Sighting system
Sighting systems and respective methods are provided, which utilize one or more image sensors to capture target images and display them in a display device, in association with a sight symbol, at a specified region which is reflected toward the user. Another part of the display device is used to provide a graphical user interface which allows the user adjust the sight symbol for boresighting and for further operational needs. The display device and associated optical elements are held by a housing attached to the firearm. Internal and/or external information may be presented on the reflected display part to provide and enhance the displayed information. The sighting system may utilize a single flat touchscreen to provide both the image with the sight symbol, which is reflected from the touchscreen toward the user, and the user interface.
1. A sighting system comprising:
at least one image sensor,
a display device comprising:
a display, the device configured to receive images from the at least one image sensor and display the received images on a specified region of the display along with a sight symbol; and
a graphical user interface (GUI), operable outside the specified region of the display, the GUI configured to enable the user to adjust at least a position of the sight symbol in the specified region of the display, wherein the GUI comprises a touchscreen;
a housing attachable to a firearm and configured to receive the display device; and
an optical element set within the housing to reflect the specified region of the display towards a user of the firearm.
2. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the GUI is further arranged to enable a user adjust at least one of: a type of the sight symbol, a color thereof, a position thereof with respect to an estimated range.
3. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the GUI operates at a section of the display that is closer to the user than the specified display region.
4. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the optical element is configured to reflect the specified region perpendicularly to the display.
5. The sighting system of claim 4 , wherein the housing and the display device are attached on a side of a firearm with a long axis along or parallel to a line of sight between a user and a target.
6. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the optical element is at least one of a prism and a mirror.
7. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one image sensor is mechanically supported by the housing.
8. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the display device receives images from the at least one image sensor by wire or wirelessly.
9. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the display device receives images from the at least one image sensor via a processor configured to process the images.
10. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one image sensor comprises at least one of a visual range sensor and an infrared sensor.
11. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the display device is part of a user communication device.
12. The sighting system of claim 11 , wherein the housing is configured to enable insertion of the user communication device into the housing and wherein the display of said user communication device is separated into a display region reflected by the optical element and a display region with said GUI.
13. The sighting system of claim 1 , wherein the display device is further arranged to communicate with at least one external information source and display information therefrom at the specified region.
14. A method comprising:
capturing images of a target;
displaying the captured images on a specified region of a display in a display device, along with a sight symbol;
reflecting the specified region of the display towards a user; and
adjusting, via a graphical user interface (GUI) as part of the display device, the sight symbol in the specified region of the display.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising positioning a length axis of the display device along a line of sight of a firearm and adjusting the position of the sight symbol with respect to a firearm barrel alignment.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the adjusting is with respect to at least one of: a position of the sight symbol, a type thereof, a color thereof, a position thereof with respect to an estimated range.
17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reflecting is carried out perpendicularly to the display.
18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising using a user communication device as the display device.