High efficiency linear light source
First Claim
1. A linear light source comprising:
- a source for producing a beam of radiation; and
an elongated light integrator forming a light integrating cavity defined by cavity end walls and a side wall extending therebetween and having diffusely-reflecting interior surfaces, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and a light output slit in said side wall extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity, a portion of interior surfaces of said side wall and end walls defining a source region for light reflected through said light output slit, wherein the junctions of said side wall and said end walls are formed in arcuate sections for reducing drop out in brightness of light reflected from said source region at the junctions.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A linear light source for a film scanner includes an elongated light integrating cavity, formed within a light integrator, having diffusely reflective walls. Light is introduced into the cavity through an input port, and an output scan line of diffuse light is produced through an exit slit which is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the integrating cavity. The scan line of light is directed on film to be scanned in a stripe of illumination. The scan line of the illuminated film stripe is imaged onto a tri-linear CCD array for conversion of color intensity modulated pixels into scan line data sets. The linear light beam is reflected from a source region within the integrating cavity visible through the exit slit. In order to make the brightness profile of the linear light beam more uniform and avoid position dependent signal level drop outs, sharp angle joints in the source region are replaced by arcuate sections. Particularly the right angle junctions of an interior longitudinal baffle with light integrator end walls are replaced by arcuate sections in the source region.
27 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A linear light source comprising:
-
a source for producing a beam of radiation; and an elongated light integrator forming a light integrating cavity defined by cavity end walls and a side wall extending therebetween and having diffusely-reflecting interior surfaces, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and a light output slit in said side wall extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity, a portion of interior surfaces of said side wall and end walls defining a source region for light reflected through said light output slit, wherein the junctions of said side wall and said end walls are formed in arcuate sections for reducing drop out in brightness of light reflected from said source region at the junctions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A linear light source comprising:
-
a source for producing a beam of radiation; and an elongated light integrator forming a light integrating cavity defined by cavity end walls and a side wall extending therebetween and having diffusely-reflecting interior surfaces, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and a light output slit in said side wall extending generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity, a baffle in said cavity located between said input port and said output slit and joined with and extending longitudinally between said cavity end walls, said baffle and the interior surfaces of said end walls defining a source region for light reflected through said light output slit, and said baffle having end arcuate sections where joined with said end walls for reducing drop out in brightness of light reflected from said source region at the junction of said baffle with said end walls. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification