Telescopic Gunsight Reticle System for Ballistic Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional telescopic target acquisition devices are inadequate for achieving accuracy at long ranges due to limitations in compensating for bullet drop and windage effects, and they often require adjustments that divert the shooter's attention from the target, while laser rangefinders pose risks of detection and are cumbersome.

Innovation Solution

A reticle system integrated into telescopic gunsights that includes an optical rangefinder, allowing shooters to quickly and accurately estimate range and make adjustments for bullet drop and windage without moving adjustment rings, using a reticle with proportional markings that remain consistent across magnification levels, enabling precise targeting at various ranges without diverting attention from the target.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional telescopic target acquisition devices are used with standard cross-hairs, then the device structure remains simple, but the device cannot provide accurate targeting at long ranges due to inability to compensate for bullet drop and windage effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetargeting accuracyVSAvoidreticle system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The reticle is divided into multiple distinct aiming points arranged in a grid pattern, with each point calibrated for specific ranges and compensation values. This segmentation allows the shooter to select the appropriate aiming point for the target distance without requiring complex mechanical adjustments, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining relatively simple device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a single-plane cross-hair system to a multi-level reticle system with aiming points distributed across different positions and depths in the field of view. This dimensional expansion enables simultaneous presentation of multiple range solutions without adding mechanical complexity, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If adjustment rings are used to compensate for bullet drop and windage, then targeting accuracy can be improved, but the shooter's attention is diverted from the target during adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetargeting accuracyVSAvoidtime to acquire target
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple aiming points are pre-calculated and pre-positioned on the reticle for various ranges and wind conditions. The shooter can directly select the appropriate pre-prepared aiming point based on estimated range, eliminating the need for time-consuming adjustments during the shooting sequence. This preserves both accuracy and rapid target acquisition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reticle system provides self-service by embedding all necessary compensation data directly in the aiming points. The shooter uses the system without needing to perform separate calculation or adjustment operations, allowing continuous focus on the target while the reticle automatically provides the correct aiming solution for the given conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If laser rangefinders are used to determine target distance, then range measurement precision is improved, but the device becomes cumbersome and poses detection risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverange measurement accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the rangefinding function from external electronic devices and integrates it into the optical reticle system itself through geometric scaling relationships. By using the known size of standard targets and the angular size measured through the scope, the system calculates range purely through optical geometry, eliminating the need for laser rangefinders and their associated complexity and detection risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces electronic laser rangefinding systems with an optical-geometric calculation method embedded in the reticle. This substitution eliminates electronic components and power requirements, reducing device complexity while maintaining range measurement precision through pure optical means.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Adaptability or versatility

If reticle markings are made proportional to magnification, then the reticle remains useful across variable power settings, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereticle usability across magnificationsVSAvoidreticle marking precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reticle is designed with universal aiming points that function correctly across multiple magnification levels. The grid pattern and spacing are calculated to maintain proportional relationships that work at any power setting, allowing a single reticle to serve multiple functions and ranges without requiring multiple specialized reticles or complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3707458B1Apparatus for calculating aiming point information
Publication Date: 2025.01.01 SHELTERED WINGS INC D B A VORTEX OPTICS
  • EP3707458B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3707458B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3707458B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The disclosure relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets.