Process to Optically Align Optical Systems on a Weapon

Abstract

A process to optically align optical systems on a weapon is disclosed. Several different embodiments of the system and method are disclosed. The use of this process/system will ensure a well aligned weapon with mounted optical systems. It can find applications in aligning rifle scopes, aiming lasers, laser range finders, tactical engagement simulation lasers, e.g., MILES, etc.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mirror-based optical alignment system, comprising:
 A weapon mounted with at least one of a scope, a borelight and a laser range finder, each having a parallel optical path;   a mirror optically shaped to have a focal length, the mirror being adjustably disposed at an offset angle to reflect said parallel optical paths at a reflection angle and focus said reflected optical paths on a focal point of a focal plane sufficiently distanced from said parallel optical path; and   a target card placed proximately along said focal plane of the mirror such that said reflected parallel optical paths are focused to converge onto said focal point where the target card is placed.   
     
     
         2 . The mirror-based optical alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein said mirror is either spherical or parabolic. 
     
     
         3 . The mirror-based optical alignment system according to  claim 2 , wherein the mirror translates an image plane to the focal plane. 
     
     
         4 . The mirror-based optical alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein a borelight mark is placed above an optical systems mark on the target card based on an expectation of bullet drop for a given distance and the focal length of mirror. 
     
     
         5 . The mirror-based optical alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mirror is a curved spherical mirror, and the target card is placed on-axis of the curved spherical mirror at the focal plane. 
     
     
         6 . The mirror-based optical alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the mirror is sized large enough to encompass the mounted optical systems being aligned, and wherein the target card is placed slightly off-axis with respect to the optical axis of mirror to allow a visual sighting around the target card. 
     
     
         7 . An optical alignment station based on the mirror-based optical alignment system according to  claim 1 , wherein the weapon points through its front location towards its rear location where the mirror is adjustably disposed such that said reflected parallel optical paths are focused to converge onto said focal point. 
     
     
         8 . A process to optically align optical systems to a weapon based on the mirror-based optical alignment system according to  claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
 centering a pattern of mechanical offsets of all the optical systems to be aligned onto the mirror angled as best as possible away from the target card;   positioning the weapon borelight onto a borelight marking placed above other optic marking on said target card; and   adjusting at least one optical system mounted on the weapon to said other optic marking on the target card, wherein at least one of a reticle and a laser is placed on said other optic marking.   
     
     
         9 . A lens-based optical alignment system, comprising:
 a weapon mounted with at least one of a scope, a borelight and a laser range finder, each having a parallel optical path;   a refractive lens element, the refractive lens element being adjustably disposed to refract said parallel optical paths incident on one side of said refractive lens element and focus said optical paths on a focal point of a focal plane disposed on an opposite side of said refractive lens element; and   a target card placed proximately along said focal plane of the refractive lens element such that said refracted parallel optical paths are focused to converge onto said focal point where the target card is placed.   
     
     
         10 . The lens-based optical alignment system according to  claim 9 , wherein the refractive lens element translates an image plane to the focal plane. 
     
     
         11 . The lens-based optical alignment system according to  claim 9 , wherein a borelight mark is placed above an optical systems mark on the target card based on an expectation of bullet drop for a given distance and the focal length of the refractive lens element. 
     
     
         12 . The lens-based optical alignment system according to  claim 9 , wherein the target card is placed on-axis of the refractive lens element at the focal plane. 
     
     
         13 . The lens-based optical alignment system according to  claim 9 , wherein the refractive lens element is sized large enough to encompass the mounted optical systems being aligned, and wherein the target card is placed slightly off-axis with respect to the refractive lens element to allow a visual sighting around the target card. 
     
     
         14 . The lens-based optical alignment system according to  claim 13 , wherein the refractive lens element is achromatic to cover the wavelengths used on the weapon system. 
     
     
         15 . An optical alignment station based on the lens-based optical alignment system according to  claim 9 , wherein the weapon points toward its front location where the lens refractive lens element is adjustably disposed, and wherein said target card is placed proximately along said focal plane of the refractive lens element such that said refracted parallel optical paths are focused to converge onto said focal point. 
     
     
         16 . A process to optically align optical systems to a weapon based on the lens-based optical alignment system according to  claim 9 , comprising the steps of:
 centering a pattern of mechanical offsets of all the optical systems to be aligned onto the refractive lens element as best as possible;   positioning the weapon borelight onto a borelight marking placed above other optic marking on said target card; and   adjusting at least one optical system mounted on the weapon to said other optic marking on the target card, wherein at least one of a reticle and a laser is placed on said other optic marking.