Ambidextrous Mini Red Dot Sight Control Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mini red dot sights (MRDSs) face challenges with control accessibility, as controls are often positioned on one side of the housing, favoring either right- or left-handed shooters, and can be blocked when the firearm is holstered or when wearing gloves, making it difficult to adjust brightness without obstructing the emitter.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a mini red dot sight with controls positioned on both the left and right sides of the base, allowing for ambidextrous control. Each side features a recessed control, such as depressible buttons, made from elastomeric material, ensuring easy access and preventing the emitter from being obstructed during adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If controls are positioned on one side of the housing, then the control structure is simple, but the control accessibility is limited to specific-handed users
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple independent controls positioned on different sides of the housing. Each control can be independently accessed by users regardless of hand dominance, eliminating the limitation of single-side controls while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure through modular placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control positioning system achieves universality by providing controls on both sides of the housing, enabling any user regardless of hand dominance to access the controls comfortably. This multi-position arrangement makes the device universally operable by both left- and right-handed users.
2Ease of operation
If controls are positioned on the side of the housing, then the control structure is simple, but the emitter may be blocked during adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The control interface is moved from a two-dimensional side placement to a three-dimensional arrangement where controls are positioned on the upper surface of the housing. This dimensional change allows users to access controls from above without their fingers blocking the emitter path, which remains unobstructed during adjustment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The upper surface of the housing serves as an intermediary platform that separates the control mechanism from the emitter. Users interact with controls on this intermediate surface while the emitter remains positioned below, preventing direct obstruction of the emitter by the user's hand or fingers during adjustment.
3Ease of operation
If controls are positioned on the top of the base, then ambidextrous control is achieved, but the space to reach controls is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is distributed across multiple locations on the upper surface rather than concentrated in a single restricted area. This segmentation of control placement across different zones of the upper surface provides ambidextrous access while expanding the effective control access space beyond what a single centralized position would allow.
Data Source
AI summary
A viewing optic has a housing. The base of the housing has a front side, a rear side, a left side and a right side which together define an upper surface. A first control is positioned on the left side of the base. A second control is positioned on the right side of the base.