Viewing optic with direct active reticle targeting

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a viewing optic. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic having an integrated display system. In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a viewing optic having an integrated display system for generating images that are projected into the first focal plane of an optical system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A viewing optic comprising: an objective lens system and an eyepiece having an ocular lens system; an erector tube with an erector lens assembly located between the objective lens system and the ocular lens system; a beam combiner located between the objective lens system and the erector lens assembly; an active display for generating an image; a reflective material for directing the generated image to the beam combiner for simultaneous overlaid viewing of the generated image and image of the outward scene in a first focal plane of the optical system, a sensor for detecting the presence of a user, wherein the sensor is located below the eyepiece, and a processor in communication with the sensor and capable of controlling a power state of the viewing optic. 
     
     
         2 . The viewing optic of  claim 1 , wherein the beam combiner is located approximately beneath an elevation knob of the viewing optic. 
     
     
         3 . The viewing optic of  claim 1 , wherein the reflective material is a mirror that is angled. 
     
     
         4 . The viewing optic of  claim 3 , wherein the mirror is angled from about 40° to about 50° relative to the emitted light of the display. 
     
     
         5 . The viewing optic of  claim 4 , wherein the mirror is angled at about 45° relative to the emitted light of the display. 
     
     
         6 . The viewing optic of  claim 1 , further comprising a collector lens system to collect light from the active display and having an inner lens cell and an outer lens cell. 
     
     
         7 . The viewing optic of  claim 1 , further comprising a collector lens system to collect light from the active display, wherein the collector lens system is a five lens system. 
     
     
         8 . The viewing optic of  claim 1 , further comprising a collector lens system to collect light from the active display, wherein the collector lens system has a first lens within 2 mm of the active display. 
     
     
         9 . The viewing optic of  claim 1 , wherein the active display is selected from the group consisting of: a transmissive active matrix LCD display (AMLCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) display, a e-ink display, a plasma display, a segment display, an electroluminescent display, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display, and a quantum dot display. 
     
     
         10 . A viewing optic comprising: an objective lens system and an eyepiece having an ocular lens system; an erector tube with an erector lens assembly located between the objective lens system and the ocular lens system; a beam combiner between the objective lens system and the erector lens assembly; a first reticle at a first focal plane between the beam combiner and the erector lens assembly; an active display that generates an image and a collector lens system that collects the light from the active display; a reflective material that directs the generated image to the beam combiner where the generated image and the target image from the objective lens system are combined into the first focal plane for simultaneous overlaid viewing of the generated image and image of the outward scene; a sensor for detecting the presence of a user, wherein the sensor is located below the eyepiece and a processor in communication with the sensor and capable of controlling a power state of the viewing optic. 
     
     
         11 . The viewing optic of  claim 10 , wherein the collector lens system is a five lens system. 
     
     
         12 . The viewing optic of  claim 10 , wherein the collector lens system has a first lens within 2 mm of the active display. 
     
     
         13 . The viewing optic of  claim 10 , wherein the active display is selected from the group consisting of: a transmissive active matrix LCD display (AMLCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, a Light-Emitting Diode (LED) display, a e-ink display, a plasma display, a segment display, an electroluminescent display, a surface-conduction electron-emitter display, and a quantum dot display. 
     
     
         14 . The viewing optic of  claim 10 , wherein the image generated by the active display is selected from the group consisting of: text, alpha-numeric, graphics, symbols, video imagery, icons, active target reticles, range measurements, wind information, GPS and compass information, firearm inclination information, target finding, recognition and identification (ID) information, external sensor information, temperature, pressure, humidity, real time ballistic solutions, and next round ballistic correction through in-flight tracer round detection and tracking. 
     
     
         15 . The viewing optic of  claim 10 , wherein the beam combiner is located from 5 to 25 mm from the objective assembly. 
     
     
         16 . An viewing optic comprising: an objective lens system and an eyepiece having an ocular lens system; an erector tube with an erector lens assembly located between the objective lens system and the ocular lens system; an active display for generating an image, wherein the generated image is combined into an image of the outward scene in a first focal plane between the objective lens system and the erector lens assembly, a sensor for detecting the presence of a user, wherein the sensor is located below the eyepiece, and a processor in communication with the sensor and capable of controlling a power state of the viewing optic. 
     
     
         17 . The viewing optic of  claim 16 , wherein the image generated by the active display is selected from the group consisting of: active target reticles, firearm inclination information, target finding, recognition and identification (ID) information, real time ballistic solutions, and next round ballistic correction through in-flight tracer round detection and tracking. 
     
     
         18 . The viewing optic of  claim 16 , wherein the image generated by the active display is a real time ballistic solution. 
     
     
         19 . The viewing optic of  claim 16 , wherein the image generated by the active display is a ballistic correction through in-flight tracer round detection and tracking.