High efficiency linear light source

Claim 2

A linear light source comprising: a source for producing a beam of radiation; and an elongated light integrating cavity defined by cavity walls having a diffusely-reflecting interior surface, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and an output slot generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity, the beam being introduced into said cavity through a high collection non-imaging optical device having a hollow bore and reflective concentrator walls for concentrating the entering beam toward the input port of said cavity.

Claim 3

A linear light source, as defined in claim 1 wherein the interior surfaces of said cavity walls adjacent said output slot are generally planar and form an angle with an optical axis, said optical axis being generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 4

A linear light source, as defined in claim 2, wherein said cavity walls have exterior surfaces adjacent said output slot which are at generally the same angle to said optical axis as said interior surfaces of the cavity walls adjacent said output slot.

Claim 5

A linear light source, as defined in claim 2, wherein said interior surfaces of the cavity walls adjacent said output slot are joined by a generally cylindrical surface.

Claim 6

A linear light source, as defined in claim 4, wherein said interior surfaces of the cavity walls adjacent said output slot are tangent to said cylindrical surface.

Claim 7

A linear light source, as defined in claim 4, wherein said input port is located in said cylindrical surface.

Claim 8

A linear light source, as defined in claim 1, wherein said cavity is further defined by end pieces which are generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 9

A linear light source, as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective concentrator walls of the high collection non-imaging optical device define a conical concentrator surface.

Claim 10

A linear light source, as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective concentrator walls of the high collection non-imaging optical device define a parabolic concentrator surface.

Claim 11

A linear light source, as defined in claim 1, wherein the reflective concentrator walls of the high collection non-imaging optical device define an elliptical concentrator surface.

Claim 12

A linear light source comprising: a source for producing a beam of radiation; and an elongated light integrating cavity formed in a solid body, said cavity defined by cavity walls having a diffusely-reflecting interior surface, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and an output slot generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity, the beam being introduced into said cavity through a high collection non-imaging optical device formed as a hollow bore in said solid body for directing light from the source to the input port of the cavity, said optical device having reflective collection walls lining the inner dimension of the bore, the beam being introduced through the optical device and into the cavity such that the beam undergoes at least one diffuse reflection before exiting the output slot.

Claim 13

A linear light source comprising: a source for producing a beam of radiation; and an elongated light integrating cavity formed in a solid body, said cavity defined by cavity walls having a diffusely-reflecting interior surface, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and an output slot generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity, the beam being introduced into said cavity through a high collection non-imaging optical device formed as a hollow bore in said solid body for directing light from the source to the input port of the cavity, said optical device having reflective collection walls lining the inner dimension of the bore, the beam being introduced through the optical device and into the cavity such that the beam undergoes at least one diffuse reflection before exiting the output slot.

Claim 14

A linear light source, as defined in claim 11, wherein the interior surfaces of said cavity walls adjacent said output slot are generally linear and form an angle with an optical axis, said axis being generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 15

A linear light source, as defined in claim 12, wherein said cavity walls have exterior surfaces adjacent said output slot which are at generally the same angle to said optical axis as said interior surfaces of the cavity walls adjacent said output slot.

Claim 16

A linear light source, as defined in claim 12, wherein said interior surfaces of the cavity walls adjacent said output slot are joined by a generally cylindrical surface.

Claim 17

A linear light source, as defined in claim 14, wherein said interior surfaces of the cavity walls adjacent said output slot are tangent to said cylindrical surface.

Claim 18

A linear light source, as defined in claim 14, wherein said input port is located in said cylindrical surface.

Claim 19

A linear light source, as defined in claim 11, wherein said cavity is further defined by end walls which are generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis.

Claim 20

A linear light source, as defined in claim 11, wherein the reflective collection walls of the high collection non-imaging optical device define a conical surface.

Claim 21

A linear light source, as defined in claim 11, wherein the reflective collection walls of the high collection non-imaging optical device define a parabolic surface.

Claim 22

A linear light source, as defined in claim 11, wherein the reflective collection walls of the high collection non-imaging optical device define an elliptical surface.

Claim 23

A linear light source for use in a film scanner in which the light source is adapted to produce a line of illumination on a film which is spaced a predetermined distance from the light source, said light source comprising: a source for producing a beam of radiation; a solid illumination body interposed between the source and the film; an elongated light integrating cavity formed in the solid illumination body, said cavity defined by cavity walls having diffusely-reflecting interior surfaces, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and an output slot through which said beam exits, said output slot being generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity and the interior surfaces of said cavity walls adjacent said output slot being at an angle of about 45° to an optical axis which is generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and a high collection non-imaging optical device formed as a hollow bore within said solid illumination body for directing light from the source to an exit opening near the input port of the cavity, said optical device having reflective collection walls on the inside of the bore for concentrating the beam toward the exit opening.

Claim 24

A linear light source for use in a film scanner in which the light source is adapted to produce a line of illumination on a film which is spaced a predetermined distance from the light source, said light source comprising: a source for producing a beam of radiation; a solid illumination body interposed between the source and the film; an elongated light integrating cavity formed in the solid illumination body, said cavity defined by cavity walls having diffusely-reflecting interior surfaces, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and an output slot through which said beam exits, said output slot being generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity and the interior surfaces of said cavity walls adjacent said output slot being at an angle of about 45° to an optical axis which is generally perpendicular to said longitudinal axis; and a high collection non-imaging optical device formed as a hollow bore within said solid illumination body for directing light from the source to an exit opening near the input port of the cavity, said optical device having reflective collection walls on the inside of the bore for concentrating the beam toward the exit opening.

Claim 25

A linear light source, as defined in claim 21, wherein said high collection non-imaging optical device includes an entrance opening, larger than said exit opening, for collecting light from the source.

Claim 26

A linear light source, as defined in claim 21, wherein the reflective collection walls of the high collection non-imaging optical device define a conical concentrator surface.

Claim 27

A linear light source, as defined in claim 21, wherein the reflective collection walls of the high collection non-imaging optical device define a parabolic concentrator surface.

Claim 28

A linear light source, as defined in claim 21, wherein the reflective collection walls of the high collection non-imaging optical device define an elliptical concentrator surface.

Claim 29

A linear light source comprising: a source for producing a beam of radiation; and an elongated light integrating cavity defined by cavity walls having diffusely-reflecting interior surfaces, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and an output slot generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity, the beam being introduced into said cavity through a high collection non-imaging optical device having curved walls for concentrating the entering beam toward the input port of said cavity.

Claim 30

A linear light source comprising: a source for producing a beam of radiation; and an elongated light integrating cavity defined by cavity walls having diffusely-reflecting interior surfaces, said cavity walls having an input port through which said beam is introduced into said cavity and an output slot generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of said cavity, the beam being introduced into said cavity through a high collection non-imaging optical device having curved walls for concentrating the entering beam toward the input port of said cavity.

Claim 31

A linear light source, as defined in claim 26, wherein the curved walls of said high collection non-imaging optical device have a paraboloid shape.

Claim 32

A linear light source, as defined in claim 27, wherein said paraboloid shape is that of a compound parabolic concentrator.

Claim 33

A linear light source, as defined in claim 27, wherein said paraboloid shape is hollow and the curved walls are reflective walls for concentrating the entering beam toward said cavity.

Claim 34

A linear light source, as defined in claim 26, wherein said high collection non-imaging optical device is filled with a dielectric providing total internal reflection of the entering beam from the curved walls of the device.

Claim 35

A linear light source, as defined in claim 30, wherein the end surfaces of the high-collection non-imaging optical device are either flat or curved to act as lenses.

Claim 36

A linear light source, as defined in claim 26, wherein said curved walls are optimized for reflecting light from a source at a finite distance from the optical device.

Claim 37

A linear light source, as defined in claim 32, wherein said curved walls have an elliptical shape.

Claim 38

A linear light source, as defined in claim 26, wherein said high collection non-imaging optical device totally or partially encloses the source of radiation.