Peripheral module validation for modular digital optical gunsight systems

Abstract

A modular digital optical gunsight (MDOG) peripheral module validation device includes an MDOG data connector configured to connect to an MDOG peripheral module and to receive and/or transmit MDOG data in a first format to or from the MDOG peripheral module, a translation module configured to translate the MDOG data in the first format to a second format that is compatible with a personal computer (PC), and a PC data connector configured to connect the validation device to a PC and to receive and/or transmit the MDOG data in the second format to the PC. The translation module can be configured to translate data in the second format to the first format.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A modular digital optical gunsight (MDOG) peripheral module validation device, comprising:
 an MDOG data connector configured to be removably connected to an MDOG peripheral module and to receive and/or transmit MDOG data in a first format to and/or from the MDOG peripheral module, the MDOG connector being separate from the peripheral module, the MDOG data connector configured to receive electrical and optical signals from the peripheral module for validation thereof; and   a translation module configured to translate the MDOG data in the first format to a second format that is compatible with a computing device.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a power supply for powering the MDOG peripheral module in test. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein power from the power supply is provided through the MDOG data connector. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first format includes serialized digital data, wherein the device further includes a deserializer configured to deserialize the data of the first format from the MDOG. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , further comprising a serializer for transmitting data from the device to at least one of the MDOG and the computing device in serial communication. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the first format includes RS232 or USB. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the computing device connector can include a USB port or HDMI port or Cameralink port. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the peripheral module is an optical gunsight. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the translation module includes a field programmable gate array (FPGA). 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the translation module is configured to translate data in the second format to the first format. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 2 , further comprising a computing device data connector configured to connect the validation device to a computing device and to receive and/or transmit the MDOG data in the second format to the computing device. 
     
     
         13 . A method for validating a modular digital optical gunsight (MDOG) peripheral module, comprising:
 receiving MDOG data at an MDOG peripheral module validation device from an MDOG peripheral module of an MDOG optical rail in a first format via an MDOG data connector, the MDOG data transmitted by optical and electrical signals, and the MDOG connector being physically separate from the peripheral module;   translating, via a translation module, the MDOG data in the first format to a second format that is compatible with a computing device; and   processing the MDOG data and validating the MDOG peripheral module.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing power to the MDOG peripheral module from a power supply. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising deserializing the MDOG data before translating the MDOG data from the first format to the second format. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising reserializing the data in the second format to before transmitting the data to the computing device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein translating the data from the first format to the second format includes translating from RS232 to Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein translating the data from the first format to the second format includes translating from serialized streaming video data to HDMI video format. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein translating the data from the first format to the second format includes translating from serialized streaming video data to cameralink video format. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein translating the data from the first format to the second format includes translating from serialized streaming video data to USB3 video format. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising transmitting data in the second format to the computing device from the MDOG peripheral module validation device via a data connector that connects the MDOG peripheral validation device to the computing device.