Variable Reticle Scaling for Optical Sighting Devices

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical sighting devices, such as riflescopes, face challenges in providing reticle flexibility and accuracy across varying magnification settings, as traditional front focal plane (FFP) and rear focal plane (RFP) reticles either scale with magnification or remain constant, respectively, leading to disorientation or loss of precision at different zoom levels.

Innovation Solution

A variable power optical sighting device with a sensor and electronic controller that adjusts the reticle's size in response to magnification changes, allowing it to mimic either FFP or RFP behavior, using an electronic reticle display and beam combiner to ensure the reticle's apparent size changes or remains constant, depending on the focal plane and user needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the reticle is positioned at the front focal plane (FFP), then the reticle scales with magnification changes to maintain consistent target coverage, but the apparent size of the reticle changes which may disorient the shooter

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereticle scaling with magnificationVSAvoidshooter orientation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the reticle size adjustable and variable rather than fixed. The reticle display can dynamically change its apparent size based on magnification settings, allowing it to scale when needed while maintaining stability when required, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and ease of operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of reticle apparent size based on magnification settings. By monitoring magnification changes and adjusting the reticle display accordingly, the system can switch between scaling and non-scaling modes, allowing the reticle to adapt to different shooting conditions while maintaining shooter orientation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the reticle is positioned at the rear focal plane (RFP), then the apparent size of the reticle remains constant during magnification changes, but the reticle covers different portions of the target causing precision loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereticle apparent size stabilityVSAvoidtarget coverage accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the reticle display dynamic by allowing it to change its apparent size based on magnification settings. This enables the reticle to maintain constant apparent size for ease of operation when needed, or scale with magnification to maintain precise target coverage, resolving the contradiction between operational ease and measurement precision

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the reticle display parameters in response to magnification adjustments. By monitoring magnification changes and adjusting the reticle apparent size accordingly, the system can maintain both operational stability and target coverage accuracy across different magnification levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a fixed reticle design is used, then the device structure remains simple, but the reticle cannot adapt to different magnification settings reducing versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereticle structureVSAvoidmagnification adaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces a fixed mechanical reticle structure with an electronic display system. This substitution allows the reticle to be dynamically adjusted through electronic control based on magnification settings, providing adaptability without requiring complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal reticle display system that can function in multiple modes (scaling and non-scaling) depending on magnification settings. This multi-functional approach allows a single reticle design to adapt to different magnification levels and shooting conditions, increasing versatility without proportionally increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9429745B2Variable reticle for optical sighting devices responsive to optical magnification adjustment

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 LEUPOLD & STEVENS INC

AI summary

An optical sighting device includes an electronic controller that is responsive to changes in an optical magnification of the sighting device to resize at least a portion of a reticle produced by an electronic display or other means proximate a focal plane of the sighting device. In some embodiments, the reticle is located proximate a rear focal plane of the sighting device and may be scaled by the electronic controller in concert with changes in optical magnification to simulate a front focal plane reticle. A functional pattern of the reticle may also be automatically changed at different magnification settings to provide different types of reticles, such as CQB and sniper reticles, in a single optical device.