Patent US5754278A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5754278A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Image transfer illumination system and method
Assignee: Eastman Kodak Co
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Filing: 1996-11-27
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Granted: 1998-05-19
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Expires: 2016-11-27
Abstract
Abstract An illumination system for an image transfer system having a gate at which an original image to be transferred can be positioned, to provide a transfer region of illumination at the gate, comprising: (a) a light source; (b) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (c) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form the transfer region of illumination.
Inventors
- 👤 Andrew F. Kurtz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 22:42
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/54; G03B27/542
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An illumination system for an image transfer system having a gate at which an original image to be transferred can be positioned, to provide a transfer region of illumination at the gate, comprising: (a) a light source; (b) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (c) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form the transfer region of illumination.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An illumination system for an image transfer system having a gate at which an original image to be transferred can be positioned, to provide a transfer region of illumination at the gate, comprising: (a) a light source; (b) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (c) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form the transfer region of illumination.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An illumination system according to claim 1 wherein the diffuser is an anamorphic diffuser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
An illumination system according to claim 1 wherein the transfer region of illumination provided is a two-dimensional area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
117 words
An illumination system for a scanner having a linear detector and a gate at which a media to be scanned can be positioned, to provide a scanning line of illumination at the gate, comprising: (a) a light source; (b) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first line of illumination which is anamorphically divergent, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (c) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first line of illumination to form the scanning line of illumination.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
117 words
An illumination system for a scanner having a linear detector and a gate at which a media to be scanned can be positioned, to provide a scanning line of illumination at the gate, comprising: (a) a light source; (b) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first line of illumination which is anamorphically divergent, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (c) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first line of illumination to form the scanning line of illumination.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An illumination system according to claim 4 wherein the integrator assembly comprises a light tunnel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
107 words
An illumination system for a scanner having a linear detector and a gate at which a media to be scanned can be positioned, to provide a scanning line of illumination at the gate, comprising: (a) a light source; (b) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first line of illumination which is anamorphically divergent, the optical assembly including at least one fly's eye integrator assembly; (c) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first line of illumination to form the scanning line of illumination.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
An illumination system for a scanner having a linear detector and a gate at which a media to be scanned can be positioned, to provide a scanning line of illumination at the gate, comprising: (a) a light source; (b) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first line of illumination which is anamorphically divergent, the optical assembly including at least one fly's eye integrator assembly; (c) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first line of illumination to form the scanning line of illumination.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the diffuser is an anamorphic diffuser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the diffuser provides a scanning line of illumination having a divergence of at least 25 degrees in both directions of the gate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the fly's eye integrator assembly is anamorphic to provide improved radiance uniformity only along the direction of the first line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the fly's eye integrator assembly provides improved radiance uniformity in both the direction along the first line and orthogonal thereto.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the diffuser is spaced apart from the gate so that the diffuser is not imaged onto the linear detector and uniformity of the scanning line of illumination at the gate is further improved.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
An illumination system according to claim 8 wherein the maximum divergence in both directions at the gate is 55 degrees.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the optical assembly includes at least two fly's eye integrator assemblies.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
An illumination system according to claim 13 additionally comprising an opaque blade variable aperture positioned intermediate the two fly's eye integrator assemblies.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
An illumination system according to claim 14 wherein the variable aperture is positioned mid-way between the two fly's eye integrator assemblies.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the light source is a lamp with a concave reflector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the light source includes a lamp selected from a xenon arc lamp, a tungsten halogen lamp, or a metal halide arc lamp.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the diffuser comprises a holographic diffuser.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the optical assembly includes at least one fly's eye integrator assembly and a light tunnel integrator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
An illumination system according to claim 6 wherein the optical assembly comprises a cylindrical lens system between the fly's eye integrator assembly and the diffuser.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
An illumination apparatus according to claim 6 additionally comprising a spectral filter in the path of light from the light source, to prevent unwanted wavelengths of radiation from the light source reaching the gate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
130 words
A scanner, comprising: (a) a gate at which a media to be scanned can be positioned; (b) a light source; (c) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (d) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form a transfer region of illumination at the gate; and (e) a detector positioned to receive light from a media positioned in the gate for scanning, and to generate a sequence of signals corresponding to an illuminated region of the image.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
130 words
A scanner, comprising: (a) a gate at which a media to be scanned can be positioned; (b) a light source; (c) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (d) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form a transfer region of illumination at the gate; and (e) a detector positioned to receive light from a media positioned in the gate for scanning, and to generate a sequence of signals corresponding to an illuminated region of the image.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
120 words
A scanner, comprising: (a) a gate at which a media to be scanned can be positioned; (b) a light source; (c) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one fly's eye integrator assembly; (d) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form a transfer region of illumination at the gate; and (e) a detector positioned to receive light from a media positioned in the gate for scanning, and to generate a sequence of signals corresponding to an illuminated region of the image.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
120 words
A scanner, comprising: (a) a gate at which a media to be scanned can be positioned; (b) a light source; (c) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one fly's eye integrator assembly; (d) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form a transfer region of illumination at the gate; and (e) a detector positioned to receive light from a media positioned in the gate for scanning, and to generate a sequence of signals corresponding to an illuminated region of the image.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
131 words
A printer comprising: (a) a gate at which a media to be printed can be positioned; (b) a light source; (c) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (d) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form a transfer region of illumination at the gate; and (e) a light sensitive print media positioned to receive light from an original media positioned in the gate for printing, to generate a print of an image on the light sensitive media.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
131 words
A printer comprising: (a) a gate at which a media to be printed can be positioned; (b) a light source; (c) an optical assembly positioned to receive light from the light source and direct and shape the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (d) a diffuser in the path of light from the optical assembly to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form a transfer region of illumination at the gate; and (e) a light sensitive print media positioned to receive light from an original media positioned in the gate for printing, to generate a print of an image on the light sensitive media.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of scanning a media, comprising: (a) positioning a media carrying an image to be scanned at a gate; (b) directing light from a light source through an optical assembly which directs and shapes the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (c) directing light from the optical assembly through a diffuser to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form a scanning region of illumination on the media; and (d) directing light from the media onto a detector to generate a sequence of signals corresponding to the illuminated region of the image on the media.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
122 words
A method of scanning a media, comprising: (a) positioning a media carrying an image to be scanned at a gate; (b) directing light from a light source through an optical assembly which directs and shapes the light to form a first region of illumination, the optical assembly including at least one integrator assembly which provides improved spatial uniformity of the light without diffusing the light; (c) directing light from the optical assembly through a diffuser to increase optical divergence of the first region of illumination to form a scanning region of illumination on the media; and (d) directing light from the media onto a detector to generate a sequence of signals corresponding to the illuminated region of the image on the media.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-18 | 2001-11-17 | 2002-05-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-18 | 2005-11-17 | 2006-05-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-18 | 2009-11-17 | 2010-05-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |