Illumination unit for digital pathology scanning

A digital pathology scanner illumination unit, comprising:

• a light source;
• a light mixing chamber;
• and
• a light diffuser;
• wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light elements arranged longitudinally along a linear extension direction;
• wherein the mixing chamber comprises a transparent volume providing a mixing distance (DM) between the plurality of the light elements and the light diffuser such that light with a uniform intensity is provided at a downstream edge of the mixing chamber;
• and wherein the mixing chamber is arranged, in terms of light propagation, between the plurality of the light elements and the light diffuser;
• wherein the light diffuser comprises a diffusing material such that the light is transformed into light having uniformity at different angles, in particular low angles,
• wherein, the light mixing chamber is provided as a first step of aligning the light sources such that the light is having uniform intensity before the light enters the light diffuser;
• and the light diffuser is provided subsequently for ensuring uniform illumination also in respect to the uniformity at different angels;
• and
• wherein uniformity of the light emanating from the light diffuser is provided as a light distribution along a linear extension direction.