Firearm aiming and photographing compound apparatus and laser sight

A remote-controlled sight of a firearm has an aiming unit and a remote-controlled unit. The aiming unit is detachably disposed on a firearm body of the firearm and the remote-controlled unit connects to the firearm body. The remote-controlled unit has a button, a wireless transmitting module and a wireless receiving module, the wireless transmitting module is electrically connected to the button and the wireless receiving module is electrically connected to the aiming unit. When the button is pressed, a signal is transmitted from the wireless transmitting module and received by the wireless receiving module to actuate the aiming unit.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is based on, and claims priority from, Taiwan Application Serial Number 95204587, filed Mar. 20, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a sight for a firearm, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a sight for a firearm via remote control.

2. Description of Related Art

Firearms, such as rifles or shotguns, are often equipped with digital sights providing aiming and photographic functions.

In a conventional digital sight, buttons controlling photography are assembled on a main body of the conventional digital sight. When a user aims at a target using the digital sight of a rifle and is ready to shoot the target, one hand thereof must support a butt of the rifle and the other hand slightly contact a trigger of the rifle. At this point, when the user also wants to capture an image of the target using the digital sight providing photographic functions, the hand preciously supporting the butt needs to move to the digital sight, pressing the buttons controlling photography. Accordingly, during the movement of the hand from the butt to the digital sight, a line of sight of the user may leave the target, thereby causing aiming errors. Additionally, as the hand of the user is moved to the digital sight, the other hand slightly contacting the trigger must bear the entire weight of the rifle. Accordingly, heavy burden is exerted on the other hand of the user, adversely affecting precision of aiming at or photographing the target.

Moreover, as shown in FIGS.10,11and12, a conventional laser sight101is disposed on a firearm and has a housing10, an objective lens assembly11, an ocular lens assembly12, a socket13, a trigger circuit14, and an extension button17. The objective lens assembly11is connected to one end of the housing10, and the ocular lens assembly12connected to the other end thereof. The socket13is disposed on the outer surface of the housing10. The trigger circuit14is disposed in the housing10and electrically connected to the socket13.

The sight101can output laser to the front of the objective lens assembly11. By aiming at a target using the sight101, the distance to the target can be obtained.

The Trigger circuit14has a fixed button141disposed on the housing10. When the fixed button141is pressed, a power port of the trigger circuit14outputs a trigger signal, outputting the laser from the sight101or stopping the sight101from outputting the laser.

In practical application, the sight101is often used with a rifle as shown inFIG. 10. When a user is ready to shoot the target using the rifle, one hand (such as right hand) thereof contacts a trigger of the rifle and the other hand (such as left hand) supports the rifle and adjusts an aiming angle thereof. Accordingly, it is awkward to press the fixed button141to output/stop the laser while maintaining an aiming posture. The extension button17is thus required.

The extension button17is electrically connected to the socket13by an extension wire15and a plug16. When the extension button17is pressed, the trigger circuit14is actuated, thereby selectively outputting or stopping the laser. The extension button17can be extended by the extension wire15and fixed in a suitable position for convenient operation. For example, as shown inFIG. 10, the extension button17may be fixed on the firearm and in front of the objective lens assembly11. After the other hand (such as left hand) of the user adjusts the aiming angle, the extension button17can be easily pressed thereby, outputting the laser.

There are, however, many disadvantages when the extension button17is extended using the socket13, extension wire15, and plug16.

The extension wire15promotes receipt of electromagnetic signals, increasing electromagnetic interference on the sight101. Thus, outputting or stopping operation of the laser may be incorrect or operation of other electronic members in the sight101be adversely affected.

Further, waterproofing is not easily provided between the socket13and the plug16, such that water may enter the sight101, causing corrosion thereof.

Additionally, after the extension button17is positioned on the firearm, redundant extension wire15adversely affects aiming. Namely, the user must wind the extension wire15on the firearm in advance, causing inconvenience.

Hence, there is a need for a firearm aiming and photographing compound apparatus and a laser sight of a firearm to enhance precision, convenience of aiming at, photographing a target, lower the electromagnetic interference or improve the waterproof capability.

SUMMARY

It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a remote-controlled firearm aiming and photographing compound to enhance precision and convenience of aiming at or photographing a target.

It is therefore another objective of the present invention to provide a remote-controlled laser sight to lower the electromagnetic interference and has the waterproof capability.

In accordance with the foregoing objectives of the present invention, a firearm aiming and photographing compound apparatus has an aiming unit and a remote-controlled unit. The aiming unit is a digital sight and detachably disposes on a firearm body of the firearm. The remote-controlled unit is connected to the firearm body and has a button, a wireless transmitting module and a wireless receiving module. The wireless transmitting module is electrically connected to the button and the wireless receiving module is electrically connected to the aiming unit. When the button is pressed, a signal is transmitted from the wireless transmitting module and received by the wireless receiving module to actuate the aiming unit.

The digital sight has an image processing module and electrically connected to the wireless receiving module.

The remote-controlled unit further comprises a transmitter body and a flexible fixing strap. The button is disposed on the transmitter body, the transmitter body is connected to the flexible fixing strap, and the flexible fixing strap is movably fit on the firearm body.

The image processing module is actuated when the wireless receiving module receives the signal transmitted by the wireless transmitting module. The image processing module has a refractive prism, an image sensing unit, and a circuit board. The wireless receiving module and image sensing unit are electrically connected to the circuit board. The refractive prism is adjacent to the image sensing unit.

The digital sight further comprises a key set and an LCD display electrically connected to the circuit board, respectively.

The image processing unit is a CMOS sensor. The wireless transmitting module is an infrared transmitting module and the wireless receiving module is an infrared receiving module.

In accordance with another foregoing objective of the present invention, a laser sight has an aiming unit and a remote-controlled unit.

The aiming unit is detachably disposed on the firearm body and has a housing, an objective lens assembly, an ocular lens assembly, and a laser module. The housing surrounds an axial line. The objective lens assembly is connected to one end of the housing. The ocular lens assembly is connected to the other end of the housing. The laser module is disposed in the housing and is capable of outputting laser toward the objective lens assembly.

The remote-controlled unit has a button, a wireless transmitting module, and a wireless receiving module. The wireless transmitting module is electrically connected to the button. The wireless receiving module is electrically connected to the laser module and disposes in the housing. When the button is pressed to actuate the wireless transmitting module, enabling the laser module to output the laser by way of the wireless receiving module via remote control.

The wireless receiving module is an infrared receiving circuit, the wireless transmitting module is an infrared transmitting circuit corresponding to the infrared receiving circuit, the infrared receiving circuit has a receiving member, and the infrared transmitting circuit has a transmitting member.

The housing further comprises a transparent portion. The button and wireless transmitting module are disposed on the firearm body and near the transparent portion. Signals output from the transmitting member are transmitted into the receiving member via the transparent portion or via the objective lens assembly.

The remote-control unit further comprises a transmitter body disposes on the firearm body and a fixing strap connects to the transmitter body. The button and wireless transmitting module are disposed in the transmitter body. The transmitter body is disposed on the firearm body by the fixing strap.

The user can simultaneously maintain the aiming posture and press the button. In another aspect, when the button is pressed, the signals output from the wireless transmitting module pass through the objective lens assembly and are transmitted to the wireless receiving module. At this point, the wireless receiving module actuates the laser module, thereby outputting or stopping the laser.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

First Embodiment

Referring toFIG. 1andFIG. 2, a firearm aiming and photographing compound apparatus100has a digital sight120, and a remote-controlled unit130.

A firearm body110of this embodiment may be a butt of a rifle or a shotgun.

The remote-control unit130is movably connected to the firearm body110and is capable of emitting a signal. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 1andFIG. 2, the remote-control unit130has a transmitter body131, a button132, a wireless transmitting module (not shown, which disposed in the transmitter body), a wireless receiving module122and a flexible fixing strap133. The button132is disposed on the transmitter body131. The transmitter body131is connected to the flexible fixing strap133. The flexible fixing strap133is movably fit on the firearm body110. By the flexible fixing strap133, the remote-control transmitter130can be positioned between a first position I and a second position II on the firearm body110, as shown inFIG. 2.

The digital sight120is disposed on the firearm body110and has an image processing module121, a key set123, and an LCD display124. The wireless receiving module122of the remote-control unit130is electrically connected to the image processing module121. Specifically, as shown inFIG. 2, the image processing module121has a refractive prism121a, an image sensing unit121b, and a circuit board121c. The image sensing unit121b, wireless receiving module122, key set123, and LCD display124are electrically connected to the circuit board121c, respectively. The refractive prism121ais adjacent to the image sensing unit121b. When transmitted to the digital sight120, light with images is refracted, by the refractive prism121a, to the image sensing unit121band received thereby. At this point, the images are displayed on the LCD display124and can be captured by operating the key set123. Moreover, the image sensing unit121b, of this embodiment, may be a CMOS sensor.

When a user aims at a target using the digital sight120of the firearm aiming and photographing compound apparatus100and is ready to shoot the target, one hand supports the firearm body110(butt) and the other hand slightly contacts a trigger111of the firearm body110. At this point, when also wanting to photograph the target using the digital sight120, the user can press the button132of the remote-controlled unit130directly by the hand supporting the firearm body110, forcing the transmitter body131(for example, wireless transmitting module) to emit a signal. Accordingly, the wireless receiving module122receives the signal emitted from the transmitter body131(for example, wireless transmitting module) and thereby actuates the image processing module121. The image of the target is thus captured.

Accordingly, while aiming at the target, the user can press the button132of the remote-controlled unit130by a thumb without removing the hand from the firearm body110(butt). Thus, a line of sight of the user does not leave the target, and aiming posture does not change, ensuring precision of aiming at or photographing the target. Further, because the user can captured the image of the target without removing the hand from the firearm body110(butt) and adjust the position of the remote-controlled unit130on the firearm body110(butt) as required, convenience of operation of the firearm aiming and photographing compound apparatus100is enhanced.

Moreover, the wireless transmitting module may be an infrared transmitting module, and the wireless receiving module122may be an infrared receiving module.

Second Embodiment

Referring toFIGS. 3,4, and5, a laser sight with remote-controlled capability is disposed on a firearm body200and has an aiming unit300and a remote-controlled unit130.

The aiming unit300is detachably disposed on the firearm body200and has a housing31, an objective lens assembly32, an ocular lens assembly33, and a laser module34. The housing31surrounds an axial line Z. The objective lens assembly32is connected to one end of the housing31and the ocular lens assembly33connected to the other end thereof. The laser module34is disposed in the housing31, outputting laser toward the objective lens assembly32.

The housing31has a transparent portion311facing downward and near the objective lens assembly32.

Referring toFIGS. 4,5,6and7, the remote-control unit130has a transmitter body131, a flexible fixing strap133, a button132, a wireless transmitting module44, and a wireless receiving module45. The flexible fixing strap133is connected to the transmitter body131. The button132is disposed in the transmitter body131. The wireless transmitting module44is disposed in the transmitter body131and electrically connected to the button132. The wireless receiving module45is electrically connected to laser module34. The transmitter body131is disposed on the firearm body200by the flexible fixing strap133.

The button132can actuate the wireless transmitting module44and enable the laser module34to output the laser by way of the wireless receiving module45.

The wireless receiving module45is an infrared receiving circuit disposed in the housing31and adjacent to the transparent portion311. The infrared receiving circuit has a receiving member451.

The wireless transmitting module44is an infrared transmitting circuit corresponding to the infrared receiving circuit. The infrared transmitting circuit has a transmitting member441. Signals output from the transmitting member441can be transmitted to the receiving member451via the objective lens assembly32or via the transparent portion311.

Referring toFIG. 5andFIG. 8, the remote-controlled unit130may be disposed in a proper position on the firearm body200for convenient operation of the laser sight. Thus, a user may easily control or operate the aiming unit300without changing an aiming posture thereof.

For example, when a user prepares to shoot in a prone position, one hand (such as right hand) thereof must hold the firearm body200and be near a trigger and the other hand (such as left hand) stretch to the front of the objective lens assembly32to support the firearm body200and adjust an aiming angle thereof. To conveniently output or stop the laser, the button132can be moved to the front of the objective lens assembly32. Accordingly, the user can simultaneously maintain the aiming posture and press the button132. In another aspect, when the button132is pressed, the signals output from the wireless transmitting module44pass through the objective lens assembly32and are transmitted to the wireless receiving module45. At this point, the wireless receiving module45actuates the laser module, thereby outputting or stopping the laser.

Referring toFIG. 9, when the user prepares to shoot in a standing position, the other hand (such as left hand) thereof is often below the objective lens assembly32. The button132can be moved to the underside of the objective lens assembly32. When the button132is pressed, the signals output from the wireless transmitting module44pass through the transparent portion311and are transmitted to the wireless receiving module45, thereby controlling the laser module34.

As the disclosed laser sight is not provided with any extension wire, plug, or socket, receipt of electromagnetic signals and electromagnetic interference are reduced and water cannot enter the laser sight. Moreover, as the disclosed laser sight is not provided with any extension wire, aiming operation of the laser sight is not obstructed thereby.

Accordingly, the disclosed laser sight can be operated by a user in a prone position, a standing position, or other shooting position, overcoming the disadvantages of the conventional sight.

Specifically, during manufacture of the laser sight, the wireless transmitting module44can also be provided with an RF transmission circuit. As the RF transmission circuit provides non-directional, unlimited transmission angle, and object-penetrable characteristics, the transparent portion311can be omitted, also achieving the same operation of the aiming unit300.