Optical system accessory with cant indication

• US 10,488,156 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Issued: 11/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sig Sauer Incorporated (SIG Sauer US Holding LP)
• Original Assignee: Sig Sauer Incorporated (SIG Sauer US Holding LP)
• Inventors: York, Andrew W., Smith, Gregory Scott, Brumfield, Richard Bradley
• Primary Examiner(s): Guadalupe-McCall, Yaritza
• Application Number:
  US15/372,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20170082400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,083 Days
• Field of Search: 42123, 3336611
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/44 Spirit-level adjusting means, e.g. for correcting tilt; Means for indicating or correcting tilt or cant
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 2009/066 optical
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 9/06 Electric or photoelectric indication or reading means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/10 reflecting into the field of view additional indications, e.g. from collimator
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/34 illuminated

Abstract

An electronic indicator accessory may be coupled to a standard scope, which is in turn coupled to a shooting device, to indicate whether the scope is canted. The indicator may be visual, haptic, or aural. If visual, the visual indicator may include one or more LEDs positioned on the periphery of the field of view, on an accessory body attached to the scope. The accessory body may be coupled near either the ocular or objective lens of the scope. The LEDs are coupled to a microprocessor which is, in turn, coupled to a solid-state electronic inclinometer that is incorporated into the internal structure of the optical system. The microprocessor is configured to selectively illuminate one or more of the visual indicators based on the output of the inclinometer, thereby indicating how the reticle is canted, if at all.

Claims

1. A cant-detecting device that is configured to be fixedly mounted to an optical system for a shooting device, the device comprising:

an electronic inclinometer configured to determine a cant of the mounted optical system; and

a collimator assembly, including;

an electronic indicator structured to provide an indicator signal to a user related to the determined cant, and

a collimating lens mounted to the collimator assembly spaced apart from the electronic indicator.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a hollow, ring-shaped body that is configured to be coupled to the optical system.

3. The device of claim 2, in which the ring-shaped body is configured to be threadedly attached to the optical system at an ocular end of the optical system.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a hollow body configured to receive the optical system, wherein the inclinometer and the light emitter are coupled to the body.

5. The device of claim 1, in which the electronic indicator is one or more light emitting devices, the cant-detecting device further comprising:

a body, wherein the collimator assembly is coupled to or integrated in the body.

6. The device of claim 1, in which the electronic inclinometer comprises at least one accelerometer.

7. A cant-detecting accessory for an optical system comprising:

a hollow, at least partially ring-shaped body having interior and exterior circumferential surfaces, wherein the body is capable of engaging at least a portion of the optical system;

a collimator assembly coupled to the body, the collimator assembly including a first light emitter;

a compartment coupled to the body; and

an inclinometer disposed within the compartment, wherein the inclinometer is configured to generate a signal in response to detecting that the optical system is canted, and wherein the first light emitter illuminates in response to the signal.

8. The cant-detecting accessory of claim 7, wherein the body includes receiving threads structured to engage with matching threads of an ocular lens or an objective lens of a riflescope.

9. The cant-detecting accessory of claim 7, wherein the first light emitter is coupled to the interior circumferential surface of the body.

10. The cant-detecting accessory of claim 7, wherein the inclinometer includes at least one accelerometer.

11. The cant-detecting accessory of claim 7, further comprising a second light emitter that is coupled to the body, the second light emitter positioned diametrically opposite the body from the first light emitter.

12. The cant-detecting accessory of claim 7, further comprising a second light emitter in the collimator assembly, wherein the inclinometer is configured to generate a second signal in response to detecting that the optical system is not canted, and wherein the second light emitter is configured to illuminate in response to the second signal.

13. The cant-detecting accessory of claim 7, further comprising a second light emitter in the collimator assembly, wherein the inclinometer is configured to generate a second signal in response to detecting that the optical system is not canted, and wherein the first and second light emitters are configured to illuminate in response to the second signal.

14. A cant-detection device comprising:

a hollow ring-shaped body having interior and exterior circumferential surfaces, and having an optical axis passing therethrough;

a first collimator assembly positioned adjacent to one of the interior or exterior surfaces;

a light emitter disposed in the first collimator assembly;

a compartment coupled to the ring-shaped body, the compartment including an interior void; and

an inclinometer disposed within the compartment, wherein the inclinometer is configured to generate a signal in response to detecting rotation of the body around the optical axis, and wherein the light emitter is configured to illuminate in response to the signal.

15. The cant-detection device of claim 14, wherein the first collimator assembly is positioned adjacent to the interior surface of the hollow ring-shaped body.

16. The cant-detection device of claim 14, further comprising a protective lens cover that is mounted to the compartment, wherein the protective lens cover is structured to remain in either an open position or a closed position unless acted upon.

17. The cant-detection device of claim 14, in which the protective lens cover is rotatable with respect to the body.

18. The cant-detection device of claim 14:

further comprising a battery positioned in the interior void of the compartment;

wherein the inclinometer and the battery are electronically coupled to a circuit that is also positioned within the compartment; and

wherein the circuit includes a switch that, when closed, enables the battery to supply power to the light emitter, and that, when opened, prevents the battery from supplying power to the light emitter.

19. The cant-detection device of claim 14:

further comprising a protective lens cover that is mounted to, and rotatable with respect to, the compartment, wherein the protective lens cover is capable of being positioned in either an open position or a closed position

further comprising a battery positioned within the interior void of the compartment;

wherein the inclinometer and the battery are electronically coupled to a circuit that is also positioned within the compartment;

wherein the circuit includes a switch that, when closed, enables the battery to supply power to the light emitter, and that, when opened, prevents the battery from supplying power to the light emitter; and

wherein closing the protective lens cover causes the switch to open.

20. The cant-detection device of claim 14, further comprising a protective lens cover that is hingedly mounted to the compartment containing an electrical circuit.