Illumination – Light source and modifier – Including reflector
Reexamination Certificate
2001-03-05
2002-12-10
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Including reflector
C362S311040, C362S328000, C362S033000, C362S355000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06491414
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a transparent film scanner having a light source system with a diffuser and a reflector for scanning transparent films.
2. Description of the Related Art
The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,850,523 to Skavnak, filed on Jul. 13, 1973, entitled by “PHOTOCOPIER LIGHT BOX”.
In scanning a transparent film or a transparency in a scanner, the transparent film is placed over a glass window. The light source is located over the film to be scanned. The transmitted light through the film is sensed by an optical sensing system placed underneath the window.
A traditional optical system for scanning a film is shown in
FIG. 1. A
film P
1
is placed over a glass window G
1
. The lighting L
1
for scanning the film P
1
is a secondary light originated from a light source
10
and reflected by a reflecting plate
12
. The optical sensor for sensing the light transmitted through the film P
1
is located underneath the glass window G
1
(not shown). The purpose for using a secondary light to scan the film is to obtain uniform light intensity.
The drawback of such a design is that the distance A
1
between the reflecting plate
12
and the film P
1
must be placed far away from the reflecting plate to obtain uniformity in light intensity. Such a structure increases the size of the scanner and is undesirable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide uniform illumination of a transparent film for a scanner.
Another object of this invention is to reduce the size of a scanner.
These objects are achieved by inserting a light diffuser in front of the light source. The diffused light is then reflected by a reflecting plate to illuminate the film placed on top of a glass scan window. When the light is thus diffused, the distance between the reflecting plate and the film can be made shorter than that in a traditional film scanner.
Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4292663 (1981-09-01), Martino et al.
patent: 4415958 (1983-11-01), Guerra
patent: 5791771 (1998-08-01), Bjorner et al.
patent: 5884995 (1999-03-01), Perlo et al.
Chen Jih-Yam
Sheng Thomas
Baxley Charles E.
DelGizzi Ronald E.
O'Shea Sandra
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