Boresight device and method

Abstract

A modular system facilitates alignment of a simulation laser with the sights of a weapon. The modular assembly can be attached to the barrel of a weapon. A user can first align a target relative to the sights of the weapon. The laser can then be aligned with the target.

1 . A modular apparatus comprising: 
 a clamp for releasable attachment to a weapon;    a housing carried by the clamp;    a platform movable in two directions carried by the housing;    a visual indicium carried by the platform; and    manually operable control circuits for moving the indicium to a selected location.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  which includes a lens having a predetermined focal length with the indicium displaced from the lens by the focal length.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  which includes a lens having a predetermined focal length and a first mirror.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus as in  claim 3  which includes at least a second mirror, the lens, and the two mirrors form an optical path between a first surface of the housing and the visual indicium.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus as in  claim 4  where a distance parameter between the first housing surface and the visual indicium is less than the focal length of the lens.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus as in  claim 1  which includes at least one lens, the lens having a predetermined focal length and an optical beam folder.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus as in  claim 6  where the housing has a first surface and where a distance parameter between the first housing surface and the visual indicium is less than the focal length of the lens.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  where the visual indicium receives incident monochromatic light.  
   
   
       9 . An apparatus as in  claim 8  where the incident monochromatic light has a wavelength that falls in a human visible range of wavelengths.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  which includes a sensor of monochromatic light incident, at least in part on the visual indicium.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus as in  claim 10  where the sensor responds to incident monochromatic light having a wavelength that falls outside of a human visible range of wavelengths.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus as in  claim 11  where at least one output from the sensor is coupled to a device that displays incident monochromatic light with a wavelength that falls in a human visible range of wavelengths.  
   
   
       13 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  which includes first and second switches for coupling electrical energy to the platform for movement in each of the two directions.  
   
   
       14 . An apparatus as in  claim 2  which includes a beam splitter and a two dimensional radiant energy sensor.  
   
   
       15 . An apparatus as in  claim 14  which includes a human perceptible display for viewing a representation of outputs from the radiant energy sensor.  
   
   
       16 . A method comprising: 
 moving a visual indicium into a predetermined location in a human perceptible fluid of view;    establishing a beam of monochromatic light;    directing the beam toward the field of view so as to be incident thereon at a first location; and    moving the beam so that the first location corresponds to the predetermined location.    
   
   
       17 . A method as in  claim 16  which includes fixing the beam so that first location continues to correspond to the predetermined location.  
   
   
       18 . A method as in  claim 16  which includes sighting along first and second references to establish a line of sight to the predetermined location.  
   
   
       19 . A method as in  claim 18  where directing includes directing the beam substantially in parallel with the line of sight.  
   
   
       20 . A method as in  claim 16  which includes a line of sight along first and second establishing spaced apart sights of a weapon to the predetermined location.  
   
   
       21 . A method as in  claim 20  which includes coupling a source for the beam of mono-chromatic light to the weapon.  
   
   
       22 . A method as in  claim 21  which includes coupling a modular lens-mirror assembly to the weapon where the line of sight to the predetermined location extends, in part through the assembly.  
   
   
       23 . A method as in  claim 22  which includes folding the line of sight in the assembly.  
   
   
       24 . A method as in  claim 23  which includes carrying a sensor of the mono-chromatic light on the assembly.  
   
   
       25 . A method as in  claim 24  which includes presenting incident sensed mono-chromatic light in a human perceptible form.  
   
   
       26 . A method as in  claim 25  where moving includes moving the human perceptible form.  
   
   
       27 . A method as in  claim 26  where moving the human perceptible form includes altering a direction of transmission of the beam.  
   
   
       28 . A modular boresighting apparatus comprising: 
 a housing;    a clamp attachable to a weapon, the clamp carried by the housing;    a lens having a predetermined focal length carried by the housing;    at least one beam reflector carried by the housing;    a member movable first and second perpendicular directions, the member carried by the housing.    
   
   
       29 . An apparatus as in  claim 28  which includes a two-dimensional sensor of incident radiant energy, the sensor carried by the housing.  
   
   
       30 . An apparatus as in  claim 29  which includes control circuits coupled to the member.  
   
   
       31 . An apparatus as in  claim 30  where the control circuits include a manually manipulatable control device for positioning the member.  
   
   
       32 . An apparatus as in  claim 31  where the control device is selected from a class which includes at least a switch, a joy stick, a mouse, and a track ball.  
   
   
       33 . An apparatus as in  claim 31  where the control circuits include a display, the display visually presents radiant energy incident on the sensor.  
   
   
       34 . A method comprising: 
 moving a visual indicium into a predetermined location in a human perceptible field of view;    transmitting at least a beam of human perceptible monochromatic light toward the predetermined location;    adjusting the beam of human perceptible light so that it is incident on the predetermined location.    
   
   
       35 . A method as in  claim 34  which includes terminating transmission of the human perceptible beam of light, and, 
 transmitting, at least intermittently a monochromatic beam of light that is not visible to human eyes.