# US 7,746,520 B2 · Document illuminator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,520 B2 - Document ID: US7746520B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/995,462 - Filed: 2004-11-23 - Published: 2006-05-25 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-23 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: Robert Herloski; John C. Juhasz; Douglas E. Proctor; Charles J. Urso, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746520B2 ## CPC - H04N 1/02855: {in combination with a light guide, e.g. optical fibre, glass plate (light-guides per se G02B6/00)} - H04N 1/02815: {Means for illuminating the original, not specific to a particular type of pick-up head} - H04N 1/02895: {Additional elements in the illumination means or cooperating with the illumination means, e.g. filters (H04N1/02885 takes precedence; optical elements other than lenses per se G02B5/00)} - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A document illuminator comprising a light-transmissive element having an embedded side emitting LED fitted in a cavity formed therein. The light-transmissive element is formed with one or more optical notches and is totally encased in a white surround to yield total internal reflection of the light rays emanating from the LED. The reflected light rays are collected at an aperture which in turn transmits high power and highly uniform illumination profile to illuminate a document. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: a light-transmissive element (LTE); a cavity formed in said LTE; a light-emitting diode (LED) positioned inside said cavity so as to directly emit light within the LTE; an aperture formed in said LTE positioned to receive light emitted from said LED that is internally reflected by the LTE, wherein said light traverses said aperture to illuminate a document; and one or more devices arranged between the LED and the aperture such that light emitted from the LED directly toward the aperture is internally reflected within the LTE, wherein said light-transmissive element has a height from about 20 mm to about 25 mm, and a width ranging from about 2 mm to about 6 mm. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said LTE has a refractive index ηLTE from about 1.4 to about 1.7. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cavity has a circular cross-section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cavity has a polygonal cross-section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one or more devices comprise one or more opaque specular linings lined on said cavity. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said LED is a side emitting LED. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one or more devices comprise one or more optical notches formed on one or more of the sides of said LTE. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said optical notches comprise a V-shape. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device in accordance with claim 7, wherein said optical notches comprise a compound curve. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said LTE provides total internal reflection of light rays. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said aperture is lined with an opaque diffusively reflecting scatterer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device in accordance with claim 11, wherein said lining comprises a white painted surface. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cavity comprises a thru-hole. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cavity comprises a blind-hole. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cavity is formed centrally within said LTE. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said cavity is formed non-centrally within said LTE. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said document is positioned on a platen. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said document is guided by a document handler. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The device in accordance with claim 1, wherein said light-transmissive element has a length from about 6-inches to about 36-inches. ### Claim 20 An device comprising a light-transmissive element (LTE) having an aperture and an LED embedded within said LTE so as to directly emit light within the LTE, wherein light emitted from said LED is internally reflected by the LTE to said aperture and traverses said aperture, to illuminate a document; one or more devices arranged between the LED and the aperture such that light emitted from the LED directly toward the aperture is internally reflected within the LTE; a lens adapted to receive a reflected image of said document and to focus said reflected image on to an array of sensors to convert the images to electronic signals; and a memory storage device to record said electronic signals as digital data, wherein said light-transmissive element has a height from about 20 mm to about 25 mm, and a width ranging from about 2 mm to about 6 mm. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The device in accordance with claim 20, wherein said light-transmissive element has a length from about 6-inches to about 36-inches. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The device in accordance with claim 20, wherein said document is positioned on a platen. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The device in accordance with claim 20, wherein said document is guided by a document handler. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The device in accordance with claim 20, wherein said sensors comprise charge coupled devices (CCDs). ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The device in accordance with claim 20, wherein said sensors comprise a full width array sensor.