Optical Waveguide Sighting for Exit Pupil Expansion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional optical sights have a limited field of view and require precise alignment of the eye with the exit pupil, which can be disrupted by firearm vibrations, affecting shooting efficiency and hunting experience due to the need for repositioning and limited perception of dynamic changes in the external world.
Innovation Solution
A combined sighting system with an optical system that includes a light-entering module, imaging module, and pupil expansion visual module using an optical waveguide assembly to replicate the exit pupil, allowing wider field of view and flexible observation positions through optical waveguide transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional optical sight with fixed exit pupil is used, then the optical system structure is simple, but the eye must be precisely positioned at the exit pupil to see the complete image, limiting observation flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is divided into multiple independent modules: light-entering module, imaging module, and pupil expansion visual module. Each module performs a specific function, allowing the eye to observe from multiple positions through the optical waveguide assembly without requiring precise alignment with a single exit pupil point.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical waveguide assembly acts as an intermediary between the image and the observer's eye. It transmits the image from the display module to multiple observation positions, enabling flexible eye positioning while maintaining complete image visibility through total internal reflection and light coupling mechanisms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional optical sight with small field of view is used, then the optical system is compact, but the observer cannot perceive dynamic changes in the external world effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguide assembly extends the observation capability from a single-point exit pupil to a two-dimensional observation plane with multiple coupling-out regions. This dimensional expansion allows the eye to move freely within a larger area while maintaining access to the complete field of view and detecting dynamic changes effectively.
3Productivity
If traditional optical sight is used during shooting, then the structure is simple, but firearm vibration causes eye deviation from exit pupil, requiring repositioning and reducing shooting efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system transitions from a static single exit pupil to a dynamic multi-position observation system. The optical waveguide assembly allows the eye to maintain complete image visibility across multiple positions, compensating for vibrations that cause eye deviation and eliminating the need for repositioning during shooting.
4Loss of information
If traditional optical sight with indirect observation is used, then the optical path is straightforward, but the field of view is limited and perception of external scenes is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The optical waveguide assembly serves multiple functions simultaneously: it expands the field of view, enables flexible eye positioning, maintains image quality across multiple observation positions, and allows indirect observation with enhanced external scene perception. This multi-functionality compensates for the increased optical path 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
Enables a wider observation range and flexible viewing angles, enhancing shooting efficiency and hunting experience by maintaining a complete image view without the need for precise alignment with the exit pupil, and supporting multi-channel optical signal fusion for improved visibility in various lighting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the optical waveguide assembly includes a light coupling-in region and a light coupling-out region respectively corresponding to the display module and an observation position, the image displayed in the display module is incident into the light coupling-in region in the form of an optical signal, and is transmitted to the light coupling-out region through the optical waveguide assembly
Data Source
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AI summary
The application provides a combined sighting system and an optical system, the optical system includes a light-entering module, an imaging module, and a pupil expansion visual module; wherein the light-entering module is configured to collect optical signals within a target field of view and to converge the optical signals to the imaging module; the imaging module includes an image processing unit and a display module, the image processing unit is configured to convert the optical signals into an image, and to display the image by the display module; the pupil expansion visual module includes an optical waveguide assembly, the optical waveguide assembly includes a light coupling-in region and a light coupling-out region respectively corresponding to the display module and an observation position, the image displayed in the display module is incident into the light coupling-in region in the form of an optical signal, and is transmitted to the light coupling-out region through the optical waveguide assembly, and is coupled out from the light coupling-out region to the observation position.