2010 R&D 100 Winner
For hundreds of years, gun users have been unable to focus on the iron sight aiming reference at the end of a rifle barrel and their target at the same time. Idaho National Laboratory's (Idaho Falls) MicroSight changes this dynamic for the first time with a solution that at first defies logic. Users can focus on both the target and the aiming reference simultaneously.
David Crandall, an engineer at Idaho National Laboratory and an avid competitive target shooter, adapted an existing technology called zone plates. However, unlike lenses—which use refraction to focus light—zone plates use diffraction to produce multiple focal points. Each zone plate is a set of radially symmetric rings, just 5 mm dia. total, that act as Fresnel lenses. Crandall used phased zone plates to bend light without a loss of brightness, allowing the MicroSight to be used without any additional equipment.
At 1/1,000 of an ounce, it is by far the lightest optical sight in existence.
Technology
Firearm aiming apparatus
Developers
Idaho National Laboratory
Development Team
The MicroSight Development Team at Idaho National Laboratory
David Crandall
