Telescopic sight for day/night viewing
First Claim
1. A telescopic sight for day and night operations comprising:
- a first optical assembly for directing an incoming image in the near-infrared spectrum for night operation of the sight along a first optical path;
a second optical assembly for directing an incoming image in the visible spectrum for day operation of the sight along a second optical path, wherein said second optical assembly includes a prism for inverting and reverting the incoming image on the second optical path;
an image intensifier assembly located in the first optical path for night viewing of the image, said assembly having an input surface positioned adjacent said first optical assembly and an opposed output surface;
optical means for day viewing of the image located in the second optical path which is parallel to the first optical path, said optical means having an entrance surface and an exit surface;
p1 an ocular lens assembly located on the second optical path for transmitting light received at an input surface thereof from said image intensifier assembly and from said optical means along a common path to a viewer; and
transmitting means located in a third optical path for transmitting the light from a location on the first optical path which is adjacent the output surface of said image intensifier assembly to a location on the second optical path which is adjacent the exit surface of said optical means, wherein said transmitting means includes a beamsplitter/combiner positioned in the second optical axis and having a front surface adjacent said exit surface of said optical means and a combining surface, said combining surface being positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the second optical path for receiving the light transmitted from the output surface of said image intensifier assembly and the light transmitted from said exit surface of said optical means and directing the light along the second optical path to said ocular lens assembly.
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Abstract
A telescopic sight which can be used for either nighttime or daytime operation and is particularly adaptable for use on weapons ranging from rifles to anti-tank weapons.
A first embodiment includes a single objective and two parallel light paths, one for day viewing and one for night viewing. The objective forms the beginning of the night path. Separating mirrors transmit light from the objective along the night path and reflects light from the objective to the day path. The night path includes an image intensifier assembly. A mirror at the end of the night path reflects the light from the image intensifier assembly to a beamsplitter/combiner on the day path. The beamsplitter/combiner transmits the light from the day path and reflects the light from the night path along the same path to an ocular assembly for viewing.
A second embodiment of the telescopic sight is similar to the first embodiment but contains two objective lens assemblies for collecting light, one for the night path and one for the day path. Because the sight has two separate objective lens assemblies, separating mirrors are not included.
A third embodiment includes a projected aiming reticle and a direct view capability for day viewing which replaces one of the objective lens assemblies. The direct view channel includes a beamsplitter/combiner.
108 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A telescopic sight for day and night operations comprising:
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a first optical assembly for directing an incoming image in the near-infrared spectrum for night operation of the sight along a first optical path; a second optical assembly for directing an incoming image in the visible spectrum for day operation of the sight along a second optical path, wherein said second optical assembly includes a prism for inverting and reverting the incoming image on the second optical path; an image intensifier assembly located in the first optical path for night viewing of the image, said assembly having an input surface positioned adjacent said first optical assembly and an opposed output surface; optical means for day viewing of the image located in the second optical path which is parallel to the first optical path, said optical means having an entrance surface and an exit surface;
p1 an ocular lens assembly located on the second optical path for transmitting light received at an input surface thereof from said image intensifier assembly and from said optical means along a common path to a viewer; andtransmitting means located in a third optical path for transmitting the light from a location on the first optical path which is adjacent the output surface of said image intensifier assembly to a location on the second optical path which is adjacent the exit surface of said optical means, wherein said transmitting means includes a beamsplitter/combiner positioned in the second optical axis and having a front surface adjacent said exit surface of said optical means and a combining surface, said combining surface being positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the second optical path for receiving the light transmitted from the output surface of said image intensifier assembly and the light transmitted from said exit surface of said optical means and directing the light along the second optical path to said ocular lens assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A telescopic sight for day and night operations comprising:
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an objective lens assembly for collecting light from a scene in the near-infrared spectrum and directing the light along a first optical path; an image intensifier assembly for night operations of the sight located adjacent said objective lens assembly in the first optical path for multiplying the light directed from said objective lens assembly and providing a light-intensified output image for night operation of the sight; an optical assembly for collecting light from a scene in the visible spectrum and directing the light along a second optical path for day operation of the sight, wherein the second optical path is arranged substantially parallel to the first optical path, and wherein said optical assembly includes a prism for inverting and reverting the incoming image on the second optical path; optical means for transmitting the light received from said image intensifier assembly for night operation and the light received from said light receiving assembly for day operation of the sight along a common optical path to a viewer; and said optical means including means located adjacent said image intensifier assembly for transmitting the intensified image therefrom to said optical means, wherein said optical means includes a beamsplitter/combiner having a combining surface for transmitting the light received on one of said first and second optical path and for reflecting the light received on the other of said first and second optical paths through a predetermined angle to said common optical path. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification