Reflex Sight Dual Light Source Backup Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reflex sights rely on a single battery-powered LED for reticle illumination, which fails to function if the LED is defective or out of power, disrupting the user's ability to target accurately.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a second light source, such as a fiber optic light source, that can take over when the primary LED is inactive, utilizing an optical grating device to switch between light sources and ensure continuous reticle illumination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single battery-powered LED is used for reticle illumination, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates when the LED is defective or out of power
Solution Approach 1:
The light source system is segmented into multiple independent light sources (primary LED and secondary fiber optic light source), each capable of independently illuminating the reticle. This segmentation ensures that if one light source fails, the other can continue to provide illumination, thereby improving reliability without requiring a complex switching mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
A backup light source (fiber optic light source) is provided in advance to cushion against the potential failure of the primary LED. The backup light source is pre-configured and ready to take over immediately when the primary light source becomes defective or depleted, ensuring continuous reticle illumination without interruption.
2Reliability
If a backup light source is added, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup fiber optic light source is merged with the primary LED system through a shared optical path and combining glass. Both light sources illuminate the same reticle and combine their light paths through the optical grating device, allowing the system to function as a unified illumination system while maintaining the reliability benefits of having a backup source.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical grating device serves multiple functions: it acts as a beam splitter to direct light from either light source to the reticle, functions as a combiner to merge the light paths, and serves as the combining glass interface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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
Ensures uninterrupted reticle visibility by providing a backup light source, enhancing the convenience and reliability of the reflex sight even when the primary light source is defective or out of power.
Implementation Method 1
The first light source projects a first reticle image to the first lens module
Implementation Method 2
the first lens module reflects the first reticle image to a viewer
Implementation Method 3
the second light source projects a second reticle image to the first lens module
Implementation Method 4
the first lens module reflects the second reticle image to the viewer
Implementation Method 5
utilizing an optical grating device to switch between light sources
Data Source
AI summary
A reflex sight is provided, including a first lens module, a first light source, and a second light source. The first light source projects a first reticle image to the first lens module, and the first lens module reflects the first reticle image to a viewer. When the first light source is inactive, the second light source projects a second reticle image to the first lens module, and the first lens module reflects the second reticle image to the viewer.