Magnification compensating sighting systems and methods

{
  "publication_number": "US9482516B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Magnification compensating sighting systems and methods",
  "abstract": "A method is used to determine an aiming point for a sighting system used by a shooter to shoot a target. The method includes receiving a range signal that corresponds to a distance from the shooter to the target. A first position signal is received from a magnification system sensor. A first magnification setting based at least in part on the first position signal is then determined. Thereafter, a first aiming point based at least in part on both of the range signal and the first magnification setting is determined.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A method of calibrating an optical device comprising a sensor and a plurality of movable lenses, wherein the sensor detects a position of at least one of the movable lenses, the method comprising: receiving a first signal from the sensor, wherein the first signal corresponds to a first position of the at least one of the movable lenses, wherein at the first position, the optical device at a minimum magnification setting; receiving a single input actuation so as to move simultaneously the plurality of movable lenses based on the single input actuation; receiving a second signal from the sensor, wherein the second signal corresponds to a second position of the at least one of the movable lenses, wherein at the second position, the optical device is at a maximum magnification setting; mapping a first point on a predefined magnification curve to the first signal; and scaling the predefined magnification curve such that a second point on the scaled predefined magnification curve is mapped to the second signal.",
    "2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the minimum magnification setting of the optical device.",
    "3. The method of claim 1, further comprising plotting the first signal and the second signal on a field.",
    "4. The method of claim 2, further comprising determining the maximum magnification setting of the optical device.",
    "5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, at the optical device, the predefined magnification curve."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Aiming a rifle or gun requires the consideration of several environmental and other types of factors. When a bullet travels from a rifle to an intended target, several forces affect the flight of the bullet. Gravity causes the bullet to drop in elevation as the bullet travels from the firearm to the target. If a hunter 100 is close to his/her target 102, as shown in FIG. 1A, the bullet drops very little, represented by the adjusted trajectory 104. However, improvements in firearms and ammunition have allowed hunters to target game from long distances. At these greater distances, gravity causes a bullet to drop in elevation more significantly, as represented by the adjusted trajectory 106 in FIG. 1B. Other factors also affect the flight of the bullet. For instance, wind causes the bullet to move horizontally along the bullet's path of flight. The compensation in an optical device for the effect wind has on a bullet's flight is often referred to as windage. Humidity, elevation, temperature, and other environmental factors may also affect the flight of the bullet.\n\nDifferent bullets fired from a gun are affected to a greater or lesser degree by environmental factors. More massive bullets are affected less by wind and some other environmental forces. In addition, some bullets travel at higher initial speeds than other bullets, and shape affects the rate at which bullets slow down, both of which affect the flight of the bullet. All of these factors create a unique bullet trajectory for every shot taken from a rifle.",
  "cpc": [
    "G01B 11/14",
    "F41G 1/00",
    "F41G 1/38",
    "F41G 1/473",
    "F41G 3/06",
    "F41G 3/08"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "F41G 1/00",
    "G01B 11/14",
    "F41G 1/38",
    "F41G 1/473",
    "F41G 3/06",
    "F41G 3/08",
    "G06F 19/00",
    "G06G 7/80"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Burris Corp"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "John McCarthy",
    "Walter D. Stoddard",
    "Douglas F. Paterson"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2014-09-15",
  "publication_date": "2016-11-01",
  "grant_date": "2016-11-01",
  "priority_date": "2011-05-26",
  "application_number": "US-201414486623-A",
  "family_id": "47218561",
  "cited_by_count": 10,
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