Electronic Weapon Sight Aimpoint Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for aligning accessory devices, such as laser range finders and infrared markers, on weapons are cumbersome due to bulky adjusters and risk operator exposure during missions, as they require manual alignment and emission of aim points.
Innovation Solution
An electronic system that projects an aim point from the accessory device onto a weapon sight, allowing pre-mission alignment using digital windage and elevation adjustments, eliminating the need for mechanical adjusters and enabling the device to be turned off during operations, thus concealing the operator's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual alignment using windage and elevation adjusters is used, then the device can be aligned to the weapon's aim point, but the device becomes bulky and heavy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical windage and elevation adjusters with an electronic control system that uses software algorithms to calculate and adjust aim point offsets. The electronic control unit receives targeting data, computes the necessary corrections, and electronically adjusts the displayed aim point without requiring physical adjustment mechanisms, thereby eliminating the weight of mechanical adjusters while maintaining alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the alignment approach from mechanical physical adjustment to electronic parameter modification. Instead of physically moving optical components through mechanical adjusters, the system modifies digital parameters (offset values, coordinates) representing the aim point position. This allows precise alignment control through software parameter changes rather than heavy mechanical structures.
2Measurement precision
If manual alignment with large adjusters is used, then alignment is achievable, but retaining boresight during operation becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic control system replaces mechanical adjusters that are difficult to operate in the field. The electronic interface allows for easy adjustment and retention of boresight settings through software controls, eliminating the need to manually manipulate complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms during operations while maintaining precise alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates automatic boresight retention capabilities where the electronic control unit continuously maintains the aligned state through software-based compensation. The system self-adjusts and maintains boresight alignment without requiring manual intervention, unlike mechanical systems that drift and require frequent manual realignment.
3Ease of operation
If the device projects aim point during mission, then targeting is enabled, but operator location is disclosed to the target
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary electronic display system that shows the aim point without requiring the physical device to emit visible light or energy during operations. The electronic control unit calculates and displays the aim point position on a screen or overlay, serving as an intermediary between the targeting system and the operator, enabling targeting capability while avoiding the harmful effect of emitting detectable signals that would reveal operator location.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of aligning an accessory's aim point to an aim point of a device are disclosed. In one embodiment, an aim point that can be viewed through a weapon sight is projected from a device mounted on a weapon. Further, an accessory aim point is projected on the weapon sight by an accessory device that is mounted on the weapon in front of the weapon sight. Furthermore, the accessory aim point is pre-mission aligned to the aim point of the device by electronically adjusting a position of the accessory aim point to align with the aim point of the device on the weapon sight.