Optical device

1. An optical device comprising:

a tube including a tube wall defining a viewing bore;

a light source in communication with said viewing bore for illuminating an aim point visible in said viewing bore;

a control system including a circuit board supported by said tube exterior of said viewing bore, said control system being in communication with said light source for controlling brightness of the illuminated aim point; and

said control system including a light sensor mounted to said circuit board and extending from said circuit board through said tube wall into said viewing bore for sensing light in said viewing bore;

wherein said tube defines a cutout extending through said tube wall to said viewing bore and said light sensor extends through said cutout into said viewing bore.

2. The optical device according to claim 1 further comprising an ocular lens disposed in said viewing bore and an objective lens spaced from said ocular lens in said viewing bore with said cutout disposed between said ocular lens and said objective lens.

3. The optical device according to claim 1 further comprising an interface supported by said tube and spaced from said circuit board, said interface being in communication with said control system.

4. The optical device according to claim 3 wherein said control system includes a microcontroller mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said interface.

5. An optical device comprising:

a tube including a tube wall defining a viewing bore;

a light source in communication with said viewing bore for illuminating an aim point visible in said viewing bore;

a control system including a circuit board supported by said tube exterior of said viewing bore, said control system being in communication with said light source for controlling brightness of the illuminated aim point;

said control system including a light sensor mounted to said circuit board and extending from said circuit board through said tube wall into said viewing bore for sensing light in said viewing bore; and

an interface supported by said tube and spaced from said circuit board, said interface being in communication with said control system;

wherein said control system includes a microcontroller mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said interface;

wherein said interface includes pins in communication with said microcontroller.

6. The optical device according to claim 5 wherein said microcontroller is configured to be reprogrammed through said interface.

7. The optical device according to claim 5 wherein said interface is configured to be connected to a mass storage device and wherein said microcontroller is configured to be automatically reprogrammed through connection of the mass storage device to said interface.

8. The optical device according to claim 5 wherein said tube defines a passage through said tube wall from said interface to said control system with wires extending through said passage from said interface to said control system for providing communication between said interface and said control system.

9. The optical device according to claim 5 further including a canister spaced from said circuit board and housing said interface.

10. The optical device according to claim 9 wherein said canister includes a battery compartment.

11. The optical device according to claim 10 wherein said tube defines a passage through said tube wall from said canister to said control system with wires extending through said passage from said interface to said control system for providing communication between said interface and said control system and with wires extending from said battery compartment to said control system for powering said control system.

12. An optical device comprising:

a tube including a tube wall defining a viewing bore;

a light source in communication with said viewing bore for illuminating an aim point visible in said viewing bore;

a control system including a circuit board supported by said tube exterior of said viewing bore, said control system being in communication with said light source for controlling brightness of the illuminated aim point; and

said control system including a light sensor mounted to said circuit board and extending from said circuit board through said tube wall into said viewing bore for sensing light in said viewing bore;

wherein said control system includes a switch supported on said circuit board for manually varying the brightness of the illuminated aim point.

13. The optical device according to claim 12 wherein said circuit board includes a first side facing said tube and a second side opposite said first side with said light sensor mounted to said first side and with said switch mounted to said second side.

14. An optical device comprising:

a tube including a tube wall defining a viewing bore;

a light source in communication with said viewing bore for illuminating an aim point visible in said viewing bore;

a control system including a circuit board supported by said tube exterior of said viewing bore, said control system being in communication with said light source for controlling brightness of the illuminated aim point;

said control system including a light sensor mounted to said circuit board and extending from said circuit board through said tube wall into said viewing bore for sensing light in said viewing bore; and

an ocular lens disposed in said viewing bore, an objective lens spaced from said ocular lens in said viewing bore, and an optic disposed in said viewing bore between said ocular lens and said objective lens, said optic defines said aim point that is illuminated by said light source.

15. An optical device comprising:

a tube including a tube wall defining a viewing bore;

an ocular lens and an objective lens spaced from each other in said viewing bore;

a light source in communication with said viewing bore for illuminating an aim point visible in said viewing bore;

an optic disposed in said viewing bore between said ocular lens and said objective lens and defining said aim point that is illuminated by said light source;

a control system including a circuit board supported by said tube exterior of said viewing bore, said control system being in communication with said light source for controlling brightness of the illuminated aim point; and

said control system including a light sensor mounted to said circuit board and extending from said circuit board through said tube wall into said viewing bore between said ocular lens and said objective lens for sensing light in said viewing bore.

16. The optical device according to claim 15 further comprising an interface supported by said tube and spaced from said circuit board, said interface being in communication with said control system.

17. The optical device according to claim 16 wherein said control system includes a microcontroller mounted on said circuit board and in communication with said interface and configured to be reprogrammed through said interface.

18. The optical device according to claim 16 further including a canister spaced from said circuit board and housing said interface.

19. The optical device according to claim 18 wherein said canister includes a battery compartment.

20. The optical device according to claim 19 wherein said tube defines a passage through said tube wall from said canister to said control system with wires extending through said passage from said interface to said control system for providing communication between said interface and said control system and with wires extending from said battery compartment to said control system for powering said control system.

21. The optical device according to claim 15 wherein said circuit board includes a first side facing said tube and a second side opposite said first side, said light sensor being mounted to said first side and said control system including a switch mounted to said second side for manually varying the brightness of the illuminated aim point.