Firearm Optical Sight Reticle for Directional Cant Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Military and law enforcement combat shooters face challenges in maintaining a stable shooting position during close quarter combat scenarios, where the reticle of electronic sights may be lost from view due to firearm canting, especially in low light conditions, requiring additional time to realign the sight with the target.
Innovation Solution
An optical sight with a reticle featuring aiming and non-aiming marks, where the aiming marks are in the field of view when aligned and non-aiming marks are outside, providing visual cues for real-time misalignment correction and guiding the user back to the intended sight picture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a non-magnifying electronic sight is used for close quarter combat, then rapid target acquisition is enabled, but the reticle may be lost from view when the firearm is canted, requiring additional time to realign
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new spatial dimension by placing non-aiming marks at different angular distances from the optical axis than the aiming marks. This dimensional differentiation ensures that when the firearm is canted, the non-aiming marks enter the field of view to provide alignment cues, while the aiming marks remain visible for continued targeting. This resolves the contradiction by creating a multi-layered reticle structure that maintains reliability across different firearm orientations.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-aiming marks serve as visual feedback indicators that provide real-time information about reticle alignment status. When these marks become visible in the field of view, they immediately feedback to the shooter that the reticle is misaligned, enabling rapid correction. This feedback mechanism maintains both speed and reliability by allowing continuous monitoring and adjustment without losing the primary aiming point.
2Measurement precision
If the reticle is kept small for precision aiming, then aiming precision is improved, but the reticle becomes difficult to see in low light conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The reticle is segmented into functionally distinct components: small aiming marks for precision targeting and larger non-aiming marks for alignment reference. The aiming marks maintain small dimensions to preserve aiming precision, while the non-aiming marks are sized to be easily visible in low light conditions. This segmentation allows each component to optimize its size for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between precision and visibility.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the reticle are given different visual properties and sizes appropriate to their function. The aiming marks are kept small and precise for accurate targeting, while the non-aiming marks are made larger and more prominent for easy detection and alignment reference. This local differentiation of quality allows the reticle to simultaneously achieve precision aiming and high visibility in low light conditions.
3Productivity
If the shooter moves quickly through barricades in combat, then combat effectiveness is improved, but the firearm becomes canted causing the reticle to be lost from view
Solution Approach 1:
The non-aiming marks are pre-positioned at specific angular distances from the optical axis to serve as advance warning indicators. Before the reticle is completely lost from view during canting, these marks enter the field of view to alert the shooter of impending misalignment. This preliminary action allows the shooter to make corrective adjustments before losing the aiming marks entirely, maintaining ease of operation during dynamic combat movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The non-aiming marks provide continuous visual feedback about the degree and direction of firearm canting. As the firearm is moved quickly through barricades, these marks enter and exit the field of view, giving real-time feedback that allows the shooter to maintain proper alignment or quickly recover from canting. This feedback mechanism preserves ease of operation during high-speed combat maneuvers.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure is directed to an optical sight for a firearm comprising a reticle operationally configured to visually inform a user when the optical sight is misaligned from an intended target and operationally configured to visually inform the user as to the direction of misalignment.