Telemicroscopic apparatus for sighting and bi-level viewing

• US 4,877,316 A
• Filed: 12/18/1987
• Issued: 10/31/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Optical Corporation
• Original Assignee: Edwards Optical Corporation
• Inventors: Edwards, D. Brandon, Edwards, Bruce W., Ives, Donald H., Howard, Ian D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnold, Bruce Y.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/134,794
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 33/233, 33/261, 350/146, 350/547, 350/537, 350/538, 350/145, 350/548, 350/549, 351/158, 250/333
• US Class Current: 359/409
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0008 Microscopes having a simple construction, e.g. portable microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/00 Telescopes, e.g. binoculars; Periscopes; Instruments for viewing the inside of hollow bodies; Viewfinders; Optical aiming or sighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02C 7/088 Lens systems mounted to spectacles

Abstract

To provide for bi-level viewing through a miniature Galilean telemicroscope, the telemicroscope is mounted to a carrier such that its optic axis is angled relative to a principal optic axis defined by the carrier. The carrier may be a spectacle lens, an adaptor to be pressure fit to the rear portion of the aiming mechanism or a gun, or an adaptor to be coupled to an optical instrument. The miniature scope may also be used as the principal sight aperture. Where the optical instrument is a larger telescope, an additional cross hair allows for alignment of the telemicroscope. Fibers extending inwardly from the inner surface of the telemicroscope barrel minimize internal light reflection. The telemicroscope barrel is formed of threaded-like coupled portions which may be rotated relative to each other for focusing.

Claims

1. Telemicroscopic apparatus comprising a telemicroscope mounted to a carrier for positioning of the telemicroscope in front of a person'"'"'s eye, the telemicroscope being of small outer diameter and mounted such that the person is able to view and perceive a principal image of an object and a clear magnified image of the object simultaneously, the telemicroscope being mounted to the carrier at an angle such that the telemicroscope'"'"'s central viewing axis is angled relative to the proper central line of sight through the carrier, the end of the telemicroscope closest to the eye being displaced further from the central line of sight.

2. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carrier comprises a transparent plate.

3. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the transparent plate is a spectacle lens.

4. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the transparent plate is a disc mounted in a sleeve adapted to be fit on an optical instrument.

5. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carrier is coupled to a Night Vision scope.

6. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carrier is coupled to a larger telescope.

7. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the larger telescope further comprises a first horizontal cross hair for viewing through the larger telescope and a second horizontal cross hair displaced from the first cross hair for viewing through the miniature telescope with the larger telescope.

8. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carrier is adapted to be mounted to a rear portion of an aiming mechanism.

9. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the telemicroscope is mounted to a short extension which is adapted to be pressure fit to the rear portion of the aiming mechanism.

10. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the telemicroscope is a Galilean telescope adapted to be spaced from the eye of a user of the gun to provide a field of view within the range of about 2°

to 7°

.

11. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising fibrous extensions from the interior walls of a barrel of the telemicroscope for minimizing internal light reflective glare.

12. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a barrel having an internal diameter within the range of about 4 mm-9 mm.

13. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the telemicroscope comprises a barrel having an outer diameter of about 1O mm or less and an inner diameter of about 9 mm or less.

14. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the barrel has a length of about 16 mm or less.

15. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising a barrel formed of at least two portions of common outer diameter coupled by threads internal to the outer diameter of the two portions, the two portions being adapted to be rotated relative to each other for focusing of the telemicroscope.

16. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising threads at an end of one of the barrel portions for coupling the barrel to the carrier.

17. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the telemicroscope is angled relative to the optic axis of the principal view by about 10°

/(m-1) where m is the magnification of the telemicroscope.

18. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the telemicroscope is angled at least 2°

relative to the proper central line of sight through the carrier.

19. Telemicroscopic apparatus comprising a telemicroscope mounted to a carrier for positioning of the telemicroscope in front of a person'"'"'s eye, the carrier being coupled to a night vision scope, the telemicroscope being of small outer diameter and mounted such that the person is able to view and perceive through the night vision scope a principal image of an object and a clear magnified image of the object simultaneously, the telemicroscope being mounted to the carrier at an angle such that the telemicroscope'"'"'s central viewing axis is angled relative to the proper central line of sight through the carrier.

20. Telemicroscopic apparatus comprising a telemicroscope mounted to a carrier for positioning of the telemicroscope in front of a person'"'"'s eyes, the carrier being coupled to a larger telescope which is larger than the telemicroscope, the telemicroscope being of small outer diameter and mounted such that the person is able to view and perceive through the larger telescope a principal magnified image of an object and a clear further magnified image of the object simultaneously, the telemicroscope being mounted to the carrier at an angle such that the telemicroscope'"'"'s central viewing axis is angled relative to the proper central line of sight through the carrier.

21. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 20 wherein the larger telescope further comprises a first horizontal cross hair for viewing through the larger telescope and a second horizontal cross hair displaced from the first cross hair for viewing through the miniature telescope with the larger telescope.

22. Telemicroscopic apparatus comprising a telemicroscope mounted to a carrier for positioning of the telemicroscope in front of a person'"'"'s eye, the carrier being mounted to a rear portion of an aiming mechanism, the telemicroscope being of small outer diameter and mounted such that the person is able to view and perceive through the aiming mechanism a principal image of an object and a clear magnified image of the object simultaneously, the telemicroscope being mounted to the carrier at an angle such that the telemicroscope'"'"'s central viewing axis is angled relative to the proper central line of sight through the carrier.

23. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the telemicroscope is mounted to a short extension which is adapted to be pressure fit to the rear portion of the aiming mechanism.

24. Telemicroscopic apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the telemicroscope is a Galilean telescope adapted to be spaced from the eye of a user of the gun to provide a field of view within the range of about 2°

and 7 °

.

25. Telemicroscopic apparatus comprising a telemicroscope mounted to a carrier for positioning of the telemicroscope in front of a person'"'"'s eye, the telemicroscope comprising fibrous extensions from the interior walls of a barrel of the telemicroscope for minimizing internal light reflective glare, the telemicroscope being of small outer diameter and mounted such that the person is able to view and perceive a principal image of an object and a clear magnified image of the object simultaneously, the telemicroscope being mounted to the carrier at an angle such that the telemicroscope'"'"'s central viewing axis is angled relative to the proper central line of sight through the carrier, the end of the telemicroscope closest to the eye being displaced further from the central line of sight.