Optical weapon sight having controlled universally moveable mirror
First Claim
1. An optical sight device for weapon aiming, comprising a fixed frame that carries a viewing screen, means fixed on the frame for generating a sighting symbol image which is to be visible on the screen and to be used as an aiming reference, a mirror which reflects the sighting symbol image onto the screen and which is constrained to universal tilting about a pair of perpendicular coplanar tilt axes, and demand signal means for producing outputs signifying the magnitude and direction of displacement of the mirror about each of said axes that will so orient the mirror that the sighting symbol is positioned on the screen in accordance with conditions that affect aiming, said optical sight being characterized by:
- A. two pairs of rEversible linear motors, one pair for tilting the mirror about each of said tilt axes, 1. each of said motors being connected between the frame and the mirror to react between them, 2. the two motors of each pair being located a. substantial and equal distances to opposite sides of the intersection of the tilt axes, and b. on one of said axes;
B. position transducer means for producing an output that corresponds to the angular orientation of the mirror about each of said tilt axes, said position transducer means comprising 1. an exciter element spaced to one side of the plane containing the tilt axes and located on a perpendicular to said plane that extends through the intersection of said axes, 2. two pairs of fixed detector elements, one pair for each of said tilt axes, the two detector elements of each pair thereof being spaced equal distances to opposite sides of the plane that contains said perpendicular and their tilt axis and being located on the plane that contains said perpendicular and the other tilt axis, and 3. an element at said one side of the first mentioned plane, constrained to move in unison with the mirror and having portions in opposing relationship to the exciter element and normally in partial opposing relationship to all of said detector elements to vary an electrical characteristic of a circuit comprising each pair of detector elements in accordance with the orientation of the mirror; and
C. circuit means connected with said demand signal means and connected in feedback relationship with said position transducer means for producing control outputs for the linear motors that correspond in magnitude and sign with any departure of the mirror from an orientation signified by the output of the demand signal means and for feeding said control outputs to the linear motors to cause them to maintain the mirror in the last mentioned orientation.
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Abstract
A gimbal mounted mirror, universally tiltable about coplanar coordinate axes, reflects a sight image onto a screen of an optical weapon sight. Four linear electrodynamic motors, two for each tilt axis, control mirror positioning. The motors are on said axes, equidistant from their intersection, and spaced far enough from that intersection so that a mirror position transducer can be located between them, under the gimbal mounting. The transducer comprises a soft iron rotor carried by the mirror, a central core wound with an a.c.-energized exciter coil, and four outer cores that are positioned like the motors and each wound with a secondary coil.
10 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An optical sight device for weapon aiming, comprising a fixed frame that carries a viewing screen, means fixed on the frame for generating a sighting symbol image which is to be visible on the screen and to be used as an aiming reference, a mirror which reflects the sighting symbol image onto the screen and which is constrained to universal tilting about a pair of perpendicular coplanar tilt axes, and demand signal means for producing outputs signifying the magnitude and direction of displacement of the mirror about each of said axes that will so orient the mirror that the sighting symbol is positioned on the screen in accordance with conditions that affect aiming, said optical sight being characterized by:
- A. two pairs of rEversible linear motors, one pair for tilting the mirror about each of said tilt axes, 1. each of said motors being connected between the frame and the mirror to react between them, 2. the two motors of each pair being located a. substantial and equal distances to opposite sides of the intersection of the tilt axes, and b. on one of said axes;
B. position transducer means for producing an output that corresponds to the angular orientation of the mirror about each of said tilt axes, said position transducer means comprising 1. an exciter element spaced to one side of the plane containing the tilt axes and located on a perpendicular to said plane that extends through the intersection of said axes, 2. two pairs of fixed detector elements, one pair for each of said tilt axes, the two detector elements of each pair thereof being spaced equal distances to opposite sides of the plane that contains said perpendicular and their tilt axis and being located on the plane that contains said perpendicular and the other tilt axis, and 3. an element at said one side of the first mentioned plane, constrained to move in unison with the mirror and having portions in opposing relationship to the exciter element and normally in partial opposing relationship to all of said detector elements to vary an electrical characteristic of a circuit comprising each pair of detector elements in accordance with the orientation of the mirror; and
C. circuit means connected with said demand signal means and connected in feedback relationship with said position transducer means for producing control outputs for the linear motors that correspond in magnitude and sign with any departure of the mirror from an orientation signified by the output of the demand signal means and for feeding said control outputs to the linear motors to cause them to maintain the mirror in the last mentioned orientation.
- A. two pairs of rEversible linear motors, one pair for tilting the mirror about each of said tilt axes, 1. each of said motors being connected between the frame and the mirror to react between them, 2. the two motors of each pair being located a. substantial and equal distances to opposite sides of the intersection of the tilt axes, and b. on one of said axes;
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2. The optical sight device of claim 1 wherein each of said reversible linear motors comprises:
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3. means fixing one of said magnet means on the frame;
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4. means providing a motion transmitting connection between the other of said magnet means and the mirror.
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5. In apparatus comprising a tiltable element which is carried by a fixed element for tilting relative to the latter in opposite directions about a defined tilt axis, and demand signal means for generating a demand electrical signal that signifies a required position of tilt of the tiltable element, means for maintaining the tiltable element in the position of tilt signified by the demand signal, the last mentioned means comprising:
- A. a pair of permanent magnet members on one of said elements, spaced equal distances to opposite sides of said tilt axis, each of said permanent magnet members comprising concentric inner and outer magnetic parts, one of which comprises a permanent magnet, said inner and outer magnetic parts being connected in a magnetic circuit with one another and cooperating to define an annular air gap which is in said magnetic circuit and which has its axis extending substantially in said directions;
B. a pair of substantially tubular electrically energizable magnet means on the other of said elements, there being one of said electrically energizable magnet means for each of said permanent magnet members and each being coaxially received in the annular air gap of its permanent magnet member for axial motion relative to the latter;
C. detector means for producing a signal which corresponds to the existing position of tilt of the tiltable element, said detector means comprising fixed and movable parts which are respectively carried by said fixed and tiltable elements; and
D. control output means connected with the demand signal means and in feedback relation with the detector means, for producing a control output which is fed to the electrically energizable magnet means and which corresponds to the magnitude and direction of any departure of the existing position of tilt of the tiltable element from That signified by the demand signal.
- A. a pair of permanent magnet members on one of said elements, spaced equal distances to opposite sides of said tilt axis, each of said permanent magnet members comprising concentric inner and outer magnetic parts, one of which comprises a permanent magnet, said inner and outer magnetic parts being connected in a magnetic circuit with one another and cooperating to define an annular air gap which is in said magnetic circuit and which has its axis extending substantially in said directions;
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6. The apparatus of claim 5, further characterized by:
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7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said inner cylindrical part comprises a permanent magnet and is magnetized in its axial direction.
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8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said fixed and movable parts of the detector means are located between said permanent magnet members.
Specification