Patent ID: 6170973
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: G01N,G02B,H04N

Abstract:
A line illuminator for projecting a line of illumination light on a workpiece for receipt by a wide-angle camera comprising:an optical fiber bundle having a head end and a tail end, the tail end defining an elongated, narrow outlet of optical fibers located adjacent the workpiece and the head end defining a rectangular inlet of optical fibers;a concave reflector defining a partial elliptical cylinder shape extending in a direction of elongation, with a constant partial elliptical cross-section taken along the direction of elongation, the partial elliptical cross-section defining having a major axis and defining on the major axis a first focus adjacent the reflector surface and a second focus more remote from the reflector surface;an illumination source located within the concave reflector adjacent the first focus and wherein the rectangular inlet is located adjacent the second focus, whereby light is transmitted from the illumination source and converges at the rectangular inlet for transmission to the outlet with a predetermined angular light output distribution by the optical fiber bundle; andwherein the outer perimeter of the inlet defines a rectangular outer perimeter having a width, taken along a line parallel to the direction of elongation that is approximately equal to a width of the concave reflector taken along the direction of elongation, and wherein the rectangular outer perimeter substantially overlaps the concave reflector.