Passive wind reading scope

Abstract

A scope for use on a long-range firearm comprises a pulse train of light that moves across the field of view of the scope. A shooter may synchronize the pulse train of light to the speed with which a mirage image moves across the field of view to estimate a wind speed at a target location.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A passive wind reading scope, comprising: 
 a scope comprising a field of view in which to view a target;    indicia translating across said field of view; and    a display associated with said scope providing information derived in part from a time taken by said indicia to translate across said field of view, said information for use by shooter to compensate for wind crossing said field of view.    
     
     
         2 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 1  further comprising a controller associated with said display.  
     
     
         3 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 1  further comprising a user input device adapted to receive input to control a speed with which the indicia translates across said field of view.  
     
     
         4 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 1  wherein said scope is adapted to be mounted on a rifle.  
     
     
         5 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 4  wherein said display is spaced from the rifle.  
     
     
         6 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 4  wherein said display is visible within said field of view.  
     
     
         7 . A passive wind reading scope comprising: 
 a controller;    a scope comprising a field of view, said field of view displaying indicia that translates thereacross and controlled by said controller;    a display communicatively connected to said controller and providing information related to a wind speed between the scope and a target; and    a user input device communicatively connected to said controller, said user input device instructing said controller to control translation of said indicia;    wherein a mirage may be viewed through said scope and a shooter may use said user input device to match a speed with which said indicia moves across said field of view with a speed with which said mirage moves across said field of view, thereby generating with the controller an estimate of wind speed that said controller uses when generating said information.    
     
     
         8 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 7  wherein said indicia comprises a pulse train of lights emitted by a plurality of LEDs.  
     
     
         9 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 7  wherein said controller is adapted for positioning in a stock of a rifle.  
     
     
         10 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 7  wherein said controller and said display are housed within a box spaced from said scope.  
     
     
         11 . A rifle comprising: 
 a stock;    a pinion assembly; and    a passive wind reading scope comprising: 
 a scope mounted on said pinion assembly, said scope comprising a field of view with a plurality of LEDs positioned within said field of view, said LEDs sequentially emitting light to form a pulse train of light that translates across said field of view, said scope comprising an output display within said field of view for outputting information related to a wind speed and wind direction;  
 a controller positioned in said scope and communicatively connected to said plurality of LEDs and said output display;  
 a user input device communicatively connected to said controller for controlling a speed with which said pulse train translates across said field of view through said controller;  
 wherein a mirage may be viewed through said scope and a shooter may use said user input device to match the speed with which said pulse train moves across said field of view with a speed with which said mirage moves across said field of view, thereby generating an estimate of wind speed for use by said controller in generating said information.  
   
     
     
         12 . The rifle of  claim 11  wherein said user input device comprises a pair of buttons.  
     
     
         13 . The rifle of  claim 11  wherein said user input device if a rocker switch.  
     
     
         14 . The rifle of  claim 13  wherein said rocker switch is positioned on said stock.  
     
     
         15 . The rifle of  claim 13  wherein said rocker switch is positioned on said scope.  
     
     
         16 . A method of using a firearm, comprising: 
 associating a passive wind reading scope with a firearm;    viewing a target in a field of view in the scope;    matching a speed with which indicia crosses the field of view to a speed with which a heat induced mirage crosses the field of view; and    displaying information related to a wind speed based on time elapsed for said indicia to cross the field of view.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein displaying information comprises displaying an estimated wind speed in the field of view.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein matching a speed with which indicia crosses the field of view to a speed with which a mirage crosses the field of view comprises accepting user input to slow down, speed up, or reverse the direction of the indicia.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising sensing for environmental factors.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising displaying information related to said environmental factors so that a shooter may compensate for said environmental factors.  
     
     
         21 . A passive wind reading scope, comprising: 
 a scope adapted for attachment to a rifle, said scope comprising a field of view in which to view a target;    indicia translating across said field of view; and    a display associated with said scope providing information derived in part from a time taken by said indicia to translate across said field of view, said information for use by shooter to compensate for wind crossing said field of view.    
     
     
         22 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 21  wherein said indicia comprises a plurality of LEDs.  
     
     
         23 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 21  wherein said indicia comprises a plurality of laser emitters.  
     
     
         24 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 21  wherein said indicia comprises a belt driven by a pair of rollers.  
     
     
         25 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 24  wherein said belt comprises a rubber belt.  
     
     
         26 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 24  wherein said belt comprises a plurality of links.  
     
     
         27 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 21  wherein said indicia comprises a rotating assembly with an emitter positioned thereon.  
     
     
         28 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 21  wherein said indicia comprises an animated object translating across a viewing screen.  
     
     
         29 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 21  wherein said indicia comprises a bead positioned on a wire, said wire rotating about a driver.  
     
     
         30 . The passive wind reading scope of  claim 21  wherein said indicia comprise a plurality of metal rods adapted to lift sequentially.  
     
     
         31 . A passive wind reading scope, comprising: 
 a scope adapted for attachment to a rifle, said scope comprising a field of view in which to view a target; and    a clinometer integrated into said scope for determining a slope of a rifle on which the scope may be positioned.