Target-Correlated Electronic Rangefinder

Abstract

A viewing device includes a laser rangefinder circuit configured to capture range data associated with a target within a view area and at least one sensor configured to capture orientation data associated with an aim-point of the laser rangefinder circuit concurrently with capturing the range data. The viewing device further includes a controller coupled to the laser rangefinder and to the at least one sensor and configured to automatically determine a range to the target from the range data based on the orientation data and a target location within the view area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 an optical device including:
 a laser rangefinder circuit configured to capture range data associated with a view area; 
 at least one sensor configured to capture orientation data associated with an aim-point of the laser rangefinder circuit concurrently with capturing the range data; and 
 a controller configured to correlate the range data to the orientation data, the controller configured to receive an input to select a target within the view area and to automatically determine a range to the target from the correlated range data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller receives a target selection signal after the laser range finder circuit captures the range data. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller includes a target acquisition module configured to automatically select the target location from a plurality of objects within the view area. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the target acquisition module automatically calculates a target location based on an average aim-point of the optical device. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller receives the input from a user input interface coupled to the optical device. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a firearm coupled to the optical device and including a user input interface; and   wherein the controller receives the input from the user input interface of the firearm.   
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the controller automatically determines a range to the target by selecting the range data correlated to a location of the target within the view area based on the plurality of range data. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the laser rangefinder circuit comprises:
 a light source configured to emit a laser beam toward the view area;   an optical sensor configured to receive a reflected light; and   circuitry coupled to the light source and the optical sensor and configured to determine a distance between the light source and an object based on timing between emitting the laser beam and receiving the reflected light to determine the range data.   
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a gyroscope, an inclinometer, an accelerometer, and an image sensor. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 a firearm; and   an optical device coupled to the firearm, the optical device comprising:
 a laser rangefinder circuit configured to capture range data associated with a view area; 
 at least one sensor configured to capture orientation data associated with an aim-point of the laser rangefinder circuit concurrently with capturing the range data; and 
 a controller configured to correlate the range data to the orientation data, the controller configured to receive an input to select a target within the view area and to automatically determine a range to the target from the correlated range data. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the controller determines the range data corresponding to the target in response to the input. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the controller receives the input from an input interface accessible by a user. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the optical device comprises the input interface. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the firearm comprises the input interface. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the controller includes a target acquisition module configured to automatically select the target from a plurality of objects within the view area and to provide the input in response to selecting the target. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the target acquisition module automatically calculates a target location based on an average aim-point of the optical device. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 capturing range data associated with a view area of a viewing device using a laser rangefinder circuit of the viewing device of a firearm;   concurrently capturing orientation data corresponding to an orientation of the viewing device for each range data of the plurality of range data using at least one sensor;   correlating, using a processor of the viewing device, the range data to the orientation data for each of the multiple range values to provide correlated data;   automatically correlating the range data to the orientation data using the processor of the viewing device;   receiving an input to select a target within the view area; and   in response to the input, automatically determining a range to the target based on the correlated range data using the processor.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein automatically determining the range comprises selecting the range data from the plurality of range data corresponding to the target based on the input. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising receiving the input from an input interface coupled to one of the viewing device and a firearm coupled to the viewing device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein receiving the input includes:
 automatically selecting the target from a plurality of objects within the view area using a target acquisition module; and   generating the input in response to automatically selecting the target.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein concurrently capturing the orientation data comprises receiving the orientation data from one or more sensors selected from a group consisting of an inclinometer, a gyroscopic sensor, an accelerometer, and an image sensor.