US3880529A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sighting device
Assignee: Raytheon Co
•
Filing: 1971-08-16
•
Granted: 1975-04-29
•
Expires: 1991-08-16
Abstract
Abstract A sighting device for aiming at a target under various ambient light level conditions is disclosed. An operator sights a target along a first housing portion. A second housing portion contains a reticle, a window through which ambient light, if present, is directed to illuminate the reticle, and a self-luminous source coupled to also illuminate the reticle. A dichroic beam splitter having a surface coated with a material to reflect red wavelengths and transmit all other visible wavelengths is positioned angularly to the line of sight in the first housing. A mirror is positioned to reflect a virtual image of the reticle to the dichroic beam splitter which re-reflects the red wavelengths to the operator''s eye such that the reticle image appears to be superposed on the target image. Wavelengths of the target image other than red pass through the beam splitter to the operator to provide contrasting color reticle and target image indication.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph F Althause
- 👤 Albert W Appel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 09:52
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/01; G02B27/0149; G02B27/32; G02B27/34; G02B27/0101; G02B2027/0118; G02B27/0179; G02B2027/0187
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A sighting device, comprising: means defining a field of view; first reticle means for illumination by ambient light, said first reticle means being disposed outside said field of view; second reticle means concentric with said first reticle means; self-illuminating means coupled to said second reticle means for providing continuous illumination to said second reticle means; and means projecting images of said first and second reticle means into said field of view.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A sighting device, comprising: means defining a field of view; first reticle means for illumination by ambient light, said first reticle means being disposed outside said field of view; second reticle means concentric with said first reticle means; self-illuminating means coupled to said second reticle means for providing continuous illumination to said second reticle means; and means projecting images of said first and second reticle means into said field of view.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sighting device according to claim 1, comprising: a beamsplitter disposed in said field of view being transmissive to first predetermined wavelengths and being reflective to second predetermined wavelengths.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sighting device according to claim 2, comprising: said self-illuminating means providing illumination having said second predetermined wavelengths.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sighting device according to claim 2, comprising: said projecting means including lens means for forming a virtual image of said first and second reticle means on said beamsplitter means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A sighting device according to claim 1, comprising: said second reticle means being illuminated by optical fibers coupled to said self-illuminating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
A sighting device, comprising: means defining a field of view; beamsplitter means disposed in said field of view means; first reticle means having a first reticle pattern, said means for illumination by ambient light, said first reticle means being disposed outside said field of view; means for illuminating said first reticle means by ambient light; second reticle means having a second reticle pattern, said second reticle means being concentric with and superimposed upon said first reticle means; self-illuminating means coupled to said second reticle means for providing continuous illumination to said second reticle means; means for projecting said pattern of said first and second reticlE means into said field of view; and focusing means for focusing said projected patterns onto said beamsplitter.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A sighting device, comprising: means defining a field of view; beamsplitter means disposed in said field of view means; first reticle means having a first reticle pattern, said means for illumination by ambient light, said first reticle means being disposed outside said field of view; means for illuminating said first reticle means by ambient light; second reticle means having a second reticle pattern, said second reticle means being concentric with and superimposed upon said first reticle means; self-illuminating means coupled to said second reticle means for providing continuous illumination to said second reticle means; means for projecting said pattern of said first and second reticlE means into said field of view; and focusing means for focusing said projected patterns onto said beamsplitter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sighting device according to claim 6, comprising: said ambient light means including a window adapted to transmit light energy from independent sources of light energy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US683203A
Cited
US886628A
Cited
US1302353A
Cited
US1931552A
Cited
US2392979A
Cited
US2490091A
Cited
US2633051A
Cited
US2500405A
Cited
US2852974A
Cited
US3320671A
Cited
US3257904A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |