Film through scope camera mount system
Systems and methods are described which provide a film through scope camera mount including a housing that includes a beam splitter, first and second mirrors, and a sensor. The camera mount system may receive an input optical signal from a first direction; split the input optical signal using the beam splitter such that a first portion of the input optical signal may be communicated out of the camera mount system in a second direction and a second portion of the input optical signal may be reflected lateral to the first direction; reflect the reflected signal vertically using the first mirror; reflect the vertically reflected signal in a second lateral direction using the second mirror; and receive the signal reflected by the second mirror in the sensor, which may comprise a visible light sensor and/or an infrared sensor.
1 . A camera mount system, comprising:
an image sensor;
a housing comprising a housing first side and a housing second side opposite the housing first side;
an eyepiece in the housing first side;
a scope opening in the housing second side;
a beam splitter between the eyepiece and the scope opening;
one or more optical elements positioned within the housing between the beam splitter and the image sensor; and
wherein the beam splitter is configured to split an input optical signal received from the scope opening into an input signal first portion directed to the eyepiece and an input signal second portion directed to the one or more optical elements;
wherein the one or more optical elements are configured to direct the input signal second portion from the beam splitter to the image sensor; and
wherein the image sensor is configured to capture an image based upon at least an infrared light of the input signal second portion received from the one or more optical elements;
wherein the camera mount system further comprises a spacer having a circular outer surface configured to engage a circular inner surface of a mounting collar of the housing at the scope opening, wherein the spacer comprises a non-concentric opening configured to receive an eyepiece of a scope; the circular inner surface of the mounting collar permitting rotation of the circular outer surface of the spacer while the spacer is resident in the mounting collar to achieve boresight alignment; and a clasp of the mounting collar configured, when manually tightened after alignment, to immobilize the spacer to maintain optical-axis alignment.
2 . The camera mount system of claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is further configured to capture the image based on visible light of the input signal second portion.
3 . The camera mount system of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the housing first side and the housing second side is less than 2 inches.
4 . The camera mount system of claim 1 , wherein a distance along an optical path from an eye of a user to an eyepiece of the scope coupled to scope opening is a same distance along an optical path from the eyepiece of the scope to the image sensor.
5 . The camera mount system of claim 4 , wherein the distance along the optical path from the eyepiece of the scope to the image sensor corresponds to a focal length of the eyepiece of the scope.
6 . The camera mount system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more optical elements include one or more lenses along an optical path from the beam splitter to the image sensor.
7 . The camera mount system of claim 1 , wherein loosening the clasp after immobilization permits renewed rotation of the spacer within the mounting collar to adjust alignment.
8 . The camera mount system of claim 1 , comprising wireless communications hardware configured to wirelessly transmit the captured image to a wireless communication device.
9 . A weapon system, comprising:
a weapon;
a scope mounted to the weapon;
a camera mount system comprising a housing, a beam splitter, one or more optical elements, a video recorder, an eyepiece, and a first mount configured to mount the camera mount system to the weapon and align a scope opening in the housing with an eyepiece of the scope;
wherein the beam splitter is positioned between the scope opening and the eyepiece of the camera mount system and is configured to split an input optical signal received from the eyepiece of the scope into an input signal first portion that continues to the eyepiece the camera mount system and an input signal second portion that is directed toward the one or more optical elements;
wherein the one or more optical elements are located between the beam splitter and the video recorder and direct the input signal second portion to the video recorder; and
wherein the video recorder is configured to record video based at least upon infrared light of the input signal second portion received from the one or more optical elements;
wherein the camera mount system further comprises a spacer having a circular outer surface configured to engage a circular inner surface of a mounting collar of the housing at the scope opening, wherein the spacer comprises a non-concentric opening configured to receive an eyepiece of a scope; the circular inner surface of the mounting collar permitting rotation of the circular outer surface of the spacer while the spacer is resident in the mounting collar to achieve boresight alignment; and a clasp of the mounting collar configured, when manually tightened after alignment, to immobilize the spacer to maintain optical-axis alignment.
10 . The weapon system of claim 9 , wherein the video recorder is configured to record the video based further upon visible light of the input signal second portion.
11 . The weapon system of claim 9 , wherein a distance from the eyepiece of the camera mount system and the eyepiece of the scope is less than 2 inches.
12 . The weapon system of claim 9 , wherein a distance along an optical path from an eye of a user to the eyepiece of the scope is a same distance along an optical path from the eyepiece of the scope to the video recorder.
13 . The weapon system of claim 9 , comprising the one or more optical elements include one or more lenses along an optical path from the beam splitter to the video recorder.
14 . The weapon system of claim 9 , comprising:
a second mount that mounts the scope to the weapon; and
wherein the first mount comprises a flip-to-side mount configured to position the camera mount system to a side of the weapon and permit usage of the scope without the camera mount system.
15 . The weapon system of claim 9 , comprising wireless communications hardware configured to wirelessly transmit the recorded video to a wireless communication device.
16 . A method of using a camera mount system with a weapon, the method comprising:
receiving, from an eyepiece of a scope mounted to the weapon, an input optical signal through a scope opening of the camera mount system;
splitting the input optical signal with a beam splitter of within the camera mount system into an input signal first portion and an input signal second portion;
directing the input signal first portion to an eyepiece of the camera mount system, wherein the one or more optical elements are disposed between the beam splitter and the image sensor;
directing the input signal second portion through one or more optical elements to a sensor of the camera mount system, wherein the one or more optical elements are disposed between the beam splitter and the image sensor;
capturing an image with the sensor based upon at least infrared light of the input signal second portion;
displaying the captured image via a display of the camera mount system;
inserting a spacer having a circular outer surface within a mounting collar of the camera mount system at the scope opening, the spacer comprising a non-concentric opening configured to receive an eyepiece of the scope;
rotating, while the spacer is resident in the mounting collar, the spacer within a circular inner surface of the mounting collar to align a center of a scope optic with a center of a camera view to achieve boresight alignment;
tightening a clasp of the mounting collar after alignment to immobilize the spacer and maintain optical-axis alignment; and
and, upon a desired re-alignment, loosening the clasp to permit renewed rotation of the spacer within the mounting collar to adjust alignment.
17 . The method of claim 16 , comprising flipping the camera mount system from a side of the weapon such that the scope opening aligns with the eyepiece of the scope.