Patent ID: 6178014
Filing Date: 2001-01-23
Classification: G02B,H04N

Abstract:
A method for illuminating and imaging a plurality of objects which are rapidly and continuously transported past at least one station, the method comprising the steps of:providing prescribed illumination means for illuminating said station;arranging said illumination means to include an integrating structure with at least one cylindrical, integrating Lambertian reflecting/diffusing cavity, the cavity having diffusely-reflecting walls and output port means;providing at least one light source means in the cavity so as to generate and project a highly intense beam of illumination onto said walls to be diffusely reflected thereby and sent to exit at said output port means, said light source means comprising at least one set of lamps, each set of lamps integrated into a single removable assembly and disposed so that no lamp directly views said stations; andarranging said output port means to include optical guide means including glass block means incorporated therein for coupling the diffusely-reflected light to illuminate said objects at said station, and for coupling a reflected image of said objects back into and through said cavity for imaging thereof.