currents, seismographic data, elevation, luminance, ambient illumination, season, date, time, or the like.
User factors may for example include but is not limited to optical conditions, eye conditions, prescription drugs, recent vision test results, name, identification number, stature, height, posture, visual disposition, visual handicap, visual impairment, glasses, no-glasses, color blindness, dexterity, leading eye or the like.
Firearm factors may for example include but is not limited to position, shooting posture, barrel temperature, barrel erosion, type of to firearm, caliber size, barrel length, length of eye relief, or the like.
Optionally and preferably at least one or more sensor may be, integrated, incorporated, coupled with and/or otherwise associated with an optional embodiment of the present invention for a gun-sight. Sensors data may for example include are but is not limited to any sensor obtained data, environmental data, internal weapon condition data, barrel temperature, barrel wear and tear sensor, barrel erosion sensor, wind conditions sensor, gyro sensor, positioning sensor, user data sensors, the like in any combination thereof.
Most preferably the gun-sight according to optional embodiments of the present application are provided for use a plurality of firearm or weaponry that are user aimed and triggered with the assistance of the naked eye. For example the weapons and/or firearms that may for example include but not limited to rifle, assault rifle, hunting rifle, automatic weapons, semi-automatic weapons, hand guns, pistols, MAG, M16, AK47, M32, grenade launcher, Rocket propelled grenade (‘RPG’) or the like firearm or weaponry.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention provides for a gun sight having an illuminated reticle comprising:
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- a housing for securely coupling the gun sight to a firearm; and
- an optical relay apparatus comprising a collimating lens, a reflective mirror, and a combining glass for propagating the illuminated reticle image from a light source to a user's eye; and
- an wherein the light source may be provided in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) matrix forming a number of preprogrammed different shape reticles used for different shooting profiles, the illuminated reticle characterized in that the gun-sight provides for adjusting and/or zeroing and/or calibrating the firearm providing for user and ballistic compensation in a non-mechanical manner that may be controllable with a electronic system controlling the LED matrix.
Optionally the gun-sight system may further provide for zooming in on a target for example including a zoom that is up to about 10×, more preferably from about 2× up to about 8×, most preferably up to about 4×. Optionally the zoom is an electronic and/or digital zoom.
Optionally the gun-sight system may further provide for zooming function for example including a zoom that is up to about 10×, more preferably from about 2× up to about 8×, most preferably up to about 4×. Optionally the zoom is an electronic and/or digital zoom.
Optionally and preferably the gun-sight system may further comprises at least one sensor. Optionally at least one sensor may be associated with the electronic system.
Optionally the LED matrix may be a matrix of LEDs comprising 64 rows and columns.
Optionally the inter LED distance of the LED matrix may be 75 microns.
Optionally the LED form a pixel may be provided with a diameter of 50 microns.
Optionally the housing may be provided with dimensions having 120 mm length, 50 mm width and 50 mm height.
Optionally and preferably the housing may be adapted to fit a plurality of firearms selected from the group consisting of handgun, assault rifle, rifle, grenade launcher, hunting rifle, automatic weapons, semi-automatic weapons, hand guns, pistols, MAG, M16, AK47, M32, Rocket propelled grenade (‘RPG’), or the like.
Optionally the housing may be adapted to fit firearms that are user aimed and triggered with the assistance of the naked eye.
Optionally the housing provides for an eye relief that may be provided from about 100 mm up to about 300 mm. Optionally the housing provides for an to eye relief may be up to about 400 mm. Optionally the eye relief may be at least 50 mm.
Optionally the combining glass of the optic apparatus may be characterized in that it reflects up to about 95% of illuminated light source illumination towards the viewer's eye.
Optionally the electronic driving system automatically adjusts and calibrates the illuminated reticle according to optional embodiment of the present invention.
Optionally the electronic driving system automatically adjusts and calibrates the illuminated reticle position according to the a plurality of sensors selected from the group consisting of barrel heat sensor, gyro sensor, position sensor.
Optionally the adjustment are provided in real time during firearm use.
Optionally the illuminated reticle position may be manually controlled by with non-mechanical electronic controllers.
Optionally the sensor may be selected from the group consisting of barrel heat sensor, background illumination sensor, wind sensor, environmental sensor, user sensor, any combination thereof or the like.
An optional embodiment of the present invention provides for a method for calibrating/zeroing a firearm or weapon comprising a gun-sight according to optional embodiments of the present invention, the method comprising: associating a firearm or weapon with the gun sight to optional embodiments of the present invention and
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- Shooting a test round toward a target for zeroing the firearm or weapon; and Electronically adjusting the illuminated reticle of the gun-sight by adjusting the light source.
Optionally the method further comprises using the weapon in different conditions and adjusting the light source accordingly to achieve zeroing.
Optionally different conditions of the firearm usage may for example include but is not limited to firing a full magazine to calibrate/zero the gun-sight under conditions of a hot barrel.
Optionally the system and method according to the present invention provides a gun-sight that may automatically adjusts to varying environmental conditions.
Optionally and preferably the system and method according to the present invention provides for automatically adjusting the light source to varying barrel temperatures.
Although the foregoing description relates to gun-sight for firearms or weapons of small caliber such as handguns, rifles, and assault rifles, for example including but not limited to MAG, M16, AK47, or the like, embodiments of the present application are not limited to such small caliber firearms and may be utilized on medium to large caliber ballistics used with user operated weapons for example guns disposed on ships, helicopter, RPG or the like weapons or weapon systems.
Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting. Implementation of the method and system of the present invention involves performing or completing certain selected tasks or steps manually, automatically, or a combination thereof. Moreover, according to actual instrumentation and equipment of preferred embodiments of the method and system of the present invention, several selected steps could be implemented by hardware or by software on any operating system of any firmware or a combination thereof. For example, as hardware, selected steps of the invention could be implemented as a chip, ASIC or a circuit. As software, selected steps of the invention could be implemented as a plurality of software instructions being executed by a computer using any suitable operating system. In any case, selected steps of the method and system of the invention could be described as being performed by a data processor.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the is drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in order to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.
In the drawings:
The present invention is of a system and a method for a gun-sight that may be utilized for firearm training, firearm use, firearm zeroing, firearm calibration to a user, a real-time gun-sight adjustment system.
The principles and operation of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. The following figure reference labels are used throughout the description to refer to similarly functioning components are used throughout the specification hereinbelow.
50 user eye;
100 gun-sight;
102 reticle;
104 gun-sight mount;
110 electronics;
112 matrix light source
112a light source UI button ;
114 controller;
116 sensors (bank of sensors);
118 memory;
119 learning module;
120 optic relay;
122 collimating lens;
124 mirror;
126 combiner
130 Auxiliary I/O human interface
Referring now to the drawings,
Preferably housing 104 is provided in the form of an illuminated gun-sight housing as is known in the art that provides for coupling gun-sight 100 with a firearm or weapon of choice. Optionally and preferably housing 104 provided may be selected and/or adapted according to the firearm and/or weapon utilized with gun-sight 100.
Preferably housing 104 includes a mounting apparatus 106 provided to couple and/or otherwise associate gun-sight 100 with a firearm and/or weapon of choice.
Most preferably housing 104 and firearm mount 106 provide for associating and or otherwise coupling gun-sight 100 with optional forms of a user aimed and triggered and/or operated and/or controlled firearms and/or weapon of varying caliber for example including but not limited to rifle, assault rifle, hunting rifle, automatic weapons, semi-automatic weapons, hand guns, pistols, MAG, M16, AK47, M32, grenade launcher, Rocket propelled grenade (‘RPG’) or the like firearm or weaponry that are user aimed and triggered with the naked eye.
Within housing 104 gun-sight 100 includes a matrix light source 112 comprising a matrix of electronically controllable pixels including a plurality of pixels. Most preferably light source 112 is provided for generating an illuminated reticle 102 that most preferably may be controllably displayed to a user 50 on combiner 126 and whose location is determined by matrix 112 controllable with electronics 110 and UI buttons 112a and propagated by optic array 120.
Optionally reticle 102 may be selected from a plurality of preprogrammed different shape reticles optionally and preferably used for different shooting profiles and/or according to user 50 preference and/or profile and or according to user associated parameters and or external environmental parameters.
Optionally matrix light source 112 may be provided in the form of LED matrix, OLED matrix, LCD display, single light source and a matrix of pixel-sized shutters, or the like. For example, the pixel size utilized may be sufficiently small to provide high resolution for the light source 112 for example the pixel diameter may be may be provided from about 5 microns up to about 120 microns, optionally and preferably pixel size is provided from about 30 microns to about 75, more preferably pixel size is provided from about 45 to about 60 microns and most preferably about 50 microns.
Optionally the pixels may be provided with an inter-space from about 5 microns up to about 120 microns, optionally and preferably pixel size is provided from about 30 microns to about 100, more preferably pixel size is provided from about 45 to about 85 micron and most preferably about 75 microns.
Optionally the size of the light source matrix 112 utilized may be adjusted according to the weapon and/or firearm utilized with sight 100.
Most preferably light source 112 may be provided in the form of a light emitting diode (‘LED’) matrix including a plurality of LED where each LED constitutes a pixel and such that each pixel is individually controllable with appropriate electronic driving circuitry. Preferably and optionally a LED matrix comprising 64 rows and columns may be utilized therein providing a LED matrix with 4096 LEDs. Preferably and optionally, each LED has a diameter of about 50 microns. Preferably and optional the LED matrix is provided with a resolution of 75 microns such that the inter-LED space is about 75 microns.
Optionally light source 112 may be provided in the form of an organic light emitting diode (‘OLED’) matrix including a plurality of OLED where each OLED constitutes a pixel and such that each pixel is individually controllable with appropriate electronic driving circuitry. Preferably and optionally a OLED matrix comprising 64 rows and columns may be utilized therein providing a OLED matrix with 4096 OLEDs. Preferably and optionally, each OLED has a diameter of about 50 microns. Preferably and optional the OLED matrix is provided with a resolution of 75 microns such that the inter-OLED space is about 75 microns.
Optionally light source 112 may be provided in the form of a single light source provided with a matrix of controllable shutters providing to control the location of the light source.
Optionally light source 112 may be provided in the form of a liquid crystal display (LCD).
Most preferably matrix light source 112 is controllable with appropriate electronic circuitry 110 provided for driving and controlling light source matrix 112 most preferably controlling the location and timing of illumination of the appropriate pixel within matrix light source 112.
Optionally and preferably matrix light source 112 may be in part controlled with a user interface buttons 112a via electronic 110 and more preferably controller 114 provided to communicate and/or adjust at least one or more parameter associated with light source 112 for example including but not limited to the location of an activated pixel within matrix 112, luminance of matrix 112, color of light source 112. Most preferably UI interface buttons 112a provide for adjusting the location of activated light source within matrix 112 so as to improve user's marksmanship when using gun-sight 100 by zeroing and/or calibrating sight 100 with a weapon of choice, as will be described hereinbelow. Most preferably adjusting the location of the activated light source within matrix 112 provides for electronically zeroing and/or calibrating the sights of the firearm utilized by user 50 for user 50 without the need to mechanically manipulate, alter, or move any moving parts of the weapon and/or firearm for example a front and/or back sight to account for user and/or ballistic compensation.
Most preferably electronic circuitry 110 comprises a controller 114 for example provided in the form of a microprocessor and power source 115. Optionally and preferably circuitry 110 further comprises memory 118 preferably provided for storing and user and weapon data, and/or a plurality of gun-sight 100 configurations. For example, memory 118 may be utilized to store data related to the gun-sight 100 configuration and calibration with a particular user and a particular firearm of choice, and may optionally further store related user associated data and/or factors with gun-sight use 100.
Optionally electronics 110 may further comprise an auxiliary human interface module 130, as shown in
Optionally auxiliary interface module 130 may provide for interfacing and/or coupling and or otherwise associated with sight 100 with appropriate coupler and/or connectors to provide for wired, wireless, cellular or the like. Optionally interface module 130 may be provided with a plurality of optional interfacing and/or communication ports for example including but not limited to RJ45, RJ11, RS232, HDMI, USB, firewire, Bluetooth, RF, IR, optical, ultrasound, acoustic, any combination thereof or the like.
Optionally and most preferably sight 100 further comprise a sensor module 116 most preferably comprising at least one or more preferably a plurality of sensors. Optionally and preferably sensor module 116 may be associated with and controlled with electronic circuitry 110. Optionally module 116 may be independent of circuitry 116 comprising intrinsic and/or independent circuitry. Optionally and preferably sensor module 116 may provide for environmental data, user data, and weapon data, or the like.
Optionally and preferably sensor module 116 may comprise at least one or more sensors for example including but not limited environmental data, internal weapon condition data, barrel temperature, barrel wear and tear sensor, barrel erosion sensor, wind conditions sensor, gyro sensor, user data sensors, the like in any combination thereof.
Optionally electronic circuitry 110 further comprises a learning module 119 provided to learn and optimize use of gun-sight 100 with a user 50 accounting for user parameters and/or behavior with a firearm. Optionally learning module comprise artificial intelligence programming for example including neural networks, fuzzy networks, Bayesian networks, probability networks, Markov rules networks, perceptron, independent learning networks, to automatically adjust illumination matrix 112 to improve a user's marksmanship and or to automatically adjust illumination matrix in accordance with user, firearm and environmental parameters or parameters sensed with sensor module 116.
Optionally circuitry 110 further comprises dedicated software and firmware associated with circuitry 110 an din particular with controller 114 and matrix 112 to provide for control and automatic rule based adjustment of illumination of matrix 112 based on sensor data senses with sensor module 116 or the like parameters associated with a user, firearm and or environment, and or externally communicated parameters, for example via auxiliary module 130.
Gun sight 100 includes an optic relay 120 comprising a collimating lens 122, reflective mirror 124 and combiner 126. Optic relay 120 most preferably provides for emitting and/or propagating light produced with light source 112 through gun-sight housing 104 to reach the user's eye 50. Most preferably optic relay 120 provides for propagating a light ray through optical path including 120a-120d as shown in
Most preferably optic relay 120 provides for propagating a light ray 120a produced with light source 112 through collimating lens 122 therein collimating ray 120a to a collimated ray 120b; thereafter collimated ray 120b is reflected with mirror 124 forming reflected ray 120c toward combiner 126 where light path is then further reflected by combiner 126 to form combined ray 120d that reaches the user's eye 50 travelling the length of the eye relief.
Optionally mirror 124 reflects the generated display and folds the optical path in order to reduce the sight length.
Optionally and preferably combining glass 126 reflects 95% of a predetermined wavelength, most preferably that emitted by light source matrix 112 towards the user's 50 eye while transmitting all remaining visible optical wavelengths therein allowing user 50 to simultaneously visualize reticle 102 about the background of a target through gun-sight 100.
Optionally the size, length and configuration of optic relay 120 may be adapted according to housing 104 for the firearm with which gun-sight 100 is designed for. Optionally a gun-sight designed for an assault rifle for example in the form of AK47, M16 or the like may be provided with dimensions of about 120 mm length, about 50 mm width and about 50 mm height.
Next in stage 302, the user's accuracy is tested relative to the target results to determine ballistic and user compensation required to zero and/or calibrate the firearm according to the user as is known in the art to determine both height and side adjustment required.
Next once the compensation measures are determined, in stage 304 the light source matrix 112 is adjusted most preferably via UI controlling buttons 112a to adjust the reticle according to user's use of the firearm, as described in
Optionally next stages 300 to 304 are repeated until acceptable results are obtained by a user with a firearm of choice.
Next in stage 306, once user 50 is calibrated with sight 100 is zeroed for a particular firearm, sight 100 is trained to learn both weapon and user behavior under different conditions most preferably provided with sensor module 116 comprising at least one or more sensors as previously described. Optionally and preferably adjustment are accounted for parameters for example including but not limited to shooting position, firearm shooting rate, automatic firing, semiautomatic firing, barrel temperature, barrel erosion status, weather conditions, wind, humidity, heat, cold, background illumination, night vision, shooting under physiological stress, shooting under physical activity, shooting in various terrain, most preferably for calibrating gun-sight 100 under the different conditions,
Optionally in stage 308 gun-sight 100 is provided with external user data most preferably for calibrating sight 100 according to the user data for example including but not limited to user dexterity, right handed, left handed, shooting lead eye, visions, glasses/no glasses, color-blindness, weight, age, height, performance relative to different light illumination, reticle color preference, reticle color performance. Optionally external user data may be stored with gun-sight memory 118 that may optionally be accessed through auxiliary human interface module 130.
Next in stage 310 the configurations are set and optionally and preferably stored onto memory 118 so as to allow gun-sight 100 to automatically adjust reticle 102 displayed to a user under a plurality of optional conditions associated with external environmental conditions, user information, and firearm specific parameters, therein most preferably allowing for a gun-sight 100 that is adjustable in real time in accordance with varying conditions associated with the firearm, user and environment conditions.
Optionally next in stage 312 sight 100 may be configured with another firearm with the same user by repeating stages 300-310 therein optionally producing a personalized gun-sight 100 that may be utilized by the same person with various firearms.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiment, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not described to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Having described a specific preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiment and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention defined by the appended claims.
Further modifications of the invention will also occur to persons skilled in the art and all such are deemed to fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.
Claims
1. A gun sight having an illuminated reticle comprising:
- a) a housing for securely coupling said gun sight to a firearm; and
- b) an optical relay apparatus comprising a collimating lens, a reflective minor, and a combining glass for propagating said illuminated reticle image from a light source to a user's eye;
- c) wherein said light source is provided in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) matrix forming a number of preprogrammed different shape reticles used for different shooting profiles, said illuminated reticle characterized in that said gun-sight provides for calibrating said firearm providing for user and ballistic compensation in a non-mechanical manner that is controllable with electronic system controlling said LED matrix.
2. The gun-sight system of claim 1 further comprises at least one sensor.
3. The gun-sight system of claim 2 wherein said at least one sensor is associated with said electronic system.
4. The gun-sight system of claim 1 wherein said LED matrix is a matrix of LEDs comprising 64 rows and columns.
5. The gun-sight system of claim 1 wherein the inter LED distance of said LED matrix is 75 microns.
6. The gun-sight system of claim 1 wherein said LED is provided with a diameter of 50 microns.
7. The gun-sight of claim 1 wherein said housing is provided with dimensions having 120 mm length, 50 mm width and 50 mm height.
8. The gun-sight of claim 1 wherein said housing is adapted to fit a plurality of firearms selected from the group consisting of handgun, assault rifle, rifle, grenade launcher, hunting rifle, automatic weapons, semi-automatic weapons, hand guns, pistols, MAG, M16, AK47, M32, Rocket propelled grenade (‘RPG’).
9. The gun-sight of claim 1 wherein said housing is adapted to fit firearms that are user aimed and triggered with the assistance of the naked eye.
10. The gun-sight of claim 1 wherein the eye relief is from about 100 mm up to about 300 mm.
11. The gun-sight of claim 1 wherein the eye relief is up to about 400 mm.
12. The gun-sight of claim 1 wherein the eye relief is at least 50 mm.
13. The gun sight of claim 1 wherein said combining glass of said optic apparatus is characterized in that it reflects up to about 95% of illuminated light source illumination towards the viewer's eye.
14. The gun sight of claim 1 wherein said electronic driving system automatically adjusts and calibrates said illuminated reticle according to said at least one sensor.
15. The gun sight of claim 1 wherein said electronic driving system automatically adjusts and calibrates the illuminated reticle position according to said a plurality of sensors selected from the group consisting of barrel heat sensor, gyro sensor, position sensor.
16. The gun sight of claim 14 wherein said adjustments are provided in real time during firearm use.
17. The gun sight of claim 1 wherein said illuminated reticle position is manually controlled by with non-mechanical electronic controllers.
18. The gun-sight of claim 1 wherein said sensor is selected from the group consisting of barrel heat sensor, background illumination sensor, wind sensor, environmental sensor, user sensor.
19. A method for calibrating/zeroing a firearm or weapon comprising a gun-sight according to claim 1, the method comprising:
- a) Associating a firearm or weapon with said the gun sight;
- b) Shooting a test round toward a target for zeroing said firearm or weapon; and
- c) Electronically adjusting the illuminated reticle of said gun-sight by adjusting the light source.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising using the weapon in different conditions and adjusting the light source accordingly to achieve zeroing.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein a full magazine is fired with said firearm to calibrate said gun-sight under conditions of a hot barrel.
22. The method of claim 20 wherein said gun-sight automatically adjusts to varying environmental conditions.
23. The method of claim 20 wherein said gun-sight automatically adjusts the light source to varying barrel temperatures.
24. The gun-sight of claim 1 wherein further comprising a zooming function.
25. The gun-sight of claim 1 wherein further comprising a zooming function is from 2× up to about 8×.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 2, 2012
Publication Date: Mar 20, 2014
Applicant: IPU INDUSTRIES LTD (Yavne)
Inventor: Eyal David Ben-Ami (Rishon Le Zion)
Application Number: 14/009,111
International Classification: F41G 1/30 (20060101); F41G 1/38 (20060101);
