Feedback display for riflescope

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that provide a riflescope with an internal display. In some embodiments, the riflescope may include a housing; an ocular system disposed within the housing; a reticle disposed within the housing and viewable through the ocular system; an adjustment knob coupled with the housing and the reticle, the adjustment knob configured to move the reticle; a position encoder configured to provide position data representing a relative position of the reticle relative to at least a portion of the riflescope; a display system providing a display viewable through the ocular system; a memory having ballistic information stored therein; and a processor coupled with the memory, the position encoder, and the display system. The processor may be configured to determine an adjustment value based on the position data and the ballistic information and provide the adjustment value to the display system for display.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A riflescope comprising:
 a housing;   an ocular system disposed within the housing, the ocular system comprising one or more lenses;   a reticle disposed within the housing and viewable through the ocular system;   an adjustment knob coupled with the housing and the reticle, the adjustment knob configured to move the reticle;   a position encoder configured to provide position data representing a relative position of the reticle relative to at least a portion of the riflescope;   a display system providing a display viewable through the ocular system;   a memory having ballistic information stored therein; and   a processor coupled with the memory, the position encoder, and the display system, the processor configured to:
 determine an adjustment value based on the position data and the ballistic information; and 
 provide the adjustment value to the display system for display such that the adjustment value is viewable through the ocular system. 
   
     
     
         2 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the display system displays the adjustment value. 
     
     
         3 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the display system comprises a digital display and a mirror. 
     
     
         4 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the display system comprises a digital display and a beam splitter. 
     
     
         5 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the display system comprises an organic light emitting diode. 
     
     
         6 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface, and wherein the memory includes a plurality of ballistic information corresponding to a plurality of projectiles, wherein the user interface provides an interface for a user to select a projectile of the plurality of projectiles and the corresponding ballistic information is used to determine the adjustment value. 
     
     
         7 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the ballistic information comprises ballistic information for the riflescope and a projectile. 
     
     
         8 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the ballistic information comprises a lookup table of adjustment values corresponding to reticle position data. 
     
     
         9 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment value is determined by the processor in real time. 
     
     
         10 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , further comprising an atmospheric sensor that is configured to provide atmospheric data to the processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine the adjustment value based on the atmospheric data. 
     
     
         11 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor that is configured to provide an inclination angle, an azimuth angle, and/or a cant angle, wherein the processor is configured to determine the adjustment value based on the inclination angle, an azimuth angle, and/or a cant angle. 
     
     
         12 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment knob is either a windage adjustment knob or an elevation adjustment knob. 
     
     
         13 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the position encoder comprises a rotary encoder coupled with the adjustment knob, and wherein the position data comprises rotation data. 
     
     
         14 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the position encoder comprises a linear encoder coupled with the adjustment knob, and wherein the position data comprises linear data. 
     
     
         15 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the reticle is displayed at a first focal plane and the display system provides a display near a second focal plane of the rifle scope. 
     
     
         16 . The riflescope according to  claim 1 , wherein the reticle is displayed at a second focal plane and the display system provides a display near the second focal plane of the rifle scope. 
     
     
         17 . A method for providing display information within a riflescope, the method comprising:
 receiving projectile ballistic information;   receiving at a processor a reticle position data;   determining at the processor an adjustment value based on the reticle position data and the ballistic information; and   displaying the adjustment value through an eyepiece of the riflescope.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of a projectile from a plurality of projectiles; and   selecting the ballistic information from a plurality of ballistic information based on the selection of the projectile.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the ballistic information comprises ballistic information for the riflescope and a projectile. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the ballistic information comprises the lookup table of adjustment values corresponding to reticle position data. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the reticle position data comprises rotation data associated with a rotary encoder. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 receiving atmospheric data from an atmospheric sensor; and   adjusting the adjustment value based on the atmospheric data.   
     
     
         23 . A riflescope comprising:
 a housing;   an ocular system disposed within the housing, the ocular system comprising one or more lenses including an eyepiece;   a reticle disposed within the housing and viewable through the ocular system;   an elevation adjustment knob coupled with the housing and the reticle, the adjustment knob configured to move the reticle, the elevation adjustment knob comprising a position encoder that provides rotary data corresponding with a rotation or the elevation adjustment knob;   a display system providing a display viewable through the eyepiece;   a memory having a plurality of ballistic information corresponding to each of a plurality of projectiles;   a user interface; and   a processor coupled with the memory, the position encoder, and the display system, the processor configured to:
 receive an indication of a projectile of the plurality of projectiles; 
 select ballistic information based on the indication of the projectile; 
 determine an elevation adjustment value based on the rotary data and the ballistic information; and 
 provide the elevation adjustment value to the display system for display.