Volumetric LED alignment aid for sighting device
View Patent ↗An apparatus and method of manufacturing a sighting device mountable to a gun to assist a shooter in aiming at a target. The apparatus may include an optical element and a light source which provide feedback to the user regarding alignment with a target. In one example, the alignment aid optical element includes a ring of transparent material with a user-facing, contoured surface with an inner and outer edge. Further, the contoured surface may be coated with a reflective material that reflects a narrow band of light wavelengths. According to some examples, the apparatus may further include a light source coupled to a mount located at a focal point of the lens wherein the emission of light from the light source faces the lens. In some aspects, the wavelengths emitted from the light source may correspond to those of the coatings on the lens.
1 . A sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target, the sighting device comprising:
a frame housing coupled to a disk optical element, wherein the disk optical element comprises:
a concave surface comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer edge, the outer edge comprising a curvature that is less than that of a curvature of the concave surface;
a first coating disposed on the inner concave surface, wherein the first coating comprises a reflective material;
a second coating disposed on the outer edge of the concave surface, wherein the second coating comprises reflective material and the second coating is patterned; and
a light source coupled to a mount located at a focal point of the disk optical element wherein emission of light from the light source faces the disk optical element.
2 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 1 , wherein:
the light source comprises a fiber optic light collector.
3 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third coating disposed on the outer surface of a lens, wherein the third coating comprises an anti-reflective material.
4 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 3 , wherein: the light source comprises a fiber optic light collector.
5 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 1 , wherein:
there is an interface between the concave surface and the outer edge; and
a reduction in the curvature of the outer edge begins separate from the interface.
6 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 1 , wherein the reflective material of the first coating and the second coating comprises a dielectric film.
7 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 1 , wherein the reflective materials of the first coating and the second coating comprise materials that reflect different wavelengths corresponding with different colors.
8 . A sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target, the sighting device comprising:
a frame housing coupled to a disk optical element, wherein the disk optical element comprises:
a concave surface comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer edge, the outer edge of the concave surface comprising a curvature that is less than that of a curvature of the concave surface;
a first coating disposed on the inner concave surface, wherein the first coating comprises a first dielectric film;
a second coating disposed on the outer edge of the concave surface, wherein the second coating comprises a second dielectric film; and
a light source coupled to a mount located at a focal point of the disk optical element wherein:
emission of light from the light source faces the disk optical element;
the light source comprises a dual wavelength LED; and
the dual wavelengths of the LED match a first and second narrow band of light wavelengths from the first and second dielectric films, respectively.
9 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 8 , wherein:
the first dielectric film reflects a narrow band of light wavelengths between 560 nm and 520 nm.
10 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 8 , wherein:
the second dielectric film reflects a narrow band of light wavelengths between 700 nm and 635 nm.
11 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 8 , further comprising:
a third coating disposed on the outer surface of a lens, wherein the third coating comprises an anti-reflective material.
12 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 8 , wherein:
there is an interface between the concave surface and the outer edge; and
a reduction in the curvature of the outer edge begins separate from the interface.
13 . A sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target, the sighting device comprising:
a frame housing coupled to a disk optical element, wherein the disk optical element comprises:
a concave surface comprising an inner surface, an outer surface, and an outer edge, the outer edge of the concave surface comprising a curvature that is less than that of a curvature of the concave surface;
a first coating disposed on the inner concave surface;
a second coating disposed on the outer edge of the concave surface; and
a light source coupled to a mount located at a focal point of the disk optical element, wherein:
emission of light from the light source faces the disk optical element;
the light source comprises two single wavelength LEDs;
the first coating comprises a first dielectric film;
the second coating comprises a second dielectric film;
the wavelengths of a first LED matches a first narrow band of light wavelengths from the first dielectric film; and
the wavelengths of a second LED matches a second narrow band of light wavelengths from the second dielectric film.
14 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 13 , wherein:
the disk optical element is spherical.
15 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 13 , wherein:
the disk optical element is parabolic.
16 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 15 , wherein the outer edge forms a U-shape.
17 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 13 , wherein the second coating is cross-hatched.
18 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 13 , wherein the frame housing comprises aluminum.
19 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 13 , further comprising:
a third coating disposed on the outer surface of a lens, wherein the third coating comprises an anti-reflective material.
20 . The sighting device to assist a shooter in aiming at a target of claim 13 , wherein:
there is an interface between the concave surface and the outer edge; and
a reduction in the curvature of the outer edge begins separate from the interface.