Apparatus for the uniform illumination of a surface

A method for illuminating a surface for imaging of the surface by a camera, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a wall, defining a chamber, said wall comprising an opaque wall portion and a partially transparent wall portion, said partially transparent wall portion having a first section with a first average transparency and a second section having a second average transparency, a camera-receiving aperture being defined through said partially transparent wall portion;
• b) disposing a camera lens through said camera-receiving aperture to a predetermined position with respect to the surface;
• and
• (c) activating a light source in said chamber to illuminate the surface.

An apparatus for providing highly uniform illumination of an area within a predetermined range on a surface, comprising:

• (a) a generally sleeve-like shroud having an opaque, generally vertical wall, defining a lower opening;
• and
• (b) a light source disposed in said shroud;
• an interior surface of said wall having a first region about said lower opening having a first light reflectivity, and a second region, above said first region, having a second light reflectivity, said first light reflectivity being greater than said second light reflectivity;
• wherein said first region has an average reflectivity per unit distance along a perimeter of the lower opening and at least one selected portion oaf said first region has a reflectivity per unit distance along the perimeter of the lower opening greater than said average reflectivity per unit distance along the perimeter of the lower opening.

A method for providing highly uniform illumination of an area within a predetermined range on a surface, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a generally sleeve-like shroud having an opaque, generally vertical wall, defining a lower opening, an interior surface of said wall having a first region about said lower opening having a first light reflectivity, and a section region, above said first region, having a second light reflectivity, said first light reflectivity being greater than said second light reflectivity;
• (b) providing a light source in said shroud;
• (c) placing the shroud on the surface to be illuminated with the opening facing the surface, and thereby positioning said light source a predetermined distance from the surface;
• and
• (d) activating said light source to illuminate the surface.