Viewing optic with round counter system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12085362-B2
Application number	US-202217964573-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 12, 2022
Priority date	Jan 18, 2019
Publication date	Sep 10, 2024
Grant date	Sep 10, 2024

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a viewing optic. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a display system for a viewing optic. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic having a display system with multiple active displays for generating images that are projected into a first focal plane of an optical system. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic with an active display and a round counter system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising: a viewing optic having a body with a first end and a second end; an objective system located at the first end of the body; an ocular system located at the second end of the body; an erector lens system located between the objective system and the ocular system; a first focal plane located between the objective system and the erector lens system, a beam combiner located between the objective system and the first focal plane; and an active display configured to generate a digital image, and a round counter configured to track ammunition status and to communicate ammunition status to the active display; wherein the ammunition status is projected into the first focal plane of the viewing optic.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the round counter comprises a magazine follower with one or more magnets.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the round counter is coupled to a firearm.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the firearm comprises one or more magnetic sensors.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the one or more magnetic sensors are Hall-effect sensors configured to detect the magnetic field from the one or more magnets in the magazine follower.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more Hall-effect sensors are in a magazine well.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the one or more Hall-effect sensors are on a receiver of the firearm.

8. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a processor to correlate position of the magnetic field with ammunition status.

9. The system of claim 5 , wherein the ammunition status is the number of rounds in a magazine.

10. A system comprising: a viewing optic having: (a) a main tube; (b) an objective system coupled to a first end of the main tube that focuses a target image from an outward scene; (c) an ocular system coupled to the second end of the main tube; (d) an erector lens system located between the objective system and the ocular system; (e) a first focal plane located between the objective system and the erector lens system, (f) a beam combiner located between the objective system and the first focal plane; and (g) an active display configured to generate a digital image; and a round counter system comprising a magazine follower having one or more magnets inserted into a magazine and multiple magnetic sensors placed on a magwell, wherein an activated magnetic sensor corresponds to the position of the magazine follower, and the position of the magazine follower correlates with ammunition status, wherein the ammunition status is projected into the first focal plane of the viewing optic.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the magnetic sensors are Hall-effect sensors.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the magnetic sensors on the magwell are located in a remote control configured to communicate with the viewing optic.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the ammunition status indicates status of the rounds in the magazine or indicates a round in the chamber or indicates a round in the magazine but an empty chamber.

14. The system of claim 10 , wherein the ammunition status is the number of rounds remaining in a magazine.

15. A method comprising:
(a) moving a magazine follower with one or more magnets through a magazine;
(b) activating a magnetic sensor when the magazine follower is in proximity to said magnetic sensor;
(c) determining ammunition status based on position of the magazine follower as indicated by an activated magnetic sensor;
(d) communicating the ammunition status to an active display in a viewing optic;
(e) generating a digital image of the ammunition status using the active display; and
(f) directing the digital image to a beam combiner located between an objective system and a first focal plane of the viewing optic; wherein the first focal plane is located between the objective system and an erector lens system of the viewing optic; and
(g) focusing the digital image on the first focal plane of the viewing optic.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic sensor is located in a magazine well.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic sensor is located on a remote control configured to communicate with the viewing optic.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the magnetic sensor is a Hall-effect sensor.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the ammunition status indicates status of the rounds in the magazine or indicates there is a round in the chamber or indicates there is a round in the magazine and an empty chamber.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the ammunition status is the number of rounds in a magazine.

Assignees

• Sheltered Wings Inc

Inventors

• Hamilton Sam
• Klemm Ian
• Havens Calen
• Cody Tom
• Schultz Craig
• Bollig Garrison
• Carlson Andy
• Lowry William
• Laufenberg Nicholas
• Lewis Alexander

Classifications

• G02B27/0101 Primary

  characterised by optical features (G02B27/0172 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F41A9/65

  Box magazines having a cartridge follower · CPC title

• F41A9/62 Primary

  having means for indicating the number of cartridges left in the magazine, e.g. last-round indicators (last-round safeties F41A17/40) · CPC title

• G02B2027/0141

  characterised by the informative content of the display · CPC title

• G02B27/0189 Primary

  Sight systems · CPC title