Apparatus and method for self-adjusting, range finding aim point for rifle mounting optics

Abstract

A self-adjusting range finding optic system for finding aim for a rifle by acquiring the range to a target, calculating the estimated bullet drop based on the range to the target, adjusting the reticle to compensate for the estimated bullet drop and displaying the adjusted reticle on the optic to allow for an accurate shot.

Wherefore, I/we claim: 
     
         1 . A method of finding aim for a firearm comprising steps of:
 acquiring a range to a target;   calculating an estimated bullet drop of a bullet based on the acquired range to the target;   adjusting a reticle to compensate for the estimated bullet drop; and   displaying the adjusted reticle on an optic which indicates an estimated actual point of impact of the bullet on the target to facilitate an accurate shot with the firearm.   
     
     
         2 . The method for finding aim for a firearm according to  claim 1  further comprising actuating a range finder to acquire the range to the target. 
     
     
         3 . The method for finding aim for a firearm according to  claim 2 , further comprising aligning the target with a fixed reticle in an optical scope, and actuating the range finder with a pressure switch to acquire the range to the target. 
     
     
         4 . The method for finding aim for a firearm according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 transmitting the acquired range to the target to a processor;   determining, with the processor, the estimated bullet drop based on the acquired range to the target;   controlling, with the processor, a position of the adjusted reticle displayed on the optic such that the adjusted reticle estimates the actual point of impact of the bullet on the target based upon at least the range to the target and the calculated the estimated bullet drop.   
     
     
         5 . The method for finding aim for a firearm according to  claim 1 , further comprising steps of:
 acquiring at least one of a ballistic variable, an environmental variable and a geographical variable with at least one of a user input device, an environmental condition detection instrument and a geographical condition detection instrument;   transmitting the acquired range to the target and the at least one of the ballistic variable, the environmental variable and the geographical variable to a processor;   calculating, with the processor, the estimated bullet drop based on the acquired range to the target and the at least one of the ballistic variable, the environmental variable and the geographical variable; and   controlling, with the processor, a position of the adjusted reticle displayed on the optic such that the adjusted reticle estimates the actual point of impact of the bullet on the target based upon at least two or more of the range to the target, the calculated the estimated bullet drop, the at least one ballistic variable, the environmental variable and the geographical variable.   
     
     
         6 . The method for finding aim for a firearm according to  claim 1  further comprising steps of:
 initially aligning a fixed reticle in an optical scope of the firearm with a desired point of impact of a bullet on the target; 
 adjusting an adjustable reticle to compensate for the estimated bullet drop based on the acquired range to the target; 
 displaying the adjusted reticle on the optic at a fixed position; and 
 realigning the firearm such that the adjusted reticle is aligned with the desired point of impact of the bullet on the target. 
 
     
     
         7 . A self-adjusting optic system for mounting on a firearm, the optic system comprising:
 a range finder for acquiring a range to a target;   a processor which calculates an estimated bullet drop of a bullet based on the acquired range to the target;   a reticle which is adjustable to compensate for the estimated bullet drop based on the acquired range to the target;   an optic having a display device on which the adjustable reticle is displayed to facilitate to facilitate an accurate shot with the firearm.   
     
     
         8 . The optic system according to  claim 7 , wherein the optic is an optical scope that comprises a fixed reticle, and a pressure switch which communicates with the range finder, such that when biased, the pressure switch activates the range finder to acquire the range to the target. 
     
     
         9 . The optic system according to  claim 7 , wherein the range finder transmits the acquired range to the target to a processor, the estimated bullet drop that depends on the acquired range to the target is determined by the processor, an adjustable reticle is displayed on the display device of the optic, and a position of the adjustable reticle on the display device of the optic is controlled by the processor and is equal to an actual point of impact of a-bullet on the target. 
     
     
         10 . The optic system according to  claim 9 , wherein the optic is an optical scope having a fixed reticle that fixed in position therein, when the firearm is aimed in a first position at the target, the fixed reticle is aligned with a desired point of impact of a bullet on the target, the processor controls the position at which the adjustable reticle is displayed, via the display device, in the optical scope such that, when the firearm is aimed in the first position, the adjustable reticle is aligned with an actual point of impact of the bullet on the target, and a difference of the positions of the fixed reticle and the adjustable reticle in the optical scope depends on the estimated bullet drop. 
     
     
         11 . The optic system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 at least one of a user input device, an environmental condition detection device and a geographical condition detection device communicates with the processor, the user input device transmits ballistic variables to the processor, the environmental condition detection device transmits environmental condition variables to the processor, and the geographical condition detection device transmits geographical condition variables to the processor;   the position of the adjustable reticle on the display device of the optical scope is controlled by the processor as a function the acquired range to the target and at least one of
 at least one of the ballistic variables, 
 at least one of the environmental condition variables, and 
 at least one of the geographical condition variables. 
   
     
     
         12 . A method for finding aim for a firearm comprising:
 initially aiming the firearm to align a fixed reticle of an optical scope of the firearm with a desired point of impact of a bullet on the target;   actuating a range finder with a pressure switch, arranged adjacent a trigger guard of the firearm, to acquire a range to the target;   transmitting the acquired range to the target to a processor;   calculating, with the processor, a bullet drop based on the acquired range to the target;   determining, with the processor, a position on a display device at which an adjusted reticle is to be displayed in the optical scope based on the calculated bullet drop;   displaying the adjusted reticle on the display device in the optical scope in the determined position, the adjusted reticle defining an actual point of impact of the bullet on the target; and   realigning the firearm such that the adjusted reticle is aligned with the desired point of impact of the bullet on the target.