Trajectory compensating riflescope

Abstract

Disclosed is a riflescope that incorporates physical measurements and user specific firearm parameters to calculate and designate the target impact point. The scope incorporates a laser range finder with the receiver integrated into the visual sight path thus utilizing the large objective aperture to collect as much reflected light as possible. This ensures long distance operation while maintaining a compact form factor. The line-of-sight laser distance and inclination angle are measured and used to calculate the actual horizontal target distance. A user interface keypad and display provide a mechanism to enter in firearm and ammunition specific parameters such as muzzle velocity and ballistic coefficient. A barometric pressure and temperature sensor measure the actual air density; this and the user entered ballistic coefficient quantify the resulting bullet drag and thus resulting final velocity. All these physical measurements and user specific parameters are utilized to calculate the final bullet impact point. This compensated aim point is indicated by automatically adjusting the elevation reticle.

1 - 4 . (canceled).  
     
     
         5 . A scope assembly adapted for rigid attachment to a firearm, the scope assembly comprising: 
 an optical tube assembly having an objective lens and an eyepiece received along a longitudinal axis of the optical tube assembly defining a line of sight between the eyepiece and the objective lens;    a reticle received in the optical tube assembly between the objective lens and the eyepiece;    a laser transmitter operable to send a beam of light toward an intended target;    a laser receiver maintained out of said line of sight;    a reflection filter received between the objective lens and the eyepiece and in said line of sight, the reflection filter having a surface oblique to the longitudinal axis of the optical tube assembly to reflect a beam reflected from the intended target to the laser receiver while allowing visible light to pass between the eyepiece and the objective lens to provide an unobstructed viewing path through the optical tube assembly; and    a controller in operable communication with the laser transmitter and the laser receiver to facilitate determining the linear distance between the firearm and the intended target and in operable communication with reticle to facilitate automatic adjustment of the reticle to a compensated aim point while the optical tube assembly remains rigidly fixed to the firearm.    
     
     
         6 . The scope assembly of  claim 5  further comprising an angle transducer in operable communication with the controller to send a signal to the controller indicating the orientation of the scope assembly relative to a horizontal plane.  
     
     
         7 . The scope assembly of  claim 6  wherein the controller is operable to determine a horizontal distance component and a vertical distance component for automated reticle adjustment as a function of the signal provided by the angle transducer.  
     
     
         8 . The scope assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a motor in operable communication with the reticle and the controller to receive signals from the controller and to automatically adjust the reticle upwardly or downwardly within the optical tube assembly as a function of said signals.  
     
     
         9 . The scope assembly of  claim 8  further comprising an adjuster manually moveable in one direction to move the reticle upwardly within the optical tube assembly and manually moveable in another direction to move the reticle downwardly within the optical tube assembly and the motor being in operable communication with the adjuster to automatically drive the adjuster in one of said directions in response to receiving said signals from the controller.  
     
     
         10 . The scope assembly of  claim 9  further comprising a pinion gear and a bevel gear in meshed engagement with one another, the pinion gear being operably attached to the motor for conjoint rotation with the motor and the bevel gear being operably attached to the adjuster and moving in response to the movement of the pinion gear.  
     
     
         11 . The scope assembly of  claim 5  wherein the surface of the reflection filter is inclined 45 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         12 . The scope assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a filter lens received between the reflection filter and the laser receiver, the filter lens having an arcuate surface causing the reflected beam of light from the reflection filter to converge toward the laser receiver.  
     
     
         13 . The scope assembly of  claim 5  wherein the reflection filter allows visible light to pass from the objective lens to the eyepiece.  
     
     
         14 . The scope assembly of  claim 5  wherein the reticle is in said line of sight between the reflection filter and the eyepiece.  
     
     
         15 . The scope assembly of  claim 14  wherein the reticle is automatically adjusted in response to a signal from the controller.  
     
     
         16 . The scope assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a barometric pressure transducer in operable communication with the controller to facilitate automatic adjustment of the reticle to a compensated aim point.  
     
     
         17 . The scope assembly of  claim 5  further comprising a temperature sensor in operable communication with the controller to facilitate automatic adjustment of the reticle to a compensated aim point.