Modular Weapon Sight Assembly for Optical Path Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Holographic weapon sights face challenges in maintaining consistent optical performance due to environmental stresses and structural interdependencies among components, leading to degradation of the hologram quality.
Innovation Solution
A modular weapon sight assembly is designed with structurally isolated subsystems, including a base, optical bench, adjuster assembly, and housing, each with independent reference systems, ensuring the optical path remains constant during assembly, adjustment, and replacement, thereby reducing the impact of environmental factors and structural changes on optical component positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the weapon sight uses a integrated structure with interconnected components, then the structure is simpler to manufacture, but environmental stresses propagate between components causing optical path changes and hologram quality degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The weapon sight is divided into separate modular components: base module, optical module, and housing module. Each module is independently manufactured and then assembled. The optical module contains the optical bench with optical elements, while the base module contains the base and adjuster assembly. This segmentation prevents stress propagation between modules while maintaining manufacturing efficiency through standardized interfaces and datum features.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the optical elements are rigidly attached to a single component carrier, then the optical path is stable, but the device cannot be adjusted or maintained without affecting optical alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The optical elements are attached to a separate optical bench that is independent from the base and housing. This allows the optical module to be removed and replaced as a complete unit, or adjusted independently, without affecting the mechanical components. The optical bench maintains rigid attachment of optical elements for stability while enabling module-level maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjuster assembly is designed to adjust the position of the optical module relative to the base module, allowing for field adjustment of windage and elevation. The modular design enables dynamic reconfiguration and maintenance without compromising the rigid optical element attachments within the optical module.
3Device complexity
If the base, adjuster assembly, and housing are integrated into a single structure, then the device has fewer parts, but adjustments to one component affect the relative position of optical elements
Solution Approach 1:
The weapon sight is segmented into three main modules: base module (with base and adjuster assembly), optical module (with optical bench and elements), and housing module. Each module has its own datum features for precise manufacturing and assembly. This segmentation reduces overall device complexity through modular construction while maintaining high manufacturing precision through independent datum systems that prevent cumulative errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical bench serves as an intermediary component that rigidly holds optical elements while being mounted to the base through the adjuster assembly. This intermediary structure isolates the optical elements from direct mechanical adjustments, allowing the base and housing to be adjusted independently without affecting optical element positions.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the housing is made moveable for adjustment purposes, then the device is more adaptable, but the relative position of optical elements may change affecting hologram quality
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is separated into its own housing module that can be independently adjusted for cant and zero adjustments. The optical module is independently mounted to the base module, so housing adjustments do not transmit mechanical stresses that would affect optical element positions. This segmentation enables adaptability while maintaining hologram consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing module is designed with adjustable features for field customization including cant adjustment and zero adjustment. These dynamic adjustment capabilities allow the housing to be adapted to different mounting configurations and user preferences without affecting the rigidly mounted optical elements in the separate optical module.
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
The modular design enhances mechanical stability, maintains consistent hologram quality, facilitates faster assembly and repair, and reduces vulnerability to environmental stresses, ensuring reliable performance.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of optical elements includes a laser diode
Implementation Method 2
a mirror
Implementation Method 3
a collimating optic
Implementation Method 4
a diffraction grating
Implementation Method 5
a hologram plate
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Methods and systems are disclosed for a modular weapon sight assembly. A weapon sight may include a base, an optical bench, an adjuster assembly, and/or a housing. The base may be configured to be releasably secured to a weapon. The optical bench may include a plurality of optical elements attached to a unitary component carrier. A relative position of the plurality of optical elements may define an optical path of the weapon sight. The base, the optical bench, the adjuster assembly, and the housing may be configured as separate modules. For example, the optical path of the optical bench may remain constant during adjustment and/or replacement of the base, the adjuster assembly, and/or the housing. A change in position of the base, the adjuster assembly, and/or the housing may not alter the relative position of the plurality of optical elements with respect to one another.