# US 12,192,610 B2 · Imaging device with illumination unit featuring light shielding component

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- Number: US 12,192,610 B2
- Document ID: US12192610B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/007,618
- Filed: 2021-06-02
- Published: 2023-11-02
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-03
- Assignees: Kowa Company, Ltd.
- Applicants: Kowa Company, Ltd.
- Inventors: Takao Ushiyama; Eiji Takahashi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12192610B2

## CPC

- H04N 23/56: provided with illuminating means
- G02B 3/0075: {characterized by non-optical structures, e.g. having integrated holding or alignment means}
- G02B 13/0015: {characterised by the lens design}
- G02B 19/0009: {having refractive surfaces only}
- G02B 19/0047: {for use with a light source (G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence; details of lighting devices in general F21V; non-semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S3/005)}
- G02B 19/0061: {the light source comprising a LED}
- G02B 27/0988: {Diaphragms, spatial filters, masks for removing or filtering a part of the beam}
- G03B 11/045: {Lens hoods or shields}
- G03B 15/05: Combinations of cameras with electronic flash apparatus; Electronic flash units
- G03B 17/12: with means for supporting objectives, supplementary lenses, filters, masks, or turrets
- H04N 13/239: using two two-dimensional [2D] image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance (H04N13/243 takes precedence)
- H04N 13/254: in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
- H04N 23/55: Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof
- G02B 21/0016: {Technical microscopes, e.g. for inspection or measuring in industrial production processes}
- G02B 21/082: {for incident illumination only}
- G02B 21/22: Stereoscopic arrangements
- G03B 2215/0589: Diffusors, filters or refraction means
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G03B: APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (optical parts of such apparatus G02B; photosensitive materials or processes for photographic purposes G03C; apparatus for processing exposed photographic materials G03D)

## Abstract

An imaging device according to the present invention includes an illumination unit 20 containing a light source 21 for emitting illumination light 2, and a lens group 22 for irradiating an imaging object 1 with the illumination light 2 emitted from the light source 21, and an imaging unit 10 for imaging the imaging object 1. A part of the illumination light 2 is shielded by a light shielding component 40.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An imaging device comprising:
an illumination unit including a light source for emitting illumination light, and a lens group for irradiating an imaging object with the illumination light emitted from the light source; and
an imaging unit for imaging the imaging object, wherein the illumination unit is provided with a light shielding component for shielding against a part of the illumination light emitted from the light source;
wherein the illumination unit includes, in the lens group, a condenser lens for converging the illumination light from the light source, and an illumination system lens for irradiating the imaging object with the illumination light transmitted through the condenser lens; and
a position which is optically conjugated with the imaging object is set in an intermediate portion between the condenser lens and the illumination system lens, and the condenser lens includes a plurality of lenses; and
the light shielding component is arranged between the plurality of lenses constituting the condenser lens in no contact with the surfaces of the plurality of lenses.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding component is configured so that a recording layer including a light shielding pattern is laminated on a thin-plate-like transparent substrate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding pattern includes a central light shielding portion for shielding a central portion of a cross-section perpendicular to an optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the light source against the illumination light, and an annular intermediate light shielding portion for shielding an intermediate portion between the optical axis and an outer edge of the cross-section perpendicular to the optical axis of the illumination light against the illumination light.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The imaging device according to claim 2, wherein the light shielding pattern is formed by a set of a large number of light shielding dots, and the large number of light shielding dots are arranged so as to be highest in density at a central portion of a cross-section perpendicular to an optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the light source for the illumination light, and decrease in density as a distance from the central portion in a radial direction increases for the illumination light.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding component is arranged at a position that is not in an optically conjugated relation with the imaging object on an optical path of the illumination light emitted from the light source.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The imaging device according to claim 1, wherein the light shielding component is arranged between a first lens closest to the light source and a second lens adjacent to the first lens in the plurality of lenses constituting the condenser lens.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The imaging device according to claim 6, wherein a spacer which forms a gap between the first lens and the second lens is provided, and the light shielding component is attached to the spacer to be incorporated in the condenser lens.

### Claim 8

An imaging device comprising:
an illumination unit including a light source for emitting illumination light, and a lens group for irradiating an imaging object with the illumination light emitted from the light source; and
two imaging units for imaging the imaging object, wherein the illumination unit is provided with a light shielding component for shielding against a part of the illumination light emitted from the light source;
wherein the illumination unit is disposed between the two imaging units, the light shielding component includes a light shielding pattern, and the light shielding pattern includes a central light shielding portion for shielding a central portion of a cross-section perpendicular to an optical axis of the illumination light emitted from the light source against the illumination light.