Optical sight and information display method

Abstract

To provide more appropriate information to the user in optical sights. [Solution] An optical sight 10 used attached to a gun, comprising an optical system 12 that allows the user to see a target object to be aimed at, a housing 14 that houses the optical system 12, and an information display unit 22 that displays information toward the user, wherein the information display unit 22 is installed inside the housing 14 together with the optical system 12 so as to display information around the field of view that the optical system 12 allows the user to see.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an optical sight and an information display method.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, optical sights equipped on hunting guns, sports guns, etc. have been widely used (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Further, as an optical sight, for example, a configuration including an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the landing position or the like is widely used.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When adjusting the landing position or the like with respect to an optical sight, for example, the adjustment mechanism is operated based on information such as the distance to a target object (target) that is the aiming target. In an optical sight with a conventional configuration, it may be necessary to take the viewpoint out of the field of view of the optical sight in order to confirm information such as the distance. However, in this case, for example, a change in posture may occur during adjustment of the landing position or the like, which may reduce the stability of the posture. Further, when the target object moves, there is also a risk of losing sight of the target object while the viewpoint is out of the field of view of the optical sight. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical sight and an information display method that can solve the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] Regarding optical sights, in order to obtain information for adjusting the point of impact, etc., without taking the target out of the field of view, it is conceivable to attach an additional component (additional hardware) for information confirmation to the outside of the eyepiece of the optical sight. In fact, existing products that can be used as such additional components are known. However, when using such products, the total weight of the components related to the optical sight increases significantly due to the use of additional hardware other than the optical sight itself. As a result, it is conceivable that the weight of the equipment carried by the user when using the gun will increase, or that the gun will become more difficult to handle. In this case, it is also conceivable that the cost required for the optical sight will increase significantly due to the use of such additional hardware. More specifically, in this case, it may cost about twice as much as when using only a normal optical sight. In this case, it is also conceivable that the size of the components that can be attached to the gun will increase due to the additional hardware, making the gun look unsightly. Furthermore, in this case, attaching other components to the outside of the eyepiece may reduce the amount of light reaching the user from the target, making the target difficult to see. In particular, in environments with weak sunlight, such as at dusk, it may become difficult to see the target object.

[0006] In response to this, the inventor of the present invention considered installing an information display device (information display unit) inside the housing that contains the optical system of an optical sight, and displaying information around the field of view that the optical system allows the user to see. With this configuration, for example, it is possible to appropriately display information to the user while appropriately suppressing an increase in the size and weight of the optical sight. In this case, by displaying information around the field of view, for example, it is possible to display information to the user more appropriately while suppressing the impact on how the target object looks. Furthermore, the inventor of the present invention, through further diligent research, found the features necessary to obtain such effects and arrived at the present invention. In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is an optical sight used by being attached to a gun, comprising an optical system that allows the user to see a target object that is the target of aiming, a housing that houses the optical system, and an information display unit that displays information toward the user, wherein the information display unit is installed inside the housing together with the optical system so as to display the information around the field of view that the optical system allows the user to see.

[0007] This configuration allows for appropriate display of information to the user while appropriately minimizing increases in the size and weight of the optical sight. Furthermore, it effectively prevents issues such as a significant increase in the total weight of components related to the optical sight or an unsightly appearance of the firearm. Additionally, by housing the information display unit within the optical sight's casing, the associated costs are significantly reduced compared to, for example, attaching additional hardware to the optical sight. Moreover, by displaying information around the field of view, information can be displayed more appropriately to the user while minimizing impact on the appearance of the target. Additionally, since there is no need to attach other components between the optical sight and the user, issues such as a reduction in the amount of light reaching the user from the target can be effectively prevented. Therefore, this configuration allows for more appropriate display of information to the user in an optical sight.

[0008] In this configuration, the optical system includes, for example, an objective system that projects an inverted image of a target object onto a first focal plane, an erecting system that projects an upright image (the inverted image) onto a second focal plane, and an eyepiece system that allows the user to view the upright image projected onto the second focal plane. In this case, the information display unit displays information so that the information can be viewed by the user, for example, through at least a part of the eyepiece system and without going through the objective system. With this configuration, information can be appropriately displayed to the user, for example, using an information display unit disposed within the housing. Furthermore, in this configuration, the optical system may further include, for example, a field stop that defines the range of the field of view to be viewed by the user. In this case, the display of information around the field of view can be considered, for example, as information being displayed around the field of view defined by the field stop. More specifically, in this case, the field stop has, for example, a frame that surrounds a field-of-view corresponding hole, which is a through-hole that defines the range of the field of view. The information display unit then displays information such as showing it around the field of view while the entire field of view corresponding to the corresponding opening in the field of view ring is visible to the user. With this configuration, information can be appropriately displayed around the field of view, for example, including the target object. The fact that information is shown around the field of view while the entire field of view corresponding to the corresponding opening in the field of view ring is visible to the user can be thought of as, for example, the information being displayed so as not to overlap with the field of view.

[0009] Furthermore, if the optical system has a field of view ring, the information display unit can be attached, for example, to the frame of the field of view ring. With this configuration, the information display unit can be appropriately installed inside the housing of the optical sight. Also, in this case, by attaching the information display unit to the frame of the field of view ring, information can be appropriately displayed around the field of view of the optical sight. More specifically, the field of view ring is usually installed close to the focal plane (for example, the second focal plane) in the optical system. In this case, by installing the information display unit at the position of the field of view ring, the information displayed by the information display unit can be appropriately viewed by the user without significantly changing the user's eye focus or line of sight to the target. Therefore, with this configuration, it is possible to more effectively prevent the user from losing sight of the target while checking the information. Also, when attaching the information display unit to the frame of the field of view ring, for example, the information display unit can be attached to the eyepiece side (the side closer to the user) of the frame. With this configuration, the information display unit can be easily and appropriately attached to the field of view ring. Furthermore, the information display unit could be attached, for example, to the objective-side (the side furthest from the user) surface of the frame portion of the field of view ring. In this case, for example, a through-hole in the frame portion, which is a separate through-hole from the field-of-view hole, could be formed in the frame portion. In this case, the information display unit would display information so that the information is visible to the user through the through-hole in the frame portion. Even with this configuration, for example, information can be displayed appropriately to the user. Furthermore, the information display unit could be installed in a position different from the field of view ring. In this case, it is preferable that the optical sight further includes, for example, a frame-shaped member to which the information display unit is attached. In this case, for example, the information display unit could be installed in a position closer to the eyepiece than the field of view ring. Furthermore, by forming a through-hole in the frame portion of the field of view ring, for example, the information display unit could be installed in a position closer to the objective-side than the field of view ring.

[0010] Furthermore, in this configuration, it is preferable that the information displayed by the information display unit be made visible to the user as needed. More specifically, in an optical sight, for example, it may be preferable to allow the user to see a larger field of view without allowing the user to see the information displayed around the periphery of the field of view, depending on the situation. In this case, for example, by changing the position of the user's eye in the direction of the optical axis of the optical sight, it is conceivable to change between a state where the information is visible around the periphery of the field of view and a state where at least a part of the information is hidden. More specifically, in this case, for example, it is conceivable that the information display unit would display information so that, when the user is viewing the field of view with the information hidden, the user can move their eye closer to the optical sight and the information becomes visible around the periphery of the field of view. Such a configuration can be considered as one in which, for example, when the user views the field of view of the optical sight from at least a part of the eye relief range corresponding to the optical system of the optical sight, at least a part of the information displayed by the information display unit is hidden, and when the user views the field of view of the optical sight from a position closer than this at least a part, the entire information displayed by the information display unit is visible to the user.

[0011] Furthermore, in this configuration, the optical sight may further include a display control unit that controls the display of information on the information display unit. With this configuration, for example, the operation of the information display unit can be appropriately controlled. The display control unit displays information on the information display unit based on information detected by various sensors. The display control unit may display externally acquired information, such as information obtained from an external device of the optical sight, as at least part of the information to be displayed on the information display unit. For example, at least one of wind speed, wind direction, and distance can be used as the externally acquired information. In this case, the distance can be considered as, for example, the distance from the optical sight to the target. With this configuration, for example, various types of information can be appropriately displayed on the information display unit. As the external device, for example, a portable information device such as a smartphone can be suitably used. Furthermore, as a configuration of the present invention, for example, an information display method having the same characteristics as described above can also be used. In this case as well, for example, the same effects as described above can be obtained. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, for example, information can be displayed to the user more appropriately in an optical sight. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This figure illustrates an optical sight 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1(a) is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the main part of the optical sight 10. Figure 1(b) is a block diagram schematically showing the function of some of the components of the optical sight 10. Figure 1(c) shows an example of how information is displayed by the information display unit 22. [Figure 2] This figure shows an example of how the information display unit 22 is installed. Figure 2(a) is a cross-sectional perspective view showing an example of how the information display unit 22 is installed on the field of view ring 108. Figure 2(b) shows an example of the configuration of the field of view ring 108. Figure 2(c) is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the peripheral part of the field of view ring 108 in the optical sight 10. [Figure 3]This figure shows an example of how to install the information display unit 22. Figure 3(a) is a perspective view showing the viewing ring 108 and the information display unit 22 shown in Figure 2(a). Figure 3(b) shows another example of how to mount the information display unit 22. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is a diagram illustrating an optical sight 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1(a) is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the main part of the optical sight 10. Figure 1(b) is a block diagram schematically showing the function of some of the components of the optical sight 10. The optical sight 10 is an optical device that allows a user to see a target (object), and is used by attaching it to a gun such as a hunting gun or a sports gun. In this case, the user is, for example, a hunter or shooter who uses a gun to which the optical sight 10 is attached. In this example, the optical sight 10 is attached to a gun for long-range shooting (for example, a rifle, etc.) to magnify a target such as hunting game or a shooting target that is far away, and allow the user to see it. In this case, the optical sight 10 can also be considered as, for example, a sighting telescope with a telescopic function. The optical sight 10 can be considered, for example, as a scope that can be attached to a gun (for example, a rifle scope). In this example, the optical sight 10 comprises an optical system 12, a housing 14, a movable barrel 16, and an adjustment mechanism 18, as indicated by the reference numerals in Figure 1(a). In addition to the components indicated by the reference numerals in Figure 1(a), the optical sight 10 further comprises an information display unit 22 and a display control unit 24, as shown in Figure 1(b). Except for the points described below, the optical sight 10 and each part of the optical sight 10 may have the same or similar characteristics as known optical sights and their components. For example, except for the points described below, the components of the optical sight 10 can preferably be configured to have the same functions as known configurations.

[0015] In this example, the optical system 12 includes an objective lens system 102, an erecting lens system 104, an eyepiece system 106, and a field ring 108. The objective lens system 102, which is the objective side (objective lens side, the side furthest from the user), is oriented toward the front of the gun, and the eyepiece system 106, which is the eyepiece side (eyepiece lens side, the side furthest from the user), is oriented toward the rear of the gun, thereby allowing the user, who is the gunner, to see the target object for aiming. In this case, the target object can be considered, for example, an object that can be fired at by the gun. The objective lens system 102 is the part of the optical system 12 that is closer to the target object than the erecting lens system 104 (objective side), and it forms an inverted image of the target object on the first focal plane (first focal plane). The objective lens system 102 can also be considered, for example, as an objective optical system that constitutes part of the optical system 12. The first focal plane can be considered, for example, as the focal plane set at a predetermined first position in the optical axis direction in the optical sight 10. In the illustrated configuration, the objective system 102 has multiple lenses. In this case, the multiple lenses in the objective system 102 can be considered, for example, as the objective lenses in the optical sight 10.

[0016] Furthermore, the erecting system 104 is the part of the optical system 12 that forms an erect image corresponding to the inverted image described above between the objective system 102 and the eyepiece system 106, and forms an erect image, which is the inverted image of the inverted image formed on the first focal plane, on the second focal plane. The erecting system 104 can also be considered, for example, as an erecting optical system that constitutes part of the optical system 12. The second focal plane can be considered, for example, as a focal plane set at a predetermined second position in the optical axis direction of the optical sight 10. In this example, the erecting system 104 has multiple lenses. These multiple lenses are arranged between the first focal plane and the second focal plane, and form an erect image, which is the inverted image of the inverted image formed on the first focal plane, on the second focal plane. In this example, the erecting system 104 changes the magnification of the optical sight 10 by moving at least some of the multiple lenses in the axial direction of the movable cylinder 16. In this case, the erecting system 104 changes the magnification according to the user's operation, for example, adjusting the magnification in the optical sight 10. In this case, the multiple lenses in the erecting system 104 can be considered, for example, as a group of lenses that invert the inverted image formed on the first focal plane into an erect image and adjust the magnification.

[0017] Furthermore, the eyepiece system 106 is the part of the optical system 12 that is closer to the user (eyepiece side) than the erecting system 104, and allows the user to view the erect image formed on the second focal plane. The eyepiece system 106 can also be considered, for example, as an eyepiece optical system that constitutes part of the optical system 12. In this example, the eyepiece system 106 has multiple lenses. The multiple lenses in the eyepiece system 106 can be considered, for example, as eyepiece lenses in the optical sight 10. The field stop 108 is an annular member (field stop) that defines the range of the field of view that the user can see, and is disposed, for example, between the erecting system 104 and the eyepiece system 106. In this case, the field stop 108 can be considered, for example, to be installed at a position close to the focal plane in the optical system 12. Furthermore, in this example, the field stop 108 can be considered to be installed, for example, near the second focal plane. Depending on how the configuration of the optical system 12 is divided, the field ring 108 can be considered, for example, as having the configuration of the erecting system 104. Alternatively, the field ring 108 can be considered as having the configuration of, for example, the eyepiece system 106. The configuration of the field ring 108 will be explained in more detail later.

[0018] The housing 14 is configured to house the various parts of the optical sight 10 and is fixedly attached to a predetermined position on the gun using, for example, a mount (not shown). In this case, the housing 14 can be considered to house, for example, at least the optical system 12. In this example, the housing 14 further houses, for example, at least a part of the adjustment mechanism 18, and the information display unit 22 and the display control unit 24. In this case, the information display unit 22 and the display control unit 24 can be considered to be arranged inside the optical sight 10. The movable cylinder 16 is a cylindrical body that holds multiple lenses in the erecting system 104 and is arranged inside the housing 14 so that its axial direction changes in response to user operation of the adjustment mechanism 18. More specifically, the movable cylinder 16 changes its axial tilt by moving the end on the objective system 102 side vertically and horizontally, with a predetermined position on the eyepiece system 106 side as a pivot point. In this case, the movable cylinder 16 can be considered to have a structure that allows it to tilt inside the main body of the optical sight 10, for example, with the end on the eyepiece side 106 as the pivot point. The vertical and horizontal directions can be considered, for example, the vertical and horizontal directions when the optical sight 10 is used attached to a gun. Also, in Figure 1(a), the vertical direction in the drawing corresponds to the vertical direction of the optical sight 10. And the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing and the vertical direction corresponds to the horizontal direction of the optical sight 10.

[0019] The adjustment mechanism 18 is a mechanism that adjusts the function of the optical sight 10 in response to user operation. Adjusting the function of the optical sight 10 can be thought of as, for example, adjusting the optical characteristics or aiming of the optical sight 10. The adjustment mechanism 18 can also be thought of as, for example, a configuration that provides a correction function to the optical sight 10. More specifically, in this example, the adjustment mechanism 18 is at least a mechanism that adjusts the point of impact, and adjusts the optical sight 10 by tilting the axial direction of the movable cylinder 16 in response to user operation. Adjusting the point of impact can be thought of as, for example, adjusting the relationship between the point of impact of a bullet from the gun to which the optical sight 10 is attached (point of impact) and the optical axis direction of the optical sight 10. Adjusting the point of impact can also be thought of as, for example, adjusting the aiming to match the gun's aiming point with the point of impact. Adjusting the aiming can be thought of as, for example, adjusting the optical sight 10 to match the expected trajectory. In this example, the adjustment mechanism 18 adjusts the point of impact by tilting the axial direction of the movable cylinder 16, for example, changing the center of the image viewed by the user. Also, in Figure 1, for the sake of illustration, only the configuration for adjusting the point of impact in the vertical direction is mainly shown for the adjustment mechanism 18. In addition to the configuration shown, the adjustment mechanism 18 further has a configuration for adjusting the point of impact in the horizontal direction. The adjustment mechanism 18 may further have mechanisms for adjusting things other than the point of impact. For example, the adjustment mechanism 18 may further have a mechanism for changing the magnification of the optical sight 10. Also, the optical sight 10 may have a mechanism for changing the magnification of the optical sight 10, separate from the adjustment mechanism 18 for adjusting the point of impact.

[0020] Also, as described above, in this example, the optical sight 10 further includes an information display unit 22 and a display control unit 24 in addition to the configuration labeled in FIG. 1(a). In this example, the information display unit 22 is a display device that displays information to the user. Also, the information display unit 22 performs display in a display format using, for example, numbers, letters, symbols, and the like. As the information display unit 22, for example, a known display device that performs display in digital format can be preferably used. More specifically, as the information display unit 22, for example, a display device using LEDs or an organic EL display (OLED) can be preferably used. Also, in this example, the information display unit 22 is installed in the housing 14 together with the optical system 12, so that inside the optical sight 10, as shown in FIG. 1(c) for example, information is displayed around the visual field 302 defined by the sight ring 108. FIG. 1(c) shows an example of how the information display unit 22 displays information. In this case, for the visual field 302 defined by the sight ring 108, for example, it can be considered as the visual field that the optical system 12 of the optical sight 10 allows the user to visually recognize. Also, for the visual field 302, for example, it can also be considered as the visual field showing the scenery outside the optical sight 10. Regarding displaying information around the visual field 302, for example, it can also be considered as displaying information on the edge portion inside the barrel of the optical sight 10. Also, in the optical sight 10, it is conceivable to display a reticle in the visual field 302 by, for example, a known method. In this case, by displaying information around the visual field 302, for example, it can be considered that the information is displayed on the edge inside the barrel that does not overlap with the reticle displayed in the visual field 302 and does not get in the way. Also, in this case, regarding the way the information display unit 22 displays information, for example, it can also be considered that the information is displayed so that the entire circular visual field 302 defined by the sight ring 108 can be seen without a part of the visual field 302 being covered by the information.

[0021] Furthermore, the information display unit 22 could, for example, be a self-illuminating display device. A self-illuminating display device can be thought of as a device that displays information by emitting light, such as characters or numbers. Alternatively, a self-illuminating display device can be thought of as a device that displays information without using a separate lighting device such as a backlight. By using such an information display unit 22, for example, information can be displayed more appropriately on the information display unit 22 installed inside the housing 14. In this case, for example, by illuminating only the minimum necessary area to display the information, the impact on the appearance of objects in the field of view 302 can be more appropriately suppressed compared to, for example, when using a display device that uses a backlight. Examples of the location for installing the information display unit 22 inside the housing 14 will be explained in more detail later.

[0022] Furthermore, the display control unit 24 is a controller that controls the display of information on the information display unit 22. A microcontroller, for example, can be suitably used as the display control unit 24. The display control unit 24 is installed, for example, in a position within the housing 14 that does not affect the optical path of the optical sight 10, thereby controlling the operation of the information display unit 22 within the optical sight 10. The display control unit 24 also displays information on the information display unit 22 based on information detected by various sensors, for example. In this case, the sensors may be, for example, sensors attached to the optical sight 10, or sensors located outside the optical sight 10. As for sensors located outside the optical sight 10, for example, sensors attached to the gun together with the optical sight 10 can be used. Alternatively, as sensors located outside the optical sight 10, for example, sensors not attached to either the optical sight 10 or the gun can be used. When using a sensor located outside the optical sight 10, the display control unit 24 may acquire information detected by the sensor from, for example, a device located outside the optical sight 10. More specifically, in this example, the display control unit 24 displays externally acquired information, which is information acquired from a device outside the optical sight 10, as at least part of the information to be displayed on the information display unit 22. In this case, the externally acquired information could be, for example, at least one of wind speed, wind direction, and distance. For distance, for example, it could be the distance from the optical sight 10 to the target object. With this configuration, for example, various types of information can be appropriately displayed on the information display unit 22. As the external device, for example, a portable information device such as a smartphone can be suitably used. In this case, the information display unit 22 acquires information from the portable information device by connecting to it, for example, via Bluetooth connection. The information display unit 22 may also acquire information other than the information detected by the sensor from the portable information device as externally acquired information. In this case, externally acquired information could include, for example, information obtained by a mobile device via the internet.

[0023] Also, as described above, the display control unit 24 may cause the information display unit 22 to display information based on, for example, information detected by a sensor attached to the optical sight 10. In this case, the display control unit 24 may detect, for example, the wind speed, wind direction, distance, etc. based on the output of the sensor attached to the optical sight 10. Also, in FIG. 1(c), an example of a state in which the distance to the target is displayed is illustrated with respect to an example of the manner of displaying information by the information display unit 22. The information display unit 22 switches and displays, for example, the wind speed, wind direction, and distance at regular intervals. The information display unit 22 may also switch and display the wind speed, wind direction, and distance in response to, for example, a user operation. Also, in a modified example of the manner of displaying information by the information display unit 22, the information display unit 22 may display, for example, the wind speed, wind direction, and distance simultaneously. By displaying these pieces of information around the visual field 302, the user can appropriately perform operations (such as dial adjustment) on the adjustment mechanism 18 while checking various pieces of information without, for example, taking their line of sight off the target. Also, thereby, for example, adjustment of the landing position can be performed more appropriately.

[0024] Furthermore, in this example, by installing the information display unit 22 inside the housing 14 of the optical sight 10, it is possible to appropriately display information to the user while appropriately suppressing increases in the size and weight of the optical sight 10. This also appropriately prevents, for example, a significant increase in the total weight of the components related to the optical sight 10, and prevents the gun from becoming unsightly. In addition, in this case, the costs required in relation to the optical sight 10 can be significantly reduced compared to, for example, displaying information by attaching additional hardware to the optical sight 10. Moreover, in this case, by displaying information around the field of view 302 of the optical sight 10, it is possible to appropriately display information to the user while minimizing the impact on how the target appears. Furthermore, in this example, the area around the field of view 302, where the information display unit 22 displays information, can be considered to correspond to an area that also existed in conventional optical sights. Therefore, in this respect as well, it can be said that the configuration of this example appropriately prevents, for example, an increase in the size of the optical sight 10. Furthermore, regarding this point, for example, when displaying information superimposed on the field of view 302, it becomes necessary to use a transparent display device. In contrast, in this example, by displaying information around the field of view 302, it becomes possible to use, for example, an opaque display device as the information display unit 22. Therefore, according to this example, it becomes possible to use, for example, a less expensive display device as the information display unit 22. Moreover, in this case, it is not necessary to add any components to the outside of the eyepiece system 106, so, for example, a reduction in the amount of light reaching the user from the target can be appropriately prevented. In addition, this also appropriately prevents, for example, a decrease in the transmittance of the optical sight 10, which makes it difficult to see the target. Therefore, according to this example, information can be displayed to the user more appropriately in the optical sight 10 while appropriately preventing a decrease in functionality that may occur when, for example, additional hardware is attached.

[0025] Furthermore, the display control unit 24 may also display information other than wind speed, wind direction, and distance on the information display unit 22. In this case, it is preferable that the display control unit 24 further displays other information on the information display unit 22 in addition to at least one of wind speed, wind direction, and distance. More specifically, in this case, the display control unit 24 displays information indicating the tilt of the optical sight 10 on the information display unit 22. The tilt of the optical sight 10 can be considered to correspond to, for example, the tilt of the gun to which the optical sight 10 is attached. The display control unit 24 also detects the tilt of the optical sight 10 based on the output of a sensor such as a gyro sensor attached to the optical sight 10 or the gun. In this case, the display control unit 24 detects the tilt of the optical sight 10 as, for example, the tilt in the left-right direction. The tilt in the left-right direction can be considered as, for example, the tilt in the rotational direction with the optical axis direction of the optical sight 10 as the axis of rotation. Furthermore, regarding information other than that mentioned above, the display control unit 24 may, for example, display at least one of the temperature and atmospheric pressure on the information display unit 22. The display control unit 24 may also, for example, display on the information display unit 22 the type of ammunition used in the gun to which the optical sight 10 is attached. By displaying this information on the information display unit 22, for example, a variety of information can be appropriately presented to the user.

[0026] Here, the position in which the information display unit 22 displays information around the field of view 302 is not limited to the position shown in Figure 1(c), but can be changed in various ways. Furthermore, the information display unit 22 may display information not only in the form of characters or numbers, but also in various graphical representations. For example, the information display unit 22 may display an image indicating the tilt of the optical sight 10 as information indicating the tilt of the optical sight 10, in accordance with the control of the display control unit 24. In this example, the information that the display control unit 24 causes the information display unit 22 to display can be considered, for example, as peripheral information that affects the trajectory of the gun to which the optical sight 10 is attached. In this case, by displaying information using the information display unit 22 installed inside the optical sight 10, it can be considered that it becomes possible to appropriately adjust the optical sight 10 while checking the peripheral information using the information seen through the optical sight 10. Furthermore, regarding the optical sight 10 in this example, it can also be considered as a configuration that allows for appropriate adjustments to the optical sight 10 using surrounding information while aiming at a target such as game or a shooting target with the optical sight 10.

[0027] Furthermore, adjustments to the optical sight 10 include, as explained above, adjusting the point of impact. Also, adjustments to the optical sight 10 include, for example, adjusting the focus of the optical system 12 of the optical sight 10. Moreover, adjustments to the gun may be made based on the information displayed by the information display unit 22. In this case, for example, the angle of the gun may be adjusted by moving the gun based on information indicating the tilt of the optical sight 10. Regarding this point, in the act of shooting with a gun, in order to ensure the bullet hits the target correctly, it is generally preferable to suppress the gun from tilting to the left or right and keep the gun horizontal (horizontal around the barrel axis). In this case, it is preferable to perform the above adjustments while maintaining a fixed posture, for example, by firmly pressing the gun against the user's cheek or the like to fix the user's body and the gun in place after checking the gun's tilt. In contrast, according to this example, for example, the user can check various pieces of information while maintaining a fixed posture and appropriately make adjustments to the optical sight 10 based on that information. Furthermore, this allows for more accurate targeting in activities such as hunting and shooting.

[0028] Furthermore, as explained above, in this example, the field of view 302 of the optical sight 10 is defined by the field ring 108. In this case, the information display unit 22 can be attached to the field ring 108, for example, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Figures 2 and 3 show examples of how the information display unit 22 is installed. Figure 2(a) is a cross-sectional perspective view showing an example of how the information display unit 22 is installed on the field ring 108, with an enlarged view of the peripheral area of ​​the field ring 108 in the optical sight 10. Figure 2(b) shows an example of the configuration of the field ring 108. Figure 2(c) is a cross-sectional view showing an enlarged view of the peripheral area of ​​the field ring 108 in the optical sight 10. Figure 3(a) is a perspective view showing the field ring 108 and the information display unit 22 shown in Figure 2(a).

[0029] As shown in Figures 2(a) and 3(a), in this example, the information display unit 22 is attached to the eyepiece-side surface of the field of view ring 108. More specifically, in this example, the field of view ring 108 has a frame portion 202 surrounding a field of view corresponding hole 212, which is a through hole that defines the range of the field of view, as shown in Figure 2(b). In the examples shown in Figures 2(a) and 3(a), the information display unit 22 is attached to the frame portion 202 of the field of view ring 108 on the eyepiece side. With this configuration, the information display unit 22 can be easily and appropriately attached to the field of view ring 108. Furthermore, this allows the information display unit 22 to be appropriately installed inside the housing 14 of the optical sight 10. In this case, by attaching the information display unit 22 to the frame portion 202 of the field of view ring 108, information can be appropriately displayed around the field of view that allows the user to view an object in the optical sight 10. When considering the appropriate display of information around the field of view in relation to the function of the field of view ring 108, the information display unit 22 can be thought of as displaying information around the field of view so that the field of view corresponding to the entire field of view hole 212 in the field of view ring 108 is visible to the user. With this configuration, information can be appropriately displayed on the information display unit 22 without overlapping with the field of view defined by the field of view ring 108.

[0030] Furthermore, as can be understood from the configuration shown in Figures 2(a) and 2(c), the information display unit 22 can be considered to display information in such a way that the information is visible to the user through at least a part of the eyepiece system 106 and without going through the objective system 102 (see Figure 1). Regarding the information being visible to the user through at least a part of the eyepiece system 106, this can be considered, for example, as the information being visible to the user through at least the lens closest to the user in the eyepiece system 106. More specifically, in this example, the information display unit 22 displays information in such a way that the information is visible to the user through all the lenses in the eyepiece system 106 and without going through the lenses in the objective system 102 and the erecting system 104. With this configuration, for example, information can be appropriately displayed to the user using the information display unit 22 located inside the housing 14.

[0031] Furthermore, as explained above, in this example, the field ring 108 is positioned between the erecting system 104 and the eyepiece system 106, so that it is located close to the second focal plane in the optical system 12 (see Figure 1). In this case, by installing the information display unit 22 at the position of the field ring 108, the information displayed by the information display unit 22 can be appropriately viewed by the user without significantly changing, for example, the user's eye focus or line of sight to the target. Therefore, according to this example, it is possible to more effectively prevent, for example, the user from losing sight of the target while checking the information displayed on the information display unit 22. Also, in the optical sight 10, the appearance of the frame portion 202 of the field ring 108 usually changes according to the position of the user's eyes. For example, when a user moves their eyes forward and backward along the optical axis of the optical sight 10, the appearance of the frame portion 202 of the field of view ring 108 will generally change as the user moves their eyes closer to the optical sight 10, allowing them to see a larger area of ​​the frame portion 202, while moving their eyes further away from the optical sight 10 allows them to see a smaller area of ​​the frame portion 202. In this case, the appearance of the information display unit 22 attached to the frame portion 202 will also change according to the position of the user's eyes. Furthermore, in this case, for example, it can be considered that at least a part of the information display unit 22 is hidden when the user's eyes are in a predetermined range, and the entire information display unit 22 is visible when the user's eyes are in another predetermined range. Therefore, according to this example, for example, the information displayed by the information display unit 22 can be made visible to the user as needed by changing the position of the eyes. More specifically, in the optical sight 10, for example, it may be preferable to allow the user to see a larger field of view by not allowing them to see the information displayed around the field of view, depending on the situation. In this case, for example, by changing the position of the user's eye in the direction of the optical axis of the optical sight 10, it is possible to change between a state in which information is visible around the periphery of the field of view and a state in which at least part of the information is hidden.Furthermore, in this case, regarding the method of displaying information by the information display unit 22, which is achieved by installing the information display unit 22 in a predetermined position, it is also possible to consider that the information is displayed in such a way that, for example, the user is viewing the field of view with the information hidden, and then when the user brings their eye closer to the optical sight 10, the information becomes visible around the field of view.

[0032] Furthermore, the way this information is perceived can also be considered in relation to the eye relief corresponding to the optical system 12 of the optical sight 10. In this case, the eye relief can be considered, for example, the distance from the final lens surface (final surface, rear end surface) of the eyepiece system 106 to the eye point. The eye point can be considered, for example, the position of the eye from which the entire apparent field of view in the optical system 12 can be seen. The eye point can also be considered, for example, the position where the pupil is formed in the optical system 12. The eye relief can also be considered, for example, the distance from the eyepiece lens to the eye point when the field of view of the optical sight 10 is clearly visible. The eye relief can also be considered, for example, the position within the range where the user's eye should be placed when shooting with a gun to which the optical sight 10 is attached. The eye relief can also be considered, for example, the position where the field of view appears clearly circular at a user-defined magnification setting when looking through the optical sight 10 from the final surface of the eyepiece system 106. Furthermore, in the optical sight 10, the eye relief may be, for example, the eye relief specified in the specifications of the optical sight 10. Typically, the eye relief can be a value within a certain range, such as 90mm to 100mm.

[0033] In this case, regarding the relationship between how the information display unit 22 is visible and the position of the user's eyes, for example, if the user views the field of view of the optical sight 10 from at least a portion of the eye relief range, at least a portion of the information displayed by the information display unit 22 will be obscured. Conversely, if the user views the field of view of the optical sight 10 from a position closer than this obscured portion, the entire information displayed by the information display unit 22 will be visible to the user. More specifically, if there is a range in the eye relief as described above, for example, it is conceivable that at least a portion of the information displayed by the information display unit 22 will be obscured in a portion or the entirety of the far-field range of the eye relief when the user views the field of view of the optical sight 10 from that position. The far-field range of the eye relief range can be considered, for example, as the side further away from the final surface of the eyepiece system 106 in the optical system 12. In this case, for example, if the user brings their eye closer to the optical sight 10 from this position, the entire information displayed by the information display unit 22 will be visible to the user. With this configuration, for example, the appearance of the information display unit 22 can be appropriately changed according to the user's eye position. In this case, it can be assumed that the entire information displayed by the information display unit 22 is visible to the user by viewing the field of view from a position closer than the eye relief, or from the near-eye relief side.

[0034] Furthermore, if the information displayed by the information display unit 22 is configured so that the entire information can be seen by moving the user's eyes to a position closer than the eye relief, then the appearance of the information display unit 22 can be considered such that, for example, in the normal state when the sight of the gun to which the optical sight 10 is attached is aligned with the target, at least a part of the information display unit 22 is hidden, and the entire information display unit 22 becomes visible when the user moves their eyes closer to the optical sight 10. With this configuration, for example, when firing a gun, the information displayed by the information display unit 22 can be appropriately viewed by the user as needed without narrowing the field of view. In this case, for example, it is conceivable that the entire information display unit 22 is hidden and not visible in at least a part of the far-range portion of the eye relief range. With this configuration, for example, when firing a gun, the user can concentrate more on the field of view.

[0035] Furthermore, the information displayed by the information display unit 22 may be made visible to the user within the eye relief range, as described above. In this case, for example, it is conceivable that the entire information display unit 22 be made visible to the user in at least a portion of the near-range portion of the eye relief range. With this configuration, for example, the user can see a target object within the field of view in a clear state while also being able to see the information displayed by the information display unit 22. Depending on the performance required for the optical sight 10, it is also conceivable that the information displayed by the information display unit 22 be made visible to the user throughout the entire eye relief range. With this configuration, for example, adjustments to the adjustment mechanism 18 can always be made more appropriately while checking the information display unit 22 in the same state as when shooting is performed. This also allows for adjustments to the adjustment mechanism 18 with higher precision. Such a configuration can be considered, for example, as a configuration in which the information displayed by the information display unit 22 is visible around the field of view in the normal state in which the user views the field of view.

[0036] Furthermore, as explained above, in the configuration shown in Figures 2(a) and 3(a), the information display unit 22 is attached to the eyepiece-side surface of the field of view ring 108. In contrast, in modified configurations of the optical sight 10, the information display unit 22 may be attached to other positions. In this case, for example, as shown in Figure 3(b), the information display unit 22 may be attached to the objective-side surface of the frame portion 202 of the field of view ring 108. Figure 3(b) shows another example of how the information display unit 22 is attached. In this case, for example, a through-hole 214 is formed in the frame portion 202 of the field of view ring 108, which is a through-hole separate from the field of view corresponding hole 212. The information display unit 22 is then attached to the objective-side surface of the frame portion 202, and the information is displayed so that it can be seen by the user through the frame through-hole 214. Even with this configuration, information can be displayed appropriately to the user.

[0037] Furthermore, the information display unit 22 may be installed in a position different from the field of view ring 108. In this case, for example, the information display unit 22 may be installed in a position closer to the eyepiece than the field of view ring 108. Alternatively, by forming a through-hole 214 in the frame portion 202 of the field of view ring 108, the information display unit 22 may be installed in a position closer to the objective lens than the field of view ring 108. In these cases, it is preferable that the optical sight 10 further includes, for example, a frame-shaped member to which the information display unit 22 is mounted at the mounting position. With this configuration, for example, the information display unit 22 can be appropriately installed in various positions within the housing 14 of the optical sight 10. In these cases as well, the information display unit 22 displays information around the field of view of the optical sight 10, for example. Furthermore, by installing the information display unit 22 at a predetermined position in the optical axis direction of the optical sight 10, it is conceivable that the appearance of the information display unit 22 can be changed according to the position of the user's eyes. [Industrial applicability]

[0038] The present invention can be suitably used, for example, in optical sights. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0039] 10...Optical sight, 102...Objective lens, 104...Erecting lens, 106...Eyepiece, 108...View ring, 12...Optical system, 14...Housing, 16...Movable barrel, 18...Adjustment mechanism, 202...Frame, 212...Field of view corresponding hole, 214...Through hole in frame, 22...Information display unit, 24...Display control unit, 302...Field of view

Claims

1. An optical sight used by attaching it to a firearm, An optical system that allows the user to see the target object that will be the target of the aiming, A housing for the optical system, Information display unit that displays information to the user Equipped with, The optical sight is characterized in that the information display unit is installed inside the housing together with the optical system so as to display the information around the field of view that the optical system allows the user to see.

2. The optical system described above is An objective system that forms an inverted image of the target object at the first focal plane, An erecting system that projects an upright image, obtained by inverting the aforementioned inverted image, onto a second focal plane, An eyepiece system that allows the user to view the erect image formed on the second focal plane. It has, The optical sight according to claim 1, characterized in that the information display unit displays the information so that the information can be seen by the user through at least a part of the eyepiece system and without going through the objective system.

3. The optical system further includes a field of view ring that defines the range of the field of view that is visible to the user, The aforementioned field of view ring has a frame portion surrounding a field of view corresponding hole, which is a through hole that defines the range of the field of view. The optical sight according to claim 2, characterized in that the information display unit displays the information such that the field of view corresponding to the entire field of view hole in the field of view ring is visible to the user, and the information is displayed around the field of view.

4. The optical sight according to claim 3, characterized in that the information display unit is attached to the frame portion of the viewing ring.

5. The frame portion of the aforementioned viewing ring has a through-hole, which is a through-hole separate from the viewing-corresponding hole, The optical sight according to claim 3, characterized in that the information display unit displays the information so that the information can be seen by the user through the through-hole of the frame.

6. If the user views the field of view of the optical sight from at least a portion of the eye relief range corresponding to the optical system, at least a portion of the information displayed by the information display unit will be obscured. The optical sight according to claim 1, characterized in that when the user views the field of view of the optical sight from a position closer than at least some of the aforementioned positions, the entire information displayed by the information display unit is visible to the user.

7. The information display unit further comprises a display control unit that controls the display of the information, The optical sight according to claim 1, characterized in that the display control unit displays externally acquired information, which is information obtained from an external device of the optical sight, as at least a part of the information to be displayed on the information display unit, and uses at least one of wind speed, wind direction, and distance as the externally acquired information.

8. An information display method for displaying information in an optical sight used attached to a firearm, An information display unit is installed inside the housing that houses the optical system for allowing the user to see the target object that serves as the target of the optical sight, and displays the information toward the user. An information display method characterized in that the information display unit displays the information around the field of view that the optical system allows the user to see.

Images