Scope camera system

An imaging device has an optoelectronic detector, a beam splitter, a field lens, a mirror, a control circuit, a memory and a power source disposed within a housing. The housing is configured to be mounted in an optical path of a scope. The optoelectronic detector is mounted outside of the optical path of the scope. The beam splitter is mounted in line with the optical path of the scope. The field lens is mounted in line with a reflected optical path of the beam splitter. The mirror is mounted such that the reflected optical path of the beam splitter from the field lens is reflected to the optoelectronic detector. The control circuit is connected to the optoelectronic detector. The memory is connected to the control circuit. A user interface is mounted on the housing and connected to the control circuit. The power source is connected to the control circuit.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to optics and more specifically to a scope camera system.

STATEMENT OF FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Without limiting the scope of the invention, its background is described in connection with gun, sighting, spotting and targeting scopes. Existing technology uses cameras in the sightline of gun, sighting, spotting and targeting scopes that do not allow the user to be or see in the sight line of the scope.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The imaging device allows one or more images, which someone views thru a gun, sighting, spotting and targeting scope, to be unobtrusively recorded or viewed by another person. Moreover, the imaging device is lightweight and does not materially alter the weight distribution of a gun or the mounting of a scope on the gun. The imaging device can be used for hunting, bird watching, surveillance, training, governmental and military applications, etc.

One embodiment of the present invention provides an imaging device having a housing, an optoelectronic detector, a beam splitter, a field lens, a mirror, a control circuit, a memory, a user interface and a power source. The housing is configured to be mounted in an optical path of a scope. The optoelectronic detector is mounted within the housing outside of the optical path of the scope. The beam splitter is mounted within the housing in line with the optical path of the scope. The field lens is mounted within the housing in line with a reflected optical path of the beam splitter. The mirror is mounted within the housing such that the reflected optical path of the beam splitter from the field lens is reflected to the optoelectronic detector. The control circuit is disposed within the housing and connected to the optoelectronic detector. The memory is disposed within the housing and connected to the control circuit. The user interface is disposed on the housing and connected to the control circuit. The power source is disposed on or within the housing and connected to the control circuit.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an imaging device having a housing, an optoelectronic detector, a beam splitter, a field lens, a mirror, a control circuit, a memory, a user interface and a power source. The housing includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the housing has a tubular interior configured to be aligned with an optical path of a scope, a distal end configured to be attached to the scope, a proximate end, and an opening substantially perpendicular to the optical path of the scope and proximate to the proximate end. The second portion of the housing is disposed on an exterior of the first portion of the housing and encloses the opening of the first portion of the housing. The optoelectronic detector is mounted within the second portion of the housing. The beam splitter is mounted within the first portion of the housing in line with the optical path of the scope, and proximate to both the opening and the proximate end of the first portion of the housing. The field lens is mounted within the opening of the first portion of the housing and in line with a reflected optical path of the beam splitter. The mirror is mounted within the second portion of the housing such that the reflected optical path of the beam splitter from the field lens is reflected to the optoelectronic detector. The control circuit is disposed within the second portion of the housing and connected to the optoelectronic detector. The memory is disposed within the second portion of the housing and connected to the control circuit. The user interface is disposed on the second portion of the housing and connected to the control circuit. The power source is disposed on or within the second portion of the housing and connected to the control circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention. For example, the embodiments described below relate to an imaging device for a gun scope, but are applicable to any type of sighting, spotting or targeting scope.

The imaging device allows one or more images, which someone views thru a gun, sighting, spotting and targeting scope, to be unobtrusively recorded or viewed by another person. Moreover, the imaging device is lightweight and does not materially alter the weight distribution of a gun or the mounting of a scope on the gun. The imaging device can be used for hunting, bird watching, surveillance, training, governmental and military applications, etc.

Now referring toFIG. 1, a cross-sectional view of an imaging device100mounted on a scope102in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The imaging device100has a housing104, an optoelectronic detector106, a beam splitter108, a field lens110, a mirror112, a control circuit114, a memory116, a user interface118and a power source120. The housing104is configured to be mounted in an optical path122(i.e., line of sight) of the scope102. The housing104can be made of plastic, rubber or other suitable materials. The optoelectronic detector106(e.g., camera, etc.) is mounted within the housing104outside of the optical path122of the scope102. The beam splitter108is mounted within the housing104in line with the optical path122of the scope102. The field lens110(e.g., a plano convex (PCX) lens, etc.) is mounted within the housing104in line with a reflected optical path124of the beam splitter108. The mirror112is mounted within the housing104such that the reflected optical path124of the beam splitter108from the field lens110is reflected to the optoelectronic detector106.

The control circuit114is disposed within the housing104and connected to the optoelectronic detector106. Note that the control circuit114may perform various image processing functions, such as enhancing or filtering the image captured by the optoelectronic detector106. Moreover, the control circuit114may automatically turn the imaging device100off based on a timer, an absence of light detected by the optoelectronic detector106, or a combination thereof. The memory116(e.g., flash memory, a secure digital (SD) card, etc.), which can be removable, is disposed within the housing104and connected to the control circuit114. The user interface118(e.g., buttons, etc.) is disposed on the housing104and connected to the control circuit114. The user interface118may include various buttons or controls, such as an on/off switch, one or more image adjustment controls, one or more light adjustment controls, one or more data connectors, or a combination thereof. The power source120(e.g., battery, etc.) is disposed on or within the housing104and connected to the control circuit114. The power source120can be a battery, a solar cell, a power connector, or a combination thereof.

The optical path122projects the subject to the eye of the person looking through the scope102. The beam splitter108transmits the image light to both the pupil of the person looking through the scope102and the optoelectronic detector106. The field lens110increases the size of the image and decreases the eye relief to allow the optoelectronic detector106to be positioned closer to the mirror112, which reduces the size of the imaging device100. The optoelectronic detector106records the image presented by the beam splitter108to the memory116for later retrieval. The imaging device100may include a data/power connector126(e.g., a universal serial bus (USB), etc.) connected to the control circuit114that allows a user to access the control circuit114to configure various settings, the memory116to retrieve stored or real-time images, or recharge the power source120. The imaging device100may also include a wireless transceiver disposed on or within the housing104and connected to the control circuit114that allows data to be sent to and received from a remote device.

The housing104includes a recessed portion128aligned with the optical path122of the scope102that frictionally engages the scope102such that tools are not required. The optoelectronic detector106, the control circuit114, the memory116, the user interface118and the power source120are disposed above or partially disposed above the recessed portion128. The housing104may also be secured to the scope102using one or more fasteners attached to the housing104that engage the scope102.

Referring now toFIG. 2, a cross-sectional view of an imaging device100in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention is shown. The imaging device100has a housing104, an optoelectronic detector106, a beam splitter108, a field lens110, a mirror112, a control circuit114, a memory116, a user interface118and a power source120. The housing104includes a first portion202and a second portion204. The first portion202of the housing104has a tubular interior206configured to be aligned with an optical path122(i.e., line of sight) of the scope102, a distal end208configured to be attached to the scope102, a proximate end210, and an opening212substantially perpendicular to the optical path122of the scope100and proximate to the proximate end210. The second portion204of the housing104is disposed on an exterior of the first portion202of the housing104and encloses the opening212of the first portion202of the housing104. The housing104can be made of plastic, rubber or other suitable materials.

The optoelectronic detector106(e.g., camera, etc.) is mounted within the second portion204of the housing104outside of the optical path122of the scope102. The beam splitter108is mounted within the first portion202of the housing104in line with the optical path122of the scope102, and proximate to both the opening212and the proximate end210of the first portion202of the housing104. The field lens110(e.g., a plano convex (PCX) lens, etc.) is mounted within the opening212of the first portion202of housing104in line with a reflected optical path124of the beam splitter108. The mirror112is mounted within the second portion204of the housing104such that the reflected optical path124of the beam splitter108from the field lens110is reflected to the optoelectronic detector106.

The control circuit114is disposed within the second portion204of the housing104and connected to the optoelectronic detector106. Note that the control circuit114may perform various image processing functions, such as enhancing or filtering the image captured by the optoelectronic detector106. Moreover, the control circuit114may automatically turn the imaging device100off based on a timer, an absence of light detected by the optoelectronic detector106, or a combination thereof. The memory116(e.g., flash memory, a secure digital (SD) card, etc.), which can be removable, is disposed within the second portion204of the housing104and connected to the control circuit114. The user interface118(e.g., buttons, etc.) is disposed on the second portion204of the housing104and connected to the control circuit114. The user interface118may include various buttons or controls, such as an on/off switch, one or more image adjustment controls, one or more light adjustment controls, one or more data connectors, or a combination thereof. The power source120(e.g., battery, etc.) is disposed on or within the second portion204of the housing104and connected to the control circuit114. The power source120can be a battery, a solar cell, a power connector, or a combination thereof.

The optical path122projects the subject to the eye of the person looking through the scope102. The beam splitter108transmits the image light to both the pupil of the person looking through the scope102and the optoelectronic detector106. The field lens110increases the size of the image and decreases the eye relief to allow the optoelectronic detector106to be positioned closer to the mirror112, which reduces the size of the imaging device100. The optoelectronic detector106records the image presented by the beam splitter108to the memory116for later retrieval. The imaging device100may include a data/power connector126(e.g., a universal serial bus (USB), etc.) connected to the control circuit114that allows a user to access the control circuit114to configure various settings, the memory116to retrieve stored or real-time images, or recharge the power source120. The imaging device100may also include a wireless transceiver disposed on or within the housing104and connected to the control circuit144that allows data to be sent to and received from a remote device.

The housing104includes a recessed portion128aligned with the optical path122of the scope102that frictionally engages the scope102such that tools are not required. The optoelectronic detector106, the control circuit114, the memory116, the user interface118and the power source120are disposed above or partially disposed above the recessed portion128. The housing104may also be secured to the scope102using one or more fasteners attached to the housing104that engage the scope102.

FIG. 3depicts an example of an image that can be captured and stored through a scope using an imaging device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A-4Bare images of an imaging device100mounted on a scope102in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention, and their usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims. Terms such as “a”, “an” and “the” are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration, such as “one or more,” “at least one,” and “one or more than one.” The use of the term “or” in the claims is used to mean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives only or the alternatives are mutually exclusive, although the disclosure supports a definition that refers to only alternatives and “and/or.” Throughout this application, the term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the inherent variation of error for the device, the method being employed to determine the value, or the variation that exists among the study subjects.