Alignment element for multiple channel sight and method

Details Alignment element for multiple channel sight and method Alignment element for multiple channel sight and method

1996-10-30

2001-09-25

Mack, Ricky (Department: 2873)

Optical: systems and elements

Lens

With support

C359S822000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06295170

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to multiple channel sights, and more particularly to an alignment element for a multiple channel sight and method.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Day
ight sights would typically be used by military and law enforcement personnel to aim weapons used in both day time and night time conditions. Typically, a day
ight sight includes an objective lens, a reticle and an eyepiece in series with parallel day and night channels. A channel selector may be used to alternatively direct an image of a target into the day or night channel.
In a day
ight sight, the objective lens and the eyepiece may be telescopic to provide a magnified image of the target. The day channel generally uses ambient light to generate an image of the target. The image may be projected to the reticle during day time use to be viewed by the user. The night channel generally includes an image intensifier to generate an illuminated image of the target. The illuminated image may be transmitted to the reticle during night time use to be viewed by the user. The reticle may include markings for aiming the weapon.
Day
ight sights suffer from numerous disadvantages, mainly attributable to problems aligning image beams from the separate day and night channels. Often, image beams from the day and night channels are projected onto different locations of the reticle. For example, the image beam of the day channel may be projected above and to the left of a reticle center while the image beam of the night channel may be projected below and to the right of the reticle center. Consequently, the reticle cannot be positioned to where it is centered, and thus accurate, for both channels.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, a need has arisen in the art for an improved multiple channel sight. The present invention provides an alignment element that substantially eliminates or reduces the disadvantages and problems associated with prior multiple channel sights.
In accordance with the present invention, an alignment element for a multiple channel sight may include a first prism and a second prism. The second prism may be disposed proximate to the first prism. An adjustment device may rotate the first prism with respect to the second prism to deviate an image of a first channel at an image plane. In one embodiment, the image plane may be a reticle.
Important technical advantages of the present invention include providing an improved multiple channel sight. In particular, images from the channels may be aligned at a reticle. Accordingly, the sight may be switched between channels without need of realigning the reticle.
Still another important technical advantage of the present invention includes providing an alignment element to deviate an image of a first channel into alignment with an image of a second channel at the reticle. In particular, the alignment element may include a first and second prism of the same deviation. The prisms may be rotated independently of one another to deviate the image in any direction at the reticle.
Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.


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