IMAGING SYSTEM
First Claim
1. An imaging system for providing an image of a surface portion of an object, the system comprising:
- a light source arranged to provide a light beam;
at least a first optical waveguide having a first face and having a second face opposite the first face, the first face comprising an incoupling surface, the optical waveguide comprising an outcoupling surface;
a first diffraction grating arranged on the optical waveguide;
an imaging subsystem arranged to the outcoupling surface;
wherein;
the incoupling surface is arranged to receive a light beam provided by the light source and incouple a portion of received light beam into the optical waveguide, the portion being transmitted in the optical waveguide by multiple total reflections in a first direction;
the first diffraction grating is arranged to outcouple at least a fraction of the portion, the fraction being defined as outcoupled light, the first diffraction grating being further arranged to define an illumination area at a distance D from the first diffraction grating, the distance D being smaller than 1000 mm, the first diffraction grating being arranged to direct the outcoupled light to illuminate a surface portion of the object positioned at the illumination area, the first diffraction grating being further arranged to receive a part of the outcoupled light returned by the surface portion;
the first diffraction grating is further arranged to couple into the optical waveguide at least a fraction of the part in a second direction, being opposite to the first direction, the fraction of the part defining a returned light beam and being transmitted in the optical waveguide by multiple total reflections;
the outcoupling surface is further arranged to couple out of the optical waveguide, an outcoupled fraction of the returned light beam, the outcoupled fraction being directed to the imaging subsystem facing the outcoupling surface; and
the imaging subsystem is arranged to provide an image of the surface portion of the object.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An imaging system suitable to provide an image of a surface portion of an object is disclosed. The system includes a light source arranged to provide a light beam, at least a first optical waveguide having a first face and having a second face opposite to the first face, the first face having an incoupling surface. The optical waveguide includes an outcoupling surface, a first diffraction grating arranged on the optical waveguide, and an imaging subsystem arranged to the outcoupling surface. The first diffraction grating is arranged to outcouple at least a fraction of the light beam.
60 Citations
32 Claims
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1. An imaging system for providing an image of a surface portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light source arranged to provide a light beam; at least a first optical waveguide having a first face and having a second face opposite the first face, the first face comprising an incoupling surface, the optical waveguide comprising an outcoupling surface; a first diffraction grating arranged on the optical waveguide; an imaging subsystem arranged to the outcoupling surface; wherein; the incoupling surface is arranged to receive a light beam provided by the light source and incouple a portion of received light beam into the optical waveguide, the portion being transmitted in the optical waveguide by multiple total reflections in a first direction; the first diffraction grating is arranged to outcouple at least a fraction of the portion, the fraction being defined as outcoupled light, the first diffraction grating being further arranged to define an illumination area at a distance D from the first diffraction grating, the distance D being smaller than 1000 mm, the first diffraction grating being arranged to direct the outcoupled light to illuminate a surface portion of the object positioned at the illumination area, the first diffraction grating being further arranged to receive a part of the outcoupled light returned by the surface portion; the first diffraction grating is further arranged to couple into the optical waveguide at least a fraction of the part in a second direction, being opposite to the first direction, the fraction of the part defining a returned light beam and being transmitted in the optical waveguide by multiple total reflections; the outcoupling surface is further arranged to couple out of the optical waveguide, an outcoupled fraction of the returned light beam, the outcoupled fraction being directed to the imaging subsystem facing the outcoupling surface; and the imaging subsystem is arranged to provide an image of the surface portion of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 24)
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6. (canceled)
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9-10. -10. (canceled)
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17. An imaging system providing an image of a surface portion of an object, the system comprising:
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a light source arranged to provide a light beam; at least a first and a second optical, substantially parallel, waveguides, the first optical waveguide having a first face to the side of the light source, and having a second face opposite to the first face, the second optical waveguide having a third face and having a fourth face opposite to the third face, the first face comprising an incoupling surface, the second optical waveguide comprising an outcoupling surface; a first diffraction grating arranged on the first optical waveguide; a second diffraction grating arranged on the second optical waveguide; an imaging subsystem arranged to the outcoupling surface, the imaging subsystem being arranged to the side of the second optical waveguide opposite to the light source; wherein; the incoupling surface is arranged to receive light provided by the light source and incouple a portion of the received light into the first optical waveguide, the portion being transmitted in the optical waveguide by multiple total reflections in a first direction; the first diffraction grating is arranged to outcouple at least a fraction of the portion, the fraction being defined as outcoupled light, the first diffraction grating being further arranged to define an illumination area at a distance D from the first diffraction grating, the distance D being smaller than 1000 mm, the first diffraction grating being arranged to direct the outcoupled light to illuminate a surface portion of the object positioned at the illumination area; the second diffraction grating being further arranged to receive a part of the outcoupled light reflected by the surface portion; the second diffraction grating is further arranged to couple into the second optical waveguide at least a fraction of the part in a second direction, being substantially parallel and opposite to the first direction, the fraction of the part defining a returned light beam and being transmitted in the second optical waveguide by multiple total reflections; the outcoupling surface is further arranged to couple out of the second optical waveguide an outcoupled fraction of the returned light beam, the outcoupled fraction being directed to the imaging subsystem facing the outcoupling surface; and the imaging subsystem is arranged to provide an image of the surface portion of the object. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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18-23. -23. (canceled)
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25-30. -30. (canceled)
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32-37. -37. (canceled)
Specification