Thermal reflex sight
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An aiming sight comprising:
- a beam combiner comprising a first planar outer surface oriented perpendicularly to a first axis, a second planar outer surface oriented parallel to and oppositely positioned from the first planar outer surface, an internal coated planar surface oriented at an acute angle with respect to the first and second outer planar surfaces, and a third planar outer surface;
either an image intensifier or a display for a digital camera;
an afocal eyepiece; and
a first housing comprising the beam combiner, the image intensifier or display for a digital camera, and the afocal eyepiece;
wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a firearm;
wherein a first optical path is coaxial with the first axis and provides a direct view in the visible spectrum straight through the first and second outer planar surfaces of the beam combiner of a target scene at which the aiming sight is aimed;
wherein along a second optical path the afocal eyepiece collects light from the image intensifier or the digital camera display to produce afocal light rays that are incident on and transmitted through the third planar outer surface of the beam combiner, then incident on the first planar outer surface of the beam combiner from inside the beam combiner at an angle resulting in total internal reflection of the rays by the first planar outer surface toward the internal coated planar surface, then reflected by the internal coated planar surface along the first axis as an afocal image of the target scene overlaying and magnification matched with the direct view of the target scene.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A reflex sight comprises two apertures. One aperture is a direct view optical path of the target scene. The other aperture is a digital (e.g., thermal) camera or image intensifier. A beam combiner with two reflective surfaces (for example, a Bauernfeind, Penta, or other prism bonded to a wedge prism) and afocal eyepiece optics overlay the digital image or intensified image onto the direct view scene with matched magnification.
29 Citations
32 Claims
-
1. An aiming sight comprising:
-
a beam combiner comprising a first planar outer surface oriented perpendicularly to a first axis, a second planar outer surface oriented parallel to and oppositely positioned from the first planar outer surface, an internal coated planar surface oriented at an acute angle with respect to the first and second outer planar surfaces, and a third planar outer surface; either an image intensifier or a display for a digital camera; an afocal eyepiece; and a first housing comprising the beam combiner, the image intensifier or display for a digital camera, and the afocal eyepiece; wherein the housing is adapted to be attached to a firearm; wherein a first optical path is coaxial with the first axis and provides a direct view in the visible spectrum straight through the first and second outer planar surfaces of the beam combiner of a target scene at which the aiming sight is aimed; wherein along a second optical path the afocal eyepiece collects light from the image intensifier or the digital camera display to produce afocal light rays that are incident on and transmitted through the third planar outer surface of the beam combiner, then incident on the first planar outer surface of the beam combiner from inside the beam combiner at an angle resulting in total internal reflection of the rays by the first planar outer surface toward the internal coated planar surface, then reflected by the internal coated planar surface along the first axis as an afocal image of the target scene overlaying and magnification matched with the direct view of the target scene. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
-
Specification