Patent ID: 7661843

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: linearly arranged devices configured to radiate light; modular elements that each carry a respective one of the linearly arranged devices; a tie bar; and a lens system configured to bundle light emanating from the linearly arranged devices onto a measurement plane in order to obtain a bundled, linear light beam on the measurement plane, wherein each modular element is replaceably fastened to the tie bar, so that each modular element can be installed and replaced separately in the apparatus; wherein the linearly arranged devices are configured to radiate light in a radiation direction, the radiation direction being substantially parallel to a plane in which each modular element is replaceably fastened to the tie bar; wherein each linearly arranged device comprises one or more electro-optical elements; and wherein each modular element separately comprises: a support base to carry the respective one of the linearly arranged devices, the support base comprising two or more cooling fins; and an air conduction unit partially surrounding the cooling fins and being configured to convey air past the two of more cooling fins, the air conduction unit having a first end and a second end, the first end being coupled to a first side of the support base and the second end being coupled to a second, opposite side of the support base.