US4190347A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Line illuminator
Assignee: American Optical Corp
•
Filing: 1978-08-10
•
Granted: 1980-02-26
•
Expires: 1998-08-10
Abstract
Abstract An illuminator for a line-scanning document copier including a fan-shaped array of optical fibers with light-output ends juxtapositioned along a line, and opposite light-receiving ends tightly bundled together. Light loss from fiber breakage, gaps and other defects inherent in fiber optic arrays cause non-uniform illumination of documents and streaks in the copy. Uniform and high level illumination are accomplished according to this invention with cylindrical light-refracting means placed between the line of fibers and the document to blend emitted light astigmatically.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter P. Siegmund
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/0008; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/54; G03B27/542; G03G; G03G15/00; G03G15/04; G02B6/04; G03G15/043; G03G15/0435
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
An illuminator comprising the combination of: a bundle of light-conducting fibers having light-receiving and light-emitting opposite ends, said light-receiving ends of said fibers being tightly grouped together in a generally circular array and said light-emitting ends being juxtapositioned along a straight line, said line of light-emitting ends being continuous and of at least one fiber diameter in thickness; a source of light adjacent said light-receiving ends of said fibers for directing light thereinto; and cylindrical lens means extending substantially parallel to said line of fibers in directly forwardly spaced relationship therewith, said lens means having light-receiving and light-emitting opposite sides affording astigmatic imaging of said line of light-emitting fiber ends for blending of irregularities of light intensities emitted from said line of fiber ends.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
An illuminator comprising the combination of: a bundle of light-conducting fibers having light-receiving and light-emitting opposite ends, said light-receiving ends of said fibers being tightly grouped together in a generally circular array and said light-emitting ends being juxtapositioned along a straight line, said line of light-emitting ends being continuous and of at least one fiber diameter in thickness; a source of light adjacent said light-receiving ends of said fibers for directing light thereinto; and cylindrical lens means extending substantially parallel to said line of fibers in directly forwardly spaced relationship therewith, said lens means having light-receiving and light-emitting opposite sides affording astigmatic imaging of said line of light-emitting fiber ends for blending of irregularities of light intensities emitted from said line of fiber ends.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
An illuminator according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical lens means is of a circular cross-sectional shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
An illuminator according to claim 1 wherein said cylindrical lens means comprises a component having a plano-convex cross-sectional shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An illuminator according to claim 3 wherein said cylindrical lens means includes a second adjacent plano-convex component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
123 words
In an illuminator for a linescanning document copier including a light source, a bundle of light-conducting fibers having light-receiving ends tightly grouped in a generally circular array adjacent said light source and light-emitting fiber ends juxtapositioned along a straight line spaced from a document to be copies; the improvement comprising: cylindrical lens means in said space between said light-emitting ends of said fibers and said document, said cylindrical lens means being in directly forwardly spaced relationship from said line of light-emitting fiber ends and extending approximately parallel to said line, said lens means having light-receiving and light-emitting opposite sides affording astigmatic imaging of said line of light-emitting fiber ends for blending of irregularities of light intensities emitted from said line of fiber ends.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
123 words
In an illuminator for a linescanning document copier including a light source, a bundle of light-conducting fibers having light-receiving ends tightly grouped in a generally circular array adjacent said light source and light-emitting fiber ends juxtapositioned along a straight line spaced from a document to be copies; the improvement comprising: cylindrical lens means in said space between said light-emitting ends of said fibers and said document, said cylindrical lens means being in directly forwardly spaced relationship from said line of light-emitting fiber ends and extending approximately parallel to said line, said lens means having light-receiving and light-emitting opposite sides affording astigmatic imaging of said line of light-emitting fiber ends for blending of irregularities of light intensities emitted from said line of fiber ends.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement in an illuminator according to claim 5 wherein said cylindrical lens means comprises a single component of circular cross-sectional configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement in an illuminator according to claim 5 wherein said cylindrical lens means comprises a single component of plano-convex cross-sectional shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The improvement in an illuminator according to claim 5 wherein said cylindrical lens means comprises a pair of parallel lens components of plano-convex cross-sectional shape.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3148581A
Cited
US3398669A
Cited
US3535036A
Cited
US3717531A
Cited
US3811770A
Cited
US3792964A
Cited
US3982829A
Cited
US3933556A
Cited
US4070089A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-02-25 | 1983-08-27 | 1984-02-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-02-25 | 1987-08-27 | 1988-02-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-02-25 | 1991-08-27 | 1992-02-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |