Firearm display system

Abstract

A display system includes a chassis, a see-through display, and a controller. The chassis is configured to mount to a firearm. The see-through display is coupled to and supported by the chassis. The controller is configured to operate the see-through display to output a variable graphic. The see-through display is substantially transparent and is configured to output the variable graphic with a graphic focal distance of greater than fifty (50) meters.

Description

FIREARM DISPLAY SYSTEMCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 657,487, filed June 7, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates to firearm systems and, in particular, firearm systems that incorporate displays.BACKGROUND

[0003] Firearm aiming devices, such as scopes and magnifiers, typically do not provide changing information to a user. It would be advantageous to provide a firearm display system for use with firearm aiming devices or to integrate a firearm display system within a firearm aiming device for providing information to a user.SUMMARY

[0004] Disclosed herein are implementations firearm display systems and firearm systems including the same.

[0005] In an implementation, a display system includes a chassis, a see-through display, and a controller. The chassis is configured to mount to a firearm. The see-through display is coupled to and supported by the chassis. The controller is configured to operate the see-through display to output a variable graphic. The see-through display is substantially transparent and is configured to output the variable graphic with a graphic focal distance of greater than fifty (50) meters.

[0006] The chassis may be configured to allow the user to position the see-through display within a near eye accommodation distance of the user. The chassis may be configured to allow the user to position the see-through display at a distance from an eye of the user within a range of approximately twelve to fifteen centimeters. The chassis may be configured to mount to the firearm to support the see-through display between a user of the firearm and a firearm aimingdevice mounted to the firearm, such that the user views a field of view serially through the see- through display and the firearm aiming device. The variable graphic may be a reticle, and the controller may be configured to receive inputs from the user to move the reticle on the see- through display from an initial position to a home position that is different from the initial position and in which the reticle is aligned with a reticle of the firearm aiming device mounted to the firearm. The variable graphic may be a disturbed reticle, and the controller may be configured to move the disturbed reticle from the home position according to ballistic information. The variable graphic may be a disturbed reticle, and the controller may be configured to move the disturbed reticle from an initial position according to information received from the user. The information received from the user may include at least one of ballistic information or ammunition information according to which the controller obtains the ballistic information. The variable graphic may be a disturbed reticle, and the chassis may include one or more adjustment mechanisms by which the see-through display may be movable relative to the firearm after the chassis is mounted to the firearm. The controller may be configured to receive inputs from the user to move the disturbed reticle on the see-through display from an initial position to a home position that may be different from the initial position. The graphic focal distance may be approximately equal to a reticle focal distance of a fixed reticle of a firearm aiming device usable in conjunction with the display system. The graphic focal distance may be approximately 200 meters. The display may be a micro-LED display having a substrate layer and a display layer including micro-LEDs. The display layer may include a lens layer having microlenses arranged between the user and the micro-LEDs.

[0007] In an implementation, a firearm system includes a firearm, a firearm aiming device mounted to the firearm, and a display system mounted to the firearm and having a see-through display arranged between the firearm aiming device and a user of the firearm.

[0008] The see-through display may output a graphic having a graphic focal distance, and the firearm aiming device may include a fixed reticle having a reticle focal distance that is approximately equal to the graphic focal distance. The graphic may be a variable reticle, and the display system may configured to move the variable reticle to be aligned with the fixed reticle of the firearm aiming device by one or more of moving the see-through display relative to the firearm aiming device or moving the variable reticle from an initial position on the see-through display to a home position that is different form the initial position.

[0009] In an implementation, a firearm aiming device includes a first lens, a second lens, a prism, and an integrated display system. The first lens is at an objective end. The second lens is at an ocular end. The prism is arranged between the first lens and the second lens and is configured to magnify light passing therethrough and provide the firearm aiming device with only one focal plane. The integrated display system includes an integrated display system having a see-through display located at the one focal plane.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] The disclosure is best understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not to-scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a firearm system, a user, and a target.

[0012] FIG. 2 is a view of a target through fields of view of a firearm aiming device and a firearm display system of the firearm system of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a firearm display system.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a see-through display of the firearm display system ofFIG. 3 in relation to an eye of a user.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a view of a variable graphic and a field of view of the firearm display system in a first position overlaying a fixed reticle and another field of view of the firearm aiming device.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a view of the variable graphic and the field of view of the firearm display system in a second position overlaying the fixed reticle and the other field of view of the firearm aiming device.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a view of the variable graphic and the field of view of the firearm display system overlaying the fixed reticle and the other field of view of the firearm aiming with the variable graphic in an initial position relative to the field of view of the firearm display system.

[0018] FIG. 8 is a view of the variable graphic and the field of view of the firearm display system overlaying the fixed reticle and the other field of view of the firearm aiming with the variable graphic in a second position relative to the field of view of the firearm display system.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a view of the variable graphic and the field of view of the firearm displaysystem in overlaying the fixed reticle and the other field of view of the firearm aiming with the variable graphic in a third position relative to the field of view of the firearm display system, the variable graphic being a disturbed reticle.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a side schematic view of another firearm system having a firearm aiming device that includes an integrated firearm display system.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a firearm system 100 generally includes a firearm 110, a firearm aiming device 120, and a firearm display system 130. In a variation discussed below with respect to FIG. 10, aspects of the firearm display system 130 may be incorporated into a firearm aiming device 1010.

[0022] The firearm 110 is configured to fire ammunition toward a target. The firearm 110 may, for example, be a rifle, shotgun, pistol, or other long gun or handgun. The firearm aiming device 120 is configured to assist the user in aiming the firearm 110 toward the target.

[0023] The firearm aiming device 120 is configured to mount to the firearm 110 and to assist the user in aiming the firearm 110, for example, by magnifying the target or overlaying a fixed reticle 222 with a field of view 224. The firearm aiming device 120 may, for example, be a single or dual-focal plane rifle scope, magnifier, holographic sight (i.e., using a hologram to output the reticle), a reflex sight (i.e., using mirrors to output the reticle), or other type of optic through which the user views the target. The field of view 224 of the firearm aiming device 120 may, for example, be defined by a housing or other physical structures thereof.

[0024] The firearm display system 130 is configured to mount to the firearm 110 and output one or more variable graphics 232 to the user, which may assist the use in aiming the firearm 110 toward the target or provide other information, for example, pertaining to the firearm 110 or the environment. The firearm display system 130 may be configured to mount to the firearm 110 directly, such as to a mounting system (e.g., a Picatinny rail) by which the firearm aiming device 120 is also mounted to the firearm 110, or indirectly such as by mounting to and being supported by the firearm aiming device 120. The variable graphics 232 may, for example, include a reticle that is movable relative to a field of view of the firearm display system 130.

[0025] More particularly, the firearm aiming device 120 and the firearm display system 130 are both configured to mount to the firearm 110 with the firearm display system 130 generallybetween the user and the firearm aiming device 120. The field of view 234 may fully encompass the field of view 224 of the firearm aiming device 120. The user views the target in series through both the firearm display system 130 and the firearm aiming device 120. That isalight reflected from the target passes through the firearm aiming device 120 and then the firearm display system 130 before reaching the user. The firearm display system 130 outputs the variable graphic 232, so as to overlay the field of view 224 of the firearm aiming device 120 and the fixed reticle 222 where included. The variable graphic 232 may, as shown, include a disturbed reticle 232 that is moveable relative to the field of view 234 of the firearm display system 130 and, thereby, is movable relative to the fixed reticle 222 and the field of view 224 of the firearm aiming device 120. The variable graphic 232 may be changed according to different information (e.g., ballistic information, environmental information). The variable graphics 232 may further include other graphics, such as alphanumeric characters or figures that communicate information to the user (e.g., information about the firearm, ammunition, or environment).

[0026] Referring to FIG. 3, the firearm display system 130 generally includes a see-through display 340, a chassis 350 coupled to and supporting the see-through display 340, and electronics 360 that operate the see-through display 340.

[0027] The see-through display 340 is substantially transparent (e.g., allowing greater than 50%, 60%, 70%, 80% or more light transmission therethrough) and is positioned between the firearm aiming device 120 and the user. The see-through display 340 is further positioned within the field of view 234 of the firearm display system 130 and overlays the field of view 224 of the firearm aiming device 120, as well as the fixed reticle 222 (if included). The see-through display is configured output the one or more variable graphics 232, such that they overlay the field of view 224 of the firearm aiming device 120, as well as the fixed reticle 222 (if included with the firearm aiming device 120). As such, the firearm display system 130 allows the user to see the variable graphics 232 simultaneous with and overlaying the field of view 224.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 4, the see-through display 340 is a micro-LED display, which includes a substrate layer 442, a display layer 444, and a lens layer 446. The see-through display 340, including each sublayer thereof, is substantially transparent.

[0029] The substrate layer 442 includes a substantially transparent substrate to which are coupled and which supports the display layer 444 and the lens layer 446. The substrate layer 442 is a transparent material, such as a rigid or flexible glass or polymer material.

[0030] The display layer 444 is coupled to the substrate layer 442 directly or indirectly. The display layer 444 is configured to output light to display the variable graphics 232. The display layer 444 may, for example, be configured as a light emitting diode display (LED display), such as a micro-LED display having microscopic LED’s that output the light forming the variable graphics 232. The display layer 444 may itself include sublayers (not shown) that include the LED’s and other functional components of the display layer 444 (e.g., forming or including electrodes).

[0031] The lens layer 446 is coupled to the substrate layer 442 directly or indirectly, for example, via the display layer 444 or other intervening layer. The lens layer 446 is arranged between the user and the display layer 444. The lens layer 446 includes lenses, such as microlenses, through which light emitted by the display layer 444 passes to the user. The lens layer 446 is configured to remove parallax between the variable graphics 232 output by the see- through display 340 and the fixed reticle 222 of the firearm aiming device 120. For example, the firearm aiming device 120 may be configured for the fixed reticle 222 to have a predetermined focal distance, which may be referred to as the reticle focal distance, such as 200 meters from the firearm aiming device 120. The lens layer 446 is configured for the variable graphic 232 output by the display layer 444 to have a focal distance, which may be referred to as the graphics focal distance, that is equal to the reticle focal distance.

[0032] Referring again to FIG. 3, the chassis 350 is mechanically coupled to the see-through display 340 and is removably coupleable to the firearm 110 directly to be supported thereby, such as to a Picatinny rail or other mounting system by which the firearm aiming device 120 is coupled to the firearm 110, or indirectly, such as being directly coupled to the firearm aiming device 120 to be supported thereby (see FIG. 5). The chassis 350 may include adjustment mechanisms 352, 354, which may correspond to windage and elevation, respectively, and by which the position of the see-through display 340 is movable relative to the firearm aiming device 120. The adjustment mechanisms 352, 354, thereby allow the location of the variable graphics 232 to be adjusted to a reticle of the firearm aiming device 120. Instead or additionally, the location of the variable graphics 232 on the see-through display 340 may be adjusted relative to the fixed reticle 222 of the firearm aiming device 120.

[0033] The electronics 360 are configured with the see-through display 340 to output the variable graphics 232. The electronics 360 may, for example, include a controller 362, a powersource 364, and one or more inputs 366, such as a user input 366a, a sensor 366b, and / or a communications interface 366c. The controller 362 is configured to operate the see-through display 340 to output the variable graphics 232 and may, for example, be or include a central processing unit (CPU) or other suitable type of controller. The power source 364 is configured to provide electrical power to the see-through display 340, the controller 362, and the inputs 366, as required for operation thereof. The inputs 366 are configured to provide information (e.g., signals) to the controller 362 according to which the controller 362 operates the see-through display 340 to output the variable graphics 232.

[0034] The user input 366a is configured to receive inputs from the user, for example, such as desired graphics, firearm information (e.g., characteristics of the firearm, or a selection of a firearm for which information is stored by the controller 362), ballistic information (e.g., ammunition velocity, or a selection of ammunition for which information is stored by the controller 362), or environmental information (e.g., wind velocity, temperature, and humidity).

[0035] The sensor 366b may be configured to detect information about the environment in which the firearm display system 130 is being used, such as ambient light (e.g., according to which the brightness of the see-through display may be controlled), or wind, temperature, and humidity according to which the variable graphic 232 is output.

[0036] The communications interface 366c is configured to receive information from other devices, such as external sensors (e.g., sensing environmental information, as described above), round count devices (e.g., counting the number of rounds remaining), or other devices (e.g., the firearm or other information sources, for example, with information about the firearm 110 or the ammunition used thereby).

[0037] Referring to FIG. 4, as referenced above, the firearm display system 130 is configured to mount to the firearm 110 with the see-through display 340 arranged between the user of the firearm 110 and the firearm aiming device 120. More particularly, the firearm display system 130 is configured to allow the user to position the see-through display 340 within the near eye accommodation distance of the user. Within the near eye accommodation distance, people are unable to focus on objects and, often, do not consciously recognize the presence of such objects. Thus, by configuring the firearm display system 130 to facilitate or otherwise allow the user to position the see-through display 340 within their near eye accommodation distance, the user cannot focus on physical attributes of the see-through display 340 and, thereby, may notconsciously recognize the physical attributes of the see-through display 340 (e.g., edges, individual LED’s, lenses, etc.). However, because the variable graphics 232 are displayed with the graphic focal distance that is greater than their near eye accommodation distance, the user will still be able to focus on and otherwise consciously recognize the variable graphics 232, even if not in focus. Moreover, because the graphic focal distance may be configured to be the same as or similar to the reticle focal distance of the fixed reticle 222 of the firearm aiming device 120, the user may be able to focus on both the variable graphic 232 output by the see-through display 340 and the fixed reticle 222 of the firearm aiming device 120, while not consciously recognizing the physical attributes of the see-through display 340. Still further, as the graphic focal distance is greater than the near eye accommodation distance, the user will still be able to focus on and otherwise consciously recognize the variable graphics 232, even if not in focus, while focusing on a target in the field of view.

[0038] The firearm display system 130 is configured to facilitate or otherwise allow the user to position the see-through display 340 within their near eye accommodation distance. For example, the firearm display system 130 may include no physical obstruction that prevents or otherwise interferes with the user positioning the see-through display 340 within their near eye accommodation distance.

[0039] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 5-8, a referenced above, the variable graphic 232 may be a disturbed reticle. The firearm display system 130 may be provided with the disturbed reticle 232 an initial position 532a at which the disturbed reticle 232 is output by the see-through display 340. However, when the firearm display system 130 is first mounted to the firearm 110 or otherwise in spatial relation to the firearm aiming device 120, the initial position of the disturbed reticle 232 may not be in alignment with the fixed reticle 222 of the firearm aiming device 120. As referenced above, in some embodiments of the firearm display system 130, the chassis 350 may include adjustment mechanisms 352, 354 by which the position of the see-through display 340 is movable, which may move the disturbed reticle 232 into closer alignment with the fixed reticle 222 of the firearm aiming device. This movement is represented by the arrows shown in dashed lines in FIG. 5 and 6, which illustrate the field of view 234 of the firearm display system 130 being moved relative to the field of view 224 of the firearm aiming device 120, including moving the disturbed reticle 232 in its initial position relative to the fixed reticle 222.

[0040] However, the adjustment mechanisms 352, 354 may not move the see-through display340 to align the disturbed reticle 232 in its initial position with the fixed reticle 222 with desired or sufficient accuracy, or the firearm display system 130 may not include the adjustment mechanisms 532, 532. Referring to FIGS. 7-8, to account for such cases, the firearm display system 130 may be configured to move the disturbed reticle 232 from the initial position 532a to a home position 832b in which the disturbed reticle 232 is aligned with the fixed reticle 222. For example, during a calibration or other setup mode, the controller 362 receives via the user input 366a instructions for moving the disturbed reticle 232 from the initial position 532a (shown in FIG. 7) to a different home position 832b (shown in FIG. 8) relative to the field of view 234 of the firearm display system 130 and, thereby, relative to the fixed reticle 222.

[0041] Referring to FIG. 9, the controller 362 is further configured to cause the see-through display 340 to display the disturbed reticle at a disturbed position 932c on the see-through display 340, which is different than the home position and is according to information received by the controller 152. For example, the controller 152 may determine the position of the disturbed reticle 232 on the see-through display 340 according to velocity of the ammunition being fired by the firearm 110 or environmental conditions.

[0042] Referring to FIG. 10, a firearm system 1000 includes the firearm 110, as described previously, and a firearm aiming device 1010 with an integrated firearm display system 1020. The firearm aiming device 1010 is a single focal plane device, such as a magnifier. The firearm optic 1010 generally includes an objective end 1012 having a lens and arranged toward the field of view, an ocular end 1014 having another lens and arranged toward the user, and a prism 1016 arranged between the objective end 1012 and the ocular end 1014. The firearm aiming device 1010 and, in particular, the prism 1016 functions to flip the light received from the objective end 512 and focuses the light at a single focal plane 1018 located between the ocular end 1014 and the prism 1016.

[0043] The integrated firearm display system 1020 includes a see-through display 1040, which is configured similar to the see-through display 340, and includes the electronics 160 generally as described above. The see-through display 1040 is coupled to and supported by a housing of the firearm aiming device 1010, for example, that which also contains the prism 1016. The see-through display 1040 is substantially transparent (as described above) and generally includes the substrate 132 and the display layer 134 described previously but does not include the lens layer 446. The see-through display 1040 is positioned at the single focal plane 1018 ofthe firearm aiming device 1010, such that the variable graphics 232 are output with a graphic focal distance that is the same or similar to that provided by the prism 1016 without need for any lens layer 646.

[0044] While the disclosure has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A display system comprising: a chassis configured to mount to a firearm; a see-through display coupled to and supported by the chassis; and a controller configured to operate the see-through display to output a variable graphic; wherein the see through display is substantially transparent and is configured to output the variable graphic with a graphic focal distance of greater than fifty (50) meters.

2. The display system according to Claim 1, wherein the chassis is configured to allow the user to position the see-through display within a near eye accommodation distance of the user; wherein the chassis is configured to mount to the firearm to support the see-through display between a user of the firearm and a firearm aiming device mounted to the firearm, such that the user views the field of view serially through the see-through display and the firearm aiming device; wherein the chassis includes one or more adjustment mechanisms by which the see- through display is movable relative to the firearm after the chassis is mounted to the firearm for adjusting a position of the disturbed reticle relative to the fixed reticle; wherein the controller is configured to receive inputs from the user to move the disturbed reticle on the see-through display from the initial position to a home position that is different from the initial position; wherein the graphic focal distance is approximately equal to the reticle focal distance of the fixed reticle of the firearm aiming device usable in conjunction with the display system; and wherein the display is a micro-LED display having a substrate layer, a display layer including micro-LEDs, and a lens layer including microlenses arranged between the micro-LEDs and the user.

3. The display system according to Claim 1, wherein the chassis is configured to allow the user to position the see-through display within a near eye accommodation distance of the user.

4. The display system according to Claim 3, wherein the chassis is configured to allow the user to position the see-through display at a distance from an eye of the user within a range of approximately twelve to fifteen centimeters.

5. The display system according to Claim 1, wherein the chassis is configured to mount to the firearm to support the see-through display between a user of the firearm and a firearm aiming device mounted to the firearm, such that the user views a field of view serially through the see- through display and the firearm aiming device.

6. The display system according to Claim 5, wherein the variable graphic is a reticle, and the controller is configured to receive inputs from the user to move the reticle on the see-through display from an initial position to a home position that is different from the initial position and in which the reticle is aligned with a reticle of the firearm aiming device mounted to the firearm.

7. The display system according to Claim 6, wherein the variable graphic is a disturbed reticle, and the controller is configured to move the disturbed reticle from the home position according to ballistic information.

8. The display system according to Claim 1, wherein the variable graphic is a disturbed reticle, and the controller is configured to move the disturbed reticle from an initial position according to information received from the user.

9. The display system according to Claim 8, wherein the information received from the user includes at least one of ballistic information or ammunition information according to which the controller obtains the ballistic information.

10. The display system according to Claim 1, wherein the variable graphic is a disturbed reticle, and the chassis includes one or more adjustment mechanisms by which the see-through display is movable relative to the firearm after the chassis is mounted to the firearm.

11. The display system according to Claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to receiveinputs from the user to move the disturbed reticle on the see-through display from an initial position to a home position that is different from the initial position.

12. The display system according to Claim 1, wherein the graphic focal distance is approximately equal to a reticle focal distance of a fixed reticle of a firearm aiming device usable in conjunction with the display system.

13. The display system according to Claim 12, wherein the graphic focal distance is approximately 200 meters.

14. The display system according to Claim 1, wherein the display is a micro-LED display having a substrate layer and a display layer including micro-LEDs.

15. The display system according to Claim 14, wherein the display layer includes a lens layer having microlenses arranged between the user and the micro-LEDs.

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