Display and scanning assembly

An image scanning assembly for scanning an image of an object, comprising:

• a light source suitable for emitting light for illuminating the object;
• an optical shutter assembly including a plurality of individually actuateable shutter elements capable of substantially allowing or blocking transmission light emitted from said light source so that the light is directed onto the object wherein at least a portion of the light is reflected from the object through said optical shutter assembly;
• an optical sensor capable of sensing light reflected from the object through said optical shutter assembly;
• a light conducting assembly suitable for conducting light from said light source to said optical shutter assembly and for conducting light reflected from the object to said optical sensor;
• wherein selected ones of said plurality of shutter elements are actuated in a predetermined sequence for allowing transmission of light conducted from said light source via said light conducting assembly for illuminating the object whereupon light reflected from the object is sensed by said plurality of light sensing elements.

An image scanning assembly capable of scanning an image of an object, comprising:

• a light source suitable for emitting pulses of light;
• a plurality of light conducting columns suitable for conducting said pulses of light received from said light source along an axis of the image scanning assembly;
• and
• a plurality of shutter rows oriented generally perpendicular to said light conducting columns to form a plurality of display elements, said shutter rows being capable of substantially allowing or blocking transmission of said pulses of light conducted from said light source via said plurality of light conducting columns so that said pulses of light are directed onto the object;
• a plurality of light sensing elements, each of said plurality of light sensing elements capable of sensing light reflected from the object through said plurality of shutter rows via said light conducting columns;
• wherein selected ones of said plurality of shutter rows are actuated in synchronization with said pulses of light emitted from said light source allowing transmission of said pulses of light through said selected ones of said plurality of shutter rows for illuminating the object whereupon light reflected from the object is sensed by said plurality of light sensing elements.

An integral display and image scanning assembly capable of scanning an image of an object, comprising:

• a light source suitable for emitting pulses of light;
• a light conducting assembly including a plurality of light conducting columns suitable for conducting said pulses of light received from said light source along an axis of the display surface;
• and
• an optical shutter assembly including a plurality of shutter rows oriented generally perpendicular to said light conducting columns so as to form a plurality of display elements, each shutter row being capable of substantially allowing or blocking transmission of said pulses of light conducted from said light source via said plurality of light conducting columns;
• an optical sensor including plurality of light sensing elements, each of said plurality of light sensing elements capable of sensing light reflected from the object through said plurality of shutter rows via said light conducting columns;
• wherein selected ones of said plurality of shutter rows may be actuated in synchronization with said pulses of light emitted from said light source substantially allowing transmission of said pulses of light through said second layer for illuminating rows of said plurality of display elements in a predetermined sequence for displaying an image;
• and
• wherein selected ones of said plurality of shutter rows may be actuated in a predetermined sequence and in synchronization with said pulses of light emitted from said light source substantially allowing transmission of said pulses of light through said second layer for allowing transmission of light conducted from said light source via said light conducting assembly for illuminating an object whereupon light reflected from the object is sensed by said plurality of light sensing elements for scanning an image of the object.