IMAGING DEVICE

• US 20170318179A1
• Filed: 10/26/2015
• Published: 11/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FlexEnable Limited (Plastic Logic JSC)
• Original Assignee: FlexEnable Limited (Plastic Logic JSC)
• Inventors: Agostinelli, Tiziano, Borgers, Charlotte Wendy Michele, Reeves, Will
• Granted Patent: US 10,516,797 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 1/10 using flat picture-bearing surfaces H04N1/113, H04N1/195 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1061 Details relating to flat picture-bearing surfaces, e.g. transparent platen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/195 the array comprising a two-dimensional array or a combination of two-dimensional arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/40056 Circuits for driving or energising particular reading heads or original illumination means H04N1/401, H04N1/407 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/484 with sequential colour illumination of the original

Abstract

An imager is provided. The imager has an imaging platen which presents an imaging surface against which an object to be imaged can be placed. The imaging platen has a photodetector layer and a light guiding layer operable to guide light towards the object. The imager includes a light source operable to emit light into the light guiding layer. The light source is located at an edge of the light guiding layer, to guide light into the light guiding layer of the imaging platen.

Claims

1. An imager comprising:

an imaging platen presenting an imaging surface against which an object to be imaged can be placed, the imaging platen comprising a photodetector layer and a light guiding layer operable to guide light towards the object; and

a light source operable to emit light into the light guiding layer;

wherein the light source is located at an edge of the light guiding layer, to direct light into the light guiding layer of the imaging platen.

2. An imager in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising an enclosure, enclosing the controller and presenting the imaging surface of the platen for use.

3. An imager in accordance with claim 2 wherein the enclosure comprises a bezel bounding an edge of the imaging platen.

4. An imager in accordance with claim 3 wherein the bezel has an exterior surface which is flush with the imaging surface of the platen.

5. An imager in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a controller operable to capture signals indicative of light detection at the photodetector layer.

6. An imager in accordance with claim 5 wherein the controller is operable to process light detection signals to form image data indicative of an image of a document.

7. An imager in accordance with claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause the light source to emit light, and is further operable to prime the photodetector layer to detect light corresponding to said light emission.

8. An imager in accordance with claim 1 wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

9. An imager in accordance with claim 8 wherein the light source is a plurality of light emitting diodes.

10. An imager in accordance with claim 1 wherein the platen comprises light directing means mounted on the imaging face, to direct light from the light guiding layer towards a document adjacent the platen.

11. An imager in accordance with claim 10 wherein the light directing means comprises a plurality of prisms.

12. An imager in accordance with claim 11 wherein the prisms are trapezoidal.

13. An imager in accordance with claim 12 wherein each of the trapezoidal prisms has two parallel faces, a narrower of which is adjacent the light guiding layer.

14. An imager in accordance with claim 13 wherein each of the trapezoidal prisms has two non-parallel faces, at least one of the non-parallel faces defining an angle with the parallel faces to induce total internal reflection of light entering the prism from the light guiding layer.

15. An imager in accordance with claim 1, wherein the platen is operable to emit, from the light guiding layer, substantially polarised light, and the platen further comprises a polarising layer interposed between the light guiding layer and the photodetector layer operable to absorb polarised light from the light guiding layer.

16. An imager in accordance with claim 1 wherein the light guiding layer comprises scattering particles operable to cause light emanating from the light source to be scattered.

17. An imager in accordance with claim 1, wherein the imaging platen comprises a wavelength conversion layer, the wavelength conversion layer being operable to emit light of a specific wavelength band in response to light incident thereon, wherein the photodetector layer is attuned to said specific wavelength band, and wherein the light source is operable to emit light outwith said specific wavelength band, such that the photodetector layer can distinguish between light emitted by the light source and light reflected by an imaged document, in use, and wherein the wavelength conversion comprises a phosphor.

19. An imager in accordance with claim 1, wherein the photodetector layer is operable to detect light at a plurality of wavelengths, allowing collection of image information for the capture of a colour image.

20. An imager in accordance with claim 19 wherein the photodetector layer comprises a plurality of photodetectors, a first portion of the photodetectors being sensitive to a first wavelength of light, a second portion of the photodetectors being sensitive to a second wavelength of light and a third portion being sensitive to a third wavelength of light, the first, second and third wavelengths forming an additive colour system, and wherein the photodetector layer comprises a colour filter array imposed over the photodetectors so as to render said photodetectors sensitive to particular ones of the first, second and third wavelengths.

22. An imager in accordance with claim 1 wherein the light source is operable to emit, sequentially, light centred on first, second and third wavelengths, forming an additive colour system, the photodetector layer being correspondingly operable to capture, sequentially, component images for use in constructing an additive colour image.

18. (canceled)

21. (canceled)