Sighting and aiming arrangement for use during day or night

Claim 1

A sighting and aiming arrangement, of the type comprising: an optical sighting device comprising an entry window and comprising a source of visible light forming a reticle, an afocal opto-electronic unit for night vision, comprising an entry window and an eyepiece window and connected to the sighting device so that it can be separated, a common structure supporting the optical sighting device and the opto-electronic unit, characterized in that: the eyepiece window of the opto-electronic unit is located in front of the entry window of the optical sighting device, the entry window of the opto-electronic unit being orientated in the direction of the object sighted, and in that reflecting and quiding means are provided in order to guide light rays emitted by the reticle to leave the optical sighting device by passing through the entry window of the optical sighting device then by-pass the opto-electronic unit toward the entry window of the opto-electronic unit, the path of the rays leaving the optical sighting device being parallel to the path of the rays entering the opto-electronic unit, in order to cause said rays emitted by the reticle to enter the entry window of the afocal opto-electronic unit together with the rays emitted by the object sighted, whereby both rays will follow the same further optical path into the afocal opto-electronic unit.