Handgun Open Sight Illumination via Rear Light Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing illuminated open sights for handguns are not compact and adaptable to varying barrel lengths, often requiring custom fiber optic cables and projecting visible light directly onto the target, making them detectable by adversaries.

Innovation Solution

An open sight design featuring a rear sight with internal illumination sources and a front sight with a diffuse reflective surface, where the rear sight's light source projects light back to the shooter's eye, eliminating the need for fiber optic cables and minimizing forward visibility of the light beam.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If fiber optic cables are used to transfer light from rear sight to front sight, then illumination is achieved, but the device becomes complex and requires custom cables for different barrel lengths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveillumination of aiming marksVSAvoidfiber optic cable system

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the fiber optic cable system entirely from the illumination mechanism. Instead of using fiber optics to transfer light, the patent places LED illumination sources directly in the rear sight housing, eliminating the need for fiber optic cables and their associated complexity including custom cables for different barrel lengths.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a reflective surface as an intermediary element. The LED light source in the rear sight illuminates the reflective surface, which then reflects light forward to illuminate the front sight aiming mark without requiring direct line-of-sight or fiber optic connection between rear and front sights.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If laser light source is used to project illuminated aiming mark on target, then aiming is simplified, but the light source requires substantial power and makes shooter position detectable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaiming alignmentVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the high-power laser system with low-power LED light sources. LEDs consume substantially less power and provide sufficient illumination for aiming without the excessive energy requirements of laser systems. The illumination is achieved through reflection off the front sight rather than direct projection to the target.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of visible light projection (making shooter position detectable) into a beneficial reflected illumination system. By using a reflective surface to bounce LED light forward rather than projecting light directly to the target, the system achieves illumination while minimizing the visibility of the light beam to adversaries.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Volume of moving object

If LED and battery are placed in single compartment at front sight, then compactness is achieved, but this is not viable for handguns with limited space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesight compactnessVSAvoidadaptability to different weapon sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the illumination system components and places them in the rear sight housing rather than consolidating everything in the front sight. The LED and battery are housed separately in the rear sight, allowing for better space distribution and adaptation to handguns with limited space in the front sight area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of placing the battery and LED in the front sight as in previous designs, the patent inverts the arrangement by locating these components in the rear sight housing. This reversal allows for more flexible space utilization and makes the system viable for handguns where front sight space is limited.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Provides a compact, adaptable, and covertly illuminated aiming solution for handguns with all electronic components contained within the rear sight, enhancing visibility in low-light conditions without projecting a visible light spot directly onto the target.

Implementation Method 1

The front sight may comprise a reflective surface configured, in use, to at least partially reflect light back from the one or more illumination sources

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffuse reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS11549783B2Weapon sight

Publication Date: 2023.01.10 THEISINGER HERMANN

AI summary

An open sight for use on weapons such as handguns is disclosed. The open sight features two rear aiming marks mounted in the rear sight and a third aiming mark in the front sight. The aiming marks are illuminated by one or more artificial light sources disposed within the rear sight. The artificial light sources project light forward to the front sight and illuminate the rear aiming marks. The front sight is dimensioned to substantially block the forward directed beam to reduce the visibility of the illumination forward of the weapon.