Patent ID: 7864385

Claim:
A planar light source for use in a scanning apparatus, said scanning apparatus comprising a scanning platform for placing thereon an object to be scanned and a carriage module for processing an image of said object into digital signals, said planar light source comprising: a light-emitting element arranged at a side of said scanning platform opposite to said carriage module for providing a source light; a first light-guiding portion disposed at a first side of said light-emitting element for diffusing said source light as a first planar light to be provided for said carriage module through said scanning platform, the first light-guiding portion comprising a first light-guiding plate configured to guide a first portion of the source light; and a second light-guiding portion disposed at a second side of said light-emitting element opposite to said first side for diffusing said source light as a second planar light to be provided for said carriage module through said scanning platform, the second light-guiding portion comprising a second light-guiding plate configured to guide a second portion of the source light; wherein the light-emitting element is positioned between opposing edges of the first and second light-guiding plates.