Weapon Sight Light Emission Assembly with Nested Fiber
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional weapon sights face challenges with the installation and maintenance of light gathering and emitting elements, leading to reduced brightness and accuracy due to attenuation losses and mechanical interference, especially with tritium capsules requiring additional casing for safety and longer light gathering elements that shorten the sight radius.
Innovation Solution
A light emission assembly with a light conductive member having a chamber for a light emitting element and a protrusion that terminates in a viewing end with a lesser cross-sectional area, using a lens to combine and spread light for a uniform aiming indicia, reducing attenuation and mechanical interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light gathering element is made longer to reduce attenuation losses, then the brightness of the aiming indicia is improved, but the sight radius is shortened which reduces aiming accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitting element is nested inside the light gathering element (optical fiber), with the light emitting element positioned within the circumference of the optical fiber. This nested configuration allows the light emitting element to be contained within the structural envelope of the light gathering element, enabling compact integration while maintaining optimal light transmission properties and sight radius.
2Illumination intensity
If conventional light gathering elements are used with external light emitting elements, then the assembly can provide illumination, but the overall length increases which mechanically interferes with holstering and weapon use
Solution Approach 1:
The light emitting element is nested inside the light gathering element, utilizing the internal space within the optical fiber's circumference. This eliminates the need for external mounting of light emitting elements, thereby reducing the overall assembly length and eliminating mechanical interference with holstering and weapon operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The light emitting element is positioned in a different spatial dimension (inside the optical fiber circumference) rather than externally adjacent to it. This dimensional reorganization allows both elements to coexist in a compact configuration, reducing the assembly's external dimensions while maintaining functional separation between light gathering and light emitting functions.
3Illumination intensity
If tritium capsules are used as light emitting elements, then illumination in low light conditions is improved, but additional casing is required which increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The protective casing functions are merged into the existing optical fiber structure. The optical fiber's own protective coating and structural integrity serve as the containment vessel for the light emitting element, eliminating the need for separate additional casing while maintaining protection for the tritium capsule and addressing safety concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical fiber structure serves multiple functions: it acts as the light gathering element for ambient light, provides structural support, and simultaneously serves as the protective casing for the light emitting element. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed in the assembly.
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 consistent and uniform aiming indicia regardless of ambient light conditions, improving accuracy and reducing mechanical issues, while maintaining a shorter assembly length to enhance precision and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
a light conductive member having a light conductive member length disposed between light conductive member first and second ends and configured to receive a first amount of light from a light source external to the light conductive member
Implementation Method 2
a light emitting element disposed inside of the chamber which emits a second amount of light conducted by the light conductive member to the light conductive member first end to provide a viewable aiming indicia
Data Source
AI summary
A light emission assembly for a weapon sight, and methods of making and using such a light emission assembly, whereby the light emission assembly includes a light conductive member having a light conductive member length disposed between light conductive member first and second ends; a chamber disposed inside of the light conductive member proximate the light conductive member second end, whereby the chamber can be configured to contain a light emitting element; and a light conductive protrusion axially coupled to the light conductive member proximate the light conductive member first end, whereby the light conductive protrusion terminates in a viewing end, the viewing end cross-sectional area lesser than a light conductive member first end cross-sectional area.