Illumination line generation by double-duty diffusion

Abstract

An optical system includes a light source operable to produce input light, a linear diffuser, and a reflector. The light source, linear diffuser, and reflector are arranged and configured to direct the input light from the light source to the linear diffuser, project diffused light from the linear diffuser to the reflector, reflect the diffused light from the reflector to the linear diffuser as reflected light, and modify the reflected light at the linear diffuser to output a planar fan of diffused light, so that an illumination line forms at an intersection of the planar fan and an object. A system includes an optical sub-system configured to generate a planar fan of diffused light by passing input light through a single linear diffuser twice, and a control sub-system configured to operate the optical sub-system to control use of the planar fan of diffused light.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.