Telescopic Sight with Offset Objective for Reflex Sight Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telescopic sights are cumbersome and slow to switch between viewing modes, often requiring substantial head movement and misalignment, especially when transitioning from a reflex sight to a telescopic sight, which disrupts the stable aiming position.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic sight design with a horizontally offset objective and an eyepiece positioned rearward of the focal plane, allowing for concurrent use of a second sighting device like a reflex sight with minimal eye and no head movement, and enabling the shooter to maintain a cheek weld during mode switching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional telescopic sight is mounted above a reflex sight, then both sights can be used for aiming, but the height of the viewing region is much higher than the exit pupil of the telescopic sight, requiring substantial head movement to switch between sights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the telescopic sight's optical axis in a horizontal offset from the weapon's vertical plane, rather than mounting it directly above the reflex sight. This lateral displacement in a different dimension allows the exit pupil to be positioned at a height suitable for cheek weld while still enabling access to both sights with minimal head movement
Solution Approach 2:
The telescopic sight is asymmetrically positioned with its objective lens offset from the vertical plane containing the line of initial trajectory. This asymmetric mounting creates an optimized geometric relationship between the two sights, allowing the shooter to access both fields of view without substantial head movement while maintaining proper cheek weld position
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual components are used to switch between viewing modes in telescopic sights, then mode switching is possible, but the sight becomes more complicated, prone to image instability or misalignment, and slow for switching between modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates manual switching components entirely by providing fixed, dedicated optical paths for both telescopic and reflex viewing modes. The telescopic sight maintains a constant horizontal offset position with its optical elements fixed in place, removing the need for movable mirrors, beam splitters, or other switching mechanisms that would add complexity and potential points of failure
3Ease of operation
If a telescopic sight is mounted with the objective in the vertical plane, then the optical path is straightforward, but switching to a reflex sight requires substantial head movement and breaks cheek weld
Solution Approach 1:
By displacing the telescopic sight's optical axis horizontally from the vertical plane rather than positioning it vertically above the reflex sight, the patent creates a geometric arrangement where both sights are accessible from the same cheek weld position. This dimensional repositioning allows the exit pupil to be at an optimal height while the lateral offset enables reflex sight access without head movement
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
Facilitates fast and stable target acquisition by allowing seamless switching between telescopic and reflex sights without breaking the cheek weld, reducing eye movement and image instability.
Implementation Method 1
A light redirection device, such as a prism system or set of mirrors, receives light from the objective and reflects the light rearwardly along a path segment that is angled upwardly away from the line of initial trajectory
Data Source
AI summary
A system for aiming a projectile weapon includes a telescopic sight for use with a second sighting device, such as a reflex sight or other non-magnifying sight. The telescopic sight has an eye point spaced apart rearwardly from its eyepiece and positioned at a vertical plane containing a line of initial trajectory of the weapon to which the aiming system is mounted so that a line parallel to the line of initial trajectory does not intersect the eyepiece. The location of the eye point facilitates concurrent use of a second sighting device at a normal mounting height and viewable past the eyepiece, thereby allowing the viewer to change views between the telescopic sight and the second sighting device with little eye movement and essentially no head movement.