Apparatus and method for calculating aiming point information

• US 20090235570A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 09/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HVRT Corp
• Original Assignee: Horus Vision LLC (Horus Vision Reticle Technologies)
• Inventors: Buell, Dickinson, Chao, Lawrence, Sammut, Dennis J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 42/122
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 1/473 for lead-indicating or range-finding, e.g. for use with rifles or shotguns
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/06 with rangefinder rangefinders per se G01C
• CPC Class Codes: F41G 3/08 with means for compensating for speed, direction, temperature, pressure, or humidity of the atmosphere measuring G01
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/32 Fiducial marks and measuring scales within the optical system

Abstract

The present invention relates to target acquisition and related devices, and more particularly to telescopic gunsights and associated equipment used to achieve shooting accuracy at, for example, close ranges, medium ranges and extreme ranges at stationary and moving targets.

Claims

1. A ballistics calculator system for computing targeting information to hit a target, comprising a processor, said processor comprising:

a ballistics computer program on a computer-readable medium for analyzing information needed to accurately aim a firearm at a target using a target acquisition device with a reticle, said program using information regarding one or more of;

a) external conditions;

b) the firearm being used;

c) the projectile being used;

d) the target acquisition device and reticle being used;

e) the shooter;

f) the relation of the shooter and the target, wherein said target can be greater than 1000 yards from the shooter;

g) the ballistics drag model and ballistic coefficient being used; and

h) the binocular device attached to the target acquisition device being used.

2. The ballistics calculator system of claim 1, wherein said attached binocular device is an illuminated night vision device.

3. The ballistics calculator system of claim 1, wherein said attached binocular device contains glass optics.

4. The ballistics calculator system of claim 1, wherein said attached binocular device contains electronic components.

5. The ballistics calculator system of claim 1, wherein said attached binocular device contains electro-chemical components.

6. The ballistics calculator system of claim 1, wherein said attached binocular device comprises at least one component selected from the group consisting of a sighting unit, a laser rangefinder, a non-laser rangefinder, a wind reading doper device, a slope indicator, a compass, a global positioning system (GPS), and a ballistic aiming computer.

7. The ballistics calculator system of claim 1, wherein information from said attached binocular device is displayed internally within said attached device.

8. The ballistics calculator system of claim 1, wherein information from said attached binocular device is displayed externally upon the surface of said attached device.

9. The ballistics calculator system of claim 1, wherein information provided by said attached binocular device is transmitted to said target acquisition device by at least one method selected from the group consisting of video transmission, physical cable or wire transmission, infrared transmission, radio wave transmission, cellular connections transmission, laser pulse transmission, optical transmission, 802.11b and other wireless transmission.

10. The ballistics calculator system of claim 1, wherein said processor is integrated into an external device.

11. A method for shooting a target, comprising:

a) providing a target acquisition device, comprising;

1) a housing;

2) a means for mounting said housing in a fixed, predetermined position relative to a firearm;

3) an objective lens mounted in one end of said housing;

4) an ocular lens mounted in the opposite end of said housing;

5) a reticle, comprising;

i) a plurality of primary cross-hairs separated by predetermined distances;

ii) a plurality of secondary cross-hairs at predetermined distances along said plurality of primary cross-hairs;

iii) a plurality of lead markings indicating rate of movement of the target along at least one said cross-hair;

b) providing a binocular device attached to said target acquisition device;

c) providing the ballistics calculator of claim 1;

d) selecting an aiming point on said target acquisition device that accounts for the relation of the shooter to the target; and

e) using said targeting information displayed by said ballistics calculator system to aim said firearm so as to hit said target.

12. The method for shooting a target of claim 11, wherein said target is hit by tracking said target with said aiming point.

13. The method of shooting a target of claim 11, wherein said ballistics calculator system projects a reticle specific for information regarding one or more of:

a) the firearm being used;

b) the projectile being used;

c) the attached binocular device being used; and

c) the target acquisition device being used.