Optic for a firearm

Abstract

An optic for a firearm has a body configured for connection to a firearm, an optical image generator operable to generate an image of a target area, a controller connected to the optical image generator, a display connected to the controller and configured to display the image, the controller operable to generate at least one image at a magnification selected from a range of magnifications ranging between a low power limit and a high power limit, an environmental sensor connected to the controller and operable to generate a discharge signal in response to discharge of the firearm, and the controller responsive to the discharge signal to change the display of the image. Changing the display of the image may include reducing the magnification of the image. The controller may be operable to generate at least two images of different magnifications.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An optic for a firearm comprising:
 a body configured for connection to a firearm;   an optical image generator operable to generate an image of a target area;   a controller connected to the optical image generator;   a display connected to the controller and configured to display the image;   the controller operable to generate at least one image at a magnification selected from a range of magnifications ranging between a low power limit and a high power limit;   an environmental sensor connected to the controller and operable to generate a discharge signal in response to discharge of the firearm; and   the controller responsive to the discharge signal to change the display of the image.   
     
     
         2 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 1  wherein changing the display of the image includes reducing the magnification of the image. 
     
     
         3 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 1  wherein the controller is operable to generate at least two images of different magnifications. 
     
     
         4 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 3  wherein changing the display of the image includes removing only one of the images. 
     
     
         5 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 4  wherein removing only one of the images includes removing a higher magnification image. 
     
     
         6 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 3  wherein changing the display of the image includes displaying only a remaining one of the images. 
     
     
         7 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 6  displaying only a remaining one of the images includes displaying a lower magnification image. 
     
     
         8 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 1  wherein the controller is operable to display a first image of a first greater magnification prior to the discharge signal and a second image of a second magnification less than the first magnification automatically in response to the discharge signal. 
     
     
         9 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 1  wherein the discharge signal is an acoustic impulse. 
     
     
         10 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 1  wherein the discharge signal is motion of the body. 
     
     
         11 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 1  wherein the environmental sensor is a microphone. 
     
     
         12 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 1  wherein the environmental sensor is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         13 . The optic for a firearm of  claim 1  wherein the environmental sensor is a motion detector.