Method to determine hold over ballistic information

Abstract

A handheld rangefinder device operable to determine ballistic hold over information is disclosed. The rangefinder device generally includes a range sensor operable to determine a first range to a target, a tilt sensor operable to determine an angle to the target relative to the device, and a computing element, coupled with the range sensor and the tilt sensor, operable to determine a hold over value based on the first range and the determined angle. Such a configuration facilitates accurate firearm and bow use by providing ranges and hold over values without requiring time-consuming and manual user calculations.

1 . A method for determining hold over ballistic information, the method comprising the steps of:
 determining a first range to a target;   determining an angle to the target; and   determining a hold over value based on the first range and the determined angle by acquiring a projectile drop value and modifying the projectile drop value utilizing the determined angle.   
   
   
       2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the hold over value is determined by multiplying the acquired projectile drop value by the cosine of the acquired angle. 
   
   
       3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further including determining a second range to the target by multiplying the first range by the cosine of the acquired angle. 
   
   
       4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , further including acquiring configuration information and determining the hold over value based upon the first range, the determined angle, and the configuration information. 
   
   
       5 . The method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the configuration information includes one of a plurality of ballistic curves. 
   
   
       6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein each ballistic curve corresponds to a ballistic curves of a projectile. 
   
   
       7 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein each ballistic curve corresponds to a ballistic curves of a firearm. 
   
   
       8 . The method as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the configuration information includes a sight-in range. 
   
   
       9 . A method for determining hold over ballistic information, the method comprising the steps of:
 acquiring configuration information;   determining a first range to a target;   determining an angle to the target; and   determining a hold overvalue based on the first range, the determined angle and configuration information by acquiring a first drop value and modifying the first drop value utilizing the determined angle and a second drop value   wherein the configuration information corresponds to one of a plurality of ballistic curves and a sight-in range.   
   
   
       10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the hold over value is determined by multiplying the acquired projectile drop value by the cosine of the acquired angle. 
   
   
       11 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , further including determining a second range to the target by multiplying the first range by the cosine of the acquired angle. 
   
   
       13 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein each ballistic curve corresponds to a ballistic curves of a projectile. 
   
   
       14 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein each ballistic curve corresponds to a ballistic curves of a firearm. 
   
   
       15 . The method as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the second drop value corresponds to the drop value of the ballistic curve at the sight-in range.