Illumination system

Claim 2

An illumination system for illuminating a planar object defined by a plurality of sides including an elongated light source arranged in parallel with each side of the object, a reflecting surface of elliptical configuration for each light source having one of its line foci in coincidence with the longitudinal axis for the light source associated therewith, each of said reflecting surfaces having its other line foci for the same lying approximately along a line defined by the intersecting light rays reflected therefrom and impinging upon the object between the adjacent side thereof and side opposite thereto.

Claim 3

The illumination system of claim 1 for planar objects having a rectangular shape and the illumination system comprising four light sources, one parallel to each of the sides of the object.

Claim 4

The illumination system of claim 1 wherein each light source and its Associated reflecting surface are positioned outside of the corresponding side of the object.

Claim 5

The illumination system of claim 1 wherein each light source has associated therewith a second reflecting surface of cylindrical configuration and having a line foci in coincidence with the longitudinal axis of its respective light source.

Claim 6

The illumination system in claim 4 wherein said second reflecting surface is of right circular cylindrical configuration.

Claim 7

In a projection apparatus for illuminating a planar object having at least two opposed boundaries and directing light rays emanating therefrom through a lens system and into an image plane, the combination of an illumination system including an elongated light source arranged parallel to and outside of each of said opposed boundaries of the object, a reflecting surface of right elliptical configuration for each of said light sources and having one of its line foci in coincidence with the longitudinal axis of the light source and its other line foci lying approximately along a line defined by the intersecting light rays reflected from the surface and impinging upon the object between the adjacent boundary and the boundary opposed thereto.

Claim 8

In a projection apparatus for illuminating a planar object having at least two opposed boundaries and directing light rays emanating therefrom through a lens system and into an image plane, the combination of an illumination system including an elongated light source arranged parallel to and outside of each of said opposed boundaries of the object, a reflecting surface of right elliptical configuration for each of said light sources and having one of its line foci in coincidence with the longitudinal axis of the light source and its other line foci lying approximately along a line defined by the intersecting light rays reflected from the surface and impinging upon the object between the adjacent boundary and the boundary opposed thereto.

Claim 9

In a utilization device wherein a planar object is arranged to be illuminated and the light rays therefrom projected onto an image plane, an illumination system comprising at least two opposed elongated illumination devices each having a light source and a reflecting means arranged along the object such that each of at least two opposite boundaries of the object has one of said illuminating devices adjacent thereto, each of said light sources having its longitudinal axis disposed outside the boundary of the object adjacent thereto and arranged to direct light rays from that light source directly upon the object, across the same and to an opposite boundary thereof at angles less than 90* relative to the plane of the object and with an intensity that varies decreasingly from said adjacent boundary to said opposite boundary, each of said reflecting means being arranged relative to its corresponding light source for reflecting light rays from that source and to direct these rays between said adjacent boundary and said opposite boundary with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter, said variations in intensities from each of said illumination devices being substantially equal whereby the resultant illumination irradiance at the image plane is substantially homogeneous.

Claim 10

In a utilization device wherein a planar object is arranged to be illuminated and the light rays therefrom projected onto an image plane, an illumination system comprising at least two opposed elongated illumination devices each having a light source and a reflecting means arranged along the object such that each of at least two opposite boundaries of the object has one of said illuminating devices adjacent thereto, each of said light sources having its longitudinal axis disposed outside the boundary of the object adjacent thereto and arranged to direct light rays from that light source directly upon the object, across the same and to an opposite boundary thereof at angles less than 90* relative to the plane of the object and with an intensity that varies decreasingly from said adjacent boundary to said opposite boundary, each of said reflecting means being arranged relative to its corresponding light source for reflecting light rays from that source and to direct these rays between said adjacent boundary and said opposite boundary with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter, said variations in intensities from each of said illumination devices being substantially equal whereby the resultant illumination irradiance at the image plane is substantially homogeneous.

Claim 11

The device of claim 7 for planar objects having a rectangular shape and the device comprising four light sources, one in parallel to each boundary of the object.

Claim 12

In a utilization device wherein a planar object is arranged to be illuminated and the light rays therefrom projected onto an image plane, an illumination system comprising at least two opposed elongated illumination devices each having a light source and a reflecting means arranged along object such that each of at least two opposite boundaries of the object has one of said illumination device adjacent thereto, each of said illumination devices having its longitudinal axis disposed outside the boundary of the object adjacent thereto and arranged for producing light rays which project upon the object with an intensity that varies decreasingly from said adjacent boundary to said opposite boundary, said variation in intensity of one of said illumination devices being substantially equal and from an opposite directional orientation relative to the variation of intensity of the other illumination device whereby the resultant irradiance illumination at the image plane is substantially homogeneous.

Claim 13

In a utilization device wherein a planar object is arranged to be illuminated and the light rays therefrom projected onto an image plane, an illumination system comprising at least two opposed elongated illumination devices each having a light source and a reflecting means arranged along object such that each of at least two opposite boundaries of the object has one of said illumination device adjacent thereto, each of said illumination devices having its longitudinal axis disposed outside the boundary of the object adjacent thereto and arranged for producing light rays which project upon the object with an intensity that varies decreasingly from said adjacent boundary to said opposite boundary, said variation in intensity of one of said illumination devices being substantially equal and from an opposite directional orientation relative to the variation of intensity of the other illumination device whereby the resultant irradiance illumination at the image plane is substantially homogeneous.