Compact riflescope display adapter

1. A riflescope display adapter configured to:

receive externally computed aimpoint information while affixed to a riflescope; and

project an aimpoint symbol based on received aimpoint information such that the symbol overlays an image visible through an eyepiece of the riflescope, wherein the display adapter comprises:

a controllable reflection mechanism comprising multiple reflective elements operable to facilitate display of the aimpoint symbol by reflecting light in response to control signals;

a first polarizing beam splitter operable to:

facilitate display of the aimpoint symbol by reflecting light towards the reflection mechanism; and

transmit light reflected by the reflection mechanism;

a transmissive light bar, the light bar having a first end and a second end, the first end closer to the reflection mechanism than the second end;

a first reflective element disposed at the first end of the light bar such that the first reflective element is positioned to reflect light in a first direction, towards the second end of the light bar;

a second reflective element disposed at the second end of the light bar and configured to reflect light in a second direction opposite the first direction;

a waveplate operable to modify a polarization state of light reflected by the second reflective element; and

a second polarizing beam splitter disposed within the light bar and between the first reflective element and the second reflective element, wherein the second polarizing beam splitter is configured to transmit light reflected by the first reflective element such that the light is incident at an objective lens of the riflescope.

2. The riflescope display adapter of claim 1 , further comprising:

circuitry configured to:

compute an illumination position of the aimpoint symbol by processing received aimpoint information, and

facilitate display of the aimpoint symbol at a computed illumination position by generating signals operable to control reflective elements of the reflection mechanism;

a fastening mechanism configured to affix the display adapter to a riflescope; and

an annular aperture extending from the fastening mechanism.

3. The riflescope display adapter of claim 1 , wherein further, the second polarizing beam splitter is disposed so as to be positioned along an extended optical axis of a riflescope when the riflescope display adapter is affixed to the riflescope.

4. The riflescope display adapter of claim 1 , wherein further, a light emitting component is configured to operate as a light source of the aimpoint symbol.

5. The rifles cope display adapter of claim 1 , further comprising:

a diffuser disposed between a light emitting component and the first polarizing beam splitter, the diffuser operable to diffuse light emitted by the light emitting component.

6. The rifles cope display adapter of claim 1 , further comprising:

a wire grid polarizer disposed between a light emitting component and the first polarizing beam splitter, and configured to polarize light emitted by the light emitting component.

7. The riflescope display adapter of claim 1 , wherein:

the first polarizing beam splitter is disposed between the reflection mechanism and the first reflective element.

8. The riflescope display adapter of claim 1 , wherein:

the waveplate is disposed between the second polarizing beam splitter and the second reflective element; and

second reflective element is a spherical reflective element.

9. The rifles cope display adapter of claim 1 , wherein the display adapter is configured such that light emitted by a light emitting component travels on an optical path that connects the following components in the order listed:

the light emitting component;

the first polarizing beam splitter;

the reflection mechanism;

the first reflective element;

the second reflective element; and

the second polarizing beam splitter.

10. A method for presenting an aimpoint symbol visible through an eyepiece of a riflescope, the method comprising:

receiving externally computed aimpoint information that indicates a location at which to display the aimpoint symbol;

identifying a combination of reflective liquid crystal on silicon (LCOS) elements operable to reflect light in a manner that facilitates displaying the aimpoint symbol at the location;

emitting light by activating a light emitting component;

polarizing the emitted light;

using a first polarized beamsplitter to reflect the polarized light towards the LCOS;

generating control signals operable to cause the reflective LCOS elements of the combination to reflect the polarized light towards the first polarized beamsplitter, wherein the first polarized beamsplitter transmits the polarized light;

reflecting the polarized light in a first direction through a transmissive light bar;

reflecting the polarized light in a second direction opposite the first direction; and

reflecting the polarized light in a third direction approximately perpendicular to the second direction.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the aimpoint information specifies a horizontal and vertical displacement from a reticle of the riflescope.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the horizontal displacement provides a windage compensation and wherein the vertical displacement provides a bullet drop compensation.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising using a quarter-wave plate to reverse polarity of the polarized light.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein reflecting the polarized light in the third direction is done using a second polarized beam splitter.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the LCOS reverses polarity of the polarized light prior to the polarized light being reflected in a first direction through the transmissive light bar.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein reflecting the polarized light in the second direction is done using a spherical mirror.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the third direction is parallel to an optical axis of the riflescope.

18. The method of claim 10 , wherein reflecting the polarized light in the third direction causes the polarized light to be incident on an objective lens of the riflescope.

19. The method of claim 10 , wherein a wire grid diffuser is used in polarizing the emitted light.

20. The method of claim 10 , wherein the LCOS is front-lit by the polarized light.