Optical sight

Abstract

An optical sight is provided and may include a housing, an optical element supported by the housing, and a reticle. An illumination system may selectively display the reticle on the optical element and may include a switch supplying the optical element with light from one of a first light source and a second light source to generate the reticle.

1 . An optical sight comprising:
 a housing;   an optical element supported by said housing;   a reticle; and   an illumination system selectively displaying said reticle on said optical element and including a switch supplying said optical element with light from one of a first light source and a second light source to generate said reticle.   
   
   
       2 . The optical sight of  claim 1 , wherein said switch includes a first input member associated with said first light source, a second input member associated with said second light source, and an output member supplying light from one of said first light source and said second light source to generate said reticle. 
   
   
       3 . The optical sight of  claim 2 , wherein said switch includes a movable body movable between said first input member and said second input member to place one of said first input member and said second input member in communication with said output member. 
   
   
       4 . The optical sight of  claim 3 , wherein said output member is movable with said movable body relative to said first input member and said second input member. 
   
   
       5 . The optical sight of  claim 3 , wherein said output member extends through said movable body. 
   
   
       6 . The optical sight of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of said first input member, said second input member, and said output member are an optical fiber. 
   
   
       7 . The optical sight of  claim 1 , wherein said first light source is one of an LED and an optical fiber and said second light source is the other of said LED and said optical fiber. 
   
   
       8 . The optical sight of  claim 7 , further comprising a tritium lamp in communication with said optical fiber. 
   
   
       9 . The optical sight of  claim 1 , further comprising a third light source, said switch supplying said optical element with light from one of said first light source, said second light source, or said third light source to generate said reticle. 
   
   
       10 . The optical sight of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first light source and said second light source includes multiple light sources. 
   
   
       11 . The optical sight of  claim 10 , wherein said multiple light sources include at least one of a fiber optic, an LED, or a tritium lamp. 
   
   
       12 . The optical sight of  claim 1 , wherein said first light source is at least one of a fiber optic, an LED, and a tritium lamp and said second light source is at least one of a fiber optic, an LED, and a tritium lamp. 
   
   
       13 . An optical sight comprising:
 a housing;   an optical element supported by said housing;   a reticle; and   an illumination system selectively displaying said reticle on said optical element and including a beam splitter combining light from a first light source and a second light source to generate said reticle, said beam splitter including a mask formed on a surface of said beam splitter and defining a shape of said reticle.   
   
   
       14 . The optical sight of  claim 13 , wherein said beam splitter includes a pair of right-angled prisms. 
   
   
       15 . The optical sight of  claim 14 , wherein said mask is applied to at surface of one of said right-angled prisms at a joint between said pair of right-angled prisms. 
   
   
       16 . The optical sight of  claim 14 , wherein said mask is applied to a surface of at least one of said right-angled prisms, said surface being spaced apart from a joint between said pair of right-angled prisms. 
   
   
       17 . The optical sight of  claim 14 , wherein said mask is applied to a first surface of one of said pair of right-angled prisms and is applied to a second surface of the other of said pair of right-angled prisms. 
   
   
       18 . The optical sight of  claim 17 , wherein said first surface is positioned approximately ninety (90) degrees from said second surface. 
   
   
       19 . The optical sight of  claim 13 , wherein said first light source includes at least one of an LED, an optical fiber, and a tritium lamp and said second light source includes at least one of an LED, an optical fiber, and a tritium lamp. 
   
   
       20 . The optical sight of  claim 19 , wherein said beam splitter joins approximately thirty (30) percent of light from one of said LED and said optical fiber and approximately seventy (70) percent of light from the other of said LED and said optical fiber to generate said reticle on said optical element. 
   
   
       21 . An optical sight comprising:
 a housing;   an optical element supported by said housing;   a reticle; and   an illumination system including a light source for selectively displaying said reticle on said optical element and a photo detector operable to detect ambient light conditions, said photo detector exposed to ambient light conditions via said optical element.   
   
   
       22 . The optical sight of  claim 21 , wherein said photo detector is disposed adjacent to said optical element. 
   
   
       23 . The optical sight of  claim 21 , wherein said photo detector is disposed between said housing and said optical element. 
   
   
       24 . The optical sight of  claim 21 , wherein said light source is an LED. 
   
   
       25 . The optical sight of  claim 21 , wherein said illumination system includes a controller operable to adjust an intensity of said light source in response to information received from said photo detector.