Light-supplying optical device
First Claim
1. A light-supplying optical device comprising:
- a light source that generates an elongated area of light along a path to illuminate an original document;
a first optical element having a curved surface that is in said path so as to collect the light from the light source onto the original document, said curved surface being positioned relative to said path so that the light is incident on said curved surface at a non-zero angle relative to an optical axis of said curved surface, said first optical element being positioned relative to said path so that said curved surface curves the elongated area of light that the first optical element receives on the path for projection onto the original document; and
a second optical element having a curved surface, said second optical element being positioned in said path so as to curve the elongated area of light that the second optical element receives on the path and so as to offset an elongated curved area of light that would otherwise be projected onto the original document by said first optical element, whereby a substantially straight elongated area of light is projected onto the original document.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical element that produces line bow, for example, a toric or cylindrical mirror or lens, is provided in a light-supplying optical device in addition to a first line-bow-producing optical element already present in the device so that a substantially straight line of light is formed on an original document. The light-supplying optical device also includes a light source that generates illuminating light to illuminate the original document and the first optical element that has a toric surface for collecting the illuminating light onto the original document and that is positioned so that the illuminating light shines at a certain angle relative to its toric surface. With this device, the second optical element having a toric surface is positioned in the optical path of the light source and of the original document so as to offset the curve of the illuminating light that otherwise would be generated on the original document by the first optical element.
17 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A light-supplying optical device comprising:
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a light source that generates an elongated area of light along a path to illuminate an original document; a first optical element having a curved surface that is in said path so as to collect the light from the light source onto the original document, said curved surface being positioned relative to said path so that the light is incident on said curved surface at a non-zero angle relative to an optical axis of said curved surface, said first optical element being positioned relative to said path so that said curved surface curves the elongated area of light that the first optical element receives on the path for projection onto the original document; and a second optical element having a curved surface, said second optical element being positioned in said path so as to curve the elongated area of light that the second optical element receives on the path and so as to offset an elongated curved area of light that would otherwise be projected onto the original document by said first optical element, whereby a substantially straight elongated area of light is projected onto the original document. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A light-supplying optical device comprising:
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a light source that generates an elongated area of light along a path to illuminate an original document; first means for optically changing said light so as to collect said light from the light source onto the original document, said first means being positioned relative to said path so that said first means curves the elongated area of light that the first means receives on the path for projection onto the original document; and second means for optically changing said light, said second means being positioned in said path so as to curve the elongated area of light that the second means receives on the path and so as to offset an elongated curved area of light that would otherwise be formed on the original document by said first means, whereby a substantially straight elongated area of light is formed on the original document. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification