Patent ID: 8610972

Claim:
An optical system for a scanner, comprising a light source for illuminating a target area to be scanned; a plurality of mirrors that includes: a first mirror spaced vertically from the target area and positioned to receive a light beam traveling along a first optical path between the target area and the first mirror when the target area is illuminated by the light source and to reflect the light beam along a second optical path between the first mirror and a second mirror, the first mirror having a first incident surface that forms an angle of between about 149.5° and about 159.5° relative to the target area; the second mirror being positioned to receive the light beam traveling along the second optical path and to reflect the light beam along a third optical path between the second mirror and a third mirror, the third optical path crossing the first optical path, the second mirror having a second incident surface that forms an angle of between about 100.4° and about 110.4° relative to the target area; the third mirror being positioned to receive the light beam traveling along the third optical path and to reflect the light beam along a fourth optical path between the third mirror and a fourth mirror, the fourth optical path crossing the first optical path, the third mirror having a third incident surface that forms an angle of between about 80.9° and about 90.9° relative to the target area; the fourth mirror being positioned to receive the light beam traveling along the fourth optical path and to reflect the light beam along a fifth optical path between the fourth mirror and a fifth mirror, the fifth optical path crossing the second and third optical paths, the fourth mirror having a fourth incident surface that forms an angle of between about 130.0° and about 140.0° relative to the target area; and the fifth mirror being positioned to receive the light beam traveling along the fifth optical path and to reflect the light beam along a sixth optical path between the fifth mirror and an image sensor, the sixth optical path crossing the first and second optical paths, the fifth mirror having a fifth incident surface that forms an angle of between about 40.0° and about 50.0° relative to the target area; and the image sensor being positioned to receive the light beam traveling along the sixth optical path and to sense an image of the target area, the image sensor having a sixth incident surface that forms an angle of between about 85.0° and about 95.0° relative to the target area.