Constant-Intensity Firearm Sight With Ambient-Light Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing red dot sights do not dynamically adjust brightness levels based on environmental conditions, leading to distracting and inconsistent aim point visibility in varying lighting conditions.
Innovation Solution
A firearm sight device with a light source, light sensor, and controller that automatically adjusts the aim point brightness based on ambient light conditions using a user-defined setting, ensuring consistent visibility through incremental adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the aim point brightness is set to a fixed user-defined level, then the user can customize the brightness to suit their preferences, but the brightness becomes inconsistent when environmental lighting conditions change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic brightness adjustment by continuously monitoring ambient light conditions through a light sensor and automatically modifying the aim point brightness accordingly. This transforms the static, fixed brightness setting into a dynamic system that adapts to changing environmental conditions, resolving the contradiction between user customization and brightness consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control by using a light sensor to detect ambient light levels and feeding this information back to the controller, which then adjusts the light source intensity to maintain consistent aim point appearance. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the aim point remains visually constant regardless of environmental lighting changes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a photo resistor is used to automatically adjust brightness, then the brightness can change based on ambient light conditions, but the adjustments occur in large incremental steps that are distracting to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by making only the necessary small adjustments to brightness rather than large incremental changes. The system continuously monitors ambient light and makes fine-grained brightness modifications that are sufficient to maintain consistency without creating distracting visual transitions, thus improving user comfort while maintaining automatic adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static photoresistor-based stepped adjustment to dynamic continuous adjustment controlled by a microcontroller. This enables smooth, gradual brightness changes that adapt continuously to ambient light conditions without the distracting large increments caused by traditional photoresistor switching mechanisms.
3Illumination intensity
If the aim point brightness is increased to ensure visibility in bright conditions, then the aim point remains visible, but it becomes extremely bright and distracting in dark conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The light sensor continuously monitors ambient light conditions and provides feedback to the controller, which adjusts the light source intensity accordingly. This feedback mechanism prevents the aim point from being excessively bright in dark conditions by automatically reducing intensity when ambient light levels are low, thereby eliminating visual distraction while maintaining visibility in bright conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the brightness parameter of the light source based on detected ambient light conditions. By continuously adjusting this parameter in response to environmental changes, the system maintains optimal aim point visibility across varying lighting conditions without creating harmful visual distraction.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a visually constant aim point brightness and clarity regardless of environmental changes, eliminating distracting brightness fluctuations and enhancing user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a light sensor that detects and reports ambient light conditions to the controller
Implementation Method 2
a light source that emits a visible aim point onto the lens
Data Source
AI summary
A constant intensity light regulating firearm sight device includes a main body that is mountable onto the firearm and a lens that is positioned along the main body in a direction that is line of sight parallel to a firing axis of the firearm. The device includes a light source, a light sensor and a controller that are positioned along the main body. The light source emits a visible aim point onto the lens, and the light sensor detects and reports ambient light conditions to the controller. The controller includes a memory and processor for storing information and for controlling the operation of the device based on inputs from a user interface and the light sensor. The brightness level of the aim point is adjustable to a user-defined custom brightness setting, and the controller increases or decreases the custom brightness level based on data from the light sensor.