Adjustable-power data rail on a digital weapon sight

Abstract

A digital sight for a weapon, is provided that includes an adjustable power supply (APS) configured to supply power, a sight body, a sight interface, and a controller. The sight interface is fixed to the sight body, includes a sight power conductor connected to the APS for receiving power supplied by the APS, and is configured for mechanically coupling with a cooperating peripheral interface of a peripheral for fixing the peripheral to the digital sight and to be coupled with a peripheral power conductor of the peripheral interface for providing power from the adjustable power supply to the peripheral. The controller is programmed to receive a data communication having an optimal power indication from the peripheral and based on the optimal power indication, control the APS to adjust the power supplied by the APS to the sight power conductor. The disclosure further encompasses a weapon assembly, a peripheral, and a method.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of adjusting power supplied to a peripheral that is configured to be mounted to a digital weapon sight, the method comprising:
 mechanically fixing the peripheral to the digital weapon sight;   adjustably supplying power;   controlling the adjustment for supplying power to supply power having a first power level to the peripheral;   receiving an optimal power indication from the peripheral; and   based on the optimal power indication, controlling the adjustment for supplying power to supply power having a second power level to the peripheral.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first power level is different than the second power level. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising detecting that the peripheral has been mounted to the digital weapon sight, wherein controlling the adjustment for supplying power to supply power having the first power level to the peripheral is performed in response to detecting that the peripheral has been mounted to the digital weapon sight. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein mechanically fixing the peripheral to the digital weapon sight includes removably mechanically fixing the peripheral to the digital weapon sight. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising sensing at least one of images and pulses and processing the sensed at least one of images and pulses. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein controlling the adjustment for supplying power includes controlling a regulation controller. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein controlling the adjustment for supplying power includes controlling selection of circuitry of a resistor divider. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 determining when a short circuit condition exists in the peripheral; and   controlling the adjustment for supplying power in response to a determination that a short circuit condition exists.   
     
     
         10 . A peripheral for mounting on a digital sight of a weapon, the peripheral comprising:
 a peripheral body;   circuitry;   a peripheral interface configured for providing a data connection with the digital sight and for mechanically coupling with a cooperating sight interface, the peripheral interface being fixed to the peripheral body and having a peripheral power conductor configured to be coupled with a sight power conductor of the sight interface for receiving adjustably supplied power from the digital sight; and   a controller disposed in communication with a non-volatile memory, wherein the controller, upon execution of instructions is configured to:
 access an optimal power supply level for operation of the circuitry; and 
 send an indication of the optimal power level via data connection to the digital sight. 
   
     
     
         11 . The peripheral of  claim 10 , wherein accessing the optimal power supply level is performed in response to first receiving power via the adjustably supplied power. 
     
     
         12 . The peripheral of  claim 10 , wherein the circuitry includes an over-voltage protection circuit that detects an over-voltage condition and alerts the controller upon detection of an over-voltage condition, wherein the controller, upon execution of the instructions, is further configured to indicate the over-voltage condition in the indication of the optimal power level.