US5767990A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Illumination device for film image scanning device
Assignee: Nikon Corp
•
Filing: 1995-11-21
•
Granted: 1998-06-16
•
Expires: 2015-11-21
Abstract
Abstract An illumination device for a film image scanning device is provided. The illumination device is small in size compared to a size of the image to be scanned. Light emitted by a point light source at one end of the image scanning device is reflected back toward the point light source by first and second mirrors at an opposite end of the image scanning device. A third mirror reflects the light to a pair of condenser lenses that evenly transmit the light toward a film slide to be scanned. The light passes through one of the condenser lenses perpendicular to an optical axis of the condenser lens, thereby making the image scanning device compact. Fresnel lenses are also provided as condenser lenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Osamu Ikeda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 09:12
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04N; H04N1/00; H04N1/00976; H04N1/00978; H04N1/00981; H04N1/024; H04N1/028; H04N1/02815; H04N1/0282; H04N1/02825; H04N1/02895; H04N1/04; H04N1/12; H04N1/16; H04N1/19; H04N1/191; H04N1/192; H04N1/193
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An image scanning device having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end aligned in a longitudinal direction, the image scanning device comprising: a point light source positioned at the first end, the point light source emitting light in the longitudinal direction toward the second end; a first set of mirrors positioned at the second end reflecting the in the longitudinal direction toward the first end; a second mirror reflecting the light from the first set of mirrors in a second direction to the longitudinal direction; and at least one condenser lens for evenly transmitting the light reflected by the second mirror toward an image to be scanned.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
112 words
An image scanning device having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end aligned in a longitudinal direction, the image scanning device comprising: a point light source positioned at the first end, the point light source emitting light in the longitudinal direction toward the second end; a first set of mirrors positioned at the second end reflecting the in the longitudinal direction toward the first end; a second mirror reflecting the light from the first set of mirrors in a second direction to the longitudinal direction; and at least one condenser lens for evenly transmitting the light reflected by the second mirror toward an image to be scanned.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The image scanning device of claim 1, wherein the condenser lens has a primary face and an optical axis, the primary face being parallel to the optical axis, wherein the light emitted by the point light source passes through the primary face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The image scanning device of claim 2, further comprising a photoelectric conversion device having a main scanning direction that receives light passing through the image to be scanned and is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The image scanning device of claim 3, wherein the light received by the photoelectric conversion device is directed in the longitudinal direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The image scanning device of claim 3, wherein the first set of mirrors, the second mirror and the at least one condenser lens each have a longitudinal axis and are positioned so that the longitudinal axes are parallel to the main scanning direction of the photoelectric conversion device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image scanning device of claim 3, wherein the at least one condenser lens comprises a pair of Fresnel condenser lenses.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The image scanning device of claim 6, wherein the first set of mirrors, the second mirror and the at least one condenser lens each have a longitudinal axis and are positioned so that the longitudinal axes are parallel to the main scanning-direction of the photoelectric conversion device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image scanning device of claim 1, wherein the at least one condenser lens comprises a pair of convex-plano condenser lenses.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The image scanning device of claim 1, wherein the at least one condenser lens comprises a pair of Fresnel condenser lenses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The image scanning device of claim 1, further comprising a photoelectric conversion device having a main scanning direction that receives light passing through the image to be scanned and is positioned perpendicular to the longitudinal direction.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The image scanning device of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust assembly located near the point light source for removing waste heat produced by the point light source.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
An image scanning device comprising: point light source means for emitting light; reflecting means for receiving the emitted light, the reflecting means directing the light to follow an optical path of a predetermined length; and lens means for evenly transmitting light received from the reflecting means toward an image to be scanned, wherein the optical path is sufficiently long to ensure the light transmitted toward the image to be scanned is collimated and uniform in intensity, and wherein the light initially emitted by the point light source means passes through the lens means in a direction transverse to an optical axis of the lens means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
An image scanning device comprising: point light source means for emitting light; reflecting means for receiving the emitted light, the reflecting means directing the light to follow an optical path of a predetermined length; and lens means for evenly transmitting light received from the reflecting means toward an image to be scanned, wherein the optical path is sufficiently long to ensure the light transmitted toward the image to be scanned is collimated and uniform in intensity, and wherein the light initially emitted by the point light source means passes through the lens means in a direction transverse to an optical axis of the lens means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The image scanning device of claim 12, wherein the reflecting means comprises a first reflecting assembly positioned opposite to the point light source means reflecting light toward the point light source means and a second reflecting assembly positioned generally between the first reflecting assembly and the point light source means reflecting light perpendicular to the light emitted from the point light source means to the lens means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The image scanning device of claim 12, wherein the lens means comprises a plurality of convex-plano lenses.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The image scanning device of claim 12, wherein the lens means comprises a plurality of Fresnel lenses.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
The image scanning device of claim 12, further comprising waste heat removal means located near the point light source means for removing waste heat produced by the point light source means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The image scanning device of claim 12, further comprising a conversion means for receiving light passing through the image to be scanned and converting the received light into a signal representing the image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The image scanning device of claim 17, wherein the conversion means has a main scanning direction that is perpendicular to an optical axis of the lens means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5196950A
Cited
US5168377A
Cited
US5241406A
Cited
US5381245A
Cited
US5313289A
Cited
US5191406A
Cited
US5499112A
Cited
US5566006A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-15 | 2001-12-15 | 2002-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-15 | 2005-12-15 | 2006-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-15 | 2009-12-15 | 2010-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |