Laser rangefinder sighting apparatus and method

Abstract

A sighting assembly comprising a housing having a first portion and a second portion has mounted within the first portion thereof a laser rangefinder comprising a laser transceiver for transmitting a laser beam toward a target and for receiving a reflected laser beam from the target. The laser rangefinder is coupled to a display for indicating the distance to the target. Mounted within the second portion of the housing is a sight for viewing the target. The sighting assembly further includes at least one attachment on the housing for securing the assembly to a weapon.

1 . A sighting assembly comprising:
 a housing having a first portion and a second portion;   a laser rangefinder mounted within the first portion of the housing, the laser rangefinder comprising a laser transceiver for transmitting a laser beam toward a target and for receiving a reflected laser beam from said target, the laser rangefinder being coupled to a display for indicating the distance to the target;   a sight mounted in the second portion of the housing for viewing the target; and   at least one attachment on said housing for securing the assembly to a weapon.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which:
 the sight comprises a scope.   
   
   
       3 . The assembly of  claim 2  in which:
 the scope includes a reticle.   
   
   
       4 . The assembly of  claim 3  in which:
 the reticle comprises elevation graduations.   
   
   
       5 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which:
 the laser transceiver transmits and receives substantially along a first optical axis and the sight views the target along a second optical axis.   
   
   
       6 . The assembly of  claim 5  in which:
 the first and second optical axes are fixed relative to each other.   
   
   
       7 . The assembly of  claim 5  in which:
 the first and second optical axes are separate, parallel axes.   
   
   
       8 . The assembly of  claim 5  in which:
 the first and second optical axes are substantially coaxial.   
   
   
       9 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which:
 the sight comprises a scope enclosing a reflecting surface positioned to intercept the first and second optical axes, the reflecting surface being adapted to (1) redirect the laser beam transmitted by the laser transceiver to travel along the first optical axis; and (2) redirect the laser beam reflected from the target to travel toward the transceiver.   
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9  in which:
 the reflecting surface comprises a mirror fixed relative to the housing.   
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 9  in which:
 the mirror is smaller than the total optical diameter of the scope.   
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which:
 the sight comprises a scope enclosing a beam splitter positioned to intercept the first and second optical axes, the beam splitter being adapted to (1) redirect the laser beam transmitted by the laser transceiver to travel along the first optical axis; (2) redirect the laser beam reflected from the target to travel toward the transceiver; and (3) transmit a view of the target along the second optical axis to an eyepiece of the scope.   
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which:
 the display is mounted on the upper portion of the housing.   
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 1  in which:
 the display is mounted within an eyepiece of the scope.   
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a processor responsive to an output of the laser rangefinder for providing to said display information representative of the distance to the target.   
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a processor connected to an output of the laser rangefinder for providing a control signal responsive to said output, said control signal being coupled to adjust an optical sighting element carried by the scope to automatically correct for projectile deflections.   
   
   
       17 . A weapon system, comprising:
 a weapon;   a scope attached to said weapon for viewing a target;   a trajectory compensating system which provides a distance which indicates the projectile drop of a projectile fired by said weapon; and   an adjustment system coupled to said scope for adjusting the alignment of said scope relative to said weapon in response to said distance signals.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 17 , in which:
 said adjustment system adjusts the elevation angle of said scope in response to said distance signal.   
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 17 , further including:
 a display for displaying the distance between said weapon and said target in response to said distance signal.   
   
   
       20 . A method of sighting a target comprising:
 providing a weapon comprising a projectile bore having an axis, the weapon having mounted thereon (1) a sighting assembly comprising a laser rangefinder coupled to a range display and having an optical axis, and (2) a scope having a graduated reticle and an optical axis, said optical axes and said bore axis being parallel;   sighting through said scope to acquire an image of said target;   reading the display to determine the range to said target; and   adjusting the orientation of the weapon to compensate for projectile deflection based on the range.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  in which:
 the projectile deflection comprises projectile drop and the adjusting of the weapon orientation comprises adjusting the elevation of the weapon.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  further comprising:
 prior to adjusting the orientation of the weapon, adjusting an optical element of the scope in response to the determination of range.   
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein:
 the adjusting of the optical element is performed automatically.