Sight device

Abstract

The invention relates to a sight device (1), in particular a reflector sight or telescopic sight, which sight device has a lighting apparatus (2) for producing or illuminating a target mark, wherein the lighting apparatus (2) comprises an light guide (3) made of photoluminescent, in particular fluorescent material and a radioluminescent light source (7) coupled to the light guide (3), wherein the light guide (3) is designed to receive ambient light and convert said ambient light into photoluminescence light along at least one segment (4) of the longitudinal extent of the light guide, and wherein the absorption spectrum (10) of the photoluminescent material of the light guide (3) and the emission spectrum (9) of the radioluminescent light source (7) in the visible range can both be characterized by a spectral bandwidth and a center wavelength. In order to increase the luminance of the lighting apparatus and thus the visibility of the target mark, the center wavelength of the emission spectrum (9) of the radioluminescent light source (7) is greater than the center wavelength of the absorption spectrum (10) of the photoluminescent material of the light guide (3).

Claims

1. A sight device, in particular a reflector sight or telescopic sight, which comprises a lighting apparatus for generating or illuminating a target mark, wherein the lighting apparatus comprises a light guide made of photoluminescent, in particular fluorescent material and a radioluminescent light source coupled to the light guide, wherein the light guide is designed to receive both the light produced by the radioluminescent light source as well as ambient light, wherein the light guide is configured to receive the ambient light along at least a section of a longitudinal extension of the light guide and to convert the ambient light into photoluminescent light, wherein the absorption spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide and the emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source in the visible range can both comprise a spectral bandwidth and a center wavelength, wherein the center wavelength of the emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source is greater than the center wavelength of the absorption spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide, and wherein the radioluminescent light source is covered by an opaque coating which reflects the light produced by the radioluminescent light source back to the radioluminescent light source, and the opaque coating is applied onto a surface of the radioluminescent light source.

2. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the center wavelength of the emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source is at least 30 nm, preferably at least 50 nm, greater than the center wavelength of the absorption spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide.

3. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spectral bandwidth of the emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source and the spectral bandwidth of the absorption spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide each amounts to at most 100 nm, preferably at most 80 nm.

4. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spectral bandwidth of the emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source and the spectral bandwidth of the absorption spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide do not overlap.

5. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the visible range at most 30%, preferably at most 20%, of the emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source overlaps with the absorption spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide.

6. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in the visible range at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, of the emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source overlaps with the emission spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide.

7. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source is in the green and/or yellow wavelength range.

8. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the emission spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide is in the green wavelength range.

9. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radioluminescent light source is arranged at an end side of the light guide, whereby light of the radioluminescent light source is directed through the end side into the light guide.

10. The sight device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the end side of the light guide is adhered by means of a transparent adhesive to the radioluminescent light source.

11. The sight device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the radioluminescent light source has a longitudinal extension which is perpendicular to the axis of the light guide in its end section.

12. The sight device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the end side of the light guide facing the radioluminescent light source is a polished surface.

13. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a reverse prism, preferably a Schmidt-Pechan prism, arranged in the beam path, wherein the end side of the light guide, which faces away from the radioluminescent light source, is aligned to an in particular circular opening in a mirrored plane surface of the reverse prism (12).

14. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end side of the light guide facing away from the radioluminescent light source is a polished surface, which preferably faces a prism for directing the light into a beam path of the sight device.

15. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opaque coating has a white color.

16. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radioluminescent light source and an end section of the light guide bordering the radioluminescent light source are surrounded by a housing essentially in a form-fitting manner.

17. The sight device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the housing is made in two parts, wherein preferably the two parts can be pivoted relative to one another or can be held together by means of a snap device.

18. The sight device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the housing comprises at least one opening, which leads from the outside to the coupling point between the radioluminescent light source and the light guide, in particular for introducing an adhesive.

19. The sight device as claimed in claim 16, wherein in the housing at least one screw sits in a screw thread, via which the radioluminescent light source and/or an end section of the light guide bordering the radioluminescent light source is/are clamped.

20. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radioluminescent light source and an end section of the light guide bordering the radioluminescent light source are surrounded by an in particular T-shaped shrink tube.

21. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the radioluminescent light source together with an end section of the light guide bordering the radioluminescent light source is molded into a material.

22. The sight device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opaque coating has a color pigmented with TiO.sub.2.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a better understanding of the invention the latter is explained in more detail with reference to the following Figures.

(2) In a much simplified, schematic representation:

(3) FIG. 1 is an example embodiment of a lighting apparatus for a sight device;

(4) FIG. 2 is a further example embodiment with a single-use gauge;

(5) FIG. 3 to 7 are further example embodiments with a housing;

(6) FIG. 8 is a sight device in schematic view;

(7) FIGS. 9 and 10 are example embodiments according to the invention for the emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source and the emission and absorption spectra of the photoluminescent material of the light guide in a much simplified representation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) First of all, it should be noted that in the variously described exemplary embodiments the same parts have been given the same reference numerals and the same component names, whereby the disclosures contained throughout the entire description can be applied to the same parts with the same reference numerals and same component names. Also details relating to position used in the description, such as e.g. top, bottom, side etc. relate to the currently described and represented figure and in case of a change in position should be adjusted to the new position.

(9) The exemplary embodiments show possible embodiment variants of the sight device and the lighting apparatus, whereby it should be noted at this point that the invention is not restricted to the embodiment variants shown in particular, but rather various different combinations of the individual embodiment variants are also possible and this variability, due to the teaching on technical procedure, lies within the ability of a person skilled in the art in this technical field.

(10) Furthermore, also individual features or combinations of features from the various exemplary embodiments shown and described above can represent in themselves independent solutions according to the invention.

(11) The problem addressed by the independent solutions according to the invention can be taken from the description.

(12) All of the details relating to value ranges in the present description are defined such that the latter include any and all part ranges, e.g. a range of 1 to 10 means that all part ranges, starting from the lower limit of 1 to the upper limit 10 are included, i.e. the whole part range beginning with a lower limit of 1 or above and ending at an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1 or 5.5 to 10.

(13) Mainly the individual embodiments shown in the Figures can form the subject matter of independent solutions according to the invention. The related objectives and solutions according to the invention can be taken from the detailed descriptions of said Figures.

(14) Finally, as a point of formality, it should be noted that for a better understanding of the structure of the sight device and the lighting apparatus the latter and its components have not been represented true to scale in part and/or have been enlarged and/or reduced in size.

(15) FIG. 1 to 7 show a lighting apparatus 2 for generating or illuminating a target mark in a sight device 1. An example of a sight device is represented purely schematically in FIG. 8. In the beam path those optical elements are shown which interact with the lighting apparatus 2. Other (also provided elements) have been omitted for a better overview.

(16) The lighting apparatus 2 comprises an light guide 3 made from a photoluminescent, in particular fluorescent material and a radioluminescent light source 7 coupled to the light guide 3. The light guide 3 is designed to receive ambient light along at least a section 4 of its longitudinal extension and convert it into photoluminescent light.

(17) The absorption spectrum 10 of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3 and the emission spectrum 9 of the radioluminescent light source 7 in the visible range can be characterized essentially by a spectral bandwidth (B) and a center wavelength (FIGS. 9 and 10). As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 the center wavelength of the emission spectrum 9 of the radioluminescent light source 7 is greater than the center wavelength of the absorption spectrum 10 of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3. The bandwidth is defined by the full width at half maximum (FWHM) and the center wavelength by forming the average of the wavelength distribution.

(18) In FIG. 9 the emission spectrum 9 of the radioluminescent light source 7 and the emission spectrum 11 of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3 are spaced apart from one another (i.e. they do not overlap or only slightly overlap).

(19) It is preferable, ifas also shown in FIG. 10the center wavelength of the emission spectrum 9 of the radioluminescent light source 7 is at least 30 nm, preferably at least 50 nm, greater than the center wavelength of the absorption spectrum 10 of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3.

(20) In this case preferably the spectral bandwidth of the emission spectrum 9 of the radioluminescent light source 7 and the spectral bandwidth of the absorption spectrum 10 of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3 each amounts to at most 100 nm, preferably at most 80 nm.

(21) It is particularly preferable ifas shown in both FIGS. 9 and 10the spectral bandwidth of the emission spectrum 9 of the radioluminescent light source 7 and the spectral bandwidth of the absorption spectrum 10 of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3 do not overlap. This means that the bandwidth sections of the spectra 9 and 10 are completely outside one another.

(22) It is also shown that in the visible range at most 30%, preferably at most 20%, of the emission spectrum 9 of the radioluminescent light source 7 overlaps with the absorption spectrum 10 of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3.

(23) The particular embodiment of FIG. 10 shows (unlike FIG. 9), that in the visible range at least 50%, preferably at least 70%, of the emission spectrum 9 of the radioluminescent light source 7 overlaps with the emission spectrum 11 of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3.

(24) Here the emission spectrum 9 of the radioluminescent light source 7 is in the green or green-yellow wavelength range and the emission spectrum 11 of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3 is in the green wavelength range.

(25) The selection of the corresponding radioluminescent light sources and the associated light guide according to the specifications of the invention is not difficult for a person skilled in the art. Many different types of light sources and light guides can be purchased commercially.

(26) FIGS. 1 to 7 show that the radioluminescent light source 7 is arranged on an end side 6 of the light guide 3, whereby the light of the radioluminescent light source 7 is directed through the end side 6 into the light guide 3.

(27) The radioluminescent light source 7 can have a longitudinal extension, which is perpendicular to the axis of the light guide 3 in its end section. The light source 7 and the end section of the light guide 3 together thus form a T-shape.

(28) The radioluminescent light source 7 (also known as a trigalight) need not necessarily be elongated. Preferably, the contact surface of the radioluminescent light source 7 is greater than the input surface of the light guide. It would also be possible to use quadratic and round radioluminescent light sources.

(29) The radioluminescent light source 7 is covered by an opaque coating 8, wherein preferably the coating 8 is a white color, particularly preferably a color pigmented with TiO2. The end side 6 of the light guide 3 facing the radioluminescent light source 7 is a polished surface. The end side 6 of the light guide 3 is adhered by means of a transparent adhesive to the radioluminescent light source 7.

(30) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the light source 7 and light guide 3 are positioned on a disposable gauge and fixed by clips. The disposable gauge is molded as well. In this way a reliable connection is obtained between the light source 7 and light guide 3. Of course, the radioluminescent light source 7 could be molded into a material together with an end section of the light guide 3 bordering the radioluminescent light source 7 even without positioning means, such as the disposable gauge.

(31) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the radioluminescent light source 7 and an end section of the light guide 3 bordering the radioluminescent light source 7 are surrounded essentially by a housing 13 in a form-fitting manner. Openings are provided for introducing the light source 7 and light guide 3. The housing 13 comprises at least one further opening 14, which leads from the outside to the coupling point between the radioluminescent light source 7 and the light guide 3, in particular for introducing an adhesive.

(32) A similar embodiment, but with a different housing form is shown in FIG. 4.

(33) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the housing 13 is made in two parts, which are joined or held together by means of a snap device 15.

(34) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 the two housing parts can be pivoted relative to one another, in order to move from an open position into a closed position.

(35) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in the housing 13 at least one screw 16 sits in a screw thread, by means of which the radioluminescent light source 7 and/or an end section of the light guide 3 bordering the radioluminescent light source 7 is/are clamped.

(36) In an alternative embodiment the radioluminescent light source 7 and an end section of the light guide 3 bordering the radioluminescent light source 7 are surrounded by an in particular T-shaped shrink tube.

(37) In all of the embodiments of the lighting apparatus 2 described above it is preferred if by the attachment or provision of a reflective layer (e.g. white, silver, etc.) over the radioluminescent light source 7 the efficiency can be increased. The reflective layer could be an outer coating of the light source 7. Alternatively, the reflective layer can be formed on the inner side of the housing 13 surrounding the light source 7, i.e. the housing already has these reflecting properties.

(38) Lastly, FIG. 8 shows a sight device 1, in particular in the form of a reflector sight or telescopic sight, which comprises a lighting apparatus 2 for generating or illuminating a target mark. The representation is purely schematic and should only be considered to represent one of several possibilities.

(39) The sight device 1 of FIG. 8 comprises a lens 17, an eyepiece 18 and a reverse prism 12, in the form of a Schmidt-Pechan prism, arranged in the beam path 19 by means which the light of the lighting apparatus 2 is directed into the beam path 19. The end side 5 of the light guide 3, which faces away from the radioluminescent light source 7, oriented with an in particular circular opening in a mirrored plane surface of the reverse prism 12.

(40) It should be mentioned at this point that any other suitable optical element could be used for introducing the light of the lighting apparatus 2 into the beam path 19. As already mentioned above the invention can also be used for sight devices in which the lighting apparatus 2 illuminates a mechanical target mark.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(41) 1 sight device 2 lighting apparatus 3 light guide 4 section of the light guide 3 5 end side 6 end side 7 radioluminescent light source 8 opaque coating 9 emission spectrum of the radioluminescent light source 7 10 absorption spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3 11 emission spectrum of the photoluminescent material of the light guide 3 12 reverse prism 13 housing 14 opening 15 snap device 16 screw 17 lens 18 eyepiece 19 beam path of the sight device 1