Illuminator with light source arrays

• US 6,191,872 B1
• Filed: 11/26/1997
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Shafer, Mark E., DeCaro, Joel D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Cheukfan
• Application Number:
  US08/979,890
• Time in Patent Office: 1,182 Days
• Field of Search: 358/475, 358/505, 358/512, 358/514, 358/515, 358/509, 358/506, 358/487, 358/1.9, 348/268, 348/269, 348/270, 348/271, 348/272, 361/800
• US Class Current: 358/509
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/48 Picture signal generators for halftone screening H04N1/52

Abstract

An illuminator and a scanner incorporating such an illuminator. In one embodiment, the illuminator has a plurality of arrays of semiconductor light emitting elements, each array having a different integrated spectral output, and a plurality of respective different interference filters each positioned between a corresponding array and the media holder. A media holder holds a media carrying an image for scanning, the media holder being positioned to receive filtered light from the illuminator. A sensor is positioned to receive light from the media holder so as to generate an image signal corresponding to an image on a media positioned at the media holder.

Claims

1. A scanner comprising:

(a) an illuminator comprising a plurality of illumination sources each having a different integrated spectral output;

(b) an integrating chamber to receive light from each of the illumination sources of the illuminator through respective input ports of the integrating chamber and direct it through an output port of the chamber;

(c) a plurality of interference filters each positioned between a corresponding input port of said respective input ports and an illumination source of said plurality of illumination sources;

(d) a plurality of light concentrators each positioned between a corresponding illumination source of said illumination sources and an input port of said respective input ports;

(e) a media holder to hold a media carrying an image for scanning, the media held by said media holder being positioned to receive light from the output port of the integrating chamber; and

(f) a sensor positioned to receive light from the media so as to generate an image signal corresponding to an image on a media positioned at the media holder.

2. A scanner according to claim 1 wherein each interference filter is positioned on an input side of the corresponding concentrator which receives light from an illumination source of said plurality of illumination sources.

3. A scanner according to claim 1 wherein each illumination source comprises a two dimensional array of light emitting elements.

4. A scanner according to claim 3 wherein each interference filter is positioned adjacent a corresponding two dimensional array of light emitting elements.

5. A scanner according to claim 1 wherein each array of light emitting elements comprises a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements with respective condenser lenses.

6. A scanner comprising:

(a) an illuminator comprising (i) a plurality of arrays of semiconductor light emitting elements, each one of said arrays having a different integrated spectral output; and

(ii) a plurality of respective different interference filters;

(b) a plurality of light concentrators which each receive light from a respective array of light emitting elements, each of said interference filters being positioned between a corresponding array of light emitting elements and an inlet end of a corresponding light concentrator;

(c) a media holder to hold a media carrying an image for scanning, the media being positioned to receive filtered light from the illuminator; and

(d) a sensor positioned to receive light from the media so as to generate an image signal corresponding to an image on a media positioned at the media holder.

7. A scanner according to claim 6 wherein each interference filter is adjacent the corresponding array.

8. A scanner according to claim 6, additionally comprising an integrator to receive filtered light from the plurality of arrays of the illuminator after said filtered light has passed through said light concentrator, and combine them for a single light output which is directed to the media holder.

9. A scanner according to claim 8 wherein the integrator comprises an integrating chamber which receives filtered light from the plurality of arrays of the illuminator, through respective input ports and provides the single light output.

10. A scanner according to claim 9 wherein the integrating chamber provides at least two diffuse light reflections for the majority of light from each input port before exiting the output port.

11. A scanner according to claim 6 wherein the semiconductor light emitting elements of the arrays include a condenser lens.

12. An illuminator, comprising:

(a) a plurality of illumination source each having a different integrated spectral output, each of said illumination sources comprising a two-dimensional array of light emitting elements;

(b) an integrating chamber to receive light from each of the illumination sources through respective input ports of said integrating chamber, and direct it through an output port of the chamber; and

(c) a plurality of interference filters, each of said filters being positioned between a corresponding input port of said respective input ports and an illumination source of said illumination sources.

13. An illumination source according to claim 12 wherein the interference filters are positioned adjacent a respective illumination source of said plurality of illumination sources.

14. An illuminator, comprising:

(a) a plurality of illumination sources comprising respective two-dimensional arrays of light emitting elements, each one of said arrays having a different integrated spectral output;

(b) a plurality of light concentrators which receive light from a corresponding illumination source; and

(c) an integrating chamber to receive light from each of the illumination sources after said light has passed through said light concentrators, said integrating chamber directing said light through an output port of the chamber.

15. An illuminator according to claim 14 wherein at least one of the illumination sources additionally comprises a filter positioned between the array of the illumination source and the integrating chamber.

26. An illuminator according to claim 15, wherein said interference filters, said light concentrators and said integrating chamber provide reflective surfaces for at least two light reflections for a majority of light which enters the input ends of said light reflectors and exits said single output port of said integrating chamber.

16. A scanner comprising:

(a) an illuminator comprising a plurality of illumination sources each having a different integrated spectral output;

(b) an integrating chamber to receive light from each of the illumination sources of the illuminator through respective input ports of said integrating chamber and direct it through an output port of the chamber.

(c) a plurality of interference filters each positioned between a corresponding input port of said respective input ports and an illumination source of said illumination sources;

(d) a media holder to hold a media carrying an image for scanning, the media being positioned to receive light from the output port of the integrating chamber; and

(e) a sensor positioned to receive light from media positioned at said media holder so as to generate an image signal corresponding to an image on the media positioned at the media holder.

17. A scanner according to claim 16 wherein the interference filters are positioned adjacent a respective illumination source of said plurality of illumination sources.

18. A scanner according to claim 16 wherein each illumination source comprises a two-dimensional array of light emitting elements.

19. An illuminator comprising:

(a) a plurality of illumination sources each having a different integrated spectral output;

(b) an integrating chamber to receive light from each of the illumination sources through respective input ports of the integrating chamber and direct it through an output port of the chamber;

(c) a plurality of interference filters each positioned between a corresponding input port of said respective input ports and an illumination source of said plurality of illumination sources; and

(d) a plurality of light concentrators each positioned between a corresponding illumination source of said plurality of illumination sources and a corresponding input port of said respective input ports.

20. An illuminator according to claim 19 wherein each interference filter is positioned on an input side of the corresponding concentrator which receives light from an illumination source of said plurality of illumination sources.

21. An illuminator according to claim 19 wherein each illumination source comprises a two-dimensional array of light emitting elements.

22. An illuminator according to claim 21 wherein each two-dimensional array of light emitting elements comprises a plurality of semiconductor light emitting elements with respective condenser lenses.

23. An illuminator comprising:

(a) a plurality of illumination sources comprising respective arrays of two-dimensional arrays of light emitting elements, each of said arrays having a different integrated spectral output;

(b) an integrating chamber to receive light from each of the illumination sources, the integrating chamber having a light output port; and

(c) a plurality of light concentrators each positioned between a corresponding illumination source and the integrating chamber.

24. An illuminator according to claim 23 wherein the integrating chamber receives light from each of the illumination sources through respective light input ports of the integrating chamber, and the light concentrators direct light into the respective input ports of the integrating chamber.

25. An illuminator comprising:

a plurality of illumination sources each having a different integrated spectral output;

a plurality of interference filters each positioned adjacent to a respective illumination source;

a plurality of light concentrators which respectively receive filtered light from a respective corresponding illumination source, each of said light concentrators having an input end for receiving said filtered light, said input end of each of said light concentrators being located adjacent to a respective one of said interference filters; and

an integrating chamber which receives said light from said light concentrators, said integrating chamber having a plurality of input ports which are located adjacent to corresponding output ends of said light concentrators, said integrating chamber leading said light from said plurality of input ports to a single output port.

27. An illuminator according to claim 25, wherein each of said light concentrators define a compound elliptical configuration.

28. An illuminator according to claim 25, wherein the inlet end of each of said light concentrators defines an elliptical shape, a mid-portion of each of said light concentrators defines a circular shape, and the outlet end of each of said light concentrators defines an elliptical shape.