Compact Moving Red Dot Sight Using Rotating Mirror
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing moving red dot sighting devices for firearms with non-flat ballistic trajectories are bulky, incompatible with individual lightweight firearms, and do not allow two-eyed aiming, lacking ambidexterity and being unsuitable for use with external scopes.
Innovation Solution
A compact moving red dot sighting device using a fixed collimated light source and a rotating mirror with adjustable inclination, combined with a semi-transparent beamsplitter, allowing two-eyed aiming and compatibility with individual firearms by minimizing device size and enabling adjustment for different ammunition types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an LCD screen or series of LEDs with fixed mirrors and beamsplitters is used to create a moving red dot sight, then the required elevation angle coverage and angular resolution are achieved, but the device becomes bulky (tens of millimeters in width and height)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the light source from the focal plane and places it at the objective lens, eliminating the need for LCD screens, LED arrays, and complex mirror-prism assemblies. This extraction reduces the device to essential components only, dramatically shrinking size while maintaining angular resolution through the rotating mirror mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical LCD/LED display system with an optical-mechanical system using a rotating mirror. The mirror's rotation angle directly controls the red dot's vertical position, providing precise angular resolution through mechanical rotation rather than electronic display, thereby reducing device bulk.
2Measurement precision
If a bulky sighting device is used to achieve the required elevation coverage, then the moving red dot function is realized, but the device becomes incompatible with individual lightweight firearms
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting unnecessary components (LCD, LED arrays, multiple mirrors, beamsplitters) and retaining only the essential rotating mirror and light source, the device weight is dramatically reduced, making it compatible with lightweight individual firearms while preserving full elevation coverage capability.
3Device complexity
If traditional moving red dot sights are designed for single-eye aiming, then the optical path is simplified, but the device lacks ambidexterity and cannot accommodate two-eyed aiming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the optical system to serve multiple functions: it provides a clear red dot for single-eye aiming while simultaneously maintaining optical transparency for two-eyed aiming. The objective lens and rotating mirror configuration allows both aiming modes to function simultaneously, making the device universal and ambidextrous without increasing 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
The solution provides a compact, ambidextrous, and versatile sighting system that allows two-eyed aiming and compatibility with individual firearms, improving accuracy and usability by reducing size and enhancing adjustability for various ammunition types.
Implementation Method 1
a fixed light source and a reflecting element, whereby the light source produces a collimated light beam which is projected onto the reflecting element so as to obtain a red dot or reticle visible to the shooter thanks to the reflection on the reflecting surface of the reflecting element
Implementation Method 2
the reflecting element is preferably a semi-transparent beamsplitter plate or beamsplitter cube, which enables the shooter to observe the target as well as the red dot through the beamsplitter with the aiming eye
Data Source
AI summary
Improved “moving red dot” sighting device, including a fixed light source (4) and a reflecting element (17), wherein the light source (4) produces a collimated light beam (5) which is projected onto the reflecting element (17) so as to obtain a red dot or reticle which is visible to the shooter thanks to the reflection on the reflecting element (17), and whereby the beam (5) is projected onto the reflecting element (17) by means of a rotating mirror (9) whose inclination angle (B) in relation to the light beam (5) can be adjusted.