Integrating cylinder with end input illumination for use as an illuminator in a film scanner
First Claim
1. An integrating cylinder for providing a uniform linear diffuse light for a film scanner comprising:
- a hollow cylinder comprising a reflective light-diffusing inner surface defining a cavity therein and an outer surface adjacent to a film, and defining a slit formed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cavity between the inner and outer surfaces at a predetermined line along the outer surface of the hollow cylinder for projecting the uniform linear diffuse light from the integrating cylinder;
a first end plate for sealing a near end of the cavity of the hollow cylinder, and defining a hole which is decentered from the longitudinal axis of the cavity of the hollow cylinder and is disposed at a different predetermined radial angular separation around the cavity from the slit for receiving a light beam having a predetermined divergence angle which is directed into the cavity at a predetermined tilt angle to the longitudinal axis of the cavity so that direct light from the diverging light beam does not exit the slit and produces a substantially uniform intensity of light across the slit defined by the hollow cylinder; and
a second imperforate end plate for sealing a far end of the cavity of the hollow cylinder opposite the near end.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrating cylinder for use as an illuminator for a film scanner includes a hollow cylinder including an inner surface defining a cavity therein and an outer surface, a diffusing layer of reflective material covering an inner surface of the hollow cylinder, a first end plate for sealing a near end of the hollow cylinder, and a second end plate for sealing a far end of the hollow cylinder opposite the near end. The hollow cylinder defines a slit formed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder between the inner and outer surfaces at a predetermined line along a circumference of the hollow cylinder. The first end plate defines a hole which is decentered from the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder and can be tilted at a predetermined angle to the longitudinal axis of the hollow cylinder towards an area of the inner surface of the hollow cylinder. Additionally, the hole is located at a predetermined angular separation around the circumference of the hollow cylinder from the slit for receiving a light beam directed at the predetermined angle to the longitudinal axis into the cavity. After reflections in the cavity, the light emerges from the slit to form a line of uniform diffuse light.
78 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. An integrating cylinder for providing a uniform linear diffuse light for a film scanner comprising:
-
a hollow cylinder comprising a reflective light-diffusing inner surface defining a cavity therein and an outer surface adjacent to a film, and defining a slit formed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cavity between the inner and outer surfaces at a predetermined line along the outer surface of the hollow cylinder for projecting the uniform linear diffuse light from the integrating cylinder; a first end plate for sealing a near end of the cavity of the hollow cylinder, and defining a hole which is decentered from the longitudinal axis of the cavity of the hollow cylinder and is disposed at a different predetermined radial angular separation around the cavity from the slit for receiving a light beam having a predetermined divergence angle which is directed into the cavity at a predetermined tilt angle to the longitudinal axis of the cavity so that direct light from the diverging light beam does not exit the slit and produces a substantially uniform intensity of light across the slit defined by the hollow cylinder; and a second imperforate end plate for sealing a far end of the cavity of the hollow cylinder opposite the near end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. An illuminator for providing a uniform diffuse light in a film scanner comprising:
-
a light source for generating a diverging light beam; an optical system for receiving the diverging light beam from the light source and focussing the light beam with a predetermined focusing angle; and an integrating cylinder comprising; a hollow cylinder comprising a reflective lightdiffusing inner surface defining a cavity therein, and an outer surface adjacent to a film, and defining a slit formed parallel to a longitudinal axis of the cavity between the inner and outer surfaces of the hollow cylinder at a predetermined line along the outer surface of the hollow cylinder for projecting the uniform diffuse light from the integrating cylinder; a first end plate for sealing a near end of the cavity of the hollow cylinder, and defining a hole which is decentered from the longitudinal axis of the cavity of the hollow cylinder and is disposed at a different predetermined radial angular separation around the cavity from the slit for receiving a light beam having the predetermined divergence angle which is directed at the predetermined tilt angle into the cavity so that direct light from the light beam does not exit the slit and produces a substantially uniform intensity of light across the slit defined by the hollow cylinder; and a second imperforate end plate for sealing a far end of the cavity of the hollow cylinder opposite the near end. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification