Patent ID: 7365887

Claim:
An image sensor unit having an electric discharge light emitting lamp for producing an illumination beam, the lamp comprising a first electrode and a second electrode facing each other and defining a discharge space therebetween along the longitudinal axis of the lamp, wherein: a first light emitting layer and a second light emitting layer are provided in the discharge space so as to face each other and to cover the first and second electrodes, respectively; a dielectric material is inserted between the first electrode and the first light emitting layer, and between the second electrode and the second light emitting layer; and at least one of the first and second light emitting layers is arranged so as to define an uncovered region, in which at least one of the dielectric material, the first electrode, and the second electrode include a photoemission material and is exposed to the discharge space, the uncovered region including the photoemission material extending from one end to the other end of the lamp continuously or discontinuously over the range along the longitudinal axis of the lamp.