Sighting Device with Fluorescent PMMA Tube
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical sighting devices are poorly suited for use in bright ambient light, as built-in light-emitting means become ineffective due to excessive ambient illumination, and fiber optical systems cause intensity losses and obstruct direct viewing of the light source, especially in dim conditions.
Innovation Solution
A sighting device featuring a tube or ring made of transparent polymethacrylate (PMMA) with embedded fluorescent molecules, which collects and guides ambient light to the end surfaces, ensuring visibility of a luminous marking under all lighting conditions, with a self-luminous light source appearing as a central dot and a surrounding ring, allowing for precise alignment and correction of parallax deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If built-in light-emitting means are used in sighting devices, then visibility in dim or dark conditions is improved, but the light-emitting means become ineffective in bright ambient light
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is designed to perform multiple functions: it guides light from the self-luminous source in dim conditions, and simultaneously collects and guides ambient light in bright conditions. This multi-functionality allows the sighting device to remain effective across all lighting conditions without requiring separate systems for different environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The tube acts as an intermediary element between the light source and the observer's eye. It mediates the light transmission by guiding self-luminous light when ambient light is low, and by collecting and guiding ambient light when it is bright, thus adapting its light-guiding function based on environmental conditions.
2Loss of energy
If fiber optical systems are used to guide light, then light propagation is achieved, but intensity losses occur and direct viewing of the light source is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the light guide from the complex fiber optical system and replaces it with a simple transparent tube. This eliminates the intermediate fiber optic components that cause intensity losses and obstruct direct viewing, while still achieving the necessary light guidance function through the tube's transparent walls.
3Illumination intensity
If fluorescent molecules are embedded in the tube material, then ambient light collection and guidance is improved, but material complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tube is made from a composite material - polymethacrylate (PMMA) with embedded fluorescent molecules. This composite structure combines the optical clarity and light-guiding properties of PMMA with the light-absorbing and re-emitting capabilities of fluorescent molecules, enabling efficient ambient light collection and guidance while maintaining a relatively simple single-piece tube structure.
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 solution provides reliable visibility of the sighting device in all lighting conditions, ensuring accurate alignment and target acquisition by maintaining visibility of the light source and end face, even in bright ambient light, while preventing damage to the light source.
Implementation Method 1
the material is made up of a substantially transparent material or polymer, such as a polymethacrylate (PMMA), into which are embedded molecules that fluoresce under the action of ambient light
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a sighting device containing at least one self-luminous light source and at least one element made of a light-guiding and/or light-collecting material. Preferably, the self-luminous light source is embodied as a tube or ring and this light source is arranged in at least a portion of the length of the tube or ring, or along its entirety, and most preferably uses a tritium gas-containing element.