Sighting telescope with optimized exit pupil

Abstract

Regarding a sighting telescope comprising an objective and a reversing system, a first and second image planes respectively being configured between the objective and the reversing system and on a reversing system's side facing away from the objective, where an intermediate image projected by the objective into to the first image plane is reproduced into the second image plane, the invention stipulates an optical unit situated on the reversing system's side away from the objective to make visible the intermediate image in the second image plane.

Claims

1. A sighting telescope (1) comprising an objective (10), a reversing system (30), a first image plane being (BE1) configured between the objective (10) and the reversing system (30), and a second image plane (BE2) being configured on that side of the reversing system (30) which is away from the objective (10), and where an intermediate image projected from the objective (10) into the first image plane (BE1) is reproduced as a second image erected in the second image plane (BE2) characterized in that on the side of the reversing system (30) away from the objective (10), an optical unit (80) is configured to make visible, on the optical unit, the second image present in the second image plane (BE2), wherein the optical unit (80) is a diffuser (81), wherein the diffuser (81) is a holographic element.

2. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the optical unit (80) is configured in the second image plane (BE2).

3. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a reticle (60) is configured in the first image plane (BE1) or that the optical unit (80) is fitted with a reticle (60).

4. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reversing system (30) comprises a first lens element (31) and a second lens element (32).

5. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that a beam diverging means (70) is mounted between the second lens element (32) and the second image plane (BE2).

6. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reversing system (30) is a fiber optics running from the first image plane (BE1) to the second image plane (BE2).

7. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an ocular (20) is configured on that side of the second image plane (BE2) which points away from the reversing system (30).

8. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the optical unit (80) subtends a radiation angle (a) such that the numerical aperture of the intermediate image present in the second image plane (BE2) facing away from the reversing system (30) is larger than the numeric aperture at the side facing the reversing system.

9. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first surface (84) is configured in the second image plane (BE2).

10. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first surface (84) is made by etching or grinding or is a microstructure.

11. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed claim 1, characterized in that the second surface (85) is configured on the side of the second image plane (BE2) away from the reversing system (30).

12. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the first lens element (31) is displaceable and configured at the objective side in the reversing system (30) and the second lens element is displaceable and configured on sides of the second image plane (BE2) in the reversing system (30), as a result of which the intermediate image projected into the first image plane (BE1) is reproduced at variable magnification in the second image plane (BE2).

13. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the correcting field lens (40) is situated in the first image plane (BE1).

14. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the beam diverging means (70) is a beam diverging lens element.

15. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the correcting field lens corrects chromatic aberrations.

16. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a fiber optics (91) is situated in the second image plane (BE2), the fiber optics (91) abuts the second image plane (BE2) on the side facing away from the reversing system (30), and the fiber optics (91) abuts the optical unit (80) on an output side of the fiber optics (91).

17. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a field lens (50) is situated between a first lens element (31) and the first image plane (BE1).

18. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein a correcting field lens (40) is configured between the field lens (50) and the first image plane (BE1).

19. Sighting telescope (1) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the correcting field lens (40) is situated in the first image plane (BE1).

Description

(1) Further features, details and advantages of the present invention are defined in/follow from the claims and the discussion below in relation to the appended drawings.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an optical configuration of a sighting telescope fitted with an optical unit,

(3) FIG. 2 shows an optical configuration of a sighting telescope fitted with an optical unit, an ocular, a correcting field lens element, a beam reversing system and achromats,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a sighting telescope fitted with an optical unit, an ocular, a correcting field lens element, a beam reversing system and achromats,

(5) FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of an optical configuration of a sighting telescope fitted with an optical unit and a fiber optics,

(6) FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of an optical configuration of a sighting telescope fitted with an optical unit and an image intensifier, and

(7) FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of an optical configuration of a sighting telescope fitted with an optical unit and a beam splitter.

(8) FIG. 1 shows an optical configuration for a sighting telescope comprising an objective 10 and a reversing system 30 fitted with two lens elements 31, 32. A first image plane BE1 is subtended between the objective 10 and the reversing system 30 and a second image plane BE2 is subtended on the said reversing system's side away from the objective 10. A reticle 60 is situated in the first image plane BE1 and a field lens 50 is situated between the reticle 60 and the lens elements 31, 32. A light beam SG runs through the said optical configuration. An intermediate image projected by the objective 10 onto the first image plane BE1 is erected and magnified in its reproduction on the second image plane BE2, an optical unit 80 fitted with a diffuser 81 being situated in said second image plane BE2. The image in the second image plane BE2 now can be viewed in a direction away from the reversing system 30 on a screen 82 or the like.

(9) FIG. 2 shows an optical configuration for a sighting telescope comprising an objective 10 and a reversing system 30 comprising two lens elements 31, 32. A first image plane BE1 is subtended between the objective 10 and the reversing system 30 and a second image plane BE2 is subtended at said reversing system's side far away from the objective 10.

(10) Said objective 10 consists of an objective lens element 11, of a first objective achromat 12 configured between the objective lens element 11 and the first image plane BE1, and of a second objective achromat 13 configured between the first objective achromat 12 and the first image plane BE1. Moreover a reticle 60 situated in the first image plane BE1 is cemented on the side away from the objective 10 to a correcting field lens element 40. A field lens 50 is situated between the two lens elements 31, 32 the correction field lens 40, and a beam deflecting unit 70 is situated between the two lens elements 31, 32 on one hand and the second image plane BE2.

(11) A beam SG runs through the optical configuration. An image projected from the objective 10 into the first image plane BE1 is erect and reproduced enlarged in the second image plane BE2 which contains an optical unit 80 fitted with a diffuser 81. This diffuser 81 is designed as a matte plate 83 comprising a plane matte first surface 84 and a plane polished second surface 85. The first surface 84 is situated in the second image plane BE2 and the second surface 85 is situated at the side of the second image plane BE2 away from the reversing system 30.

(12) From the direction of the optical unit 80 away from the reversing system 30, the image in the second image plane BE2 can now already be viewed, in principle without further components, on a kind of screen 82. For clarity of exposition however, the drawing shows an additional ocular 20 which is mounted precisely on said side (away from the reversing system 30) of the optical unit 80. Said ocular 20 is constituted by an ocular lens element 21 and an ocular achromat 22 mounted between the ocular lens element 21 and the optical unit 80.

(13) The matte plate 83 subtends a radiation angle designed in a manner that the numerical aperturepointing away from the reversing system 30of the intermediate image in the second image plane BE2 is larger than the numerical aperture on the side of the reversing system 30. In especially advantageous manner, the radiation angle is equal to or larger than a numerical aperture of the adjoining ocular, and this features also is especially preferred at the maximum sighting telescope magnification. As a result the exit pupil diameter equals that of the numerical aperture of the ocular 20.

(14) The first lens element 31 is displaceably mounted and situated on the objective side in the reversing system 30 and the second lens element 32 is displaceably mounted on the side of the second image plane BE2 of this reversing system. Consequently the intermediate image projected into the first image plane BE1 is reproduced with adjustable magnification into the second image plane BE2. By means of the radiation angle , the numerical aperture of the intermediate image of the second image plane BE2 is widened in the shown magnification setting to a radiation angle which approximately corresponds to the maximum numerical aperture of the ocular 20. In such a case the exit pupil's diameter is the largest possible for the ocular 20 being used. As a result the marksman is able to observe the complete intermediate image even when he is substantially off the optic axis. In critical situations, the human eye can therefore be positioned much faster in an appropriate position relative to the exit pupil and therefore a target can be acquired especially swiftly. Also the stress in observing the shooting range is reduced by shortening the time of observation.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a sighting telescope 1 of which the housing 101 receives an objective 10 and a reversing system 30. The reversing system 10 comprises a tubular casing 102 displaceable by an adjusting wheel 103 within the housing 101. Two axially displaceable lens elements 31, 32 are mounted within the tubular casing 102. A first image plane BE1 is subtended between the objective 10 and the reversing system 30 and a second image plane BE2 is subtended on the side of the reversing system 30 which is away from the objective 10.

(16) The objective 10 is made of an objective lens element 11, an objective achromat 12 configured between said lens element 11 and the first image plane BE1 and a second objective achromat 13 situated between the first objective achromat 12 and the image plane BE1. The objective lens element 11, the first objective achromat 12 and the second objective achromat 13 each are affixed in the housing 101, though alternatively they also may be displaceable therein to allow parallax adjustment. Also, a reticle 60 is configured in the first image plane BE1 and is connected to the tubular casing 102. On its side away from the objective 10, the reticle 60 is cemented to a correcting field lens element 40 which also is affixed in the tubular casing 102. a field lens 50 affixed into the tubular casing 102 is situated between the two lens elements 31, 32 on one hand and the correcting field lens element 40 on the other, further between said lens elements 31, 32 and the second image plane BE2 is situated a beam deflecting lens 70

(17) An intermediate image projected by the objective 10 into the first image plane BE1 is shown erect and enlarged in the second image plane BE2 in which is situated an optical unit 80 affixed to the tubular casing 101. This optical unit 80 consists of a beam splitter 92 fitted with a plane, matte first surface 84. This first surface is situated in the second image plane BE2 and the remainder of the beam splitter 92 is situated on the side away from the reversing system 30 of the second image plane BE2.

(18) An ocular 20 received in the housing 101 is used to observe the image in the second image plane BE2 of the optical unit 80 from the direction away from the reversing system 30. This ocular 20 is configured on the side of the optical unit 80 which is away from the reversing system 30. Said ocular consists of an ocular lens element 21 and an ocular achromat 22 configured between the ocular lens 21 and the optical unit 80. Both the ocular lens element 21 and the ocular achromat 22 are affixed in the housing 101.

(19) The first lens element 31 is displaceably mounted in the reversing system 30 and on the side of the objective and the second lens element 32 is displaceably mounted in said reversing system on the side of the second image plane BE2. As a result, the intermediate image projected from the first image pane BE1 is reproduced at variable magnification in the second image plane BE2 and is visible through the ocular 20.

(20) FIG. 4 shows a cutaway view of an optical array for a sighting telescope comprising an optical unit 80 and a fiber optics 91. This fiber optics 91 is situated in the second image plane BE2. In particular the fiber optics 91 abuts the second image plane BE2 on the side away from a reversing system. Due to the fiber optics, the input-side image of a beam SG in the second image plane BE2 corresponds to that of the back side of the fiber optics 91. At the output side, the fiber optics 91 abuts the optical unit 80, as a result of which the image present in the image plane BE2 is made visible.

(21) In the case under consideration, therefore, the image at the input of the fiber optics 91 corresponds to the image at this fiber optics' output. However, basically, the individual fibers of the fiber optics 91 may not run parallel to the optic axis of optical unit. In the case of an appropriate design, the fibers may run in such a way that the fiber optics shall reverse an image. In this manner the fiber optics might constitute a reversing system. Then the fiber optics 91 would run from a first image plane to the second image plane BE2.

(22) FIG. 5 is a cutaway view of a sighting telescope's optical unit 80 and an image intensifier 90. The optical unit 80 is situated on one side of a second image plane BE2. The image intensifier 90 is located on the other side. Said intensifier extends the second image plane BE2 in a manner that it guides and additionally intensifies the rays of a beam SG entering the first side along individual fibers to a second side. In the instance shown, the image at the input to the fiber optics 91 corresponds to that at the fiber output of said fiber optics 91 regarding geometry and orientation. However the incident light was intensified for such an outcome.

(23) FIG. 6 is a cutaway view of an optical array for a sighting telescope comprising an optical unit 80, a reversing system indicated by 30, and a beam splitter 92. The beam splitter 92 constitutes the optical unit 80 in that the side of the beam splitter 92 situated in a second image plane BE2 is a matte first surface 84. The reversing system 30 is mounted on the side of the second image plane BE2 that is opposite the beam splitter 92. A beam SG passes through the cutout of the optical unit.

(24) The present invention is not restricted to any of the above discussed embodiment modes, on the contrary is may be modified in versatile manner.

(25) All features and advantages, inclusive design details, spatial configurations and procedural steps, may be construed being inventive per se or in arbitrary combinations.

(26) TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS. 1 sighting telescope 10 objective 11 objective lens element 12 first objective achromat 13 second objective achromat 20 ocular 21 ocular lens element 22 ocular achromat 30 reversing system 31 first lens element 32 second lens element 40 correcting field lens element 50 field lens 60 reticle 70 beam diverging lens/beam deflecting unit 80 optical unit 81 diffuser 82 screen 83 matte plate 84 first surface 85 second surface 90 image intensifier 91 fiber optics 92 beam splitter 101 housing 102 casing 103 adjusting wheel BE1 first image plane BE2 second image lane SG beam (path) radiation angle