Patent ID: 8885231

Claim:
An illumination apparatus that emits light to an object to be read, the illumination apparatus comprising: a light source that emits light; and a light guide comprising: a curved portion comprising a light incident surface from which the light from the light source enters; and a linear portion comprising a light diffusing surface which diffuses light incident to a light emission surface and the light emission surface from which the light is emitted to the object to be read, the linear portion coupled to the curved portion and extended in a main-scan direction, the curved portion reflecting the light entered from the light incident surface to the linear portion, wherein the light guide comprises an inclined portion inclined in a direction that increases an incident angle of the light, the inclined portion formed in a range of the linear portion where the light reflected by the curved portion enters, and wherein a range of the inclined portion reduces in range until it transitions to the light diffusing surface.