Illumination system

Claim 2

An illumination system for illuminating a planar object defined by a plurality of boundaries including a plurality of illumination devices, one being arranged generally in parallel with one of at least two opposing boundaries of the object, and another of the devices being arranged generally in parallel with the other of the opposing boundaries, each of said devices having an elongated light source and a reflecting surface of concave configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent the respective light source to reflect light rays from its respective light source and directly project the rays upon the object, each of said devices having a reflecting surface of planar configuration for its respective light source and disposed parallel to and adjacent said light source to recieve some of the light rays emanating directly from its respective light source and to direct these rays upon the object, each of said illumination devices having its light source and reflecting surfaces disposed relative to one another for directing light rays respectively from one of the opposing boundaries to the other with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter.

Claim 3

An illumination system for illuminating a planar object defined by a plurality of boundaries including a plurality of illumination devices, one being arranged generally in parallel with one of at least two opposing boundaries of the object, and another of the devices being arranged generally in parallel with the other of the opposing boundaries, each of said devices having an elongated light source and reflecting surface of concave configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent the respective light source to reflect light rays from its respective light source and directly project the rays upon the object, each of said devices having a reflecting surface of planar configuration for its respective light source and disposed parallel to and adjacent said light source to receive some of the light rays emanating directly from its respective light source and to direct these rays upon the object, each of the illumination devices having its light source and reflecting surfaces disposed relative to one another for directing light rays respectively from one of the opposing boundaries to the other with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter, said variation in intensity from one of the devices being substantially equal to the variation in intensity of another of the devices.

Claim 4

An illumination system for illuminating a planar object defined by a plurality of boundaries including a plurality of illumination devices, one being arranged generally in parallel with one of at least two opposing boundaries of the object, and another of the devices being arranged generally in parallel with the other of the opposing boundaries, each of said devices having an elongated light source and reflecting surface of concave configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent the respective light source to reflect light rays from its respective light source and directly project the rays upon the object, each of said devices having a reflecting surface of planar configuration for its respective light source and disposed parallel to and adjacent said light source to receive some of the light rays emanating directly from its respective light source and to direct these rays upon the object, each of the illumination devices having its light source and reflecting surfaces disposed relative to one another for directing light rays respectively from one of the opposing boundaries to the other with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter, said variation in intensity from one of the devices being substantially equal to the variation in intensity of another of the devices.

Claim 5

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 boundaries of the object, and said reflecting surfaces for each of the light sources.

Claim 6

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

Claim 7

The illumination system of claim 2 wherein each of said devices having a second reflecting surface of planar configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent each of said light sources to recive some of the light rays from its respective light source and to direct these rays upon the object.

Claim 8

The illumination system of claim 5 wherein each of said devices having a third reflecting surface of planar configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent each of said light sources to receive still other light rays from its respective light source and to direct these rays upon the object.

Claim 9

The illumination system in claim 5 wherein said planar reflecting surfaces are at angles less than 180* relative to one another.

Claim 10

In a utilization device wherein an object is arranged to be illuminated from one boundary to another boundary thereof, an illumination device comprising an elongated light source disposed to project light rays directly upon the object, an element having reflective surface of concave configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent the light source for receiving light rays therefrom and reflecting the same directly upon the object, an element having a reflecting surface of planar configuration extending along said concave surface and disposed parallel to and adjacent said light source to receive some of the light rays directly from said source and to reflect the same directly upon the object, said light source and reflecting surfaces disposed for directing light rays respectively from said one boundary of the object to said another boundary with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter.

Claim 11

In a utilization device wherein an object is arranged to be illuminated from one boundary to another boundary thereof, an illumination device comprising an elongated light source disposed to project light rays directly upon the object, an element having reflective surface of concave configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent the light source for receiving light rays therefrom and reflecting the same directly upon the object, an element having a reflecting surface of planar configuration extending along said concave surface and disposed parallel to and adjacent said light source to receive some of the light rays directly from said source and to reflect the same directly upon the object, said light source and reflecting surfaces disposed for directing light rays respectively from said one boundary of the object to said another boundary with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter.

Claim 12

In a utilization device wherein an object is arranged to be illuminated from one boundary to another thereof, an illumination device comprising an elongated light source disposed to project light rays directly upon the object, an element having a reflective surface of concave configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent the light source for receiving light rays therefrom and reflecting the same directly upon the object, an element having a plurality of reflecting surfaces of planar configuration extending along with said concave surface with each planar surface disposed parallel to and adjacent said light source to receive some of the light rays directly from said source and to reflect thE same directly upon the object in superimposed relation to the other rays directed to the object, said light source and reflecting surfaces disposed for directing light rays respectively from said boundary of the object to said another boundary with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter.

Claim 13

In a utilization device wherein an object is arranged to be illuminated from one boundary to another thereof, an illumination device comprising an elongated light source disposed to project light rays directly upon the object, an element having a reflective surface of concave configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent the light source for receiving light rays therefrom and reflecting the same directly upon the object, an element having a plurality of reflecting surfaces of planar configuration extending along with said concave surface with each planar surface disposed parallel to and adjacent said light source to receive some of the light rays directly from said source and to reflect thE same directly upon the object in superimposed relation to the other rays directed to the object, said light source and reflecting surfaces disposed for directing light rays respectively from said boundary of the object to said another boundary with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter.

Claim 14

In a projection apparatus for illuminating a planar object having at least two opposed sides and directing light rays emanating therefrom through a lens system and onto an image plane, the combination including a plurality of illumination devices, one being disposed adjacent one of the sides of the object and another device disposed adjacent the other side, each of the devices having an elongated light source arranged generally parallel to the respective sides of the object, each of said light sources projecting light rays therefrom directly upon the object, each of said devices having an element formed with a reflecting surface of right cylindrical configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent each of said light sources and reflecting light rays reaching said first surface from said source and directing the same upon the object in superimposed relation to the rays reaching the object directly from said source, said element having a reflecting surface of planar configuration extending along each cylindrical surface to receive some of the light rays directly from each source and to reflect the same directly upon the object, each of said devices having its light source and reflecting surfaces disposed relative to one another for directing light rays respectively from one of the opposed sides to the other with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter.

Claim 15

In a projection apparatus for illuminating a planar object having at least two opposed sides and directing light rays emanating therefrom through a lens system and onto an image plane, the combination including a plurality of illumination devices, one being disposed adjacent one of the sides of the object and another device disposed adjacent the other side, each of the devices having an elongated light source arranged generally parallel to the respective sides of the object, each of said light sources projecting light rays therefrom directly upon the object, each of said devices having an element formed with a reflecting surface of right cylindrical configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent each of said light sources and reflecting light rays reaching said first surface from said source and directing the same upon the object in superimposed relation to the rays reaching the object directly from said source, said element having a reflecting surface of planar configuration extending along each cylindrical surface to receive some of the light rays directly from each source and to reflect the same directly upon the object, each of said devices having its light source and reflecting surfaces disposed relative to one another for directing light rays respectively from one of the opposed sides to the other with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter.

Claim 16

In a projection apparatus for illuminating a planar object having at least two opposed sides and directing light rays emanating therefrom through a lens system and onto an image plane, the combination including a plurality of illumination devices, one being disposed adjacent one of the sides of the object and another device disposed adjacent the other side, each of the devices having an elongated light source arrnged generally parallel to the respective sides of the object, each of said light sources projecting light rays therefrom directly upon the object, each of said devices having an element formed with a reflecting surface of right cylindrical configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent each of said light sources and reflecting light rays reaching said first surface from said source and directing the same upon the object in superimposed relation to the rays reaching the object directly from said source, said element having a reflecting surface of planar configuration extending along each cylindrical surface to receive some of the light rays directly from each source and to reflect the same directly upon the object, each of said devices having its light source and reflecting surfaces disposed relative to one another for directing light rays respectively from one of the opposed sides to the other with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter, said variation in intensity from one of the devices being substantially equal to the variation in intensity of another of the devices.

Claim 17

In a projection apparatus for illuminating a planar object having at least two opposed sides and directing light rays emanating therefrom through a lens system and onto an image plane, the combination including a plurality of illumination devices, one being disposed adjacent one of the sides of the object and another device disposed adjacent the other side, each of the devices having an elongated light source arrnged generally parallel to the respective sides of the object, each of said light sources projecting light rays therefrom directly upon the object, each of said devices having an element formed with a reflecting surface of right cylindrical configuration disposed parallel to and adjacent each of said light sources and reflecting light rays reaching said first surface from said source and directing the same upon the object in superimposed relation to the rays reaching the object directly from said source, said element having a reflecting surface of planar configuration extending along each cylindrical surface to receive some of the light rays directly from each source and to reflect the same directly upon the object, each of said devices having its light source and reflecting surfaces disposed relative to one another for directing light rays respectively from one of the opposed sides to the other with an intensity that varies decreasingly from the former to the latter, said variation in intensity from one of the devices being substantially equal to the variation in intensity of another of the devices.

Claim 18

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 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 including a reflecting surface of planar configuration, each of said reflecting means together with its associated planar reflecting surface 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 19

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 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 including a reflecting surface of planar configuration, each of said reflecting means together with its associated planar reflecting surface 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 20

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 illumination devices adjacent thereto, each of said reflecting means including a reflecting surface of planar configuration, 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 21

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 illumination devices adjacent thereto, each of said reflecting means including a reflecting surface of planar configuration, 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.