Patent ID: 6710329
Filing Date: 2004-03-23
Classification: G01J,H04N

Abstract:
A light integrator for producing diffuse illumination from a beam of light wherein image artifacts due to debris within the integrator are suppressed, said light integrator illuminating an original with the beam of light, said light integrator comprising:an integrator block having an elongated cylindrical light integrating cavity enclosed by end walls and a longitudinal cylindrical chamber wall having a diffusely reflecting interior surface, said chamber wall having a longitudinally extending output slit for emitting light from the cavity; a dust-free zone within the cavity in the shape of a sector of a circle within which contaminants cannot come to rest without producing visible artifacts, wherein the origin of the sector is located at or nearby a plane of the original; an elongated light pipe extending into the cavity through one of the end walls, said light pipe having an input port at one end thereof for introducing the beam of light and a treatment along its length for emitting light entering its port into the cavity; and at least one of said end walls forming a support for the elongated light pipe so that the light pipe extends along a length of the integrating cavity outside of the dust-free zone and in relation to a chamber wall thereof to direct light emitted therefrom toward the diffusely reflecting interior surface.