Abstract: A telescope inner tube locking device and method for positively locking the telescope inner tube in it's previously aligned position. The locking is accomplished by using a biased locking screw which operates to apply a force against the inner tube of the telescope while the windage and elevation adjustment screws on the telescope are moved. Thereafter, the biased locking screw locks the inner tube against the windage and elevation adjustment screws. In a modification of the preferred embodiment, the inner tube of the telescope may also be locked by using a locking screw constructed similarly to the elevation or windage screws in combination with a separate spring bias. The separate spring bias will apply a force against the windage and elevation screws of the telescope and the locking screw will lock the inner tube in place. The tube may also be locked by a third locking screw without using a bias.

Abstract: A monocular telescope in which the beam path is so laid out that the casing may be flat in the direction of view, and the optical axis of the beam path in the casing describes a somewhat rectangular route, and in which the telescope has a view finder beam path intesecting with the telescope beam path in the users eye.

Abstract: The sighting device may include a reticle and a strongly magnifying lens or lens segment positioned along the line of slight. The lens, or segment blocks out a part of the object field and focusses an image of the reticle on the user's retina. Alternatively, a holographic image of the reticle may be used in place of the reticle-lens combination. The device may also include a Galilean telescope with the magnifying lens segment positioned at the eyelens and the reticle adjacent to the objective.

Abstract: A new coronagraph sufficiently increases the contrast ratio between the infrared image of a nonsolar star and a possible orbiting nonsolar planet to make imaging of such a planet possible. The coronagraph is used with an infrared telescope system having a square objective or aperture. Unwanted stellar irradiance is diffracted orthogonally by the square telescope aperture or objective so that a coronagraph apodizer in the first focal plane in the shape of crossed arms, and a coronagraph Lyot stop in the pupil plane with a square opening, stop most of the on-axis direct and diffracted stellar energy while allowing most of the planet irradiance to pass through the coronagraph. The discarded light reflected from the back of the apodizer can be used to provide information concerning piston and tilt errors of individual segments of a segmented telescope so that an array of correcting piston-tilt mirrors can be controlled to align the telescope.

Abstract: In a brightness intensifier tube there is provided, preferably in the exit screen or, in the case of a brightness intensifier comprising a channel plate intensifier, on an input electrode thereof, a fixed alignment marker, for example by local burning in of screen material by photoelectrons from the entrance screen which are liberated therefrom by irradiation by a laser beam. For tubes comprising a fixed entrance optical system the alignment marker is preferably provided by focused application of light via the optical system.

Abstract: The invention relates to an episcopic sight usable for observation and firing by day or night on a vehicle equipped with a gun. The sight includes an assembly of interchangeable moduli grouping the optical elements, particularly made of a head modulus 1 containing a mirror controlled in elevation, a height increase modulus 2, a day sight modulus 4, a night sight modulus 5, a rangefinder modulus 6, an electronic case associated to a fire-control computer. It includes a modulus of separation 3 of the day and night channels interposed between the height increase modulus 2, and the day and night moduli 4, 5, the modulus of separation 3 containing the means for generating a sight reticle in the day and night channels. The means of generating a firing reticle include a projection collimator of this reticle and a rhombohedron to inject this reticle into the day and night moduli.

Abstract: Telescopes, both Galilean and astronomical, are mounted to small arms such as rifles, shotguns, pistols and bows. These telescopes are miniature in size mounted into the aiming mechanism of the small arm. The telescope imagery is engineered to produce simultaneous viewing of target and sight. Objects, including a barrel end post, at varying distances from the scope are all observed clearly, sharply and simultaneously on the image or exit pupil of the scope. This imagery may be enhanced with the use of glare control structures. Galilean scopes are herein described as being used with a reticle structure on the scope eyepiece or on, or beyond, the objective lens for calibrating/aiming guns and bows. The reticle figures are most accurately employed at eye relief distances of from near point (approximately 25 cm) to arms length (approximately 56 cm).

Abstract: An optical reticle projector which may be employed for astronomical data collection. The projector consists of a cylindrical housing having a radius from 0.5 to 4.0 inches; a source of radiation secured by the housing, the source of radiation capable of outputting a radiation beam along an optical axis defined with respect to the housing; an optical field element secured by the housing and positioned on the optical axis; a reticle having a predetermined geometry, and in operative association with the field element; and an imaging lens secured by the housing, positioned on the optical axis, and capable of imaging the reticle to infinity.

Abstract: A riflescope or other telescope is used as a target projector and as a collecting telescope for the reflected light. The light source is placed at the usual eye position of the telescope, projected through the ocular and then through the objective lens of the telescope. The reflected beam is recollected by the objective lens and forms an image on the telescope reticule. The image is presented to the eye through the ocular and a beamsplitter.

Abstract: A real image viewfinder with an objective having movable focusing lens(es) and a field lens at the end thereof furtherest from the field of view, an eyepiece lens and image inverting optics, preferably in the form of a Type II Porro prism wherein the real image is focused to fall on a surface of the field lens, which is desirably a plano surface facing the inverting optics. This field lens surface is also at the focus of the eye piece lens. A pattern (a reticle) is located on the field lens surface. Since the objective forms a focus at the location of the reticle, observation of the reticle indicates when the objective is focused. A camera picture taking lens may be coupled to a movable lens in the objective for focusing the taking lens.

Abstract: A second harmonic generator of the present invention utilizes Cerenkov radiation as a useful coherent short-wavelength light source. The second harmonic generator includes an aberration correction means to collimate the second harmonic to form a parallel plane wave having a high flatness. The aberration correction means is provided on an exit end face of a nonlinear waveguide which generates the second harmonic, and a glued cone prism, a cone prism having a conic exit end face changed in accordance with birefringence of the nonlinear waveguide, or a diffraction grating is used as the aberration correction means.

Abstract: An astronomical data collection method employing a novel optical reticle projector. Prior art ground-based optical systems for astronomical data collection typically comprise a main telescope, and a guide telescope comprising an internal reticle. The guide telescope presumably corrects nominal tracking errors, but may itself, by way of the internal reticle, develop supererogatory errors due to differential flexure. The method of the present invention addresses the problem due to differential flexure, and solves it, by minimizing a source of the supererogatory errors, while recreating an internal reticle function in the novel optical reticle projector.

Abstract: To provide for bi-level viewing through a miniature Galilean telemicroscope, the telemicroscope is mounted to a carrier such that its optic axis is angled relative to a principal optic axis defined by the carrier. The carrier may be a spectacle lens, an adaptor to be pressure fit to the rear portion of the aiming mechanism or a gun, or an adaptor to be coupled to an optical instrument. The miniature scope may also be used as the principal sight aperture. Where the optical instrument is a larger telescope, an additional cross hair allows for alignment of the telemicroscope. Fibers extending inwardly from the inner surface of the telemicroscope barrel minimize internal light reflection. The telemicroscope barrel is formed of threaded-like coupled portions which may be rotated relative to each other for focusing.