OPTICALLY BASED PLANAR SCANNER
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured to scan an image, comprising:
- a light source configured to provide light;
a light detector configured to detect the light;
a platen;
a waveguide;
a reflection grating;
a switchable Bragg grating; and
wherein an area of the switchable Bragg grating is configured to be activated to direct the light through the reflection grating and the waveguide to the platen, wherein the platen is configured to reflect the light via total internal reflection though the waveguide to the reflection grating or to refract the light, wherein the reflection grating is configured to reflect the light reflected from the platen to the waveguide, and wherein the waveguide is configured to guide the light to the light detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for providing an optically based planar scanner for generating an image are provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a switchable Bragg grating. An area of the switchable Bragg grating is configured to be activated to direct light to a platen. The platen is configured to reflect the light to a waveguide or to refract the light. The light reflected to the waveguide is guided to a light detector. By activating a number of the areas of the switchable Bragg grating and measuring the intensity of the light with a light detector, an image of an object contacting the platen may be formed.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. An apparatus configured to scan an image, comprising:
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a light source configured to provide light; a light detector configured to detect the light; a platen; a waveguide; a reflection grating; a switchable Bragg grating; and wherein an area of the switchable Bragg grating is configured to be activated to direct the light through the reflection grating and the waveguide to the platen, wherein the platen is configured to reflect the light via total internal reflection though the waveguide to the reflection grating or to refract the light, wherein the reflection grating is configured to reflect the light reflected from the platen to the waveguide, and wherein the waveguide is configured to guide the light to the light detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus configured to scan an image and to receive input, comprising:
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a light source configured to provide light; a light detector configured to detect the light; a platen; a waveguide, the waveguide located under the platen; a reflection grating, the reflection grating located under the waveguide; a switchable Bragg grating, the switchable Bragg grating located under the reflection grating, wherein the platen, the waveguide, the reflection grating, and the switchable Bragg grating are transparent; a display, the display configured to be visible to a user of the apparatus and to display an input selection, the display located under the switchable Bragg grating; and wherein an area of the switchable Bragg grating is configured to be activated to direct the light through the reflection grating and the waveguide to the platen, wherein the platen is configured to reflect the light via total internal reflection though the waveguide to the reflection grating or to refract the light, wherein the reflection grating is configured to reflect the light reflected from the platen to the waveguide, and wherein the waveguide is configured to guide the light to the light detector.
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16. A method of scanning an image, the method comprising:
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(a) providing light to a switchable Bragg grating; (b) activating an area of the switchable Bragg grating to direct the light through a reflection grating and a waveguide to a platen; (c) reflecting the light from a surface of the platen via total internal reflection or refracting the light into an object contacting the surface of the platen, the reflected light directed through the waveguide to the reflection grating; (d) reflecting the reflected light from the reflection grating to the waveguide; and (e) guiding the reflected light with the waveguide to a detector. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus configured to scan an image, comprising:
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a light source configured to provide light; a light detector configured to detect the light; an object receiving surface; a first plurality of switchable Bragg grating components arranged to form a first layer; a second plurality of switchable Bragg grating components arranged to form a second layer; and wherein areas of the first plurality of switchable Bragg grating components are configured to be activated to direct the light to the object receiving surface, wherein the object receiving surface is configured to reflect the light via total internal reflection though the first switchable Bragg grating components to activated areas of the second plurality of switchable Bragg grating components or to refract the light, and wherein the activated areas of the second switchable Bragg grating components are configured to direct the light towards the light detector. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus configured to scan an image, comprising:
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a light source configured to provide light; a light detector configured to detect the light; a platen; a switchable Bragg grating; a glass layer; a waveguide; a reflection grating; and wherein an area of the switchable Bragg grating is configured to be activated such that light is taken out of total internal reflection with the switchable Bragg grating, wherein the platen is configured to reflect the light taken out of total internal refection with the switchable Bragg grating via total internal refection though the waveguide to the reflection grating, wherein the reflection grating is configured to reflect the light reflected from the platen to the waveguide, and wherein the waveguide is configured to guide the light to the light detector. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification