Patent ID: 8126325

Claim:
An apparatus for generating and viewing an image of an item at least partly against a reflective surface being specular or retro-reflective, the apparatus comprising: a light source capable of projecting light towards a space which is dimensioned to accommodate the item when temporarily placed therein, an image detecting camera configured to detect an image of the item based on any light reflected from said surface and not hidden by the item, and operational electronics associated said light source and said camera, wherein said light source, said camera and said operational electronics are installed on a single, common circuit board, said light source and said camera being spaced from each other relative to a plane of the common circuit board, wherein the circuit board is located with a plane thereof along an exterior upright wall of a closed optics compartment, wherein said wall comprises a transparent window element, and wherein a second and opposite wall of the compartment next to said space comprises a lens or a window with an associated lens, wherein the light source is cooperative with a tubular light guide to direct light towards an optical light path for further directing the light towards said space, and wherein the light source faces a window element of the closed optics compartment with a first part of the light guide, and directs light further into the optics compartment by means of a second part of the light guide located on the other side of the window element and aligned with the first light guide part.