LIGHT-GUIDE UNIT AND IMAGE SENSOR

• US 20140374864A1
• Filed: 02/19/2013
• Published: 12/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
• Inventors: Nokami, Yohei, Abe, Ichihiro, Okamura, Koichiro
• Application Number:
  US14/370,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20140374864A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 257/432
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 27/14625 Optical elements or arrangements associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0249 Arrangements for mounting or supporting elements within a scanning head H04N1/02481 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02835 in combination with a light guide, e.g. optical fibre, glass plate light-guides per se G02B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0289 Light diffusing elements, e.g. plates or filters optical diffusing elements per se G02B5/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0318 Integral pick-up heads, i.e. self-contained heads whose basic elements are a light-source, a lens array and a photodetector array which are supported by a single-piece frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02462 Illuminating means
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02472 using clips
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/03112 Light source
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/03125 Light guide upstream of the scanned picture elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/03133 Window, i.e. a transparent member mounted in the frame
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/03141 Photodetector lens
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/03145 Photodetector

Abstract

A light guide unit includes, a first light guide that takes a light incident upon one end surface and emits a light from other end surface and from a light emitter on a side surface of the first light guide, and a second light guide that takes the light emitted from the other end surface of the first light guide then incident upon one end surface of the second light guide, and emits the light from a light emitter on a side surface of the second light guide. The first light guide includes a first mating member, and the second light guide includes a second mating member engaging with a first alignment member such that the side surface of the first light guide having the light emitter and the side surface of the second light guide having the light emitter are flush with each other.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A light guide unit comprising:

a plurality of light guides each having a column shape that takes a light incident upon each one end surface of the plurality of light guides, and emits the light from each respective other end surface and from each light emitter on each respective side surface of the plurality of light guides bridging between the each one end surface and the each respective other end surface, and that the each one end surface of the plurality of light guides and the each respective other end surface thereof are located close proximity, and end surfaces are adjacently arranged by abutted against each other;

a first alignment member formed on one of adjacent light guides; and

a second alignment member formed on the other of the adjacent light guides, wherein end surfaces on the adjacent light guides are located close proximity to each other, and the second alignment member is engaged with the first alignment member while side surfaces each having the light emitter on the adjacent light guides are flush with each other;

wherein

the first alignment member is formed by a first engaging member arranged on one side surface of the adjacent light guides, and the second alignment member is arranged on other side surface of the adjacent light guides and is formed by a second engaging member that engages with the first engaging member.

10. The light guide unit according to claim 9, wherein

the second engaging member includes a convex portion, and the first engaging member includes a through hole or a non-through hole formed thereon having a matching shape to the convex portion.

11. The light guide unit according to claim 9, wherein

the second engaging member includes a convex portion, and the first engaging member includes a groove formed thereon that matches the convex portion.

12. The light guide unit according to claim 9, wherein

a plurality of first alignment members is arranged on one of the adjacent light guides, and a matching number of second alignment members is arranged on the end surface of other light guide of the adjacent light guides, wherein the matching number corresponds to number of the plurality of first alignment members arranged.

17. An image sensor comprising

the light guide unit according to claim 9.

18. The image sensor according to claim 17, further comprising

a compartment that accommodates the light guide unit, wherein

the compartment accommodates the light guide unit by supporting the first alignment member and the second alignment member.

19. The image sensor according to claim 17, further comprising

a plurality of sensors that is linearly arranged, wherein

pieces of a light scattering layer are formed on the side surface of the light guide that scatters an incident light, and

the pieces of the light scattering layer are formed in a row, in a same direction the plurality of sensors is arranged.

13. A light guide unit comprising:

a plurality of light guides each having a column shape that takes a light incident upon each one end surface of the plurality of light guides, and emits the light from each respective other end surface and from each light emitter on each respective side surface of the plurality of light guides bridging between the each one end surface and the each respective other end surface, and that the each one end surface of the plurality of light guides and the each respective other end surface thereof are located close proximity, and end surfaces are adjacently arranged by abutted against each other;

a first alignment member formed on one of adjacent light guides; and

a second alignment member formed on the other of the adjacent light guides, wherein end surfaces on the adjacent light guides are located close proximity to each other, and the second alignment member is engaged with the first alignment member while side surfaces each having the light emitter on the adjacent light guides are flush with each other;

wherein the second alignment member is formed by a convex portion formed on the end surface on one of the adjacent light guides, wherein the end surface is abutted against the other light guide, and the first alignment member is formed by a concave portion having a size and a shape that match the convex portion formed on the end surface on the other of the adjacent light guides, wherein the end surface is abutted against the one of the light guides, and

wherein the convex portion and the concave portion each forms a polygon as viewed from each other.

14-16. -16. (canceled)