Apparatus and methods for an illuminating gunsight

Abstract

Apparatus and methods provided for a gunsight and sighting system for use on firearms. The gunsight and sighting system comprises a mount portion coupled with a hood portion. A projection window with a collimated image overlay is secured to the mount portion by the hood portion. A front sight dot is disposed forward of the projection window, while two rear sight dots are disposed at a rear of the mount portion. The sight dots may be illuminated by any various desirable colors to enhance visibility in various lighting conditions. Light sensors are disposed at the front of the mount portion to detect ambient light and/or light in a target area and accordingly adjust illumination of the sight dots. The light sensors may be disposed in asymmetric locations of the mounting portion to overcome interference due to light arriving at angles other than in front of the gunsight and sighting system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gunsight and sighting system for mounting onto a firearm, comprising:
 a mount portion coupled with a hood portion;   a projection window with a collimated image overlay secured to the mount portion by the hood portion;   one or more front sight dots disposed forward of the projection window; and   two or more rear sight dots disposed at a rear of the mount portion.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount portion is configured to couple with any of handguns, rifles, shotguns, grenade launchers, BB guns, Airsoft guns, pellet guns, and directed laser weapons, and the like. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount portion is configured to be coupled toward a rear of the firearm, such as directly above a grip of the firearm to facilitate visibility by a shooter. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount portion is configured to be coupled with a Picatinny rail comprising a slide of a handgun. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the mount portion comprises a battery compartment configured to house a suitably sized battery for powering internal circuitry and components comprising the gunsight and sighting system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the one or more front sight dots is disposed above the battery compartment and in front of the projection window. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the two or more rear sight dots are disposed below the projection window such that a shooter can accurately aim the firearm by aligning the one or more front sight dots with a target while centering the one or more front sight dots between the two or more rear sight dots. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the proximity of the one or more front sight dots and the two or more rear sight dots to the projection window is configured to obviates the shooter having to shift focus among the one or more front sight dots and the two or more rear sight dots, and the target. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein any one or more of the one or more front sight dots and two or more rear sight dots are configured to be backlit so as to enhance visibility in various lighting conditions. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein any one or more of the one or more front sight dots and two or more rear sight dots are configured to be illuminated by way of any one or more of various desirable colors. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein any one or more of the one or more front sight dots and two or more rear sight dots are configured to be illuminated by way of a suitable electronically controlled lighting source, such as an LED or chemical light generator with an electrical or mechanical adjustment system. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the electrical or mechanical adjustment system includes a Decrease Brightness button and an Increase Brightness button for altering the brightness of the illuminated one or more front sight dots and the two or more ear sight dots. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein two or more light sensors are disposed at a front of the mount portion. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the two or more light sensors are configured to detect ambient light and/or the amount of light in a target area and signal an electronically controlled lighting source to accordingly increase or decrease the illumination of the one or more front sight dots and the two or more rear sight dots. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the two or more light sensors are disposed in asymmetric locations of the mounting portion and configured to communicate with one another so as to overcome interference due to light arriving at angles other than in front of the gunsight and sighting system. 
     
     
         16 . A method for a gunsight and sighting system for a firearm, comprising:
 configuring a mount portion to couple with the firearm;   securing a projection window with a collimated image overlay to the mount portion by way of a hood portion;   disposing one or more front sight dots forward of the projection window;   disposing two or more rear sight dots at a rear of the mount portion; and   providing illumination of the one or more front sight dots and the two or more rear sight dots.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising disposing two or more light sensors at a front of the mount portion. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising configuring the two or more light sensors to detect ambient light and/or the amount of light in a target area and signal an electronically controlled lighting source to accordingly increase or decrease the illumination of the one or more front sight dots and the two or more rear sight dots. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising disposing the two or more light sensors in asymmetric locations of the mounting portion. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising configuring the two or more light sensors to communicate with one another so as to overcome interference due to light arriving at angles other than in front of the gunsight and sighting system.