Device with multiple sights for respective different munitions

• US 7,490,430 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Staley, John R. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Carone; Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Klein; Gabriel J
• Application Number:
  US11/021,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20050241209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 42111-148, 89/411.7, 89/411.9, 89/410.6
• US Class Current: 42/111
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/48 for firing grenades from rifles
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/52 for rifles or shotguns having two or more barrels, or adapted to fire different kinds of ammunition, e.g. ball or shot

Abstract

A device includes structure that can support the device on a weapon. One version of the device includes a first sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition, and a second sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from the first munition. A different version includes first and second sights that each facilitate weapon orientation, and an electronic control portion that is operatively coupled to and simultaneously exerts control with respect to each of the first and second sights, the first and second sights each displaying targeting information generated electronically by the electronic control portion.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a device that is itself free of a weapon and that includes:

structure configured to support said device on a weapon;

a first sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition; and

a second sight that facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from said first munition;

wherein said device includes a sensor portion, a range portion, and an electronic control portion responsive to said sensor portion and said range portion, said first and second sights each being operatively coupled to said electronic control portion and each displaying targeting information generated electronically by said electronic control portion.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second sights is sufficient by itself to permit a user to achieve proper weapon orientation in preparation to fire a corresponding one of said first and second munitions.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first munition is a type of munition having a low arc trajectory, and said second munition is a type of munition having a high arc trajectory.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first munition is a bullet and said second munition is a grenade.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second sights includes a display, said targeting information including alphanumeric characters that are presented on said display.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second sights includes a display, said targeting information including an electronically generated reticle that is presented on said display, and an electronically generated symbol that is presented on said display and that represents a target.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said first and second sights includes a plurality of light-emitting elements, said targeting information being used to selectively operate said light-emitting elements.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second sights includes a portion that provides an optical view of a remote target.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, including a weapon having first and second weapon types that are detachably coupled to each other, said first and second weapon types respectively firing said first and second munitions, and said structure of said device detachably supporting said device on one of said first and second weapon types.

10. A method of operating a weapon-mountable device that is itself free of a weapon and that has first and second sights, comprising:

operating said first sight so as to facilitate weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition;

operating said second sight so as to facilitate weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from said first munition;

providing a sensor portion, a range portion, and an electronic control portion responsive to said sensor portion and said range portion;

determining targeting information for each said sight within said electronic control portion; and

causing each said sight to provide a display of the targeting information determined electronically for that respective sight by said electronic control portion.

11. A method according to claim 10, including configuring one of said first and second sights to be sufficient by itself to permit a user to achieve proper weapon orientation in preparation to fire a respective one of said first and second munitions.

12. A method according to claim 10, including:

selecting said first munition to be a type of munition having a low arc trajectory; and

selecting said second munition to be a type of munition having a high arc trajectory.

13. An apparatus comprising a device that is itself free of a weapon and that includes:

support means for supporting said device on a weapon;

first sight means for facilitating weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition; and

second sight means for facilitating weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from said first munition;

wherein said device includes a sensor portion, a range portion, and electronic control means responsive to said sensor portion and said range portion for determining targeting information for each of said sight means; and

wherein each said sight means displays the targeting information determined electronically for that respective sight by said electronic control portion.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein one of said first sight means and said second sight means is sufficient by itself to permit a user to achieve proper weapon orientation in preparation to fire a corresponding one of said first and second munitions.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said first munition is a type of munition having a low arc trajectory, and said second munition is a type of munition having a high arc trajectory.