Digital Reticle Design for Wide Zoom Optical Sighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reticle designs for optical sighting devices, particularly 'wire reticles,' are not suitable for wide zoom ranges due to susceptibility to breaking and limitations in design, unable to maintain functionality across magnifications from 1× to 10× and lack detailed features like unsupported or 'floating' elements.
Innovation Solution
A reticle design featuring a horizontal and vertical stadia line with connected elevation subtension markings, fine and coarse subtension markings, a Christmas tree dot pattern, and a hold point feature within the Christmas tree pattern, integrated into an optical sighting device with dual focal planes to maintain accuracy and readability across varying magnifications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wire reticles are used, then manufacturing is simple, but reliability is poor due to susceptibility to breaking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical wire reticle structure with a digital reticle image that is optically copied and projected through the lens system. This digital reticle image can be generated from simple 2D graphical data, eliminating the need for complex wire fabrication while ensuring reliability through electronic rather than mechanical construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the mechanical wire reticle system with an optical-digital system. Instead of using physical wires that can break, the reticle is created as a digital image that is optically projected, replacing mechanical components with optical and electronic components that have superior reliability.
2Device complexity
If wire reticles are used, then structure is simple, but design complexity is limited due to inability to contain detailed features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses digital copying to create complex reticle patterns from 2D graphical data. The digital reticle image can incorporate any level of detail, including cantilevered features, numbers, and complex geometries, limited only by the resolution of the optical system rather than manufacturing constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from 3D wire structures to 2D digital graphical data that can be optically projected. This dimensional change allows for much greater design flexibility, as 2D digital images can represent complex features more easily than 3D wire constructions, enabling detailed reticle patterns with unlimited design possibilities.
3Ease of manufacture
If wire reticles are used, then manufacturing is straightforward, but adaptability is poor due to inability to support floating features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs digital copying to create reticle images that can include floating or unsupported features. These features are defined in 2D graphical data and optically projected, allowing for designs like floating hash marks or cantilevered elements that would be impossible to manufacture with traditional wire techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical wire construction system with an optical projection system that uses digital images. This substitution enables floating features because the reticle elements are created as 2D graphical representations rather than physical wire structures, removing all mechanical support requirements.
4Measurement precision
If reticle is designed for high magnification, then measurement precision is improved, but readability is reduced at low magnification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic reticle system where the reticle image can be scaled and adjusted based on the magnification level. The digital reticle image can be dynamically resized or have different versions selected depending on whether the optical system is at high or low magnification, ensuring optimal readability and measurement precision at each zoom level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the reticle image based on magnification level. The digital reticle can be displayed with different sizes, densities, or configurations depending on the current zoom setting, allowing fine detail markings to be readable at high magnification while maintaining visibility at low magnification through parameter adjustment.
Data Source
AI summary
A reticle has a horizontal stadia line and a vertical stadia line. A plurality of elevation subtension markings having a thickness are connected to the vertical stadia line. A plurality of fine subtension markings are positioned along the horizontal stadia line. A plurality of coarse subtension markings are positioned along the horizontal stadia line. The thickness of the coarse subtension markings is greater than the thickness of the fine subtension markings. A Christmas tree dot pattern is provided below the horizontal stadia line with a hold point feature within a lower portion of the Christmas tree dot pattern.