Multi-Wavelength Firearm Aiming Optics With Adjustable Collimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laser aiming devices for firearms typically emit only visible or infrared light, lacking the capability to emit ultraviolet light, which limits their versatility and effectiveness in various operational conditions.
Innovation Solution
Aiming device with a housing containing three separate light emitters configured to emit visible, infrared, and ultraviolet light, each activated through a compound collimator that can be positioned to collimate the respective light into a laser beam, allowing for selective emission of different wavelengths based on operator control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional laser aiming devices emit only visible or infrared light, then the device structure remains simple, but the versatility and effectiveness in various operational conditions are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light emitters (visible, infrared, and ultraviolet) into a single aiming device housing, creating a multi-functional device that can operate across different spectral ranges. This merging of previously separate devices into one unified system resolves the contradiction by achieving versatility through integration while managing complexity through shared structural components.
Solution Approach 2:
The aiming device is designed to perform multiple functions by incorporating light emitters across different spectral ranges (visible, infrared, ultraviolet). Each wavelength range serves different operational conditions and detection methods, making the device universally applicable across various scenarios rather than limited to a single function or wavelength range.
2Adaptability or versatility
If three separate light emitters are integrated into one housing, then versatility is enhanced, but the device structure and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple light emitters are physically integrated into a single housing structure, sharing common mounting, power, and control infrastructure. This merging approach allows the device to achieve versatility through multiple wavelength capabilities while avoiding the complexity of three separate devices, as the housing and supporting systems are consolidated into one unified structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a compound collimator is used to collimate multiple wavelengths at different distances, then multiple laser beams can be generated from a single source, but the positioning mechanism complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collimator is made movable along the optical axis with adjustable positioning to different distances, allowing dynamic adaptation to different wavelength requirements. This dynamic positioning capability enables a single collimator to serve multiple wavelength ranges by adjusting its position, achieving multi-wavelength functionality while using one collimator rather than multiple fixed-position collimators.
Solution Approach 2:
A single collimator is designed to collimate multiple wavelengths (visible, infrared, ultraviolet) by positioning it at different distances from the light source. This universal collimator replaces what would traditionally require three separate collimators, reducing structural complexity while maintaining the ability to generate multiple laser beams across different spectral ranges.
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
Enables the aiming device to emit multiple wavelengths of light, enhancing its versatility and effectiveness in various operational conditions by providing a single source for multiple light types, improving targeting accuracy and adaptability.
Implementation Method 1
The first light emitter is configured to emit visible light. The second light emitter is configured to emit infrared light. The third light emitter is configured to emit ultraviolet light.
Implementation Method 2
The collimator is configured to collimate the visible light at a first distance from a point on the package. The collimator is configured to collimate the infrared light at a second distance from the point. The collimator is configured to collimate the ultraviolet light at a third distance from the point.
Data Source
AI summary
There are disclosed aiming and target identification devices useful with firearms. One device includes a laser diode capable of emitting visible, infrared or ultraviolet light at the operator's selection to form a laser using a single or compound collimator. A single collimator can be repositioned at different distances from the laser source to ensure proper positioning to create a laser beam for the particular wavelength of light emitted from the laser diode. A compound collimator could have different collimating regions and be configured to rotate to cause the different collimating regions to receive light emitted from the laser source such that different light wavelengths are properly collimated without needing to alter the distance from the collimator to the laser diode.