Telescopic Sight Angle Sensor for Automatic Reticle Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing rifle scopes face challenges with complex mechanical adjustments for magnification and reticle settings, leading to potential errors and difficulties in reading settings in low light conditions, particularly due to the influence of magnification on reticle appearance and the need for precise calibration.

Innovation Solution

An adjusting device with a rotatable adjusting element and an integrated angle sensor, such as a potentiometer, that detects the angle of rotation and correlates it with resistance values, allowing for automatic data recording and simplifying the adjustment process, including electronic adjustments of the reticle based on detected angles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms are used for magnification and reticle settings, then the device complexity remains low, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in reading settings and potential for errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment mechanisms with an automated sensor-based system. Angle sensors detect the rotational position of adjustment rings, and a control unit automatically determines and displays the corresponding magnification and reticle settings, eliminating the need for manual reading of mechanical scales and reducing adjustment errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback through angle sensors that continuously monitor the rotational position of adjustment rings and provide this information to a control unit. The control unit processes the sensor data and displays the current settings, creating a closed-loop system that provides real-time feedback to the user about the actual adjustment state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If mechanical adjustment scales are provided for reading settings, then the ease of operation improves, but the reliability deteriorates in low light conditions where settings cannot be read

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical adjustment scales with an electronic display system. Angle sensors detect the rotational position of adjustment rings, and a control unit automatically determines and displays the corresponding magnification and reticle settings on an electronic display, ensuring settings are always readable regardless of lighting conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an electronic display that can emit light to show settings in various lighting conditions. The display can illuminate the setting information, ensuring visibility in low light conditions where mechanical scales would be difficult or impossible to read.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple adjustment components are provided for magnification and reticle settings, then the adaptability improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple adjustment components into a unified sensor-based system. Instead of separate mechanical mechanisms for magnification and reticle settings, the system uses angle sensors on adjustment rings that are mechanically coupled to both functions, with a control unit that coordinates the settings based on sensor feedback, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements multi-functionality through a single sensor-based adjustment system that controls both magnification and reticle settings. The angle sensors and control unit serve multiple functions: detecting rotational position, determining magnification level, adjusting reticle position, and displaying settings, eliminating the need for separate dedicated mechanisms for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 simplifies the operation of rifle scopes by reducing mechanical complexity, enhancing accuracy, and providing easy-to-read settings, even in low light conditions, while maintaining a low cost and long service life.

Implementation Method 1

the angle sensor has a potentiometer with a resistance element and a sliding contact that can be moved along the resistance element, and that the adjusting device has an evaluation device, wherein a resistance value of the potentiometer (indirectly or directly) is related to the angle of rotation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPotentiometer effect: Electrical Resistance

Data Source

PatentEP3851784A1Adjusting device and reversing system and telescopic sight using the same
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 SCHMIDT & BENDER
  • EP3851784A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3851784A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3851784A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an adjusting device (1) for mechanically adjusting components that can be coupled to the adjusting device (1), in particular for adjusting the magnification or reticle of a telescopic sight (80), comprising an adjusting element (20) which is rotatably mounted on a base part (10) for mechanically actuating the adjusting device (1) by a rotational movement through a limited angle of rotation (W) about an axis of rotation (A). The adjusting device (1) has an angle sensor (30) for detecting the angle of rotation (W). The invention also relates to a reversing system (60) and a telescopic sight (80), each with such an adjusting device (1).