Software-Extensible Gun Scope and Method

• US 20140182187A1
• Filed: 12/31/2012
• Published: 07/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Talon-Pgf,LLC
• Original Assignee: TrackingPoint, Inc. (Talon Precision Optics, LLC)
• Inventors: McHale, John Francis
• Application Number:
  US13/732,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20140182187A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/119
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/32 Night sights, e.g. luminescent optical aspects of sighting devices G02B23/00, G02B27/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/38 Telescopic sights specially adapted for smallarms or ordnance telescopic sights in general G02B; Supports or mountings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/165 using a TV-monitor
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An apparatus includes a digital optical scope including software-extensible functionality. The digital optical scope includes a display, an interface configured to receive data including software modules, and an optical sensor configured to capture video data associated with a view area. The digital optical scope further includes a processor coupled to the optical sensor, the display, and the interface, and includes a memory. The memory is configured to store a plurality of instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive a software module from the interface, to store the software module in the memory, and to execute the software module to install a capability of the digital optical scope.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a digital optical scope including software-extensible functionality, the digital optical scope including;

a display;

an interface configured to receive data including software modules;

an optical sensor configured to capture video data associated with a view area;

a processor coupled to the optical sensor, the display, and the interface; and

a memory configured to store a plurality of instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to receive a software module from the interface, to store the software module in the memory, and to execute the software module to install a capability of the digital optical scope.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the software module comprises a night vision module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to provide night vision.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a firearm coupled to the digital optical scope; and

wherein the software module comprises a competition mode module that, when executed, causes the processor to reacquire a selected tag location on a target, shot-after-shot.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the software module comprises a zoom module that, when executed, alters a zoom capability of the digital optical scope.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one input/output port configured to couple to a headset; and

wherein the software module includes a voice communication module that, when executed, interacts with the at least one input/output port and the interface to provide bi-directional audio communications between a user wearing the headset and a remote device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the software module comprises a ballistics calculator configurable to calculate a ballistics solution relative to a selected target.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a portable computing device coupled to the interface through a communication link;

and

wherein the portable computing device is configured to download the software module from a network and to provide the software module to the interface of the digital optical scope.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the software module comprises a prey score calculator module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to determine a preliminary prey score for an antlered animal.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the software module comprises a live hunt module that, when executed, causes the processor to capture a portion of the video data and to provide the portion to the interface for transmission as a video stream.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the software module comprises a target tracking module that, when executed, causes the processor to track a selected target within the video data.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a software module at an interface of an optical scope; and

storing the software module in a memory of the optical scope; and

executing the software module using a processor of the optical scope to access a capability of the optical scope.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein receiving the software module comprises communicating wirelessly with a remote device through a communications link to receive the software module.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the software module comprises a night vision module that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to process video data to provide night vision capability via the optical scope.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the software module comprises a zoom module that, when executed, alters a zoom capability of the optical scope.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the software module comprises a prey score calculator module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to determine a preliminary prey score for an antlered animal.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the software module comprises a communications module that, when executed, facilitates bi-directional communication between a headset coupled to the optical scope and a remote device.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the software module comprises a target tracking module that, when executed, causes the processor to track a selected target within video data.

18. An apparatus comprising:

an optical scope comprising;

a plurality of circuitry including a processor and a memory, and including an interface configured to receive a software module, the processor configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to provide optical scope functionality; and

wherein the optical scope functionality is extensible by downloading a software module through the interface.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the software module comprises a night vision module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to provide night vision.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the software module comprises a prey score calculator module that, when executed, causes the processor to process the video data to determine a preliminary prey score for an antlered animal.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the software module comprises a live hunt module that, when executed, causes the processor to capture a portion of the video data and to provide the portion to the interface for transmission as a video stream.

22. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the software module comprises a target tracking module that, when executed, causes the processor to track a selected target within the video data.