Device with multiple sights for respective different munitions

• US 8,056,281 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2008
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• 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): Klein; Gabriel
• Application Number:
  US12/207,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20100282843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 42111-148, 421/05, 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 includes:

structure configured to support said device on a weapon;

first and second sights that each facilitate weapon orientation, each of said first and second sights including a respective display device; and

an electronic control portion that is operatively coupled to and simultaneously exerts control with respect to each of said first and second sights, said first and second sights each displaying targeting information generated electronically by said electronic control portion on said respective display device.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein said first sight facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition;

and

wherein said second sight facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from said first munition.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, 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 said targeting information including alphanumeric characters that are presented on at least one of the display devices.

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

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said display devices 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 coupling said device to one of said first and second weapon types.

10. A method of operating a weapon-mountable device having an electronic control portion and first and second sights, comprising:

simultaneously operating each of said first and second sights in a manner that facilitates weapon orientation, including causing each of said first and second sights to display, on a respective display device, respective targeting information generated electronically in said electronic control portion;

configuring said first sight to facilitate weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition having a low arc trajectory; and

configuring said second sight to facilitate weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition, different from said first munition, having a high arc trajectory.

11. An apparatus comprising a device that includes:

support means for supporting said device on a weapon;

first and second means for facilitating weapon orientation; and

electronic control means, operatively coupled to said first and second means, for simultaneously exerting some control with respect to each of said first and second means, said first and second means each providing a display means for displaying targeting information generated electronically by said electronic control means.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11,

wherein said first means facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a first munition;

and

said second means facilitates weapon orientation in preparation to fire a second munition different from said first munition.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, 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.