Weapon aiming device
View Patent ↗A weapon aiming system may utilize a laser diode and a reflective coating on an optical element to generate a red dot aim point for a shooter with a bright view to the target with minimal color distortion. The optical element may utilize an off-axis parabolic lens to reduce parallax to improve sighting accuracy. The weapon aiming system may utilize visible and infrared aim lasers that are coaligned to simplify boresighting of the weapon and to simplify target acquisition. The weapon aiming system may include a magnifier and a sight being disposed along a longitudinal rail of a weapon in a position with the close quarter combat sight being disposed between the magnifier and the weapon muzzle.
1. A weapon aiming system, comprising:
a weapon having a length of longitudinally extending rail disposed between a butt and a muzzle;
a magnifier disposed along the rail; and
a close quarter combat sight disposed along the rail in a position between the magnifier and the muzzle, wherein the sight comprises:
a housing configured to be coupleable to the rail of the weapon;
a laser diode configured to generate a dot, the laser diode having a principal wavelength; and
an optical element having a parabolically shaped first surface having a relatively low reflectance coating around the principal wavelength, the optical element mounted in the housing to allow a user to look therethrough to provide a simultaneous view of the dot and a target scene,
wherein the magnifier is coupled to an end of the sight furthest from the muzzle.
2. A weapon aiming system, comprising:
a weapon having a length of longitudinally extending rail disposed between a butt and a muzzle;
a magnifier disposed along the rail; and
a close quarter combat sight disposed along the rail in a position between the magnifier and the muzzle, wherein the sight comprises:
a housing configured to be coupleable to the rail of the weapon;
a laser diode configured to generate a dot, the laser diode having a principal wavelength; and
an optical element having a parabolically shaped first surface having a relatively low reflectance coating around the principal wavelength, the optical element mounted in the housing to allow a user to look therethrough to provide a simultaneous view of the dot and a target scene,
wherein the magnifier is coupled to the rail a spaced distance from an end of the sight furthest from the muzzle.
3. The weapon aiming system of claim 2 , wherein the first surface of the optical element generally conforms to a parabola having a formula:
z
=
cr
2
1
+
1
-
(
1
+
k
)
c
2
r
2
,
where: r=radial position on lens surface, c=surface curvature (=1/radius), and k=conic constant.
4. The weapon aiming system of claim 2 , wherein the first surface reflects between 10% and 30% of incident light at an 11 degree angle of incidence around the principal wavelength.
5. The weapon aiming system of claim 4 , wherein the first surface reflects between 15%-25% of incident light at an 11 degree angle of incidence around the principal wavelength.
6. The weapon aiming system of claim 5 , wherein a second and opposing surface of the parabolic optical element generally conforms to a parabola having a formula:
z
=
cr
2
1
+
1
-
(
1
+
k
)
c
2
r
2
+
A
1
r
2
+
A
2
r
4
,
where: r=radial position on lens surface, c=surface curvature (=1/radius), k=conic constant, and A1, A2=aspheric coefficients.
7. A weapon aiming system, comprising:
a weapon having a length of longitudinally extending rail disposed between a butt and a muzzle;
a magnifier disposed along the rail; and
a close quarter combat sight disposed along the rail in a position between the magnifier and the muzzle, wherein the sight comprises:
a housing configured to be coupleable to the rail of the weapon;
a laser diode configured to generate a dot, the laser diode having a principal wavelength; and
an optical element having a parabolically shaped first surface having a relatively low reflectance coating around the principal wavelength, the optical element mounted in the housing to allow a user to look therethrough to provide a simultaneous view of the dot and a target scene,
wherein the optical element is a single molded element.
8. A method of arranging optical elements on a weapon having a longitudinally extending mounting rail between a butt and a muzzle, comprising:
coupling a magnifier to the rail in a first position; and
coupling a sight to the rail in a second position along the rail such that the sight is disposed between the magnifier and the muzzle, wherein the sight comprises:
a housing configured to be coupleable to the rail of the weapon;
a light source configured to generate a dot, the light source having a principal wavelength; and
an optical element having a parabolically shaped first surface having a relatively low reflectance coating around the principal wavelength, the optical element mounted in the housing to allow a user to look therethrough to provide a simultaneous view of the dot and a target scene.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the magnifier is disposed in a first housing and the sight is disposed in a second housing, and the magnifier is optically aligned with the sight to allow a user to see a target through the magnifier and the sight.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the magnifier is coupled to an end of the sight furthest from the muzzle.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the magnifier is coupled to the rail a spaced distance from an end of the sight furthest from the muzzle.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the first surface of the optical element generally conforms to a parabola having a formula:
z
=
cr
2
1
+
1
-
(
1
+
k
)
c
2
r
2
,
where r=radial position on lens surface, c=surface curvature (=1/radius), and k=conic constant; and
a second and opposing surface of the parabolic optical element generally conforms to a parabola having a formula:
z
=
cr
2
1
+
1
-
(
1
+
k
)
c
2
r
2
+
A
1
r
2
+
A
2
r
4
,
where: r=radial position on lens surface, c=surface curvature (=1/radius), k=conic constant, and A1, A2=aspheric coefficients.
13. A weapon aiming system, comprising:
a weapon having a length of longitudinally extending rail disposed between a butt and a muzzle;
a magnifier disposed along the rail; and
a close quarter combat sight configured to be disposed along the rail in a position between the magnifier and the muzzle, wherein the sight comprises:
a light source configured to generate a dot, the light source having a principal wavelength; and
an optical element having a parabolically shaped first surface having a relatively low reflectance coating around the principal wavelength, the optical element mounted to allow a user to look therethrough to provide a simultaneous view of the dot and a target scene,
wherein the first surface of the optical element generally conforms to a parabola having a formula:
z
=
cr
2
1
+
1
-
(
1
+
k
)
c
2
r
2
,
where r=radial position on lens surface, c=surface curvature (=1/radius), and k=conic constant; and
a second and opposing surface of the parabolic optical element generally conforms to a parabola having a formula:
z
=
cr
2
1
+
1
-
(
1
+
k
)
c
2
r
2
+
A
1
r
2
+
A
2
r
4
,
where: r=radial position on lens surface, c=surface curvature (=1/radius), k=conic constant, and A1, A2=aspheric coefficients.