Abstract:
A weapon mountable aiming system has a multi-laser assembly having a first visible laser pointer assembly, a second infrared laser pointer assembly, and an infrared laser illuminator assembly whose generated light beams extend outwardly through an opening in an actuator used to adjust the divergence of the infrared laser illuminator assembly. The multi-laser assembly being steerable by a set of adjusters in the weapon mountable aiming system to allow alignment of the generated light beams with a point of impact of a bullet with a target.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/764,716, filed Feb. 2, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In close quarter combat, typically in the range of 2-800 meters, soldiers are required to rapidly acquire, identify, and accurately fire on enemy targets. Soldiers may use weapon-mounted sights with visible and infrared light sources to assist in the aiming process during daytime and nighttime missions. These sights may be mounted on vehicle-mounted weapons and handheld weapons such as the M4A1 carbine and other small arms and are used to provide better target observation, illumination, and marking.  
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a weapon mountable sight  100  with optics and electronics at least partially enclosed in a housing  102 . The sight  100  has a visible laser pointer assembly  110 , an infrared laser pointer assembly  112 , an infrared illuminator assembly  108 , and a white light assembly  170 , controlled by one or more switch actuators. The visible laser pointer assembly  110  and the infrared laser pointer assembly  112  are mounted on a common optical bench and can be bore sighted using up-down adjuster  130  and left-right adjuster  128 , after being secured to a weapon (not shown). Infrared illuminator assembly  108  is mounted on a second, separate optical bench and can be bore sighted using up-down adjuster  130 ′ and left-right adjuster (not shown). The size of the resulting infrared illuminator beam may be adjusted by rotation of a beam adjuster  132 . Rotation of the beam adjuster causes a lens to translate generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the barrel of the weapon relative to an infrared diode coupled to the second optical bench.  
         [0004]     Aiming devices are often mounted on handheld weapons where weight and size are important design criteria. Limiting the number of optical benches and associated adjusters saves space, weight, and makes bore sighting simpler. Having a beam adjuster that can be manipulated by users wearing gloves is also desirable. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0005]     For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other objects, features and advantages, reference should be made to the following detailed description which should be read in conjunction with the following figures wherein like numerals represent like parts:  
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a weapon-mountable sight.  
         [0007]      FIG. 2A  is an isometric view of a weapon-mountable sight consistent with one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0008]      FIG. 2B  is a front view of the weapon-mountable sight of  FIG. 2A   
         [0009]      FIG. 3A  is an illustration of a first tri-laser assembly consistent with one embodiment of the invention taken through line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2B .  
         [0010]      FIG. 3B  is an exploded assembly view of the tri-laser assembly of  FIG. 3A .  
         [0011]      FIG. 3C  is an exploded assembly view of a subassembly of the tri-laser assembly of  FIG. 3B .  
         [0012]      FIG. 3D  is a front view of the tri-laser assembly of  FIG. 3B .  
         [0013]      FIG. 3E  is an isometric view of the tri-laser assembly of  FIG. 3A .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a second tri-laser assembly consistent with one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5A  is an illustration of a third tri-laser assembly consistent with one embodiment of the invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5B  is an exploded assembly view of the tri-laser assembly of  FIG. 5A .  
         [0017]      FIG. 5C  is an exploded assembly view of a subassembly of the tri-laser assembly of  FIG. 5B .  
         [0018]      FIG. 5D  is an exploded assembly view of a subassembly of the tri-laser assembly of  FIG. 5B . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]      FIG. 2A  is an isometric view and  FIG. 2B  is a front view of a weapon-mountable sight  200  consistent with one embodiment of the invention. The optics and electronics may be at least partially enclosed in a housing  202  that is configured to be coupled to a weapon. The sight  200  may have an infrared laser illuminator assembly  208 , a visible laser pointer assembly  210 , an infrared laser pointer assembly  222 , and a white light assembly  270 , controlled by one or more switch actuators. A laser assembly may have a laser diode coupled to and spaced from a collimating lens as discussed below. The laser pointer assemblies  210 ,  222  and the infrared illuminator assembly  208  may be bore sighted to a weapon (not shown) using up-down adjuster  230  and left-right adjuster  228 . Alternatively, the laser pointer assemblies  210 ,  222  may be adjusted using up-down adjuster  230  and left-right adjuster  228 , and the infrared illuminator assembly  208  may be fixed relative to the housing  202 . The divergence of the resulting infrared illuminator beam  242  (see  FIG. 3A ) may be adjusted from a narrow beam to a wide beam by rotation of a beam adjuster  232  that encircles the laser pointer assemblies  210 ,  222  and the infrared illuminator assembly  208 . Alternatively, the beam adjustor can be translated to adjust the divergence of the resulting infrared illuminator beam  242 . The beam adjustor  232  may have an outside dimension sized to allow an operator to adjust the beam size, perhaps even wearing gloves. Locating two or more of the laser assemblies within the beam adjustor can save space. A removable cover  258  having one or more pattern generators and/or a diffuser may be coupled to the housing  202  with one or more straps  282 .  
         [0020]     The sight  200  may be secured to a weapon using a mechanism  290 . The sight  200  may be mounted to a weapon using a variety of mounting mechanism, including those disclosed in more detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,430,967, titled, Aiming Assistance Device for a Weapon, issued on Jul. 11, 1995; U.S. Pat. No. 6,574,901, titled, Auxiliary Device for a Weapon and Attachment Thereof, issued Jun. 10, 2003; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,038, titled, Mounting Assembly for a Weapon, issued on Mar. 16, 2004, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. Additionally, the sight may utilize a mounting mechanism compatible with a mounting rail disclosed in military specifications (e.g., MIL-STD-1913), a “rail grabber” mounting mechanism, levers, screws, bolts, and/or the like.  
         [0021]      FIG. 3A  is an illustration,  FIG. 3B  and  FIG. 3C  are exploded assembly views,  FIG. 3D  is a front view, and  FIG. 3E  is an isometric view of a tri-laser assembly  206  consistent with one embodiment of the invention. The tri-laser assembly  206  may be incorporated in a weapon mountable sight  200 . The tri-laser assembly  206  may have a window  234 , a multi-laser cover  244 , the beam adjuster  232 , an illuminator drive ring  240 , a front mount  204 , a lens housing  262  having a lens  216 , an illuminator housing  260 , an optical bench  226 , and a pivot adjuster  270 . The window  234  may protect the lens of the infrared illuminator assembly  208  and the laser pointer assemblies  210 ,  222 . The beam adjuster  232  may have a knurled outer surface to make grasping easier and a first gear  252  coupled to an inside surface thereof. First gear  252  may cooperate with a second gear  250  which may be coupled to an outer surface of the illuminator drive ring  240 . The location of visible laser pointer assembly  210  and the infrared laser pointer assembly  222  may be swapped without departing from the invention.  
         [0022]     The visible laser pointer assembly  210  may have a diode  218  spaced a fixed distance d 2  from a lens  220  and the infrared laser pointer assembly  222  may have a diode  212  spaced a fixed distance d 3  from a lens  224  so the exiting light is collimated. The visible laser pointer assembly  210  and the infrared laser pointer assembly  222  may be coupled to the optical bench  226  having a flexure  272 . The flexure  272  may allow the laser pointer assemblies  210 ,  222  to be steered relative to the housing  202 . The pivot adjuster  270  may be coupled to a rear surface of the optical bench  226  to allow for alignment of the laser pointer assemblies  210 ,  222  with a point of impact of a projectile of the weapon. Up-down adjuster  230  applies a force F 230  and left-right adjuster  228  applies a force F 228  to the pivot adjuster  270  to steer the laser pointer assemblies  210 ,  222 . Springs or other biasing mechanisms may be used to provide a counter force to the adjustors  228 ,  230 .  
         [0023]     The Infrared illuminator assembly  208  may have a diode  214  coupled to the illuminator housing  260  and spaced an adjustable distance d 1  from the lens  216 . Diode  214  may be fixed inside a distal end of the illuminator housing  260  and the lens housing  262  may be slidably coupled inside a proximal end of the illuminator housing  260 . The lens housing  262  may have one or more radially extending threaded sections  238 . The illuminator housing  260  may be coupled to a rear surface of the front mount  204 . Threaded sections  238  may extend through one or more longitudinal extending openings  246  in hollow cylinder  248  on the front mount  204  to prevent rotation of the lens  216  as the lens  216  is translated relative to the laser  214 . Illuminator drive ring  240  may be sized to fit over cylinder  248  and have inwardly directed threads that cooperate with threaded sections  238  on the lens housing  262 . When the beam adjuster  232  is rotated the illuminator drive ring  240  rotates causing lens housing  262  to slide longitudinally, which moves the lens  216  towards or away from the diode  214 , thereby changing the resulting divergence of the infrared beam between a narrow pointer and a wide beam. Numerous screws and O-rings may be used to keep the assembly together and provide a sealed assembly. Although the assembly is described as a tri-laser assembly, a multi-laser assembly having two, or more than three lasers, should not be considered outside the scope of the invention.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  is an illustration of a second tri-laser assembly  206 ′ consistent with one embodiment of the invention. The tri-laser assembly  206 ′ may be incorporated in a weapon mountable sight  200 . A first feature, for example a protrusion  252 ′, may be disposed on an inside surface of the beam adjuster  232 ′ and cooperate with a second feature, for example a groove  250 ′ disposed on an outside surface of the illuminator drive ring  240 . The protrusion  252 ′ and/or the groove  250 ′ may have a pitch such that rotation of the beam adjuster  232 ′ causes the lens  216  to travel along a longitudinal axis LA of the infrared illuminator beam  242  relative to the diode  214 . The location of the groove and the protrusion may be changed without departing from the invention.  
         [0025]      FIG. 5A  is an illustration,  FIG. 5B  is an exploded assembly view,  FIG. 5C  is an exploded assembly view of a first subassembly, and  FIG. 5D  is an exploded assembly view of a second subassembly, of a third tri-laser assembly  206 ″ consistent with one embodiment of the invention. The tri-laser assembly  206 ″ may be incorporated in a weapon mountable sight  200 . An infrared illuminator assembly  208 ″ may have a piston  268  having one or more radially extending threaded sections  238 ″. The threaded section(s)  238  may extend through one or more longitudinal extending openings  246 ″ in a hollow cylinder  248 ″ on a front mount  204 ″. Illuminator drive ring  240 ″ may be sized to fit over cylinder  248 ″ and have inwardly directed threads that cooperate with threaded sections  238 ″ on the piston  268 . A pivot washer  266  may be slidably coupled within the piston  268  and have a flat front surface and an arcuate rear surface. The arcuate rear surface may cooperate with an arcuate front surface of a pivot lens housing  262 ″ having a lens  216  therein. A spring  274  within an illuminator housing  260 ″ coupled to the optical bench  226 ″ may bias the lens housing  262 ″ forward. Rotation of the beam adjuster  232 ″ may cause the lens  216  to move toward or away from the diode  214 .  
         [0026]     The infrared illuminator assembly  208 ″, the visible laser pointer assembly  210 ″ and the infrared laser pointer assembly  222 ″ may be coupled to the optical bench  226 ″. The pivot adjuster  270  may be coupled to the rear surface of the optical bench  226 ″ to allow for alignment of the laser pointer assemblies  210 ,  222  and the infrared illuminator assembly  208  with a point of impact of a projectile of the weapon. Up-down adjuster  230  applies a force F 230  and left-right adjuster  228  applies a force F 228  to the pivot adjuster  270 .  
         [0027]     A drive mechanism like the one shown in  FIG. 3A  and  FIG. 4  may be used with the tri-laser assembly  206 ″ as shown in  FIG. 5A  without departing from the present invention.  
         [0028]     According to one aspect, the present disclosure may provide a weapon mountable sight including a housing configured to be coupled to a weapon and an optical bench within the housing that supports a visible laser pointer assembly, an infrared laser pointer assembly, and an infrared laser illuminator assembly.  
         [0029]     According to another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a weapon mountable sight including a housing configured to be coupled to a weapon. Enclosed within the housing is a multi-laser assembly having a rotatable actuator configured to control the beam divergence of at least one of the lasers. The rotatable actuator having an opening extending therethrough to allow light from the lasers to extend therethrough.  
         [0030]     According to another aspect, the present disclosure may provide a tri-laser assembly having a visible laser pointer assembly, an infrared laser pointer assembly, and an infrared laser illuminator assembly encircled by a rotatable actuator configured to control the beam width of at least one of the lasers.  
         [0031]     Although several preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail herein, the invention is not limited hereto. It will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art that various modifications can be made without materially departing from the novel and advantageous teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein are by way of example. It is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not to be limited thereby.