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US 7,864,381 B2Granted
Document illuminator with LED-driven phosphor
AssigneeXerox Corporation
InventorThomas R. Scott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scanning apparatus includes an illuminator for illuminating a portion of a document to be scanned. The illuminator includes at least one light source and an optical element positioned to redirect light emitted by the light source. A phosphor material is disposed to intercept at least a portion of the light redirected by the optical element. A photosensitive device is positioned to receive light reflected from the document for recording an image of the document.
Claims23
A scanning apparatus comprising:
- an illuminator for illuminating a portion of a document to be scanned, the illuminator comprising:
- at least one light source positoned to direct light into an optical element,
- the optical element positioned to redirect light emitted by the light source, and
- a phosphor material disposed intermediate the light source and the document to intercept at least a portion of the light redirected by the optical element;
- and
- a photosensitive device positioned to receive light reflected from the document for recording an image of the document.
3 more elements
A scanning apparatus comprising:
- an illuminator for illuminating a portion of a document to be scanned, the illuminator comprising:
- at least one light source, the at least one light source comprising a light emitting diode,
- an optical element positioned to redirect light emitted by the light source, and
- a phosphor material disposed to intercept at least a portion of the light redirected by the optical element;
- and
- a photosensitive device positioned to receive light reflected from the document for recording an image of the document.
3 more elements
An illuminator comprising:
- an optical element in the form of a light pipe prism which defines an entry face and opposed rear and exit faces, the exit face being substantially perpendicular to the entry face, the rear face including a plurality of reflective elements for redirecting light received from the entry face toward the front face, a particulate material being disposed between the reflecting elements and the front face for diffusing light incident thereon;
- and
- at least one light source positioned adjacent the entry face.
A method for scanning a document comprising:
- with a scanning device, actuating a light source to emit light;
- transmitting the light through an optical element in the form of a prism which illuminates the document, the transmitting including transmitting the light through a layer of the optical element, the layer comprising a particulate material, the particulate material being disposed intermediate the light source and the document, the particulate material diffusing the transmitted light, thereby increasing uniformity of the illumination of the document.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.