Patent ID: 7426020

Claim:
A platen illumination system comprising: a prism comprising a first side, a second side, a third side and a platen side, such that the first side is between the platen side and the third side and the second side is between the platen side and the third side; a platen surface coupled to the platen side, the platen surface being configured to receive at least a portion of a hand; an illumination source optically coupled to the first side, the illumination source configured to generate a beam of radiation for illuminating the platen surface; and a directionally-oriented reflective device optically coupled to the second side, the directionally-oriented reflective device configured to reflect the beam of radiation towards the platen surface, wherein: the beam of radiation enters the prism through the first side and reflects from the directionally-oriented reflective device towards the platen surface, the platen surface is arranged to receive the beam of radiation at a desired angle of incidence, and the directionally-oriented reflective device is configured such that at least a portion of the directionally-oriented reflective device reflects the beam of radiation at a selected angle of reflection which is different than an angle of incidence of the beam of radiation on the directionally-oriented reflective device, the selected angle of reflection is such that the beam of radiation is incident upon the platen surface at the desired angle of incidence.