Electronic sighting device and method of calibratingreticule without adjusting optical lens position

Abstract

An electronic sighting device and method is described for calibrating a shooting device. The sighting device includes a display screen, mounting clip, optical lens, and an external infra-red torch for light compensation. By one discharge from the shooting device, the adjustable targeting reticule of the electronic sighting device can be set to align with the targeting position. The alignment process does not require adjusting the optical lens position, nor the mounting position of the sighting device.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention is relates to the method used in an electronic sighting device with a sighting screen for the field of view, particularly, the view image is digital processed for displaying and calibrating the targeting reticule.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A traditional sighting device for a shooting device is made by an optical lens. For targeting, user requires to see through a small eye piece, which image is small and will cause the eye tire after a long time usage. Moreover, an optical sighting device is not work in a very low-lux environment. Another drawback is the calibration of an optical sighting device requires numbers of discharge from shooting device, the number of times will depend on the user experience for different kinds of surrounding environment.

[0003] This invention of electronic sighting device, overcomes the problems of the optical sighting device. The calibration of this electronic device can be carried out in a straight and simple method.

DESCRIPTION

[0004] This invention adapted the current electronic camera technology to build for a night vision sighting device for shooting devices. It displays the field of shooting view on screen, records and playbacks the discharges. The recorded video clips can be transferred to a USB device or store in a TF memory card.

[0005] The device is composed by an aluminum body, LCD screen, optical lens and cover, mounting clips, battery compartment and an external infra-red torch.

[0006] The optical lens is embedded into the aluminum body and its focal length can be adjusted to match with different distance of shooting view. When the view image goes through the lens and reaches the optical sensor of the camera, it will be displayed on the LCD screen by adapting the electronic camera technology. User can select to see the almost real time image from the screen or records as a video data. For the aiming purpose, a targeting reticule is added on the view image through digital image processing and controlled by the software of camera.

[0007] The LCD screen is located at the back of the aluminum body. A large screen is easy for viewing and aiming.

[0008] It is a battery operated device and its battery compartment is located on the right-hand-side of the aluminum body.

[0009] In a low-lux environment, an external infra-red torch provides light compensation for the view, which is mounted on the left-hand-side of the aluminum body.

[0010] A mounting clip is located at the bottom of the aluminum body and used to mount the sighting device on a shooting device body.

[0011] Calibration procedure for displaying targeting reticule

Step 1

[0012] Mount an electronic sighting device on the shooting device's body.

Step 2

[0013] Turn on the sighting device and see the view on the LCD screen. The targeting reticule is shown in the center of the screen.

Step 3

[0014] Adjust the optical lens to match with the shooting distance in order the LCD screen shows a suitable view of the strike target.

Step 4

[0015] Discharge the first shoot to target.

[0016] Method 1, move the targeting reticule to the struck position of the first discharge.

[0017] Method 2, move the viewing area away from the center of the screen until the targeting reticule hit on the position of the first discharge.

Step 5

[0018] Save the position and finished the calibration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a left side elevational view of an electronic sighting device.

[0020] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective elevational view of an electronic sighting device.

[0021] FIG. 3 is a front perspective elevational view of an electronic sighting device.

[0022] FIG. 4 (FIG. 4-1 and FIG. 4-2) shown the method (1) of the calibration procedure by moving the targeting reticule on the struck position.

[0023] FIG. 4-1 shown the view of the display screen where A is the aim position of the reticule, and B is the struck position.

[0024] FIG. 4-2 shown the view of the display screen where A is the original position of the reticule, B is the actual struck position, X is the horizontal distance and y is the vertical distance from the original reticule position and the actual struck position.

[0025] FIG. 5 (FIG. 5-1 and FIG. 5-2) shown the method (2) of the calibration procedure by moving the viewing area until hit the targeting reticule on the struck position.

[0026] FIG. 5-1 shown the view of the display screen where A is the aim position of the reticule, and B is the struck position.

[0027] FIG. 5-2 shown the view of the display screen where A is the original position of the reticule, B is the actual struck position, X is the horizontal distance and y is the vertical distance from the original reticule position and the actual struck position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

[0028] The present invention is described below in combination with the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numbers are used throughout the different figures to designate the same components.

[0029] With the reference to FIG. 1, it is showing the step 1 of the calibration procedure for the targeting reticule. The electronic sighting device is built from an aluminum body 2 and mounted on the shooting device by the aid of the mounting clip 4. User is able to see the field of view images through the optical lens 5, and displayed on the screen of the main control unit 1. The external infra-red torch 7 is used for light compensation.

[0030] The FIG. 2 showing the LCD screen 11 is built on the main control unit 1. The sighting device is a battery operated device and its battery compartment 3 is located on the right-hand-side of the aluminum body 2. The FIG. 2 also shows a lens cover 6 for the protection of the optical lens 5.

[0031] The FIG. 3 shows the USB connector 12, and TF memory card slot 13 for the images storage. The functional keys 14 used for the interfacing with the main control unit 1. Ladder shape housing 21 and 22 are used for mounting the external infra-red torch. On the top of the battery compartment, it is a battery cover 31.

[0032] FIG. 4 is showing method (1) of the calibration procedure by moving the targeting reticule. FIG. 4-1 shows the aim position of the reticule A, and B is the struck position. FIG. 4-2 shows moving the reticule A onto the struck position B, in order to adjust for the vertical delta y and horizontal delta X between A and B.

[0033] FIG. 5 is showing method (2) of the calibration procedure by moving the viewing area. FIG. 5-1 shows the aim position of the reticule A, and B is the struck position. FIG. 5-2 shows moving the whole viewing area with reticule A onto the struck position B, in order to adjust for the vertical delta y and horizontal delta X between A and B.

Claims

1. A sighting device comprising, a camera device mounted on a shooting device to show a field of view on the screen of the device. A targeting reticule will be generated and displayed on the screen to indicate the aiming position, and this targeting reticule can be adjusted by aligning with, the position in a field of view on screen, or the position in the recorded video, of the previous discharge, through the functional keys on the camera manually.

2. The sighting device according to claim 1, wherein the device's screen shows the current field of view with the targeting reticule.

3. The sighting device according to claim 1, wherein the sighting device records video and playback on the screen for aligning of the targeting reticule.

4. The sighting device according to claim 1, wherein the sighting device embedded with a USB socket for computer communication and video transfer from the sighting device.

5. The sighting device according to claim 1, wherein the sighting device embedded with a TF memory card slot for storage of the recorded video.

6. The sighting device according to claim 1, wherein the sighting device includes optical lens with an adjustable focal length to match a distance at which the target is expected to be struck.

7. A sighting device comprising with an aluminum body with a mounting clip for mounting on a shooting device.

8. A sighting device comprising with an external mounting infra-red torch for the light compensation for camera view and video recording.

9. The calibrating method according to claim 1, wherein the calibration requires one discharge from a shooting device to strike on target, and moves the targeting reticule on the screen to the struck position. For implementing the movement of the targeting reticule can be done by two operations, either (1) to keep the same screen display of the field of view, and move the targeting reticule to the correct position. The targeting reticule may not still locate in the center of the screen; or (2) to keep the targeting reticule in the center of the screen and shift the viewing area by the deviated distance. Both methods can be completed through the camera functional keys.