Optical Sight Common Aperture Laser Rangefinder Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
It is challenging to maintain alignment between the object scene and laser rangefinders or laser designators during adjustments such as bore-sighting or weapon zeroing, especially at longer ranges, due to divergence of the ballistic and laser paths, which often requires mechanical re-setting of the sight to bring the laser rangefinder back into the field of view.
Innovation Solution
An optical sight with a common aperture optic that integrates the laser rangefinder and display components to the erector tube, using a beam combiner assembly and a turret for vertical movement, ensuring the laser rangefinder and display remain aligned with the scene during adjustments, maintaining the laser aiming point within the sight field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent apertures are used for laser rangefinder and scene observation, then functional integration is achieved, but alignment tolerance accumulates and mechanical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the laser rangefinder aperture and the scene observation aperture into a single common aperture. The laser beam and the optical path share the same physical opening, eliminating the need for multiple separate apertures and their associated mounting structures. This reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining functional integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The common aperture serves multiple functions: it acts as both the observation aperture for the scene and the launch aperture for the laser beam. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate apertures and reduces the overall mechanical structure complexity while achieving functional integration of the laser rangefinder and optical sight.
2Ease of operation
If separate mounting structures are used for laser and reticle, then independent adjustment is possible, but alignment stability deteriorates during ballistic correction
Solution Approach 1:
The laser transmitter and reticle are both optically coupled to the erector tube through the common aperture. When the erector tube moves for ballistic correction, both the laser beam and reticle move together as a unified system, maintaining their relative alignment stability while still allowing independent optical adjustment through the shared optical path.
3Adaptability or versatility
If laser and reticle are independently adjusted, then flexibility is improved, but alignment between laser path and ballistic path diverges at long ranges
Solution Approach 1:
By optically coupling both the laser transmitter and reticle to the erector tube through the common aperture, the system ensures that movements of the erector tube for ballistic correction affect both elements equally. This merged optical configuration maintains alignment precision at long ranges while preserving adjustment flexibility through the shared optical path.
4Reliability
If mechanical re-setting is performed to maintain laser in field of view, then alignment is maintained, but operational time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The common aperture configuration with both laser and reticle optically coupled to the erector tube eliminates the need for mechanical re-setting. When ballistic correction moves the erector tube, both the laser beam and reticle move together, maintaining the laser aiming point within the field of view continuously without requiring additional adjustment operations, thus saving operational time while maintaining alignment reliability.
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
This solution allows for precise alignment and adjustment of the laser and reticle with the scene, maintaining alignment during magnification changes and ballistic corrections, ensuring accurate shots without the need for mechanical re-setting, even at long ranges.
Implementation Method 1
a beam combiner assembly including a first reflective surface configured to reflect laser radiation from the laser transmitter to the objective and a second reflective surface configured to reflect reflected laser radiation from the target to the detector
Implementation Method 2
a laser transmitter configured to transmit the laser radiation via the optical aperture to a target
Implementation Method 3
a detector configured to receive the laser radiation reflected from the target
Implementation Method 4
a hole mirror having a central opening and positioned between the laser transmitter and the second reflective surface of the beam combiner assembly, the hole mirror configured to allow the laser radiation from the laser transmitter to pass through the central opening to the second reflective surface
Implementation Method 5
a fold mirror positioned between the hole mirror and the detector, wherein the laser radiation reflected from the target is reflected from the second reflective surface to the hole mirror, reflected from the hole mirror to the fold mirror, and further reflected from the fold mirror to the detector
Data Source
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AI summary
A direct view optical sight including an integrated laser rangefinder. One example of the sight includes an eyepiece, an objective providing an optical aperture and configured to direct electromagnetic radiation from a viewed scene to the eyepiece, an erector tube assembly coupled between the eyepiece and the objective, the laser rangefinder configured to transmit and receive laser radiation, and a beam combiner assembly mounted to the erector tube assembly and positioned between the erector tube assembly and the objective, the beam combiner assembly configured to combine the laser radiation and the electromagnetic radiation to allow the laser rangefinder to transmit and receive the laser radiation via the optical aperture of the objective, and to maintain optical alignment of the laser rangefinder and the viewed scene during movement of the erector tube assembly.