Linear illumination apparatus and mehtod

A reading apparatus for obtaining a line of image data stored on a surface, the reading apparatus comprising:

• a radiation source for directing a line of stimulating radiation onto a stimulable image carrier on the surface to generate a line of image-bearing radiation, the radiation source comprising:
• (i) a plurality of light sources in a linear array;
• (ii) an aperture disposed for blocking unwanted light and directing light from the light sources in the linear array into an optical integrator for integrating the light to form a uniformized linear illumination of substantially uniform irradiance;
• and
• (iii) at least one lens for imaging the uniformized linear illumination to form a linear illumination beam;
• a sensing head for obtaining image data from the line of image-bearing radiation excited from the image carrier, the sensing head comprising a plurality of channels, each channel adapted to sense a segment of the line of image-bearing radiation;
• and
• an image processor for accepting the image data obtained from sensing head channels and forming a line of image data according to the line of image-bearing radiation.

A method for providing linear illumination, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of light sources in a linear array;
• providing an elongated aperture for blocking unwanted light and directing light from the plurality of light sources in the linear array into an optical integrator;
• integrating the directed light to cause uniformity of irradiance and provide a uniformized linear illumination, and
• imaging the uniformized linear illumination to form a linear illumination beam.