GB2578111A

GB2578111A - A novel integration of a camera, display screen and a riflescope to allow operation both conventionally and with image capture and real-time display

Info

Publication number: GB2578111A
Application number: GB1816804.7A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harry Roskoss Alexander
Original assignee: Nitesite Ltd
Current assignee: Nitesite Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-16
Filing date: 2018-10-16
Publication date: 2020-04-22
Also published as: GB201816804D0

Abstract

A weapon scope 303 which may be for a rifle or gun images light from an object 304 along an optical path 309 via objective lens 311 and eyepiece lens 312 to create image 302 for the weapon user 301. The scope contains imaging device 306 which may be a camera or video device. The imaging device 306 may be moved up and down via use of a thumbwheel to translate rotary motion Fig 1, 106 into linear motion Fig 1,103 to move camera Fig 1, 102 into the optical path of the user. Double sided mirror Fig 2, 207 may be may be placed in the optical path adjacent the reticule plane Fig 2, 209 to redirect the optical path to camera and lens assembly Fig 2, 205. The weapon user may thus see the image presented to the lens of the camera, via video display, Fig 2, 203. The objective of the device is to allow the capture of still and moving images when using the weapon.

Description

BACKGROUND

The use of optical riflescopes to aid the aiming of rifles and other weapons has been widespread and the use of variable magnification riflescopes associated with this has also become widespread. These typically allow the user to adjust the apparent position of the aiming point or reticule to adjust for wind corrections, bullet drop over distance corrections and image focus at different distances. These riflescope devices usually allow the user to maintain a specific eye-relief distance from the riflescope by means of an ocular lens which can be user adjusted to match the preference of the specific user necessary to accommodate different eyesight impairments.

Electronic camera sensors using charge coupled devices and complementary metal oxide devices have been improving consistently in sensitivity, resolution and response time for the capture of video and still images with high spatial and temporal resolution. These devices are now readily available in compact, high resolution, high sensitivity packages with low power consumption. The use of small liquid crystal or organic light emitting diode display modules to display video and still images has increased in popularity over previous decades and the use of these to display images acquired from rifle scopes, monoscopes, telescopes and other rifle mounted camera devices has increased. The minimum power consumption and display module physical dimensions have been consistently reducing and the pixels per unit surface area have been increasing consistently as the technologies have matured.

There has been a desire for users of riflescopes to capture still and video images from their riflescopes as they spot, identify, hunt and shoot using their guns. This has led to a range of on market products which add on to or fully replace the conventional variable magnification riflescopes. The add on products typically add weight and complexity to the products attached to the rifle and can alter substantially the shooting position or eye-relief distances. The scope replacement products are not optimised for all lighting conditions and do not have the same focussing and reticule adjustment mechanisms familiar to many users of traditional riflescopes.

BRIEF DESCRITPION OF DRAWINGS

Fig.'. Schematically shows the structure of the rotary to linear conversion mechanism in the present invention Fig.2. Schematically shows the optical elements of the present invention Fig.3. Schematically shows a riflescope with optical paths in two modes possible in the present invention

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus, system and method as set forth in the appended claims. Other features of the invention will be apparent from the dependent claims, and the description which follows.

Now the present invention will be further discussed with reference to the accompanying drawings and examples. Techniques are disclosed for providing a weapon mounted optical scope that provides the capability to present to the user through the eyepiece of the optical scope a camera captured image. Embodiments may include the capture of the camera image through the optical scope excluding the eyepiece. Embodiments may further include the capture of the camera image through an alternative imaging apparatus separate to or not structurally integrated to the optical riflescope. Embodiments may further include modification of the displayed camera captured image to include additional information for use by the weapon operator.

According to the disclosure, an example weapon mounted optical scope comprises an objective lens and display assembly which is configured to direct light reflected or emitted from an object to the front or object side of the weapon mounted optical scope, through the objective lens, the display assembly, the reticule plane and the eyepiece lens assembly to the weapon user. This example also includes a physical reticule located in the reticule plane which is visible in the user image and provides references of scale for use by the weapon user. In the present invention the adjustments the weapon user makes to the relative position of the reticule to the object are preserved with respect to a parallax free shooting position by alignment of the camera and screen with respect to the incoming optical path, the double sided mirror and the eyepiece lens assembly such that the reticule centred in the optical path will be presented to the camera and subsequent reproduction in the screen as centred in the image produced at the eye of the weapon user after passing through the eyepiece assembly. The scale and field of view of the image captured and presented to match closely that of the image presented to the weapon user when in the optical path of the riflescope is not obstructed by the mirror and camera assembly.

The present invention allows for at least two operating modes, as shown in Fig.3. The conventional mode of operation for an optical riflescope [303] images light from the object [304] along the optical path [309] through the objective lens [311] and through the eyepiece lens assembly [312] to create an image [302] of the object visible and sensible to the eye of the weapon user [301]. An alternative operating mode of the present invention is shown [310] places a camera device [306] in the optical path [309] before the eyepiece lens assembly [312]. This camera image is then able to be displayed in the riflescope such that the eyepiece lens assembly as used in the un-obstructed optical path [312] can be used to generate an image [308] of the target object [304] visible and sensible to the weapon user [301].

The present invention includes a possible method for achieving translation of the camera assembly, see Fig.1. This mechanism converts rotary mechanical input [106] to lateral translation [103] of a camera assembly [102]. This conversion is achieved in the present invention by the use of a cylinder coupled to the outer housing [101] which is directly rotated by the device user. An angled transverse slotting of the cylinder [107] carries a protrusion [104] from the coupler [105] which is also held in a slot running perpendicular to the plane of rotation [106] and parallel to the direction of camera travel [103]. By application of a reverse mechanical rotation to that shown [106] the reverse linear translation to that shown [103] can be accomplished.

As shown in Fig.2. elements of the optical assembly of the present invention operating to obstruct the direct optical path [208] with a double sided mirror [207] placed after the specific reticule [206] located at the reticule plane [209]. The optical path can be deflected to a camera and lens assembly [205]. The assembly of the camera [205] and mirror can be translated into and out of the optical path by linear translation parallel to the path shown [204]. A small video display unit [203] can be placed to present to the eyepiece lens assembly [202] the necessary image once reflected in the mirror [207] that the camera captured image including reticule can be displayed to the eye of the weapon user [201] maintaining relative position of the eye to the eyepiece, optical riflescope and weapon as the weapon user has when using the riflescope in the unobstructed optical path conditions.