Weapon sight assembly and weapon system including same

Abstract

A weapon sight assembly, comprising: a platform for mounting the weapon sight assembly on a weapon; a weapon sight carried by said platform to facilitate orienting the weapon in alignment with a target in a field of view; a video camera carried by the platform for generating and outputting video signals corresponding to the viewed field; a video transmitter for transmitting the video signals; and a controller for controlling the video camera and the video transmitter.

1 . A weapon sight assembly, comprising:
 a platform for mounting the weapon sight assembly on a weapon;   a weapon sight carried by said platform to facilitate orienting the weapon in alignment with a target in a field of view;   a video camera carried by said platform for generating and outputting video signals corresponding to the viewed field;   a video transmitter for transmitting said video signals;   and a controller for controlling said video camera and said video transmitter.   
   
   
       2 . The weapon sight assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said video transmitter is a short-range space transmitter having a range in the order of two meters or less. 
   
   
       3 . The weapon sight assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said assembly further comprises:
 a digital compass for determining the direction of orientation of the weapon and for outputting data signals corresponding thereto;   and a short-range data transmitter for transmitting said data signals a short distance of the order one meter or less.   
   
   
       4 . The weapon sight assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein said assembly further comprises:
 a data receiver for receiving data signals transmitted through space;   and a projector for optically projecting onto the field of view data from said digital compass and/or data received by said receiver.   
   
   
       5 . The weapon sight assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said assembly further comprises:
 a global positioning system (GPS) unit for geographically locating the weapon on which the weapon sight assembly is carried, and for outputting data signals corresponding thereto for transmission by said data transmitter.   
   
   
       6 . The weapon sight assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said platform is constructed for mounting on a rifle barrel. 
   
   
       7 . A weapon system, comprising:
 a weapon sight assembly according to  claim 2  for mounting on a weapon;   and portable communication apparatus constructed for carrying by an individual operating the weapon and for communicating with with said weapon sight assembly.   
   
   
       8 . The weapon system according to  claim 7 , wherein said portable communication apparatus comprises:
 a short-range video receiver for receiving the video signals transmitted by the video transmitter of said weapon sight assembly;   and a monitor for displaying the region viewed by said video camera as preseuted by the video signals transmitted by said video transmitter.   
   
   
       9 . The weapon system according to  claim 8 , wherein said portable communication apparatus comprises;
 a first unit including said short-range video receiver,   and a second unit including said monitor.   
   
   
       10 . The weapon system according to  claim 9 , wherein said second unit of the portable communication apparatus is cable-connected to said first unit of the portable communication apparatus. 
   
   
       11 . The weapon system according to  claim 9 , wherein said first unit of the portable communication apparatus is constructed so as to be attachable to the body of the individual operating the weapon for convenient carrying by said individual;
 and said second unit of the portable communication apparatus is constructed so as to be attachable to the arm or other part of the body, or to be carried by the hand, of the individual operating the weapon for convenient viewing by said individual.   
   
   
       12 . The weapon system according to  claim 8 , wherein said portable communication apparatus further comprises a long-range video transmitter for transmitting the received video signals to a more distant location with respect to that of the weapon. 
   
   
       13 . The weapon system according to  claim 12 , wherein said portable communication apparatus further comprises:
 a short-range data receiver for receiving data from said weapon sight assembly;   and a long-range data transmitter for transmitting the received data to said distant location.