Telescopic Sight Beam Splitting for Obstruction-Free Video Capture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy telescopic sights with video capture functions obstruct the scene with markings and reticles, necessitating digital removal of these obstructions for effective image processing.
Innovation Solution
A telescopic sight design with an imaging system outside the user optical path, utilizing beam splitting elements to redirect light to an imaging sensor while reflecting digital markings away, allowing clear imagery capture and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the imaging system is integrated within the user optical path to capture video imagery, then the video capture function is achieved, but the markings and reticles obstruct part of the scene captured by the video
Solution Approach 1:
The optical path is divided into two separate paths: a user optical path for viewing with markings and a video optical path for capturing clean imagery. Beam splitting elements direct light from the objective lens assembly to either path as needed, allowing the imaging sensor to capture scenes without obstructions from markings and reticles while the user sees the augmented reality display with markings.
Solution Approach 2:
Beam splitting elements act as intermediaries between the objective lens assembly and the imaging sensor, selectively redirecting light to the video optical path when clean capture is needed and allowing light to pass through to the user optical path when viewing is needed. This intermediary component enables the imaging sensor to access the scene without being blocked by markings.
2Adaptability or versatility
If digital optical augmentation markings are projected into the user optical path, then augmented reality display is achieved, but the markings obstruct the scene captured by the imaging sensor
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the optical paths so that digital markings are projected only into the user optical path, while the video optical path remains clear for capturing unobstructed scenes. The beam splitting elements ensure that markings are directed away from the imaging sensor's path, eliminating obstruction while maintaining augmented reality display functionality.
3Quantity of substance
If the imaging sensor is positioned to capture the full scene, then complete imagery is obtained, but parallax errors occur between the user's view and the captured image
Solution Approach 1:
The user optical path and video optical path are merged at the objective lens assembly, where both paths receive the same incoming light from the scene. This ensures that the user's view and the captured image start from the same optical reference point, eliminating parallax errors between the two views while both paths provide full field of view coverage.
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
Enables clear, obstruction-free image processing with integrated digital augmentation, maintaining high accuracy and reducing parallax issues, suitable for both day and night vision applications.
Implementation Method 1
redirect at least a portion of a spectrum of incoming light from the objective lens assembly to the imaging sensor along a video optical path
Implementation Method 2
redirect/reflect digital markings projected from the DOA system into the user optical path and disallow the projected digital markings from reaching the imaging sensor
Implementation Method 3
allow at least a portion of the incoming light from the objective lens assembly to pass through the at least one optical element to the ocular lens
Data Source
AI summary
A telescopic sight for firearms including: magnifying elements disposed along a user optical path between an objective lens assembly and an ocular lens; an imaging system including an imaging sensor and an image processor; a digital optical augmentation (DOA) system disposed outside of the user optical path; at least one optical element adapted to: redirect a spectrum of incoming light from the objective lens assembly to the imaging sensor along a video optical path, redirect/reflect digital markings projected from the DOA system into the user optical path and disallow the projected digital markings from reaching the imaging sensor, and wherein the imaging system is adapted to capture and process imagery from the incoming light to provide image processing data.